Taoist Antecedent of the Yellow Court

2657 A.D., Earth was full of wounds, humanity discovered their first extraterrestrial life-bearing planet, established the Human Federation, and ushered in the interstellar era.

3910 A.D., the Human Federation discovered the 36th life-bearing planet, leaving their mark across the galaxy.

Over twelve hundred years of interstellar exploration and colonization, due to the harsh interstellar environment, explorers suffered heavy casualties.

3920 A.D., the Federation Expedition Team discovered a Divine Stone Planet, using it as a server—

Taking eighty years, the massive virtual game "Primordial" was consequently born.

4000 A.D., a new era began, "Primordial" entered public beta.

Thirty-six life-bearing planets, billions of Federation citizens, countless gaming studios, and large organizations successively settled in Primordial, flourishing!

...

In the vast starry sky, a transport fleet was in motion.

The transport carried goods destined for Federation No. 35 Planet, which included ten thousand "Primordial" game login devices.

Space pirates appeared, a great battle ensued, and the transport was destroyed.

In the midst of the battlefield, a spatial rift emerged, and a login ring miraculously survived, entered the rift, and vanished without a trace.

...

Jiuzhai County.

Black Wood Village.

Black Wood Village nestled against mountains and water; to the south flowed the vast Chengyang River and it was surrounded by mountains on the east, west, and north, with the village situated at the foot of Black Wood Mountain to the north.

On this day.

Lu Qingfeng watered the five acres of terraced fields on the western mountain one by one, dragging his weary body back to Black Wood Village.

His younger sister Lu Qingyu followed behind Lu Qingfeng with two empty buckets, chattering non-stop.

"Big brother had a comfortable day today, didn't have to work at all."

"If the Returning to Truth Sect had come in the morning, he wouldn't have been able to slack off in the afternoon."

"With big brother's weak body, he definitely wouldn't pass the Returning to Truth Sect's assessment. Even if he did, I wouldn't allow him to go!"

Lu Qingyu was skinny and small, constantly weather-beaten, resembling an underdeveloped dark-skinned little girl. She looked about seven or eight years old, but was actually almost twelve.

Along the way, many villagers clad in coarse hemp clothes were toiling away. These people were pale, their faces devoid of any vitality, like walking corpses.

Lu Qingyu's spirited prattle seemed somewhat out of place.

She swung the empty yoke leisurely, her face free of any worries.

"Life is good."

A touch of tenderness flickered across the depths of Lu Qingfeng's heart, reaching out to take over the yoke Lu Qingyu was carrying.

"No need!"

"Big brother, I can handle it. I'm not like second brother."

Lu Qingyu agilely dodged, her little face brimming with pride.

"Don't let second brother hear that, otherwise he's going to get upset and lose his appetite again," Lu Qingfeng couldn't help but laugh.

"Hmph!"

"It's better if he doesn't eat, then you and I can eat more."

Lu Qingyu wrinkled her nose, her attitude towards her older and second brothers starkly different.

As Lu Qingfeng was about to speak, a boy around fifteen or sixteen years old ran towards them.

"Zhou Quan!"

Lu Qingyu's expression changed, she quickly grabbed a Black Wood Hoe from the empty buckets, looking alert, "What are you here for!"

Lu Qingfeng tightened his grip on the firewood knife in his sleeve, also looking at the youth.

"Nothing! Nothing!"

Zhou Quan, called out by Lu Qingyu, trembled, his gaze stealthily slid past Lu Qingfeng's left arm sleeve, and he hurriedly said, "Lu Qingfeng, I'm here to bring you good news. Your brother Lu Qingshan has caught the eye of an Immortal from the Returning to Truth Sect, he's about to head to Yellow Ganoderma Mountain!"

Zhou Quan rubbed his hands together and laughed awkwardly, not daring to make eye contact with Lu Qingfeng.

He had bullied the Lu siblings when he was younger because he was bigger. Once, Lu Qingfeng hit him on the back with a firewood knife, and Zhou Quan had to lie bedridden for more than two months.

