Chapter 5: Opening Up Spiritual Fields
Originally, this jade pendant was not a decorative treasure, but rather a spiritual consciousness jade slip that could only be used by those of the Xuanmen sect
Immediately afterwards, the surface of the jade pendant radiated a pure white light resembling that of a firefly moon, with shimmering waves flowing within, as if fish were darting about in the rippling clear waters
Where shall we go next
Upon reaching the Qi Refining stage, the innate true essence nourishes the physical body, leading to a transformative change akin to shedding the old and embracing the new. Ordinary food can no longer satisfy my needs; it seems I must find a way to acquire some spiritual elixirs that nourish the vital energy, as well as the spiritual jade required for Qi refining... The four treasures of cultivation—wealth, companions, methods, and land—place wealth at the forefront.
Under the urging of this warm sensation, an extraordinary power surged from various acupoints throughout my body, traversing through all the barriers, ultimately converging three inches below the lower abdomen, at the location of the Dantian energy sea
Li Wan sensed that there seemed to be an inexplicable message in her mind
This thing is indeed a treasure
However, Li Wan had been traveling continuously before, and her physical strength and energy were not in the best condition. Moreover, the surroundings were desolate mountains and wilderness, with the fear of snakes, insects, and wild beasts disturbing her. It was only at this time that she opened a room in an inn in the town, ate her fill, replenished her energy, and made thorough preparations.
He went downstairs and gave a small piece of silver to the waiter, inquiring about the locations of various shops for food, clothing, and travel. He intended to gather information about the nearby towns before leaving the inn and setting off on his journey.
In just a short span of less than half an hour, my entire spirit and demeanor underwent a tremendous transformation, as if I had been reborn
On that night, Li Wan sat cross-legged in her room, beginning to refine the five elements of spiritual energy
Ordinary mortals toil and labor, each day solely for their livelihood and wealth. With a bit more ambition, one might aspire to be conferred titles and appointed to high office, leaving a name in the annals of history
... ...
At noon, Li Wan had finished lunch, sitting in the room drinking tea while pondering.
Li Wan did not tie up the horse, deliberately allowing passersby to take it away easily. After crossing the mountain, it took two days to arrive here
Moreover, he could distinctly feel that his vital energy had become prolonged and profound
Hmm? What is this
Regardless of whether one is in seclusion for rigorous practice or traveling the world, any endeavor cannot be separated from these. If true practitioners were entirely devoid of desires and aspirations, then what purpose would there be in cultivation
While contemplating the future, Li Wan suddenly felt a peculiar warmth slowly moving.
From this point onward, Li Wan's dantian had transformed into a spiritual field, possessing the characteristics of the cyclical flow of the five elements, continuously circulating. Regardless of the type of post-heavenly energy absorbed, it could be gradually refined through the principles of mutual generation and restriction of the five elements, and then transformed into innate true essence using the cultivated methods, subsequently evolving from one to two, from two to three, until reaching the state of perfection.
Just as Steward Qiu was in a fit of rage, intending to send disciples from the outer court to capture Li Wan, Li Wan had already arrived at a small town more than 100 miles away
Using the Spirit Sense Jade Tablet to impart teachings will not result in any ambiguity or discrepancies between ancient and modern meanings, thus avoiding deviations and misunderstandings. Moreover, those who can refine such an instrument and leave their spirit sense within it must be individuals of great virtue and power. Their memories and experiences far surpass those recorded in written texts.
The so-called Spirit Sense Jade Tablet is a type of magical artifact in the realm of cultivation, specifically used to record techniques and secrets of the universe. It allows one to instantly merge the spirit sense left by predecessors with one's own thoughts, enabling immediate mastery of techniques or acquiring secret knowledge from texts.
In terms of making a living, there are distinctions between switching to another sect and becoming a solitary practitioner. The former is largely similar to being in the Zhengqi Sect, merely in a different environment, while the latter represents a complete transformation of one's previous way of life
He seemed as if he had consumed strong liquor, his entire body began to radiate a rising warmth, all his pores opened up, his meridians flowed freely, and his vital energy and blood became extraordinarily active
After consuming three days' worth of rations in one go, Li Wan went to bed feeling satisfied, only to rise the next day when the sun was already high in the sky. She was full of energy, vibrant and invigorated, as if she had an inexhaustible source of strength within her
Li Wan contemplated for a long time and realized that both choices were intertwined with fortune and misfortune, making it difficult to reach a conclusion. For a moment, he found it hard to decide, but gradually he began to lean towards the former option. After all, he had lived in the Daoist temple of Zhengqi Gate for many years and was quite familiar with the sects of the cultivation world
The rumors are indeed true. In the past, I cultivated the technique of the Zhengqi Gate to perfection, but that technique is merely an ordinary internal martial art. Even if I practiced for another one hundred years, it would only strengthen the body and prolong life; how could it achieve such effects
Li Wan stood up and swung his fist in the air
Previously, Li Wan did not notice its anomaly because he was merely a mortal at that time, lacking the presence of innate true essence within his body, and thus could not perceive the mysteries of such a profound treasure. However, now he has become a Qi Refining practitioner, and through focused contemplation, he has finally activated its true function
He opened his mouth and inhaled, swallowing the essence that resembled a droplet of water, akin to a gel-like sphere, into his abdomen, and then began to refine it through his cultivation.
