[Heavenly Marrow Exhaustion]
Ten thousand taels in deposits, an actual purchase of two thousand taels out of a budget of five thousand taels, left eight thousand taels.
Gu Wen slowly opened his eyes, he had gone bankrupt again.
Last night, he had spent a long time studying the Yuqing Heart Method which entirely dealt with how to cultivate the mental method and contained many notes and annotations from great powers.
Yu Hua, the immortal, had given him not just a cultivation technique, but an intricate and complete textbook. The book included the cultivation insights of ancestors from the Three Pure Sect across generations, and the characters used could easily number in the millions.
Whenever he felt puzzled about a section, the obscure scriptures of the mental method were accompanied by countless annotations from the great powers, some of which even transformed into a Daoist appearing in person to explain the Dao to Gu Wen one-on-one.
Perhaps this was the foundation of the Immortal Sect, the cultivation technique was no longer just a technique, nor were the Daoist scriptures merely dead words. Teaching was not solely reliant on one's comprehension, as countless ancestors exhaustively explained to assist future generations.
They discussed Qi Cultivation, yet it was not merely Qi Cultivation; it was also about Foundation Establishment, directly leading to the path of becoming an immortal.
[Yuqing Daoji Second Level: Purifying the Bones, Cultivating the Five Internal Divine Spirits]
[From one qi begins judgment, the Dual Principles fully arise, amid them is the human path, encompassing all spirits. I am one with heaven and earth, how can I separate myself, the Dao transforms here, returned to clarity...]
[Cultivating the Five Internal Divine Spirits, hopes of obtaining a top-grade Golden Core rise. Anyone who masters one of the Five Internal Divine Spirits can enter the Inner Sect.]
Complex and lengthy Daoist scriptures and mnemonics, containing many annotations-like small characters, within which were insubstantial shadows of Daoists.
It seemed like a ten-thousand-year-old Immortal Sect, where numerous immortals and great powers discussed the Dao, guiding later generations on how to cultivate, yet without the strict need for following exactly in their footsteps.
The Fate Diagram shifted slightly, once again refining the obscure and difficult Daoist scriptures, transforming them into things Gu Wen could understand.
The Second Level, internal refinement of the organs.
There were five minor realms in total, each internal organ's hammering difficulty was twice that of breaking through the First Level, meaning ten Heavenly Marrows were needed to break through to the Third Level, and then another pill from Yu Hua.
From Daoist to poor Daoist, could Yu Hua, the immortal, sponsor this poor Daoist?
This cultivation is way too hard, isn't it?
Gu Wen sighed again, then suddenly felt something odd under his body, looked down, and felt that the expenditure was worth it.
The functions of this body had no issues, but it was in a semi-crippled state, sometimes he mocked himself by saying he had reincarnated as "Lin Daiyu." The advantage was being pure in the six senses, less hormonal influence made a person more composed.
In the end, it was a kind of imperfection, and cultivation filled in this imperfection.
Cultivation, no matter what, is always good.
Gu Wen got up, sunlight streamed in from the window, and the morning 'radio exercises' peculiar to brothels reached his ears. But the restlessness of his recovered body was no match for his fervent passion for cultivation.
He sat back on the bed, closed his eyes, and began to practice his energies.
Although he had no more Heavenly Marrow, possessing even a slight skill added a bit of strength, gathering grains of sand formed a tower, gathering mounds of earth created a mountain, so nothing surpassed this.
Without any Immortal fate, he still stood above thousands, so even without the help of the Fate Diagram he must keep walking the path, and keep cultivating the Qi.
-----------------
At the mansion.
Yu Hua vaulted over the wall and, perhaps from staying awake for two days and nights in a row, landed awkwardly and sat down hard. A flash of light darted across the white clothing she wore, repelling mud and dust.
The donkey laughed disrespectfully, "Little ancestor, couldn't find your person again?"
"He wasn't at home last night."
Yu Hua spoke in her gentle voice that carried a hint of frustration after having only ascertained this fact after two nights of effort.
She didn't think it was a waste of time; this matter was extremely crucial for her and the descendants of the Gu family. What truly frustrated her were the restrictions of the Immortal Land, where the majority of Daoist Skills couldn't be used, and the inconvenience of being a mortal felt unbearable.