Ever since then, he dared not provoke the Lu siblings and steered clear of Lu Qingfeng.

This time, Lu Qingshan had struck it lucky, caught the eye of an Immortal from the Returning to Truth Sect, and might become an Immortal himself in the future. Zhou Quan's parents, worried that Lu Qingshan might bear a grudge, prompted Zhou Quan to make amends with Lu Qingfeng.

"Second brother was chosen by the Returning to Truth Sect?"

Lu Qingyu's eyes widened, clenching the hoe as she yelled at Zhou Quan, "You're talking nonsense!"

"Qingyu!"

Lu Qingfeng stopped Lu Qingyu and looked at Zhou Quan, "I see."

Lu Qingyu stood huffily behind Lu Qingfeng, still glaring at Zhou Quan.

"Anything else?" Lu Qingfeng saw Zhou Quan hesitating to step aside, and frowned.

"I—"

As soon as Zhou Quan saw Lu Qingfeng, a chill ran down his spine. The words his parents had instructed him to say were also stuck in his throat, unable to speak.

"Stop dilly-dallying!"

Lu Qingyu, holding the hoe, threatened Zhou Quan.

However, Zhou Quan was afraid of Lu Qingfeng, not this young girl.

"If you won't speak, then step aside!"

Lu Qingfeng said impatiently.

"I'll speak."

"Lu Qingfeng, isn't your sister Qingyu almost twelve? My parents—" Zhou Quan mustered courage, just starting to speak.

"Scram!"

Lu Qingfeng stepped forward abruptly and shouted fiercely.

Zhou Quan shivered all over, seeing the half-exposed firewood knife in Lu Qingfeng's sleeve, he was so frightened he couldn't say anything and fled towards the village.

"Big brother, what does it matter to him that I'm turning twelve! Is this guy looking for a beating again? This time you don't have to lift a finger, second brother and I will find a chance to give him a hard lesson!"

Lu Qingyu, small and dark, spoke words that formed a stark contrast to her appearance. While speaking, she wielded the hoe threateningly.

"It's fine."

"Let's hurry back."

Lu Qingfeng brushed past the topic, carrying the empty yoke for Lu Qingyu, quickly heading towards the village. Lu Qingyu blinked and trotted after him.

...

Soon after, the two returned to Black Wood Village.

In Black Wood Village, it was rare to hear such lively human voices. Various expressions now appeared on the villagers' faces. Seeing Lu Qingfeng and Lu Qingyu returning, they all eagerly greeted them.

"Lu Qingshan has joined the Returning to Truth Sect, and after a few years of achievement, he will be seen as an Immortal by these people. I'm his only elder brother; that's why these people are fawning over me."

"Zhou Quan came to bring me good news, as a way to curry favor."

"Even, he was plotting against Qingyu!"

Lu Qingfeng was clear-minded, penetrating the hearts of people.

He didn't want to get entangled with these people and led Lu Qingyu straight home.

"The second son of the Lu Family was favored by an Immortal from the Returning to Truth Sect, he's really made it."

"Yes! Who would have thought that after Lu Shitou passed away, he'd leave behind such a powerful son!"

"Give me a break! The eldest son of the Lu Family is a tough character, but the second is far behind. Going to the Returning to Truth Sect, who knows if he can survive even a few days!"

The onlooking villagers watched Lu Qingfeng and Lu Qingyu, whispering among themselves.

Black Wood Village mainly consists of houses made of wood and stone.

At the center are the landlord's and the village manager's residences. The houses of Lu Qingfeng, Lu Qingshan, and Lu Qingyu, three siblings, are located on the outermost part of Black Wood Village. Should any demon beasts attack the village, they would be the first ones to suffer.

With the outer perimeter as a buffer, the people in the central area have time to react.

The three siblings' house, located at the north side against Black Wood Mountain, was constructed from black wood. Black wood is sturdy and firm, albeit a bit oppressive, but it offers shelter from the wind and rain.

There are two rooms inside and out.

