I forge immortality with spiritual treasures.

Chapter 13 Fishing in the Clouds
The moon sets and the sun rises.

As dawn broke and the morning bells rang, the first chimes of the day had not yet sounded.

Ying Chan pushed open the courtyard gate, carrying a fishing rod and a fish basket as he approached Xiaqi. He saw a thin mist swirling around Xiaqi Lake, as if draping the lake surface with a light veil. The mist swayed gently with the lake breeze, creating a dreamlike scene.

While secretly praising him, Ying Chan suddenly changed his mind.

He had originally planned to fish in front of the courtyard, where there was a rattan chair to lean against, but upon seeing this scene, he suddenly thought of the Cloud Causeway.

At this moment, the long embankment must truly be 'in the clouds,' and I wonder what it looks like?

Moreover, the Cloud Causeway spans across Xiaqi, and there must be more fish in the heart of that lake...

Although Ying Chan hadn't expected to catch any fish, the idea still came to him immediately.

A cultivator should follow their heart's desires and, upon reaching this point in their spiritual practice, immediately turn around and continue along the path.

Before long, the long embankment came into view.

By this time, groups of two or three disciples from the Taoist academy had already walked onto the long embankment, as if they were walking into the misty clouds, truly giving off an air of celestial abode.

Ying Chan, carrying his fishing rod, joined the group and walked for a long time until he could see no flying eaves, black tiles, or white walls in front or behind him. He had probably reached the center of the lake.

"Boom..."

Just then, the bell tolled to signal the end of the night, and the Taoists went together and came in one after another, while Ying Chan stopped alone.

He sat down on the edge of the water, facing Xiaqi, and cast his line. The line flew into the water, leaving only a leaf-shaped float visible, bobbing back and forth with the ripples.

Just then, a Taoist priest riding backwards on a green ox passed by. He caught a glimpse of this scene out of the corner of his eye and was quite surprised.

But soon he became engrossed in the book again, letting the blue ox carry him all the way through the clouds...

When I left, the morning mist was thick.

When I returned, it was dusk, and the evening glow was still lingering.

The Taoist priest rode backwards on his blue ox, carrying a Taoist book, and passed by. He found Ying Chan still sitting on the embankment.

Looking at the fish basket beside him, it seemed not to have been wet at all, but Ying Chan didn't seem to care. He held the fishing rod in one hand and a scroll in the other, quite enjoying himself...

She does look somewhat like him.

The Taoist priest couldn't help but feel a little curious.

He thought for a moment, then casually tucked the book behind his waist, let out a soft sigh, and signaled the blue ox to stop.

The green ox turned around, looked at him with great surprise, and slowly walked to the side and stopped, without blocking the way.

"Thank you, Brother Niu." The Taoist dismounted, thanked the green ox again, and then approached.

"Fellow Daoist, fellow Daoist?"

He cupped his hands in greeting and called out twice. Ying Chan looked up and saw him standing beside him, but showed a hint of surprise: "It's you?"

"Oh?" the Taoist asked in surprise, "Fellow Daoist, you recognize me?"

Ying Chan then realized what was happening, quickly put down his book, made a simple bow with one hand, and replied, "Greetings, fellow Daoist."

The Taoist priest had a gentle demeanor and looked to be in his twenties or thirties, so Ying Chan didn't hesitate to address him as "Brother Taoist."

“I do not know you, fellow Daoist. I have only seen you once on this embankment.”

He glanced at the green ox not far away: "Brother Dao is carefree and unrestrained, which has left quite an impression on you."

"I see." The Taoist smiled, seemingly realizing that standing was not quite appropriate, so he sat down cross-legged as well.

"May I ask your name, fellow Daoist?"

Ying Chan didn't think much of it and said, "Ying Chan, the Chan of 'Chan You Ming Wei'. May I ask your name?"

The Taoist smiled and said, "Chen Xiang is the image of the beginning of change in all things."

"So it's Brother Chen Dao."

Ying Chan asked, "Brother Dao, is there something important you need from me?"

