Chapter 569 - 467: Meeting the Future Husband

After bidding farewell to Lady Tushan, Xiao Mo returned to the woodshed and opened the copy of *Great Dream of Yellow Millet* she had given him.

’I’m only five years old,’ Xiao Mo thought at first. ’Lady Tushan gave me this book, but she has no idea I can even read. How could a servant who can’t read possibly teach himself the *Great Dream of Yellow Millet*?’

But when Xiao Mo opened it, he discovered the book was incredibly strange.

Even though Xiao Mo could read, it wouldn’t have mattered if he couldn’t.

The moment one looked at the pages, the characters seemed to transform into the flowers and grass, mountains and rivers of the natural world, becoming instantly understandable.

Yet the moment one looked away, any memory of them vanished.

[When Chaos first parted, being and non-being were born of one another. The Dao is inherently silent, revealed only through dreams. This technique is called the Great Dream of Yellow Millet. Pillow your head on the void, lie upon the profound, and borrow illusion to cultivate truth.]

[In the mansion of illusory light, build your house in nothingness.]

[When the night is late and all is quiet, lower the blinds and seal your lips. Visualize the white light between your brows, gradually transforming it into a green lotus that cradles a jade pillow.]

[In a flash, the body becomes like withered wood, the heart like cold ash. The six gates close tight, and a single stream of qi flows unseen. Only when you hear the roar of the tide by your ear will you know your spirit is in Yaojing.]

Xiao Mo read every word in the book with intense focus.

Although Xiao Mo had never practiced a Daoist Skill before, as he read the Cultivation Technique, he felt an unshakable conviction—this was a Daoist Cultivation Technique of the purest orthodoxy.

After all, with some Cultivation Techniques, you could feel something was wrong the moment you started learning them, an aura of pure evil.

Like the Blood Demon Saber Technique, for instance...

Pushing aside his stray thoughts, Xiao Mo focused his mind and read on, word by painstaking word.

Gradually, Xiao Mo entered a profound, trance-like state, losing all sense of self.

Xiao Mo’s consciousness began to blur.

He felt as though he wasn’t reading a book, but was dreaming instead.

He dreamed he had become a single leaf, caught between heaven and earth, rising and falling with the wind.

He was also like a dandelion seed, scattered by the breeze, only to land and take root where it carried him.

When Xiao Mo emerged from the "dream" and returned to his senses, he realized the sun had set and night was about to fall.

He had turned ten pages of the *Great Dream of Yellow Millet*.

Xiao Mo let out a long breath, expelling a cloud of impurities.

As he stood up, Xiao Mo felt his body had become much lighter.

"I’ve reached the Qi Cultivation First Layer?"

Xiao Mo said in surprise.

Although there was virtually no difference between the Qi Cultivation First Layer and an ordinary person, he had stepped onto the Path of Cultivation after only a single day of practice.

Xiao Mo couldn’t tell if the Cultivation Technique was just that incredible, or if his own aptitude for Daoist Skills was simply that good.

Xiao Mo opened the *Great Dream of Yellow Millet* again, wanting to continue, but found that reading it was no longer as effortless as it had been for the first ten pages.

With every word he read, a crushing weight like a great mountain settled upon his mind, leaving him feeling weary and heavy.

"Daoist Skills follow the heart; let things flow naturally."

Recalling the eight words written in the *Great Dream of Yellow Millet*, Xiao Mo knew his Divine Soul had reached its limit.

’Cultivation has to be taken slowly. You can’t force it or rush it.’

’Anyway, Lady Tushan told me to rest for a while. I can just take my time learning.’

Xiao Mo closed the book, feeling a little hungry.

Just as he was about to head to the kitchens to find a couple of steamed buns, there was a knock on the woodshed door.

Xiao Mo opened the door to find Lady Tushan standing before him, accompanied by an elderly man.

"This servant greets you, my lady."

Xiao Mo bowed with his hands clasped.

"Mm."

Tushan Xinhua nodded. As she looked at Xiao Mo, she sensed something was amiss and swept a ripple of Spiritual Power over him.

"You’ve reached the Qi Cultivation First Layer?" Tushan Xinhua asked, surprised.

When she had healed Xiao Mo previously, Tushan Xinhua had noted that his Root Bone was good, and that he should have a smooth time learning Daoist Skills.

But the Tushan Fox Demon hadn’t expected him to enter the Qi Cultivation First Layer in less than a day.

"Qi Cultivation First Layer?" Xiao Mo feigned ignorance. "My lady, what is the Qi Cultivation First Layer?"

"It means you have stepped onto the Path of Cultivation, even if it is only the first small step." Gui Ning smiled, bending down to look at the little boy before him. "You must be Xiao Mo, correct? I’m Jing Ci’s grandfather. I heard you protected Jing Ci last night. Thank you for that."

"Ah, so it is the Old Master. This servant pays his respects, Old Master."

Xiao Mo bowed again.

"Tushan Mansion took me in and saved my life. That is a debt I can never repay. When the Young Miss was in danger, it was my duty to stand before her. I dare not accept thanks from the Old Master."

"Hahaha, you certainly have a way with words, young man. You don’t sound like a child at all, more like a little adult."

Gui Ning took a Jade Pendant from within his robes and handed it to Xiao Mo.

"This is a fine Jade Pendant. Wear it. It will help temper your Spiritual Power and will benefit your cultivation in the future."

"This..." Xiao Mo looked toward Lady Tushan.

"Take it. I said I would reward you, and I do not go back on my word. You’ve earned it," Lady Tushan said with a nod.

"Yes." Xiao Mo accepted the Jade Pendant with both hands. "Thank you, Old Master. Thank you, my lady."

"Cultivate well. Your talent is truly excellent. You will certainly achieve great things in the future," Lady Tushan said to Xiao Mo.

"Furthermore, starting tomorrow, you will no longer live here. I have prepared a courtyard for you."

"In two days, Jing Ci will be attending a private school. You will be her Scholar’s Attendant. From now on, you will accompany her. Understood?"

...Xiao Mo was taken aback.

’He had saved Tushan Jing Ci last night, so a reward was expected. But wasn’t this a bit too much?’

"What is it? Are you unwilling?" Gui Ning asked with a smile.

"I am willing! It’s just... I’m a bit overwhelmed..." Xiao Mo said quickly, feigning panic.

"Hahaha." The old man let out a hearty laugh, patted Xiao Mo’s shoulder, and straightened up. "We’ll be going now. Get some rest. We won’t disturb you any longer, little one."

"Allow me to see you off, Old Master and my lady," Xiao Mo said.

"No need for that." The old man shook his head.

But by the time the old man’s voice faded and Xiao Mo looked up, he and Lady Tushan had already vanished.

...

Gui Ning and Tushan Xinhua left the kitchen area, walking along a cobblestone path within the mansion.

The old man took a letter of recommendation from his robes and handed it to Tushan Xinhua. "When Xiao Mo reaches the Golden Core Realm, give this letter to him. If he is willing, allow him to go to Seeking Immortal Mountain to continue his cultivation."

Hearing the words "Seeking Immortal Mountain," the color drained from Tushan Xinhua’s face. Her small hands clenched her sleeves. "Father, on Seeking Immortal Mountain..."

"I know. She is on Seeking Immortal Mountain."

The old man adjusted his sleeves.

"But, Jing Ci is your granddaughter! Isn’t *she* your own flesh-and-blood daughter?"

"If Xiao Mo is truly destined to be Jing Ci’s love tribulation,"

"Then *she*... also has the right to meet her future husband."