Chapter 27: Return Home and Cultivate the Spirit

This is a drumstick, made of black ebony.

It feels slightly heavy and is carved with coiled dragon patterns.

Though reasonably refined, it’s nothing special in this era.

Yet Li Yan’s heart was struck with shock.

The moment he touched the drumstick, the stand-in statue in his dantian suddenly trembled violently, generating a strange suction.

At the same time, a force surged forth from within the drumstick.

This force was warm and carried an indescribable aura; as soon as it entered his body, it split into countless threads, like serpents slithering through his meridians.

In the end, all of it flowed into the dantian and was absorbed by the statue.

Li Yan immediately understood what it was.

A celestial treasure!

He never expected the original form to be this drumstick, hidden here in the stable.

Had it not been for this stroke of luck, he might have searched for years without finding it.

This celestial treasure could take the form of a serpent and steal a person’s soul—it clearly possessed sentience and was desperately trying to escape.

Its blessings weren’t just gang qi; they also carried unknown energies, highly agile, capable of transforming into countless forms and darting everywhere, trying to avoid the dantian.

Even the drumstick itself began to tremble slightly.

Yet all its struggles were in vain.

Soon, the blessings were completely absorbed by the stand-in statue.

Throughout the process, not a single trace of energy leaked out to draw attention.

No one could know that within moments, a celestial treasure held in Li Yan’s hand had become an ordinary object.

Li Yan couldn’t help but smile.

He had uncovered another function of the stand-in statue.

Celestial treasures—those treasure hunters would go to great lengths, using arcane methods and the principles of the Five Elements to capture them.

But all he needed to do was touch one to devour its blessings.

The original material of the Three Talismans of Demon Suppression was also a celestial treasure, yet the stand-in statue showed no reaction—meaning only naturally formed spiritual treasures worked.

After swallowing this celestial treasure, the stand-in statue changed.

Its previously patchy, worn surface now grew smooth, and faint information came to him: the statue’s quality had improved, able to withstand greater damage.

Though it hadn’t restored his life flame, Li Yan was still thrilled.

It meant hope.

Celestial treasures came in many forms—there must be some that could reignite his life flame.

“Young man.”

Lu the steward, seeing him staring intently at the drumstick, chuckled: “You like this too? Of course—in all musical instruments, drums and gongs carry the greatest qi. Others love southern tunes, but I alone adore these mighty drumbeats.”

“I hear several families have heirs this year—the Drum King contest will be spectacular. If you’re interested, come to Changancheng on the fifteenth of the first month.”

“Naturally.”

Li Yan smiled and returned the drumstick to Lu the steward.

“This one’s decent enough.”

Meanwhile, Sha Lifei had also chosen a saddle and fitted it onto the big black horse.

“Thank you, Uncle Sha.”

Li Yan was in high spirits, looking at Sha Lifei as if he were a lucky star.

Unintentionally acquiring a celestial treasure, he now had no regrets. After leaving the mansion, he mounted his horse and bowed with a smile: “Master Wang, farewell—I’ll await you at Li Family Fortress.”

Master Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and smiled: “Naturally. I’ll be along shortly.”

He was in good spirits too—cooperating with Li Yan could compensate for his own shortcomings, let him take on more major jobs, and finally acquire the long-sought artifact, perhaps even refurbish his ancestral altar.

Sha Lifei’s eyes darted, and he had already made up his mind.

He’d just received a generous tip—far more profitable than laboring as a foreman of wheat harvesters. If these two were getting rich, he couldn’t just stand by—he had to get his share.

Thinking this, he slapped his chest: “Don’t worry, Brother Yan—I’ll take full responsibility for Master Wang’s safety. I’ll see to him perfectly.”

Li Yan raised an eyebrow. “Oh? You can manage that?”

Sha Lifei panicked. “Of course I can! Haven’t you heard? I, Sha Lifei, always…”

“Enough, enough.”

Li Yan waved him off. “Just make sure you stay safe. Goodbye!”

Sha Lifei wasn’t skilled, but he knew the ways of the Jianghu, and Master Wang Daoxuan was no stranger to travel—his safety was assured.

With that, he turned his reins and rode off.

Watching the dust fade into the distance, Master Wang Daoxuan turned and gazed at the small hill behind him. “Let’s go. The terrain here is gentle—no dragon veins, but finding a good burial spot won’t be hard. We’ll finish today.”

“Got it!”

Sha Lifei grinned, slung his tools over his shoulder, and followed the Daoist up the hill.

After everyone left, Lu the steward hurried back to the back courtyard.

In the side room, Lu the squire sat staring blankly at the chief lady.

