Record of Mortals Slaying Heaven

Chapter 27: Rest and Recuperation

What Shen Moqi didn't know was that by taking Manager Meng's advice and staying overnight in the market, he had just avoided a disaster that was about to strike.

In the room on the second floor, Shen Moqi sat cross-legged on the hard bed, her back ramrod straight, trying to keep her meridians relaxed. A slice of purple-leafed golden thread orchid root was held steadily beneath her tongue. The leaf carried a slightly cool, bitter aroma, and a faint medicinal fragrance spread gently down her throat. Unlike the bitterness of ordinary herbs, this fragrance was refreshing and mild, without any irritation.

He could clearly sense that the medicinal effect was extremely weak, far less potent and rapid than that of the Qi Gathering Pill, even weaker than the spiritual energy he usually absorbed from heaven and earth, almost negligible. But he dared not be careless in the slightest. He held his breath, closed his eyes, and focused all his attention on his body, carefully examining his meridians.

Through his inner vision, he could clearly see wisps of pale purple, strange energy slowly seeping out from under his tongue, flowing gently along the meridians in his throat, entering the main meridian without any haste, like a tranquil stream, eventually converging at the location of the cracks. The energy was as fine as a spider's thread, like extremely fine silk, gently wrapping around the edges of the cracks, filling the damaged parts of the meridians little by little.

The speed was almost agonizing; each breath could only shrink the crack by a barely perceptible amount. But Shen Moqi felt a sense of relief, and a hint of joy appeared in her eyes.

"It finally worked."

The weight that had been hanging over his heart for days finally lifted. Ever since his meridians were damaged, he had been living in constant fear, worried that his injuries would worsen and he would lose all chance of cultivation. Now, with the nourishing medicinal power of the Purple Leaf Golden Thread Lotus, at least the path of repair was viable.

He focused his attention on the area for another half hour, repeatedly confirming that the cracks in his meridians had not widened or caused any new damage. Even the originally sharp edges of the cracks had become slightly softer. Only then did he slowly withdraw his inner gaze, gently open his eyes, and slowly lie down.

With his meridian problems temporarily stabilized and no longer needing to worry, his tense nerves relaxed, and a wave of fatigue washed over him. But instead of falling asleep immediately, he lay in bed, gazing at the rough roof beams above him, carefully considering what to do next.

First, there's the debt of gratitude. Ji Yao lent him fifteen spirit stones without hesitation, and the Qi Gathering Pill was also a gift from Ji Yao. He must remember this favor and repay it many times over when his cultivation recovers and he has the ability.

Secondly, there's cultivation. Once his meridians are fully healed, he must completely abandon his previous eagerness for quick success and re-plan his cultivation direction. The reason he suffered such a great loss this time was ultimately because he was too impatient for quick results. Knowing that cultivating a mid-grade Yellow-level Five Elements Spiritual Root was difficult, he still tried to take shortcuts, forcibly changing his cultivation method, ultimately resulting in damaged meridians. Cultivation is a gradual process; haste makes waste. From now on, he must calm down and proceed step by step. Even if the progress is slower, he must be steady and methodical, and he must never repeat the same mistake.

Finally, it's about survival.

He recalled the scrutinizing, greedy, and even malicious looks those rogue cultivators had given him in the market earlier that day, and then he remembered Manager Meng's words, and his heart sank.

This world of cultivation is far more dangerous than he imagined. Within the sect, there are sect rules that ensure a safe haven even for those with low cultivation levels; but once outside the sect, without strength, one is like a lamb entering a tiger's den, constantly at risk of disaster. This time he was lucky to have Manager Meng kindly remind him, but what about next time? He can't rely on luck every time.

No wonder the sect stipulates that only disciples whose cultivation has reached a certain level can freely venture out; strength is the foundation of survival. However, his spiritual root aptitude is mediocre, and his meridians have just been damaged, so his strength cannot be improved in a short time. Instead of worrying about cultivation, it's better to find another path. Basic knowledge and common sense are what he can quickly improve now. The sect's scripture pavilion must contain countless records of information about the outside world, the rules of the cultivation world, the identification of spiritual herbs and demonic beasts, and methods for avoiding dangerous areas… These things may seem less direct than cultivation, but they can be lifesavers in critical moments. The more common sense he knows, the more he understands the rules of the outside world, the more confident he will be in protecting himself.

As he pondered, the fatigue and tension of the past few days overwhelmed him, and drowsiness enveloped him like a tide. Before he knew it, he had fallen into a deep sleep. This time, he did not toss and turn or wake up in the middle of the night; he slept exceptionally soundly.

When she woke up, Shen Moqi was stunned for a moment before slowly coming back to her senses.

