"Oh, I see..."
Upon hearing my explanation, Lao Zhang didn't doubt anything and nodded, visibly relieved, saying, "That's good, that's good..."
"Hmm?"
What's the meaning of that? So, even he doesn't want anything to happen between me and Xia Xiaoyi?
Seeing the doubt on my face, Lao Zhang hurriedly explained, "I meant, it's good that you didn't lose your virginity. As they say, every drop of essence is worth ten drops of blood. If you lost your virginity before laying the foundation, it would be very troublesome to repair...”
After saying this, Lao Zhang waved his hand and said, "Well, it's getting late. Make a phone call home first. Building the foundation might take a while, so don't let your family worry..."
"Okay, sure!"
I have to admit, Lao Zhang is indeed thoughtful. If he hadn't reminded me, I would have forgotten. The school is on break now, and if I didn't return home or call my family, wouldn't my parents worry?
After making the call in a hurry, I realized that Lao Zhang had somehow brought a huge stone tripod from somewhere and placed it directly on the Yang position in the Yin-Yang Cave, then lit a big fire underneath it.
The raging fire suddenly illuminated the cave, and Lao Zhang quickly put the prepared materials into the cauldron one by one, adding two buckets of rootless water. Then he called me over, saying, "This medicinal bath probably needs to simmer for a while. Why don't I first teach you the basic cultivation method?"
"Okay!"
Hearing this, I instantly became interested and quickly sat down beside Lao Zhang, listening attentively.
Coincidentally, the method Lao Zhang taught me was called "Dragon Control Technique," and I happened to have dragon energy in my body. It seemed tailored specifically for me.
The method was not very long, only a few hundred words, but it was obscure and difficult to understand. It took me nearly two hours to grasp the meaning.
Unfortunately, the "Dragon Control Technique" Lao Zhang possessed was incomplete, just a fragment. However, at the moment, he had no other method more suitable for my cultivation, so he let me practice it for the time being and search for the complete technique later.
Although I was quite regretful, I didn't oppose it. After all, I had just started, and the fragment was enough for me to practice for a long time. As for the future, I could worry about it later.
Just as I had finished learning the fragment of the "Dragon Control Technique," the medicinal soup in the cauldron finally began to boil slowly, turning the entire pot bright and vibrant, resembling the red hotpot back home.
Seeing the soup boiling, Lao Zhang was thrilled and quickly removed the firewood from below the cauldron. He then took out a jade bottle containing "Fiery Sun Purple Dew" from his pocket and handed it to me.
"Take off your clothes and apply this evenly all over your body," Lao Zhang said, then started pasting a stack of talismans onto the outer wall of the cauldron. Seeing that I was still standing still, he couldn't help but curse, "What? Do you want me to undress you myself?"
"..."
With a wry smile, I reluctantly took off my clothes and, as he instructed, applied the "Fiery Sun Purple Dew" evenly all over my body.
"You little rascal! Hurry up, once the medicinal bath cools down, its effect will be greatly reduced!"
It seemed like Lao Zhang was even more anxious than I was. After scolding me, he snatched the jade bottle from my hand, swiftly applied the dew all over my body, and said, "Remember what I told you. Endure as long as you can and only activate the dragon energy when you can't hold on anymore."
"Yes."
I was about to take a deep breath when suddenly, Lao Zhang grabbed me and threw me directly into the cauldron.
"What the hell!"
I barely had time to curse before I "plopped" into the boiling water!
D*mn! This is boiling water!
Were they trying to cook me like a hotpot? Instinctively, I closed my eyes, and in an instant, the intense pain engulfed me like a violent storm.
"Ah!"
I subconsciously screamed, but as soon as I opened my mouth, scalding medicinal soup rushed in, making the pain unbearable. I quickly closed my mouth again!
At that moment, I felt like I was literally on fire, every inch of my skin melting continuously. It was a suffering beyond ordinary endurance. At one point, I almost thought I was dead; my soul was almost about to leave my body.
In this critical moment, I almost immediately remembered the dragon energy, a precious treasure left to me by my grandfather and had saved my life many times before. If I could activate it now, it might help me resist the invasion of the intense heat.
However, just as this thought crossed my mind, I couldn't help but recall Lao Zhang's words: endure as long as you can until you can't resist anymore, and then activate the dragon energy.
Could I still endure it now?
While I was lost in thought, a faint coolness spread from my lower abdomen, and the recitation of the "Righteous Qi Scripture" suddenly resonated in my mind.
That's right! How could I have forgotten about it!
Wasn't it the righteous fire within my body controlled by this scripture?
Without any hesitation, I silently recited, "The heavens and the earth are filled with righteous qi. It freely flows, forming the universe. Below, it forms the rivers and mountains, above, it becomes the sun and stars. It is called righteous and is powerful enough to reach the end of the universe..."
As soon as I finished reciting, I felt the intense heat around me lessen significantly. Although my body still burned with pain, it was no longer unbearable!
Gritting my teeth, I felt like I could endure it!
As I recited for the second time, the "Fiery Sun Purple Dew" spread over my body seemed to form a thin cocoon, imprisoning me within. Strangely, this cocoon didn't shield the heat but seemed to intensify it!
Simultaneously, all the pores on my body opened. Pure energy infiltrated and converged in my body, forming a powerful essence. Without my control, this essence rushed straight to my Conception and Governing Vessels.
Like a mighty dragon crossing the river, it effortlessly broke through my Governing Vessel, easing the restrictions within me.
As my Governing Vessel opened, the gathered essence moved through the vessels, reaching the Hundred Meeting Point and returning to the lower abdomen through the Conception Vessel all the way back to the lower dantian.
After completing this cycle, I felt incredibly comfortable throughout my body. It was as if the intense burning had disappeared, and with a focused mind, I continued reciting the "Righteous Qi Scripture," carefully comprehending every change within me.
Subsequently, the second cycle, the third, the fourth...
The more I progressed, the stronger the essence within me became, leading to a qualitative change. When my essence completed the ninth cycle, my mind suddenly became clear, and a faint trace of "qi" slowly emerged within my lower abdomen!
Refining the essence into qi!
I did it!
The newly born "qi" was faint but much stronger than the previous essence. As soon as it appeared, my body underwent a profound transformation.
With this faint "qi," even with my eyes closed, I could perceive everything around me. It was as if a radar system had been installed in my head, allowing me to detect even the slightest movements within a few meters. I sensed Lao Zhang's presence and felt his "qi field."