Chapter 10, The Difficulties of the Initial Stage

The simple and primitive tribespeople, under the same guidance, have a greater hope of entering the initial realm—this is a pattern summarized by Qing Shui. However, this does not imply that those backward tribes can thus become stronger; entering the initial realm is merely a personal cultivation, and the majority of the other tribespeople have not achieved the same. They continue to live in a primitive and backward environment

This cannot be perceived with ordinary eyes; even Tiger Boy himself cannot clearly describe how he saw it. It is merely a manifestation of a scene in a state of concentration. Tiger Boy did not contemplate; he simply "saw" it, and then gradually withdrew this perception, realizing that what he saw was himself

By observing Granny Water spinning cloth and seeing Elder Mountain dealing with furs, Tiger Boy discovered that the various items in the village were primarily processed in two ways. One method involved the villagers honestly creating items using various techniques, while the other relied on magical powers for refinement. However, the latter was destined to be a rare occurrence, as only Elder Mountain and Granny Water possessed such abilities in the entire tribe

Tiger Boy was unsure whether his eyes were still closed, yet he could vaguely see the scene within the small room. This perception then expanded, as if he had passed through the stone house to behold the entire village under the moonlight, where Panhu was seated cross-legged before the altar. Not only the village, but Tiger Boy also vaguely saw the mountains and fields beyond, the trees gently swaying in the night breeze, and the spirit owls gliding through the night sky.

Only upon entering the third realm does one begin to possess certain abilities, allowing for the crafting of items that are difficult for ordinary people to produce. It is only after reaching the fourth realm that one can refine true artifacts belonging to cultivators, and also create tools for ordinary people, completing tasks with high efficiency. However, such individuals are exceedingly rare; not only do they require exceptional talent, but they also need skilled guidance, which is precisely what is difficult to find in primitive tribes

More than a year after Granny Water summoned her clan to watch her weave, Tiger Boy should be five years old. Granny Water finally ceased this practice, and many clan members secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After more than a year of guidance, if this group of clan members still did not meet the requirements, the hope for success would be very slim.

While watching the old woman weave cloth, the tiger boy inadvertently entered the initial state of enlightenment. The old woman had also mentioned that after returning, he should carefully reflect on the feelings he experienced while watching her weave. One night, as he lay in bed, he entered this state again. His thoughts at that moment were particularly pure and tranquil. No one taught him what to do; he achieved it naturally. Thus began his unknown practice of the initial state.

The chief of the mountain tribe processes furs with much less effort than the villagers, simply placing the cleaned and intact furs on the altar to be refined and processed with the aid of magical powers. The pelts and leather he handles are not only durable and lightweight but also have a long shelf life and are not easily damaged. Huwa has seen deer or antelope hides that have been stripped of their fur, which, under the chief's skillful hands, can be split into several layers, resulting in leather that is almost as light and soft as fabric, both breathable and wear-resistant.

The Tiger Boy does this not only as taught by the Water Granny, but also as a natural response. He has been cultivating in the initial realm for a long time, almost every night naturally entering and experiencing that mysterious state. He has no conscious intention or purpose of advancing his skills, and he is unaware of how many times he has experienced this alternating sensation of movement and stillness, making it increasingly clear.

On bright nights every month, Panhu remains seated under the moonlight, and no one knows how many transformations it has undergone to reach its initial state. As a beast that has just begun to awaken its intelligence, this process is undoubtedly very lengthy. However, Li Qingshui has always been quietly observing it. One night, as dusk fell, Li Qingshui almost opened his eyes once again.

After the clan members watched the weaving of the cloth, Granny Shui merely stated that Panhu would no longer need to come, but others still had to continue observing. Of course, Panhu was no longer necessary, as it had already entered the initial realm; Granny Shui simply wanted to confirm this. In the days that followed, whenever there was a bright moonlit night, the Mountain Elder would call Panhu out and have it sit in front of the altar to cultivate.

Clarifying the community of people along Shui Guan Road, I am reminded of questions I had summarized and contemplated a long time ago

If the master were to teach the disciple and explain what the Initial Realm's Nine Transformations are, he would say that it is a process of nine stillnesses and nine movements, where through repeated cultivation, one gradually deepens their skills until they achieve a clear inner illumination, thus reaching the perfect state of the Initial Realm's Nine Transformations. However, Huwa does not understand these concepts, making it difficult for him to articulate which transformation he has reached in his cultivation of the Initial Realm. This profound experience of alternating extreme stillness and subtle dynamics is something he has been comprehending alone over the long years.

