Chapter 164: It

…

"Why's he hanging a weight like that?" Ma Xiao Jiao asked, baffled.

Laypeople see the spectacle; experts see the method. Li Lin recognized at a glance that Zhao Yu was practicing the "Bone-Marrow Cleansing Art."

"Enough. No need to watch anymore. I wouldn't be surprised if Zhao Yu became even stronger now." Li Lin said.

"What's going on? Do you know what martial art Zhao Yu is practicing?" Zhang Chun asked.

"If I'm not mistaken, he's practicing the 'Bone-Marrow Cleansing Art'—it doesn't rely on any pills or tonics, only on personal training to enhance physical fitness and immunity, a form of exercise for health and longevity."

"As far as I know, whether one has a poor innate constitution or a decline in physical condition later in life, both can be improved through practicing the 'Bone-Marrow Cleansing Art.' Practicing it isn't just about refining the mind; more accurately, it's about refining the mind to elevate physical fitness, activate internal organs, and achieve true physical strengthening."

"The 'Bone-Marrow Cleansing Art' has six parts: breathing, standing post, seated meditation, slapping, hanging, and muscle-tendon changing—it has nothing to do with pills."

"If I'm not wrong, Zhao Yu must also be practicing the 'Iron Testes Art,' an ancient Chinese method for protecting male vital areas and strengthening the kidneys."

"These two arts are primarily for health and longevity; practicing them strengthens the kidneys, eliminates illness, enhances physical strength, slows aging, and extends life. Add to that Zhao Yu's diligent practice of 'Prisoner Fitness' and 'Yoga'—no wonder he's crushing us."

"How do you know so much about these two arts?" Zhang Chun asked.

"Actually, there's a female version of the 'Bone-Marrow Cleansing Art,' called the 'Bone-Marrow Cleansing Art for Preserving Youth,' also known as the 'Jade Egg Art,' which enhances health and slows aging. I have a friend who's an expert in it—she wanted to teach me, but back then, I had no beauty anxiety and wasn't interested in men or women, so I didn't learn."

"In truth, whether the 'Bone-Marrow Cleansing Art' or the 'Iron Testes Art,' both are accumulated health practices from centuries of human experience—not so mystical. They're similar to the 'Five Animal Frolics.' If you have time, you might as well practice the 'Bone-Marrow Cleansing Art for Preserving Youth.' As long as you practice correctly and persist, slowing aging is no problem."

Upon hearing Li Lin's words, the other four women's eyes lit up.

Ye Shi Yun asked Li Lin: "Do you know the 'Bone-Marrow Cleansing Art for Preserving Youth'?"

Li Lin shook her head: "I know a little, but with something like this, half-knowledge won't do—it's easy to mess up."

Hearing this, the four women were all deeply disappointed.

Seeing this, Li Lin smiled: "But don't worry—I don't know it doesn't mean no one does."

The four women's eyes lit up again; Zhang Chun asked bluntly: "Who does?"

Li Lin tilted her chin toward the Daoist Priestesses assisting Zhao Yu: "They definitely do."

Then Li Lin said: "The male and female versions of the 'Bone-Marrow Cleansing Art' are originally dual-cultivation techniques. Any Daoist Priestess who's managed to get close to Zhao Yu—whether by status or power—must be among the absolute top of Daoism. One of them might even be a supreme expert, and surely knows the female version of the 'Bone-Marrow Cleansing Art.' Think about it: these women were surely sent by their respective Daoist sects specifically to be Zhao Yu's cultivation partners. How could they not know the female version?"

The four women found this reasonable. Ye Shi Yun said, with no small measure of envy and jealousy: "Zhao Yu has it too good—he wants to practice Daoist health arts, and Daoism itself goes out of its way to support him."

"That's normal. The ruler's attitude toward a sect is absolutely critical."

"Historically, Zhao Ji was deeply devoted to Daoism and suppressed Buddhism. He believed the Daoist priest Lin Lingsu's words, convinced he was the eldest son of Heaven, the reincarnation of the Jade Pure King of the Divine Thunder, calling himself the 'Great Emperor of Long Life.' He issued an edict: 'Buddha shall be renamed Great Awakened Immortal; others shall be called Immortals and Great Sages. Monks shall become Virtuous Men, change their attire, and use family names. Temples shall become Palaces, monasteries shall become Observatories, and abbots shall be called Superintendents of Palaces and Observatories.' Soon after, he renamed nuns as Female Virtuous Ones—truly tormenting Buddhism."