"What important matter could there be?" Chen Xiang waved his hand. "I merely admired your refined taste and wished to make your acquaintance." "Haha."

Ying Chan laughed and said, "I am fishing here only because my teacher instructed me. What kind of leisure is this?"

"Oh?" Chen Xiang was not disappointed, but asked curiously, "I have never heard of this fishing course before. I wonder which professor instructed it?"

"I don't know the details either, I just know that he is called Academician Qi."

"Professor Qi?" Chen Xiang was quite surprised: "So it was her..."

"Does Brother Dao know Academician Qi?"

This time, it was Ying Chan who became interested.

"I don't like to gossip, I only overheard a classmate mention it once or twice," Chen Xiang said, stroking his chin. "It's said that this Master Qi is a true disciple of our sect, but I wonder why he became the academy's headmaster..."

"turn out to be……"

The true teachings of this sect? What kind of cultivation level is that?
"However, it seems that Master Qi is not on this month's schedule?" Chen Xiang also changed his form of address and asked, "Brother Ying, are you perhaps studying under Master Qi?"

“That’s not the case,” Ying Chan said. “I merely registered at the Capital Academy to inquire about the Qi Refining Technique, and that’s how I met Master Qi who explained it to me.”

After explaining, he turned and asked, "Can disciples of our Taoist academy directly learn the arts from their academy master?"

“Normally, that’s not possible.” Chen Xiang noticed that he hadn’t been in the academy for long, so he explained, “But if your skills and the difficulties you encounter have exceeded the scope of the academy’s lectures, then you can ask the academy’s teachers for advice. They will certainly not hesitate to offer their guidance.”

"In this process, some mentor-student relationships were also formed."

Ying Chan nodded thoughtfully.

The two chatted for a while, until the last rays of the setting sun disappeared behind the mountains.

Chen Xiang then said, "Alright, it's getting late. I need to go back to the courtyard to cook. If there's a chance another day, let's chat some more with Brother Ying."

He seemed to possess considerable spiritual cultivation, and even retained the habit of cooking.

Ying Chan was somewhat surprised, but still nodded in agreement.

Chen Xiang then called out to the side, "Brother Niu!"

Hearing the sound, the green ox swished its tail and slowly approached, and Chen Xiang was about to climb on top of it.

Upon seeing this scene, Ying Chan suddenly remembered something and hurriedly said, "Brother Dao, please wait."

Chen Xiang climbed onto the ox's back and asked, "What is it?"

To elaborate on the wording, "I have a good friend who is a sparrow from the mountains that has become a spirit."

"It is extremely intelligent and its wisdom is no less than that of ordinary people, but for some reason, it can't learn to collect the essence of the sun and moon. Do you know the reason, fellow Daoist?"

"Is this it?"

Chen Xiang stroked his chin: "The essence of the sun and moon is the most common spiritual energy between heaven and earth. Countless spirits and monsters have become spirits because they unknowingly sensed and collected the essence of the sun and moon..."

"It is rare for a spirit to become a spirit without receiving the essence of the sun and moon, but it is also quite normal."

"But having become a spirit, it can't learn to absorb the essence of the sun and moon? Could it be some kind of strange beast? But that doesn't make sense..."

He seemed puzzled as well, and asked the blue ox again, "Brother Ox, do you have any clue?"

The blue ox simply shook its head.

Ying Chan had only had this sudden idea, and seeing the situation, he didn't insist. He said, "In that case, there's no need for you to trouble yourself, Brother Dao."

"It's alright," Chen Xiang said. "I'm also very interested in the situation of Brother Ying's friend."

"I wonder which courtyard Brother Ying lives in? If I have the chance, I would like to meet this friend."

Ying Chan didn't feel there was anything to hide, so he said, "The 26th courtyard of the Jia class."

"So it's a lakeside residence. I'll remember it."

Chen Xiang nodded, invited Brother Niu to continue forward, and then said from afar, "After I return, I will search through my collection of books. If I find any clues, I will then seek out Brother Ying..."

(End of this chapter)