Today, the Panhu can be said to be the dominant force in the mountains and forests of this area, with no fierce beast being its match. At the same time, it has become the guardian beast of this tribe. However, this naive dog is unaware of its own prowess; it still frolics around the village with an upright posture, often being patted on the head by adults as a sign of affection and having its ears tugged and tail pulled by children in play, which brings it great joy

A barbarian tribe like Lu Village, which possesses two masters of the Five Realms, Ruo Shan and Ruo Shui, is indeed extremely rare. However, it must be noted that even if Ruo Shan and Ruo Shui exhaust all their abilities to do various things for their people and provide them with everything that was originally unattainable or very difficult to obtain, their efforts are still limited. Moreover, they are fortunate to have embarked on this path, and none of their purposes is to endlessly engage in the most arduous labor.

Fresh meat should be consumed as much as possible; if it cannot be finished in one sitting, it is then made into jerky for preservation. In reality, meat remains the most sought-after delicacy among the tribe, and apart from the few days following a successful hunt, there is rarely an excess that cannot be consumed at once. The real need for processing and preservation lies with the pelts; the skins of various animals must be carefully stripped, cleaned, degreased, and dried, as improper handling can easily lead to mold and decay.

Every time Granny Shui casts her spell like this, it greatly depletes her energy and magical power. Not to mention whether the villagers can gather that much ramie, she at least needs to wait half a month before she can continue.

This dog has surprisingly learned a new posture, with its front legs off the ground and placed between its chest and abdomen, its body upright, and its two hind legs crossed in front. This does not resemble a typical dog at all; it has learned from others in its group. The members of the group do not find it particularly strange, as the Panhu also walked upright in the past, and all of its behaviors are imitative of humans

On the other hand, its innate abilities have become increasingly powerful and more easily controlled. In the village, every day at dawn when the roosters crow, there are still occasional raptors swooping down. As long as these raptors fly low enough and close enough, Panhu can suddenly leap out and roar towards the sky, causing those raptors to become disoriented and flail their wings as they crash to the ground

Moreover, the "initial realm's challenges" are not absolute. People in a primitive and simple state find it easier to enter the initial realm, but there are prerequisites: not only must they receive correct guidance, but it is also crucial that there are no inherent differences in intelligence or physiological structure; they merely live in different environments. If it is a tribe with undeveloped intelligence, akin to wild beasts, entering the initial realm becomes exceedingly difficult.

Ajin resembles his mother, though he is not very robust. At that time, Panhu chased a hen over a cliff, letting out a roar that even startled Ajin, who was far away in the back mountain, causing him to fall from a tree. Unexpectedly, Ajin has now also entered the initial stage.

However, Huwa believes that Nanhua is very beautiful, the most attractive woman in the village aside from Granny Shui. After marrying into Lu Village, Nanhua did not face discrimination from her clan due to her figure or appearance. She is very skilled with her hands, adept at various intricate tasks, capable of crafting the finest bone needles, and the cloth she weaves is the best after the water cloth.

What shocked him was not the Panhu, but rather the sight of the Tiger Boy, who had originally been lying asleep in the stone house. On this night, the Tiger Boy unexpectedly sat up, crossing his legs in a manner reminiscent of Granny Water spinning cloth, with his hands naturally resting on his abdomen. His breathing was even and prolonged, and his entire body was in a state of extreme relaxation and tranquility

At this moment, the Tiger Boy has not yet entered the second realm, but he has already achieved the perfection of the initial realm's nine transformations, though no one is aware of it. Li Qing Shui had once been just half a step away from crossing the legendary path to ascend to the heavens, and he could be considered one of the top grandmasters in the world. He inadvertently noticed the Tiger Boy's actions, which suddenly alerted him—this child, unbeknownst to him, had already entered the initial realm of cultivation, and judging by his appearance, he might have even reached the perfection of the initial realm's nine transformations!