"From this, it's clear that if a ruler truly harms a sect, it's something that sect cannot bear—it could even deliver a fatal blow."

"So when they see the Emperor believes in their sect, wouldn't they rush to offer their best treasures to 'bribe' him?"

"Moreover, Daoism has always been extremely close to rulers. Many rulers deeply favored Daoism, and successive Celestial Masters were mostly enfeoffed by rulers, often serving as their chief advisors."

"The waters here run deep, the subtleties are many—it can't be explained in a sentence or two."

"In short: if the Emperor favors Daoism, Daoism prospers; if he believes in Buddhism, Buddhism prospers. Whatever the Emperor believes in, that's what thrives."

"Tell me—if you were the supreme leaders of each Daoist sect, what would you do?"

The women all groaned in exasperation. Each thought inwardly: 'The Emperor is just amazing—even we, these overpowered time-travelers, have to bear his children, and even these deeply skilled Daoists are scrambling to flatter him!'

…

With the help of the Daoist Priestesses, Zhao Yu completed his practice of the 'Bone-Marrow Cleansing Art' and the 'Iron Testes Art,' then went to discuss Daoist health techniques with Zhang Xubai and others.

As the saying goes: when the ruler loves something, those below will follow.

Knowing Zhao Yu favored Daoist health practices, many ministers recommended Daoist Priests and Immortal Maidens to him.

After more than two years of accumulation, besides Zhang Xubai, who had been with Zhao Yu from the start, Zhao Yu had also gathered many renowned Daoist Priests of the era—Guo Tianxin, Wei Hanjin, Liu Hunkang, Wang Laozhi, Wang Yuncheng—and introduced famous Immortal Maidens like Yu Xian'gu and Yu Xian'gu.

These Daoist Priests and Immortal Maidens each managed a group of disciples; the Daoist Priestesses who regularly practiced with Zhao Yu were their most outstanding female students.

Today, after completing his practice, Zhao Yu went to the main hall and met Zhang Xubai and others, discussing health techniques with them.

In fact, many Daoist Priests had tried promoting Daoist philosophy to Zhao Yu, but he refused to waste time on such matters. Some even tried to get him to learn alchemy—he showed no interest.

Some Daoists even demonstrated miraculous techniques, some truly astonishing—Zhao Yu couldn't fathom how they did it.

Yet even so, Zhao Yu kept his distance from these Daoist arts, sticking only to health cultivation. He didn't say he disbelieved them—he simply refused to delve deeper.

Still, because Zhao Yu persistently practiced Daoist health arts, Daoism became the state religion of his reign.

This undoubtedly aided Daoism's development.

But on the other hand, Zhao Yu's policy toward Daoist Priests was this: he was extremely generous with non-monetary rewards—like granting titles—but when it came to spending money, he was a miser, not giving a single copper coin, determined to get everything for free.

But then again, these Daoist Priests didn't lack the small amount of money Zhao Yu offered—they had plenty of other income sources. In fact, the titles Zhao Yu granted them were far more helpful.

Thus, Zhao Yu's contribution to Daoism was significant—he made major contributions to its spread and development during this period.

What Zhao Yu hadn't expected was that today Wang Yuncheng recommended Lin Lingsu to him.

Out of respect for Wang Yuncheng's face, Zhao Yu summoned Lin Lingsu.

After being summoned, Lin Lingsu said: "What arts do you possess?"

Lin Lingsu replied: "Your servant knows the celestial palace above, understands the human world in the middle, and comprehends the underworld below."

Then Lin Lingsu persuaded Zhao Yu that he was the eldest son of Heaven, the reincarnation of the Great Emperor of Long Life, and that he himself was the reincarnation of Chu Hui, the Immortal Minister of the Divine Thunder Court, sent to assist the Emperor's rule.

Zhao Yu listened, then said indifferently: "Master, you may reside here and discuss health techniques with us. No other matters."

With that, Zhao Yu rose and left.

After Zhao Yu departed, Wang Yuncheng told Lin Lingsu: "His Majesty dislikes deceitful, cunning people among us who think they're clever and deceive him and the people—he's wary of such things. Master, think carefully…"

…

(End of Chapter)