The inside room is a bedroom with two beds, one big and one small. The outside room is a simple kitchen.

"Big brother!"

Upon entering the Black Wood House, they saw a young boy who resembled Lu Qingfeng to about fifty percent, squatting at the door with his chin propped. Seeing movement, he immediately jumped up.

This boy, about thirteen or fourteen years old, looked naïve and was also a dark-skinned kid. He was Lu Qingshan, Lu Qingfeng's brother from the same parents, also known as Second Brother by Lu Qingyu.

"Big brother!"

"I don't want to go to Yellow Ganoderma Mountain!"

At this moment, Lu Qingshan was somewhat panic-stricken, grabbing Lu Qingfeng's arm with a sobbing voice, hoarse.

"A real man cries!"

"If crying could solve the problem, then I would cry every day!"

Lu Qingyu angrily slammed the hoe into the corner and yelled at Lu Qingshan.

"Big brother, help me, I really don't want to go to Yellow Ganoderma Mountain! The Returning to Truth Sect is full of bastards, I don't want to go!" Lu Qingshan ignored his sister and pleaded with Lu Qingfeng.

"Stop saying that you hate the Returning to Truth Sect, just keep it in your heart."

Lu Qingfeng glanced outside the door, his face turning serious, and Lu Qingshan immediately stood straight.

Lu Qingyu crouched in the corner, crisply said, "Exactly. Big brother has taught you many times, and you still don't listen. Revenge is not just about talking. You have to remember it in your heart and prove it with actions!"

"Who says I don't remember!"

Lu Qingshan, infuriated, found himself at a loss for words.

"Alright, Qingyu, say less." Lu Qingfeng stopped Lu Qingyu who was about to retort, looked at Lu Qingshan seriously and said, "The Returning to Truth Sect selects disciples and servants every year from Jiuzhai, you won't be able to escape the selection even if you wanted to. Now you only have a little time to pack. I ask, you answer; I say, you listen. Don't interrupt me, got it?"

Lu Qingfeng gripped Lu Qingshan's shoulder, trying to calm himself, not to show panic in front of his brother.

"Big brother, I... I'll listen to you."

Lu Qingshan's eyes reddened, holding back tears, he nodded emphatically.

"Qingyu, you too, don't butt in."

Lu Qingfeng then looked at Lu Qingyu crouching in the corner.

"I got it." Lu Qingyu nodded her little head.

"Qingshan, you were selected by the Returning to Truth Sect, as a disciple or as a servant?"

Only then did Lu Qingfeng turn to Lu Qingshan and asked.

"Servant."

"The person from the Returning to Truth Sect said that my aptitude is mediocre, and I could barely become a servant disciple of the Returning to Truth Sect."

Lu Qingshan felt both fear and lost. Whatever his elder brother asked, he answered.

"Servant!"

"I knew it!"

Lu Qingfeng's eyebrows furrowed tightly, his heart sinking to its lowest depths.

In the Returning to Truth Sect, there are official disciples and servant disciples. The official disciples, being advanced enough to be taught personally, hold admirable status within the Sect.

Servant disciples, on the other hand, are equivalent to servants of the Returning to Truth Sect. Although they are also granted access to cultivation techniques, they must labor for the Sect, dealing with medicinal fields or handling various mundane chores.

One careless offense against an official disciple, a deacon, or an elder could lead to death without account.

The life of a servant disciple is utmost lowly!

If Lu Qingshan had joined the Returning to Truth Sect as an official disciple, there might still be some protection from a mentor. However, as a servant disciple, he must fend for himself, striving to make breakthroughs in cultivation as soon as possible to shed the identity of a servant.

But how difficult it is to advance in cultivation!

"Qingshan, listen well. From today onwards, do not show our desire for revenge in front of anyone. Once you are in the Returning to Truth Sect, just focus on cultivating. This situation is both a crisis and a challenge. Only if you can advance in cultivation and become an official disciple of the Returning to Truth Sect will there be hope for avenging our father."

