Chapter 003: First Encounter with the Heavenly Path (Part Two)
286 days, really? Why do I feel like it has only been a short while? At first, I felt a lot of pain in my body, but gradually the pain subsided. It seems like a ball of energy has appeared inside me, moving around, and it feels so good. Senior brother, if you don't believe me, take a look; I really feel great.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Senior Brother? I'm fine. I feel light all over, full of energy, and more comfortable than ever before," Jing Feng said, looking at the astonished Ning Shizi with a puzzled expression.
Jing Feng knelt down without a moment's hesitation, weeping uncontrollably as he said to the Real Man Ling Ku: "I am willing. When I was young, my health was poor, and I suffered greatly. My wish at that time was to become a doctor, traveling the world to heal all the patients, alleviating their suffering from illness. But ever since that demon destroyed my hometown, my relatives died, and the only family member I had left was taken away by that demon right before my eyes, I realized that in this world, without strength, even the most beautiful wishes are useless. Please, Master, teach me the methods of cultivating the truth, so that I can rescue my elder brother from that demon's hands. Please, Master, grant me this request." Please, Master, grant me this request.
The Heavenly Dao Sect has reached the fifty-first generation with my surname Ling. Our founding ancestor is the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor. Our treasured mountain is the Poyun Peak, and the Heavenly Dao Immortal Techniques inscribed on the Heavenly Dao Cliff are passed down from ancient times. It is said that when practiced to the highest level, one can create and destroy worlds, achieving anything. "Real Person Ling Ku took a sip of celestial tea and continued to speak. It is said that when practiced to the highest level, one can create and destroy worlds, achieving anything. " Real Person Ling Ku took a sip of celestial tea and continued to speak
"Alright, let your senior brother take you to the Lingwu Cave for training," said Master Lingku after earnestly explaining the preciousness of the Tianling Magic Ring.
Cultivation is an act against the heavens, and thus one must undergo the baptism of heavenly tribulation. The Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation is a trial from the celestial realm to test our achievements in cultivation. After the tribulation, the spiritual energy within our bodies can transform into celestial power, allowing us to become true immortals. However, the terror of the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation is beyond your imagination. Those who reach the tribulation stage of cultivation possess powers capable of destroying the heavens and the earth, yet the success rate for those undergoing the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation is merely twenty to thirty percent, with the majority of cultivators perishing completely. " Master Lingku said solemnly.
"Alright, junior brother, make sure to consolidate your learning. If you have any difficulties or questions regarding the *illustrated* books, feel free to ask me again. I will be going to the cave next to yours to cultivate. If you enter a meditative state and wake up feeling hungry, you can go to the back mountain to find something to eat; there are plenty of wild fruits there. However, it is best to return before nightfall, as the fog in the mountains becomes thick at night, and fierce spirit beasts often roam the forest. Since you are unfamiliar with this place, be careful of potential dangers," Ning Shizi said with concern.
Thank you, senior brother, I understand now. You may go and cultivate; I can take care of myself," Jing Feng said gratefully. After saying this, Ning Shizi left the Lingwu Cave
"Little Junior Brother, you are truly a genius. I never expected you to grasp the essence of cultivation so quickly. You entered meditation for the first time and remained in it for two hundred eighty-six days, nearing the initial stage of enlightenment. This is unprecedented, do you know? I only meditated for thirty-eight days the first time. You are indeed a genius! At first, I was worried about you, fearing you might go astray, but it seems my concerns were unnecessary." Ning Shi laughed heartily while patting Jing Feng's shoulder.
Ah, I truly do not know whether bringing you into the realm of cultivation today is right or wrong, " said Master Ling Ku to himself.
This is a storage ring, which is a medium-grade spiritual artifact. In the realm of cultivation, storage and special-type treasures are the most precious and the most difficult to refine, followed by defensive and offensive treasures. Generally, in the realm of cultivation, artifacts possess spirituality, and those with virtue are entitled to them. You are capable of cultivation; in the future, seek your own opportunities.
Master, I will certainly practice diligently and not let down your life-saving grace and teachings. However, I have a small request and wonder if you could grant it to me.
"If there is anything you wish to say, just speak. As long as it is within my capabilities, I will agree to it," said Master Ling Ku, looking at Jing Feng.
