Chapter 316: Chess Dao - Spiritual Immersion (Part 2)
Chapter 316: Chess Dao - Spiritual Immersion (Part 2)
"This child, I hope she can cultivate what she desires in this life..."
Lin Shanhai watched his granddaughter leave, shaking his head with a light sigh.
Given Lin Qingying's talent and her Sacred Bone, coupled with the frequent revelations of Sage reincarnations and incarnations over the past thousand years, it was hard not to speculate that she too was a Sage reincarnation. However, it was unclear which Sage she might be.
But Lin Shanhai didn't feel any discomfort about this. At least in this life, she was his granddaughter, the one he had raised from infancy.
Lin Qingying's parents had died early, and he had taken care of her as a child, soothing her cries and cherishing her playful and obedient nature, which were deeply etched in his heart.
"Old Lin, why do these Sages choose to reincarnate and cultivate again?"
Li Hao, holding a teacup, asked curiously.
Lin Shanhai refilled his cup with tea, gazing at the floating white clouds beyond the eaves. The Clear Wind wafted through the courtyard, creating a sense of leisure and comfort.
He sipped his tea and turned to Li Hao with a light smile. "You young man, you still claim you don't know Alchemy!"
"You, if you were a true Martial Artist, would know that these Sage reincarnations seek to achieve the ultimate perfection of the Martial Dao. It's said that reaching the pinnacle of each realm involves a shocking great secret, especially the Sixth Extreme Realm!"
I really don't know Alchemy... Li Hao smiled bitterly. Ever since he demonstrated his Stir-frying Purification technique, this master had considered him the heir of a once-prosperous Alchemy family. His explanations were seen as attempts to hide his identity, to avoid revealing too much.
He naturally didn't bother to explain further, to avoid causing any more discomfort.
"The Sixth Extreme Realm? Is there any special significance to it?"
Li Hao's curiosity was piqued, and he asked.
"How should I know? So far, no one has managed to cultivate all the Ultimate Realms, including the Sages."
Lin Shanhai shook his head.
"What?"
Li Hao was taken aback, his eyes wide with surprise.
Sages had long lifespans, and the history of the Land of Sages was ancient, far older than the Great Yu Divine Dynasty. While the Martial Dao's apex was difficult to achieve, those who became Sages were naturally endowed with talent and resources. With enough time, they could gradually refine themselves.
Yet, these exalted Sages hadn't managed to master all the Ultimate Realms?
Ever since he had encountered someone who had mastered several Ultimate Realms while in the Dao Law Realm, Li Hao had assumed that most Sages had cultivated all the Ultimate Realms. Now, it seemed that wasn't the case.
"Your ancestors were Alchemists, so it's normal you don't understand the Martial Dao. The Ultimate Realms are not that easy to cultivate."
Lin Shanhai, seeing Li Hao's shocked expression, patiently explained, "If it were any other Ultimate Realm, it might be different. But the Third Extreme Realm, the Heaven and Earth Dharma Image, requires a Sage-like heart, the courage to challenge Heaven and Earth! As for the Sixth Extreme Realm, it is widely regarded as the most difficult to cultivate. It's very mysterious. According to the secret information I have, Sages reincarnate and cultivate again primarily for this."
"Hmm..."
Li Hao was slightly stunned. The Sixth Extreme Realm was the hardest to cultivate, even driving Sages to reincarnate?
He suddenly felt a sense of awe. Could his talent surpass that of a Sage?
When he cultivated the Sixth Extreme Realm, it had taken him several months of intense thought, but it didn't seem much different from the other Ultimate Realms. It just required some Insight and understanding of Heaven and Earth.
"This Sixth Extreme Realm is very mysterious. It's not about Insight, or ambition, or cultivation techniques. No one can clearly explain how to achieve it, but Sages speculate that it might be a certain Mindset!"
Lin Shanhai continued, "But a Mindset is the hardest thing to grasp. It's strange, there are countless prodigies in the world, each with different experiences and mindsets. Among those who have the potential to touch the Sixth Extreme Realm, not a single one has managed to grasp this Mindset. It's truly bizarre."
Li Hao was taken aback, not expecting the Sixth Extreme Realm to be so difficult.
If he had come to the Land of Sages through the Immortal Gate, it might have alarmed the entire land.
The Virtual Sage must have attacked him without hesitation, likely out of fear of his potential.
"If Cultivation reaches the Sixth Extreme Realm, why would a Sage need to reincarnate?"
Li Hao couldn't help but ask.
"Of course, it's because the Sixth Extreme Realm, like the Third Extreme Realm, is an Ultimate Realm where one cannot turn back and start over!"
