"There are nine realms of cultivation. There are six realms of mortal bodies and three realms of immortality."
"The six realms of the body are for qi training, foundation building, golden elixir, primordial infant, transforming spirit, and transcending calamity."
"Climbing to the three realms of immortals is to transform from the ordinary, to step on the virtual, and to become an immortal."
Considering Shen Shu's situation, Ye Yunlan decided to start with the most basic common sense in the cultivation world.
He has a lot of patience for this only apprentice in his past and present life.
What Shen Shu once lacked, what no one taught him, he would fill in for the other party.
The boy's eyes lit up when he heard it, and he suddenly asked curiously, "Is there really an immortal in this world?"
Ye Yunlan was startled.
It is difficult for anyone in the world to give an accurate answer to this question.
In the tens of thousands of years recorded in the history books of the human race, there are countless powerhouses who have reached the Void Stepping Realm, and each of them is a splendid existence in an era.
... but almost all fell under the Immortal Tribulation.
The reason why I say almost is because there was once a demon phoenix who disappeared in the Immortal Tribulation, and did not leave a corpse like the others.
Many people speculated that it became a fairy and went away, but no one saw the gate of the fairyland open at that time. No one can tell what happened.
In the past three thousand years, the world has not even seen a strong person who has stepped on the virtual realm.
Is there really a fairy in this world
More than one person has asked this question.
Immortality and immortality are the dreams pursued by countless practitioners.
Ye Yunlan may be the only person in the world who knows the answer.
However, he was silent for a while, but only said: "Shen Shu, what do you think is a fairy?"
Shen Shu: "Through the sky and the earth, control the universe, is it for... immortals?"
Ye Yunlan: "Wrong. Only people want to reach the sky and the earth and control the universe. Immortals don't."
There was a hint of indifference in his eyes, "...because immortals and people are two completely different things."
Shen Shu blinked, a little puzzled.
Ye Yunlan did not continue to explain.
Suddenly he said, "Shen Shu, tell me, why do you want to practice?"
Shen Shu thought about it for a while, and said bluntly, "I want to gain strength."
Ye Yunlan was noncommittal.
"If it's just for power—you already have power within you that you can easily control," he said, "why continue to practice?"
Shen Shu wanted to speak, but Ye Yunlan stopped him, "Think clearly before answering, this is very important to you."
Shen Shu is a semi-finished product made by golems.
Even if it is only a semi-finished product, the characteristic that the golem can become stronger as long as it absorbs the filth in the world still remains in him. But relying on this method to become stronger, the more filth is absorbed, the deeper the transformation into a magic puppet will be, until it is irreversible.
Ye Yunlan didn't want Shen Shu to be like this.
Yuan Yongzhi had already activated the secret method of gathering Qi once, and Shen Shu already had the power of a puppet in his body. If he wanted to return to the right way to practice, Ye Yunlan must first guide Shen Shu to give up this power.
But Shen Shu has suffered too much, and it is inevitable that he is obsessed with power, and the guiding process may be very difficult. Can't help frowning.
After thinking about it seriously, Shen Shu replied:
"I want power because... I want to use my power to protect the master."
"That kind of power... can't protect the master, I don't want it."
Ye Yunlan was slightly stunned, and after a long while, he whispered: "You can't even protect yourself, why does the teacher need you to protect..."
Even so, his frown slowly loosened.
It's a good thing that Shen Shu has no nostalgia for the power of the puppet.
However, how to get rid of the filth in Shen Shu's body is still a problem.
He pondered deeply, his hand unconsciously stroked the back of Shen Shu's head, placed it on the puppet print on the back of the other's neck, and rubbed it again and again.
Shen Shu didn't say anything, just leaned into his arms and pressed his face against his chest.
Ye Yunlan likes to read and read papers, and he never forgets it. There are a terrifying number of secret techniques that he remembers in his mind.
It was a little troublesome to sort out and find it.
Most of this knowledge was obtained in the Demon Palace in his previous life.
Since the Demon Venerable allowed him to walk freely in the Demon Palace, the place he went to most often was the Library Pavilion.
In the Book Collection Pavilion, there are the secrets of the exercises and ancient books that the Demon Lord has recovered from the major sects. He is so fascinated by it that he often forgets the time.
until being held from behind.
"Xianchang, do you really like reading books like that?" The Demon Venerable pressed his chest against his back, his tone was solemn, "Can you even ignore the summoning of the deity?"
He was already familiar with this person's temperament, and when he knew that outsiders were not there, but this person still called himself "the deity", he was a little angry.
"Your Highness." He whispered.
The Demon Venerable snorted lightly, bit his earlobe and asked, "Tell this Venerable, is reading a book pleasing you, or does this Venerable make you more pleasant?"
He said, "... reading books is different from yours."
Demon Venerable didn't intend to let him go, and asked, "How is it different?"
He pursed his lips, lowered his long eyelashes, and said nothing.
