70: Chapter 69 Knowing Oneself When One Dies

"Although I won't be able to practice fist techniques, the Eight Brocades, or Stance Training for a long time, Internal Alchemy Meditation and Longevity Qigong will not be affected. There is no need to worry about my Lifespan."

Li Changsheng's mindset was quite good now; recovery from cancer was right before his eyes.

This was because the doctor's latest diagnostic report included re-test results for the cancer. What was originally late-stage cancer had now become early-stage symptoms.

Li Changsheng did not know what a sensation this had caused at the hospital, nor did he know what a shockwave it had sent through the medical community.

But the merit Li Changsheng had earned this time was indeed significant enough, and with the endorsement of the municipal government, he did not face much harassment.

As for late-stage cancer, there were actually cases of spontaneous remission.

For example, a late-stage lung cancer patient in Taipei, after diligently changing their diet, eating green algae and drinking water chestnut soup daily, combined with optimism and appropriate daily exercise, had a check-up a year later and found that the lung cancer tumor had shrunk.

Five years later, it had completely atrophied until it vanished entirely.

It is said that there were even cases where tumors disappeared due to COVID-19. Some people online even claimed this was using poison to fight poison?

There were even late-stage liver cancer patients who were still alive more than twenty years later.

Of course, such cases are very rare and highly coincidental, but it cannot be denied that Li Changsheng's situation had not yet reached the point of shocking the whole world; it could only be described as a novel case.

It would attract attention, but that was about it.

"After I'm discharged and attend the old man's wedding, I'll head back to my hometown."

Li Changsheng exhaled softly, though thinking about attending the old man's wedding... it felt a bit strange.

At your advanced age, while others are holding funerals, here you are, embarking on your third spring.

If the old man could still be like this at one hundred years old, Li Changsheng thought, some might even say he was living a second life.

Days in the hospital were extremely dull. The police would come by from time to time to ask about details, and city leaders would occasionally come to offer their regards.

Fortunately, with Internal Alchemy Meditation, he didn't feel restless.

Perhaps because his body was unable to move, Li Changsheng had gained quite a few insights from practicing Internal Alchemy Meditation and Longevity Qigong over the past few days, especially regarding the efficiency of the Qi circulation cycle in Internal Alchemy Meditation, which was faster than ever.

"It now takes forty minutes for one cycle, but I still cannot practice Internal Alchemy Meditation anytime and anywhere; my Realm is still not high enough!"

Li Changsheng felt a bit emotional; it was said that Daoist Master Zhang Zhishun could practice Internal Alchemy Meditation anytime and anywhere.

Moreover, that old man was also miraculous. It was said that he had predicted he would pass away at the age of 104, and as it turned out, the prophecy came true.

However, some suspected that the old man had deliberately ascended.

After all, it was said that the day before he died, the old man was still full of energy, walking freely just like any normal person, with a ruddy complexion. If not for his aged appearance, it wouldn't have been an exaggeration to call him a young man.

Some speculated that the reason he passed away so precisely was that the old man had perhaps slipped up when speaking before, and not wanting to break his word, he decided to end his own life.

Who knows, if the old man hadn't slipped up when he was young, he might have already started Cultivating to become an immortal.

Li Changsheng felt this was likely just a joke; longevity was indeed related to the old man's success in Cultivating.

But after all, the old man had also wasted a lot of time. Although he had been learning the Dao since he was a child, that era was filled with the chaos of war, and he spent most of his time busy saving people, wasting a lot of time.

Furthermore, in that era, it was difficult to maintain proper nutrition, and sanitary conditions were abysmal, so the average life expectancy was only around sixty years.

As the saying goes, if you don't take care of yourself when you are young, you will be sick all your life when you are old, so Li Changsheng felt that the old man's ascension at 104 was quite reasonable.

In fact, some also say that longevity stems from genetics. Li Changsheng did not deny this, but it was extremely rare for someone to be like Daoist Master Zhang Zhishun right before death.

It was just like the legendary Daoist and Buddhist masters who knew when they would ascend and appeared no different from ordinary people before death.

