Chapter 5: The Method of Visualization
The ability of external demons and spirits to evoke the emotions of others is an innate talent that can be exercised from a considerable distance. Therefore, there are mainly three methods to counter this talent: first, to set up a formation to isolate the inside from the outside, but Shi Xuan does not know how to do this; second, to concentrate fully during cultivation, remaining undisturbed by distracting thoughts, in which case this method of evoking emotions will have little effect; third, to possess a magical artifact that suppresses the soul, but Shi Xuan does not have that either
Following this method, Shi Xuan subdued various thoughts in a state of emptiness, allowing them to arise and perish within the sea of consciousness without escaping their place. Gradually, Shi Xuan felt his thoughts becoming singular and focused, and he began to visualize the deities of the clear breeze and bright moon
When the Azure Dragon soared into the sky, he suddenly entered a state of emptiness and tranquility. His fists moved with his heart, his heart followed his spirit, and his spirit was in sync with his soul's thoughts. The essence, energy, spirit, and soul seemed to be closely interconnected. The feeling of being unable to grasp the essence suddenly seemed breakable. Shi Xuan concentrated all his strength, let out a loud roar, and executed a move called "Black Dragon Plays in Water," as if breaking through a barrier. At the same time, he sensed an ancient and vast aura, profound and deep, as if the water in the air could be controlled by the dragon's breath unleashed with this punch. The feeling of being unable to grasp the essence seemed suddenly breakable. Shi Xuan concentrated all his strength, let out a loud roar, and executed a move called "Black Dragon Plays in Water," as if breaking through a barrier. At the same time, he sensed an ancient and vast aura, profound and deep, as if the water in the air could be controlled by the dragon's breath unleashed with this punch.
Moreover, since Shi Xuan arrived in this world, he has always felt a sense of crisis. His own strength is insufficient to ensure his safety, so apart from eating and buying medicine, he rarely goes out. He is determined to improve his own abilities; otherwise, if he encounters any trouble outside without the corresponding strength to back him up, it would inevitably lead to frustration. This can be considered a manifestation of the aftereffects of being a transmigrator.
Due to the need to consume blood, vital energy, or the power of the soul, external demons and spirits often harm people. However, if their cultivation is insufficient, they frequently find it difficult to approach individuals with abundant vital energy. When they do get close, they are often burned by the strong vital energy, which can incinerate their yin souls, leading to their complete destruction. At the same time, external demons and spirits that have not reached the out-of-body stage often take advantage of the emotions of cultivators during their practice, provoking their inner demons, which can lead them to deviate from their path and provide an opportunity for these entities to consume the cultivators' soul power.
The Barbarian Dragon Twists the Waist, the Azure Dragon Lays Low the Waves, the Fire Dragon Burns the Sky, and the White Dragon Freezes the Sea; each move of these boxing techniques allows for a deeper physical training. However, the feeling of not grasping the essence becomes increasingly intense. For the past four months, I have been unable to overcome this hurdle, and it seems there is a pent-up frustration within me that cannot be expressed
At this moment, a surge of hot energy rose from the marrow, permeating into the internal organs. Shi Xuan was overjoyed and did not dare to be negligent. He closed his eyes to regulate his breath, guiding this hot energy through the five organs and the twelve meridians, ultimately returning it to the dantian. Only then did he close his eyes to conclude his practice, his face filled with joy, and he unexpectedly seized this opportunity to break through to the Qi Nourishing and Soul Strengthening stage.
Shi Xuan sat cross-legged on the mat, closed his eyes, and focused his mind, soon entering a state of meditation. After entering this state, he began to visualize the divine meaning of the "Clear Wind and Bright Moon Illuminating the True Spirit Method" as recorded in the "Treasure Record." In the initial attempts, he always found himself distracted halfway through, succumbing to other thoughts, leading to failure, much like an ordinary person trying to concentrate on a single task but inevitably allowing their thoughts to wander, only to awaken and return to the original point.
Although this is the case, the specially crafted calming sandalwood incense by Master Xu can also help enhance focus and slightly suppress external malevolent spirits. Therefore, overall, as long as Shi Xuan does not have distracting thoughts during his cultivation, there will be no danger. Moreover, as long as his mind is not confused, if anything seems amiss, he must immediately exit the meditation and the * diagram * book, even at the cost of injuring his soul.
