Li Qingchen remained silent for a long time before finally taking out an ancient book, handing it over to Chang Qing with care.
"I don't have a book that heals wind-cold, but this might be of some help to you."
"Remember, this is not easily obtained. You must not impart even the slightest bit to others apart from yourself."
Seeing Li Qingchen's solemn expression, Chang Qing took the book with curiosity.
[Celestial Doctor's Mysterious Scroll]
"Master, is this thing valuable?" Chang Qing asked.
"Valuable?"
Li Qingchen smiled. If Chang Qing weren't his disciple, he absolutely wouldn't have imparted this book.
This book originated from the legend, the unique Celestial Doctor Emperor who proved his path through medicine.
The book records countless illnesses, not just those affecting ordinary people, but even cultivators can be healed!
Having trouble cultivating? Heart Demon arising? Divine Techniques not aligning? Spiritual Power out of balance? And so on.
Calling it a medical book is an understatement; it's more of a precious tome containing countless cultivation challenges.
The book is profound and hard to fathom, recording rare treasures under heaven, common herbs, and countless cases large and small, enough for a lifetime of comprehension.
Even Li Qingchen, after obtaining this book, didn't practice cultivation as his mind power wasn't enough.
Just mastering the Confucian path was already a lifelong pursuit. If he sought to practice the Celestial Doctor path too, he'd likely achieve neither.
Therefore, this book stayed with him for a long time, only skimmed through during leisure.
He handed it to Chang Qing because of his terrifying aptitude for understanding.
Li Qingchen couldn't achieve dual cultivation in medicine and Confucianism, but Chang Qing might, and perhaps even resurrect the Celestial Doctor!
Were it a mere transaction, he could never pass on this precious book, but since it's his disciple, there were fewer concerns.
The stronger the disciple, the prouder the master, right?
"Don't ask too much. Just remember, even your father must not read it."
"Go now."
Chang Qing nodded, solemnly placing the book in his bosom, and after bowing to Li Qingchen, he exited the room.
"For the teacher to value it so much, the Celestial Doctor's Mysterious Scroll clearly isn't an ordinary item."
"Could it be a gift from some imperial doctor of the dynasty? Hmm... it's very possible!"
Chang Qing pondered, his heart growing more enthusiastic.
However, after leaving the bookhouse, he didn't rush home to study the medical scroll.
Instead, he found a secluded forest and took out the sword technique he practiced yesterday.
The Celestial Doctor's Mysterious Scroll might be precious, but the sword technique held the greatest allure for Chang Qing.
"Huu..."
Chang Qing held a straight wooden stick, eyes slightly closed, and the figure practicing swordplay resurfaced in his mind.
He moved, the wooden stick like a sharp sword, sometimes thrusting, sometimes poking, the moves flowing like water.
A sound like streams flowing by resounded, while withered leaves danced in the wind all around.
Gradually, the sound of the stream grew urgent and deep, like waves crashing against a dam.
Eventually, myriad streams converged, producing a sound of tumultuous waves.
Boom!
The withered leaves fell from the sky, and a tree as thick as an arm broke on the spot.
Nonetheless, Chang Qing seemed entirely immersed, speeding up instead of stopping.
The sound of streams gurgled, waves rolled continuously!
This space felt engulfed in fierce waves; the swirling leaves swept across like raging seas.
The enlightenment in Chang Qing's eyes deepened, his movements synchronizing with the sword, merging with the world.
"Cut!"
Suddenly, Chang Qing murmured, and the wooden stick in his hand, like a towering wave, struck down to the earth below.
Crack!
A crisp breaking sound emerged suddenly, as the wooden stick couldn't withstand the pressure, snapping apart.
Yet, as the stick shattered, a phantom-like wave mark appeared in the space, descending onto Chang Qing's celestial spirit before embedding within.
"What is this..."
Chang Qing was startled, feeling his now unencumbered forehead, somewhat at a loss.
Practicing swordplay resulted in something unexpected, what kind of situation is this?
After closing his eyes to sense it, Chang Qing reopened them with an odd look in his eyes.
"Innate Secret Technique?"
"A special mark bestowed by the heavens when a technique reaches perfection, making it even stronger."
Chang Qing was somewhat delighted, not expecting that this incomplete manual could also result in an Innate Secret Technique.
"Indeed, though the moves are just techniques, they're a complete entity."
"While there's no method, it's not perfect, but in terms of technique, this swordplay is complete."
Chang Qing shook his head regretfully.
Innate Secret Techniques are powerful, but despite everything, the technique was merely mundane.
However, on second thought, this sword technique was meant as a practice for fun, so this gain was indeed a pleasant surprise.
"It's getting late, time to head back."
Glancing at the sky, Chang Qing did a quick tidy-up and then headed towards Cyan Mountain Village.
...
Cyan Mountain Village, Su Wenlin's home.
"Dad, I'm heading out."
Brother Er Niu shouted before hastily bolting toward the village entrance.
"You brat! Is your Surging Waves Sword condensed with an innate mark or not!"
"I'm telling you! If you can't break through the fourth level within a month, I'll skin you alive!"
Su Wenlin's roar reached Brother Er Niu, making him shrink his neck and run faster.
"Condensing an innate mark in a month? What a joke, don't you know how hard that is to practice."
"Not even finding me a teacher, just letting me practice on my own. If I could break through so fast, then there'd be a ghost..."
Brother Er Niu muttered to himself, jogging out of the village.
To him now, nothing else mattered but the poetry!
He had confidently promised Qing Qiu yesterday that he'd present a poem within three days.
If he couldn't manage that, he'd have no face to see her.
"Why hasn't the Young Master returned yet? Surely he's gone off to practice swordplay again?"
"Ah, I shouldn't have given it to him already, that useless thing can't be mastered, just a waste of time."
Brother Er Niu sat at the village entrance, chewing on a straw, gazing lazily at the sky.
He sat for a long time, and as the sun set, and the day turned to dusk, a familiar figure finally appeared on the distant path.
"Hey, Chang Qing, why are you just getting back!"
Brother Er Niu jumped up, a smile on his face, jogging over to Chang Qing.
"Got delayed on the way, Brother Er Niu, were you waiting for me?" Chang Qing asked with a light smile.
"I've been waiting a long time for you, didn't you go off to find another place to practice swordplay again?"
Brother Er Niu glanced around and whispered persuasively,
"Don't practice that stuff anymore, it's impossible to master. You should focus on your studies for now; if your dad finds out, we'll both get beaten."
Brother Er Niu was now very thankful that when the Patriarch had passed on his edict, he forbade divine sense from being used arbitrarily.
After all, many families in Cyan Mountain Village came as couples, and if one were to see what shouldn't be seen, it would be quite awkward.
If divine sense could be used... then Chang Qing's sword practice would've been exposed long ago.
"Brother Er Niu, the manual is real." Chang Qing said earnestly, facing Brother Er Niu.
"I know it's real, but isn't it incomplete? You can't master it!"
Seeing Chang Qing's stubborn look, Brother Er Niu said helplessly.
"Can't master it?"
Chang Qing was taken aback, "I've mastered it, though."