"However, don't I also know when I will pass away?"

Glancing at his own Lifespan, Li Changsheng's state of mind was very peaceful.

The fight against cancer has not yet succeeded; I still need to work hard for longevity!

"I have now completed the Foundation Establishment. The next step is to continuously circulate the cycle, making all the meridians and acupoints in my body smoother, until I reach the point of opening the Ren and Du Meridians."

But this process requires a gradual approach and cannot be rushed.

Li Changsheng pondered slightly, "After attending the old man's wedding, I will return to my hometown. The air there is fresher and more peaceful, which might allow my Internal Alchemy Meditation and Longevity Qigong to progress further."

Li Changsheng's hometown was in Chu Province, also known as E Province.

However, it wasn't in the city, but in a very small village, and ten li away was the foot of Wudang Mountain.

Li Changsheng did not have a deep impression of his hometown. When he was young, his grandmother was still teaching at the university, and he had always lived in the school with her.

After Li Changsheng went out to work, his grandmother retired and returned to their rural hometown.

He remembered that in previous years, when he went back every year, health preservation was particularly popular in his rural hometown because of the Daoist masters on the mountain.

But in the last two years, the old men and women had become obsessed with square dancing. His grandmother had the character of an intellectual and didn't really like that sort of thing.

But gradually, she also got hooked. Li Changsheng felt there was nothing wrong with that; after all, the old men and women in his hometown didn't disturb the public, and it was a good thing for them to get some exercise.

After staying in the hospital for nearly two weeks, Li Changsheng finally discharged himself, leaning on a cane.

He was afraid that if he didn't get discharged, his body would fall apart. He didn't have to pay a single cent for the hospitalization fees; the city covered it all.

He had a meal at the old man's house. It was called a wedding banquet, but it was actually just the old man inviting a few familiar friends to get together.

He also saw the old man's new wife—a woman with an ordinary, dependable look who was indeed young.

Standing together, some might even believe they were grandfather and granddaughter.

However, Li Changsheng did not see the old man's son. Upon asking, he found out that the man was abroad and hadn't returned.

He figured it was probably because of embarrassment; Li Changsheng didn't think too much about it.

After all, with his own father at such an advanced age, remarrying and having a stepmother younger than himself—who wouldn't feel awkward about that?

"Little Li, you say you want to go back to your hometown; this is a good thing. You have seen the bustling world. Now that you have started to Cultivate with focus, it is good to practice martial arts and settle your mind."

After seeing off the other guests, the old man, somewhat tipsy, pulled Li Changsheng into a side study.

"I originally intended to take you as my apprentice, but after I go abroad this time, I may not be able to return for a short while. We won't establish a master-apprentice relationship then. You have good talent and strong learning ability; I believe that even if you encounter things you don't understand, you will be able to solve them quickly. Of course, you can also ask me on WeChat; I am always online."

A slightly tipsy Zhang Youdao was clearly talking much more.

Li Changsheng hadn't drunk any alcohol, but he also felt a bit sad.

The old man had helped him a lot, but he hadn't helped the old man with anything, and he had even killed the old man's apprentice.

"Old man, you too. You must remember to take care of yourself when you go abroad," Li Changsheng sighed.

"Hehe, you don't need to worry about me; my wife can take good care of me."

As he said this, Old Man Zhang chuckled again.

"By the way, I've had a word with Old Cao. In the future, if you need any wild medicinal herbs in your hometown, just contact him directly on WeChat, and he will mail them to you directly."

The old man's words solved a concern for Li Changsheng.

Just then, as the old man was speaking, he took a yellowed, old little notebook from the bookshelf and placed it in front of Li Changsheng.

"This is my life's work. Keep it safe and practice according to the methods in it every day."

?

Li Changsheng suspiciously picked up the notebook and flipped through it, "Old man, what is this?"

"Hehe, you are still young and perhaps don't know the value of this thing. Read it carefully, practice it every day, and after you turn sixty, you will know the mystery within!"

As he said this, the old man revealed a smile that all men would understand.