Chapter Six: Teng Yun

  If one were to speak of fame, Xu Xian's name is now renowned throughout the land, and among scholars, he is considered "known by all, recognized by all". But as for the original Xu Xian, Bai Suzhen had exhausted her mind and even spent her powers. It only made him a famous doctor in Suzhou City!

  If it's about wealth, everyone knows that Mr. Xu and the richest man in Jiangnan have business dealings, not to mention making a fortune every day, they are already wealthy and prosperous. The original Bai Suzhen needed hundreds of taels of silver and still had to rely on Xiaoqing to steal money from the treasury. The Taoist concept of turning stones into gold is just an illusion.

  If it's about power, Xu Xian paid homage to the governor of Hangzhou and got acquainted with Pan Jinlian's son. Even if someone were to casually pull Xu Xian, it wouldn't be within Bai Suzhen's power!

  If one speaks of beauty, the number one talented woman in Jiangnan, Cai Feng, the former leader of the courtesans, and now Yunyan's wife, were both taken in by him. Bai Suzhen just saw that not only was Yunyan an absolute beauty, but also that maid Qing Luan, although still a bit immature, was also a beautiful woman. Xu Xian has two beauties to himself, I wonder how carefree he is!

  It can be said that for Xu Xian, the worldly pleasures were almost enough, even if not fully enjoyed. But higher things are not what Bai Suzhen can provide either. Magic is mysterious, but it's not omnipotent.

  Bai Suzhen sighed: "I really don't know what you want, so I came to ask specifically." After speaking, a pair of autumn pupils full of hope looked at Xu Xian.

  Xu Xian said: "Then teach me how to fly in the air, this is what I want to learn, I don't know if it counts as letting you repay my kindness!"

  Bai Suzhen's face turned red as she thought of that time when she carried him back. She just nodded and said, "I suppose so!"

  Xu Xian was overjoyed and said: "Then let's go out, find a mountain or something, you teach me, and I'll jump down afterwards!"

  "You'll die from a fall!" Bai Suzhen said angrily. "It's not that easy to learn!"

  Xu Xian burst out laughing and said: "You can't just stand there and watch!"

  Bai Suzhen angrily said: "I won't go with you!"

  Taking advantage of the spring day, they had a good chat and laugh together, both feeling carefree. Although Bai Suzhen also knew many flower spirits and water demons during her cultivation in the mountains, they all called her sister and were under her protection. She liked these younger sisters, but didn't have the habit of ordering them around. It was not like this with Xu Xian, a relationship of equal friends!

  Bai Suzhen asked: "Han Wen, can you control the power of the water spirit?"

  Xu Xiandao said, "Yes!" As he spoke, he stretched out his right hand, and the power of water began to condense. In a short while, it merged into a pale blue water ball. This was not real water, but rather the physical manifestation of the extremely condensed power of water.

  Bai Suzhen exclaimed: "You should be of the Water element, I am too!" As she spoke, she reached out her hand to take over the water ball from Xu Xian's hand. If not for extremely high cultivation, it would be absolutely impossible to do this, because what they were exchanging was not real water, but energy.

  "Bai Suzhen smiled and said: 'Then I'll teach you the art of riding the clouds and mist, but you must study it with a sincere heart!' Her smile was like spring breeze, her voice like flowing water. Although she was advising him, it made people who heard her feel intoxicated and unable to refuse any of her requests."

  Xu Xian immediately said, "Good!" If Bai Suzhen puts on a suit and touches Xu Xian's head, saying "well-behaved", it's almost no different from a kindergarten teacher. It is said that this is the highest state of being a teacher, teaching all students to become "young children"!

  Clouds gather to form fog, nothing surpasses the dragon. There was a saying that dragons spit out clouds and ride on them, also there is a saying that clouds come from dragons, and dragons can only rise into the air with clouds. Sometimes it's heard that in the north border, a dragon fell into a village, its movements were heavy and clumsy. Entering a household, it could only fit its body inside. Outside the door was a pool of stored water, shallow and not even a foot deep. The dragon entered, turning and twisting within it, its body covered in mud. With great effort, it jumped up, but fell back down after just over a foot. For three days, its body was stuck in the mud, its scales covered in flies. Suddenly one day, heavy rain poured down, thunder and lightning raged on, the dragon rose into the air and left.

  This dragon may have been injured and cannot collect water to rise to the clouds on its own, it has to wait for the heavens to bestow favor before it can get water and fly. It can be seen that dragons do not fly out of thin air, nor can they fly without clouds. Next in rank to the dragon is the snake, which can also ride the clouds and drive the mist. As the saying goes: "The soaring snake rides the mist, but ultimately becomes dust."

  Bai Suzhen was a white snake who had cultivated for thousands of years and was extremely familiar with the magical arts of cloud-stepping and fog-riding. She was about to explain the subtleties of this art to Xu Xian, but first, she began by explaining the various methods of flight.

  One of them is the Wind Riding, with Liezi being the most famous. It's said that Liezi rode the wind for a thousand miles in one day. This technique takes advantage of the convenience of wind and thunder, making it extremely fast. However, it's not easy to control, and when flying high, it's easily affected by the heavenly winds. Nowadays, cultivators are also not suitable to fly too low, lest they be seen by ordinary people, so this technique is rarely used now. Those who use it are mostly demonic creatures, conjuring up a gust of demonic wind or something like that.

  Then there is the movement of light, which also requires a certain level of cultivation. Some innate spiritual objects are good at this, but it's not very elegant to rush around like wolves and pigs, and others will only see a streak of yellow light.

  Finally, it's the Cloud Ascension, which can be considered the most widely used method. It is convenient, visually pleasing, and the depth of cultivation is not slower than the previous two!