The Lu tribe has noticeably increased the frequency of their hunting excursions. Whenever the weather permits, Ru Shan will lead a group of tribesmen, along with their hunting dogs, to leave the village and venture into the mountains to hunt. They also take the opportunity to gather items such as kudzu vines in the wild, and each outing yields a good harvest. In recent years, the Lu tribe has raised chickens and cultivated legumes and hemp, resulting in an increase in game. Life has certainly improved compared to the past. The community can now dedicate more time and energy to other activities and exchange their products with neighboring tribes for more goods.

The tiger cub was unaware of entering a meditative state; he was either standing, watching the water grandmother weave, or lying down, preparing to sleep. This was not a conscious form of cultivation; upon entering that state, he experienced various novel sensations, prompting him to explore continuously, much like an infant opening its eyes, naturally wanting to see the world more clearly

Ajin's mother is named "Nan". Since she hails from Huahai Village, people habitually refer to her as Nan Hua. Nan Hua has very fair skin and a slender waist, but in the eyes of her tribesmen, she is not considered a particularly beautiful woman. In primitive tribes, the ideal woman is one with a large bust, a thick waist, and robust, rounded limbs, as this not only enables her to bear children but also to work effectively. This reflects the most simple and practical aesthetic values.

The Water Matriarch no longer expends magical power to weave cloth to guide her people into the initial realm. The success of two tribesmen is already a surprising achievement. In a few more years, when the current batch of children, like Lvyue and Huwawa, have grown up, another attempt can be made. At present, the potential of this group of tribesmen has been nearly fully explored. The Lu tribe is now more prosperous than ever, and the number of newborns who have not succumbed to mortality has significantly increased compared to previous years.

Uncle Zhuang and A Jin soon became treasures in Shan Ye's eyes, receiving specialized guidance. Shan Ye taught them to cultivate the initial stage of the Nine Transformations, a practice even more important than participating in the tribe's collective labor. Now, the Lu tribe's harvest of game and resources is much richer than before, and the tribe members no longer have to toil endlessly to survive as they did in the past; some can even detach from labor and still receive support.

Li Qing Shui once served as the chief administrator of the Ba State, overseeing a population of several hundred thousand tribes in the plains, and also presided over the Ba State Academy. He is undoubtedly well-informed and experienced. In those large cities where production is advanced and civilization is prosperous, despite the various means and skills possessed by the people being far more advanced, those who can enter the initial stage are less than one in a thousand

His body still sat on the bed, but his consciousness seemed to have become an independent entity, capable of perceiving the internal organs and the hair and skin. This cannot be described using ordinary vision, nor can it be said to be seeing; rather, it is a clear perception, understanding their shapes, positions, and the state accompanied by vital movements.

Grandma Shui summoned the clan members to watch the cloth weaving. Initially, this event occurred once every half month, and later it became once a month. Huwa would always go to enjoy the spectacle. The clan leader, Elder Shan, later also announced that aside from those who met Grandma Shui's specified conditions and were required to sit cross-legged to watch, everyone else was also expected to attend if they had nothing else to do. Since both Elder Shan and Grandma Shui had spoken, the clan members had to comply.

Pan Hu was not aware that this was called the Initial Illumination State, and Mountain Master could not explain it clearly to him; he could only guide him to enter this state for self-realization and cultivation. However, this dog had its own experiences; it became energetic and perceptive, sometimes even sensing surrounding objects without using its eyes, perhaps due to its sense of smell or intuition, in any case, it was difficult to describe.

If Granny Water were to know that Tiger Boy had such thoughts, she would be uncertain whether to feel happy or angry. Her skill in weaving is not an ordinary craft; merely manipulating these ramie fibers while seated requires the mastery of the Three Realms and Nine Transformations. The reason she is able to achieve such exquisite work today is not only due to her cultivation having reached the Fifth Realm, but also because weaving is something she has practiced for decades, making it second nature to her. Moreover, there are deeper mysteries involved, which is why she can guide her clan members into the Initial Realm.

Pan Hu has learned a new skill and is eager to share everything with Hu Wa, or rather, to teach Hu Wa. Unfortunately, Hu Wa cannot speak. Pan Hu often sits in front of Hu Wa in a cross-legged position, gesturing with its front legs as if trying to encourage Hu Wa to follow along, which makes Hu Wa giggle.

