Chapter 509: Turtle temperament

Inside Zhu Fengdan’s main hall, three people and one horse sat facing each other.

Zhu Fengdan sat in the main seat, Li Qi sat opposite him, and Shen Shuibi was next to Li Qi, facing Zhu Fengdan.

The old horse, meanwhile, was at a side table, gobbling down Spiritual Plants to his heart’s content.

Having never feasted like this in his life, he wasn't interested in anything else, only picking out the spiritual flowers.

Flowers of at least the ninth-grade, such as peonies, herbaceous peonies, kerrias, Banksianae roses, tea roses, climbing roses, golden gauze flowers, hydrangeas, small peonies, crabapples, flowering plums, wandering roses, monthly roses, pink snowball viburnums, azaleas, paeonias, thousand-leaf peaches, scarlet peaches, fragrant plums, purple smiles, periwinkles, Judas trees, golden peas, bridal wreaths, fragrant orchids, narcissus, and rhododendrons—all uniquely exquisite, and prime ingredients for refining medicine and making incense—were all chewed up and swallowed by the old horse without a second glance.

Above the main hall, the exterior decorations had also changed; the pile of seemingly trash, but actually treasures, had been put away, presumably packed up and discarded by Zhu Fengdan, replaced by extreme beauty.

Carved beams echoed with swallows, ornate railings with orioles, and the quiet courtyard was brightly lit with a soft, diffused light; if one were to enjoy the scenery, it would be hard to describe it fully with a single word.

As for the old horse’s table, it was all vegetarian, but the table here had a mix of meat and vegetables.

Apes' lips, roasted deer, horn swallow's crisp, boiled fat, deer tendon, bear paws from Shudang, yak tails from Maoxiang, cassia crabs, stone abalones, carp from Hewei, trout from Gongluo, crucian carp from Dongting, stingrays from the East Sea, precious pearls and jades, yellow mackerel, stewed soft-shelled turtle, roasted lamb, stewed duck, clam stew, imperial green tea, Guazhou water caltrops, Liang rice from Jino, fragrant wild rice, fine millet, wild rice from Kuaiji, rice from Buzhou, grain from Xuanshan, millet from Yangshan, black millet from the South Sea, flowers from Shoumu, leaves from Xuanmu, celery from Mengze, water chestnuts from Juqu, ginger from Yangpu, cassia from Zhaoyao, cheese fungus from Yue, eggs from Changze, dew from Sanwei, peaches from Kunlun, yellow-throated stew, sobering mackerel, one-zhang-three-section sugarcane, one-year-one-flower pear, walking rice, zhang pine, kiln loach, clam sauce, perilla paste, purple cuttlefish, thousand-mile orchid, ten-thousand-zhang sashimi, and mosquito feet—all meticulously prepared, refined through countless processes, exotic fruits and delicious dishes, infused with new fragrances, these were the top-tier ingredients from various regions, and the cooking methods were also exceptionally skillful.

Just finishing this table of dishes, Shen Shuibi estimated she could save a hundred years of arduous cultivation, allowing her slow, meticulous progress to advance by leaps and bounds, directly reducing the time needed for cultivation.

However, at present, no one was willing to appreciate these beautiful sights, nor did anyone pick up their chopsticks.

Mainly, Zhu Fengdan's expression was rather awkward.

He extended his chopsticks, picked up a piece of fish for Shen Shuibi, and said, “Ahem, a misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding. Look, when you came, you didn’t send a visiting card in advance. If there had been a visiting card, this wouldn’t have happened…”

At this point, he suddenly held his chopsticks upright, his face instantly darkened, and he sharply tapped the tip of the chopsticks on Li Qi’s head, saying at the same time, “You scoundrel! I think you did this on purpose! You even told my Disciple-Daughter-in-Law not to bother with formalities. Am I such a casual and rude person?!”

With that chopstick tap, there was a crisp thud, and Li Qi gasped, sharply lowering his head and closing his eyes to avoid losing control of his expression.

Damn it, his Nascent Soul was stunned!

Good heavens, his intelligence dropped by five points.

But there was no choice… Li Qi had indeed said that visiting cards weren’t necessary, and he felt he hadn’t said anything wrong.

But what could be done?

Just take the beating obediently.

If he had tried to argue, it wouldn't have just been a tap on the head.

Shen Shuibi, however, lowered her head slightly and glanced at the orchid placed beside her.

Thankfully… the other party didn't blame her.

At that time, her eyes had instantly turned red, and she had actually dared to attack Grand Invoker.

Normally, in such a situation, she would have already died.

Fortunately, the other party was truly as Li Qi had said, not bothered by formalities, and didn't mind such a thing. He even immediately retreated and, surprisingly, apologized to her, despite his status as Grand Invoker.

From his demeanor, it seemed to be a sincere and earnest apology.

To be honest, Shen Shuibi felt a sense of being overwhelmed by favor; she had never seen such a free-spirited Great Power, who seemed to embody the Daoist concept of carefree wandering even better.

