Chapter 142: The Debt of Gratitude Has Come

Zhou Wangdao suffered a great loss of face in public, but aside from the younger, low-cultivation disciples chatting excitedly, everyone else's attention was drawn to something else.

Zhou Wangdao successfully absorbed spiritual energy and converted it into yuan force; though an incident occurred midway, he had indeed achieved a qualitative leap, his internal cultivation rising by a great deal.

"Zhou Wangdao can do it, so can we—too bad I arrived too late that day and didn't get a spot, so I went to Mingyuan Courtyard for class. Do you have Master Senior Brother's breathing method?"

"No, I didn't go either."

The senior disciples who hadn't attended were all inquiring about Zhang Liuzhen's new breathing method;

while those who had attended were enthusiastically discussing it, feeling they had indeed glimpsed spiritual energy—if only they could sustain their meditation a little longer, they were certain they'd see it clearly.

Sigh, it's all Zhou Wangdao's fault for igniting at such a terrible moment.

But as they discussed it, they realized their understanding of the new breathing method differed slightly—each person activated different points, and some even had different pathways for their cultivation techniques during breathing.

This…

Everyone felt a chill, then surged with excitement—this meant Master Senior Brother had truly created a new cultivation art, this wasn't just a simple new breathing method.

If they practiced this new art, they could go directly from strengthening internal force to converting spiritual energy and essence into yuan force—wouldn't their cultivation base skyrocket?

After all, converting internal force into yuan force before casting spells consumed enormous energy, but converting yuan force back into internal force multiplied the output—though who in their right mind would turn yuan force back into internal force?

The same palm strike: channeling internal force could shatter one stone; channeling yuan force could shatter ten, or even more.

Everyone flocked to the new breathing method.

It instantly overshadowed Pan Yun's fame.

Though the Mountain God's disciple was miraculous, that was someone else's affair—what could compare to boosting one's own cultivation?

Pan Yun instantly faded into the background; she exhaled in relief and warned Miao Zhen and Miao He, "Don't practice this new art yet—wait until we confirm it's harmless."

Miao Zhen and Miao He agreed.

Though they stopped practicing the new breathing method, having once entered that state, their subsequent cultivation brought new insights—even when practicing Sanqing Mountain's techniques, their progress accelerated noticeably.

After leaving the square, alone at night, Pan Yun also tried Zhang Liuzhen's new breathing method, with Pan Xiaohei guarding her.

Honestly, the cultivation speed was genuinely fast—so fast she nearly lost control.

It was only when Pan Xiaohei slapped her face with a claw that she snapped back to awareness.

According to it, it had screamed in her ear, jumped on her legs several times, and scratched her arms repeatedly—she hadn't woken up at all—so it finally slapped her face.

Pan Yun was skeptical, but since it had fulfilled its duty as guardian, she let the matter drop.

Later, when she cultivated her Kunyuan Art, her mind involuntarily recalled the new breathing method, and the surrounding spiritual energy became unusually active, greatly increasing her cultivation speed.

Fortunately, she still stuck to cultivating Kunyuan Art and didn't switch arts, so nothing went wrong.

Miao Zhen and Miao He might have secretly tried it too—after a day of listlessness, they resumed practicing Sanqing Mountain's techniques and no longer seemed drained.

All three went to bed early every day, rising at dawn when spiritual energy grew dense to sit and cultivate.

Miao Zhen and Miao He had limited meditation duration, so they woke at Yin Hour, cultivated for one hour, then returned to bed for a nap, rising only when daylight came.

Pan Yun's meditation lasted longer, so she cultivated an extra half to one hour daily—afterward, she too took a nap and rose only when fully bright.

To Zhang Wei and the other three in the same courtyard, all three appeared lazy, even skipping morning lessons.

The spiritual energy in Fengqi Courtyard was denser than other courtyards, especially in the morning—such laziness was a waste of their Fengqi Courtyard slot.

The three disciples-in-training went everywhere together, attended the same classes, and their schedules covered three major categories, none missed.

They rarely missed daily lectures, living a full, busy life—but after that day, Zhang Liuzhen vanished and never taught another major class; Pan Yun was still disappointed, for she thought his art was truly excellent, just too tempting, its speed too fast, overwhelming control.

She longed to discuss improvements to this art with him, but they weren't close—she couldn't bring herself to speak up.

Too bad Master Senior Nephew was gone; from his tone, he seemed to have some connection with Zhang Liuzhen—even if slight, it was better than nothing.

Just as she lamented, Zhou Wangdao, who had also disappeared for a while, reappeared.

"Little Auntie, look—it's Zhou Wangdao."

Pan Yun lifted her eyes listlessly, "He's here to see Zhang Weiyi, right?"

She was about to lower her gaze when something struck her—she snapped her eyes open again and saw Zhou Wangdao studying her.

Zhou Wangdao offered her a friendly smile and walked toward her.

Pan Yun beamed widely, shoved Pan Xiaohei into Miao Zhen's arms, and stepped forward to meet him, "Senior Brother Zhou, how are you feeling?"

