Chapter 63 - Preaching by the Riverbank

For three consecutive days, Gu Ning'an sat cross-legged beneath the kumquat tree. It was both cultivation and a form of rest.

Plop!

From the top of the kumquat tree, a pale golden fruit fell, landing squarely on Gu Ning'an's robe.

The unexpected disturbance broke his meditative state. Glancing at the kumquat resting on his robe, he smiled and picked it up.

The fruit felt smooth, like a piece of warm jade, and exuded a faint, refreshing fragrance. Placing it in his mouth, he gently bit into it. Sweet juice with just the right touch of tartness filled his mouth.

Looking up, Gu Ning'an saw eight more fruits remaining on the branches. Including the one that had fallen, the tree bore exactly nine kumquats—matching the auspicious number "Nine Suns."

Realizing the small quantity, Gu Ning'an mentally calculated who might need the fruits the most before saying, "Let me have three more."

At his words, the kumquat tree swayed again, generously dropping three more fruits.

Gu Ning'an caught them, tucked them into his sleeve, and, after a quick wash and a simple meal, stepped out of the courtyard.

"Look, that's the immortal!"

"My grandpa told me his name is Master Gu."

"That's right! My uncle said so too—Master Gu is extraordinary!"

By the Eight-Zhang River, a group of children playing by the water whispered excitedly as Gu Ning'an approached.

They were curious but didn't dare stare for too long. Instead, pairs of timid eyes occasionally darted in his direction.

Then, in an instant, as they all turned away and looked back, they discovered that Gu Ning'an, who had been standing by the riverbank, was gone.

"Ah! The immortal disappeared!"

"Yes, yes! He vanished in the blink of an eye!"

"Did he fall into the river?"

"Nonsense! Immortals don't fall into rivers—they fly away!"

Without his presence, the children forgot to lower their voices, chirping like sparrows in their excitement.

"Master Gu, can they no longer see us?" asked Hu Shi, standing beside Gu Ning'an with a puzzled expression.

Short in stature, Hu Shi had been hidden behind Gu Ning'an earlier, so the children hadn't noticed him.

But now, with Master Gu still clearly in place, why were the children saying he had flown away?

In response to Hu Shi's confusion, Gu Ning'an simply smiled and said, "The Redtail Fish will appear soon. I didn't want to scare them, so I cast a concealment spell."

Hearing this, Hu Shi nodded thoughtfully. "A concealment spell? Can I learn it?"

Without answering, Gu Ning'an pointed to the river and said with a smile, "Sit on the Redtail Fish's back. I'll explain the Lesser Yin Resonance Chapter to you."

Following Gu Ning'an's gesture, Hu Shi saw the Redtail Fish emerging from the water. Its two massive eyes glistened as it floated silently on the surface.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

"Good… day… Master!"

Gu Ning'an nodded in acknowledgment. The Redtail Fish then raised its faintly red tail, scooped up Hu Shi, and placed him gently on its back.

Once Hu Shi was seated, Gu Ning'an tossed two kumquats toward them. "One for each of you. Eat."

To the Redtail Fish, the kumquats were as small as pigeon eggs. It swallowed one whole with a single gulp.

Hu Shi, however, took his time. He sniffed the kumquat's fragrance before eating it in three bites. Smiling broadly, he exclaimed, "Sweet! This little kumquat is so sweet!"

Seeing him prepare to spit out the seeds, Gu Ning'an reminded him, "Swallow the seeds too. They're good for your health."

"Understood!" Hu Shi nodded and gulped down the kumquat seeds with a loud gulp.

After eating the kumquat, Hu Shi's cheeks flushed red, making him look as though he had been drinking.

The Redtail Fish, on the other hand, showed no visible changes. Yet its large eyes rolled left and right, as though slightly dazed.

Seeing the timing was right, Gu Ning'an cleared his throat and began, "Heaven and Earth's yin and yang are divided into four phases: Lesser Yin, Lesser Yang, Greater Yin, and Greater Yang. They represent the transformation process of yin and yang in Heaven and Earth…

"For instance, take a single day as an example. Zi hour (midnight) is when yin is at its peak, and a single yang begins to emerge. As time progresses, the yang energy grows stronger, reaching its peak at noon…"

As Gu Ning'an carefully explained the Lesser Yin Resonance Chapter, the sky gradually transitioned from blue to red, eventually forming a radiant red glow.

The crimson light resembled a long, narrow ribbon that descended above Hu Shi and the Redtail Fish. The clear surface of the Eight-Zhang River reflected the fiery hue, transforming into a sea of red.

Gradually, a dark light emerged from the Redtail Fish's backbone, bringing it a profound sense of comfort. It wanted to roar with delight but held back, afraid of disrupting Gu Ning'an's teaching.

Nearby, Hu Shi's incomplete Three Souls of Heaven, Earth, and Human began to merge and strengthen, nourished by the kumquat and his understanding of the Lesser Yin Resonance Chapter.

In a short time, Hu Shi's souls became incredibly solid. Not only did they fill in the missing parts, but they also grew stronger than those of most ordinary people.

The benefits of having powerful souls manifest in many ways. A simple example is that even without cultivation or spells, someone with robust souls can resist and repel ordinary spirits and demons purely through their innate vitality.

"Today, as you listen to me expound on the Lesser Yin Resonance Chapter, you must keep your heart clear and your intentions pure. If, in the future, you lose this childlike innocence, the blessings you've received today may become the cause of your downfall."

With that, Gu Ning'an waved his sleeve. The red glow in the sky transformed into two fiery clouds, descending into the bodies of Hu Shi and the Redtail Fish.

These two strands of spiritual energy served both as blessings and as constraints.

If Hu Shi were to one day misuse his newfound intelligence and exceptional spiritual sensitivity for selfish or harmful purposes, everything he gained today would be taken back—multiplied.

The same applied to the Redtail Fish. Its good fortune today was entirely due to its innate benevolence. With Gu Ning'an's help refining its backbone, its future path would be smooth.

One day, it might even "leap over the dragon gate" and ascend to greater heights.

However, if it lost its kind heart and used its cultivation to harm others, its eventual downfall would likely be even worse than Hu Shi's.

After all, it was a demon and would face tribulations. Whether those tribulations would be manageable depended on whether it stayed true to the right path.

"Your teachings are etched into our hearts!"

"Your student Hu Shi humbly thanks you, Master! With the teachings you've imparted, I vow to use them to aid those in need!"

The Redtail Fish and Hu Shi responded in turn, with the latter kneeling on the fish's back and kowtowing three times.

Hearing Hu Shi refer to himself as a student, Gu Ning'an instinctively thought of "Shi Yi" and felt something was amiss. He waved his hand and said, "Don't call yourself my student. I haven't taught you much."

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