Lin Shanhai explained, "Moreover, if it's a matter of mindset, even a Sage's thoughts can't figure it out. Starting from a blank slate is best, as the Sage Will can sometimes interfere. Once you recognize something, it's hard to pretend you don't."
"Experience and knowledge can sometimes be a terrifying intrusion, changing you beyond recognition."
Hearing this, Li Hao instantly understood what he meant.
With the Dao Will carried in a Sage's thoughts, trying to comprehend things beyond their own Great Dao would only create obstacles.
Starting over from scratch would be easier.
Even if a Sage pretended to be as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, certain things, once known, cannot be forgotten.
"Wanting to buy osmanthus and wine, but it's not the same as a young man's journey..."
Li Hao murmured to himself, this was probably why Sages needed to reincarnate and cultivate. Only by living another life, truly as a blank slate, could they return to their youthful state.
Seeing the experience points from the poetry books increase, Li Hao ignored it.
Beside him, Lin Shanhai heard Li Hao's murmured verse and paused, finding it quite poetic.
After a moment of reflection, a look of surprise appeared on his face, realizing it perfectly captured the essence of a Sage's need to reincarnate and cultivate.
"With your talent, you could easily become a literary champion in the Mortal World Dynasty."
Lin Shanhai said to Li Hao.
Li Hao blushed; becoming a literary champion wasn't that easy. It wasn't something you could achieve with just a few lines of poetry.
"Let's not talk about this. We have guests, these guys..."
Lin Shanhai suddenly put down his teacup, shook off the dust from his sleeve, and was about to get up to greet them. Then, he thought of something, glanced at the teapot, and nodded at Li Hao:
"Quickly put this away. And the packet of dragon ginseng tea in the drawer under the table, hide it in the furnace and cover it with the scent of medicinal herbs. These guys have very sensitive noses..."
As he spoke, he got up, put on his simple cloth shoes, and headed out of the courtyard.
Li Hao was taken aback but didn't hesitate. He quickly gathered the dragon ginseng tea from the teapot and the packet from the drawer into the Heavenly Earth Space. Then, he took a few fragrant medicinal herbs, placed them in the teapot, and poured a cup for both himself and Lin Shanhai.
He warmed his palm slightly to hasten the release of the herbs' fragrance, which wafted through the teacups.
At that moment, a series of hearty laughs echoed from outside the courtyard as several elders entered, led by Lin Shanhai.
"You guys, why didn't you let me know you were coming?"
"It's just a short distance, no need to notify you. We just came to see your new Alchemist's Apprentice, to see what kind of prodigy you've taken in."
Four figures entered the courtyard: three elderly men and a graceful, middle-aged woman. One of the men was adorned in gold and silver, exuding an air of nobility, while the others were more modestly dressed, with wooden hairpins.
However, all four of them had a distinct herbal scent about them.
"Hmm? Is this the young man?"
As they entered the courtyard, they quickly noticed Li Hao.
Since they were guests, they didn't use their Divine Sense to probe him. Instead, they gave him a cursory glance.
Li Hao, no longer sitting, quickly stood up.
Lin Shanhai, noticing the teapot still on the table, was momentarily stunned but then saw the medicinal fragrance wafting from the teacups. He couldn't help but smile and glance at Li Hao, thinking the kid was even craftier than he was.
"Come, come, please have a seat."
Lin Shanhai welcomed them with a smile, asking Li Hao to fetch more tea sets and pastries.
Li Hao, acting as the Alchemist's Apprentice, brought zabutons, teacups, and pastries for everyone.
"Old Lin, were you and this young man working together on that batch of elixirs recently?"
The elderly man adorned in gold and silver, rubbing a jade finger ring, asked with a smile.
Lin Shanhai, sensing the other's intentions, huffed lightly, "Don't even think about it. I've already decided to pass my legacy to him."
"Look at you, getting so worked up over a single sentence. Who said we came to take him away?" the elegant woman, an Alchemy Master, covered her mouth and laughed.
"Old Lin, you're still the same. But speaking of which, I've seen the elixirs you've been refining lately. They're truly impressive, with such high purity. This isn't something you could achieve on your own", another elder said.
Hearing this, Lin Shanhai didn't try to hide anything. He had anticipated these old friends would come today and intended to introduce Li Hao to them, helping him expand his network. He wanted to keep Li Hao by his side, as such a rare talent in alchemy, with his exceptional extraction skills, was already enough to qualify him as a Senior Alchemist.
If Li Hao continued to study alchemy diligently for a few more decades, becoming a Grandmaster in the art of elixirs would be just around the corner.
