Chapter 1404: Abstract Painting

Chapter 1404: Chapter 1404: Abstract Painting

Watching Lin Tian finish drinking the ceremonial apprentice tea, Xv Jiazhi bowed three times with his limbs on the ground again.

"Rise," Lin Tian said.

Xv Jiazhi remained still and asked, "Master, who is the ancestor of our sect? Also, what is the doctrine of our sect?"

This took Lin Tian aback momentarily, and he blurted out, "There is none."

"None?"

Indeed, there wasn’t any. Back when the Martial Sect, Wu Hong, and Xiang Ming became disciples, there was no such concept.

"Like the rumors outside claim, I am a Loose Cultivator with no sect, so there is no need to worship an ancestor."

"..."

These words were hard for Xv Jiazhi to believe, as if joking. How old was Lin Tian this year? Were those pill recipes, Heart Methods, and formation diagrams all figured out by him? Without a sect’s heritage, how was it possible?

Of course, there was another possibility that he didn’t want to speak of. It could very well be like the rumors circulating around Luoyan Dock, where his master originated from some hidden ancient martial family, and he was reluctant to reveal this out of caution.

Xv Jiazhi did not pursue the matter further and simply said, "Then what about the doctrine? Surely there must be one! Not to mention, your status among all the ancient martial families is significant; establishing a sect cannot be done casually."

Lin Tian suddenly felt a headache, wondering why this guy was so troublesome.

Yet seeing Xv Jiazhi’s earnest demeanor, Lin Tian suddenly thought this guy was much more dependable than the Martial Sect’s Wu Hong.

Lin Tian raised his head in thought, and after a moment said, "Let it be simple: two words - Self-discipline."

"A sage does not feel shame in his appearance; a gentleman is careful of his solitude, abandoning what is near and reaching afar, filling up the void." Xv Jiazhi recited to himself, bowed again, "Disciple has memorized it."

"Alright, sit down. Your Xu Family has so many rules. Given your current condition, it’s already good that you’re not lying down."

Despite his words, Lin Tian felt quite pleased inside. After all, he had accepted a sensible apprentice.

Xv Jiazhi chuckled, sat up, and said, "Master, the book I’ve been cultivating, the Tangxi Meridian, is on the bookshelf’s far left, in that small drawer. I think you should take a look; it might be beneficial for my condition."

Lin Tian nodded, stood up, walked to the left of the bookshelf, and pulled open the drawer. Sure enough, there was something inside.

The Tangxi Meridian wasn’t exactly a book, but rather a small booklet.

It had nine pages; six pages contained detailed records of the herbs that should assist the Cultivation Technique, and the appropriate times to cultivate.

There were also two pages depicting diagrams of Inner Strength circulation which Lin Tian glanced over quickly; he could read ten lines at a glance with his mind instantly absorbing the content.

What Lin Tian didn’t expect was that on the last page, there was a hastily drawn mess of criss-cross lines, some thick and some thin, almost like a child’s scribble.

"What does this last picture mean?" Lin Tian asked.

Xv Jiazhi shook his head gently, "I don’t know."

"You don’t know, yet you dare to practice?"

"Before cultivating this book, I’ve flipped through it over ten times. The last picture, aside from being smooth, is still so during practice. But unexpectedly, I failed at the critical juncture. I think it has something to do with the last page."

Lin Tian looked at the last picture, constantly feeling there might be clues within it, but ultimately found nothing.

"Where did you get this thing?" Lin Tian asked.

Xv Jiazhi replied, "Believe it or not, I found it in the Wang Family’s main hall."

Hearing this, Lin Tian’s interest was piqued, and he looked away from the picture. He urged, "Quick, tell me what happened."

"Ha, wasn’t it at the True Martial Hall where you battled them once, forcing the Wang Family out of Luoyan Dock? Although the Wang Family fled quickly, they only managed to take some valuable pills and medicinal materials, leaving many things behind. During the raid back then, this Tangxi Meridian was found in a secret compartment in the main hall. Alongside were some fragments of Cultivation Techniques, but they held little value. I suppose the Wang Family overlooked this."

After hearing this, a flash of insight swept through Lin Tian’s mind but remained elusive to grasp. He glanced down at the last picture, abstract beyond abstraction.

"Forget it; I’ll need to take this image back for research. The immediate priority is your meridians, which must be repaired promptly."

While speaking, Lin Tian picked up paper and pen from beside the bookshelf and began to write eloquently.

"This is a prescription for nourishing the meridians. Once the water temperature of the medicinal bath cools, you can come out. Below is the oral dosage, once in the morning and once in the evening, and I’ve noted the measurements. Just instruct someone to handle it."

"Thank you, Master." Xv Jiazhi received the paper Lin Tian handed over.

Lin Tian glanced at Xv Jiazhi’s expression and said, "I know what you want to say. I will tell you the method to cultivate Spiritual Qi, but not now. Until your meridians are repaired, it’s useless to take it."

Lin Tian had a total of three apprentices; two had experienced a madness incident.

The Great Elder, Wu Hong, was afflicted due to forcefully taking others’ Golden Cores, causing a backlash. Xv Jiazhi practiced the Cultivation Technique incorrectly.

Both had a commonality: the internal energy caused the backlash if dispersed; the backlash would cease to exist.

Similar to Xv Jiazhi at this moment, his meridians ruptured, Sea of Qi dried up, eliminating the danger of madness.

Lin Tian said, "First, sit cross-legged on the cushion. I’ll send energy to you again. Although not significantly effective, it will make you feel better, not so utterly powerless."

Xv Jiazhi immediately shook his head, firmly saying, "No way! Just now, when I went mad, you already consumed a lot of Spiritual Qi for me. I can see you are very fatigued, you mustn’t send energy again."

Lin Tian ignored this, and directly sat cross-legged behind Xv Jiazhi, saying, "Embrace the unity."

Xv Jiazhi no longer insisted, sat cross-legged, palms facing up on both knees, closed his eyes, and entered a state of contemplation.

Following this, Lin Tian’s palms pressed against his back, continuously transmitting Spiritual Qi, making Xv Jiazhi almost moan in pleasure.

The sensation was hard to describe, akin to suddenly plunging into a hot spring when shivering in icy weather, feeling physically and mentally relaxed! The weakness of the body quietly withdrew.

Previously, during madness, Lin Tian was counteracting the reverse flow of energy, which only felt painful to Xv Jiazhi.

Now, it was Xv Jiazhi’s first time truly feeling the wondrous essence of Spiritual Qi. In his eyes, flowed a light called greed.