"So, before our great revenge is fulfilled, do nothing impulsive or emotional!"

"Only if you survive in the Returning to Truth Sect, can Qingyu and I live, and there's hope to avenge our father!"

Lu Qingfeng's expression was extremely serious.

Although his body, at only sixteen, was somewhat stooped from prolonged labor, his eyes were especially bright and resolute.

He had lived two lives, managing merely to scrape by.

However, his little brother Lu Qingshan, merely fourteen and full of youthful vigor, was not aware that the Returning to Truth Sect was not a compassionate place. Revealing even a hint of hatred could lead to unpredictable consequences.

He had to caution carefully.

"Brother, I... I am scared."

Lu Qingshan's voice trembled, holding back tears, as he looked up at Lu Qingfeng.

"A true man has nothing to fear."

"Anyone who dares to bully you, just wait until later when you become strong and strike back!"

Lu Qingyu interrupted, unable to hold back.

Back then, the three siblings suffered badly from Zhou Quan's bullying, unable to fight back effectively. Eventually, with over twenty coarse grain cakes, the elder brother exchanged a firewood knife from Ironsmith Zhang and managed to scare Zhou Quan away, hadn't he?

Thus, Lu Qingyu had known since childhood—

If bullied!

You must fight back!

Even if you can't win now, always remember, when you are stronger, repay fiercely!

Lu Qingshan, though yelled at, unusually did not bicker with Lu Qingyu but just looked up at Lu Qingfeng, whispering, "Big brother, I'm not afraid anymore."

"Though the Returning to Truth Sect is perilous, there are no shortage of servant disciples. If others can survive, you definitely can too!"

Lu Qingfeng patted Lu Qingshan's shoulder, comforting him, "The ration for a servant disciple is supplied by their family. Henceforth, I'll come to deliver it to you every seven days."

...

In the end, Lu Qingshan still followed the 'Immortal' of the Returning to Truth Sect and left Black Wood Village.

Lu Qingfeng saw him off.

Seeing that 'Immortal' from the Returning to Truth Sect, towering and robust, with a mountain-chopping knife tied on his back, utterly ferocious, devoid of any Immortal Spirit Qi.

Dragon strides and tiger steps, one step crossed, about twenty to thirty feet away.

Lu Qingshan and a few other newly accepted servant disciples could only keep up by running with all their might, which was quite strenuous.

It was not the first time Lu Qingfeng had seen these disciples from the Returning to Truth Sect. Each time he saw them, he felt an overwhelming sense from the bottom of his heart.

This feeling was despairing.

The one taking Lu Qingshan away was only a regular disciple. It is said that there are more powerful elders and the Sect Master on Yellow Ganoderma Mountain, renowned throughout Guangyuan County. Their lofty status was no different from that of immortals.

Such was the Returning to Truth Sect, mastering the way of cultivation, controlling tens of thousands of citizens in Jiuzhai County, known as 'Immortals'.

And what about Lu Qingfeng?

He was just a frail youth who, after sixteen years, had achieved nothing—not even enough to eat or warm clothes to wear.

The gap between them was indescribable!

Night fell.

Lu Qingfeng lay on the hard bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Since his father's death, he had depended on his younger brother Lu Qingshan and younger sister Lu Qingyu for survival. This was the first time in over three years that he and Qingyu spent the night alone in the Black Wood House.

"I wonder how Qingshan is doing."

Lu Qingfeng's mind was filled with thoughts of Lu Qingshan.

His brother had always followed him since he was little, and they had an exceedingly deep bond. Suddenly separated, Lu Qingfeng found it uncomfortable and was extremely worried.

"This damn world!"

Tossing and turning, Lu Qingfeng simply sat up, recalling the bits and pieces of the past sixteen years.

Lu Qingfeng was not originally from this world!

In his previous life, he was a man from Earth, raised in China, with a modestly successful career, considered an aspiring youth. During a trip, he accidentally had a car accident and lost consciousness.

When he opened his eyes again, he was a crying baby, born in the cramped Black Wood Village.