"Yes, this is all thanks to Clear Wind. He fell off a cliff in his early years and had a fortuitous encounter. Later, he was pursued and attacked by others, but was saved by Qing Ying. Now, he's finally settled down."
Lin Shanhai said.
Clear Wind was the alias Li Hao had given him. Although they were not in the Cloud Mist World, Li Hao was unsure about the Sage's methods and worried that the other party might trace him through his name. Furthermore, many people knew his real name, and if they were to find out his whereabouts through them, it could lead to more trouble.
Hearing Lin Shanhai's introduction, Li Hao was speechless. Master Zi had thought through his background to avoid any probes, which showed how much effort he had put in.
"I see..."
The four of them exchanged glances but did not pry further, as everyone had their own secrets.
"Can you show us? Rest assured, we won't leak any information. We just want to learn."
One of the elders said.
Lin Shanhai replied irritably, "This is his bread-and-butter skill. You can't just learn it like that. You should at least offer two Advanced Pill Formulas in exchange."
"Old Lin, he hasn't said anything yet. Why are you so eager?" The elder retorted, "Two Advanced Pill Formulas, I think you're the one who's interested. If you have the ability, why don't you exchange with me? Or how about a friendly Alchemy competition, one formula each?"
"Who wants to compete with you? I don't need it." Lin Shanhai huffed.
"Alright, you two still haven't gotten over that last Pill Duel. Don't make the younger generation laugh at you." The noblewoman, Shi Huajin, said helplessly.
Lin Shanhai stopped arguing and introduced the four of them to Li Hao. They were all Senior Alchemists from the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary and old friends of Lin Shanhai.
Li Hao memorized their names and greeted each of them.
"Kid, can you show us? You've already shown Old Lin, what conditions did he offer? I'll offer the same." Zhao Yingzhen, the one with the jade board, said.
"That's right. If it's an exchange, I can offer you one Advanced Alchemy Formula." Shi Huajin, the noblewoman, gazed at Li Hao with serious eyes.
As Senior Alchemists, they had analyzed the elixirs Lin Shanhai had recently refined. After all, these elixirs had received widespread praise within the Holy Land. Upon analysis, they realized that the elixir refinement technique used was extremely advanced, even surpassing their own.
Only after inquiring did they find out that Lin Shanhai had found a gem.
Seeing his friends' envious looks, Lin Shanhai secretly chuckled, sipping his tea with a calm demeanor. However, after just a few sips, he frowned; the medicinal fragrance was too strong, making the tea hard to drink.
This kid really doesn't know how to pick better tea... he grumbled inwardly, but thinking about the few ounces of dragon ginseng tea he had collected over a century, his mood improved.
"If the seniors want to see, I'll show you. There's no need for an elixir formula exchange", Li Hao said with a smile.
The four of them were taken aback, not expecting Li Hao to be so agreeable. They exchanged glances, feeling a bit guilty.
"This... there's no such thing as free learning, kid. Just tell us what you need, and we'll do our best to help you", Zhao Yingzhen said, stopping his fidgeting with the board, his expression serious.
"Right."
The elder beside him, Sun Zhengshang, nodded in agreement.
"For now, I don't really need anything", Li Hao shook his head.
The four of them looked at each other, feeling a bit frustrated. With Lin Shanhai present, they wouldn't be so shameless as to take advantage of a younger generation. However, owing a favor was even more troublesome.
Lin Shanhai noticed their dilemma and smiled, "Since Clear Wind is willing to show you, just take a look for now. If Clear Wind runs into trouble in the future, just give him a hand."
Seeing Lin Shanhai say this, the four of them no longer hesitated and immediately invited Li Hao to demonstrate.
Li Hao entered the alchemy room, selected some herbs, and began to stir-fry them in the air.
Seeing Li Hao's actions, the four of them widened their eyes.
Stir-frying?
If it weren't for the herbs in his hands, they would have thought the young man was cooking!
Their feeling was correct; Li Hao was indeed cooking, extracting the essence of the herbs.
Before long, the herb extraction was complete, and a fragrant aroma filled the air.
The four of them were stunned and quickly extended their divine senses to observe closely. They were immediately shocked.
The medicinal power in the herbs had been extracted so simply through stir-frying!
Using such potent medicinal power for alchemy would naturally result in higher purity and better quality. If they had such a treasure assistant, they could achieve the same results!
"So that's how it works, a unique extraction technique..."
After the shock, they all understood. This wasn't some secret art but a special extraction technique, and it looked extremely difficult to master. Just one demonstration wouldn't be enough to learn it.
