As if sensing Bai Qi's confusion, Qi Yan handed the freshly budding green lotus of exquisite color in his hand to Junior Brother Lv Nan, and the three of them walked into the teahouse, laughing and chatting.

The shopkeeper looked up, saw that it was Master Bai Qi, and quickly put on a warm smile:

"Master Bai, coincidentally, we have some new tea in stock, and I've saved a few cakes especially for you."

A person's name is like the shadow of a tree; the taller one grows, the wider the area one covers.

Since the Red Eyebrow Bandits attacked the city and were driven off, Bai Qi's status has risen significantly after the banquet at the Dragon King Temple, now standing equal with the three big families.

Additionally, with He Wenbing from the Fishery disappearing without a trace, and He Jingfeng from the main branch taking his place, people who were merely watching thought there would be a showdown between a mighty dragon and a local bully, waiting to see a spectacle, but unexpectedly, the situation remained calm and undisturbed.

Furthermore, when Bai Qi returned from Dayu Town, took control of a few ferries, he firmly planted his feet, with a family and business seemingly vast and thriving.

Now, who doesn't know that Master Bai Qi, who got his start by capturing a prized fish and changing his fate, has dealings with several big businesses in Yihai Prefecture, so much so that even Fire Kiln Master Li knelt in the snow, begging to be accepted as a disciple, not needing to sell face to the Captain of Zhechong Prefecture.

The crew was captured, the ships detained, yet he never showed up; after a day and a night, the men were released.

Young enough, influential enough, fists hard enough.

With a single word, he could shake Black River County.

Who wouldn't show respect to such a local bully who could cover the sky with one hand?

"Shopkeeper Wang has been thoughtful."

Bai Qi chuckled lightly, relying on this reputation alone, allowing him to make a large tour around Black River County, eating, drinking, and lodging without spending a penny.

No wonder the Sitting Hall Master of the Inner City Martial Arts Association is unwilling to venture into the County City.

It's all about preferring to be the head of a chicken rather than the tail of a phoenix!

Rather than going to a big place and being subservient, it's better to stay in a small town and be a lord!

"Master Bai, please proceed upstairs, we have reserved a private room just for you."

The shopkeeper personally led the way, personally brewed the tea, showing utmost sincerity.

When the tea gradually turned a reddish-orange and emitted a rich fragrance, the shopkeeper tactfully withdrew.

Qi Yan, with hands on knees, sitting on a Huanghuali wood round stool, remarked with emotion:

"Brother Bai's reputation truly works wonders. Today my Junior Brother and I went to East Market Pier, intending to rent a sampan, but the person offered it knowing our acquaintance with Brother Bai, without taking any money."

Although many heterodox loose cultivators without proper heritage often seek patronage from wealthy families to gather external resources and grains,

for heirs of Wild Grass Mountain with sectarian rules, this kind of approach is almost seen as the wrong path.

Because once you are patronized, the logic of only benefiting without exerting effort for others does not exist.

Naturally, one cannot avoid getting entangled in various feuds, or helping relatives and friends fight, or "upholding justice" for some family... In Dao's prime, it was called "Tribulation of Men."

Back then, various schools had traditions of sword fights, and many formidable individuals lost their lives due to complicated entanglements within.

"Thanks to the affection of the folks, giving me some face."

Bai Qi spoke calmly, and now wherever in Black River County a prized fish is caught, it is delivered to his shop, showing that his brand is well-established.

"Brother Bai is young and promising, raking in a large family business while not neglecting martial arts."

Qi Yan admired him greatly, returning to the main topic:

"My Junior Brother Lv and I, practice one technique and one sutra. The technique is 'Spirit Invoking Hidden Energy Technique,' and the sutra is 'Talisman Sutra.'"

This heir of Wild Grass Mountain didn't hold back, being frank; many loose cultivators often kept what kind of cultivation techniques and Daoist skills they practiced as utmost secrets, fearing revealing them might give people a chance to study and find countermeasures in the future.

"'Spirit Invoking Hidden Energy Technique' requires collecting twelve strands of different kinds of 'Qi' to refine into a Daoist skill for combat.

I am missing a strand of 'Mysterious Marsh Strange Red Qi,' which is a fire within water, needing the disarray of the four elements, significant Bing Fire's prosperity, the sun's essence concentrating, falling into rivers, lakes, and seas, thereby nurturing it to form."

Qi Yan explained in detail to Bai Qi:

"Bing Fire is grand and majestic, illuminating the six directions, in the heavens, it refers to the sun and electricity, on earth, it's the furnace and metallurgy, thus it's also called 'Yang Fire.'

Hence it doesn't extinguish upon entering water, rather it combines to become an anomalous fire, mostly hidden deep within the veins of water."

Bai Qi found it fascinating, these rare insights far clearer and more vivid than reading from books.

He asked:

"Does Brother Qi want me to gather this strand of 'Mysterious Marsh Strange Red Qi'? But I don't understand similar methods."

Qi Yan was prepared, nodding at Lv Nan, who took out a palm-sized stone box from his diagonal pouch:

"This is made of Frost Sandstone, strong against Yang fire, unafraid of the overpowering autumn or mocking winter; if used a wooden box, it would only increase its might, if iron, it would be dissolved instead; only with earth can its brilliance be concealed."

Bai Qi took it, weighing it in his hand, feeling its heaviness, thinking to himself:

"After all, this is a branch of Maoshan, with such foundations laid. Replace with true loose cultivators, who enter heterodox ways, practicing lower grade techniques, where would they know these mysteries and subtleties." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Seeing Bai Qi being quite interested, Qi Yan straightforwardly added:

"During Dao art cultivation, among the second realm, after entering meditative concentration, the next is to embrace the fetus, and begin engaging with observing and gathering Qi.

Otherwise, it's impossible to step into the Third Realm, forging the Divine Soul and deploying formidable Daoist skills.

I can give you a book compiled by the Observatory Tower, 'Comprehensive Treaty on the Attributes of Myriad Qi,' said to be drawn from countless Daoist demise scriptures, recording in total seventeen thousand five hundred and twenty-three kinds of Qi."

Though it falls far short of the celestial universe's 'one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred' Spiritual Mechanism Number, it's sufficient for our use."

After gaining the Jade Dewy Lotus Seed and 'Comprehensive Treaty on the Attributes of Myriad Qi,' Bai Qi, fully contented, took a sip from his teacup:

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