Chapter 179: The Spirit Return Pill Great Supplement Technique
The dragon qilin dove into the lake, stirring up waves and wreaking havoc. On the lake's surface, the Daoist hurried over, clutching a horsetail whisk. He shook it toward the water, and countless whisk strands spread out like a massive fishing net, casting down to trap the dragon qilin beneath the surface.
Boom.
The lake trembled violently. The Daoist grunted, the whisk in his hand exploding until only the handle remained. Realizing he was no match for this dragon qilin, he immediately turned and fled, shouting, "Demons! You dare bathe in the imperial Jade Dragon Lake and still strike me? Wait for your heads to roll!"
Not long after, the scholars of the Imperial Academy filed out of the Pure Yang Hall and headed toward the Scholar's Residence. Today's lesson in the Pure Yang Hall was taught by Lingyun Daoist of the Azure Cloud Hall, who instructed on the art of refining Qi. Lingyun Daoist was renowned for his profound cultivation, having refined his primordial energy to the level of pure Yang.
Before the many scholars could return to the Scholar's Residence, they suddenly stopped in their tracks, turning back in shock, frozen in place.
They saw a red fish of unimaginable size flying through the air. The fish bore red scales and had dragon horns on its head. Having absorbed the Nine Dragon Qi of this place over many years, its head had partially transformed into a dragon-like form, half-fish and half-dragon, with a mouth full of sharp teeth, extremely ferocious.
But at this moment, the massive fish was bound by several strands of primordial energy, unable to move. A gust of demonic wind carried the great fish straight toward the Scholar's Residence, leaving the scholars staring wide-eyed.
Behind this great fish was an even larger dragon qilin, shaking water from its body as it ran. A white fox stood atop the dragon qilin's head, stirring up demonic wind to lift the great fish.
The dragon qilin, with the fox, roared into the Scholar's Residence, then threw the great fish with a thud into Doctor Qin's courtyard. The little fox slipped into the yard and closed the door.
One scholar murmured, "That fish... it seems to be one of the few fish kings of Jade Dragon Lake, called the Red Dragon Carp. It's an imperial dish the Emperor serves at the New Year's banquet for civil and military officials..."
Another scholar, equally dazed, muttered, "My old man was honored by the Emperor last year to taste a bit of fish soup at the Imperial Dragon Banquet. He praised it endlessly and still tells me it's a delicacy of the mortal world... but that Red Dragon Carp was only about a foot long. This one..."
Before the other scholars could come to their senses, they saw Qin Mu's door open again. The white fox slipped out, looked around, then ran to a mulberry tree. It spat out a gust of demonic wind, felling the tree, then transformed the wind into several curved blades, chopping the tree into firewood before sending it back to the yard.
The little fox made several trips, moving the tree trunk back into the yard as well. Soon, thick smoke billowed from Qin Mu's courtyard, clearly indicating that the little fox and the dragon qilin were lighting a fire to roast the fish.
The scholars exchanged glances. Qu Ting murmured, "That was the Tree of Advancement planted by the Azure Mountain Elder of the Azure Sun Hall, the Imperial Academy's supervisor. It was planted to encourage scholars to strive for learning..."
Before long, a delicious aroma filled the Scholar's Residence.
The scholars drooled heavily, looking at each other. This outcast from the Great Ruins had brought a fox and a dragon qilin that killed the fish king of Jade Dragon Lake—the Emperor's drinking water source—cut down the Tree of Advancement planted by Azure Mountain Elder, and then lit a fire to roast the fish?
Was this reckless disregard for life a prelude to rebellion?
"Master, how does it taste?"
From Qin Mu's courtyard came the conversation between the youth and the fox. Qin Mu's voice said, "Not bad, but it's not marinated, so it's a bit lacking in flavor. Fish meat is best marinated for a whole day and night to make it crispy and tender. This fish is huge—where did it come from?"
"From the lake."
"I see. I once fished by the lake with the Grand Sacrificial Officer and saw a few big red fish, but we only caught a Nine Dragon Crucian, very small, though the soup was delicious. Using mulberry wood to roast the fish is great—it gives a sweet and sour fruity taste of mulberries."
...
The scholars in the Scholar's Residence all wore smug expressions. Qu Ting chuckled softly, "Doctor Qin, you're dead meat!"
In the courtyard, Qin Mu turned a thick wooden stake, rotating the Red Dragon Carp over the roaring flames. The dragon qilin controlled the fire, managing the heat of the mulberry wood to roast the great fish until it was crispy on the outside and tender inside.
The dragon qilin directed the fire, allowing the heat to penetrate the fish's flesh and bones. The mulberry wood was green mulberry, carrying moisture, so there was some smoke. Fox Ling'er controlled the wind, letting a bit of smoke seep into the fish meat.
They also stuffed many mulberry leaves, scallions, and ginger into the fish's belly. The belly was full of tender fish oil, which sizzled and dripped into the fire as it roasted. The green smoke from the burning fish oil was mouthwateringly fragrant.
When the whole fish was cooked, Fox Ling'er immediately used her wind-blade curved knives to cut the belly meat, the fattiest and most delicious part.
Her knife skills were excellent; each slice of fish was cut perfectly. At the same time, she controlled a plate, letting each slice land neatly on it. Every slice was crystal clear, like soft, creamy white jade.
Qin Mu adjusted the fire, letting it die down a bit. Then the one human, one fox, and one dragon qilin sat by the fire, eating the roasted fish.
