Daoist Master, I'm really not an evil cultivator.

Chapter 41 Explaining Techniques and Instructing Methods

After watching.

The gray donkey was kneeling there, its eyes closed, as if resting. Sensing the gaze, its ears twitched, and its cloudy eyes turned to Xu Changqing, carrying a hint of confusion and submissiveness.

Xu Changqing walked up to the gray donkey, squatted down, and placed his hand on its warm forehead. His palm circulated magical power, following the method of dispelling the spell recorded in "The Art of Animal Creation: The Evil Spell of Transforming a Donkey."

The gray donkey's body trembled violently, and it let out a low whimper, its cloudy eyes filled with pain and confusion.

About ten minutes later, a wisp of black smoke rose from the gray donkey, mixed with a sweet and pungent herbal scent.

As the black smoke dissipated, the person kneeling on the ground was no longer a donkey, but a thin, sallow-faced man. He was about thirty years old, wrapped in a tattered single garment. His eyes were initially unfocused, as if covered by a thick layer of gloom, but after a while, a faint glimmer of light gradually appeared.

He rolled his eyes blankly, looked at his hands, then looked up at Xu Changqing. His lips trembled, but he couldn't make a complete sound, only squeezing out a few broken syllables from his throat.

"Thank you so much... Immortal Master... for saving my life..."

Xu Changqing took out a spare coarse cloth Taoist robe from his storage artifact and tossed it over to cover him.

The man hurriedly wrapped himself up and struggled to stand up, but due to being trapped in the beast's body for so long and his limbs were weak, he fell back down.

Xu Changqing nodded slightly and said, "No need for formalities. Calm down and get used to it. Do you still remember your name and background?"

The man blinked hard, trying to recall, and said haltingly, "I... my name is Chen Ergou... I'm from Chenjiazhuang outside the mountains... I went into the mountains to gather herbs, and I was... caught by a donkey, fed with medicine, and then... I don't know anything..."

As he spoke, a look of pain and lingering fear appeared on his face.

"Now that you're free, take good care of yourself and rest well," Xu Changqing said. "Your mind and soul have been corrupted by evil magic for a long time. Although I helped you break free of the restraints, the damage cannot be recovered in a short time. There are still empty rooms in my temple. You can stay here for a while and go home after you've recovered."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ergou struggled to kowtow and express his gratitude, but Xu Changqing held him up with his magic.

At this moment, Awei and Aling, who had settled Su'e, heard the commotion and came out from under the corridor. They were startled to see a thin man suddenly appear in the courtyard. After seeing the situation clearly and seeing Xu Changqing's signal, they understood.

Awei, being the bolder one, stepped forward to support the swaying Chen Ergou and whispered, "...Uncle, come with us. Let's change into some clean clothes and have some water."

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Chen Ergou was helped by the two sisters and staggered towards the guest room.

After the man rested for a while, Xu Changqing summoned everyone to the courtyard in front of the meditation room in the temple.

As dusk approached and the sun began to set, it cast long, thin shadows of the ancient pine trees in the courtyard. The pond water reflected the sunset glow, shimmering like shattered gold.

The group of people, some standing and some standing, each with a different expression, all held their breath and stared intently at the figure in blue robes beside the stone table.

Although Su'e had just recovered from a serious illness and her face was still pale, her eyes were clear and bright, with a hint of determination. Awei pursed her lips, the stubbornness between her brows still lingering. Aling was still timid, standing close to her sister, but couldn't help stealing glances at Xu Changqing.

Chen Ergou was wrapped in a slightly oversized coarse cloth Taoist robe. His body was hunched over, and his eyes were still somewhat unfocused, but much clearer than before. His face showed a mixture of bewilderment and gratitude for surviving a calamity.

"Since you have entered my Qingyang Temple, or are staying here temporarily, you are considered to have a connection with the temple." Xu Changqing spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

He paused, and seeing that they were all listening intently, he continued, "I have summoned you here today to teach you a method for nourishing and tempering your body. This method originates from the Seven Fiends Path and is quite beneficial for strengthening muscles and bones and enhancing blood and qi. I dare not say that practicing this method will lead to immortality or enlightenment, but it will certainly strengthen your body."

Upon hearing this, Su'e's eyes shone even brighter.

Awei and Aling exchanged a glance, both seeing the expectation in each other's eyes.

Chen Ergou trembled, then knelt down with a thud, choking back tears, and said, "Immortal Master, I will never forget your great kindness! I am willing to learn, I am willing to learn!"

Xu Changqing raised his hand, and a gentle force lifted him up. "There's no need for that. The most important thing in practicing this method is perseverance; only through daily accumulation can one see results."

The group quickly agreed.

Xu Changqing said no more, sat down on the stone bench, and gestured for the others to sit around him.

He first recited a mantra in a calm tone, each word clear, which was the content of the "Seven Killings Nourishing Life Method" and its most important taboos.

He explained in great detail, from how to sense the flow of Qi and blood throughout the body, to how to coordinate breathing to guide internal energy, and then to how to visualize to calm the mind, analyzing each point in detail.

He then got up and demonstrated several guiding movements that were accompanied by the mantra. They seemed simple, but they had subtle requirements for stretching muscles and bones and promoting the flow of qi and blood.

Su'e was the most perceptive and listened attentively. Before long, she was able to adjust her breathing accordingly and try to sense the energy within her body.

Awei has a good memory. She silently repeated the formula and movements, and although it was a little stiff, there were no mistakes.

A-Ling was young and didn't understand some parts, so she stared intently at Xu Changqing's movements and secretly gestured with her little hands.

Chen Ergou was the most strained. His spirit was damaged and had not yet recovered, his memory was fragmented and his understanding was slow. He was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to memorize, refusing to miss a single word.

Xu Changqing observed everyone's situation but did not urge them. Instead, he repeatedly explained the key points and had Su'e and Awei try it themselves, offering guidance and corrections from the sidelines.

He only stopped lecturing when the sun had completely sunk behind the mountain ridge, dusk had fallen, and the lanterns under the eaves lit up one by one.

"That's all for today. You must memorize the mantra and the guiding methods, and practice them daily at midnight and noon in a quiet place without interruption. At first, you may experience a weak sensation of Qi or a feeling of soreness in your limbs, which is normal; just persevere. If you have any questions or feel unwell, you can ask me." Xu Changqing's gaze swept over the tired yet excited faces of the group. "Cultivation is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind. I hope you will all take this to heart."

The group bowed in unison and agreed.

Su'e said softly, "Master, I will definitely cultivate diligently without ceasing."

Avi, pulling her younger sister along, said, "Don't worry, Abbot, we've remembered."

Chen Ergou bowed repeatedly, expressing his deepest gratitude.

Xu Changqing nodded slightly and waved for them to disperse and rest. Su'e lagged behind, seemingly still wanting to say something.

"Master," she hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "about the marriage agreement in the underworld..."

"I have my own plans for this matter," Xu Changqing interrupted her calmly. "Now that you've entered the sect, focus on your cultivation and improve yourself. I will handle things when the time comes. Remember, only by becoming strong can you have the confidence to deal with any unforeseen events."

Su'e took a deep breath and nodded emphatically: "Disciple understands."

Watching her straight back as she turned and left, Xu Changqing's eyes flickered slightly.

This young girl is resilient and talented; if she can truly embark on the path of cultivation, her future is promising.