16
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Since the founding of Great Qi, there has never been a lack of strange tales and legends.
Gathered in Kyoto, besides the Confucian scholars wearing headcloths, secretly, there were many strange people who entered this ancient city.
However, compared to the hustle and bustle of Kyoto today, it was very quiet in a small temple several hundred miles away from Kyoto.
Lu Qing bid farewell to Old Daoist Zuo Liang. The wooden box behind him was a treasure, and he was not alone. Although he could not compare to the orthodox major sects, Lu Qing had seen the name Huangyun Temple in records.
Old Daoist Zuo Liang had to return first to greet the people from his sect who were meeting him.
As soon as the young man in fitted clothes woke up, he immediately kowtowed to acknowledge him as his master.
Since Lu Qing's abilities were not displayed, the person he acknowledged as his master was naturally Old Daoist Zuo Liang.
Old Daoist Zuo Liang had not yet reacted, and he received several resounding kowtows.
Lu Qing observed from the side and saw clearly that this young man in fitted clothes had that trace of destiny connected to him. It was hard to say if his martial arts were good, but his cultivation Aptitude should not be bad either.
Didn't you see how Old Daoist Zuo Liang's eyebrows jumped up when he reached out to touch his bones?
"Congratulations, Old Dao, on gaining a good disciple."
"Ah, you are too kind."
"Old Dao will take him and leave first."
"Okay, Old Dao, take care."
The young man in fitted clothes's face was full of excitement. Before he could react, his collar at the back of his neck was lifted, and he was carried away by Old Daoist Zuo Liang, who stepped on the water.
"Master! Be careful!"
"You're going to fall into the water!!"
"Too timid! Practice more!"
Lu Qing couldn't help but laugh. The scholar Liu Jincai woke up with sleepy eyes, seeing two blurry black dots in his eyes, flying away like birds.
He subconsciously rubbed his eyes, "Was I dreaming?"
"Brother Liu, are you awake?"
It was not in vain that Lu Qing had dug up a lot of accumulated knowledge and experiences. His mood was very good at the moment. Cultivating the heavens and earth, the Mortal World is also one with the heavens and earth. Lu Qing transforms into the heavens and earth, and must also transform into the Mortal World.
This is also why he would use the Celestial Heart Treasure Orb to cultivation and observe the Mortal World here.
After all, Golden Core cultivation already has a tendency to be detached from the material world, but to be detached, one must first be within it.
Lu Qing knew that cultivating here would strengthen his foundation in this aspect. If he traveled too little in the Mortal World, it would be difficult to comprehend the heavens and earth during cultivation.
Liu Jincai heard the voice and seemed to wake up a little, "Eh, why is there one person missing?"
"He has already gone ashore."
Lu Qing smiled. No matter what, for most people who have not been exposed to it, cultivation is a magnificent fantasy.
However, once one enters cultivation, the trials one faces are no less simple than a normal person surviving for a hundred years. How the other person fares has nothing to do with him.
Traveling through the Mortal World, Lu Qing also looked forward to what he would see and hear next.
The boatman also woke up quickly. If one dreamed too sweetly about last night, it would be difficult to distinguish between reality and dreams.
The group tacitly 'forgot' about the events of that night.
As for Lu Qing, after bidding farewell to the waterway, he had now arrived in Qinzhou Prefecture. Beyond Qinzhou Prefecture was Kyoto. Lu Qing was not in a hurry. After activating his divine sense, the movements nearby quickly entered his ears.
"This place is in the middle of nowhere, no wonder the temples and daoist temples here couldn't survive."
Without incense offerings, the monks and Old Daos living here also needed to eat.
Lu Qing poked at a pile of firewood accumulated on the ground, but there was no kindling.
He raised his left hand. Although his fingers could not absorb the energy of the heavens and earth here in the void, just like the cultivation power here, he slowly used his divine sense to draw upon this energy of the heavens and earth.
The Heavenly Principle of the Five Elements of Heaven and Earth has always existed here.
As Lu Qing's thoughts shifted slightly, wood generated fire, and a faint warm flame appeared to the naked eye.
Then, with a boom, the firelight became even brighter.
The temple, which had become dim and overgrown with weeds as night was about to fall, suddenly became brightly lit.
The warmth brought by the reddish firelight on such an autumn night was obvious.
Lu Qing felt a warmth spread through his body. He held a thin withered branch in his hand. Seeing the flame rise, he also threw it into the burning bonfire.
