Chapter 441: Cultivation

Chapter 441: Cultivation

Li Huowang stared at the cultivation manual in his hands, his mind replaying everything he knew about it. The past of Hongzhong was clear enough to tell him that this manual was genuine.

Yet the past of Hongzhong was all fabricated—then how could this manual be trusted? What if practicing it led to irreversible consequences?

After a moment of hesitation, Li Huowang finally set the manual down. "It seems then, to cultivate, I must find another Xin Su to test it on."

Just as he had once freed himself from the aura of death by using someone else as a guinea pig, the simplest solution immediately came to mind.

"Who should I choose?" Li Huowang began searching through his memories. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. The boy Bei Feng had been asking for this very thing all along. Perhaps he could try it out.

Though he had used the Forgetful Dao to avoid illusions, the powerful primordial Qi within Bei Feng’s Xin Su would surely stir his heart.

With that thought, Li Huowang acted without delay. He picked up the manual and left the room. The two women who had just finished writing were already seated, playing mahjong with a cheerful exchange of tiles.

A few days later, when Li Huowang found Bei Feng in a brothel, she was lying in a bathtub scattered with red petals, smiling as she lifted her white foot from beneath the water.

"Young master, it's such a blessing that the leader of Hongzhong has come to see me—it truly brings honor to my humble abode," she said.

"Do you want the cultivation manual?" When Hongzhong unfolded the paper in her hand, Bei Feng's eyes sparkled instantly. She stepped out of the tub, water droplets clinging to her skin.

"I knew you had it! You tricked me before, saying you didn’t! You’re so evil~"

As Bei Feng entered the body of the brothel’s top courtesan, her voice took on a hint of worldly sophistication.

But when she reached to take the manual, a trace of doubt flickered across her face. "Are you really being so kind? Could it be another trick? I won't fall for it again."

"Fine, forget it." Li Huowang immediately reclaimed the manual and turned to leave.

"Hey hey! Don’t go! I didn’t say no!" Bei Feng extended her painted fingernails and took the manual. "Alright, even if you trick me again for this manual, I’ll accept it."

Her body, still glistening with water, wrapped in nearly transparent silk, sat cross-legged on the red bed.

Li Huowang stood motionless, as though waiting for something.

Then, everything around him began to float. Pink pillows spun around Bei Feng. At first they were pillows, but as they twirled, they quickly transformed into green bricks.

Bei Feng suddenly opened her eyes in surprise. "Leader Hongzhong, this really works!"

But there was no one in front of her anymore—Li Huowang had already left.

Bei Feng blinked, then grabbed the manual and leapt from the window, a smug smile tugging at her lips.

A month later, with an aged face and dressed in the robes of a celestial cultivator, Bei Feng sat cross-legged in a cellar, looking kindly at the man before her.

"Disciple, since you are Xin Su, your teacher has taught you all that can be taught. Today, I give you the final technique—the cultivation manual!"

"When perfected, this method will allow you to move mountains or overturn seas at will, and free you from those illusions!"

The man, hearing these words, was overcome with excitement. He knelt and bowed repeatedly toward the old man.

This old man was like a second father to him, saving him from evil men and teaching him such a powerful art!

Watching the Xin Su sit and close his eyes, Bei Feng narrowed her eyes, sneering inwardly. "Hmph! Leader Hongzhong, you said I should try it, so I did. Do you think I’m stupid?"

"I had to test it on a Xin Su first, naturally. Whether you get into trouble ahead of time is not my concern. Hehe..."

As the Xin Su breathed in and out, space around him began to twist, as if everything was being sucked into him.

The cave around them shifted constantly. Scenes flickered faintly—sometimes the cellar became a wedding chamber, sometimes a prison.

When the ground beneath the man sank completely, he opened his eyes wide, stunned by what he saw. "Master! This manual really works!"

"Don’t stop! Keep practicing!"

Hidden in the shadows, Li Huowang clenched his fists tightly upon witnessing all this.

The mantis catches the cicada, unaware the oriole waits behind. Li Huowang knew Bei Feng’s nature well—he had to prepare for it. But as long as there was a guinea pig to test the manual, it didn’t matter which one.

Li Huowang waited long after the man had completed the initial stage of cultivation, only then slowly leaving the cave.

At this point, Li Huowang looked terrifying. Black tendrils covered his entire body, pulsing beneath his skin.

In a quiet forest clearing, he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, clenched his fists, and followed the manual’s instructions to gather the divine light from his eyes, concentrating it at the center of his brow.

He used that divine light to seek the invisible, formless Primordial Qi inside himself.

Cultivation was not simple, especially this kind. It was conceptual, making one’s head spin.

But Li Huowang wasn’t greedy. In the beginning, all he wanted was to suppress the illusions.

According to the manual, if he could cover the Primordial Qi with divine light, preventing its overflow, it would be easy.

After three days and nights, Li Huowang slowly opened his eyes. After taking several deep breaths, his voice trembled slightly as he said, "Li Sui, come out. Let me try."

In the next instant, tendrils emerged from his mouth, merging into a mass of black appendages. Two glowing eyes stared curiously at him.

Li Huowang held his breath, fists clenched, waiting in silence. A cup of tea passed. Nothing happened. Half a stick of incense burned. Still nothing!

"Brother Zhuge! This thing actually works! I’ve done it!" Li Huowang excitedly shared his joy with his illusionary companion.

"It’s good this way. At least it can replace Heitaishui. Otherwise, your body might belong to it."

"And not only can it suppress illusions! I can even control when they appear!"

Li Huowang spoke, wrapping the divine light around the Primordial Qi and letting a small gap show. Instantly, everything around him changed.

When he came to his senses, he found himself lying on a cold machine, his temples throbbing.

A group of people surrounded him. His mother, Sun Xiaoqin, was also there. Seeing his confused gaze, they burst into applause.

Sun Xiaoqin was so moved she nearly fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face, but was stopped by the doctors.

"Ms. Sun, please don’t be so emotional. Since electroshock therapy has brought your son back to clarity, with medication and psychological counseling combined, there is hope for his recovery."

Li Huowang looked around, thinking to himself: “So… if the hallucinations were caused by the overflow of Primordial Qi inside me, does that mean this place is still fake?”

At that moment, Sun Xiaoqin rushed over and hugged his head tightly.

She had finally seen her son recover! That meant more to her than anything else.

Feeling that familiar warmth, Li Huowang watched the doctors and nurses clapping and congratulating him. His eyes gradually hardened.

"Mom, don’t worry. I’m no longer lost. I’m fine now. The Primordial Qi in Xin Su is part of Heaven’s Way! And now it’s mine to use! Even if everything here is false, someday I’ll make it real for you all!!"

Volume Two (End)