These days, the Venerable Master Mingyue of Qingyang Palace has secluded himself in his quiet room, pondering day and night the replicated Taoist cloud-shaped characters. He began by analyzing the structure and potential meanings of the characters from the perspective of Taoist classics and ancient traditions, word by word. Drawing upon his years of profound knowledge of Taoist scriptures, he discerned subtle connections between some of the characters and the mysterious runes mentioned in ancient Taoist texts, runes often related to the mysteries of space and spiritual power.
The old Taoist priest then used his understanding of Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and the principles of creation to deduce the realm or rules behind the combination of characters. He paced back and forth in his quiet room, sometimes flipping through ancient Taoist classics to find similar records, sometimes sitting with his eyes closed, using his spiritual sense to touch the faint Taoist aura that the characters might emanate. After several days of tireless study, the old Taoist priest finally gradually clarified the general meaning of some of the incantations, discovering that they seemed to be a kind of incantation and restriction method for opening and controlling a special spiritual space. However, some key points remained obscure and difficult to understand, as if shrouded in a layer of mist, requiring a deeper level of Taoist understanding and a stroke of good fortune to fully comprehend.
Li Baolong was always preoccupied with the translation results of those mysterious characters. He would often enter the space in his left arm during his spare time, trying to find more clues from the enlarged space and the faint aura of the characters. Each attempt was like groping in the dark, full of unknowns and confusion, but he firmly believed that after a while, as the secrets of these characters were gradually revealed, he might step into a brand new world full of fantasy and challenges. He was also prepared to face all the unknown changes and possible fates that might come his way.
With winter break just days away, Li Baolong breathed a slight sigh of relief as he looked at his decent final exam results. As the child of a martyr, he had no parents to support him financially, and all his expenses came from his own hard work, so he often missed classes. Fortunately, his teachers and classmates were used to his situation and respected him. Li Baolong had one thing on his mind: a piece of cloud script he had asked the old Taoist priest at Qingyang Palace to translate. He eagerly dialed the old Taoist's number. After a few rings, a young Taoist answered. "Wait a moment, I'll go get your master," the old Taoist priest said, picking up the phone. "Mr. Li, your text is very mysterious. Why don't you come to the temple so we can discuss it in person?" The old Taoist's voice carried a hint of mystery.
Li Baolong hung up the phone and immediately set off for Qingyang Palace. All the way there, his mind was filled with the secrets that might be hidden within the cloud-like inscriptions. When he arrived at the Taoist temple, the old Taoist priest was already waiting in the courtyard.
In a secluded little house, the dim candlelight flickered. The old Taoist priest and Li Baolong sat facing each other, the atmosphere somewhat solemn yet tinged with mystery. The old Taoist priest gently unfolded the yellowed paper and said slowly, "This is a mantra for cultivating the mind and nourishing the spirit, seven lines of seven characters each, forty-nine characters in total. This mantra is extraordinary; one must awaken Taoist perception to practice it. In the world today, there are very few who possess Taoist power; there are no more than three in the entire country, and all of them are already old."
Li Baolong frowned slightly, seemingly pondering the deeper meaning. The old Taoist then pointed to the page Li Baolong had copied from the spatial dimension and sighed, "This page records the Qiankun Sword, a Taoist artifact from a thousand years ago. It is about twenty centimeters long, with a square outer hilt and a round inner hilt, containing the universe within, hence the name Qiankun Sword. It's a pity that the location of the sword is not mentioned on this page." After speaking, the old Taoist shook his head with a face full of regret.
Li Baolong asked: "This Qiankun Sword must be an unparalleled treasure. If we can find it, will it be of great benefit to our cultivation?" The old Taoist nodded and said: "Of course. This sword is said to possess incredible power, but with the passage of time, it has long been hidden in the mortal world."
As Li Baolong delved deeper into his research on the cloud-script inscriptions, he discovered that the Qiankun Sword was connected to an ancient legend, a legend that seemed intricately linked to a particular family. Li Baolong gazed at the characters, sensing a mysterious and indestructible power hidden within the cloud-script inscriptions.
In the ancient and tranquil Taoist temple, Li Baolong looked at the old Taoist priest with deep respect and said sincerely, "Master Mingyue, I will always remember your great kindness in studying and deciphering the cloud script for the past few dozen days. I have always been fascinated by Taoist culture. If I am fortunate enough to achieve great success in the future, I will definitely come to the temple to donate scriptures, spread the doctrines, and rebuild the temple to repay your kindness."
Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in the old Taoist priest's eyes. He immediately stood up, clasped his hands slightly together, and carefully examined Li Baolong's face. After a moment, a smile appeared on his face, and he said, "This layman, judging from your appearance, you are destined for great fortune and immense wealth. However, this wealth will also bring many twists and turns and trials. I hope you will remain true to your heart and not let worldly distractions cloud your judgment."
Li Baolong bid farewell to the Taoist temple and hurried home. The house was so quiet that only his own footsteps could be heard. He sat down at the old desk, the dim light of the desk lamp casting a soft glow that made the two pages in his hands appear even more mysterious. His gaze lingered on the papers, the old Taoist's words echoing in his heart like ripples.
The seven-character poem seemed to possess a magical power. Li Baolong recited it softly, his voice initially gentle, then gradually becoming firm. Again and again, three times, nine times, eighty-one times… each recitation felt like knocking on a mysterious door. Li Baolong slowly held his breath, trying to calm his thoughts and open the door to the depths of his heart. In an instant, light flashed within his mind, like stars streaking across the night sky, brilliant and dazzling. Li Baolong felt a surge of clarity coursing through his body; he suddenly understood the secrets of the method of cultivating the mind and nourishing the spirit.
The morning sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating the disheveled bed. Li Baolong hadn't slept a wink, his mind replaying that harrowing morning from a while back. In that life-or-death moment, he had swallowed that mysterious pill without hesitation. At the time, he felt a powerful surge within him, as if it were about to break free of his body's constraints. Now, reflecting on it, he finally understood the astonishing changes that power had brought. This pill, from hundreds of years ago, had greatly enhanced his physique, broadened his mind, and even improved his cultivation.
Li Baolong recalled his passionate encounter with Sister Honghong that night, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. Honghong had said she had never experienced such endurance and stamina in love before. Beneath Li Baolong, she gasped softly, repeatedly reaching the peak of pleasure. Even when she was utterly exhausted, Li Baolong showed no sign of stopping.
Finally, exhausted, the two fell asleep in each other's arms.
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