Chapter 36: Practice

The progress bar... will it fail?

Is it because the opponent is too strong?

Li Qi thought so.

However, he immediately shook off these thoughts.

There's no need to dwell on such things; it's better to first figure out how to cultivate. That's the Righteous Path.

It is spring. Spring means budding and stirring. Its position is in the East. Its color is Azure. Its sound is 'jue', which means the stirring and shining of Qi. Its Emperor is Tai Hao, and Hao means the great rising and disturbing of all things. Its god is Gou Mang, who signifies the beginning of life, and his essence is the Azure Dragon. Mang means sprouting.

Sacrifice isn't just about kneeling and begging; that's only a small part. Li Qi looked at the descriptions in the 'Zhu' book. First, one needs to use ash and water to wind a path from outside the door into and around the room. This is called 'Drawing the Dragon Back'.

After that, one also needs to light grass and wood. He grabbed a handful from outside, lit it, and waved it around. This is called 'Smoking Insects'.

There are other rituals, such as 'Stir-frying Beans' and 'Wu Yu', all part of the rites of food and drink. Only after a complete set of procedures is the sacrifice considered complete.

Although there were no stir-fried beans, rice cakes were used instead.

It should be fine.

Li Qi was busy for nearly half an hour before finishing.

Then, he felt the peculiar changes in his body.

The Dragon-shaped constellation rising in the East projected a stream of Qi into his body.

A peculiar power.

He couldn't describe what it was.

He only felt that he seemed to have become stronger? And then... there was a feeling of vibrant life?

It's quite natural. Spring is the time when Heaven and Earth communicate, all things begin to grow, and Yin and Yang intertwine. The Azure Dragon is the East of the Four Symbols, and Wood governs the East, corresponding to spring. Wood means touching; Yang Qi touches and moves, emerging from the ground. Water flows eastward to give birth to Wood; Wood grows upwards and covers downwards, which is its natural quality.

Previously, using water to guide wood, one obtained 'Drawing the Dragon Back'. Water gives birth to wood, the Qi is immeasurable, things are timely, branches and leaves are lush, forming a dense forest, taking its abundance of wood. When wood is born, the spirit thrives, hence it is called Great Forest Wood.

This is the power representing the breath of life, and it is the power that can be obtained through sacrifice and prayer at this moment.

Li Qi only felt that all the fatigue from two days of hard work had disappeared.

He was full of energy, and even the Qi depletion caused by the Ox Strength Technique was healed!

His barren miniature Heaven and Earth within his body finally welcomed its first wisp of external Qi.

It was as if a long drought had met sweet rain; a vibrant power filled his body. Li Qi even felt himself grow taller.

A sudden realization surged within him, and even the world before his eyes changed.

He... truly stepped onto the path of cultivation, following the path of the Invoker in Shaman Dao, a branch of Di Qi (Earthly Qi).

After truly drawing Qi into his body, he felt that his perception of the world had changed.

Under the guidance of the Great Forest Wood Qi, he seemed to be able to faintly see the different types of Qi in the world.

Heaven has Heavenly Qi, Earth has Earthly Qi, humans have Human Qi, demons have Demon Qi, and gods have Divine Qi. Different things have different properties of Qi.

Various types of Qi are also different. For example, Heavenly Qi includes the eight winds and six temperaments; these are Heavenly Qi, assisting Heaven and Earth in creating all things. It is also like music, which harmonizes Qi, transforms the common people, and perfects their nature and life.

There is the Qi of Tai Cu, symbolizing the birth of all things.

Yin Qi is beneath the Yellow Springs, nurturing all things.

There are many, many more classifications of Qi: summer Qi, dew Qi, miscellaneous Qi, and so on.

Different types of Qi, when gathered, can produce different effects.

Just like humans, they are born from the Yin and Yang Qi.

Thunder is the exhalation of Yang Qi.

Wu Tu Qi can produce a glow; earth has no specific Qi, but relies on fire to be born and on the sun to manifest.

Clouds, on the other hand, are the Qi of mountains and marshes.

The 'Zhu' book states: 'All things in Heaven and Earth are born of Qi. When Qi interacts and transforms, it gives birth to all things. Therefore, where Qi reaches, one can know the Origin of its kind.'

