Chapter 210: Chapter 188 Advising the Apprentice_1

Heavenly Realm.

Southern Territory.

In a small village within the Cangli Mountain Range, in a small courtyard.

Time passed peacefully.

The little courtyard became increasingly lively, and Li Fan was quite happy.

“When growing grass, one cannot simply fertilize blindly; sometimes, it’s very important to prune the excess leaves.”

Li Fan instructed Lu Rang how to better care for his potted plant, and Lu Rang had an epiphany while pruning the grass.

He increasingly resembled a gardener, and his cultivation level had inadvertently reached the complete stage of the Taiyi Golden Immortal and was soon going to break through.

“Very good, you’ve managed to master the basic tune of this melody with ease. Next, you can delve deeper into it.”

Afterward, Li Fan, having listened to Nan Feng finish playing a piece, was in a very good mood and said,

“However, the following chapters can easily lead you astray. When playing the instrument, remember, you are the one controlling the melody, not the other way around.”

Upon hearing this, Nan Feng was slightly startled. Was her master asking her to learn the following chapters?

If she guessed correctly, the next chapters were of the Immortal-level…

Could she…

…manage it?

But the look in her master’s eyes instantly strengthened her conviction.

She immediately began to open the next part of the Emperor’s Breakthrough Melody!

When she started reading these sections, an uncontrollable urge made her start to play the instrument…

“Heaven, this music is so mystical, so extraordinary… Is this the true palace of melodies?!”

At that moment, she felt like a child seeing a new world for the first time!

“Immortality is the real heaven and earth…”

Her heart suddenly filled with longing.

A longing to master these notes and to enter that free world!

Her music fluctuated.

But before long, a look of confusion appeared on her face.

She seemed to be flying with the music,

yet she didn’t know her direction.

“Remember, you are controlling the melody, not the other way around.”

At this time, her master’s voice seemed to echo in her heart once again!

Her consciousness gradually awoke, and she began to control her fingers, starting to break free from the bond of the notes…

After regaining control, she took a long, relieved breath!

The new chapter contained different wonders, but it was even more difficult to comprehend and learn!

Watching this, Gong Ya, who stood nearby, revealed a look of astonishment on her face.

Because she stood just outside the threshold of immortality, she very clearly understood what had just happened…

Nan Feng had taken one step into the realm of immortality!

And she had managed to stay conscious and withdraw?!

“Most people, when entering the Hunyuan Golden Immortal Realm from the Great Luo Golden Immortal Realm, would lose themselves in the joy of achieving immortality on their first attempt through that gate…”

She murmured.

Even in her previous life as the Nine Holy Demon Monarch, she had failed many times while crossing that threshold and suffered many terrible injuries to her path.

However, at this moment, Nan Feng managed it with ease.

“This must be the benefit of guidance from a distinguished master…”

She looked towards Li Fan, feeling nervous for a moment, but still mustered the courage to ask,

“Master, how can I improve my tea art next?”

She too had touched the edge of immortality and needed guidance.

“Your heart has not yet calmed,”

Li Fan said with a smile, taking the teapot from Gong Ya’s hand and casually pouring it. The steaming water from the spout flowed into the white teacup in a smooth, seamless motion, not spilling a single drop!

At the end, the surface of the water in the teacup was perfectly level with the rim of the cup, with not a fraction of error!

“Your foundation is very good. Now, you only need to calm your mind.”

“When the mind is calm, everything falls into place.”

He advised, recalling the time it took him to learn the art of tea.

Now, Gong Ya was good in every aspect, except she still became a little bit impatient while brewing tea.

She needed to be refined!

Upon hearing this, Gong Ya suddenly had a moment of realization.

In that moment, she seemed to fully understand.

Understand where she had been going wrong…

“All this time, I’ve been obsessed with that gate, too impatient, and so, I failed to find the proper entry method!”

She was excited and gratefully said, “Thank you, Master!”

Xinning also watched Gong Ya with joy, knowing that Gong Ya had found her path!

“The skill of sweeping is nearly enough for you.”

Li Fan said with a smile, then turned to look at Qing Chen who was sweeping the floor.

It had to be said, his role as a “sweeping monk” was very well played; the small courtyard’s cleanliness and tidiness was his doing.

“Although I do not understand Zen, I know how to make further progress.”

Suddenly, Li Fan took out a black spider!

The spider had eight legs!

There was no doubt that it was recently retrieved from the System; previously, to train Li Fan in cleanliness, the System released this spider to increase his difficulty!

This spider wasn’t particularly formidable, but it spun webs furiously!

