LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 11 Innate Qi
The great river surged tirelessly, day and night without pause. Plumes of smoke from the homes on both riverbanks curled into the sky, while fishermen on the river gently rowed their small boats towards home, singing sonorous fishing songs.
Lu Yu strolled leisurely along the shore, gradually the sun set, and the moon rose, the fishermen who had toiled all day were now in the land of dreams, with silence all around except for the ceaseless roar of the great river.
Suddenly, a huge dark shadow appeared on the surface of the river; it was a giant turtle rising from the riverbed, consuming the essence of the bright moon in the sky.
If a timid person witnessed this scene, they would likely be frightened into fleeing headlong—it was indeed a bit terrifying to see the fierce-looking giant turtle ingesting the moon's essence, clearly a demon knowledgeable in cultivation.
The turtle didn't ingest the moon's essence for long, but instead of leaving, it moved at an unhurried pace towards a grove of trees on the shore where many animals were already waiting; each one alert and intelligent, evidently all were creatures that had gained sentience.
The turtle slowly crawled next to a large rock and shockingly began to speak human language.
Lu Yu listened closely and realized it was discussing the technique of ingesting the moon's essence; although rudimentary, the newly enlightened animals around were listening with great interest.
Opening his Dharma Eye, Lu Yu saw that these spiritual beasts were all surrounded by a cold, clear aura, without the slightest hint of fiendish blood aura; they were clearly good creatures who had not committed killings.
"The Way of the Water is profound and expansive. I once heard a Scholar say the water possesses Five Virtues. However, we are, after all, different; as to what exactly these Five Virtues are, we have no way of knowing," said Lao Gui.
"Water has Five Virtues because it flows incessantly, nourishing all living things, as if it possesses virtue. It always flows downward, not contorting its form, be it square or long, always following reason, as if it possesses righteousness. It's vast and endless, as if it possesses the Tao. It flows fearlessly down hundreds of feet through mountain gorges, as if it possesses courage.
It settles without creating high or low unevenness, as if it obeys the law. It measures plentifully without scraping, as if it is honest. It penetrates everywhere, as if it has acute perception. Its source always originates from the west, as if it has resolve. It gives and takes, thereby purifying all things," Lu Yu spoke as inspiration struck him.
The gathered spiritual beasts suddenly found a human Scholar had appeared amongst them, and before they could come to their senses, they heard this Scholar speak of the Five Virtues of Water, feeling a cleansing stream wash over their spirits.
Lao Gui saw Lu Yu exuding a faint glow, and upon closer inspection, it almost seemed as if an ocean surrounded him. He understood he was likely in the presence of a superior being and immediately prostrated himself, saying, "I hope you, sir, won't hold our unnatural births against us, and take pity on us who have no access to the Tao, by sharing a bit of your knowledge."
Without reservation, Lu Yu strolled to a green stone and sat down cross-legged, looking at the endlessly slapping river water, his expression one of natural serenity as he articulated his understanding of the Way of the Water.
Being a person who had self-awakened to the Taoist Laws through Heavenly Gate Foundation Establishment and often listened to ancestral masters preach, he had a considerable understanding of the way of cultivation. Thus, his teaching was coherent and articulate, so captivating the surrounding creatures that it opened a gateway for them.
Through this gateway, they seemed to glimpse the mesmerizing Great Dao, hence they listened, breathless and focused, afraid to make even the slightest sound, lest they break the flow of the Scholar's teachings.
During this process of teaching and resolving doubts, Lu Yu also reflected upon his own cultivation, speaking more and more insightfully.
New creatures kept arriving to listen to Lu Yu's teachings, and they felt as if suddenly, their paths in cultivation had direction. For these Little Demons without any heritage, although Lu Yu's teachings didn't delve into specific cultivation techniques, his high-level overview was revealing enough to guide them.
This was an enormous opportunity; thus, even the ordinarily contentious Little Demons were now concealing their presences and listening attentively.
As time passed, the content of Lu Yu's lecture became increasingly profound, quickly surpassing the understanding of those around him. The more they tried to listen, the more fatigue seemed to engulf them, preventing them from concentrating.
Deep down, they knew that such profound and subtle teachings were not something they could grasp at their current level, but not a single person wanted to give up and they all persisted in listening.
Yet Lu Yu felt exceptionally good, his mind remarkably active, solving some of the cultivation problems that he hadn't been able to figure out before with ease.
In the past, he thought that when powerful beings lectured on the Dao, it was simply to enlighten all beings; he did not realize how crucial this so-called lecturing was to one's path of cultivation.
At that moment, he was immersed in this wonderful state of lecturing, completely unaware of the passage of time. Before he knew it, the bright moon was about to give way to dawn.
Lu Yu felt an extraordinary aura emerge from his viscera, involuntarily opening his mouth, and a pale blue breath flowed out.
This breath was mysterious and preternatural, born before heaven and earth, the energy of the Five Elements' creation, and it was the Water of the Five Qi.
Humans are considered to be the most spiritually aware among all creatures, born with Innate Qi, but once born this Innate Qi is hidden within the five viscera. Ordinary people cannot discover this Energy of Creation in their entire lifetime.
Only The Way of Celestial Immortals, with the Five Qi stimulated, can bring forth that sliver of weak Innate Qi from within the body. However, once this breath appears it dissipates rapidly, astonishingly swift, and without suitable treasures or Divine Skills to match it, one would let this opportunity slip away in vain.
The Spiritual Beasts gazed intoxicated at the pale blue breath floating in the air, that breath so captivating it seemed to gather all the water in the world.
Around the breath, it seemed as if the entire heaven and earth were separated; in their impression, everything transformed into a world of water where rain fell to the ground forming rivers, and the sea accepted the rivers yet also evaporated, perpetuating in such cycles, the very Way of the Water.
To witness this Innate Qi was no easy feat, for those who had just begun their path of cultivation, it was a rare and elusive sight.
As they were still marveling at the wonderful nature of this breath, immersed in the special understanding brought about by the Innate Qi, Lu Yu summoned his Treasure Vase, and they saw the breath slowly enter the vase.
The Treasure Vase shone with a special radiance, and an illusory vast ocean appeared beside everyone. Lao Gui and the others felt as though they could smell the saltiness of seawater and seemingly heard the sound of the waves in their ears.
Lu Yu was relieved that his Treasure Vase had gained massive benefits, glad that he had not wasted this tremendous opportunity.
However, the stimulation of the kidney Water disrupted his special lecturing state, and when Lu Yu tried, he found he could no longer enter that state. With no other choice, he announced the end of the lecture.
"We thank the master for the grace of his lecture. Should the master need our help one day, please come and say the word, and we will exert our utmost effort!" Lao Gui led the surrounding Spiritual Beasts in expressing their gratitude. They had listened to Lu Yu's lecture and witnessed the Innate Water Qi, which was greatly beneficial for their future cultivation, so they bowed sincerely.
"To meet is to be destined; I bid you all farewell!" Lu Yu said with a smile, nodding his head. After speaking, he rode away on a cloud.