Chapter 7: Dharma Spells

Early morning.

The dazzling dawn leaped over Mount Dali, brushing across the golden, shimmering Wangyue Lake. The wind swept through the endless, layered reed marshes, carrying with it the sounds of children laughing and playing on the Meichi River.

Chen Erniu sat on the edge of the field, gazing at his crops with heavy worry, his heart preoccupied with his wife, who lay ill in bed.

Chen Erniu was born in Lichuankou, east of Mount Dali. More than twenty years ago, a drought struck Lichuankou for no apparent reason. Not a single drop of rain fell, and white smoke hissed from the parched earth, terrifying the villagers into fleeing in all directions.

He was only a half-grown boy then, and in his confusion, he fled to Lijing Village. After his desperate pleas, a farmer named Li Genshui took him in, and the following year, even rented him an acre of land to survive.

When he grew older, he rented another acre of paddy field, built a mud house, and married Li Genshui’s daughter, successfully putting down roots in the village with a respectable life.

But his wife had suddenly fallen ill. Fortunately, he had managed to save some money over the years. He carried her to the village entrance to see Mr. Han, who said it was just a minor ailment that could be cured with a few doses of medicine. He settled his wife at the doctor’s place, yet his heart remained heavy—a single illness could impoverish three generations!

"Uncle!" Chen Erniu was lost in thought when a bright voice startled him.

He saw a handsome young man walking toward the courtyard gate, a warm, eager smile on his face as he greeted him.

"Ah, Changhu, I don't deserve such a title, I really don't!"

Chen Erniu bowed repeatedly. He had only married a daughter of the Li family’s concubine, and he was merely their tenant; he truly could not bear to be addressed as "Uncle" by the eldest son.

Li Genshui was shrewd and capable, but he was also quite unfaithful. Not content with his wife, he had taken two women from the road as concubines. His wife had borne him two sons, while the concubines had given birth to three sons and four daughters.

Years ago, when Li Genshui was on his deathbed, his only legitimate son, who had been by his side, died suddenly. The several sons born of concubines were young and strong, eyeing the family’s dozen acres of land with predatory intent.

It was then that Li Mutian, who had run away from home, returned with a blade in hand and men at his back. This brutal veteran killed the treacherous steward with a single stroke. The wealthy family that had poisoned his brother and plotted to annex their land was slaughtered to the last person, not even sparing a dog.

Li Mutian and his two brothers carried blood-dripping blades, dragging corpses on carts. A bloody trail stretched from the end of the village to the beginning. Every household in the village bolted their doors, everyone fearing for their lives. Li Mutian’s younger brothers were terrified, assuming that since the true master had returned, they would have no share of the land.

To everyone’s surprise, Li Mutian summoned his brothers and spoke of how those born of the same father should be of one mind. He divided the wealthy family’s land, giving two acres to each brother and four acres to each of the men he had brought back. Grateful, the brothers repeatedly called him the head of the family, and thus, the hierarchy was established.

Looking at Li Changhu’s gentle smile, Chen Erniu couldn't help but see it overlap with Li Mutian’s cold, blood-splattered face. Standing under the scorching sun, he shivered and asked respectfully

"What brings you here, Changhu?"

"Oh, Uncle, you are too polite." Li Changhu smiled and said softly

"I heard Aunt is ill, and Father thought you wouldn't have the time to cook, so he specifically sent me to invite you and Xiao Ze to our home to taste my mother’s cooking."

"This… I’m so embarrassed." Chen Erniu offered a strained smile, caught in a dilemma.

"It’s settled! Mother has already prepared the meal." Li Changhu patted Chen Erniu on the shoulder and took his leave.

"Alright then." Chen Erniu smiled and shook his head, calling into the house

"Xiao Ze, tidy up. We’re going to your uncle’s house for dinner tonight."

The Li family had renovated their residence the year before last, expanding it several times over. The entire compound faced south, rectangular in shape. The front courtyard was paved with stone bricks and furnished with stone locks, looking much like a place for martial arts practice. Chen Erniu looked at the stone locks, which appeared quite heavy, and couldn't help but click his tongue in admiration

"Does the Li family have a method for martial arts? What a fine stone lock."

Stepping onto the stone bricks into the main courtyard, he saw a pond built in the center with a few crucian carp swimming inside. The main hall, surrounded by bluestone, was flanked by the rooms of Li Changhu and Li Tongya. The houses, corridors, and gates were all paved with stone slabs or steps, looking quite imposing.

Li Tongya greeted them as they entered the main courtyard. He was eighteen now but had yet to marry. Li Changhu, however, had married the second daughter of the Ren family, having brought her home in a grand ceremony some time ago.

Chen Erniu ate dinner with the Li family and sat in the courtyard chatting idly, when he saw Li Chijing hurry into the front courtyard and whisper a few words into Li Mutian’s ear.

Li Chijing was only nine years old, but he was handsome and looked bright and clever, making him particularly well-liked by his uncles and brothers.

Li Mutian was watching the younger generation chat leisurely when he heard Li Chijing whisper in his ear

"Father, that… the mirror has lit up!"

He remained calm, patted his legs, and said to the group

"I’m getting old and can’t sit still for long. I’ll go rest; you all continue chatting." With that, he turned and headed to the backyard. Everyone quickly agreed, and Chen Erniu bowed, preparing to take his leave.

There were several rooms in the back hall. Li Mutian entered the ancestral hall, which was the most central and spacious. Inside, memorial tablets stood before offerings of fruit, honoring the six generations of ancestors found through searching the village records.

Li Mutian pushed against the wall, revealing a hidden compartment behind it.

The compartment had a skylight, and moonlight spilled onto a bluestone platform inside.

On the platform sat a grey-blue bronze mirror, which was indeed shining with a bright, water-like white light.

"Three years… Jing'er, go call your brothers."

Li Mutian looked at the bronze mirror, his brow furrowed.

"Yes." Li Chijing nodded vigorously and ran out to find his brothers.

————

When Lu Jiangxian woke up, his mind was heavy with information. He took the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn to calm himself and begin reading the information from the jade stone.

"The Taiyin Breathing and Wheel-Nurturing Scripture"!

This cultivation method primarily taught how to manipulate the spiritual energy of heaven and earth through the "apertures" of the human body, drawing upon the lunar essence of the Taiyin. Once one cultivated the six wheels of fetal breathing, they could use these six wheels to extend their life, nourish their spirit, and perform various magical arts. Once the six wheels were nurtured to the fullness of a full moon, one could enter the Qi Refining stage.

Attached were several minor arts, such as the Golden Light Art, Cleansing Art, Water-Avoidance Method, Exorcism Art, and Heart-Link Art. As long as one cultivated the six wheels, they could trigger spiritual energy according to the scripture.

At the same time, the scripture mentioned that the six realms of immortality were Fetal Breathing, Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Purple Mansion, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul. What this jade recorded was the Fetal Breathing Wheel-Nurturing Method of the Yue Kingdom’s Immortal Mansion, the Moon Essence Mansion, distributed to disciples of the Fetal Breathing stage for study and practice.

After devouring the jade, Lu Jiangxian felt as if he had gained enlightenment on many things. Not only had his divine sense expanded to twenty zhang, but his limit for lunar essence had also increased many times over. As long as there was enough lunar essence, the minor arts recorded in the "Taiyin Breathing and Wheel-Nurturing Scripture" could be performed within a zhang of the mirror's body.

Most importantly, a magical art emerged from the mirror’s own memory, called

"The Mysterious Pearl Spirit-Worshipping Art"!