Every day Li Fan had to clean webs from every corner!

Later, Li Fan successfully cleared the challenge and retracted the spider back into his system.

Now, it was the perfect time to temper Qing Chen!

But the moment the spider appeared, everyone in the small courtyard turned to look, their eyes filled with extreme shock.

“Heavens, what kind of spider is this… It makes me feel as if I’m facing a primordial colossus…”

“Terrifying, its ferocity is unmatched!”

“Poor Junior Brother Qing Chen… In the future, will he have to face such an ancient and ferocious beast?”

Everyone was astonished.

Even the little black dog that Wu Dade was leading was baring its teeth, with dread apparent in its canine eyes!

A spider that even a Tiangou fears?

The expressions of the people grew even more complicated.

However, upon hearing their words, Qing Chen was stunned for a moment, then was overjoyed!

“Master is tempering me!”

“Truly worthy of the Great Buddha, every word and action embodies the highest Zen truths… The mortal world is like a spider’s web, desire is like a spider. If one cannot directly confront the desires within one’s heart, and discard them, it’s impossible to break free from the worldly attachments. Even if one lives as a monk for a lifetime, one cannot advance further!”

He sighed deeply and nodded fervently, saying,

“Thank you, Master!”

As he nodded, the black spider had already started spinning its web in the corner of the wall!

Qing Chen briskly walked over with a broom in hand!

Seeing this scene, Li Fan also smiled.

“These fish have been fattened up nicely,” he remarked.

Then, Li Fan walked to the edge of the pond, looking at the golden carp in the pond and lamented,

“It’s a shame these carp have too many bones and can’t be eaten; otherwise, they’d definitely taste great…”

Upon hearing this, Long Zixuan almost choked.

Eat, eat these carp?

Master, this is too… too…

He couldn’t finish his words, only noticing that the carp seemed to have trembled just now…

“You’ve been raising these goldfish for so long, next, you could try fishing.”

Li Fan patted his shoulder and said, “Once you can pull one out, you’ll be on the right path!”

Long Zixuan was even more befuddled.

Fishing??

To fish in this pond??

“Da De, I don’t have much else to give you, take this ‘Livestock Breeding Guide’ and study it well,” Li Fan said to Wu Dade, giving him a book.

He would have to learn slowly!

But when Wu Dade received the book, he treasured it like a priceless find.

He was overjoyed, for the content described… was actually the supreme way to control all kinds of fierce beasts!

It was absolutely terrifying!

He skimmed through the table of contents and turned directly to a page.

The title of this page was: Earth Dog Raising.

The content included: types of earth dogs, earth dog feeding guide, how to adapt to the ferocious nature of earth dogs, how to deal with earth dogs in heat…

As he read, he sized up the little black dog.

The little black dog got so nervous from his gaze that it instinctively stepped back a few paces and barked, “Woof!”

“Alright, time to start learning, Xinning.”

Li Fan turned around and began today’s lesson.

“Today, I will teach you something new.”

Li Fan said with a smile, “I will teach you about poetry!”

Poetry!

At this concept, Xinning’s large eyes were filled with curiosity.

Zi Ling and Dugu Yuqing also brought over small stools to listen in.

Dugu Yuqing wanted to observe the way Li Fan wrote his poems every time.

While Zi Ling was exploring the combination of poetry and painting, which, if mastered, could bring her to a new realm!

“The bright moon startles the magpies on the branches, the clear breeze sings cicadas in the midnight. Amidst the scent of rice flowers, a tale of a bountiful year, while frog croaks resound.”

“Seven or eight stars outside the Milky Way, two or three raindrops in front of the mountain range, by the old thatched inn near the hamlet’s grove, around a corner where a stream and bridge suddenly appear.”

The first poem he taught was Xin Qiji’s “Moon over the West River – Night Journey on the Yellow Sand Road”!

As this poem was recited, the eager learners, Xinning, Zi Ling and Dugu Yuqing, all had brightened eyes!

Everything in the small courtyard was well-ordered.

“Meow—”

But at that moment!

The little white cat lying lazily on the table suddenly jumped up as if it had been startled!

“Meow!”

Its cry even trembled a bit!

It ran swiftly, heading out of the yard, not even bothering about Li Fan!

It was as if something urgent had happened!

Seeing this, Li Fan was immediately startled and said,

“Da De, quickly take Hei Gou to check it out!”

After all, dogs have a keen sense of smell, so it’s better to follow the cat’s scent with a dog, to avoid the little white getting lost.

Hearing this, Wu Dade immediately responded, “Yes, Master!”

He pulled the little black dog and hurriedly chased after them!