Cracking sounds appeared.
At this moment, Lu Qing's divine sense moved slightly again. A trace of weary and restless human energy from afar, and another trace of cold energy, were both coming towards him along the mountain road.
"It seems someone else is coming tonight."
The last ray of sunlight in the sky disappeared into the mountains, and in the distance, a group of five people was walking up.
The slopes were all dirt roads. It was unlikely to walk on a wide official road that was convenient for walking. It was also difficult to walk up the mountain road.
Fortunately, it wasn't raining, otherwise, they would sink into the mud with every step.
This group of people thought the same way. Before the night completely darkened, they planned to find a place to stay.
"Grand Leader, you say, in this desolate wilderness, where could there be any sign of human habitation?"
Talking while walking was also a way to distract oneself. After all, this was a lonely mountain and wilderness. As the sun set, the birds and beasts here seemed to have entered the night realm.
The chirping of insects and birds had significantly decreased, leaving only the sound of human breathing. Walking at night inevitably made one's heart feel more and more uneasy.
There were five people in this group, all dressed as young martial heroes. The one who spoke was Old Three, known as Yan San. His Grand Leader, who was Yan Da, heard this and said, "Don't say anymore, I see firelight ahead."
Another person was the first to become somewhat excited. The others did not continue the topic and looked in the same direction. Indeed, they saw a faint firelight appearing not far ahead.
The vaguely visible outline of the temple over there also entered their eyes.
The group's spirits were lifted. It was great that there was a temple here. They didn't know if there was no village ahead.
"Let's walk faster and go there to rest."
With the target ahead, the group's movements were actually faster than before.
In a short while, they arrived at the main entrance.
Upon arriving, the five people also saw from the weeds and wild grass outside that this temple had been abandoned.
This was not uncommon.
But there was still a bonfire inside, and a figure was sitting by it.
Yan Da cupped his hands towards the inside and politely asked, "This brother, in this desolate wilderness, our brothers would like to roast by the fire inside. Please grant us the convenience."
The figure inside also smiled, "Friends, you jest. Anyone can come here. I just arrived a step earlier than you."
With these words, there were also shadows on the wall.
The group looked and felt somewhat relieved in their hearts. After all, the other person was alone. In the deep mountains and wild forests, if something were to happen, in terms of one-on-one combat, this group was not afraid.
After entering, they were startled to realize that the person speaking was actually a young man who was not old.
Seeing them enter, he even nodded.
The five young men also nodded and looked over. Before long, they quickly and skillfully gathered a lot of branches from outside. In a short while, they took out tinder, rubbed it, and a small flame appeared with a crackling sound. The firelight instantly shone on their faces.
The five people did not get very close to Lu Qing. One was in the east, and the group was in the west, with a clear sense of separation.
People who travel alone in the martial world mostly have some kind of reliance. The five people did not want to cause trouble at this time.
However, Lu Qing looked more like a scholar than a martial artist.
"Grand Leader, do you think Kyoto is really that good?"
It was only half past You Hour, and they were not yet sleepy. Several people also took out dry food, preparing to replenish their stomachs.
"That's right, the inside is a completely different world." The young man known as Yan Wu behind him quickly replied.
"Scholar, do you want something to eat? I have some flatbread here." Yan Da, who was in the lead, took out several oiled paper packets, pointed at them, and asked Lu Qing.
Lu Qing was not hungry originally, but when he saw the oiled paper packets, his divine sense turned, and he seemed to see some clues.
He laughed at this moment, "Then thank you, several Knight."
The oiled paper packets were well preserved. Most of the dry food in their bags was of this kind.
"Scholar, are you also traveling to Kyoto for the imperial examination this time?"
With the relationship slightly closer due to the food, the five people also looked at Lu Qing curiously.
"Haha, that's not wrong either." Traveling on the road and observing all living beings is also a form of mental cultivation assessment.
In these times, scholars could gain a lot of goodwill.
Once the conversation started, they continued chatting, and the vigilance and wariness easily disappeared during the conversation.
"Mr. Lu, with your ability, you will definitely pass the imperial examination!"
The few people were originally rough individuals. Lu Qing's conversation wasn't particularly eloquent, but his special calm demeanor and the stories and experiences in his words made them listen with fascination.
"Young Knight are too kind. Mr. Lu observes your demeanor and you also seem like Knight from a sect. Why are you also coming to Kyoto?"
Yan Er was the most lively one among the five.
...
