Chapter 4, The Innate Qi
The desk, the windows, and even the roof have all vanished, as if one is immersed in nothingness
A person possesses a vital energy inherent from birth, which strengthens the spirit, resists malevolent forces, navigates through life's tribulations, and distinguishes among all beings
But what they do not know is that Fangcun really cannot get into the academy
Given the reputation and status of the Fang family, it should be a very simple matter for him to enter the Immortal Academy. In fact, even in Liuhu City, renowned for the Baixiang Academy, there had previously been a master who specially sent someone to the Fang family to invite him, actively guiding him to embark on the path of a Qi Refining Scholar
Therefore, one should not expect any issues to be explicitly stated; rather, one must seek the true meaning from the nuances of the text.
At a young age, Fang Chi displayed extraordinary talent, showing promise and beginning to make a name for himself; however, despite reaching the age of seventeen, he still remained at home.
The origin of all causes and conditions lies in this breath
Even in the smallest space, a great sense of panic could not help but rise in my heart, facing the helplessness of fear of the unknown
Fangcun had only tried the first method in private and found that he could only manage up to 80 steps
It is called innate because it is bestowed by the heavens due to the innate endowment
Is this my own elder brother's pretentious consolation and encouragement for myself
This elder brother did not provide an explanation; he merely advised Fangcun in their usual correspondence not to rush into cultivation. He did not clarify why he advised against Fangcun's cultivation, yet Fangcun decided to heed his advice. While other matters could be discussed, when it comes to the path of cultivation, there is likely no one in this world with more authority than his talented elder brother. Therefore, Fangcun believes that there must be a profound reason behind his brother's decision to prevent him from cultivating.
In the eyes of many, Fangcun's innate talent should be quite remarkable, after all, he has an elder brother whose legendary innate energy exceeds three inches and three tenths. With such high talent in his brother, it is only natural that Fangcun, sharing the same mother and blood, would not be far behind in terms of innate ability. However, the somewhat awkward truth is that Fangcun is well aware that his own innate energy is likely less than three inches.
The way of heaven is magnificent, and my path is not solitary
When nothing is said, do not attempt!
To the average person, it may seem normal, but Fangcun knows that this is not the nature of his elder brother
Compared to the entire letter, this final conclusion resembles both casual conversation and a form of self-complaint
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From the letter, Fangcun seemed to perceive his elder brother Fangchi's desire for seclusion; he appeared somewhat weary
It is rumored that there is another folk method, which involves grabbing the neck and making a cut, observing how far the blood sprays out
However, Fangcun has neither made any progress nor begun his cultivation, precisely because of the advice given by his elder brother
If one wishes to investigate this natural phenomenon, it is not necessary to rely entirely on the methods of Qi refiners; there exists a very simple approach.
With the varying innate vital energy, thousands of individuals possess thousands of different temperaments
The second thing was to pick up the old umbrella beside me and hold it over my head
Countless personalities have led to countless opportunities
... ...
What is the intention behind writing this in the letter now
Their standard is defined by a boundary of three inches
What caused Fangcun to feel uneasy was a passage in the letter:
The talent for refining Qi is a gift from heaven
This first breath, whether it is that of a person or the life force of the universe, marks the moment of birth. It remains within the physical body, intangible yet undeniably real. From this breath, one transcends chaos and clarity, distinguishing between the womb and oneself. Subsequently, one experiences growth, gaining understanding and knowledge of the world, passing through the stages of youth, maturity, and eventually old age. At the moment of death, this breath will also depart from the individual.
That is a person whose own parents are celebrating their birthday, who can only say "may you live a long life" and not "may you have longevity surpassing that of Nanshan"
Your talents far surpass those of your brother. It is only because I think of our parents who are without support that I entertain selfish thoughts, preventing you from entering the academy, so that you may remain at home to fulfill your filial duties on behalf of your brother
Not only oneself, but even the entire square residence, along with all the people within it, were shattered to pieces
... ...
Even the master of the Fang family sometimes tells outsiders that being a Qi Refiner is very arduous. Once one becomes a Qi Refiner, they spend half their life away from home. It is sufficient for the family to have one Qi Refiner; they are often away and rarely seen. It is better to leave the younger ones at home to serve, which brings some comfort.
... ...
Slowly reciting these eight characters, he gradually allowed his mind to calm down, immersing himself in these words. He did not know how long had passed, but these eight characters gradually rose within his heart like thunder, filling his being, growing louder and louder, as if it were a rolling divine thunder
The sound gradually diminishes, leaving only oneself able to hear it
Everything around is slowly fading away, leaving only endless darkness, as if trapped in a dream
With this slight doubt in mind, he continued to read on.
In the depths of his heart, he understood that although this letter appeared ordinary and the seal on it remained intact, if someone had indeed been on guard against his elder brother, this letter might have been seen by many. After all, this is a world filled with Qi Refiners, demons, and evil spirits, where there are countless means to examine this letter repeatedly without leaving any trace behind.
This is not a catchphrase of Fangchi, as Fangchi has only mentioned it in front of himself, and only in his younger self.