At the age of four, his mother died from a difficult childbirth after delivering his sister Lu Qingyu. His father, Lu Shitou, raised the three siblings, Lu Qingfeng, Lu Qingshan, and Lu Qingyu.

But unexpected changes occur—when Lu Qingfeng was thirteen, the five acres of family farmland were destroyed by mountain calamities, yielding no harvest.

No harvest meant not being able to pay tribute to the Returning to Truth Sect.

Lu Shitou had gone to Yellow Ganoderma Mountain to plead for leniency, where he was ordered by the Returning to Truth Sect's external affairs manager to be whipped ten times. The overworked Lu Shitou did not survive, leaving behind thirteen-year-old Lu Qingfeng, eleven-year-old Lu Qingshan, and nine-year-old Lu Qingyu.

Since then, Lu Qingfeng had worked day and night, leaving early and returning late, barely sustaining himself while raising his younger brother and sister.

Three years flew by.

Now Lu Qingfeng was sixteen, yet still wasting his days in Black Wood Village.

This world was perilously dangerous, with various ferocious wild animals outside Black Wood Village. With Lu Qingfeng's frail body, he wouldn't last five miles before being eaten by wild beasts.

Furthermore.

The Returning to Truth Sect ruled over Jiuzhai County, enslaving its people. Once someone ran away, they would immediately be discovered by village managers and then caught back by the 'Immortals' of the Returning to Truth Sect, beaten to death, and even their families implicated.

No one was sure of escaping from the 'Immortals'; neither did Lu Qingfeng, nor did he have the ability to escape with his younger siblings.

It was ridiculous.

Being a transmigrant, Lu Qingfeng knew nothing about gunpowder or cannonballs, nor did he know how to construct water wheels or looms. Even if he did, he wouldn't dare reveal such knowledge in the nearly slavery-and-feudalism Black Wood Village.

Tall trees catch much wind—those who stand out die the fastest!

In Black Wood Village, Lu Qingfeng blended in with ordinary villagers. As time passed, this became his reality.

If pressed for a difference, it was only on a spiritual level—

Ordinary villagers were numb, accepting their servitude under the Returning to Truth Sect.

But not Lu Qingfeng!

He constantly pondered how to escape from Black Wood Village, how to evade the clutches of the Returning to Truth Sect, he even thought about overthrowing the Returning to Truth Sect!

However.

Sixteen years had passed, and he had achieved nothing.

The gap between ordinary people and cultivators was too vast to be crossed by human efforts.

Once, Lu Qingfeng had hoped to be selected by the Returning to Truth Sect, even as a servant disciple, there would still be a glimmer of hope. But every year the Returning to Truth Sect selected, from twelve to last year, Lu Qingfeng didn't meet the standards and was eliminated.

"Returning to Truth Sect?"

"More like Returning True Demon Sect!"

Lu Qingfeng clenched his fists.

To him, this so-called Returning to Truth Sect was undoubtedly a Demon Sect—

Showing contempt for human life, enslaving all living beings!

This was an insurmountable mountain, weighing on his heart and body, immovable.

"Qingshan joining the Returning to Truth Sect might be an opportunity!"

Lu Qingfeng gathered his thoughts.

To live again in such a miraculous world, merely surviving until death was not his desire.

"Big brother, are you not asleep yet?"

In the darkness, Lu Qingyu spoke softly.

"Not yet." Lu Qingfeng heard his sister moving, looking through the darkness, "What's wrong?"

"I—"

"I can't sleep."

Lu Qingyu curled up, feeling a strange sensation in her heart. This feeling was similar to when their father died three years ago. It was sour, indecisive, and uncomfortable.

"Are you missing your second brother?"

Lu Qingfeng asked.

"Of course not!"

"He's always so crybaby, why would I miss him!"

Lu Qingyu's voice got a little louder.

"Then try to sleep soon, you can sleep in a bit longer tomorrow." Lu Qingfeng didn't expose his sister's little lie.

"Oh."

Lu Qingyu replied softly, followed by a long silence.