Sunlight streamed through the wooden window covered with plain paper, casting a bright and warm glow inside. Fine dust motes floated in the air, and the sounds of the bustling market outside drifted in: the conversations of monks, the shouts of merchants, and the soft hum of magical artifacts, all blending together to create a lively atmosphere.

He raised his hand to rub his temples, then turned to look at the sky outside the window. The sun had already risen high in the sky, and the sunlight was dazzling. Calculating the time, it was almost noon, just past the hour of Si (9-11 AM).

He actually slept for so long.

Shen Moqi slowly sat up, stretched, and moved his stiff neck and limbs, his bones cracking slightly. Since transmigrating to this world of cultivation, he had been in a constant state of fear, anxiety, and desperate cultivation, his mind always on edge, terrified of being eliminated by this world. He had never slept for so long, much less so deeply. Only now, with his meridian injuries stabilized and a sense of direction restored, did that taut string relax somewhat, allowing him a moment of respite.

He closed his eyes and focused his mind, looking inward again to carefully examine the condition of his meridians.

The cracks were still there, but they had changed noticeably compared to yesterday. The edges of the cracks, which were originally jagged and sawtooth-like, had become more rounded. Although they were still fragile and could break again at the slightest touch, there was no doubt that the damage was progressing in a positive direction.

Feeling at ease, Shen Moqi got up and walked to the table. He picked up the ceramic teapot, poured himself a cup of slightly cooled tea, and slowly drank it to soothe his dry throat. After a quick wash, he carefully tucked the wooden box containing the roots of the purple-leafed golden thread lotus into his bosom, pressing it close to his heart. He then carefully checked the room again to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything before tidying his clothes and going downstairs to check out.

In the lobby on the first floor of the inn, the chubby innkeeper was sitting behind the counter, leisurely cracking sunflower seeds. A small pile of sunflower seed shells was stacked in front of the counter. When he saw Shen Moqi come downstairs, he glanced at her and smiled as he put away the jade pendant that she handed him for lodging.

Shen Moqi nodded slightly to the innkeeper, then turned and walked out of the Phoenix Perch Inn.

The market was already bustling with activity, but Shen Moqi didn't linger. He was focused on returning to his sect to continue his recuperation and collecting general knowledge from the Scripture Pavilion as soon as possible. He hurried towards the entrance of the market valley.

The journey was uneventful. The sun was shining brightly, making people feel warm. There were not many people on the path leading to the sect. Occasionally, a few cultivators would hurry along, each with their heads down, not paying any attention to each other.

---

When we arrived at the Luoxiao Sect's mountain gate, it was already afternoon. The sunlight was slightly slanting westward, casting a faint golden glow on the majestic gate. The Luoxiao Sect's mountain gate was magnificent, carved from two huge blue stones, with the three powerful characters "Luoxiao Sect" inscribed on them, exuding an ancient and dignified aura.

Shen Moqi saw the scene at the mountain gate from afar, and her steps faltered slightly as a strange feeling arose in her heart.

Two gatekeepers stood at the entrance of the guardhouse, their appearance completely different from when he saw them yesterday. Yesterday, the gatekeepers were neatly dressed, upright, and solemn, displaying the demeanor of sect disciples; but today, their clothes were disheveled. The disciple on the left had a crooked collar and a small tear in his cuff, while the disciple on the right had his belt loosely tied and his clothes crumpled, looking extremely disheveled.

What's even more noticeable is that each of them has a clear handprint on their face, swollen and red, with distinct fingerprints and the color still lingering. It's obvious they were just slapped hard not long ago. Their faces still bear the lingering bruises and fatigue, and their eyes have lost their usual energy, appearing listless and angry.

Shen Moqi was secretly puzzled, but she didn't ask any questions and slowly walked forward.

The moment he approached, the two gatekeepers looked over at the same time. In that instant, he clearly noticed a complex and strange look flash in their eyes. There was anger at being provoked, embarrassment at being seen in such a disheveled state, and an indescribable gloom and resentment. But that look was fleeting and was quickly concealed by them, and they returned to their calm demeanor.

"Token." The disciple on the left stretched out his hand, his voice hoarse and dry, carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.

Shen Moqi didn't say much, silently handing over the sect token. The disciple took the token, glanced at it casually, and didn't scrutinize him like he had yesterday, nor did he question him further. He simply asked, "Didn't I tell you to return to the sect before dark yesterday? Why are you only returning now?"

"I ran into a senior fellow disciple in the market and received guidance from him, so I stayed overnight, which is why I'm late returning," Shen Moqi answered truthfully, her tone respectful.

The disciple grunted indifferently, not delving into the matter or asking any further questions, and casually handed the token back.

Shen Moqi accepted the token, thanked him, and without lingering any longer, walked towards the Scripture Pavilion.