"Heh." Demon Venerable laughed softly, "Everyone has their own hobbies, but this deity is not unreasonable. It just so happens that you like to read books, but this deity likes to listen to books."
"Take out the "Yin-Yang Harmony Classic" on the shelf over there and read it to me."
The bookshelf that Demon Venerable pointed to was the only bookshelf he had never touched in the library. Just because the bookshelf is full of... double cultivation exercises.
He took down the exercises that the Demon Venerable said, and just glanced at it, his face felt hot.
... there are still pictures.
"Don't try to be lazy." Demon Venerable seemed to guess what he was thinking, "Everything in the book must be read out carefully, as your punishment for ignoring your deity's summons today."
He just had to read. The voice was low and trembling.
The body temperature of the person behind him was hot, and something dark spread up from his heels.
Holding the book, his pale fingertips trembled, and suddenly he couldn't help but shout in a low voice, "Don't..."
The Demon Venerable let go of him, sat on the sandalwood armchair next to him, and said, "Continue reading. I know that the immortal has a good memory. After reading it once, you can remember it all."
The lights in the library were dimly lit, and the Demon Venerable sat there with his head on one hand, with a ferocious ghost mask, watching him leaning on the bookshelf, struggling to finish reciting a book of exercises.
"Xianchang, can you learn the new exercises?" He suddenly said, patting his legs, "...Come and sit down, let's try."
The library was dimly lit, and the candles flickered. He sat on the Demon Venerable's lap, holding the Demon Venerable's shoulder, sweat condensed on his temples, and he saw silhouettes on the wall.
For decades in the magic palace, he read all the books in the library.
Including the book on the shelf that he would never have touched.
There are many ways to get rid of the filth, and Ye Yunlan selected several suitable for Shen Shu from memory.
Before teaching it to the other party, I remembered one more thing.
"The road to cultivation is arduous and long," Ye Yunlan said. "If you can really control your heart and cultivate to the Nascent Soul Stage with your own efforts, then I will return the Soul Refinement Orb to you."
Mentioning the Soul Refining Orb, a dark look flashed across Shen Shu's eyes, and he was silent for a while, then suddenly said, "No... it doesn't really matter."
"As long as you hold the Soul Refining Orb, I will never disobey any of your orders, and I will never... harm you."
He raised his head, a slight smile appeared on his pale and gloomy face, and his voice was a little unspeakably deceitful, "Master, I am yours, everything... can be at your disposal."
"Shen Shu," Ye Yunlan looked at the young man earnestly, and said solemnly, "You must understand that we are now master and apprentice, and the relationship between master and apprentice has never been a relationship of domination and being dominated."
"You can learn to rely on me without any cost." He paused and added, "It's okay to be coquettish occasionally."
Shen Shu fixedly looked at him, and suddenly lowered his eyes, "Master treats me... It's so nice."
Ye Yunlan didn't know whether he understood or not.
With a sigh in his heart, Shen Shu was deeply influenced by his past experiences after all.
He also needed to help Shen Shu get rid of the shackles of the puppet as soon as possible, and free the part of Shen Shu's soul trapped in the Soul Refinement Orb.
In his memory, he actually had a way to lift the ban on Soul Refining Orbs, but he lacked a precious medicinal ingredient.
That medicinal material is only in the ancient ruins, but now it is still seven years away from the opening of the ancient secret realm.
There was no way for him to tell Shen Shu in advance and give him false hope.
Ye Yunlan's eyes darkened slightly.
The most urgent task now is to help Shen Shuhua get rid of the filth in his body and lead him to the path.
"Shen Shu," he said, "I will teach you a method of breathing and breathing, and long-term practice can remove the filthy qi in your body."
He walked to the desk, took out a piece of paper, wrote the method in his memory, and handed it to Shen Shu.
"Look at it first, and ask me if you don't understand anything."
Shen Shu didn't take it.
"What?" Ye Yunlan asked, raising her eyes.
Shen Shu was silent for a while, then whispered: "Master, can you read it to me first?"
Ye Yunlan pondered for a moment.
It was he who neglected.
How could Shen Shu be literate in such a growing environment.
"Come here." He said softly.
Shen Shu obediently walked over to him.
"Sit on my lap," he said.
Shen Shu was stunned for a moment, the tip of his ear was a little red, but Ye Yunlan didn't notice it, and only said: "Every morning from now on, follow me to study for two hours."
"...Yes, Master."
Shen Shu sat on Ye Yunlan's lap, the other person's breath encircled him, his chest pressed against his back, making him restless.
The other party's cold voice sounded in his ear.
"Can you write your own name?"
Shen Shu: "My name is... Is that so?"
He picked up the pen and wrote a special character on the paper.
It looks a bit decent, but he holds the pen in the wrong way, and the stroke order is completely wrong. It's not like writing, but like... drawing with a gourd.