Qin Mu's heart stirred. He recalled a strange technique from the Great Cultivation Demon Scripture called the Spirit Return Pill Great Supplement Technique. He immediately activated his primordial energy, running this technique to accelerate digestion. Soon, his stomach was empty again, and he kept eating, circling the campfire and devouring the roasted fish.
The technique had an odd name and an even odder method.
The Spirit Return Pill Great Supplement Technique was primarily cultivated through eating.
This technique could transform what was eaten into either bodily energy or primordial energy, strengthening bones and muscles and enhancing cultivation, hence the name Spirit Return Pill Great Supplement Technique.
Qin Mu was now thin and weak, needing to recover the physical losses of this period. With this absurdly large roasted fish before him, he could use this technique to greatly nourish his body.
This fish was a mutant after all, having lived for years in the Imperial Academy, absorbing the Nine Dragon Qi. It was both delicious and nourishing. Qin Mu, with his depleted body, activated this strange technique and felt the food quickly turn into nutrients absorbed by his limbs and bones.
His shriveled muscles slowly began to swell. Though the growth was slow, Qin Mu estimated that finishing this two-to-three-zhang-long fish would restore his muscles.
Fox Ling'er couldn't eat anymore. The dragon qilin, accustomed to Red Fire Spirit Pills, found the fish unappealing and stopped after a few bites. Only Qin Mu remained, feasting heartily.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Fox Ling'er, her belly round and full, waddled over to open it. Wei Yong walked in, sniffing the air, and laughed, "It's lunchtime, and I smelled something delicious coming from Brother Qin's place, so I came to beg a meal... Whoa, has the stone dragon lion at the mountain gate come to life? Little fox, how did you get fatter than me?"
Fox Ling'er snorted.
Wei Yong then saw Qin Mu sitting by the fire and was even more shocked. He blurted out, "Little fox, have you been draining Brother Qin dry? How did he get so thin?"
Fox Ling'er was both angry and anxious: "I haven't drained him yet! Don't talk nonsense!"
"Then who did it?"
Wei Yong looked puzzled and said, "I knew there was trouble when Brother Qin asked about brothels as soon as he entered the city. Sure enough, his body couldn't handle it, right?"
Qin Mu was amused and exasperated, inviting him to sit down.
Wei Yong didn't stand on ceremony. He tore off a large piece of fish and took a bite. It was so smooth it nearly slid his tongue down his throat. Delighted, he praised it and said in a muffled voice, "You haven't attended lectures for months. Several of the Imperial Academy supervisors are displeased, saying that a Doctor of the Academy who doesn't study is useless and that the Emperor shouldn't have promoted you. By the way, what happened to you? How did you get so thin?"
"I made a mistake in my cultivation and nearly lost my life."
Qin Mu said, "Fortunately, I caught it in time, and I'm recovering now."
Wei Yong laughed, "You've got guts, messing around with cultivation like that. I'm now a full scholar of the Imperial Academy and have some standing in the Duke's mansion. What pills do you need? I'll get them from the mansion to help you recover."
Qin Mu shook his head, "Once I finish this fish, my body will be restored. I won't need any spirit pills."
"Did you know? Ba Shan Sacrificial Officer and Grand Sacrificial Officer Gu got into a fight. They fought outside the capital, bloody and battered, and even the Emperor was alarmed."
Wei Yong belched and continued, "My old man went to mediate, along with other top officials, and they finally calmed them down. I went out to inquire just now and heard the Emperor called them both in for a harsh reprimand. After getting the news, I came back here to bum a meal. Before you returned, Ba Shan Sacrificial Officer found me and said he wanted to take me out for training. I reckon..."
"Brother Wei, no talking while eating."
Soon, the round, chubby youth had grown another circle, unable to eat more. Yet Qin Mu was still devouring meat, and the fish pieces entering his stomach didn't make his belly bulge.
Wei Yong was astonished. When he saw Qin Mu's dry, thin body inflating like a balloon, with muscles forming at a touch, he was even more amazed.
By the time the great fish was finished, leaving only a three-zhang-long skeleton, Qin Mu's body had fully recovered, looking even stronger than before, making Wei Yong envious.
"Where can I buy such delicious fish?"
Wei Yong's mouth watered, but he couldn't eat anymore. He asked, "I've never seen such a big fish in the capital's markets, nor tasted anything so good. I must buy a few for a private feast!"
Qin Mu said casually, "It was caught from Jade Dragon Lake."
Wei Yong's eyes widened. He quickly asked, "Which Jade Dragon Lake?"
"The one at our Imperial Academy."
Wei Yong shuddered and stammered, "Our Imperial Academy's Jade Dragon Lake? That fish was one of the fish kings from Jade Dragon Lake?"
Qin Mu looked at Fox Ling'er, who nodded and said, "I had Long Da catch the biggest one, and this was the largest."
Wei Yong's face turned ashen. He noticed the scattered mulberry leaves and branches all over the yard and trembled, "I just saw that the Tree of Advancement in the Scholar's Residence is nothing but a stump. Don't tell me..."
"That big mulberry tree is called the Tree of Advancement?"
Fox Ling'er said in surprise, "Trees have names too?"
Wei Yong's face was pale. He wobbled toward the door, muttering in a daze, "Cutting down the Tree of Advancement to roast the fish king of Jade Dragon Lake... no number of heads would be enough for the Emperor to chop off. I was never here, never here..."
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