He had only taken a few steps when he suddenly felt a tightness in his back, and the hairs on his body stood on end. A cold, venomous gaze was fixed on his back, like the forked tongue of a viper, sending chills down his spine.

He turned around abruptly, looking warily behind him.

But behind him were only the two gatekeepers. One was looking down, irritably straightening his disheveled collar, while the other had already sat back down in the chair in the duty room, closing his eyes to rest, his face full of fatigue. Neither of them looked in his direction, as if the venomous gaze from before was just his imagination.

But Shen Moqi knew in his heart that it was no illusion. The chill and malice he felt in that instant were incredibly real, and they clearly came from the direction of the gatekeeper disciples. But when he looked closely, apart from the handprints, bruises, and exhaustion on their faces, there was no other expression on their faces, and he could not see anything unusual at all.

Shen Moqi frowned, his heart filled with doubt and confusion. He had never met these two gatekeepers before, and they had no past grievances or recent conflicts. Why would they be so hostile towards him? Could it be that they had been provoked and were now taking their anger out on him? But that reason seemed too far-fetched.

He hesitated for a moment, but he couldn't keep staring at the gatekeeper for too long, lest he cause unnecessary trouble. So he suppressed his doubts and turned to continue walking.

"I guess it's because my meridians have been damaged recently, and I'm feeling restless and suspicious." He comforted himself inwardly, but the inexplicable chill and strange feeling lingered in his mind and wouldn't go away.

---

When they returned to the Sutra Repository, there were only a few disciples reading on the first floor, and they did not see Senior Lin.

Shen Moqi took out a communication jade talisman from her bosom and infused it with a wisp of spiritual energy: "Senior, this junior has returned to the Scripture Pavilion."

The jade talisman glowed slightly, signifying that the message had been sent.

Shen Moqi put away the jade talisman and began tidying the bookshelf as usual.

But his mindset is different now.

In the past, when he used his phone to photograph books, he would also casually look at the contents, so the shooting progress was relatively slow.

Now, every time he picks up a book, he quickly flips through it and takes pictures of the contents with his phone.

This trip to the market made him realize one thing—he knew too little about this world. What were the rules of the market? Which medicinal herbs were valuable? Where were the resources? Which places were dangerous… These things should all be recorded in the books on the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion, but he hadn’t had such an urgent need to learn about them before.

He needed to gather this basic knowledge and common sense in the shortest amount of time. Not because he was eager to learn, but because he felt a faint sense of danger surrounding him—but he couldn't explain why he felt this way.

Shen Moqi continued organizing the bookshelf, photographing one book after another. The work was tedious, but patience was something he had no shortage of, since he couldn't cultivate these next few days anyway.

---

When it was time for closing time, Shen Moqi walked out of the Scripture Pavilion. The door of the Scripture Pavilion slowly closed from the inside. It seemed that Senior Lin had always been in the Scripture Pavilion, just not on the first floor. Shen Moqi was already used to this.

Back at her residence, Shen Moqi first fetched some water and washed up quickly to relieve her fatigue. Then, she sat cross-legged on the bed, focused her mind, and checked the recovery of her meridians once again.

The crack is still slowly healing, showing slight progress compared to when I checked it at the inn. The crack has also shrunk a bit. Although it is still fragile, the healing trend is very stable.

He took out the wooden box from his pocket, opened the lid, and removed the slice of root that he had been holding under his tongue earlier that day. The originally pale purple root slice had now turned a dull yellow, losing its initial luster. He brought it close to his nose, and the refreshing medicinal fragrance was so faint that it was almost imperceptible; the medicinal properties had been completely exhausted.

"The medication has worn off."

Shen Moqi murmured to herself, placed the used root into an empty bowl, and ignored it. Then she carefully took out a new slice of root from the wooden box, gently put it in her mouth, and pressed it under her tongue.

Soon, the faint, pale purple medicinal power seeped out from under the tongue again, flowing gently along the meridians and slowly reaching the damaged area, beginning a new round of nourishment and repair.

Shen Moqi closed her eyes, fully immersing herself in the gentle energy, silently calculating the recovery progress: based on the current rate of medicinal absorption and the healing of her meridians, it would take approximately four to five more days for her meridians to fully heal. The medicinal effect of one root could sustain her for one day; there were seven root pieces in the wooden box. After using one today, she had six left, more than enough to last until her meridians were fully healed.

The sky outside the window had completely darkened. Shen Moqi put away the wooden box, lit a lamp, and then, while charging her phone, picked up the "Luo Xiao Qian Yuan Sword Manual" to read. After the phone was fully charged, Shen Moqi had Xiao Jiu organize the book content photographed that day and build a database, then she fell into a deep sleep...