Now that Shi Xuan has finally broken through to the Qi Nourishing Stage, he can be considered a formidable expert in the martial world. Coupled with his mastery of spells and talismans, he is more than capable of self-protection, which has alleviated much of the pressure he felt. Therefore, this is the perfect time for Shi Xuan to relax and rest, making it unsuitable for him to practice his skills.
In this world, after death, there is no reincarnation. If no one offers sacrifices, the soul gradually loses its memory after seven days, slowly merges into the universe after ten days, and completely dissipates after one hundred days. Only if there is a strong sense of resentment or attachment, or if one encounters a place of yin energy, can the soul stabilize and transform into a ghost. The souls of cultivators are subject to the backlash of heaven and earth; when the body dies, the soul perishes, unless one reaches the Yin Spirit stage to resist this heavenly principle. Therefore, many people perform multiple sacrifices; enjoying the offerings of a family can preserve the soul for several years. The more people who offer sacrifices, the longer the soul remains undissolved. However, unless one can comprehend the transformation of the wish power from the sacrifices into a method for their own cultivation, or encounters a place of yin energy, they can only stabilize their soul and transform into a ghost for a limited time, at most a hundred years. The souls that receive these sacrifices are collectively referred to as ghosts and deities.
Shi Xuan was not discouraged, understanding that this was a normal occurrence. He began to practice the method of focusing thoughts as described in the "Clear Wind and Bright Moon Illuminating the True Law." He imagined himself as the supreme ruler, looking down upon his myriad thoughts, which surged and ebbed, filling his entire sea of consciousness. As the ruler, he commanded these thoughts to be contained within the sea of consciousness, no longer rising and falling.
Those who harbor deep resentment and obsession gradually become shadow spirits. Their obsession is revenge, and their actions are driven by this obsession, with little awareness or clarity. Of course, there are a few who, due to their less malevolent obsession, still retain their consciousness, but their cultivation is unconscious. Generally speaking, the longer they exist, the more powerful they become. Those without consciousness, after ten years, will slowly gain wisdom. In places where one encounters yin energy, similar to the previous case, they gradually become shadow spirits. However, the difference is that they do not have a vengeful obsession; they possess consciousness and wisdom, but their cultivation lacks inheritance. Cultivation is still unconscious, and generally, the longer they exist, the more powerful they become. Those without consciousness, after ten years, will slowly gain wisdom. In places where one encounters yin energy, similar to the previous case, they gradually become shadow spirits. However, the difference is that they do not have a vengeful obsession; they possess consciousness and wisdom, but their cultivation lacks inheritance. To endure, they must consume blood or yang energy, or the power of souls. These two types, along with souls that have not perished for over a hundred days, are collectively referred to as external path spirits.
Here, it is not about extinguishing all thoughts. If all thoughts were to be extinguished, one might ultimately become a stone devoid of thought and emotion. The emphasis here is on the absolute control of the true self, elevated above, controlling these thoughts so that they no longer fluctuate, calmly observing thoughts as they arise and dissipate, yet remaining within the bounds of control. Therefore, the supreme state to be achieved here is not the "state of no thought arising in emptiness," but rather the "state of no thought occurring in emptiness." This is indeed a true teaching encapsulated in a single phrase, while false teachings may fill countless volumes. Elevated above, controlling these thoughts so that they no longer fluctuate, calmly observing thoughts as they arise and dissipate, yet remaining within the bounds of control. Thus, the supreme state to be achieved here is not the "state of no thought arising in emptiness," but rather the "state of no thought occurring in emptiness." This is indeed a true teaching encapsulated in a single phrase, while false teachings may fill countless volumes. At the same time, this is also the great path and method of recognizing the true self.
Shi Xuan had a delightful day. By evening, he had already gathered his thoughts, and his entire state reached a peak. Through a series of steps including bathing, changing clothes, lighting incense, and worshiping heaven and earth, both his mind and spirit attained a state of ethereal tranquility. Of course, once he became more skilled or achieved a higher level of cultivation in the future, he would no longer need such complex steps; often, just a breath in and out would allow him to reach this state of ethereal tranquility.
Since Shi Xuan has entered the Qi Nourishing Period, the medicinal soup and herbal baths can be discontinued. This natural transition into the Qi Nourishing Period indicates that the body has reached a certain limit at this stage; exceeding it may be detrimental. The next step is to accumulate internal Qi and transform the essence of the body, while simultaneously providing natural replenishment to the body, allowing the physical form to gradually strengthen. Additionally, daily meat consumption should be increased to meet the needs of refining essence into Qi. Once the twelve primary meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians are filled with internal Qi, one can then open up other smaller meridians, forming a significant postnatal circulation. This represents the pinnacle of the Qi Nourishing Period. Furthermore, daily meat consumption should be increased to ensure the needs of refining essence into Qi are met. Once the twelve primary meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians are filled with internal Qi, one can then open up other smaller meridians, forming a significant postnatal circulation. This represents the pinnacle of the Qi Nourishing Period.