If this were outside, Yu Hua's Divine Thought would have scanned the entire city in an instant, and with one step, she would have found Gu Wen, but now, even confirming his location was difficult.
"Thinking of giving up?" the donkey asked, and then with a tendency to enjoy the drama added, "I remember that it was the Yuqing Sect who set the cause and effect with the ancestors of the Gu family back then. Perhaps that lad is also on guard against you now."
"I'll go again tonight."
Yu Hua answered firmly and turned to walk back into the house when suddenly, an annoying voice came from behind her.
"Yu Hua immortal, Yu Hua immortal!"
As usual, Zhao Feng arrived at the entrance of the small courtyard and, upon seeing the snowy white back, his face immediately showed joy, and he waved excitedly.
For three whole days, he had finally seen Yu Hua, even if it was just her back, but it still made his heart surge.
Yu Hua found him noisy and ignored him, continuing to walk toward the house on her own.
She wouldn't dislike someone without reason. Her first impression of Zhao Feng was quite ordinary. Then, learning of how he took pleasure in others' opportunities and saw the conduct of the Zhao family unfit for a ruler, she gradually disliked him.
Zhao Feng's pretense at being refined and cultured seemed even more ridiculous before her, like a buffoon on a small stage.
Seeing that he was ignored, Zhao Feng wanted to enter the yard but was stopped by the donkey, so he spoke louder, "Yu Hua immortal, I am here to discuss something serious with you, about the water veins. I have asked Gu Wen to wait at my mansion."
Yu Hua stopped and turned around, "Why did you call him?"
Could the Zhao family have discovered that I climb over the wall every night to meet Gu Wen's descendants?
She doesn't like Gu Wen that much? Finishing the cause and effect and not wanting to interfere further would also match a mountaintop person's temperament.
Both had different thoughts, and Zhao Feng replied, "Gu Wen is the chief steward of the Water House and is currently the person who understands Bianjing's water veins the best. If the immortal dislikes it, I can find someone else."
"His abilities are adequate, but others might not be so useful."
In terms of ability, even Zhao Feng had to speak well of Gu Wen, because his competence was something he absolutely recognized. Otherwise, Gu Wen would just be a domestic servant maintained by the palace, not the Marquis of Dragon Bridge.
He didn't want to replace him and then mess up the matters, tarnishing the immortal's good impression of him.
Knowing how to use people is an important skill for an Emperor.
"Mhm."
Yu Hua nodded slightly, not necessarily to provide the Cultivation Technique, but also to see him once again.
Even this minor action made Zhao Feng beam with delight as if blessed by heaven, "Then please come with me to the mansion."
The immortal has taken my suggestion! She nodded!
The two of them left the courtyard one after the other, with Yu Hua quickly walking ahead while Zhao Feng followed a step behind with an apologetic smile.
The palace guards and servants around them bowed their heads, fearing that seeing Ninth Prince's gaffe could lead to punishment. Feng Xiang hesitated, not knowing what to say, only feeling his master was too hasty.
Although immortals from heaven are indeed unique in the mortal realm, you too are a noble son of the heavenly family, not much different.
Zhao Feng himself did not see any problems, and even if he knew what these servants were thinking, he likely would have just scoffed.
Those slaves couldn't understand how significant Yu Hua immortal's background was. If Zhao Feng could win the Goddess' favor, the Emperor would immediately designate him as Crown Prince, or even abdicate early.
This was something the Lord Emperor had explicitly stated to him.
Zhao Feng initially knew not to be hasty, but after several days without being able to speak a single word, he became anxious. The principle of "whoever is closest to the water gets the moon first" is fine, but without taking action, proximity alone is useless.
Now, the more he groveled, the more addicted he became and the more he was rejected, the more he felt this was how a Goddess should act.
Under the heavens, no woman dared reject him like this before, not to mention have a completely overpowering status. Even the Emperor, whom Zhao Feng had always feared, treated Yu Hua with a high degree of respect.
He specifically warned himself not to fantasize about coercing her with force or power.