Qiu Zu: From an apprentice in a medicine shop to an immortal ancestor.

Chapter 113: Re-establish the Sect! [Riding the Wind and Treading the Mist]

Qingmu City, An Residence, secluded courtyard study.

"Master, Lin Shoulong and Wei Tanzhi had people send me apologies, totaling over ten thousand taels of silver."

Upon seeing An Jishi, Qiu Zhen didn't hide anything and told him everything.

"If they send it to you, then accept it. You've been wronged, this is what you deserve."

An Jishi smiled, a slight smile on his face:

"Did Lin Shoulong come to the door with thorns on his back to beg for forgiveness? Or did he just send gifts through someone?"

"He didn't come, he only sent his steward."

"Petty, he publicly said he would come to beg for forgiveness, but then broke his promise after the fact. With such a narrow mind, he can't amount to much, he won't achieve anything great, and he has no hope of reaching the Grandmaster Realm in his lifetime!"

An Jishi shook his head, not thinking much of Lin Shoulong. Then, he changed the subject and said:

"Wei's boy does have some foresight. When the court struggle turned against him, he immediately changed course, not stubbornly resisting. It's a pity, if he had continued to fight, becoming the target of everyone's attacks, he would definitely have had to roll back to his old home in the capital."

As he spoke, An Jishi showed complete confidence and composure.

He doesn't concern himself with worldly affairs and focuses on cultivation, but that doesn't mean he lacks connections and skills.

With his encouragement, this matter is no longer the Demon Suppression Division making things difficult for his disciple, nor him beating up a court official, nor a problem of Jianghu forces, but a typical case of the Demon Suppression Division acting lawlessly, causing chaos in the region, and arousing public resentment.

The virtuous find abundant support, while the unvirtuous find little.

The Demon Suppression Division offends too many people on a daily basis. Once the momentum turns against them, the various parties will attack them in droves, like a storm, a monstrous wave.

Once things continue to escalate, the court will inevitably hold Wei Tanzhi responsible in order to quell the storm.

Losing his official position and returning home is inevitable.

"The leading figure of the Wei family's generation is indeed extraordinary."

Qiu Zhen didn't know much about the affairs of the court, but he remembered the resentment and anger in Wei Tanzhi's eyes when his leg was broken by An Jishi in person.

Such a person of noble birth places more importance on face than ordinary people.

Being able to discern the situation, bow his head and lie low, being able to bend and stretch, is very rare.

Of course, there must be Wei family elders who came forward to persuade him and offer advice behind the scenes.

A person who can listen to the good advice of others and distinguish right from wrong will surely become someone of importance.

Wei Tanzhi is definitely not a silver spearhead, a noble son who looks good but is useless.

"Master's planning is brilliant, deciding victory from a thousand miles away, I admire you!"

"Hahaha~"

An Jishi smiled and said:

"What strategy, it's just fleeting clouds. In the end, one's own strength is the foundation. Only then can one use four ounces to move a thousand pounds. As your master, I have hope of reaching the Martial Saint realm, so the court will not easily attack me. Only then do I have the qualifications to fight with the Wei family in the capital. Sometimes, right and wrong are not distinguished, only when sitting at the same table does one have the qualifications to discuss right and wrong with others."

"Disciple is taught."

Qiu Zhen deeply agreed.

If it weren't for his master An Jishi backing him up, this matter would probably have ended without resolution.

If he wanted to vent his anger, he would probably have to endure humiliation for a while before he could vent this anger.

It's just that, retaliating after the fact, how can it be as satisfying and smooth as fighting back on the spot.

"Master, will this matter have any subsequent impact on us? The Medicine King Valley side..."

"You don't need to think too much, the Medicine King Valley won't have any opinions about you, at most they will complain about me."

"This time, the Medicine King Valley was indeed implicated, placing themselves in the midst of the storm. The Valley Master seized on this point, using both appeasement and pressure, to make our master and disciples more intimate with the Medicine King Valley."

An Jishi said indifferently, sighing:

"Well, I originally planned to have you several senior brothers and sisters take positions in the Medicine King Valley to gain experience. It just so happened to coincide, so I'll give the Valley Master some face."

Qiu Zhen was slightly stunned.

Master An Jishi's words were disjointed, and at first glance, one might not understand what happened.