"In cultivation, the first step is to learn how to meditate and enter a state of tranquility, through which one absorbs the spiritual energy of heaven and earth for practice. Junior brother, you should first comprehend the Pure Yang Technique on your own. If there is anything you do not understand, I will explain it to you," Ning Shizi explained with a smile.
"Then can I see these two celestial beasts? When can I go to Tiandao Cliff to practice the celestial arts of the Way of Heaven?" Jing Feng asked with a face full of longing.
Uncertain how much time had passed, a faint aura of spiritual energy appeared within Jing Feng's dantian, and the ethereal true energy surrounding him gradually receded. After a while, Jing Feng slowly opened his eyes, feeling as if his entire body was light and floating, filled with strength, and experiencing an unprecedented sense of ease
"Two-thirds, soul flying away and disappearing." Jingfeng was shocked to hear these two words
Thank you, Master. Your kindness towards your disciple will never be forgotten. " Jing Feng said gratefully, and then he knocked his head three times with a loud thud.
"Junior Brother, are you alright?" Ning Shizi nudged the recently awakened Jing Feng
Meanwhile, Ning Shizi stared wide-eyed, dumbfounded as he watched Jing Feng awaken from his meditative state
Ouch! It hurts so much!" Jing Feng cried out while holding his head
"Alright, Jingfeng, you should first merge the transmission spirit orb before anything else," urged Master Lingku.
Alright, let's conclude for today. I will tell you about the history of the Heavenly Dao Sect later. In the realm of cultivation, time is irrelevant; as long as you diligently practice, soaring across the Nine Provinces and ascending to immortality will not be a mere fantasy. Now, I will first impart to you the introductory technique of the Heavenly Dao Sect, the Tianyang Jue. The Tianyang Jue is a foundational pure Yang technique, characterized by a strong masculine energy, and is a fire attribute technique of the utmost intensity. It absorbs the pure Yang spiritual energy from heaven and earth, thereby enhancing your power. "Master Lingku said solemnly. The Tianyang Jue is a foundational pure Yang technique, characterized by a strong masculine energy, and is a fire attribute technique of the utmost intensity. It absorbs the pure Yang spiritual energy from heaven and earth, thereby enhancing your power. "Master Lingku said solemnly.
Well, this, the Dharma name was bestowed upon you by the Master Brother. Anyone who enters our immortal mountain must be given a Dharma name. To revoke a Dharma name, one must also report to the Master Brother. Considering your sincere filial piety, I will take the opportunity to report to the Master Brother and let him make the decision.
After Jingfeng merged with the transmission spirit orb, a brilliant light suddenly radiated from the top of his head. "Jingfeng, take some time to deeply comprehend the mental techniques within the spirit orb. Today, I shall accept you as my disciple and bestow upon you my Heavenly Spirit Law Ring," he said, as a storage ring glowing with azure light appeared in Jingfeng's hand.
Ah! Reflecting on three thousand years ago, our Heavenly Dao Sect was the foremost sect in the realm of cultivation. Within the sect, there were numerous spiritual elixirs, celestial artifacts, and divine armors. However, due to the abundance of spiritual treasures, during the year we opened our mountain and accepted disciples, the evil sects, in alliance with the Five Demon Palace and other fiends, took advantage of our opening of the protective celestial formation to launch a massive invasion. The predecessors of our Heavenly Dao Sect fought valiantly in resistance, but due to the overwhelming number of demons, countless lives were lost. The demons advanced all the way to our sect's pivotal location, the Opening Heaven Hall, and destroyed the heart of our protective celestial formation, the supreme celestial stone. The predecessors of our Heavenly Dao Sect fought valiantly in resistance, but due to the overwhelming number of demons, countless lives were lost. The demons advanced all the way to our sect's pivotal location, the Opening Heaven Hall, and destroyed the heart of our protective celestial formation, the supreme celestial stone. As a result, the current protective celestial formation and the spiritual energy within the mountain are only one-third of what they once were. Many spiritual treasures within the sect were also damaged or seized by these demons. Ultimately, it was thanks to the timely arrival of the predecessors from the Wushuang Sect and the Sword Immortal Sect that we united our efforts and drove away the demons. Otherwise, the legacy of our Heavenly Dao Sect, built over hundreds of thousands of years, would likely have vanished into thin air. Ultimately, it was thanks to the timely arrival of the predecessors from the Wushuang Sect and the Sword Immortal Sect that we united our efforts and drove away the demons. Otherwise, the legacy of our Heavenly Dao Sect, built over hundreds of thousands of years, would likely have vanished into thin air. The evil sects were also severely weakened as a result, and the Five Demon Palace and Black Dragon Island took the opportunity to swallow them up. After this great battle, the number of experts in the Heavenly Dao Sect dwindled, gradually being surpassed by several other major sects. This is the primary reason for the current scarcity of our Heavenly Dao Sect's members, spiritual elixirs, and treasures. It is precisely because of this upheaval that our Heavenly Dao Sect has since closed its mountain gates, only descending once every hundred years to accept disciples." sighed Master Lingku.