After this punch was thrown, a series of light sounds emanated from Shi Xuan's bones, continuing for quite some time before finally ceasing. This was a sign of power penetrating to the marrow, indicating a complete mastery of body refinement. Shi Xuan had previously only been able to control his muscles and bones, but now he felt a significant increase in his spiritual power, becoming more perceptive and better able to control the depths of his bones and the subtle corners of his body
At the same time, because the physical body had previously cultivated the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, it was only due to the death of the soul that the original internal energy dissipated. This means that Shi Xuan does not need to painstakingly open up the Eight Extraordinary Meridians one by one, thus saving a significant amount of time
Shi Xuan sat on the ground, leaning against the edge of a small well. In his right hand, he held a small flask of yellow wine that he had found in the room of Old Daoist Xu, while his left hand held a scroll titled "Jin Kui Zi Tan on Various Ghosts and Deities," collected by Old Daoist Xu from a senior figure in the Daoist community. The text discussed the nature of external deities and ghosts, presenting various anecdotes about strange creatures, reminiscent of the tales in "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio." At this moment, with the autumn sky high and clear, and a gentle breeze blowing, he read a page or two, took a sip of yellow wine, and when he felt inspired, he nodded his head and swayed, embodying the carefree spirit of reading the "Huang Ting".
In April, Shi Xuan had little interaction with the neighbors, only encountering them briefly while going out for meals, exchanging a few words. Aunt Zhang mentioned her daughter several times, but Shi Xuan's indifferent response led her to refrain from further discussion. Conversations with the neighbors revolved around trivial matters, such as the emperor summoning virtuous individuals from across the land to compile Daoist texts; Scholar Jiang composing another popular poem in Hangzhou; the new tale by the recluse from the mountains about the love story between humans and ghosts, which was retold daily in the teahouse and was extremely popular; the Red Cloud Deity Temple in Liangzhou, known for its effective matchmaking, though regrettably too far away; the widow from the Wu family across the street remarrying and giving books to a merchant from the Western Regions, whose high nose and deep-set eyes were quite intimidating; and other gossip about the Zhang family's affairs, the Li family's matters, and how the Wang family's daughter-in-law loved to be lazy, among other topics.
Why was Du Bai able to open the Eight Extraordinary Meridians in just three years? There are three reasons: First, he practiced the true teachings of the Daoist school, which is fundamentally different from profound martial arts secrets, akin to the difference between heaven and earth, or between immortals and mortals. Second, Daoist practices emphasize cultivation; in combat, one relies on techniques, talismans, and magical instruments, while martial arts internal skills, regardless of their nature, still focus on inflicting serious harm on the enemy. Cultivation strengthens the soul, and a strong soul can better control internal energy. When internal energy is well-controlled, the effects of opening the meridians are significantly enhanced. Although internal skills also have a soul-nurturing effect, their primary goal is to injure and repel the enemy, with soul cultivation being a secondary benefit. The differing objectives lead to different outcomes. Third, Du Bai himself possesses excellent innate talent; otherwise, he would not have been chosen by Elder Xu to become a disciple.
Generally speaking, it takes approximately fifteen years for an internal martial arts master to accumulate internal energy and to open the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. This duration assumes that the individual possesses good innate talent, does not indulge in distractions, and engages in diligent practice. Those with lesser talent may require even more time. Consequently, many internal martial arts masters may spend their entire lives without successfully opening the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. As for those with exceptional talent and fortuitous encounters, they still need around seven to eight years to achieve this.
On this morning in late autumn, in October, Shi Xuan drank the Qianyuan Huansui Decoction and began practicing the Ten Dragons Subduing Demons Fist in the small courtyard. After such a long period of training, he quickly entered the state and gained a clearer understanding of the sensations of his physical body and soul
At this moment, Shi Xuan's soul strength could also begin to be visualized. However, Shi Xuan did not immediately return to his room to meditate, as the matters of cultivation have their own pace of urgency. Having just successfully broken through his realm, Shi Xuan was filled with joy, and forcing himself to calm down and meditate would instead be detrimental.