At this moment, Li Wan felt a bit hungry in her stomach, so she went to the table and poured a jug of cool water, eating the dry rations she had brought with her and the books. However, after eating several large pancakes, she still felt unbearably hungry, which inevitably reminded her of the various legends about the people of the Xuanmen.
It seems as if a mysterious area within the body is opening up, with five streams of varying sensations flowing slowly along the dantian's energy sea. As they pass through this place, their movement becomes increasingly sluggish, yet they connect and merge with one another, seemingly containing the profound and ultimate truths of the universe. The five elements generate transformation, and the vitality of all things is undoubtedly concealed within.
Li Wan currently has a clear mindset, fully aware that after leaving the Zhengqi Gate, the first thing to consider is making a living, followed by cultivating strength and living a distinctive life. As for the future, it can be contemplated gradually
From this point onward, the vital energy within the body will be abundant, and life will be ever-present. Both physical strength and endurance will experience a transformative growth.
Becoming a disciple of the sect, in the early stages of cultivation, is merely that of a small pawn. One must obey the commands of the elders and adhere to the sect's rules and regulations. This is the fate of a sect disciple, as well as the price paid for the protection and sustenance provided by the sect
It seemed to have suddenly come to life, faintly resonating with the innate true essence within, sending waves of inexplicable tremors.
This step is the path to the heavens
Once the five lines of spiritual energy enter the abdomen, they immediately transform into various sensations of airflow, permeating throughout the limbs and bones, enveloping the entire body.
Upon closer inspection, these are not游鱼 at all; they are clearly individual patterns, resembling ethereal blue smoke, wafting and suspended within the radiance.
The path begins with Qi refining; only by reaching this stage can one cultivate the spiritual field within, transcend the mundane world, and become a practitioner of the mysterious sect, a Qi refining cultivator
It is like a spring, continuously emanating vital energy, and this vital energy possesses various properties, encompassing the virtues of the five elements of the world. Under the impetus of the transformation of the five elements and the * diagrams * and * books *, it gradually transforms into a brand new force
Firstly, the unfolding of the Dao is aptly described by the saying, "The Dao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, and Three begets all things." Here, the primordial unity of Qi also represents the starting point of the Dao.
The arm, illuminated by the candlelight, seemed to transform into countless afterimages, moving with incredible speed
It is time...
Due to having ample resources at hand, after descending the mountain, Li Wan encountered a traveler on horseback. She immediately concocted an urgent excuse, paid several times the price to purchase the horse, and then galloped for over a hundred miles before finally stopping at a secluded intersection.
This force is pure and pristine, neither belonging to the five elements nor to the realm of yin and yang, not formed in the postnatal world, but is referred to as the ultimate primordial qi.
A series of explosive sounds erupted, signaling the significant increase in his punching power, which caused the resonance.
He looked down in surprise, only to find that it was the circular jade pendant hanging conveniently around his neck that was causing the trouble
He stretched lazily, stood up, and realized that it was already deep into the night. The surroundings were utterly silent, creating an exceptionally tranquil atmosphere
However, the jade slips of divine consciousness are extremely rare in the present world. Only those sects with a long-standing heritage or truly prestigious families will utilize these in their highly valued and precious texts. Moreover, only designated direct descendants are permitted to enjoy them, making them exceptionally valuable treasures
The spiritual energy has fused in one place within the body, combining with the original dantian that was already present.
Li Wan was contemplating to refine it as soon as possible in order to enter the Qi Refining stage
After many years, the long-cherished wish has finally been fulfilled. On the surface, Li Wan did not show much joy, but in reality, she was immensely exhilarated
It was not until this moment that Li Wan had the time to examine what he had obtained that day, only to find that the martial arts techniques and books were merely ordinary mundane skills, their value not as great as he had imagined. However, the Five Elements Spiritual Qi was indeed a true treasure
As a named disciple of his, switching to another sect is not an issue, after all, a named disciple is not an official disciple and has not yet entered the door.
After opening up the spiritual field, one cultivates the innate true essence, and a trace of ethereal aura subtly emerges around the body. In the gaze, there is a hidden divine light, marking a fundamental distinction from the life of ordinary mortals
As the spiritual energy flowed through the spiritual field and he cultivated a trace of innate true essence, Li Wan immediately felt that the world seemed to have changed somewhat
Not long after, Li Wan felt as if she were immersed in a warm spring, her whole body soft and incredibly comfortable
This process is referred to as refining qi
In fact, the monks are quite similar; however, the goals they seek have shifted to achieving eternal life and freedom, obtaining various opportunities for enlightenment, or for those who are concerned about their sect, contemplating the rise and fall of their school and the inheritance of the Dao lineage
Becoming a wandering cultivator may grant one freedom, but life lacks stability. Moreover, wandering cultivators are often weak and vulnerable, easily subjected to bullying, plundering, and even the loss of life. If one cannot even protect oneself, how can one speak of cultivation?
The warmth throughout my body lingers, akin to a gentle current of warmth flowing through me. Under the guidance of this current, my senses are heightened, my hearing and vision are sharp, and my body feels considerably lighter.
The sound of clapping or applause
Moreover, for ordinary soldiers and civilians traveling the world, it is necessary to obtain travel permits and be subject to government regulations. Even various mountain bandits, water pirates, and wild beasts can become obstacles, leading to many inconveniences. However, after becoming a member of the Xuanmen, these secular restrictions will be minimized, greatly benefiting the subsequent journey