Chapter 219: Cold Winter

With the addition of Luo Seng, the lives of Lin Jue and the Junior Sister remained about the same as the previous few days.

For the first period of time, Lin Jue's thoughts were mostly on carving bean soldiers. Although Luo Seng was curious about this, he was a relatively silent person and did not have so many words, so he just watched him silently from the side.

Sometimes the martial artist practiced his blade in the courtyard, and sometimes the Junior Sister practiced her sword.

Although Luo Seng was good at using blades and spears and not good at using swords, martial arts and fighting had their own commonalities. The Junior Sister was eager to learn and often went to ask him for advice.

And Luo Seng had incomparable talent in martial arts, and had practiced diligently since childhood. After becoming an adult, he entered the Jianghu, and his fighting experience was also rich, which created his current abilities. As a cultivator, even if the Junior Sister had martial arts talent and was diligent, as long as she spent her thoughts elsewhere, it was very difficult to compare in weaponry with a martial artist who polished his martial arts wholeheartedly.

Therefore, every time she asked for advice, she always benefited.

Sometimes the senior brother and junior sister sat and discussed the Dao, talking about magic techniques, while the martial artist drank wine on the side, or lit a fire to boil tea, or fed and brushed the horse.

Sometimes the martial artist played with his spear, and the two watched from the side.

They took turns cooking and going out to buy things.

Sometimes Luo Seng would go out for a few days to inquire about some news in the Jianghu, and he could always find some things to eliminate demons and catch ghosts for others, exchanging for some wine and meat money.

Lin Jue and the Junior Sister would sometimes go out for a day or two, going to places rarely visited by people nearby, finding a landscape with excellent scenery and full of spiritual energy, sitting and cultivating, comprehending spiritual charm.

The weather was getting colder day by day.

The seven new bean soldiers were finally carved into shape—two holding bows, wearing long swords at their waists; three holding spears, wearing short knives at their waists; two holding long blades, wearing golden melon iron hammers at their waists—all fully armored, majestic and extraordinary.

Lin Jue sat in the courtyard and invited the remnant souls and obsessions of the seven heroes into them.

Then came the refining.

With his current cultivation, refining was also fast.

"Third Shixiong, how many heroes are helping you now?" the Xiao Shimei asked casually, walking over with her long sword, panting for breath with her hair plastered to her forehead.

"There will be twelve before the New Year."

"Twelve..."

The Junior Sister could not help but be secretly shocked.

"How is Junior Sister's progress?"

"My 'Pointing Stone to Form Generals' can also 'move sand and walk stone.' Now, besides practicing sword, I only learn two magic techniques. I will definitely be able to Point Stone to Form Generals before next spring." The Junior Sister's voice was firm, as if she had set a task for herself, "My 'Mountain Pressing Down' also has a force of more than a hundred jin. I will strive to practice it to be about the same as Senior Brother before next spring."

Between her words, there was still some rejoicing—

Fortunately, she was also very diligent and did not fall behind much.

"Not bad, not bad. Your talent is in the five elements. Most five-element magic techniques are good at fighting. If you can find more five-element spirit methods, perhaps one day you will truly have to rely on you to protect me."

Lin Jue paused as he spoke:

"I have another magic technique here that is more suitable for you. You can learn one more. Rest assured, this magic technique is very simple for both you and me, and it does not delay your practice of those two magic techniques. Even I only took a little gap to learn it."

"What?"

"Sit."

Lin Jue pointed to the side.

The Junior Sister lowered her head and looked.

Originally, there was nothing beside her, but at this moment, there was an extra thatched meditation cushion. Looking not far away, the meditation cushion under the peach tree more than a zhang away had disappeared.

Her heart could not help but be shocked—

Senior Brother's Object-Taking from Afar also had progress!

The Junior Sister then sat down, facing her senior brother.

"This technique is called Stone-Sealing Technique."

"Stone-Sealing Technique?"

"It was the ability of the Earth-Corner Snake in the deep mountain and great marsh in Kuze County. This method is not only a earth-element magic technique, but it is also very similar to the Stone-Transformation Method. It is just that the Stone-Transformation Method turns oneself into stone, while the Stone-Sealing Technique seals others into stone. Junior Sister is clever, presumably you will be able to comprehend it in no more than three days."

