Time flies by quickly.
A few days later, Qin Yuesheng, who had been relentlessly practicing the Bear Stance, finally mastered it. Now, he can maintain the Bear Stance for fifty breaths, but this technique is still quite difficult for Qin Yuesheng to master.
Without months or even years of practice, he might find it difficult to achieve the level of Qin Yue, who can maintain it for several hours.
However, none of this mattered anymore. When the Super Auxiliary Device showed [Bear Stance (0/10) Beginner], it marked the official beginning of Qin Yuesheng's time to excel.
Over the past three days, besides diligently practicing the Bear Stance, Qin Yuesheng specifically researched the recovery speed of his body after consuming medicinal herbs and the conversion effects of various herbs on the All-Purpose Essence.
He concluded that with his current physique recovery speed of 1, he could consume one meal of medicinal herbs approximately every one and a half days. If he were to force this consumption earlier, although it wouldn't cause side effects, the effectiveness would be greatly reduced, and the amount of All-Purpose Essence obtained would be comparatively small.
Regarding the medicinal herbs, those with more years have a higher conversion rate to All-Purpose Essence. Herbs under ten years mostly add only 1 point, while those from ten to twenty years can increase by 2 points at once.
In these three days, Qin Yuesheng saved up a total of 24 points of All-Purpose Essence, ready to advance the Bear Stance to the entry-level realm in one go.
"Hard work pays off," Qin Yuesheng thought to himself while looking at the words 'Bear Stance' on the Super Auxiliary Device.
Considering the bizarre posture needed for practicing the Bear Stance, Qin Yuesheng has had no shortage of foot cramps in the past three days, and it's not a pleasant experience.
...
Strength: 1.0 (Normal person) (+)
Agility: 1.0 (Normal person) (+)
Physique: 1.0 (Normal person) (+)
Spirit: 1.0 (Normal person) (+)
Charisma: 0.9 (Average appearance) (+)
All-Purpose Essence: 24
...
Personal Skills:
Theft (0/10) Beginner
Flying Knife Skill (0/10) Beginner
Universal Language Understanding (0/160) Proficient
Passive ①: [Literacy Affinity] reduces the difficulty of learning languages.
Passive ②: [Literacy Prowess] increases the speed of learning languages.
Tiger Crane Double Form Fist (0/20) Entry-level
Passive ①: [Powerful and Swift] increases the striking power of the tiger form by 5% and the speed of the crane form by 5%
Bear Stance (0/10) Beginner
...
"Charisma wasn't maxed earlier, so let's max it today." Now that Qin Yuesheng had some savings, he added another point to his charisma, instantly changing it from 0.9→1.0, making all five attributes 1, restoring the ability to continue adding points.
"This thing also emphasizes overall development, I see." Qin Yuesheng immediately understood the pattern of point distribution, realizing that nowadays even cheat tools don't want you to focus only in one area; they want you to be a well-rounded student.
Without hesitation, he spent 10 points of All-Purpose Essence to boost the Bear Stance to the entry-level realm.
According to Qin Yue, proficiency in stance is extremely important for a martial artist. Suppose you have one hundred pounds of strength, but when you punch, you definitely can't exert this full hundred pounds because during the action, some force would scatter in the process of hitting the target.
Your internal meridians would automatically distribute the force to your shoulders, elbows, neck, and ribs. However, the problem is, you don't need this distribution because when you punch, you aren't using these parts to hit people; force spread over these areas is a pure waste.
The stance is a method that can help you concentrate force, preventing it from scattering, allowing a hundred pounds of force to be fully exerted.
Such an effect makes stance the cornerstone of martial arts.
Bear Stance +1
Bear Stance +1
Bear Stance +1
…
When all 10 points of All-Purpose Essence were spent, Bear Stance reached the entry-level realm.
Bear Stance (0/20) Entry-level.
Passive ①: [Endurance] increases your endurance by +100s
Qin Yuesheng immediately felt his proficiency in Bear Stance advance another step. It's no longer as strenuous as before when doing the stance, and he estimated he could now maintain it for about a hundred breaths.
"Still have 13 points of All-Purpose Essence left. According to the old rule, the body is the capital for revolution; let's add it all to physique." Just as Qin Yuesheng was about to add points, there was a knock at the door.
"Young Master, Master asks you to go to the Guest Hall."
Qin Yuesheng looked puzzled: "Why do I have to go to the Guest Hall again? Has Su Lanyin come back?"
"No, Master has invited a Daoist to visit the mansion."
"Oh!" Yuesheng's eyes lit up.
So that's what it is!
He had previously mentioned to Qin Feng to find some Daoists or monks to come over, as he wanted to communicate with them and see if he could learn some methods of exorcism.
These past days, Yuesheng had poured his mind entirely into practicing Bear-Pike Stance, and if the maid hadn't mentioned it now, he might not have recalled this matter.
Qin Feng truly is a reliable father!
"Alright, I'll go right away." Without even bothering to add points, Yuesheng dashed out of the room toward the Guest Hall.
...
"Daoist Qingfeng, is there anything bothering you these days? You all look a bit tired." In the Guest Hall, Qin Feng sat in the main seat and asked with a smile.
Not far from him sat an old Daoist with a red face and crane hair, wearing a Nanhua Scarf, a Cyan Crane Cloak, and carrying a dark blue cloth bag.
