Chapter 91: Level-eight of the Qi-gathering
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
After returning from the s.h.i.+ family mansion, Zhou Donghuang began to devote all his energy and concentration to practicing.
He would let Fu collect the bill from the Yang family as well as the two bills from the s.h.i.+ family, ten million liang of silver in total, turning him from a pauper back into a prince.
The two million liang of silver he had previously brought from Yunfeng Prefecture was almost completely spent.
Sitting cross-legged on his bed as he practiced in his room, Zhou Donghuang suddenly opened his eyes. Must the state of total concentration needed for practicing the Lord of the Four Supremes really be reached only by devoting time to reach that state?
That state of total concentration is, after all, a state of calm and focus…there are many elixirs that can help achieve this state. Can I use these elixirs to directly enter a state of total concentration?”
The Lord of the Four Supremes that Zhou Donghuang was now practicing could be practiced at an incredibly fast rate which was incomparable to the normal rate of practice if he entered a state of total concentration.
For example, his level of practice was still at level-five of the Qi-gathering when he was in the intermediate-level Guangling prefecture.
In four short months, his level of practice had advanced to level-eight of the Qi-gathering by the time he had arrived at the Chu royal city, consecutively breaking through two levels of practice.
This was because he had entered a state of total concentration, and attained the maximum rate of practice for the Lord of the Four Supremes.
In any case, entering a state of total concentration required practicing in seclusion, so that there would be minimal external distractions.
Zhou Donghuang had just hit on an idea.
Could he not formulate an elixir that would help him enter a state of calm and focus so that he could enter a state of total concentration even earlier and maintain his rate of practice at the maximum level to practice the Lord of the Four Supremes?
I’ll give it a try.
Springing into action immediately, Zhou Donghuang found a pen and some paper and wrote down a list of herbs. He pa.s.sed the paper to Fu, instructing him to purchase all the herbs on the list.
It would be a simple matter to buy all the herbs from the medicine shops in the Chu royal city.
Zhou Donghuang intended to formulate an elixir called “concentration elixir,” which would allow the person who consumed it to enter a state of calm and focus in the shortest time possible.
From what he recalled, a concentration elixir did not require using the essential core forged from the Samadhi Fire to formulate the best elixir for calm and focus.
“Young Master, here are the herbs you wanted.”
That night, Fu returned with the herbs. Less than half a day later, Zhou Donghuang had managed to formulate the concentration elixir that he wanted and immediately proceeded to consume a bottle of it.
After he consumed it, he began practicing and was pleasantly surprised to find that in just an hour, his rate of practice had entered the maximum rate of practice for the Lord of the Four Supremes!
At this rate of practice… it will not be long before I can smoothly attain level-eight of the Qi-gathering, and become a level-eight adept of the Qi-gathering with the strength of eight bulls!
After realizing that the concentration elixir was indeed effective, Zhou Donghuang could not help the smile that spread over his face despite being in a state of total calm.
After instructing Fu to find a post station to send a letter back to Yunfeng prefecture, Zhou Donghuang retreated from the world and sank into a state of frenzied practice.
…
All was calm in the Chu royal city.
In both the grand Yang family and the tyc.o.o.n s.h.i.+ family, everything was peaceful and in order. Nothing was out of the ordinary, and there was no news being spread.
However, many people in the s.h.i.+ family noticed that they had not seen the patriarch of the s.h.i.+ family, s.h.i.+ Hao, for a period of time. As for the whereabouts of the patriarch of the s.h.i.+ family, he was away on business, according to First Young Master s.h.i.+ Yu of the s.h.i.+ family.
This was all according to what the elder patriarch of the s.h.i.+ family, s.h.i.+ Ji had arranged. If news of his son s.h.i.+ Hao’s death was allowed to spread, it would create waves in the s.h.i.+ family and cause unnecessary disruption.
That day, after the youth had left, he had sworn Yang Yunji and Xiao Chen to silence and placed an embargo on the news of his son s.h.i.+ Hao’s death.
Because of this, although Zhou Donghuang had put on a display of his G.o.dly might in the receiving chamber of the s.h.i.+ family mansion, only those few who were present were aware of what happened.
Ren Jiapei did indeed mention this to her father, who was the current patriarch of the Ren family, after she returned home. Her original intention was to make it clear to the Ren family that they were not to offend the youth who was with Yang Zixi at any cost.
However, the patriarch of the Ren family merely laughed and dismissed what she said with obvious disbelief.
However way she said it, the patriarch of the Ren family did not believe it. It was all she could do to stop herself from bringing her father to that Big Brother Zhou to rough him up.
Finally, although Ren Jiapei was helpless about it, she understood clearly why her father did not believe her… if he had not seen it with his own eyes, who would believe that a sixteen or seventeen-year-old youth had the ability to easily defeat a level-eight adept of the Qi-gathering?
Moreover, that level-eight adept was s.h.i.+ Ji, the previous patriarch of the s.h.i.+ family who had led them to become them a tyc.o.o.n family five years earlier.
“Zixi.”
Now, Ren Jiapei would go to Chuxiu Inn to stay for several days whenever she was free, and over the next three months, she and Yang Zixi had become as close as sisters. “I have not seen Big Brother Zhou for a long time… is he always practicing?”