Zhou Wangdao's smile stiffened slightly, then nodded. "I'm fine. Thank you, Sister, for helping me during the incident at the square."

He said, "I've been busy lately and only now found time to thank you for your aid. This is for you."

Zhou Wangdao handed Pan Yun a basket.

Pan Yun immediately refused. "We study together in the Academy—we share the same Master. Though I was terrified that day, my meridians burned painfully and I suffered minor injuries, I felt it was worth it—as long as Senior Brother is unharmed." Zhou Wangdao felt touched, his expression softening further. "I'm fully recovered, but you… I didn't know you were injured. I have a healing elixir on me—take it. I'll ask Master Senior Brother for a proper remedy; you'll heal quickly."

Pan Yun asked at once, "How is Master Senior Brother? He was badly injured that day—how is he now?"

Her face filled with worry. "I've been anxious about this ever since, but I don't know the Academy well—I couldn't even visit him."

Zhou Wangdao said, "You want to visit Master Senior Brother?"

Pan Yun nodded.

Zhou Wangdao blurted out, "Then I'll take you."

Pan Yun's eyes lit up. "Really? Thank you so much, Senior Brother Zhou!"

After speaking, Zhou Wangdao felt a moment of regret—Master Senior Brother disliked visitors while recovering—but seeing Pan Yun so delighted, he decided taking her to see him couldn't hurt.

He studied her carefully, especially noting her height—barely reaching his chest—and relaxed. Bringing her was fine; she was so young, and unlike other senior sisters, she didn't chase after Master Senior Brother.

Zhou Wangdao: "Fine. I can take you now."

!. Read

Pan Yun said at once, "Let me go fetch some medicine. You know—Sanqing Mountain's medicines are famed throughout the land. I don't know how Master Senior Brother's injury is—I'd like to bring him some."

Zhou Wangdao nodded. "Master Senior Brother has already taken quite a bit of Sanqing Mountain medicine during his recovery."

"Oh? Was it made by your Senior Brother, or your Third Senior Brother?"

Zhou Wangdao smiled apologetically. "I don't know—but the vials are clearly Sanqing Mountain's."

Pan Yun understood: Sanqing Mountain's medicine vials were custom-made with Yushan County's kilns, painted with Sanqing Mountain's image—so beautiful, no emblem needed, anyone could tell they were Sanqing Mountain's.

But many fakes existed outside—not only could the vials be copied, but Sanqing Mountain never reclaimed used vials, so many empty ones circulated.

Their vials were so exquisite, people reused them—not just for storing their own medicine, but others even "paid high prices" to collect them.

Thus, many counterfeit Sanqing Mountain medicines existed, requiring skill to distinguish.

Of course, what Pan Yun produced would never be fake—she was Sanqing Mountain's Little Auntie.

Pan Yun took the basket back to her room and told Miao Zhen and Miao He, "Pack up—we're going to see Master Senior Brother."

Miao Zhen: "Won't too many people be annoying?"

Pan Yun: "Don't you want to hear Master Senior Brother's own explanation of the new breathing method?"

Miao Zhen murmured, "Of course I do."

Why is the Dao not passed to six ears?

Beyond secrecy, it's because the more people receive transmission, the less they absorb—the Dao cannot be conveyed in words, only passed directly by a master, and how much one grasps depends on one's innate talent.

So meeting a True Person face-to-face for discussion is always better than hearing secondhand.

Pan Yun waved her small hand. "If you want it, leave the rest to me."

Pan Yun lifted the basket lid and examined its contents.

Inside were three blue books, no titles on the covers—she opened one curiously and discovered they were Academy study manuals.

They contained full first-year class notes, even cultivation insights—three volumes covering spellcraft, talismans and arrays, and qi and elixir arts.

On the other side of the basket lay two vials of pills.

Miao He uncorked one, sniffed, and said, "Both are healing pills—one vial is worth ten taels of silver."

"That's a lot," Pan Yun tapped the three blue booklets. "I suspect these are his personal notes."

They were priceless—no, they were worth a massive favor.

Pan Yun was soft-hearted, not hard-hearted—Zhou Wangdao showed such gratitude, so she pulled out a healing elixir for him. "Though you're attuned to fire spirit energy, your meridians burned fiercely that day—you must have sustained damage. This will restore you."

Zhou Wangdao blinked, then hurriedly refused. "Thank you, Sister, but this medicine is too precious—keep it for yourself."

Pan Yun: "This medicine won't help me anymore—give it to Senior Brother."

Zhou Wangdao grew even more uneasy. "Master Senior Brother too—he recovered quickly from this medicine. I never imagined the fire spirit energy I drew would affect you so severely."

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow. "This medicine doesn't help Master Senior Brother?"

Zhou Wangdao nodded, sighing. "Precisely because it doesn't work—he's been confined to his room. The Tian Shi Mansion summoned several renowned physicians, but they can only ease his condition, not cure him. My Master is now proposing we invite your Sanqing Mountain's Abbot and Tao Daochang to treat him."

Pan Yun's eyes lit up; Miao He and Miao Zhen also grew excited, asking together, "Really?"

(End of Chapter)