Chapter 51: Keep Your Distance If Unfamiliar, Natal Gu Method
The disciples who had originally been circling around Qin Min immediately split off a group, gathering beside Li Hou Er and starting to ask all sorts of questions.
“Brother Li Hou, do you know why Master and Senior Sister Fang called Brother Fang Shu in? Do you have any clues?”
“After Brother Fang Shu entered the dojo, he’s been in seclusion cultivating. Could it be that he has also passed the Second Tribulation?”
Faced with the enthusiasm of the people around him, Li Hou Er suddenly seemed a bit flustered and overwhelmed.
Meanwhile, nearby.
Qu Yan and Fu Shi Er withdrew their gazes from the direction where Fang Shu had disappeared, then glanced at Li Hou Er, who was being enthusiastically chatted up by several disciples. The two exchanged looks.
This man and woman’s faces both showed a bit of awkwardness, especially as they faintly felt that the gazes of the people around them kept sweeping toward them from time to time, making both feel somewhat embarrassed.
“Hmph.” Qu Yan said in a low voice, as if comforting or explaining to the people around: “He was just called in for questioning, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll achieve much.”
Fu Shi Er’s eyes lit up slightly. Her gaze was fixed straight on the assembly hall, as if some different idea had occurred to her.
But considering that Qin Min was still in the arena, she smiled and said:
“Even if Brother Fang Shu has promise, he was only the second one called in. Our dojo’s future still rests on Junior Sister Qin Min.”
The other disciples around also chimed in with voices carrying different implications:
“That’s right, Junior Sister Qin Min possesses a spiritual root, while that Fang fellow is just a mud-legged peasant. How can they compare?”
“Look at that kid acting all smug. Even his lackey beside him seems to be puffing up.”
But their faces clearly showed envy and annoyance.
These people were all muttering inwardly that if they had known earlier that Fang Shu was hiding his talents, they would have cozied up to him long ago, instead of letting Li Hou Er get the jump on them alone.
The group kept talking nonstop, and their feet didn’t stay still either. They shifted their steps and clustered back around Qin Min.
Amid the clamor, Qu Yan, Fu Shi Er, and the others were genuinely curious why the Dojo Master and Senior Sister Fang had called Fang Shu in, so they began asking Qin Min, some directly, some indirectly.
“Junior Sister Qin, why was that Fang fellow called in by Senior Sister Fang after you?”
Surrounded by so many people, Qin Min’s face showed impatience; she had no intention of paying them any mind.
But thinking of how they had said they would make up a congratulatory banquet for her and prepare precious medicine and such, she suppressed her inner impatience and said flatly:
“Senior Brother Fang caught Senior Sister Fang’s eye, just like me, so he naturally has a good chance of joining an immortal sect.”
Hearing this, the disciples outside the hall felt even more complicated emotions, and their voices sank.
Fu Shi Er and Li Hou Er, standing off to the side, had their eyes light up.
In an instant, a wave of jealousy surged in the heart of the inner courtyard disciple named Qu Yan.
However, this man didn’t show it. He just fake-smiled and spoke up:
“I see, another talent in the dojo.
Junior Sister, what exactly are Fang Shu’s specialties?”
Qin Min was asked by Qu Yan, and hearing him call her just “Junior Sister” without her surname, it immediately displeased her, and her brows furrowed slightly.
But with many disciples around, Qin Min didn’t correct him, merely saying coldly two words:
“Gu Refining.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the disciples outside the hall immediately understood, and they even recalled the rumor about perfectly completing the Scorpion Basin ritual to enter the Dao.
“Could it be that perfectly completing that so-called Scorpion Basin ritual really enhances gu refining talent?”
“Eh! Isn’t the Scorpion Basin tribulation something only mud-legged peasants choose for entering the Dao? Did this Fang fellow turn misfortune into fortune?”
For Qu Yan, the jealousy in his heart surged even more.
Noticing the displeasure in Qin Min’s response, he mistakenly thought she was unhappy about Fang Shu, so he couldn’t help but puff out his chest and challenge:
“In front of Junior Sister, why are you all boosting an outsider! Junior Sister is the pearl of our Du Gu Guan!”
The discussing disciples hearing this nodded and agreed repeatedly.
But unexpectedly for them, Qin Min’s brows furrowed even more.
She immediately scolded:
“Senior Brother Fang and I are both disciples of the dojo; how can there be talk of outsiders and insiders?
Senior Brother Qu Yan, please watch your words!”
These words made the veteran disciple Qu Yan’s face stiffen, unsure why Qin Min was nitpicking his words.
Immediately after, what made it even more unbearable for him was Qin Min stating:
“Please address me as Qin Min in the future, Senior Brother Qu Yan.”
She paused, not giving Qu Yan room to twist things later, and directly explained clearly:
“Just calling me ‘Junior Sister’ feels too intimate; I’m afraid Senior Brother Fang and the others might misunderstand.”