  There are also some who rely on escape methods, treasure, and mounts to fly in the air, which is too numerous to mention. For example, sword immortals ride swords, which is equivalent to relying on treasures to fly.

  Bai Suzhen explained: "This cloud-driving technique, from the most basic white clouds to yellow clouds, and then there are three-colored auspicious clouds, five-colored auspicious clouds, seven-colored auspicious clouds! When cultivated to a deeper level, not only can one fly in the air, but also control enemies."

  Xu Xian curiously asked: "What about Su Zhen now? Is she three-colored or five-colored?"

  Bai Suzhen said with embarrassment: "I haven't specifically practiced the art of driving clouds, and now I'm still a white cloud. The auspicious clouds are all divine methods, and I'm just a demon!" She also felt somewhat downcast at this point. Nowadays, the methods that have been passed down are all derived from the Taoist and Buddhist traditions. Whether it's the founder of Taoism or the Buddha, they were both human. With a demon body practicing human methods, naturally, she couldn't get very far.

  It is said that the dragon clan has passed down a more profound and mysterious method, which is most suitable for the cultivation of monsters. For the snake class closest to the dragon, it is even more suitable. In ancient times, the candle dragon and the python were both snake classes, but they had the divine power to split mountains and open stones. It can be said that in the ancient times, the strongest monsters were basically all snake classes. But now, only the most basic methods of condensing internal elixir and transforming shapes are left, and those more profound methods can no longer be learned.

  Xu Xian comforted: "Even if it's a celestial immortal, how can it compare to you in the slightest!" These words were truly heartfelt and sincere, without any falsehood. Would a celestial immortal speak so gently to oneself, teaching one spells? Standing on cloud heads waiting for worship is more likely!

  Bai Suzhen felt comforted by his words and was also delighted in her heart. These thoughts, these sorrows, she couldn't express even when facing Xiao Qing. Because at that time she had to be a sister, taking good care of her dependent younger sister. Now, being with Xu Xian as friends, she could finally say things she wouldn't normally say out loud.

  Xu Xian learned the art of riding on clouds, first by simply gathering cloud energy, and then slowly letting the cloud energy spread throughout his body.

  In the courtyard, clouds and mist rose, white smoke fluttered. Xu Xian stood in the midst of the cloud, feeling his body being lifted, slowly becoming lighter. But wanting to leave the ground, he always felt a little short. Wanting to leave but unable to leave, he could only lightly touch the ground.

  Bai Suzhen gazed at him in surprise, but didn't hold out too much hope. After all, it seemed like just a tiny bit, but in reality, even ordinary cultivators might not be able to achieve that in several months.

  She didn't know that Xu Xian's Stellar Pointing Method was like a demon's inner elixir. These days, he had been constantly absorbing the power of the water spirit, filling this water star. It made him seem to possess an innate ability to control water, unlike ordinary cultivators who relied on spiritual energy to gather and condense cloud qi.

  In Xuxian's divine soul, the main star of the sun was constantly emitting light and heat, with golden rays illuminating the entire soul. The pale blue water star revolved silently around this golden light ball, looking unremarkable. However, when Xuxian manipulated the power of the water star, it shone with dazzling blue light, even in this golden ocean, it could not be overwhelmed.

  Xu Xian's heart moved, and he waved his hand in the direction of the room. The water spirit pearl that Longwang had given him floated out and gently fell onto the water. Bai Suzhen clearly felt the power contained within this pearl. The owner of this pearl felt that it was more powerful than her own existence.

  Just then, dark clouds filled the sky, and it seemed that another spring rain was about to fall, with a hint of moisture in the air. Xu Xian immediately felt his water star shining brighter again. The aquatic spiritual energy in the air fluttered restlessly, and even the light from the water spirit pearl in his hand became more dazzling.

  White clouds condensed but did not disperse, like a large cluster of cotton. Xu Xian closed his eyes quietly, completely relaxing his body, but his spirit was more concentrated than ever before.

  Finally, Xu Xian felt his feet leave the ground. He slowly opened his eyes, raised his right hand and gazed at the water spirit pearl in his palm. A faint blue light shone from his eyes, and a gentle smile spread across his face. His hairpin had long since fallen off, and his long hair flowed in the cloud mist. He silently lifted his head to gaze up at the sky shrouded in dark clouds, as if he would soar into the air on the clouds at any moment.

  This is just ordinary cloud energy cultivation, and Bai Suzhen thought that as long as she made a move, there would be such results. However, looking at Xu Xian who was undulating in the cloud mass at this moment, another inexplicable emotion surged up in her heart. This man seemed to be born to stand on the clouds, just like gazing at the water spirit bead in his hand, he gazed at the mortal beings on earth. It's just that it's unknown whether it's because of obsession or infatuation, that he sank into the world and couldn't escape.

  The cloud cluster rose high, all the way to the treetops. Xu Xian carefully savored the feeling of weightlessness, a sensation that even the most powerful people in the world couldn't experience. He looked around and stretched out his hand to touch the stone beast at the corner of the eaves. He wanted to rise higher, so he could see the entire city of Hangzhou.

  "Brother!" Qing Luan's sudden cry made Xu Xian's heart skip a beat, the light from the Water Spirit Pearl dimmed, and the cloud dispersed, causing him to fall from the sky. His body was still mortal at this time, and he landed on the ground with a thud, probably about to lose his soul.

  He had barely registered his surprise when he felt himself falling into another warm white embrace. Bai Suzhen was watching over him carefully, making sure he didn't actually hit the ground.

  Xu Xian was overjoyed in his heart, and this Cloud Soaring and Fog Driving technique could be considered mastered.