"Master, did you participate in that great battle?" Jing Feng asked inadvertently, captivated by the conversation.
"Alright, Jingfeng, do not be shocked. Focus on your cultivation; there is still great hope for you to ascend and become an immortal in the future. If you have any questions later, I will explain them to you in detail. I am now formally taking your Dharma name, Mu Yu, and I am a disciple of the Jade lineage, being the second disciple under my tutelage. Throughout my life, I have remained indifferent to worldly matters. It was only when my Daoist skills were initially developed, during my first journey across the seas nine hundred years ago, that I discovered your senior brother, Ning Shi, on a solitary island near our immortal mountain. At that time, your senior brother's situation was very similar to yours; his parents and relatives all perished in a shipwreck, leaving him alone to drift helplessly at sea. I saw his unwavering spirit and thus had the thought of taking him as a disciple. It was precisely because of his steadfast will that your senior brother's state of mind improved so rapidly, and his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, not disappointing the efforts I invested in him. After that journey, I never had the thought of taking another disciple until I met you. I hope you will also diligently practice your cultivation, enhance your state of mind, and soon overcome the tribulations of heaven to achieve immortality, so that my teachings to you will not be in vain." Master Ling Ku spoke earnestly.
As Jing Feng was encountering cultivation for the first time, this leap was of no consequence; he suddenly jumped too high and forcefully struck the cave's ceiling, causing a tremendous noise throughout the cavern.
Alright, Jingfeng, let me first tell you about the situation of our Tiandao Sect. The leader of our Tiandao Sect is my senior brother, the Real Person Lingyun. I am the second in rank, and there are two junior brothers and one junior sister, who are your uncle and aunt. Including you, there are a total of twenty-one disciples in our Tiandao Sect. The first batch of disciples we collected when we descended the mountain were from the Ning generation, which includes your senior brothers, while the second batch consists of your generation, the Yu generation. Our Tiandao Sect has a small population; every hundred years, the five of us elders take turns descending the mountain to search for disciples in the cultivation world who are fated to join us and possess talent.
Let us not dwell on the past; I will now provide you with an overview of the situation in the realm of cultivation. Cultivation is divided into nine realms: Initial Insight, Connection, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Cloud Ascension, Out-of-Body, Great Dao, Tribulation Crossing, and Completion. Upon reaching the Nascent Soul stage, one's lifespan is extended to one thousand years. Once one attains the Out-of-Body stage, as long as the Nascent Soul remains intact, one can achieve immortality and live in harmony with the heavens and the earth. After successfully overcoming the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation and reaching the Completion stage, one can don feathered garments and ascend to become an immortal in the celestial realm. " Master Lingku was explaining earnestly.
"Alright, Jingfeng, I shall now formally impart to you the foundational principles of our Tiandao Sect. Please rise; there is no need to kneel," said Master Lingyun, waving his hand.
"Bang bang bang." After saying this, Jing Feng bowed three times.
Our practice in the Heavenly Dao Sect involves absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to attune ourselves to the mysteries of the universe. Upon achieving great success, one can utilize the immense powers of nature to move mountains and drain seas. The essence of practicing the heart method of the Heavenly Dao Sect primarily relies on one's comprehension, which can be simply summarized in one word: enlightenment! This comprehension also depends on your state of mind. Different cultivation sects have varying methods of cultivation. For instance, the Immortal Sword Sect, which is also a sect of cultivation, primarily relies on the cultivation of artifacts, determining the speed of cultivation based on the degree of resonance with the spiritual artifacts.