No wonder he didn't mind showing it; the technique was too profound, and there was no fear of them mastering it.
"I never imagined there was such an Alchemy technique. It truly broadens my horizons."
Zhao Yingzhen was momentarily lost in thought, but when he snapped back to reality, his eyes gleamed with newfound inspiration, as if his Alchemy thinking had been unlocked.
"Your name is Clear Wind, right? Clear Wind, would you be willing to assist me in refining a high-grade Elixir? I won’t hold back during the process. If you can learn, it will be to your credit. I need your extraction skills to help me refine the Elixir..." Shi Huajin looked intently at Li Hao, extending his invitation.
Li Hao was taken aback and couldn’t help but glance at Lin Shanhai.
Lin Shanhai, noticing Li Hao’s gaze, was also surprised. He immediately understood Li Hao’s thoughts; Li Hao was asking whether he should accept the offer.
The implication was that if Lin Shanhai agreed, Li Hao would do it for his sake. If Lin Shanhai showed indifference, Li Hao would likely refuse...
This was an invitation from a Senior Alchemist, and he was even willing to share an Advanced Pill Formula without reservation. What a rare opportunity! Was this kid really not interested?
Lin Shanhai was speechless; he had never met someone like this before.
"Since Master Alchemist Shi is inviting you, if you’re willing to help, you should accept. It’s up to you, but this is a rare opportunity. If you’re not interested in Elixir Formulas, you can ask for something else. Master Alchemist Shi has extensive connections and a wealthy background..." Lin Shanhai said with a smile.
Shi Huajin was somewhat stunned by this. Had he really shown him the Advanced Pill Formula without reservation, and this young man was still not interested?
"Since it’s an invitation from a senior, I will accept it."
Li Hao thought for a moment and finally agreed.
Although this would delay his Sculpture work, it wouldn’t take too much time.
After all, he was a friend of Lin Shanhai, and refusing would be a bit discourteous. He already owed Lin Shanhai a great debt of gratitude.
Moreover, he was still unfamiliar with the place, and it wouldn’t hurt to make some friends.
"What do you need?" Shi Huajin asked Li Hao, curiosity evident in his voice.
Li Hao shook his head. "I don’t need anything. If you have any valuable calligraphy, paintings, or Chess Manuals, I would be interested in those."
"Calligraphy, paintings, and Chess Manuals?"
Shi Huajin and the others were surprised. These items were of little value, and apart from some pretentious merchants, they were practically useless to cultivators.
Lin Shanhai had seen Li Hao spend his free time sculpting and never asked about Alchemy or cultivation, so he was already familiar with Li Hao’s unique interests. But even he was taken aback by this request.
Shi Huajin was skeptical and asked Li Hao twice to confirm that he really only wanted these things. Once he was sure, he didn’t think much more about it. Whatever Li Hao’s reasons, they would become clear in time.
"Old Lin, why are you steeping herbs in your tea? It’s really bitter."
Another elder, Liu Dongting, spat out the herbs from his tea, clearly displeased.
"You don’t understand tea. A bit of herbs will strengthen your body", Lin Shanhai said with a light laugh.
They continued chatting about Alchemy and the Holy Land Elixir proportioning tasks, occasionally mentioning Lin Shanhai’s granddaughter, Lin Qingying, and the upcoming Holy Land Sword God Battle.
In the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary, all disciples, including the Holy Maiden, revered the sword. The ultimate competition of cultivation and sword arts meant that the loser would be thoroughly defeated, with no excuses about weapon differences.
Li Hao sat quietly, listening attentively.
When they praised him, he smiled and responded politely.
After a while of casual conversation, Li Hao became familiar with the names and personalities of the four, and they also remembered this quiet and unique young man.
When the four finally bid farewell, life in the courtyard returned to normal.
Time passed swiftly.
In the days that followed, Li Hao continued to assist Lin Shanhai with Alchemy Purification. He was also invited to help at the Alchemy sites of these four, and his frequent presence gradually earned him a small reputation. The apprentices of several Alchemists and those who fawned over them all heard about a Pill Refinement Assistant who was highly favored by several Senior Alchemists...
In Lin Shanhai’s courtyard.
The night sky was dazzling, and sword light danced.
Lin Qingying finished a set of sword arts, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and caught the scent of something fragrant.
She turned to see the Alchemist she had picked up, carrying a plate of pastries from the kitchen in the courtyard.
"Are you hungry? Would you like to have some pastries?"
Li Hao smiled when he saw her looking and lifted the plate of pastries.
Lin Qingying's eyes remained calm, and she did not respond. She continued to practice another move of the Sword Art.