As soon as she said this, over a dozen gazes instantly fell on Qu Yan’s face.
Even with Qu Yan’s cultivation from entering the Dao long ago, he couldn’t control his qi and blood at that moment, and his face instantly turned red, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into right there.
The scene fell silent.
Qu Yan held his throat, stunned for several breaths as if suffocating.
When the discussions of others around him started up, he suddenly snapped back, then pretended as if nothing happened, cupped his hands, and forced a smile:
“Junior Sister Qin is right; it was Senior Brother… Qu who was presumptuous.”
But at this point, few people were paying attention to him anymore. The crowd was either discussing Fang Shu or Qin Min, making his voice seem small and insignificant.
…………………………
Fang Shu entered the hall.
Before he could even speak, that knife-like chilling intent from earlier reappeared on his body, and this time it lingered longer.
Looking up, it was Ms. Fang smiling as she sized him up:
“Poor Daoist Fang Lu has seen you, Junior Brother Fang.”
Fang Shu hurriedly cupped his hands in greeting: “Greetings, Senior Sister Fang.”
At this moment, the Dojo Master’s voice also sounded from beside:
“Alright, Fang Lu, no need to be so polite with this kid anymore. The more polite you are, the more at a loss he’ll be.
What do you think of this disciple of mine?”
Senior Sister Fang Lu nodded: “His body is sturdy, gu blood is rich, and he has additionally cultivated a secret skill. Indeed, another talent. Du Shi’s luck this year is truly not bad.”
As she spoke, she sighed lightly: “It’s just a pity that he also has mortal root and mortal bone. Otherwise, if he had a spiritual root, even if just lower grade like that girl earlier.
I could take him up the mountain right now. Even if the sect doesn’t accept him, I could just keep him by my side first, so as not to waste his years.”
Hearing this, the Dojo Master shook her head with a wry smile: “Those with spiritual roots are rare. Having this comprehension and tenacity is already this child’s fortune, allowing his immortal destiny to far surpass ordinary people. How can we ask for more?”
Listening from below the hall, Fang Shu’s heart suddenly stirred.
“Lower grade spiritual root? Directly enter the mountain?”
It was just a pity that he had no spiritual root, merely a mortal body.
In an instant, Fang Shu felt an indescribable mix of emotions in his heart. To say he wasn’t regretful or annoyed would be pure self-deception.
Moreover, pondering Senior Sister Fang Lu’s words, he also realized: “That Qin Min actually only has a lower grade spiritual root?”
Merely a lower grade spiritual root, yet the process that takes two years for mortal root holders to enter the Dao, she accomplished in two months. The efficiency gap between them was more than tenfold!
Especially since Fang Shu remembered that when they tested physical body roots together back then, Qin Min’s physical body root was even worse than his, directly lower grade.
Under such conditions, Qin Min had to nourish her physical body while cultivating, so her cultivation state was clearly not optimal.
If she had been properly nourished from childhood with an excellent physical body, Qin Min’s cultivation speed would definitely have been even faster!
“I wonder how fast the cultivation speed is for those with medium grade spiritual roots or upper grade spiritual roots?”
Fang Shu’s thoughts churned in his mind.
No need for him to guess blindly; the Dojo Master and Senior Sister Fang Lu revealed it in their conversation:
“Not going up the mountain and cultivating in this town at the foot instead does waste years. Even just the refining essence step takes one or two years, which is far too delayed compared to those true immortal family disciples.”
“Who says otherwise? Immortal clan disciples have the saying of ‘hundred-day foundation establishment.'”
Senior Sister Fang Lu sighed lightly:
“Back then, I thought this was pure nonsense, that no one in the world could achieve foundation establishment success in a hundred days—not even the saints of old could.”
She sighed repeatedly:
“After joining the immortal sect, I learned that this foundation isn’t the Dao foundation, but refers to the refining essence body foundation.
Those immortal clan disciples only need a hundred days to successively pass the first three tribulations, break through to refining qi, achieve spiritual immortal, the difference between them and us is like heaven and earth.”
The Dojo Master comforted:
“Immortal clan noble family disciples have at least elders who are foundation establishment earth immortals at home, residing on spiritual veins, raising spiritual medicine, only then can they be called immortal clan noble families and perform the ‘hundred-day foundation establishment’ method.
We need not belittle ourselves; walk the path steadily. One day, when you, Fang Lu, also establish your Dao foundation and become an earth immortal, then your own descendants can also enjoy ‘hundred-day refining essence.'”
Hearing this, Fang Lu smiled wryly.
She muttered the term “foundation establishment” a few times under her breath, said no more, and turned her gaze back to Fang Shu below the hall.
This woman took out a thin booklet from her sleeve, smiled at Fang Shu, and handed it to him.
Fang Shu looked at the booklet floating in front of him, his eyes flickering, and glanced at the Dojo Master beside.
The Dojo Master nodded slightly.