However, with the other party showing such an attitude, Shen Shuibi couldn't really continue to argue, so she said, “It was indeed a misunderstanding. Grand Invoker need not take it to heart. Our unannounced visit was already impolite, and we feel ashamed. We hope Grand Invoker will be magnanimous.”

Zhu Fengdan sized up Shen Shuibi, then said, “Sigh, it’s good that you don’t blame me. By the way, this kid usually avoids me, fearing to meet me. Why did he proactively visit this time? What do you need me for?”

Upon hearing this, Shen Shuibi immediately stood up, clasped her hands in front of her chest, and bowed, “Li Qi and I have been together for a long time, yet we have delayed in coming to pay our respects, which is a lack of wifely virtue and disrespect to Master. To neglect one’s family is an unfilial act, and my heart is already filled with admonition and shame. This is considered a breach of Shaman Dao etiquette, with the implication of not honoring the ancestral temple. Therefore, upon our return, my heart was urgent, and I specifically came to pay respects to esteemed Master to complete the proper rites.”

“Ha, so it’s just this small matter, but it’s good. It’s just right for me to see you two. Sigh, as a Master, I haven’t even found a Master’s wife for you yet, but you, kid, already got one first. Really, how did you become so promising?” Zhu Fengdan chuckled, then pressed down on Li Qi’s hair, seemingly forgetting that he had almost smashed Li Qi’s head just now.

“Ahem, it’s all thanks to Master’s excellent guidance,” Li Qi dared not say more now, only able to respond in this way.

“Guidance my foot, I never taught you to do this. It’s just that your own taste is quite good. You started planning when you weren’t even ranked, and now you’ve achieved success. Good eye,” Zhu Fengdan spoke without any reservations, saying these words right in front of Shen Shuibi.

Upon hearing this, Shen Shuibi straightened her back a little, sitting even more upright. From his tone, Zhu Fengdan seemed to be about to comment on her.

A Grand Invoker’s comment, that was truly something one dared not listen to lightly.

“Gentle in body, firm in nature, pure as an orchid, seemingly swaying with the pine wind, yet subtly containing dew and concealing brilliance, growing delicate roots to establish your foundation, blossoming beautifully, holding Spiritual Qi within your heart. In coming and going, your heart can maintain stillness, and the Dao will naturally settle. Your future is stronger than your sister’s,” Zhu Fengdan said, giving his evaluation to the young couple.

Upon hearing this, Li Qi’s heart settled completely.

These words were enough to show that Zhu Fengdan was very fond of his Disciple-Daughter-in-Law; this evaluation was quite high.

And what he said was truly on point.

The rabbit seemed gentle and pliable, as if she would agree to anything, but in reality, she was more resolute than anything about her own goals.

She had lived for over nine thousand years, cultivating silently for all that time, doing almost nothing else, which clearly showed her unwavering perseverance.

Furthermore, Zhu Fengdan also said, “growing delicate roots to establish your foundation, blossoming beautifully.”

That is to say, he affirmed the results of Shen Shuibi’s efforts, believing that she had already ‘borne fruit,’ having her own unique achievements, rather than merely repeating others’ ideas, following the path of predecessors step by step, and becoming a pure imitator.

However, after saying these things, Zhu Fengdan looked at Li Qi.

This gaze made Li Qi’s hair stand on end, so Li Qi immediately said, “Teacher, is there a problem?”

“She is like this, but you are not,” Zhu Fengdan said, shaking his head.

Li Qi felt ashamed and lowered his head, remaining silent.

Yes, Li Qi was not like this. Li Qi still hadn't comprehended anything of his own; that is to say, he hadn't walked his own path. Although his cultivation was broad and varied, it was all based on others' things.

Zhu Fengdan picked up a dish, chewing, and said unceremoniously, “Your Dao Resonance is very mysterious. Its intensity isn’t high, but it’s incredibly convenient for cultivation, allowing you to directly read others’ Dao and even learn it directly. This makes it easy for your cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds, especially in the early stages.”

“Look at you, cultivating for less than ten years, and you’ve already entered the sixth-grade. This speed has already alarmed the upper echelons of Shaman God Mountain. Otherwise, with what you’ve done now, even with my protection, you’d have to suffer a bit.”

“Now, several Shaman God have already started paying attention to you, wanting to see what you do next. Between ourselves, your next step will determine whether you are a fleeting sensation or truly capable of reaching a high position.”

Upon hearing this, Li Qi immediately stood up and bowed, “Please, Teacher, instruct me.”

He knew that Zhu Fengdan was getting down to business.

This was indeed the most urgent matter he was currently facing.

How did he enter the sixth-grade?

It was simple: he directly used the Great Dao of a third-grade Great Power to infuse his mind, absorbing a portion of it and reading the other party's understanding of the Dao, thus entering the sixth-grade.

In other words, at this moment, his sixth-grade cultivation was almost a complete replica of that third-grade Human Dao Great Power; this was the other party's Dao, not Li Qi's own.

