Chapter 46: Chapter 45 Unspeakable
Daoist Luo slightly turned his body and glanced at the wooden box on the table, and then he sighed and said:
“Alas, when I was with your family, I had already told you the methods to extend your life. Breaking precedent, I gave you the Red Snow Powder and the Small Transformation Yang Skill. However, you have zero talent for cultivation. Even these basic skills can pose problems for you to practice. I wonder if taking you as my disciple was rescuing you or hurting you.”
“Master Luo, you are too harsh. If it wasn’t for you, I’m afraid I would have been dead a long time ago. I always remember the kindness of your rebirth.” Shen Luo shook his head repeatedly.
Upon hearing this, Daoist Luo’s expression softened; it was clear that these words had affected him.
“Master Luo, I wonder if there are any other methods. No matter the cost, I am willing to pay.” Shen Luo said once more, putting heavy emphasis on his last few words.
“Fine, for the sake of you, I’m willing to break the rules one more time. As long as you can perfectly cultivate the Small Transformation Yang Skill within three years, I can ask Pavilion Master for favor again, to allow him to teach you the first layer of the Pure Yang Sword Technique. At that time, we can discuss what price you need to pay. However, the chances are slim,” said Daoist Luo after a moment of silence.
Within three years? But didn’t Master Fengyang determine that I won’t live for more than two years?
Shen Luo felt doubtful in his heart but continued to thank him.
“You don’t have to thank me in a hurry. I can tell you frankly that I don’t have a positive view of this method. After all, with your aptitude, it’s almost impossible to perfect the Small Transformation Yang Skill within three years. So, I advise you to recuperate more and put some effort into finding spiritual medicine and immortal herbs to extend your life. That’s the right path.” Master Luo waved his hand and said wisely.
“Where can I find such life-preserving items? Are there any in the pavilion?” Shen Luo couldn’t help but ask.
“If we had such items in the pavilion, why would I make you go elsewhere to find them? Even for ordinary cultivators, real life-extending spiritual medicine is a great hope but usually out of reach. Once it appears, it will be snatched by various cultivators, and mortals can’t even get a glimpse of it. Even if you are fortunate to see it, you may not be able to buy it even if you spend all your gold and silver,” said Daoist Luo as he stood up, hands behind his back.
“Why can’t it be purchased with gold and silver?” Shen Luo was a bit puzzled.
Over the past few days, he claimed to have survived through the Small Transformation Yang Skill and the Red Snow Powder. But weren’t these bought with real money? The 200 gold coins spent when entering the pavilion, and the 2000 taels of silver sent by his family every year, weren’t all these his life-extending items?
“You haven’t set foot on this path yet, so naturally, you don’t know that in the eyes of cultivators, these real gold and silver are no different from ordinary stones and rotting wood. Even among them, if there is a need for barter, they use the legendary Immortal Jade,” Daoist Luo said.
The moment Shen Luo heard this, it was like being struck by lightning.
He knew of Immortal Jade. Bai Xiaotian had mentioned it to him, and he had also read about it in some books. It’s the real money of immortals. Not to mention his Shen family, merely a merchant from a county town. Even the tycoons in State City may have never seen it.
“To buy the life-extending immortal medicine, they naturally expect immortal money…”
Shen Luo felt powerless. It seemed that he had lost even the last bit of financial support.
Seeing his eyes gradually dimming, Daoist Luo couldn’t help but feel a sense of compassion.
As Shen Luo’s mind was churning, he suddenly thought of something.
The root cause of his vitality loss was that weird jade pillow. Perhaps he could find a solution from this object and find a way to save himself. Besides, just because he couldn’t do anything with the jade pillow, did it mean that others couldn’t as well?
This thing is now reducing his lifespan. No matter how precious it is, survival is the top priority. If there’s really no other way, maybe he could first exchange this for some benefits from the pavilion.
“Master Luo…”
After some hesitation, Shen Luo finally made up his mind and tried to probe some information about the jade pillow.
However, just as he opened his mouth, there was a buzzing sound in his brain. A sharp sound that he had never heard before came rushing into his head like a tidal wave. His vision suddenly blacked out, and he fell sideways.
Daoist Luo was startled, but he quickly caught Shen Luo by the shoulder and hoisted him onto a chair.
While Shen Luo’s head was throbbing, Daoist Luo furrowed his brows, grabbed his wrist, and carefully checked his pulse.
A moment later, he shook his head and released his hand.
“Your pulse is weak and powerless, indeed a sign of backfire from the cultivation. Your vitality loss is not light. How did you cultivate to end up like this?”
Shen Luo was drenched in cold sweat. He struggled to explain his usual cultivation practices.
“Ah…”
However, when he wanted to mention the jade pillow again, the violent humming sound in his brain suddenly rang again, causing him to cry out in pain.
Daoist Luo’s face turned serious. He supported Shen Luo’s back with one hand. A red light emerged from his palm, and warm currents flowed into Shen Luo’s body, comforting him. The lingering buzz in Shen Luo’s head gradually disappeared.
“What’s going on? Could it be…” Shen Luo’s clothes were soaked in cold sweat, he was anxious and disturbed.
However, when he had the thought of mentioning the jade pillow again, the sharp hum reappeared in his head. This time, it was even more intense than before, making him unable to speak.
“What’s wrong with you?” Daoist Luo also noticed his abnormality and asked.
“My…my body feels a bit weak, it might be…the backfire from the technique,” Shen Luo said with some difficulty, wei breathing heavily. He dared not let his thoughts dwell on the jade pillow any longer.
“Take a break from cultivation for these few days, take this Red Snow Powder home with you. Don’t take it all at once, divide it into three doses, otherwise, your current body can’t bear it.” Daoist Luo took out a paper package from his arms and put it into Shen Luo’s hand. At the same time, a red light appeared again in his other hand, and he patted a few acupoints on Shen Luo’s back.
“Thank you, Master Luo.” After a long time, Shen Luo finally recovered a bit, and he hurriedly thanked him.
He didn’t dare to delay anymore. After bidding Daoist Luo farewell, he took his leave.
Daoist Luo watched Shen Luo’s somewhat staggering figure disappear outside the door, rubbing the gold ingot hidden in his sleeve, his brows furrowed.
“Speaking of which, this kid is actually quite good. What a pity… It looks like I’ll need to find another disciple from a wealthy family in a couple of years…” After mumbling to himself, he waved his sleeve, and the doors inside and outside of the house closed on their own.
…
The night was deep. The quiet room by the cliffside at Qingchipo still had a candle alight.
Shen Luo was sitting next to the desk. The strange jade pillow was placed in front of him. His gaze fell on it, but his eyes seemed somewhat absent.
The thing that happened at Master Luo’s place was too unbelievable, Shen Luo simply couldn’t understand what kind of power was stopping him from revealing the secret of the jade pillow?