C16 Tamed Beast

Su Jiuming had indeed sought out Bai Yifeng and Lee Daoquan for the foundational Qi Refining and Breathing Technique, but to no avail. Bai Yifeng was adamant that books were lifeless, while people were not, and insisted on teaching him in person. The result? Su Jiuming couldn't make heads or tails of the teachings and ended up learning nothing, nearly losing his life in the process.

Lee Daoquan was even more extreme, claiming that Su Jiuming was a chosen one, naturally equipped with the ability to refine Qi and breathe properly, and therefore didn't need to learn such things. "Junior Brother, you must be joking with me. We siblings have all grasped these basics on our own since childhood. There's no need for those rigid books," he'd say.

Su Jiuming understood the principle, but as someone who had transmigrated, he had never encountered Spiritual Qi, much less attempted to harness it. Reflecting on his past efforts to acquire the breathing technique, Su Jiuming began to regret ever mentioning it to Zhang Liao.

"Never mind—"

"Sure thing."

As Su Jiuming was about to back out, claiming the matter didn't exist, Zhang Liao, momentarily taken aback, readily agreed, effectively silencing Su Jiuming's retraction.

"...Zhang Liao, you're truly a good person."

When Su Jiuming came to his senses and saw Zhang Liao again, he felt a twinge in his nose and spoke with a hint of emotion in his voice.

"Hmm?"

"Nothing."

Receiving an unexpected commendation, Zhang Liao was somewhat puzzled. He didn't understand why Su Jiuming was after such a basic technique, but sensing that Su Jiuming had his reasons, he refrained from prying.

After some more conversation, Su Jiuming used the Jabberwocky to send Zhang Liao down the mountain. Zhang Liao got a taste of soaring like a bird before they bid each other farewell and went their separate ways.

Upon his return, Su Jiuming couldn't contain his excitement and let out a triumphant shout to the heavens: "I can finally cultivate!"

[Is cultivation really worth such excitement? Don't celebrate too soon.]

"Shut up. Will you die if you don't speak?"

Su Jiuming wasn't concerned with such trivialities. His head was filled with visions of himself gracefully gliding over water and heroically vanquishing demons after achieving immortality. He was so captivated by this image that he lost all desire to bicker with the system.

He eagerly anticipated the day he would officially become an immortal cultivator, so much so that he was too excited to sleep, reminiscent of his childhood excitement before a picnic outing.

"Chief, I was in a rush and couldn't find anything else. This is the breathing technique I used as a child. Will it suffice?"

"Yes, thank you."

The following day, Zhang Liao delivered the promised breathing technique.

To Su Jiuming, the thin, slightly worn book shone with the brilliance of the Holy Bible to a Christian.

He carefully stored it away, bid farewell to Zhang Liao, and upon closing his door, began to study.

"Close your eyes and use your heart to sense the spiritual energy around you..."

Su Jiuming casually placed the book on the chair, sat down cross-legged, raised his fingers in the orchid position, and imitated the poses from Xianxia TV dramas, striving to feel the energy.

After a considerable time, Su Jiuming jolted, opened his eyes to survey his surroundings, then glanced at the book on the chair and sighed.

Cultivation was indeed not as easy as he had hoped.

He had closed his eyes and tried to sense something for a long time, but all he saw was darkness, and he nearly dozed off.

Despite more effort, he still couldn't manage it. Stubbornly, Su Jiuming flipped the book open again and continued his attempts:

"Sit cross-legged, breathe deeply, and sense the true qi flowing through your body's meridians, gathering it at your dantian..."

Taking a deep breath, Su Jiuming focused intently, and suddenly, he felt a faint sensation.

"I've got it!"

He exclaimed silently, attempting to guide the stream of qi towards his dantian...

Puff.

A fart resounded through the silent room, followed by a wafting odor, shattering all of Su Jiuming's grand illusions.

"Damn it!"

Su Jiuming bolted from the room, overwhelmed by the stench of his own fart, but not before snatching the breathing technique Zhang Liao had given him. Once outside, he couldn't help but let out a curse.

[Hahahaha, I'm dying of laughter here. I told you to concentrate your qi in your dantian, not between your thighs!]

The system, seizing the chance to kick him while he was down, mocked him mercilessly. Su Jiuming, however, simply ignored it and found a densely vegetated spot to try again.

"I refuse to believe it! There's no way I can't cultivate immortality."

Su Jiuming bellowed, once more closing his eyes to sense the spiritual energy.

According to the novels and TV shows, the protagonists always began their journey in places teeming with greenery, where the spiritual energy was said to be more abundant. This time, he was convinced, it had to work!

After some time, the Jabberwocky returned, tugging at Su Jiuming's clothes, hungry for a meal, which completely disrupted Su Jiuming's concentration.

"Ji?"

Looking at the Jabberwocky tilting its head curiously at him, Su Jiuming let out a sigh.

He had spent the better part of the day trying every method imaginable, yet he hadn't even grazed the shadow of spiritual energy or Qi. Instead, he had managed to produce nothing more than a fart.

Well, it seemed there was little hope left. Cultivate immortality? More like cultivating a hammer.

Su Jiuming abandoned the notion of becoming an immortal and instead went to feed the Jabberwocky and finish his farm work. Later, he lay back in a lounge chair to gaze at the night sky.

The night sky of the Starlight Continent was far richer with stars than the one from his previous world. As Su Jiuming admired the heavens, with the Jabberwocky snuggled beside him, he felt an exceptional sense of contentment.

This was quite nice, actually.

Su Jiuming had come to a realization. Rather than striving to be a cultivator, constantly battling demons and teetering on the brink of death, he'd be better off living as a farmer in this world.

With a sect to ensure his safety, he could enjoy a blissful and carefree existence every day.

In the days that followed, Su Jiuming's life was simple and fulfilling. He completed missions, tended to his farm, chatted with the system, and took leisurely rides on the Jabberwocky, thoroughly enjoying every moment.

Every time Su Jiuming witnessed the sect's disciples soaring overhead on their swords, he could only utter, "That's great," without any further thoughts.

As for the basic Qi Refining and Breathing Technique manual, Su Jiuming had used it to prop up a table that was too low for comfortable dining, along with some other miscellaneous items.

"Chief, do you still have my Qi Refining Technique manual? Was it of any use to you?"

It wasn't until Zhang Liao visited Misty Peak later and inquired about it that Su Jiuming remembered.

"Ah... just wait here a moment."

When questioned, Su Jiuming had no idea where he had put the manual.

He faintly recalled using it to level the table, swat mosquitoes, fan himself, and even tearing out a couple of pages for emergency toilet paper...

Su Jiuming rushed back to his room to search and finally found the worn Qi Refining Technique manual in a corner buried under a pile of clutter.

Handling the book with care, he handed it to Zhang Liao, whose expression filled Su Jiuming with remorse.

"... Chief, are you certain this is the right book? Is this really my Qi Refining Technique manual?"