"Then how long did Senior Brother learn it?"

"One day."

The Junior Sister's expression suddenly turned solemn, and her body sat straight quietly.

Prepared for battle.

This world was already roaring with cold wind. The two Daoists sat opposite each other discussing, while a martial artist set up a stove on the side, boiling yellow wine with yellow plums. After boiling, he silently poured them each a cup.

It was the same thereafter.

At first, when the two were meditating and discussing the Dao, Luo Seng would do his own things on the side, and sometimes go to the official road outside to watch people coming and going, not knowing what there was to see. Later, he would find a meditation cushion and sit not far from the two, drinking wine on his own. Later still, as if influenced by them, he even closed his eyes with them, calming his heart and nourishing his energy.

Unknowingly, it was already the twelfth lunar month.

Lin Jue stood in the courtyard and waved his hand to scatter.

Twelve beans instantly flew out, growing larger against the cold wind. Before they landed, they had already turned into twelve armored soldiers.

Three carried bows and hung arrows, wearing long swords at their waists; two were swordsmen, only having one sword; two were shield-knife soldiers, also only having one shield and one knife; two were long-blade warriors, hanging golden melon iron hammers at their waists; three were armored soldiers holding long spears, wearing short knives at their waists.

All were tall and fierce, wearing heavy armor, with bright red oil paint on their faces, like celestial soldiers and generals at a temple fair, or like evil god warriors in Nuo opera.

At a glance, the twelve all looked about the same, but if viewed with a Daoist's eyes, there were differences.

Because of the length of the refining time, the first three bean soldiers clearly had more spiritual charm. At this time, the differences between them were already very small and could not be seen, but the seven bean soldiers just refined had obvious differences from the previous five.

However, by next spring, they would also be usable.

And that wooden staff, under Lin Jue's careful planning and penny-pinching, made five bean soldiers, and actually half was still left.

At the very least, five more could be made, which could be considered an unexpected joy.

"From now on, I will trouble you heroes."

Lin Jue performed a salute and then recalled the bean soldiers.

Luo Seng walked in from outside leading the horse, just happening to see this scene, and could not help but say: "Fortunately, the Daoist is a cultivator and can explain it with magic techniques, otherwise, if others saw so many armored soldiers, they would think the Daoist is taking advantage of the chaotic times to stockpile armor and raise troops, wanting to rebel."

"What rebellion can these few make?"

"Human effort is the key. Accumulate little by little, and a dozen sets of armor can already conquer the world."

"Don't speak of these." Lin Jue asked, "Has Lord Luo encountered any demons or ghosts who know that Long Wang?"

"No."

Luo Seng led the horse into the pigsty and found some thatch to block the hole in the wall that was letting in wind, then said: "Although there are some demons and ghosts causing trouble nearby these days, they are all small demons and ghosts. They don't even know their own names, just confusedly causing trouble. None know that Long Wang."

"No matter, we will see next spring." Lin Jue said to him, "Just right to inform Lord Luo, we might have to leave for a period of time."

"Are you going to find the two's senior brother?"

"Yes. Originally, I found many heavenly materials and earthly treasures in the territory of the former Kuze County and was quite happy, thinking I could use them to refine pills, but there was no alchemy furnace. I couldn't find suitable materials to build one here, so I had to go back to find my Second Senior Brother." Lin Jue said, "But this is also good. My Second Senior Brother is at the border of Qinzhou and Zhongzhou, not far away, and he is skilled in alchemy. The pills he refines with the same materials are always better than mine. Taking some for him to refine not only saves me some effort, but the finished product is also better."

"So that's how it is."

"When I come back, I will bring Lord Luo a Giant Many Yaoguai Pill to taste."

"What is a Giant Many Yaoguai Pill?"

"Lord Luo will know after eating it. Although Lord Luo has high abilities and few in the world can compare, the principles of alchemy and martial arts are ultimately different. I think it will also be useful."

Lin Jue heard that some martial artists are willing to be protectors for cultivators just for this kind of thing, so it must be useful.

"When will the two leave?"

"Leaving tomorrow, coming back after the New Year."