Besides that… it seemed other things were also similar.

The Buddhist Dao came from Chan Zhi, and the Buddhist scriptures Li Qi read.

The Daoist Dao was directly copied from Shen Shuibi.

The Human Dao came from the professors of Imperial Academy and the special lessons given by Imperial Academy’s Chancellor.

The Shaman Dao, of course, was the “Zhu” Book, the orthodox Legacy of Shaman God Mountain.

The Demonic Dao was directly instilled into him by the Heavenly Demon; Li Qi hadn't even studied it himself.

His cultivation was a process of picking up things from others; his learning speed seemed incredibly fast, but in most cases, he was just a copier, a library, only occasionally needing to think and integrate for himself.

“Your cultivation is too convenient. Others need to comprehend for a long time, but you just need to glance at it, not only because you are intelligent, but also because of your Dao Resonance. But the Dao Resonance is not the mistake, the mistake is yourself. Do you remember what the Demonic Prince said to you?” Zhu Fengdan asked Li Qi.

“What the Demonic Prince said to me?” Li Qi recalled.

What the Demonic Prince said to him… hmm, could it be that one line?

The Demonic Prince called him a ‘weakling,’ saying he was too conservative.

Therefore, the Demonic Prince would force him, constantly pressuring him to use those untried methods.

Zhu Fengdan looked at Li Qi and said, “You have learned so many things, but the more you know, the more afraid you become, the more you fear using methods you don’t know or understand, because you know that sometimes simply using and understanding them can cause severe, irreversible hidden injuries to your Dao Heart.”

“So, you’ve truly stopped progressing. You don’t dare to step out. Then I ask you, are you not already constrained by the greatest ‘hidden injury’ now?”

These words made Li Qi suddenly break out in a cold sweat.

Yes, Li Qi was very afraid of taking the wrong path.

He had said more than once that the Dao path was perilous, and if one took a wrong step, there might be no opportunity in the future. Perhaps a single misstep, unnoticed at the time, could prove fatal later on when cultivating to a higher grade, directly sealing off all his possibilities.

The more he understood, the more Li Qi realized this, so he had been testing, constantly testing, preparing to clarify and integrate everything he learned.

Li Qi believed that doing so was solidifying his foundation. Anyway, he wasn’t short on time, so as long as he understood the effects and drawbacks of all methods, he could choose the correct path from them, exploring step by step, ensuring every step was right.

This was his idea, and he was planning to do it this way, because Great Shaman Mi Xin had told him the qualities a Long-Lived One should possess.

Since he was already a Long-Lived One, longevity had no meaning to him, so it was better to spend more time and proceed more cautiously.

Rapidly advancing to the sixth-grade was not a good thing for him.

The Demonic Prince mocked him as a ‘weakling’ for this, forcing him to use the techniques he dared not use. Therefore, Li Qi finally had to take that step, but this only strengthened Li Qi’s conviction. He increasingly began to feel that “cultivating quickly is not a good thing,” and prepared to solidify his foundation thoroughly at the sixth-grade, slowly making up for any previous omissions.

But now, Zhu Fengdan suddenly told him that doing so had already plunged him into another crisis.

Zhu Fengdan casually picked up a dish and said, “It’s true that one should not be reckless on the path of cultivation, but being timid and shrinking back is no different from being reckless. Without a Dao Heart of courageous diligence, the path ahead will only become harder.”

“I’ve noticed you’re having trouble distinguishing between ‘conservatism’ and ‘cowardice.’ Tell me, what are you planning to do next? Also, don’t just stand there, making it look like I’m scolding you. Sit down and eat! Do you know how much this table of takeout costs?” Zhu Fengdan tapped his bowl and chopsticks, completely disregarding table manners.

Takeout…

Li Qi wiped away a bead of sweat, his tense mood easing somewhat.

Thinking about it, it was indeed true; how could Master cook himself? They had suddenly arrived, and then this table of fine food and wine appeared—it must have been takeout.

“Come, come, Disciple-Daughter-in-Law, you eat too. Let’s ignore him. He’s too meticulous, too conservative. It’s good for him to stand there and think,” Zhu Fengdan, on the other hand, was completely unburdened from beginning to end, urging them to eat.

He himself wasn't idle, eating very quickly, though not sloppily. While fast, he still had some table manners, it was just his habit of tapping chopsticks on the bowl that was rather unseemly.

As for Li Qi, he didn't stand either, but sat down, though he didn't pick up his chopsticks, merely lowering his head in contemplation.

Shen Shuibi also didn't pick up her chopsticks, instead watching Li Qi with a slightly worried expression.

The old horse, however, was carefree; since he had his own small table, he had already eaten until his belly was round.

Zhu Fengdan, on the other hand, ate for a few minutes, then noticed that neither of them had moved, and felt a little awkward.

So, he put down his bowl and prompted, “Think about how the Demonic Prince provoked you? I think my Disciple-Daughter-in-Law is the only thing that can make your turtle-like personality anxious and agitated, right?”