Above the Great Dao
Chapter 373 - 185 Frontier Military Posts

Chapter 373: Chapter 185 Frontier Military Posts

The Independent’s meeting finally dispersed, and the last group of Independents each went their own way. Chen Shi and Li Tianqing started their journey back. Along the way, Li Tianqing remained silent, still immersed in the shock brought by the Independents’ sharing of their skills, occasionally hopping down from the wooden cart to practice a spell or two.

At such times, Chen Shi would stop the cart and wait, without disturbing Li Tianqing or joining in, but letting him practice and comprehend on his own.

He could see that Li Tianqing had absorbed too many of the Independents’ ideas and had reached a critical period of digesting this knowledge for his own use. To disturb him would be to interrupt his train of thought and inspiration, which was tantamount to ruining his future.

At this time, all that was needed was to provide him with as quiet an environment as possible.

The spells Li Tianqing practiced became increasingly powerful and complex. At first, they were based on the Li Family’s Six Yin Jade Wheel, with minor deletions and modifications. But as they progressed, elements of Xiao Wangsun’s Swordsmanship began to appear in his practice, and by midway, the Six Yin Jade Wheel and Xiao Wangsun’s Swordsmanship had been embellished with contributions from many others.

First came the Five Elements Magic of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, then Thunder Law, talismanic magic, Array, Escape Skill, Sacrificial War Skill, close combat techniques, and even traces of Granny Sha’s soul technique!

His learning was too scattered, and the number of spells he knew increased, but it was very difficult to integrate these spells.

However, as they neared Gongzhou, Chen Shi noticed that Li Tianqing’s mastery of the spells became increasingly proficient, more nuanced, and smooth.

He could weave the various spells effortlessly, as natural as flowing water.

Chen Shi thought to himself, "Tianqing has made each spell so smooth, could this be considered integration?"

He refuted this idea; like himself, Li Tianqing was still just learning, studying the different types of spells. When their knowledge accumulated enough, they would be able to perceive the essence of the transformations in Taoist Skill and thus comprehend their own path.

That was when one became a Grandmaster.

Then one could truly be called an Independent.

Li Tianqing came out of his comprehension and realized that they had delayed for three or four days on the road and quickly apologized.

Chen Shi said with a smile, "As your friend, I should naturally wait for you."

Li Tianqing said with emotion, "Xiao Wangsun taught me a lot in the past, which benefited me greatly and taught me the correct method for nurturing the Spiritual Embryo. He strongly recommended that I attend the Independent’s meeting. Only after I came did I realize that the Taoist Skills of this world were so diverse. Little Ten, what have you learned these days?"

Chen Shi shook his head, "I haven’t learned anything. I just contemplated the Divine Skill taught by Cold Mountain Wanderer and incidentally refined my soul."

Li Tianqing felt even more guilty and said, "I have delayed you too much. You could have left earlier. By the way, the skill Cold Mountain Wanderer passed on to us seems to be lacking something. Once I have it figured out, I’ll pass it on to you."

Chen Shi laughed and said, "I have already figured it out. Simply reversing the transformation makes the True Qi turn into Sword Qi, or it can turn into other spells. Or, instead of using paper cranes, if I use Magical Treasures, I can transform the treasure and preserve this breath of True Qi."

As he spoke, he gestured, turning a small knife into a flying bird that circled around them and then back into a knife.

"If one can multitask, then one can divide one’s consciousness, splitting one’s mental energy into many parts. A while ago, I could do up to ninety-seven parts."

Chen Shi’s thoughts stirred slightly, and the stones around the wooden cart suddenly turned into frogs under his transformation spell, croaking and hopping around the cart. "Now that my soul has grown stronger, I don’t know how many parts I can split it into."

Li Tianqing peeked outside and was startled to see that there were hundreds of frogs surrounding the wooden cart!

The two exchanged their learning, and Li Tianqing found that Chen Shi had only mastered this one skill but had practiced it to a profound level, and admired him greatly.

"Tianqing, do you know of the Resurrection Lotus?" Chen Shi asked.

"I do!"

Li Tianqing became serious, "It’s a kind of spirit-type sacred medicine from the underworld, a rare Spirit Root! It can be used to treat injuries to the soul, and to improve soul cultivation. Many Cultivation Techniques in the world cannot refine the soul, and those that can are the closely-guarded secrets of Great Families and major sects. So, the Resurrection Lotus is extremely precious and can even be used to cultivate the Primordial Spirit. Such a material is rare, and the price is high."

Chen Shi took out several Resurrection Lotuses and said with a smile, "We’re brothers, so I’ll sell you these five Resurrection Lotuses for a thousand Silver."

Li Tianqing was startled and said in disbelief, "How can this be? Such treasures are worth at least four to five hundred Silver each, a thousand Silver is not enough! Moreover, I’m not worth a thousand Silver if you sell me!"

Chen Shi stuffed them into his chest, still smiling, "Whether you eat them or use them in Alchemy, even if you sell them, it’s fine. Just keep them, I have more here, I’m almost sick of eating them. Remember, you owe me a thousand Silver. My clothes for the past few days..."

Li Tianqing hurriedly accepted the lotuses, saying, "I’ll wash them for you!"

He was overjoyed and said, "How could such treasures be eaten directly? Of course, they should be used in Alchemy! The Resurrection Pills made from them can save lives; one lotus can yield nine pills, and one pill can sell for five hundred Silver!"

Chen Shi pondered and asked: "Do you know Alchemy?"

Li Tianqing proudly replied, "A little. Not to conceal from you, besides washing clothes for pocket money in Gongzhou, I also earn money by making pills for others and am a somewhat famous Pill Master in Gongzhou. I get ten Silver per batch of pills I make for others!"

Chen Shi’s eyes lit up and he said, "Tianqing, if you help me make... a hundred batches of pills, you don’t have to pay back the thousand Silver you owe me."