As she went through the motions, she also sensed the flow of the sword's momentum.
Rumble...
Perhaps it was the aroma wafting through the air. Midway through her practice, her stomach let out a gentle growl.
Lin Qingying frowned, pausing from her Sword Intent meditation. She turned to look at the alchemy room, where her grandfather and the young Alchemist were eating and drinking, looking extremely content.
These two... when did they become so close?
Lin Qingying was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise in her eyes. She knew her grandfather’s nature; although he appeared easygoing, he had experienced many dangers in his youth and always maintained a degree of caution towards others. Yet now, he seemed extremely amiable towards the Alchemist they had picked up.
"Qingying, if you’re tired, come over and rest for a bit. Try Clear Wind’s cooking; it’s really amazing!"
Seeing his granddaughter’s gaze, Lin Shanhai immediately raised the pastry in his hand and called out to her.
Lin Qingying looked at the pastry, fell silent for a moment, and then slowly put away her sword, walking into the alchemy room.
"Here."
Li Hao picked up the plate and offered it to her, allowing her to take it herself. As a person with a bit of a germ phobia, he would be hesitant to eat food that had been touched by others.
Seeing Li Hao’s subtle gesture, Lin Qingying’s eyes flickered slightly. She said nothing, but her delicate, slender fingers, as white as scallions, gently picked up a piece of pastry and placed it in her mouth.
The aroma melted on her tongue, and an indescribable sensation spread through her. Lin Qingying’s eyes widened slightly, but she quickly returned to her usual calm, chewing quietly.
She fell silent again, as if savoring the taste.
Seeing her swallow, Li Hao, without hesitation, offered the plate to her once more.
"..."
Lin Qingying paused, but then picked up another piece, slowly chewing it this time.
After swallowing, she looked at Li Hao and nodded. "It’s quite good. Thank you for the pastry."
With that, she turned and returned to the courtyard, continuing her sword cultivation.
Li Hao was not bothered by her departure. He pushed the plate towards Lin Shanhai, and the two of them continued to eat casually.
Since the day Lin Shanhai introduced Li Hao, he had grown familiar with Zhao Yingzhen and the others. Besides spending time in Lin Shanhai’s courtyard, he would often help them or visit for leisure.
Lin Shanhai was only interested in alchemy and had no interest in activities like chess, calligraphy, or fishing.
To Li Hao’s surprise, Shi Huajin, the woman, had a considerable skill in chess.
So, besides helping out, Li Hao would occasionally visit Shi Huajin’s peak during his free time to discuss Go.
The Alchemists resided in the core area of the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary, where the environment was spacious and surrounded by medicinal mountains. The disciples of the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary were strictly forbidden from disturbing them.
The Sword Ancestor Sanctuary was vast. From what Li Hao had heard from Lin Shanhai and his own deductions, the Holy Land alone was about twice the size of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, equivalent to thirty-eight provinces!
The area allocated to Lin Shanhai for alchemy was as large as a city, with only a few Alchemist’s Apprentices, making it extremely quiet and spacious.
The same was true for the others, but Zhao Yingzhen’s medicinal mountain was particularly lively, with many Alchemist’s Apprentices and disciples. The entire peak was adorned richly, like an imperial capital of the Mortal World.
"You’ve put a lot of thought into your Go. This isn’t something you can achieve just by passing the time."
In the pavilion on the medicinal mountain, Shi Huajin placed a stone, blocking Li Hao’s white piece. After half a month of interaction, she had become increasingly interested in this young man, who was different from anyone she had met before.
"It’s just a pastime. I’ve done a bit of research."
Li Hao smiled, focusing on the chessboard. Her Go was not bad, around Fifth Rank. If he was too careless, even his Sixth Rank in the Chess Dao might not be enough to win.
Overconfidence leads to defeat, unless the skill levels are vastly different.
"If you’re willing, I can recommend you to the Holy Land. With our recommendations, you could be directly appointed as a mid-level Alchemist, with a status equivalent to the Inner Disciples of the Holy Land", Shi Huajin said seriously.
Li Hao shook his head slightly. He was only here to heal and improve his artistic skills. The status of an Alchemist meant little to him.
Seeing Li Hao’s focused expression, Shi Huajin did not press further and continued to place her stones with concentration.
On the chessboard, the black and white stones interlocked. Li Hao was fully engrossed, and the chessboard seemed to grow larger in his vision, the grid lines stretching infinitely, enveloping him.
He felt as if he had become one of the stones on the chessboard.
A thread of Spirit Light faintly appeared, and this time, Li Hao managed to capture it.
(End of Chapter)
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