However, after careful consideration, he heard the hidden meaning.

This time, An Jishi violently beat Wei Tanzhi, and the entire Medicine King Valley was implicated. In the past few days, the disciples of the Medicine King Valley were worried, fearing that they would be implicated. Many people harbored resentment, even hatred, towards their master and disciples.

However, the Valley Master of the Medicine King Valley was clear-headed.

After the storm subsided, the Valley Master complained about Master An Jishi on the surface, but in reality, he was asking their master and disciples to be close to the Medicine King Valley, not to become estranged, fearing that Master An Jishi would one day soar into the sky and become distant from the Medicine King Valley.

That's why Master An Jishi had this sigh.

"Master, are Second Senior Brother, Third Senior Sister and I all going to take positions in the Medicine King Valley? Could it be that we are going to the Medicine King Valley Sect?"

Qiu Zhen hesitated.

In Qingmu City, he has a blessed treasure land to help him cultivate, and he is familiar with the local area, and is doing well. Suddenly changing places, he is somewhat unwilling in his heart.

To leave this place, he would at least have to reach the late stage of 'Refining Essence into Qi', and have the ability to generate inner scenes in the body and control Qi to travel with the spirit.

"That's not necessary."

An Jishi shook his head and smiled:

"Xiao Zhen, you have the talent to find spiritual herbs and precious medicines. You must have also noticed that since the outbreak of the Immortal Traces, the resources of spiritual herbs and precious medicines in the mountains are extremely abundant."

"That's true."

Qiu Zhen nodded. No one knows this phenomenon better than him.

In fact, in the past year, he has been immersed in cultivation, and doesn't go out to hunt for treasures much. It's just that Baizhu wanders around in the mountains by himself, hunting for treasures everywhere, and the harvest is extremely rich.

Finding spiritual herbs and precious medicines is much easier than before.

Because of this, Qingmu County is becoming more and more lively. Many treasure hunters and Jianghu people come here to venture, merchants gather, and various forces are paying more and more attention to Qingmu City, constantly increasing their investment in management.

Now, it has become the most lively and prosperous city in Changle Prefecture besides the Prefectural City, attracting much attention.

"The Sect Leader plans to establish another mountain gate in the Qingmu territory to serve as a stronghold for the sect. The Sect Leader will personally oversee the project, with a group of elders assisting."

Good heavens!

The Medicine King Valley's mountain gate is moving to Qingmu.

Qiu Zhen clicked his tongue inwardly, somewhat surprised. However, after careful consideration, he understood the reason for the Medicine King Valley's grand move.

The Qingmu territory is boundless and rich. The Medicine King Valley deals with spiritual herbs and precious medicines, making this place a veritable blessed land for them.

Faced with such an opportunity, who could sit still?

Even if the Qingmu territory is dangerous, it must be done for the future development of the Medicine King Valley.

If the Medicine King Valley doesn't develop in Qingmu, other forces in Changle Prefecture would dare to take a gamble. With the ebb and flow of power, the outcome is self-evident.

Qiu Zhen wasn't surprised. Instead, he was interested in the Medicine King Valley's assignments and rewards.

"Master, what kind of assignment is there in the Medicine King Valley? I've just entered the Xiantian realm. I heard the Medicine King Valley has rewards. I wonder what they are?"

"Hahaha ~"

An Jishi smiled:

"Tomorrow, you will follow your senior brothers and sisters to the Medicine King Valley's mountain gate residence. You will know after meeting the Sect Leader. However, with your strength as Xiantian martial artists, you will either be a core rudder master or a similarly positioned honorary elder."

An Jishi waved his hand and said:

"These days, I'm dealing with matters of the imperial court and have no time to care about your cultivation. How is it? Now that you've entered the Xiantian realm, do you have any confusion in your cultivation?"

"Not much confusion, but I am curious."

Qiu Zhen remembered the scene where his master, An Jishi, used his protective Zhenqi to withstand the [Thousand Bull Divine Crossbow], and couldn't help but ask:

"Master, that day you used your protective Zhenqi to withstand the Thousand Bull Divine Crossbow, was that the [Ironwood Body of Everlasting Life] from the [Medicine King Longevity Art]? It doesn't seem quite like it."