This means that countless types of Qi combined to create this world. As long as one can distinguish the properties and abilities of all types of Qi, one can understand the Origin of the world.

For example, the four seasons are the result of the circulation of six types of Qi, namely Yin Qi, Yang Qi, Wind Qi, Rain Qi, Obscure Qi, and Bright Qi.

As the saying goes: 'Heaven has six types of Qi: Yin, Yang, Wind, Rain, Obscurity, and Brightness.'

Li Qi didn't recognize most of the different types of Qi; he could barely recognize a small portion with the help of the 'Zhu' book. However, at this moment, he couldn't bother with so much. He circulated the Great Forest Wood Qi he had just obtained and opened his eyes to observe all the Qi around him.

By attaching Qi to his eyes, he could observe other types of Qi.

Although this would cause consumption, it wasn't significant. Someone like Li Qi, who had just drawn Qi into his body, could maintain it for about an hour before it ended.

In this state, Li Qi could even see the nourishing Qi and protective Qi on Shen Shuibi, who was still sound asleep.

They were both new types of Qi. It seemed she hadn't lied; the Qi on her body was very weak and very new. He could feel that it was definitely the result of her cultivation being abolished and then re-cultivated.

At the same time, he used the Ox Strength Technique.

Now, his Ox Strength Technique no longer had the ten-minute time limit. Instead, it would only end when the Qi in his miniature Heaven and Earth was exhausted.

Of course, the limit of three times a day was still there.

He now understood why there was a limit of three times a day. It was because... that Di Qi, Qiong Cow, didn't want others to be able to use it whenever they wanted, as that would make it seem cheap... so if someone borrowed his power three times in a row, he would stop giving it.

Truly, quite willful.

The Ox Strength Technique, when activated with Great Forest Wood Qi, seemed to have improved in duration. This was determined by the nature of the Qi.

Furthermore, he could also feel the process...

This technique didn't appear out of thin air. When he activated it, he could feel a faint stream of Qi transmitting from the Void Realm.

That was the Divine Qi of the Di Qi, Qiong Cow.

This Divine Qi brought the extraordinary abilities of thickened skin, vigorous Yang Qi, and abundant strength, allowing Li Qi to possess the combat power of one against ten.

The Wood Qi brought new characteristics to this technique. Because the nature of the Qi was compatible, Li Qi felt his stamina had become stronger. Previously, although his explosive power was fierce, there would always be times when he needed to recover Qi. But now, he didn't need to recover Qi and could unleash many punches at full strength in one go.

Having completed the sacrifice to the Heavenly God and obtained the first wisp of Great Forest Wood Qi, Li Qi unhesitatingly began the second round, which was the sacrifice to the Di Qi.

At this time of year, what should be sacrificed to the Di Qi?

At this time, one should sacrifice to the Five Household Gods.

What are the Five Household Gods? They are the door, the gate, the well, the stove, and the central dwelling. Why are they sacrificed? Because they are where people enter and exit, and where they eat and drink, they are considered gods and sacrificed to.

But there are rules for this as well.

Why is the sacrifice to the Five Household Gods performed once a year? To follow the Five Elements.

Therefore, in spring, one sacrifices to the household gate. The household gate is where people enter and exit, and in spring, all things begin to touch the gate and emerge.

In summer, one sacrifices to the stove, the master of fire, by which one sustains oneself. Summer is also when fire is ascendant, nurturing all things.

In autumn, one sacrifices to the main gate. The main gate is for closing and storing oneself securely. Autumn is also when all things mature, and one prepares and defends oneself.

In winter, one sacrifices to the well. The well is where water is born, stored, and contained within the earth. Winter is also when water is ascendant, and all things are hidden.

In the sixth month, one sacrifices to the central dwelling. The central dwelling symbolizes earth in the center, and the sixth month is also when earth is ascendant.

Therefore, the 'Zhu' book clearly states: 'In spring, its sacrifice is to the household gate.'

Sacrificing to the household god is actually sacrificing to the two gods, Yu Lei and Shen Tu.

These two Di Qi are skilled at governing evil spirits, and thus are revered as household gods.

To sacrifice to them, Li Qi took out his willow branch.