Chapter 3, The Suffering of Illusory Cultivation

The sound of laughter, tinged with mockery, caused Lin Xuan to slightly furrow his brows, yet he remained completely composed on the surface. In the eyes of mortals, cultivators possess an ethereal demeanor and profound magical abilities, akin to deities untouched by the mundane world; however, this is merely a facade.

Soon, the person was frozen stiff, and Lin Xuan's hair had turned into icicles. Yet, he remained motionless, sitting in the snow for over twenty minutes. Only after that did he run out of the illusion to rest for a while and move his body. Once he had recovered slightly, he immediately immersed himself back into his cultivation.

The spiritual energy became increasingly abundant. Lin Xuan stopped in his tracks; this is the place, he could not proceed any further. The deeper one goes into the Heart Refining Path, the more terrifying the illusions become

The disciples immediately became excited, whispering to each other in hushed tones

After completing the transcription, Lin Xuan carefully stored the notebook filled with techniques and then proceeded to the Heart Refinement Path on the back mountain. Following the passage downward, he arrived at the location where he had practiced two days prior

Two days later, Lin Xuan stood up expressionlessly, hesitated for a moment, and continued deeper into the Refining Heart Road. The purity of the spiritual energy here was still insufficient; to break through the bottleneck, he needed even purer spiritual energy. He resolutely walked towards the more terrifying illusions.

Master!

The snow soon engulfed his ankles, and in an instant, he felt as if he had been frozen stiff. Lin Xuan's heart sank; could the hallucinations change randomly? Last time, he endured the agony of being consumed by raging flames, and this time it transformed into an endless chill

Indeed, after three years, still unable to break through to the second layer of the Spirit Movement Stage, it is simply worthless

Apart from Lin Xuan, who is an ordinary person, most disciples with spiritual roots, after three years of cultivation, have practiced their techniques to the third or fourth level. Having entered the mid-stage of spiritual movement, they are already able to learn some simple minor spells

A middle-aged man walked in, appearing to be in his forties at first glance, but he was certainly older than that. As cultivators advance in their realms and enhance their skills, their lifespans are extended, and the aging process gradually slows down

Lin Xuan quietly arrived at a secluded corner with few people, sat cross-legged, and planned to take advantage of the remaining time to practice for a while longer. At that moment, a sound of footsteps reached his ears

Inside the room, there was only a table, a chair, and a wooden bed. Lin Xuan opened the drawer of the table, took out paper and pen, and recorded the cultivation method of the spiritual energy shield that he had heard today.

In the face of the mockery from his senior brothers, Lin Xuan did not even blink, maintaining his usual demeanor. They were merely a few bored individuals; he cast them a cold glance and walked to the side.

When the instructor lost his temper, all the disciples immediately fell silent

The Zhi Ying Pavilion is an imposing structure, with the Qi Training Hall alone covering several thousand square meters, serving as the training ground for disciples in the Spirit Movement stage. At this moment, dozens of individuals are faintly visible standing in the spacious hall.

This has also been his habit for the past three years, as he lacks a spiritual root and his cultivation speed cannot keep up with his peers. Therefore, after each teaching session where techniques are imparted, Lin Xuan would record what he heard. Many things cannot be cultivated at present, so he sets them aside for future study; writing them down ensures that he will not forget them.

Lin Xuan also departed, first returning to his residence, a simple wooden cabin. While high-level cultivators have their own caves, the living conditions for low-level disciples like him are quite modest

... ...

The world of cultivation is more brutal, more realistic, and more snobbish than the secular world

The cold wind howled fiercely, and the snowflakes had凝成了无数锋利的冰刀, flying towards Lin Xuan, yet the young man remained seated on the ground like a rock.

Next, Zhang Yu began to explain in detail how to operate spiritual power, including the details that needed attention. Lin Xuan listened attentively. In fact, with his current cultivation level, he was still insufficient to wield the spiritual energy shield. However, he decided to memorize the methods of cultivation clearly for now, and later, when his strength increased, he would gradually practice.

Suddenly, the scene changed; before the eyes and the books appeared a vast, white world, with thousands of miles frozen in ice and countless miles drifting in snow, as the cold wind howled fiercely

Whoever has a higher realm, better treasures, and more elixirs is the leader, and whatever they say is the truth

It is not about money here, but rather about strength as the foundation of power

Sitting cross-legged, he began to absorb the spiritual energy. After about half an hour, the sound of a bell reached their ears. The disciples, who had been casually conversing, immediately ceased their discussions and lined up in formation. Lin Xuan also joined the line at the back.

Over the course of three years, despite Lin Xuan's harder cultivation compared to others, the flaw of lacking spiritual roots still left him far behind his peers, subjecting him to cold stares.

Hmph, they are merely mortals without spiritual roots. No matter how hard they try, they can never compare to us. Rather than staying in the sect and bringing shame upon themselves, it would be better for them to sensibly descend the mountain.

It is still early, and the Foundation Establishment stage cultivator responsible for imparting the techniques has not yet arrived. The disciples gather in small groups, discussing matters of interest.

All disciples bowed and paid their respects, adhering to the customs of Floating Cloud Valley, which dictate that every instructor who imparts their skills must be addressed with such reverence

After a moment of silence, Lin Xuan sat down cross-legged on the snow, his expression unchanged, and began to absorb the spiritual energy from the surroundings

... ...

I heard that you have been in seclusion for a while, yet you still haven't broken through to the second level

"What are you arguing about? Be quiet!" Seeing the chaotic scene below, Zhang Yu's expression darkened

Hehe, isn't this Junior Brother Lin?

Not being angry is not a sign of weakness or fear, but rather an acknowledgment that a few shallow individuals are simply not worth it. Lin Xuan will not allow a few words to affect his state of mind

My name is Zhang Yu, and I will impart to you the secrets of the spiritual energy shield

The Spirit Shield, as the name suggests, is a technique that envelops the body with spiritual energy, forming a protective aura. It is the most fundamental defensive spell for cultivators.

"Alright, you can practice on your own." After Zhang Yu finished speaking, he left the Zhi Ying Pavilion. Whether or not they can master it next depends on each disciple's comprehension.