Although Fang Shu still didn’t know what wondrous technique was in this booklet, it didn’t stop him from immediately taking it in his hands and sincerely saying with joy:
“Many thanks to Senior Sister Fang for granting the method!”
After giving the thin booklet, Senior Sister Fang Lu stood up directly, cupped her hands toward the Dojo Master:
“The item has been delivered; I do indeed have matters to attend to outside the mountain.
Du Shi, farewell.”
The Dojo Master also hurriedly stood, returning the salute: “I’ve delayed you; I’ll see you out of town right now.”
“No need to see me off; it was just a favor along the way.”
Senior Sister Fang Lu smiled and waved her hand. Before the Dojo Master could take half a step, her figure floated away gracefully and vanished from the spot.
Standing in the hall, Fang Shu felt his vision blur, and in the blink of an eye, her figure was gone.
But suddenly, he sensed someone standing behind him, a clear voice whispering right by his ear:
“Junior Brother Fang, cultivate gu technique diligently. I see your immortal path surpassing even that little girl’s.”
Immediately after, a clear laugh rang out, and a fragrance of green grass wafted from behind onto Fang Shu’s face, making him feel as if he were in a grassy woodland.
“Junior Brother, see you at the Five Viscera Temple.”
Fang Shu turned his head and saw a woman in goose-yellow Daoist robes, sitting sideways on a white deer with flashing spiritual light.
Senior Sister Fang Lu smiled at him and gave a free and easy bow.
Then, the woman stroked the white deer beneath her. The white deer leaped up, carrying her into the air, its hooves stepping on empty space, jumping again mid-air, quite mystical.
One person and one deer moved with utmost agility, vanishing from the assembly hall in a flash of swift motion, leaving no trace of smoke or fire, only a stunning afterimage in Fang Shu’s eyes.
“This is a refining qi cultivator, a spiritual immortal.” He thought to himself longingly.
“And that Five Viscera Temple—is it one of the five sects of Mount Lu, the immortal sect Senior Sister Fang Lu joined?”
Fang Shu only daydreamed for a breath or two before immediately recollecting his mind. Holding the booklet granted by Senior Sister Fang Lu, he faced the Dojo Master and bowed again:
“Many thanks, Master.”
The Dojo Master stood calmly by the table, still gazing in the direction Fang Lu had left, as if reminiscing about something.
Hearing Fang Shu’s voice, the old woman narrowed her eyes, nodded in satisfaction, and instructed:
“No need to thank me; remember this favor from your Senior Sister Fang.”
The Dojo Master pointed at the booklet in Fang Shu’s hands:
“This booklet is all in common script, no secret script, so it doesn’t count as a cultivation method or magic.
But it is some gu technique essentials that Fang Lu specially copied for you from the Five Viscera Temple. With my advanced age, some things I haven’t used for years, I fear I’ve forgotten them or there might be errors, misleading the disciple.
Moreover, most importantly, this booklet records descriptions concerning the natal gu, as well as a brief on sacrifice and refinement methods.”
“Natal Gu?” Fang Shu’s eyes brightened.
The Dojo Master nodded:
“Correct, precisely the natal gu. Although this gu is mostly truly sacrifice-refined after refining qi, in the refining essence stage, you can still make preparations for it, even attempt it.
Generally speaking, the natal gu is often also the first refining qi gu worm that a gu master sacrifice-refines. Once completed, it represents the cultivator has fully stepped into gu dao, becoming a gu master. Those with truly outstanding talent are another matter.”
The old woman said gravely: “The earlier this gu is refined, the better, so you should study it during the refining essence period. But don’t rush; it’s fine to refine the natal gu together when you break through to refining qi the next day.”
Fang Shu understood and, holding the booklet, immediately said: “Disciple understands.”
Then, the Dojo Master smiled, her gaze scanning Fang Shu’s ears, hair, and other parts:
“In just half a year, you mastered several gu worms, including a proper Second Tribulation sleepy bug.
You didn’t bring shame to me, nor waste my effort inviting an immortal sect disciple to examine you two.”
“Haha!” She rarely showed such obvious delight:
“Looks like it won’t be long before my door has two more refining qi spiritual immortals.”
Hearing this, Fang Shu cupped his hands and said nothing.
After rejoicing to herself for a moment, the Dojo Master sat back down, picked up her teacup, and continued instructing:
“More introductions to that natal gu are copied in the booklet by your senior sister; study it well, best to memorize the entire book, then burn it.
These principles come from copying inside the immortal sect after all; they shouldn’t be spread outside.”
“Yes, disciple will remember.” Fang Shu responded.
Just as he was wondering if he should take the initiative to excuse himself, the Dojo Master looked at him with a half-smile and spoke:
“Also, during your seclusion period, that Qian Shan Mine outside the town—I already went to scout it for you. Quite interesting.”
Hearing this, Fang Shu paused slightly, anticipation rising in his heart. He suppressed his emotions and waited calmly for the Dojo Master’s next words.
