Chapter 186: Making a Move

The core of this Cultivation Technique lay in Observing Fire, not Energy Introduction.

This wasn’t about watching with the eyes, but using one’s Heart and Spirit to perceive and understand the flame. The final step was to merge with the fire, to feel the essence of its warmth, its flicker and rise, its power to incinerate, destroy, and bring forth rebirth.

Once the visualization reached a certain level and created a spiritual resonance with the flame, one could then circulate the Cultivation Technique, using the flame as a guide to draw Fire Spirit Qi into the body.

The ingenuity of this technique was its use of a flame as a medium, lowering the difficulty compared to directly absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

Although it was a Yellow Tier Technique, it had three layers.

For the first layer, one observed a candle flame in the dark, closed their eyes, and focused their Heart and Spirit on the pea-sized core of the flame.

At first, one could only "see" the light. Gradually, one would be able to "see" the flame flicker.

This was the stage of the "candlelight’s first appearance."

The second layer was to visualize a bonfire—the "growing bonfire."

The third layer was to visualize a furnace fire—the "perfected furnace fire."

Only by practicing to the end of the third layer would one have a chance to reach the Ninth-Layer Qi Refining.

’I don’t have the right conditions now. I’ll wait until I get back tonight to cultivate.’

Having just obtained a Cultivation Method, Lu Bai was eager to give it a try.

Even though it was only a Yellow Tier Technique, he was more excited than if he had acquired a Martial Arts Ultimate Skill.

Before he knew it, the time it took an incense stick to burn had passed.

Lu Bai handed the book back to the middle-aged man across from him.

The middle-aged man glanced at the child beside him. Seeing that the boy was still engrossed in Viewing it and hadn’t finished, he rubbed his hands together and asked, a little sheepishly, "Lord Lu, perhaps you’d like to read a bit longer?"

"That won’t be necessary."

Lu Bai shook his head slightly and, after handing the book back, said, "Let him read. There’s no hurry."

Seeing the father’s high hopes for his child, he didn’t press the matter.

"Thank you, my lord!"

The middle-aged man was overjoyed and bowed deeply to Lu Bai.

After all, the boy was only seven or eight years old; his reading and comprehension skills were still lacking.

Another incense stick’s time passed.

The sky had completely darkened by the time the boy named Xiaochuan reluctantly closed the book and handed it back to Lu Bai with both hands.

"Thank you, my lord."

Xiaochuan thanked him, his voice a little louder this time.

Lu Bai looked at the boy and said, "You can ask me if there’s anything you don’t understand."

"Quick, Xiaochuan, ask him!"

The middle-aged man was overjoyed and hurriedly urged his son on.

The boy’s face flushed red, and he stammered, "My lord, I... I don’t know if I’m doing the stance right."

As he spoke, the boy assumed the Tiger Subduing Posture in front of Lu Bai.

Lu Bai stepped forward to correct a few points in his stance, then helped the boy adjust his breathing. Only after the boy got the hang of it did Lu Bai pack up his stall and leave.

’Judging by their clothes, this father and son aren’t well-off. It’s not easy for ordinary people to train in the Martial Dao. Giving a few pointers is a simple enough gesture.’

The middle-aged man, of course, thanked him profusely.

Long after Lu Bai had disappeared from sight, the man was still telling his son, "Xiaochuan, that Lord Lu is truly a good official. No matter whether you achieve anything in the Martial Dao in the future, you must always remember the favor of his guidance today."

"I will!"

Xiaochuan nodded vigorously.

In a corner across from Wangjiang Tower, the disheveled cripple witnessed the scene, a thoughtful look on his face. He then shouldered his buckets of slop and limped away.

"That man didn’t show up today?"

On the way back, He Liangzhi met him and asked.

"I didn’t see him."

Lu Bai shook his head. "I went to Wangjiang Tower to ask around. The Chief Shopkeeper was extremely tight-lipped. That person must have a powerful background."

He Liangzhi said, "Since he’s got his eyes on your Exotic Beast, Brother Lu, he’s bound to show up again. You’ll have to be careful."

