Mo Wenjie looked at the Black Dragon and chuckled, "Brother, you used to be a high-ranking celestial being. How could you say such a thing? You must have seen many powerful beings. People like me, who are small fry, cannot even enter your field of vision. Now that you are in trouble, you only realize the value of sincerity. When you return to your high-ranking celestial being status, your mood will be different again!"
The Black Dragon shook his head, saying, "Brother, don't mock me. At that time, I truly could be called blind with my eyes open. I know people and their faces but not their hearts. How could I have been demoted here? I admit that I lost, but I think it was worth it. To meet someone who shares the same character and interests is also rare. Now, I don't want to think about it too much; cherish the sincere affection we have gained." Before, they respected me because they feared my power, not because they genuinely respected me. But you're different; you're not afraid of my power or strength. Even if I could kill you with a single slap, you still show no fear and speak your mind as if nothing has changed - this is a true gentleman and a person of deep character. That's why I want to be your brother!
Mo Wenjie nodded as he looked at the Black Dragon, "Brother, you're also a man of character, but you just don't know how to discern people. That's why you were demoted. Although they say 'one lesson learned from a fall adds to one's wisdom,' the problem is that this was a big fall. I guess you won't easily trust others in the future. But still, I think it's better for you not to gamble with others in the future. After all, the bets they propose are definitely well-thought-out. How can you not lose when gambling without knowing the details?"
The Black Dragon chuckled at Mo Wenjie's words, "Don't worry, brother. I won't gamble with others anymore in the future. I've suffered enough losses. How could I possibly not learn my lesson?!" He added, "This time, I really know that gambling is not good. I've made up my mind to quit gambling!"
Mo Wenjie laughed heartily upon hearing this, indicating that his elder brother had indeed learned his lesson. While outright quitting gambling might be too extreme, it was not unreasonable to engage in fair betting. At the very least, there should be an equal chance of winning or losing!
The Black Dragon chuckled, "I'm not that careful, so it's better to give up gambling altogether!"
Mo Wenjie looked at the Black Dragon, not knowing how to explain this one-minded elder brother. Since he doesn't want to gamble anymore, there's no need to keep doing so. He stood up and said, "I'm going to look for medicinal materials now. Goodbye, big brother!"
The Black Dragon chuckled and nodded at Mo Wenjie, "Brother, go ahead and do your business. I'll wait for you to come back here!"
Mo Wenjie left the Black Dragon's cave and walked forward, truly remarkable. With the Inverscale of the Black Dragon on his body, all toxins and ferocious beasts he encountered along the way retreated three paces and dared not approach him. This made Mo Wenjie's journey much easier. He walked forward and indeed encountered many medicinal materials, which greatly enriched his harvest. Continuing on, Mo Wenjie suddenly saw a spiritual mushroom. As he approached it, he couldn't help but become excited. This was a rare meat spiritual mushroom that had existed for thousands of years - it was so precious!
The thousand-year-old lingzhi is a precious medicine, a rare find. It is easy to find gold, but it is hard to obtain a thousand-year-old lingzhi. It can neutralize a hundred poisons, extend longevity, enhance martial arts power, and when combined with the ten-thousand-year-old Haogu ( Polygonum multiflorum ), it can even make one attain immortality. Back then, I dreamt of traveling back to the world of wuxia novels to find a thousand-year-old lingzhi and become an immortal deity.
In fact, lingzhi is an annual epiphytic fungi that is usually harvested in summer and autumn. As it seems, the dream of obtaining a thousand-year-old lingzhi is difficult to fulfill.
In the past, some people referred to lingzhi as the "auspicious herb." Those that grow in hard places are called "jun," and those that grow in soft, moist places are called "zhi." Later on, people became accustomed to collectively calling them "lingzhi." There are many varieties of lingzhi, including Qingzhi (green), Chizhi (red), Huangzhi (yellow), Baidi (white), Heizhi (black), and Zizhi (purple).
Qingzhi (green lingzhi) has a sour taste and is non-toxic. It is used to improve hearing and vision, promote weight loss, make the skin smooth and supple, increase vitality, prevent aging, replenish liver qi, calm the mind, and cultivate a broad and forgiving heart. Consuming it regularly can make one lighter and more youthful, extend life to become an immortal, enhance memory, increase willpower, nourish tendons.
Chizhi (red lingzhi) has a bitter taste, is neutral in nature, and is non-toxic. It is used to invigorate qi and strengthen the middle qi of the heart. It enhances intelligence, sharpens the senses, and accelerates actions. Regular consumption can extend life and increase longevity.
Huangzhi (yellow lingzhi) has a sweet taste, is neutral in nature, and is non-toxic. It is used to treat five internal and external disorders of the heart and abdomen, to benefit the spleen qi, and to calm the mind.
Baidi (white lingzhi) has a pungent taste, is neutral in nature, and is non-toxic. It is used to treat coughing and difficulty breathing, to benefit the lung qi, and to clear the mouth and nose.
Heizhi (black lingzhi) is neutral in nature and non-toxic. It is used to treat urinary retention or difficulty in urination, abdominal distension, diuresis, and benefits the kidney qi. It opens nine pores, making one intelligent, sensitive, and careful. Regular consumption can make one as light as a swallow and extend life. (The picture below shows a wild small black lingzhi that I collected two years ago.)