After a while, Lu Qingfeng heard soft sobs and the noise of straw. Soon after, he felt a little figure climbing up, huddling in his arms, "Big brother, I want to sleep with you tonight."

The girl's breath tickled his face as she spoke.

"Okay."

Lu Qingfeng held his sister in his arms, gently patting her back. Before long, the siblings fell deeply asleep.

...

Seven days passed in a blink of an eye.

Lu Qingfeng, carrying coarse grain cakes, hurried to Yellow Ganoderma Mountain.

Located to the east of Black Wood Village, Yellow Ganoderma Mountain was named for the yellow Lingzhi mushrooms that grew there, and the Returning to Truth Sect was situated within the mountain.

Not needing to enter Yellow Ganoderma Mountain, just on the outskirts, Lu Qingfeng saw Lu Qingshan peeking out his head.

Along with Lu Qingshan, there were more than ten other servant disciples.

"Big brother!"

Seeing Lu Qingfeng appear, Lu Qingshan ran up to greet him, his face bursting with joy.

Having not seen him for a few days, Lu Qingshan had lost a lot of weight, and his hair on the left side hung down, covering his left face, making him look somewhat strange.

"What happened to your face?"

Lu Qingfeng pointed to Lu Qingshan's left face and asked.

"It's nothing, just accidentally fell." Lu Qingshan grinned, seemingly pulling at a wound as the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.

"Be more careful when you walk."

Lu Qingfeng took a package off his back and handed it to Lu Qingshan, instructing, "This is your ration for seven days, make it last. Next time I come, I'll bring you a few catties of dried fish."

"Thank you, big brother."

Lu Qingshan took the package, feeling a sourness in his nose and his eyes involuntarily reddening.

"It's all made by Qingyu. She's even planning to go to the mountain in the next few days to find clovers to remove the fishy smell, worried about you smelling fishy after eating the dried fish."

"She even wanted me to bring her along to see you this morning, but it's too far here, so I didn't agree."

Lu Qingfeng sat down with his brother, whom he hadn't seen for days, and seeing the scar on the left side of his face revealed by his fluttering hair, his heart twitched slightly.

"Damn that Returning to Truth Sect!"

No need to ask, those scars that resembled whip marks definitely didn't come from a fall!

"Qingyu wouldn't want to come see me!"

Lu Qingshan pouted, yet couldn't help asking, "Did she really ask you to bring me dried fish, and fuss about coming to see me?"

"Fussing about?"

Lu Qingfeng, holding back his sadness, forced a smile and nodded hurriedly.

"Humph!"

"I don't believe it."

Lu Qingshan looked up defiantly, though his face couldn't hide a smile.

"Tell big brother, what have you been doing these days, what have you learned?" Lu Qingfeng talked about some family matters with his brother, then asked.

The two brothers chatted on the gentle slope for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, then Lu Qingshan hurried back to the servant quarters at Yellow Ganoderma Mountain first.

Lu Qingfeng watched Lu Qingshan's departing figure, noticing how he clutched the package to his chest and limped when running, not daring to exert too much force on his right leg.

"This kid."

Lu Qingfeng watched Lu Qingshan leave, then looked up at Yellow Ganoderma Mountain.

Yellow Ganoderma Mountain was not tall, but its trees were tall and lush. The Returning to Truth Sect was hidden among them, concealed by the foliage and completely invisible.

At first glance, Yellow Ganoderma Mountain seemed dark and hole-like, much like a Demon Cave. It's like a fierce demon beast with its open maw, and Lu Qingshan, running three steps at a time, disappeared into the maw-like Demon Cave.

...

In a blink of an eye, more than three months passed.

During this time, Lu Qingfeng delivered rations to Lu Qingshan every seven days. Each time Lu Qingshan appeared thinner and his injuries increased, with the scar on his left face not yet fully healed, and a new whip mark added to his right face.

This time Lu Qingshan couldn't hide it, only mentioning he had accidentally angered the servant supervisor, getting whipped a few times.