The two returned to the Evil Extermination Bureau and went to their respective rooms.

Lu Bai lit a candle, took a deep breath, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes. Following the method described in the *Piercing Fire Chapter*, he focused on visualizing the pea-sized flame.

Soon, Lu Bai found the right sensation.

Although his eyes were closed, it was as if he could "see" a small candle flame flickering and burning slowly a short distance in front of him.

Before long, Lu Bai felt he had reached a marvelous state of resonance with the flame. It was as if he had become the flame itself, unable to feel his own body.

’I’ve already grasped the essence of this technique, which is why I could enter Meditation so quickly. Otherwise, the Observing Fire stage alone would have taken a great deal of time.’

After Observing Fire came Absorbing Fire.

Lu Bai circulated the Cultivation Technique, trying to capture the wisps of Fire Spirit Qi around him.

He could vaguely sense them, but he could never capture them with any certainty, let alone draw them into his body and refine them into his own Magical Power.

’I may have understood the technique, but there are no shortcuts in Cultivation. It requires steady, cumulative effort.’

In the blink of an eye, the sound of the watchman’s clapper announcing the third watch came from outside. BANG! BANG!

Lu Bai awoke from his Meditation.

He had been cultivating for four hours, yet he still hadn’t managed to draw qi into his body.

"A Mortal Spirit Root, as worthless as they say," Lu Bai said with a self-deprecating laugh, though he wasn’t particularly bothered.

’I’ll just have to take it slow. This path of Cultivation cannot be rushed.’

’A Mortal Spirit Root on top of a Yellow Tier Technique—with that combination, succeeding in Cultivation is bound to be as difficult as ascending to Heaven.’

Lu Bai got up, put on the Mountain Demon Hat, and slipped out again under the cover of night.

’With the Mountain Demon Hat, no one can spot me in the dark as long as I’m careful.’

’I can’t leave the city at this hour, anyway.’

Following the information he had gathered, Lu Bai made his way to the residence of Captain Liu’s concubine and circled the area.

It was an ordinary courtyard home with no guards, only a few Maids.

After a quick survey of the location, Lu Bai had a good grasp of the layout and left.

「On the fourth and fifth days.」

Lu Bai set up his stall during the day as usual and returned at night to practice the *Piercing Fire Chapter*.

However, the young man in brocade robes never reappeared, as if he had vanished into thin air.

「On the sixth day.」

While tending his stall, Lu Bai saw the Demon Suppression Bureau, the Demon-slaying Bureau, and the Jingzhou City Garrison return.

The two bureaus had previously joined forces with several Martial Dao True Masters to investigate Stone Forest Valley.

They were finally back today.

Lu Bai packed up his stall early.

For one, he wanted to ask about the situation in Stone Forest Valley.

For another, he had business to attend to tonight.

After six days, he had accumulated seventy-seven Five Emperors Coins.

He was getting closer and closer to one hundred and eight.

「In a secret chamber.」

Lu Bai asked, "My lord, what’s the situation with the Demon Suppression Bureau?"

Mo Tang replied, "The Demon Suppression Envoys and the other Martial Dao True Masters went to Stone Forest Valley, but there were no traces of any Corpse Refining Sect Cultivators left. The army searched the vicinity but didn’t find any clues."

He Liangzhi said, "With all that commotion, they probably cleared out long ago."

"You’re taking action tonight? Are you sure you won’t be discovered?"

Mo Tang looked at Lu Bai, her expression serious.

"Yes."

Lu Bai said, "When the time comes, have Brother He act as backup. His Qinggong is excellent."

"My lord, are you all prepared?"

He Liangzhi seemed to think of something and asked with a smile.

"What is there to prepare? I’m just changing my clothes."

Mo Tang’s tone was flat.

He Liangzhi chuckled. "I’m just curious. After all, I’ve never seen you wear that sort of outfit, my lord. You can consider this a trial run."

"Is the room set up?" Lu Bai asked.

"It’s ready," He Liangzhi replied. "We’re just waiting for you to bring the person back."