"Then Luo will watch the house here." Luo Seng said, knowing that although they had paper donkeys, if the paper donkeys were used to carry luggage and medicinal materials, they could not carry people, so he said again, "If the two Daoists want to carry medicinal materials and luggage, you can take Luo's horse and take good care of it on the road."

"Does Lord Luo not need the horse?"

"It's going to be the New Year, the weather is freezing, not going out."

"If that's the case, I won't be polite with Lord Luo."

"Hmm."

Luo Seng took the thatch and went to block the hole in the wall.

Lin Jue stood in place, thoughtful.

After he came out, he asked again: "I see Lord Luo's blood energy is vigorous, and 'martial energy' has naturally arisen in your body. I don't know if Lord Luo has heard of the Energy Nourishing Method?"

"Energy Nourishing Method?"

Luo Seng stood in place, his face showing doubt.

"It is the method of breathing and guiding."

"I know this." Luo Seng answered, "All martial artists in the world with true transmission have internal and external divisions in their martial arts. It is said that internal cultivation methods all originate from the Daoist guiding method. I have also heard of breathing methods, but Luo knows it is of no help to practicing martial arts, so I have never spent effort to look for it."

Lin Jue was not surprised.

Like the ghost surnamed Xu who unfortunately died in Yang Family Village, he had learned the guiding method from an old physician when he was a child. Although this was an opportunity, Luo Seng came from a military family and had served as a County Captain in Changning, one of the two counties in the capital, so it was impossible for him not to know.

Lin Jue then explained to him:

"Breathing and guiding, combined, is the Energy Nourishing Method, which is the cultivation method of ancient cultivators. People in the Jianghu in the world often only get half—either breathing or guiding. For example, some Jianghu tricksters mostly learn breathing methods. If some abilities are manifested in the body and not outside, they get guiding methods."

"What does the Daoist mean?"

"I see Lord Luo's abilities have reached the peak of martial artists, and you have the desire to eliminate demons and slay ghosts. If you can learn the complete Energy Nourishing Method, perhaps it will not be of much help to martial arts in the short term, but for one, you can use some spell-prohibition methods, which can help eliminate demons. Secondly, after a long time, perhaps it can help Lord Luo break through the shackles of martial artists. Even if not, eliminating the pain brought by practicing martial arts and fighting, making you live comfortably in old age, or living a few more years, can still be done."

Lin Jue paused as he spoke:

"Moreover, I see that when Lord Luo swings your blade, there is already faint gale energy. If you can learn the Energy Nourishing Method and have a clearer sense of energy, perhaps it will be helpful for Lord Luo to cultivate blade energy and gale force."

"Hmm..."

Luo Seng seemed moved and started pondering.

"If Lord Luo is interested, you don't have to spend effort to look elsewhere. I have it here." Lin Jue said to him, "Just consider it returning the favor of Lord Luo lending the horse."

"Good!"

Luo Seng was not coy: "Then let's try!"

"As for the spell-prohibition method..."

Lin Jue paused as he spoke, explaining to him:

"The spell-prohibition method is a magic technique given by gods to mortals to eliminate demons, drive away evil, and cure diseases. Although the incantations are a bit long, learning is simple, and casting is easy. Many Jianghu sorcerers who have not cultivated the Dao also use them.

"I have two kinds here:

"They are Manifestation and Sword-Attachment.

"Lord Luo's blood energy is vigorous, and your precious blade is already extraordinary, capable of beheading even ghosts and gods, so the Sword-Attachment spell is no longer needed. However, the Manifestation spell is still very useful.

"When Lord Luo eliminates demons before, if you encounter cunning demons, I think you must have used Jianghu experience and brainpower to find them. However, if you learn the Manifestation spell, once the incantation is chanted, it will manifest itself, and you will not be teased by demons.

"This spell is common. The Spell-Prohibition Doctors in the imperial court and the Gathering Immortal Mansion must have many people who know it. If Lord Luo is interested, you don't have to look for it elsewhere; just take it from me."

Lin Jue said to him, not stingy.

He only hoped it could help him improve. For one, it could increase the winning rate against the Long Wang, and secondly, it could be considered a mutual benefit between friends. ===== CHAPTER 220 =====