The Taoist ancestor is Cthulhu

'Li Fan's mood greatly improved by 1 point.'

"You can continue to stay here." Fuling led Li Fan into a small building, to a Zen room that was tidied up, fresh, and clean. Inside the room, an incense burner made of purple gold held burning sandalwood, with its curling plumes of smoke winding about, creating a calm and spirit-soothing ambiance once seated within.

'Li Fan's mood improved by 1 point.'

"The serving boy from before was a true disciple personally sought out by the young lady—the training was quite meticulous. It's just unfortunate that, in the end, fate cannot be forced..."

Li Fan also understood the implication and said with a solemn nod, "Thank you for the reminder, sister. I'll make sure not to worry the fairy."

Fuling looked at Li Fan, "…That's not what I meant either. The young lady is a true cultivator who has been following the Dao for a long time. Since she seeks to defy the heavens and change her fate, what does she not perceive about life and death?

I'm worried about you. The one she previously taught was a girl, and their day-to-day interactions were quite casual without adhering too much to minor details. I fear that the young lady isn't aware that as a woman, such unrestrained behavior might be too much; she acts spontaneously, with the Dao coming naturally to her. But to a lesser or greater extent, I'm afraid it might affect your state of mind."

No problem, no problem. Just keep it coming. You all have a significantly positive effect on my mental health!

'Xuantian Sword Intent reminds the host to stay in control!'

Shut it! I'm battle-hardened! What's this little squall to me! Let the storm come even harder!

'Li Fan's mood decreased by 1 point.'

"In any case, if you find anything inconvenient about living here at Wangshu Residence in the future, just tell me, Qingyue," Fuling with a flip of her wrist revealed a Shuangyu jade pendant in her palm, "Inside this storage pendant, I've already placed three sets of Daoist robes, everyday clothes, and ritual garments, as well as Qi-nourishing and blood-replenishing elixirs, life-saving and hunger-relieving medicinal herbs, paper money, cinnabar, gold, and silver spirit stones, all stored away. Any other miscellaneous items can be directly stored inside; there's no need to stuff everything into your clothes."

Oh! Storage space! This is a magical treasure!

"Thank you, sister!" Li Fan accepted it excitedly, and fiddled with it in his hands for a while… "How do I use it?"

"Hmm? Aren't you an acolyte? Just channel a breath of Daoist energy."

Li Fan scratched his head, "Well, sister, I only arrived from the mortal realm tonight. What is Daoist energy?"

"Oh, you came tonight... Huh?" Fuling suddenly looked astonished, "Tonight? You only arrived from the mortal realm tonight? The mortal realm!? You've cultivated Qi in just one night?"

Isn't Qi cultivation the most basic level? How come cultivating Qi overnight is also something to show off here?

'Xuantian Sword Intent believes the host's aptitude is indeed decent.'

Well… The standards of Xuantian Sword Intent are quite high; it seems I, Li Fan, truly am a cultivation prodigy…

And Fuling, with an expression of disbelief, reached out towards Li Fan.

Ah, I'm used to it. Go ahead and touch.

'Li Fan's mood improved by 1 point.'

"You've really generated a Qi Sea!" Fuling was equally shocked, yet more specific in her astonishment, "I've been taken in by the young lady since I could remember, and it took me ten years just to feel the Qi and carve out an inner realm. You did it in just one night!"

To be precise, it was about a hundred seconds sitting on the meditation cushion.

But still better not to say it so precisely. Judging from Fuling's expression, it already belonged to the 'mood decreased by a point' category.

Fuling spoke with a conflicted expression, "Daoist energy is the true Qi that you accumulate when you refine and ingest the spiritual energy from the heavens and the earth during your daily cultivation. This energy is mixed with the five elements and is impure, depending on the quality of the spiritual Qi you directly absorb from the environment. Within Bamboo Mountain's cavern abode, there's no need to worry, but if you were to cultivate in the mortal realm, many impurities would be mingled with it.

If you don't refine it and instead use this true Qi directly over time, it will actually clog your meridians and energy orifices. That's precisely why those scattered practitioners and followers of Zuodao who can't obtain the true cultivation methods in the mortal realm are unable to achieve the genuine fruit of an immortal.

Refining Qi, on the other hand, involves using various sects' cultivation methods within postnatal immortal Dao to purify this breath of true Qi and convert it into more pure superior five elements' Daoist energies like Divine Force, Purple Mist, Xuanming, Red Fiend, and Returning to Dust. Only then can it be used for higher-level divine abilities, body refining, foundation building, object manipulation, and spellcasting.

For a spatial magical treasure like a storage pendant, some custom-made high-quality ones require the cultivation of specific attributes and concentrations of true Qi using special formulas to be accessed. However, the one I've given you is just an ordinary spirit treasure; even without refined true Qi, it can be activated simply by using the Daoist energy within your body. Of course, its space is limited, and since anyone can use it, it's better not to store any precious rare treasures inside."

"Since you could open up an inner realm in just one night, just utilize the true Qi from your inner realm. That should be quite simple for you," she ended, still somewhat incredulous and seemingly testing Li Fan, deliberately leaving out clear instructions.

However, Li Fan had more than one trick up his sleeve.

With a single breath, he felt a clear throb at the articulation where his right arm connected to the base of his thumb, as if a fish were swimming up against the flow of his meridians within his arm, following the river-like gaps within his body, circling around his lower abdomen, and then returning along the same path back to the hiding spot in his wrist.

Li Fan wasn't foolish and immediately understood that this was guidance from Xuantian Sword Intent—and quite literally straightening out his meridians, tracing the entire route of Qi circulation. Instantly, he gathered the Daoist energy from his inner realm along that path and grasped the Shuangyu jade pendant.

Immediately, Li Fan's mind cleared, as if he was looking into a space similar to a system. With just a thought, he stored the scriptures in his arms and the pearls given by the sect leader into the jade pendant and then casually took out a set of Daoist robes to wear.

"It's actually quite simple. Thank you for the guidance, sister."

Another monster! Fuling rolled her eyes and, in exasperation, covered her face and walked away.