“Master, they’ve all left.” “Hmm. Everyone, leave us. I wish to be alone with my wife.”

Lu the squire dismissed his servants, glanced around, then slowly knelt, tears welling in his old eyes as he trembled: “Your Highness… are you still resentful?”

“Resentment won’t help. We barely escaped with our lives—why cling to bitterness? The court is full of wolves—we can’t fight them. Living in hiding, enjoying peace… isn’t that better?”

“You saved my life that year. I’ve served you faithfully ever since, never once slackening. That repays your grace.”

“The grace is repaid, but I’ve betrayed my ancestors’ bloodline. From now on, I must think of myself. I beg your forgiveness…”

After muttering for a while, he wiped his tears and rose to leave.

Back in the side courtyard, two concubines immediately stepped forward to attend him.

Lu the squire resumed his stern demeanor, sipped his tea, and said coolly: “So? Any prospects these past two days?”

Seeing the concubines silent, he sneered: “What’s this act for? You still have a choice—bear a child to carry on my lineage, and you’ll live in comfort for life.”

“Hesitating? Do you want to go to the Drumstick Meeting?”

“Then you won’t get a say!”

!.

At the mention of the Drumstick Meeting, the beautiful red-clad concubine’s eyes flickered with fear. She stammered: “I… I think that young Li is quite suitable.”

“Hah. Girls always favor the handsome.”

Lu the squire didn’t seem angry. He sipped his tea and shook his head: “He’s a man of the Jianghu, with phoenix eyes and dragon pupils—his destiny is extraordinary. Trouble may come.”

“Pick one from the wheat harvesters. I want peace.”

With that, he set down his cup and turned away.

After he left, both concubines exhaled in relief.

The white-clad concubine glanced sideways and asked: “Sister Cui Lan, why didn’t you mention Commander Zhao? I saw him that night…”

“Shh!”

The red-clad concubine jumped, hushed her, glanced out the window, then sighed bitterly: “You know this old devil—he says one thing, does another. He never treats us as human.”

“If he finds out, I’m dead. Even if I bear his child, he’ll kill us to cover it up.”

The white-clad concubine’s eyes flashed. “Sister, there’s an opportunity now.”

“It’s just whether you have the courage…”

…………

Riding horseback, their pace was swift.

Li Yan traveled by day and camped at night, finally returning to Li Family Fortress on the third evening.

“Brother Yan, why are you back?”

“Where are they?”

The people of Li Family Fortress were busy.

Their wheat was about to be harvested.

Seeing Li Yan return early, they feared something had happened.

“Don’t worry—they’ve taken on a big job. They’re fine.”

Li Yan patiently explained, never growing weary.

In this era, communication was poor; villages were isolated. Sometimes, a girl married to a neighboring village had to send a messenger, waiting days for a reply.

Even within Guanzhong, Xianyang was far from Li Family Fortress.

After spreading the news, Li Yan rode home.

Far off, he saw his grandfather Li Gui sitting at the gate, holding a large pipe, his white hair disheveled in the sunset, his eyes dull.

Li Yan’s heart ached. He dismounted quickly, knelt beside him, and forced a smile: “Grandpa, I’m back. I told you—it was just a few days.”

“Ah, back… good, you’re back…”

Li Gui’s voice was flat, yet couldn’t hide its tremble.

“You haven’t eaten yet?”

Li Yan smiled brightly: “Perfect—I learned a dish on the road. I’ll cook it for you, and we’ll have a drink together.”

“Hmph. What dish could you possibly learn?”

“Just watch. Even if I fail at cultivation, I can always be a cook…”

…………

Night fell, and Li Family Fortress lay in silence.

In the darkness, Li Yan sat cross-legged on the bed, first steadying his breath, then rubbing his palms until they grew warm, and massaging his scalp, temples, earlobes, nape, shoulders and arms in sequence…

Visualization is a still practice; these are all preparations before cultivation.

The goal is to relax the mind and spirit while ensuring smooth blood circulation throughout the body, enhancing perception, and grounding oneself in heaven and earth, using the three lights of sun, moon, and stars as pillars.

Thus, holding to the One and preserving the True is the only way to commune with the divine; once one reaches a certain realm and gains Daoic skill, one may during ritual perform “transforming the altar through visualization,” endowing the ritual altar with “momentum.”

In heaven and earth, sacred mountains and great rivers, fengshui dragon veins—all possess “momentum.”

Only when the two energies of gang and sha circulate can “momentum” or “pattern” be formed.

To touch these, visualization is the first step.

Li Yan closed his eyes slightly, steadied his breath, and quietly sensed himself, visualizing the five viscera, six bowels, three burners, and the niwan, finally focusing on his third eye…

(End of Chapter)