"Ah, it's nothing serious, just a while ago, the killing due to madness in Cyan Yang City, you must have heard, right? The government secretly invited me over to perform rituals for the deceased who were hacked to death, and it lasted for several days. Busy as I was, I couldn't find the time to meditate calmly."
"I'm slightly aware of it, heard that the truth isn't like what the constables said on the surface, is it some madness? Daoist, did you discover any secrets upon examining the corpses?" Qin Feng asked.
"Ha, what secret could there be? You're overthinking it." Daoist Qingfeng stroked his beard and laughed it off, refusing to discuss further.
His demeanor clearly indicated that he didn't want to talk about it.
"Father, I'm here."
At this moment, Yuesheng rushed in from the side door, immediately casting curious eyes at the Daoist Qingfeng who was having tea.
"Sit down, not long ago you mentioned wanting to see the Daoist in person, today I invited Daoist Qingfeng for you."
"Hello, Daoist Qingfeng." Yuesheng actively greeted Daoist Qingfeng.
Daoist Qingfeng glanced at Yuesheng: "Mr. Qin, is Young Master Qin recently unwell?"
Qin Feng was puzzled: "What do you mean, Daoist?"
"There is a strong medicinal scent coming from Young Master's body." Daoist Qingfeng couldn't help but say, "Even medicine is three parts toxic, young master, even if you are sick and taking medicine, you must be careful."
Yuesheng's heart was slightly surprised, this old Daoist is quite perceptive. If I actually had a medicinal scent, the servants might hesitate due to their status, but Second Aunt and Qin Feng certainly wouldn't ignore it.
Moreover, Yuesheng couldn't believe that a person would emit a scent from frequently consuming medicinal herbs. If that were so, then the women who love to compete for favor would have eaten up all the flowers in the world.
Thus, Daoist Qingfeng definitely had some abilities.
"Medicinal scent?" Qin Feng walked over to Yuesheng and sniffed: "Is there? I don't smell anything."
"Daoist Qingfeng, you have keen senses, I've recently taken some medicinal herbs, and you can smell them." Yuesheng said, sitting beside Daoist Qingfeng.
"Hey." Daoist Qingfeng stroked his beard, looking smug, "What do you want from me today? Don't tell me the Qin family needs rituals too."
"Well, no." Yuesheng replied solemnly, briefly recounting the situation he encountered at Nanyan Treasure Studio, omitting the statue.
"White human face?" Daoist Qingfeng frowned slightly: "Young Master Qin, could you have mistaken it?"
"Does the Daoist think I've seen it wrong?" Yuesheng asked rhetorically.
"I know you want to say you've seen a ghost. Though scholars emphasize not speaking of bizarre forces, I won't lie to you, I've dealt with ghosts before, and the peril is hard to convey. But I can assure you, ghosts don't roam during the day, only at night."
"Oh!" Yuesheng said, "Are you so sure, Daoist? But I'm very sure I didn't mistake it; more than just me saw that white face, the Hospital Guard and the Du family's second and third young masters also saw it."
"That's indeed strange." Daoist Qingfeng stroked his beard: "During the day, the sun is high, the scorching sun is a bane to ghosts. How could ghosts act during the day?"
Compared to Yuesheng's calm, Qin Feng was quite unsettled.
"Daoist Qingfeng, will my son be affected by seeing a ghost during the day?"
"According to Young Master Qin, that white face can possess normal humans, making them insane. As long as one isn't possessed, there should be no issue." Daoist Qingfeng sighed: "Seeing a ghost during the day, strange indeed, I must return to the temple and discuss with my senior brother to bring disciples to Cyan Yang City for a thorough investigation."
Upon learning that Daoist Qingfeng was truly skilled in dealing with ghosts, Yuesheng's eager mind couldn't help but become active.
"Daoist, could you teach me some exorcism techniques? As long as you're willing, the tuition is negotiable."
But Daoist Qingfeng didn't even think before waving his hand: "Sorry, Young Master Qin, although I have a good relationship with Mr. Qin, the temple at West Qi Mountain has ancestral rules that forbids teaching Taoist skills to outsiders. Your request is beyond my ability."
Yuesheng hurriedly said, "Then I could become your apprentice."
"Haha, to join West Qi Mountain Temple, you'd need to be a sweeping disciple for three years, a woodcutting disciple for two years, recite the Tao over a year to finally become an entry disciple, six years of meditation and virtuous cultivation, before learning the skills of my sect. Tell me, can Young Master Qin wait six years?"
Yuesheng was instantly speechless, he truly couldn't afford that cost.
"Alright, alright, I stole a moment from my busy schedule to rest here, learned that those mad folks might be related to ghosts, a fruitful yield indeed. Now I must return to ponder on the white face issue, farewell, Mr. Qin, Young Master Qin." Daoist Qingfeng stood up showing a sign of departure.
Yuesheng was worried at heart. This old Daoist had exorcism skills, yet he couldn't learn them, truly frustrating.
With Daoist Qingfeng saying so, Qin Feng could do nothing either. He knew the Daoist's character too well—extremely inflexible, not understanding changes. Asking him to make an exception was nearly impossible.
With no choice, as the host, he could only personally escort Daoist Qingfeng out.
As Daoist Qingfeng turned his back on Yuesheng and headed toward the exit of the Guest Hall, the thing peeking from the gap of the cloth bag slung diagonally across him suddenly caught Yuesheng's attention.
It seemed to be... a book.