Ye Yunlan glanced at the wooden sword placed by the table, and was relieved.
"You are indeed clever." He said, holding Shen Shu's wrist, adjusting his pen-holding posture, and leading him to slowly write his name.
"This word is Shen. This word is Shu. Shen is your surname, and Shu is your first name. This is your name."
The moment he was held by that pale, slender, jade-like hand, Shen Shu's whole body froze.
Even the shadow under his feet twisted for a moment.
Ye Yunlan didn't notice that he was different, she led him to finish writing it, and asked him, "Can you write it?"
Shen Shu was silent for a while, then shook his head.
Ye Yunlan taught again patiently.
This time, Shen Shu didn't lose his mind any more, and soon he could write his name smoothly.
Seeing him learning, Ye Yunlan wanted to teach him the formulas on paper, but heard Shen Shu say, "I still want to... learn the name of the master."
He was slightly stunned, a little softness appeared in his eyes, and he took Shen Shu and wrote three words Ye Yunlan.
"Master's name... looks good." Shen Shu said in a hoarse voice.
Ye Yunlan smiled slightly: "It's just a name, there's nothing good or bad about it."
"It's good-looking." Shen Shu stubbornly said, and asked again, "Is the name of the master given by the relatives of the master?"
Ye Yunlan's expression suddenly faded.
"...I have no relatives."
As he spoke, a vague and tall figure appeared in his mind.
The man was actually not born like him. His appearance followed his mother's, but the man's appearance followed his father's, and he was extremely handsome and fierce.
That man was born with dazzling brilliance and was regarded as the young master by the whole family, but after he was born, he did not even have a name.
Later, he was drained of all bloodline power to sacrifice to the man, causing him to become blind in both eyes.
But the man only commanded the clan to exile him into the mountains and forests.
Shen Shu: "Master?"
Ye Yunlan quickly recovered and skipped this topic.
"It's getting late, I'll teach you the formula on paper." He held the boy's hand, "Study carefully."
—
At night, the lights are dim.
Ye Yunlan sat under the lamp and read a book. The candles flickered, and the lanterns made a crackling sound.
What he likes to read on weekdays are all books on practice, but today is different.
Ye Yunlan looked down at the contents of the scroll.
"Teacher, so preaching and karma dispel doubts.
Students are young and active, their minds are unstable, and they have not entered the right path. Teachers should not be lazy or strict. Strict is not angry, not harsh, not lazy. Those who are not lazy, with all their heart, will surely bear fruit... [Note 1]"
He pondered for a moment, raised his pen, and dropped a note beside the page.
The burning candle made a crackling sound, and the candle flame slowly became dim.
The book had been turned over for the most part, and every page on it had ink marks smeared open.
The handwriting in front of him was suddenly blurred, and Ye Yunlan reached out and rubbed his eyebrows. I heard light footsteps from outside.
Shen Shu walked in, his hair was still wet, and he had just finished bathing, "Master, I have already cooked hot water for you to bathe."
Ye Yunlan: "Well. Wait until I finish reading this part."
Shen Shu stopped talking.
Looking at the dim lights in the room, he took the clippers, walked over to him, and leaned over to cut off the excess wick.
The figures of the two were staggered, and the shadows also overlapped, merging into a ball on the wall.
The lights became bright again, reflecting Ye Yunlan's quiet profile.
Shen Shu took the paper on which the formula was written, and sat on the chair next to him to read.
Time passed quietly.
"Master, I just tried the formula you taught me to breathe luck, and it can run smoothly!"
Shen Shu suddenly spoke.
His tone was light, like a child sharing joy.
Ye Yunlan looked away from the book.
Rarely, he seemed to feel a bit of joy from it.
Maybe this is what it feels like to be a teacher. he thinks.
"You did a good job." His eyes were very soft in the light. "It's late at night, go and rest."
"Master told me to rest, but I am still reading." Shen Shu said in a sullen manner, "The hot water that has just been boiled will be cold."
Ye Yunlan said softly, "You go back to your room first, you don't have to wait for me."
Since Shen Shu was injured, he has been living in his room.
In Zhulou, only Ye Yunlan lived alone on weekdays, and there was no other place to live. He had to take care of Shen Shu's injury, so he simply let Shen Shu live with him.
However, Shen Shu said, "I won't sleep if Master doesn't come."
Ye Yunlan was helpless: "You..."
A little connivance slowly appeared in his eyes.
He finally put down the scroll in his hand, got up and walked out of the study.
The opened scroll lay quietly on the table, resting on one of the pages.
"As a teacher, you need to uphold the heart of benevolence towards your disciples. Kindness is virtuous, love is kindness, a teacher is a father, and a younger brother is a son. [Note 2]
…
One day is a teacher, a lifetime is a father, it is a master. "
The author has something to say:
The content marked in the text is excerpted from Han Yu's "Master's Talk" and Xiuyang's "Master's Way".