"Child, are you willing to take me as your master and learn the path of cultivation? When you have mastered the art, you will be able to travel the world and help those in suffering. Do you agree?" The Real Person Lingku stared at Jingfeng as he spoke.
"Master, why don't several of the uncles and senior uncles come down the mountain together? Wouldn't that attract more disciples?" Jing Feng said with a puzzled expression.
Jing Feng sat cross-legged on the mat, slowly closing his eyes to comprehend the inner law of the spiritual sphere. After approximately two incense sticks' worth of time, a faint red gas gradually appeared around Jing Feng's body, enveloping him completely. Before he could understand what was happening, the immense and scorching energy had already burned his meridians, causing a fiery pain and intense fluctuations in his body. After one hundred and eight great circulations, the speed of the true energy's operation began to accelerate, invigorating every cell in an unprecedented manner. The fiery pain continued to burn his meridians, and his body was in violent turmoil. After one hundred and eight great circulations, the speed of the true energy's operation began to accelerate, invigorating every cell in an unprecedented manner.
As long as the senior brother in charge is informed, and he agrees, the great formation outside the Heavenly Dao Cliff can be lifted at any time, allowing entry. However, without sufficient cultivation, one cannot see the celestial techniques inscribed on the Heavenly Dao Cliff. The two celestial beasts reside in the caves beside the Heavenly Dao Cliff, and ordinary people do not dare to enter those caves, as doing so may provoke the celestial beasts and lead to punishment. Generally, they only appear when there is an anomaly in the Heavenly Dao Sect or the Heavenly Dao Cliff, to protect our Heavenly Dao Sect. " Real Person Ling Ku was patiently explaining to Jing Feng. The two celestial beasts reside in the caves beside the Heavenly Dao Cliff, and ordinary people do not dare to enter those caves, as doing so may provoke the celestial beasts and lead to punishment. Generally, they only appear when there is an anomaly in the Heavenly Dao Sect or the Heavenly Dao Cliff, to protect our Heavenly Dao Sect. " Real Person Ling Ku was patiently explaining to Jing Feng.
Within the Lingwu Cave, Jingfeng sat cross-legged on a mat
"Master, may I not be called Mu Yu, but rather Jing Feng? Jing Feng is the name given to me by my deceased parents. The years of cultivation are long and fleeting, and I wish to keep the memory of my parents in my mind to encourage myself to cultivate diligently and rescue my elder brother who has been captured by that demon as soon as possible," Jing Feng said sincerely.
"Junior Brother, you really haven't cultivated the truth before? Do you know how long you were in meditation for the first time? A full two hundred eighty-six days. Junior Brother, are you really okay?" Ning Shi still looked skeptical.
The guardians of the Heavenly Path Cliff are the mountain-guarding celestial beasts of our Heavenly Path Sect— the Stone Beast and the Flowing Light Leopard. They were celestial beasts subdued by the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor in ancient times. After the Heavenly Dragon Ancestor ascended to the celestial realm, he left them at Heavenly Dragon Mountain to guard the Heavenly Path Cliff, and they have been protecting our Heavenly Path Sect for several hundred thousand years.
"In my early years, I also participated in that great upheaval. At that time, my understanding of the Dao was still shallow, and along with a few fellow disciples, I was left behind at Tiandao Cliff to guard the treasured relics of our Tiandao Sect from being damaged, without engaging in direct confrontation with those evil and heretical forces." Alas! After finishing his words, Master Lingku let out a sigh
Hearing you say this, the Demon Dragon appeared in the mortal realm to subdue those three black serpents and elevate the level of its spiritual weapon. Alas! If I had arrived a moment earlier, perhaps your hometown would not have been destroyed, and your loved ones would not have lost their lives said the Real Person Ling Ku with a face full of regret
Only to see a crystal spirit orb appear out of thin air in the hands of Master Lingku. The crystal orb slowly floated into Jingfeng's hands, and he said: "This is the transmission orb of our Tiandao Sect. Anyone who enters our Tiandao Sect for cultivation will be granted this treasure. You must first drop your blood to recognize its master, and the Tianyang method will automatically appear in your mind. However, the speed of your cultivation will depend on your comprehension, state of mind, and perseverance. I hope you will diligently cultivate, lay a solid foundation, and strive to form the Golden Core as soon as possible."
"Master, what is the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation?" Jing Feng asked with a look of confusion