“Mhm.”
Yang Zixi nodded with a slight smile. Hearing Ren Jiapei mention Zhou Donghuang, her eyes narrowed into a crescent shape as she smiled, making her look very pretty.
Previously, her Big Brother Zhou had pa.s.sed on a new practice technique to her, as well as the Qi-gathering elixir that left her stunned.
In three months, she not only smoothly attained level-one of the Qi-gathering, but was even not far from level-two of the Qi-gathering.
Over that period of time, she had come to realize that her Big Brother Zhou was not an ordinary person and could not be compared to anyone by the standards of Yunyang country or even the Valley of the Medicine Masters.
Even among the most elite families and the disciples of the sects on the planet of Ziyun… there is no one who can be compared to Big Brother Zhou!
Yang Zixi had had this thought more than once and had counted herself extremely lucky that she had gotten to know this Big Brother Zhou.
“Zixi, I can tell… you have feelings for Big Brother Zhou.”
Ren Jiapei smiled. “How about that? When are you going to confess your feelings to him? Do you want my help?”
Ren Jiapei stopped there, thinking that Yang Zixi would deny it in embarra.s.sment. Yang Zixi did not deny it but gave a long sigh.
“Sister Jiapei, I am already very satisfied to even be able to stay with Big Brother Zhou. As for anything else… I will make no demands. From the time Big Brother Zhou avenged Third Uncle, my life has belonged to Big Brother Zhou. Even if I have to spend my life serving him, I am willing to do it.”
As she finished, the corners of Yang Zixi’s mouth subconsciously curled up in a bitter smile.
If she had struck up her courage three months earlier when she had just left the Yang family, confessed her feelings and fought for her happiness…
But now, she understood her Big Brother Zhou better and was even more acutely aware that she and her Big Brother Zhou were of two completely different worlds.
Her sense of inferiority before her Big Brother Zhou had convinced her that she could not possibly be a match for him. Perhaps, only the daughters of the elite families or sects of Ziyun would be a suitable match for him.
“Silly girl.”
Ren Jiapei did not know what Yang Zixi was thinking, and she shook her head. “Since you like Big Brother Zhou, you have to fight for it yourself… most of the time, you have to fight to secure your own happiness. As outstanding as Big Brother Zhou is… if you don’t make a move soon, won’t you be giving others a better chance?”
Ren Jiapei continued to offer advice.
“Sister Jiapei… you wouldn’t have feelings for Big Brother Zhou too, would you?”
Yang Zixi looked earnestly at Ren Jiapei, who lowered her head guiltily. Seeing this, Yang Zixi sighed in her heart.
Although Ren Jiapei had not admitted it directly, her actions made it obvious enough.
Just as the atmosphere between the two ladies was becoming rather awkward, they heard the door of the master bedroom in the middle of the guesthouse being thrown open, and a figure dressed in robes whiter than snow walked out.
“Is Young Mistress Ren here?”
For the first time in three months, Zhou Donghuang left his room with a peculiar demeanor about him.
He had finally attained level-eight of the Qi-gathering!
“Big Brother Zhou?”
Zhou Donghuang’s appearance was unexpected, and the two ladies immediately focused all their attention on Zhou Donghuang.
“Big Brother Zhou.”
Yang Zixi rose from her seat, her beautiful face radiating warmth, her gaze briefly showing a look of infatuation as she looked at the youth who seemed to have lost almost all the air of childishness that he once had.
In three months, the youth had changed substantially. He was more mature and more charismatic now.
“Big Brother Zhou, have you perhaps been practicing too obsessively?”
Ren Jiapei sighed. “I’ve been here more than ten times in the past three months, but never seen you once… now, I finally understand how you have such ability at this age.”
Although she said this, Ren Jiapei knew full well that even if an ordinary person was even more diligent than this youth, it was impossible for him to have the level of ability that this youth had at his current age.
“What time is it now?”
After continuously practicing for three months, Zhou Donghuang could not remember clearly what time it was, but from what Ren Jiapei had said, it should be sometime in the middle of December.
“Big Brother Zhou, today is December 19, 1228 of the Ziyun Era,” Yang Zixi said with a smile.
“Big Brother Zhou, since you have stopped practicing for now and left your room, you should go out for a walk… if not, even if you don’t feel cooped up, Zixi probably does.”
Ren Jiapei looked at Zhou Donghuang and glanced sideways as she said, “It so happens that there is a gathering for the scions of the grand families in the Chu Royal city at the end of the month, why don’t Big Brother Zhou and Zixi attend it as a couple?”
“I won’t go; you can just go with Zixi.”
Zhou Donghuang shook his head. He did not have the slightest interest in a gathering for the youths of the grand families.
“Big Brother Donghuang, if I go with Zixi, what if we get bullied by someone? Could you bear to see us get bullied?” Ren Jiapei asked coquettishly with a pout.
Zhou Donghuang raised his eyebrows and looked at Zixi, and saw a glimmer of longing in the depths of the young lady’s gaze which immediately softened his heart. “Sure… I’ll go with you both.”