Being proficient in archery, he was extremely aware of the terrifying power of the [Thousand Bull Divine Crossbow].

His master, An Jishi, didn't use any other means, relying solely on his protective Zhenqi and footwork to withstand it. The [Ironwood Body of Everlasting Life] doesn't have such ability.

"Of course, it's not the [Ironwood Body of Everlasting Life]."

An Jishi shook his head:

"Although the method I cultivate originated from the [Medicine King Longevity Art], it is actually very different. This body refinement method only belongs to me, and it is not yet finalized, constantly evolving."

"Therefore, I haven't passed it on to you, nor have I passed it on to your senior brothers and sisters. I only teach the [Medicine King Longevity Art]."

"Our Medicine King Valley's [Medicine King Longevity Art] is moderate and peaceful, most suitable for early-stage body refinement cultivation, and it is easy to reshape the body in the future."

As he spoke, An Jishi looked at Qiu Zhen, his face full of expectation:

"Disciple, your comprehension is outstanding. Honestly cultivate a body refinement method in the early stage. When your vision and knowledge are higher in the future, learn from the strengths of all schools and find a path that suits you."

"Yes!"

Qiu Zhen nodded slightly.

That's exactly what he planned to do. In the early stage, he would cultivate the [Nine Revolutions Returning Elixir Art]. After achieving some success, he would start using the [Heavenly Evolution Forty-Nine Divine Pearl] to deduce his own path.

To some extent, he and An Jishi were the same kind of person.

The path An Jishi was taking was the path he would inevitably take in the future. Becoming An Jishi's disciple meant that he had found a guide on his path of cultivation.

Correspondingly, for An Jishi, taking Qiu Zhen as a disciple meant that he had truly found an heir to his mantle.

This "mantle" was not a specific cultivation technique or martial art, but the inheritance of seeking truth and asking about the Dao.

If the two were both cultivating the Dao, then it would be like Xu Xun and his master Wu Meng Zhenren, both teacher and friend.

After the master and disciple discussed the method of "Xiantian Body Refinement", An Jishi seemed to have remembered something and frowned slightly:

"Disciple, you've just entered the Xiantian realm. Why are you suddenly asking about protective Zhenqi? It's not good to be greedy for quick success. You don't seem like a rash person."

Qiu Zhen sighed inwardly.

He wasn't just entering the Xiantian realm. Before long, he would be expected to advance to the mid-stage of Refining Essence into Qi, condense protective Zhenqi, and manifest the Night Wandering Spirit. He wasn't being greedy for quick success.

However, it wasn't appropriate to say this directly.

So, he thought for a moment and carefully said:

"Master, a few days ago, a person named Mei Qingshan suddenly came to visit me. He seems to possess a great destiny, saying that I share the same fate as him and that we will inevitably have a conflict in the future. This person's strength is not bad, I'm afraid he has entered the Xiantian Zhenqi realm."

"So that's how it is!"

An Jishi suddenly understood, and then also showed a solemn expression:

"With the Demon Suppression Division's incident, outsiders probably won't dare to easily provoke us. However, your battle is a battle of destiny, which is of great importance. It's hard to guarantee that the other party won't use despicable means to assassinate you in secret."

While pondering, An Jishi thought for a moment:

"You have learned the Xiantian martial art [True Yang Saber Technique], and you also have excellent archery skills. You are not lacking in offensive martial arts. The only thing you lack is a superior footwork technique to save your life. I have a top-notch footwork technique to pass on to you. If you learn this technique, you can run away even if you can't beat a Xiantian Zhenqi realm expert."

Top-notch footwork technique!

Qiu Zhen's heart stirred, and he immediately became interested.

With his master An Jishi's vision, the top-notch technique he spoke of must be extraordinary.

"Please instruct me, Master."

"Yes!"

An Jishi nodded slightly, his face full of emotion:

"This footwork technique is called [Wind Riding and Mist Treading]. It originates from the Daoist magic [Wind Manipulation]. Immortals ride the wind in the sky, traveling in all directions, which is very free and unrestrained. Your teacher has comprehended this footwork technique [Wind Riding and Mist Treading] from the Daoist magic. If a Xiantian martial artist learns this technique, they can step on the tip of the wind and fly in the air."