The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror-Chapter 5: Soul Stabilization

Li Gongpu pondered upon hearing this and then spoke, "The Old Master is a Third Class Scholar. Promotion is naturally difficult, but I've noticed that the Old Master has been taking the criminal justice matters more seriously in the past month and has visited the county school several times. Indeed, he seems to prioritize the affairs of the Government Office more than before."

Xu Qing said, "Uncle, do you mean the Old Master might have found some connections?"

Li Gongpu said, "That I do not know."

Xu Qing added, "Uncle, I want to take part in the county examination, and I need to have an acquainted scholar guarantee for me. Could you please keep an eye out for this matter?"

Asking someone to act as a guarantor was not difficult for those in the Government Office; as for ordinary people, as long as they could clearly state their origin, it only meant spending a bit more money.

After all, not every scholar came from a well-off family, especially in South Zhili where impoverished scholars were truly numerous.

But scholars in their teens or early twenties were different; even with modest family backgrounds, they could often participate in literary and poetry gatherings.

Should Xu Qing pass the child student test this year, he would be a fourteen-year-old scholar.

Of course, even so, if he couldn't find a way to extend his lifespan, he might very likely die at the age of seventeen.

"After you mentioned it last time, I've already been paying attention to it for you."

After discussing matters with Xu Qing, Li Gongpu left to take his shift.

Being a Government Official meant hardly any days off; it was always a shift system. Fortunately, Li Gongpu worked inside the Government Office where he was shielded from wind and rain. With good luck, during lawsuits, he could even get a feast of meat and wine.

Not that it was necessary to accept such offerings, but if someone offended the Old Master when court was in session and suffered a demotion, the punishment could be very severe.

Xu Qing helped Zhou Family clean up the kitchenware.

Zhou Family grumbled, "Your uncle should have gone out to eat this morning, and he wouldn't even need to pay for it."

Xu Qing replied, "That's because Uncle is upright and fair."

"It's all for the sake of appearances. He's scared to accept money at the Government Office too; I've scolded him about it. If the Team Leader doesn't take any, how can his subordinates feel comfortable taking? He's just making enemies for himself." Zhou Family complained about Li Gongpu for a bit, then remembered his good qualities, saying that it was because of Li Gongpu's honesty and kindness that she had agreed to live with him.

Xu Qing agreed with her on the side, and after a while, seeing that Zhou Family was in a good mood, he took the opportunity to say, "Auntie, Uncle probably doesn't want to adopt me out. If the relative from your maternal family is of good character, an adoption could be a good thing. I won't need the job or the house in the future. Just wait until after I finish the child student test before arranging this."

Zhou Family said, "Qing, I said those things in anger before. The house and the job should be yours indeed. And you are a good person; even if you don't get adopted out, I know you're not an ungrateful person and will take care of us in our old age."

After that day, as she interacted with Xu Qing, she truly saw many changes in him. Just the idea of catching earthworms to feed with the chickens' usual feed showed Zhou Family the benefits of education.

In the future, by focusing on this method of raising chickens, it could improve the household environment.

If Xu Qing failed to become a scholar and took over Li Gongpu's job, it would be a good thing too; then she and Li Gongpu could move to the countryside to focus on farming and raising chickens, ensuring their basic needs were met.

If all went well and they could save up some money from farming and raising chickens, they might be able to bring a woman from the countryside home and possibly even have a child. By then, their biggest worry would be resolved.

For them, dying without progeny was a terrifying prospect.

Because no one would be there to perform ancestral worship for them in the future.

People of the Yu Dynasty, who devoutly believed in ghosts and deities, thought that life was like a fleeting moment. It was after death that the eternal destiny awaited.

Xu Qing thought to himself, "If I can't find a way to extend my life within three years, it'll be you who will have to arrange my funeral."

He knew it was not appropriate to voice this thought, so he did not continue on this topic.

After helping Zhou Family with the housework, Xu Qing went out to dig for earthworms as usual, and then returned to his studies.

...

...

After finishing a reading of "University," Xu Qing's gaze appeared to be particularly clear and spirited.

He had tried and found that among the Four Books and Five Classics, "University" had the most evident effect in concentrating and stabilizing the mind. After each reading, his chaotic thoughts would become neatly ordered.

Only after achieving concentration could one attain tranquility, and following tranquility, one could find peace.

Unwittingly, the mind would feel expansive and joyful.

Moreover, for reasons unknown, Xu Qing felt a strange sensation of his body becoming weightless and wanting to soar after each reading when his mind was at peace.

It feels like I could fly.

But there is an invisible barrier that prevents me from freeing myself from the earth's shackles.

"Uncle has practiced the Crane Form for so long, yet he is only agile and doesn't even qualify as possessing Qinggong. How could I possibly fly?"

"So?"

"Could it be that it's my divine soul that's meant to fly? For example, like an out-of-body experience?"

That feeling was strong and not an illusion, so Xu Qing thought hard and felt that it was likely his divine soul.

Even if it were possible to have an out-of-body experience, he couldn't rashly attempt it.

Xu Qing reminded himself.

He had finally regained his bodily form and did not want to become a lonely ghost just out of curiosity.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Zhou finished her chores and had already gone out with the grandmas from next door, apparently to attend some sort of religious ceremony.

The yard was empty save for Xu Qing alone, and the family's chickens and dogs.

Xu Qing stepped into the yard and practiced the Crane Form again.

He continuously practiced the movements of the Crane Form, focusing on sensing the changes in his body.

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The effect of Soul Stabilization became apparent.

Xu Qing vaguely experienced something like the legendary 'Inner Vision'.

Although it was not as detailed, he was aware of each muscle that moved within his body.

This helped him deeply understand which muscles were engaged while practicing the Crane Form.

"Turns out my movements are still not accurate enough. For instance, exerting force like this is not smooth enough." Xu Qing grew more enthusiastic with practice, like debugging a program.

After more than ten repetitions, Xu Qing, combining Li Gongpu's explanations, executed the Crane Form more fluidly.

He seemed unaware of this improvement, completely immersed in his world, feeling an indescribable joy.

After a while, Xu Qing's movements became more and more like a celestial crane stretching its body gracefully into flight.

Unknowingly, a warm current started to emerge from his lower abdomen.

His lower abdomen felt soothingly warm.

The warmth dissipated as quickly as it had appeared.

"No."

Xu Qing remembered Li Gongpu mentioning that the true marvel of the Crane Form was to disperse this warmth throughout the limbs and body.

At the thought, the warmth, which was vanishing, actually followed his command and began to disperse into his limbs and body.

It was as if an invisible force was guiding the warmth.

After a long while, Xu Qing exhaled.

He felt somewhat exhausted.

But the effects were good; at least half of the warmth had spread into his limbs and body. Even though he felt tired, his limbs were slightly stronger than before, showing some level of enhancement.

"So it turns out that I can control the flow of this warmth without a matching Breathing Skill."

Xu Qing knew that this was inseparable from his Daoist practice "Soul Stabilization."

"If my divine soul were stronger, it wouldn't matter if the Crane Form was incomplete."

"I'll read some more books; reading nourishes the soul!" Xu Qing's heart swelled with more expectations.

Reading to nourish the soul and practicing martial arts had evidently become a self-perpetuating virtuous cycle.

"Bronze mirror, let's strive for improvement together!"