Lu Qingfeng lifted up Lu Qingshan's shirt, seeing his body, skinny like a rack of ribs, covered densely with whip marks.

Some new, some old.

He pretended not to care, still wearing a grin as he comforted Lu Qingfeng.

"If this goes on, Qingshan might literally be beaten to death."

Inside the Black Wood House.

Lu Qingfeng sat on the hard bed, furrowing his brows. Qingyu had gone back to sleeping in her own little bed, already deep in dreams.

After sitting for a long while, Lu Qingfeng stood up from the bed and took out a few pieces of bark from a wooden box under the bed.

By the moonlight.

One could see little figures demonstrating movements on the tree bark; each punch and kick was quite meticulous. Next to the images, there were words resembling small seal script. Lu Qingfeng, through guessing and inference, could recognize most of them. Coupled with studying the texts of this world with Lu Qingshan in the past few months, his understanding wasn't hindered.

"Returning to Truth Technique."

"Barbaric Bull Fist."

Lu Qingfeng read each word and phrase.

Lu Qingshan had joined the Returning to Truth Sect, and even though he was a servant disciple, aside from various mundane tasks, he could also cultivate.

He spent the first three months learning the language and various meridian diagrams.

Just a few days ago, he was officially taught the First Layer of the "Returning to Truth Technique" and the "Barbaric Bull Fist."

Among them, the Returning to Truth Technique was a meditation-based cultivation technique focusing on sensing the Fetal Breathing and developing Qi Perception. It's said to be one of the most orthodox internal cultivation techniques and was highly regarded throughout Guang Yuan County!

As for specifics, that remained unknown.

The Barbaric Bull Fist was a physical fist and foot technique, training one's physique and physical strength.

Every seven days, Lu Qingfeng took the opportunity to deliver food to Lu Qingshan, learning the language and understanding the meridian points from him...

In short, whatever Lu Qingshan learned, he learned too without missing anything.

Yesterday.

Lu Qingshan even risked his life to secretly teach Lu Qingfeng the newly learned "Returning to Truth Technique" and "Barbaric Bull Fist." Such unauthorized teaching, once discovered by the Returning to Truth Sect, could lead to their deaths, including Qingyu's.

However, Lu Qingfeng was careful, and both Qingshan and Qingyu kept tight-lipped, so there was no worry of being discovered.

Nevertheless—

"Whether it's the 'Returning to Truth Technique,' an internal technique, or 'Barbaric Bull Fist,' a physical technique, both consume a lot of physical strength. Once practicing, one's daily food intake must at least double. Various meats and medicinal materials are also indispensable, otherwise, the body will break down before mastery is achieved."

Lu Qingfeng pondered.

The saying goes, rich in learning, powerful in martial.

The three siblings already struggled to eat their fill, let alone cultivate.

"Are we really destined never to turn our lives around?!"

Previously, there was no way to access cultivation techniques, and being without hope of transcending the mundane was one thing. But now with "Returning to Truth Technique" and "Barbaric Bull Fist" in hand, how can mere difficulties hold them back?!

Lu Qingfeng gripped the bark tightly, turned his head to look at the gleaming hatchet by the bed, and steeled his resolve, "If we can't turn our lives around, what's the point in merely surviving? Tomorrow, I'll go to the western mountains to look around. If I'm lucky enough to kill a wild boar, that will provide for half a month of cultivation resources for me and Qingshan!"

"At the very least, let Qingshan cultivate with peace of mind!"

However.

Hunting was not as simple as it seemed, and wild boars were not easy prey.

With Lu Qingfeng's slight frame, even a young wild boar could leave him with broken bones, turning him into pig feed.

"Let's see how it goes first, no rush to risk our lives; we can try setting traps."

With tomorrow's plan in mind, Lu Qingfeng hid the bark with the Returning to Truth Technique and Barbaric Bull Fist under the bed. His head rested on the hatchet by the bed, and he sank into a deep sleep.

...

PS: The new book sets sail, seeking recommendation votes.