Even if we take a hypothetical step back, if Ruo Shan and Ruo Shui were to achieve this, providing everything that their people could enjoy in their lives, it would not differ significantly from the advanced clans on the plains. This would merely allow the tribe to temporarily escape from their primitive and simple state, and when guiding the tribe members to step into a new realm, the likelihood of success would remain equally low. Moreover, a more serious concern is that if one day Ruo Shan and Ruo Shui were no longer present, the tribe might not be able to continuously produce such figures, which would be a fatal blow to their survival.

The Tiger Boy is not aware that this is what is referred to as the perfection of the Initial Realm's Nine Transformations. In the higher Second Realm, the primary focus of cultivation is on the internal organs and bones, aiming to attain strength beyond that of ordinary individuals and to possess a robust and vigorous physique. The foundation of this lies in the ability to clearly perceive all aspects of oneself

Although the strange bird meat was no longer a lure, Pan Hu gradually understood what Mountain Master wanted him to do, which was to seek that peculiar state. On a moonlit night, as Pan Hu sat in meditation, he gradually began to enter the initial stage of cultivation spontaneously, as if a sensation was circulating within him, with every bone, every muscle, and even every strand of hair being clearly perceived. In a profound silence, he sensed the rhythm of life, and as this perception became clearer, his everyday awareness grew sharper. On a moonlit night, as Pan Hu sat in meditation, he gradually began to enter the initial stage of cultivation spontaneously, as if a sensation was circulating within him, with every bone, every muscle, and even every strand of hair being clearly perceived. In a profound silence, he sensed the rhythm of life, and as this perception became clearer, his everyday awareness grew sharper.

More than a year has passed just like that. The tribespeople in the deep mountains have a simple understanding of the concepts of years and months, only knowing that spring, summer, autumn, and winter have gone through another cycle of heaven and earth. If the mountain is increasingly satisfied with Pan Hu's cultivation, he no longer needs to give any instructions; on clear nights with moonlight, Pan Hu will automatically go to the front of the altar to sit and cultivate.

However, the more primitive and simple the tribe, the higher this proportion tends to be, as long as they are guided in the right way. This may be because their mindset and attitude are more straightforward, with fewer concerns in their hearts and less interference from worldly matters, making it easier for them to enter that state

Li Qingshui discussed this issue at the Confucian Academy in the State of Ba many years ago, referring to it as the "dilemma of the initial stage." He also predicted that the knowledge and skills mastered by people would become increasingly abundant and advanced, enabling them to accomplish many things that could previously only be achieved through supernatural powers. This is also a pattern. However, at the same time, it will become increasingly difficult for people to enter the initial stage for cultivation.

On that night, Huwa suddenly felt the energy within him stirring, a mysterious sensation that seemed to transform into an invisible force, circulating and blossoming within his body. Naturally, he sat up, feeling that this position was more comfortable, inadvertently adopting the posture of Granny Water while weaving cloth. Huwa was still in the early stages of his cultivation, and the sounds of the quiet night were clearer than ever before; this extreme clarity represented a new breakthrough.

The dog's innate abilities have become increasingly powerful and mature, and it has naturally become stronger, more agile, and more perceptive. When out hunting, it can detect prey hidden in the distance that ordinary tribespeople would not notice, and this is not solely due to its naturally excellent sense of smell. Of course, its sense of smell has also become significantly sharper than before

If that strange bird were to appear again, Pan Hu would know that he was not its match. However, for a long period thereafter, such a powerful strange bird did not appear, as that kind of encounter is indeed quite rare

Uncle Zhuang is not the biological brother of Uncle Bo and Uncle Zhong. He grew up relatively weak, and his father hoped he would be healthy and strong, so he named him "Zhuang." However, since there were already Uncle Bo and Uncle Zhong in the village, he could only be called Uncle Zhuang. As for A Jin, he is also not the strongest youth in the village. His mother, Nan Hua, came from the Flower Sea Village located beyond the cliff at the village entrance.

He then experienced a novel sensation, similar to that of Panhu. His perception became increasingly acute, allowing him to sense his own subtle movements in the silence. Whenever he felt the slightest discomfort in his posture, he would naturally adjust and relax. By the latter half of the night, he naturally fell asleep and woke up feeling particularly refreshed

This appears to be an unsolvable dilemma, yet Li Qing Shui believes it is not a significant issue. After all, human tribes must evolve towards a more civilized and prosperous era. Although those who can transcend the initial stage and become cultivators may become fewer, they will not disappear. In the future, it will depend solely on the individual's state of mind

The tiger cub, however, is unaware that he has also embarked on this path, yet he is far from reaching the realm of the Mountain Lord and the Water Grandmother. Since even he himself is oblivious, there is even less likelihood that anyone else in this world knows, including the often watchful Li Qing Shui.

The tribespeople in the wild mountains have certainly never seen a true ocean, but the large lake in the deep mountains is also referred to as the "sea." It is said that beyond the nearly bottomless cliff outside the village, there lies a large lake in the depths of the mountains. During the spring and summer seasons, the lakeside is adorned with wildflowers, and the water, due to varying depths, displays different colors under the sunlight, reflecting the layered scenery of the surrounding mountains, thus it is called the "sea of flowers"

Some raptors are quite fierce and have quick reflexes. Although they may be dazed by the roar of Panhu, they can still spiral away without falling. However, their speed is significantly affected at that moment, making them easy targets for arrows. Nevertheless, Panhu is self-aware; it understands the power of its roar and can gauge its effectiveness through the reactions of different raptors.

Li Qingshui, who had been quietly observing everything, couldn't help but nod in agreement. A tribe with fewer than 500 members possesses two experts, Ruo Shan and Ruo Shui, as well as four clan members—Bo Zhuang, Zhong Zhuang, Shu Zhuang, and A Jin—who have entered the initial stage of cultivation. Additionally, there is Pan Hu, a dog that has already awakened its intelligence. This is already quite remarkable, as the number of cultivators who have reached the initial stage exceeds one percent!

The patriarch Ruoshan was certainly greatly relieved, but he had no better way to clearly teach the Nine Transformations of the Initial Realm to Panhu. He could only allow it to cultivate and comprehend on its own, and he was uncertain about the level this dog had actually reached. If one day Panhu could step into the Second Realm, it would likely prove that it had already perfected the Nine Transformations of the Initial Realm.

Entering the initial realm of cultivation does not necessarily mean one can break through numerous levels. On the surface, the initial realm only sharpens a person's perception, while the second realm merely enhances a person's strength. The sharpness and power of a few individuals cannot bring about transformative progress for the entire tribe; the improvement in environment and living conditions they provide pales in comparison to the collective mastery and application of greater knowledge and skills by all members of the tribe

In the initial realm, Tiger Boy experiences a profound sense of tranquility, where even the faint chirping of insects is distinctly audible, and the sound of the wind rustling through the treetops in the distance outside the village is clearly discernible. This state embodies true silence; it is precisely because of this silence that one can hear clearly. However, such a state is not conducive to sleep, so Tiger Boy gradually learns to focus his mind, either choosing not to listen or to hear without truly perceiving.

The tiger cub did not ask anyone why this was the case, nor was he particularly surprised; everything seemed to him to occur naturally. He was still a child of a primitive tribe, constantly learning and growing. In his consciousness, the emergence of this state was just like a person gradually growing up, their limbs becoming stronger, and their ability to grasp things becoming more accurate and stable; it was simply a natural process.

However, it is not feasible for the village to have all the wild animal pelts processed by Chief Ruoshan; ordinary villagers still follow traditional methods for processing. Similarly, not all the fabrics in the village can be woven by Granny Shui into "water cloth"; the villagers still need to use simple looms to weave hemp and ramie cloth.

However, the efforts of Granny Water were not in vain, as two clan members successfully entered the initial realm: one was the sixteen-year-old A Jin, and the other was the eighteen-year-old Uncle Zhuang

On the high slope beside the sea of flowers lies a village, named Huahai Village. "Huahai" is neither a clan name nor a tribal designation; it is simply a geographical name indicating its origin. Many primitive tribes in the deep mountains do not have an ancestor who has left behind a clan name like the residents of Lu Village. They may even lack surnames and titles, possessing only their own names.

Different furs require different handling methods, and the tribespeople have learned simple techniques for drying and kneading. Some furs are suitable for making fur coats, which provide significant warmth during the cold seasons; while the skins of other animals are suitable for being depilated to produce either tough or soft leather. The magical abilities cultivated by Ruo Shan and Ruo Shui are not adept at refining metals from ores, yet they excel in this particular task