The paper used for writing letters is also ordinary, lacking even the slightest hint of inspiration
Later, he practiced frantically for a while, but he could only manage to reach 85 steps; taking even one more step was difficult. He understood in his heart that this was his limit, one that could not be changed. It was just like the 100-meter test in a past life; not everyone could break the ten-second mark just by practicing a little.
It is said in the world that the strongest innate energy is three inches, three points, and three tenths, which is the limit that a person can achieve
Yet around him, the sound of endless muffled thunder echoed
Fangcun sat at the desk, slowly savoring the text, contemplating each word and sentence carefully
One strike after another, I brought them down upon myself. Beneath the endless divine thunder, I felt like an ordinary person, like a mere ant among mortals. It seemed that each terrifying bolt of divine lightning could shatter me to pieces.
In the letter, he stated that his qualifications far surpassed those of others, which clearly indicates that he is speaking nonsense
Those with weak innate energy find it difficult to be taught or guided, and it is even more challenging to achieve great accomplishments
After reviewing it repeatedly, there is nothing particularly remarkable about it
The quality of a person's innate abilities lies in this; some individuals are born with a strong constitution, free from ailments, and possess sharp intellect.
Karak
In his haste, he only did two things
He even doubted whether, even at this moment, there would still be someone watching him, observing what he could gain from the letter
Indeed, for the family in question, having such a good elder brother makes it quite easy for them to enter the academy, even if their aptitude is somewhat lacking. In fact, among the more than 300 students at the Bai Xiang Academy, there are many who, despite their insufficient aptitude, gained admission through financial means.
At the final moment, Fangcun was even unsure whether it was himself reciting these eight characters or if these eight characters were resonating automatically in his heart
In this moment, it seems as if a certain force is traversing the endless expanse of time and space, sweeping across the land of the Great Xia, and surging towards the square residence
That was an endless dark divine thunder, resembling a spider web spread across the sky, then descending from the nine heavens
This breath is the essence of humanity and the foundation of cultivation
Running while holding one's breath
In legend, alchemists possess a method to detect a person's innate energy, which can be measured with precision
The issue lies here, it is a matter of one's own qualifications, as my elder brother is aware.
Everyone possesses innate energy, thus everyone is capable of cultivation
It seems that Fangcun was moved by his elder brother's letter, falling into a state of sadness, yet no one else knew. At this moment, Fangcun was experiencing endless turmoil in his heart. He could sense a different kind of emotion from these eight characters, and in his memory, these eight characters were also mentioned by his elder brother to his younger self on more than one occasion.
The so-called Qi Refiners are those who cultivate by harnessing this innate Qi
However, in this vast world, there is no shortage of wonders. There are also some individuals who, at the moment of death, do not completely disperse their innate energy. This energy may linger outside their bodies, becoming wandering souls or restless spirits; if it is trapped within, it may manifest as zombies, demons, or other such entities. There are countless variations of this phenomenon.
Those below three inches in height lack the qualifications; even if they cultivate, it is still difficult to overcome the tribulation of life and death. It is better to live a simple and honest life.
But the way of heaven is magnificent, and my path will certainly not be lonely
The first matter was to place the inkstone on the upper left corner of the writing desk, within a vaguely discernible symbol.
The Bai Xiang Academy, as a subordinate institution of the Celestial Palace, serves as a place dedicated to nurturing the talents of alchemists for the Great Xia Dynasty, and it has its own established rules for accepting disciples
The letter in the square inch is an ordinary family letter, consisting of only a few hundred words.
This passage appears quite ordinary, merely expressing the sentiments of Fang Chi. In fact, his younger brother Fang Cun possesses considerable talent, perhaps even surpassing his own. However, he has already embarked on the path of cultivation, destined to wander outside and nearly sever ties with the mundane world. With no one at home to serve their parents, Fang Cun is thus not permitted to enter the academy for study, remaining in the clan as an ordinary person to serve their parents in place of his elder brother.
As I slowly read through, upon reaching the end of the letter, I came across a particularly simple phrase: Although the affairs of the world are arduous, the way of heaven is resplendent, and I shall not be alone on my path! The ancients said that every measure has its shortness and every inch has its length. If my younger brother has a heart for the immortal way, he will certainly not fall short of his elder brother. Perhaps one could dispel the chaotic clouds of heaven and quell the evil of eternal night, allowing the elder brother to return to the fields with peace of mind, guarding the bright sun of heaven, and playing with cats and dogs. ... There is no joy in the world greater than this ... Perhaps one could dispel the chaotic clouds of heaven and quell the evil of eternal night, allowing the elder brother to return to the fields with peace of mind, guarding the bright sun of heaven, and playing with cats and dogs. ... There is no joy in the world greater than this ...
The weakest, simply put, is the dead
This matter is, in fact, the situation of the Fang family as perceived by outsiders
Opportunities are presented before me, yet I am unwilling to seize them, claiming hardship as an excuse, spending my days idly, lingering in the streets and alleys
Upon careful discernment, one can discover that all the muffled thunder sounds are intertwined, the heavy and profound phrase "The Way of Heaven is resplendent, my path is not solitary" seems to have transformed into a deep rumble, resonating throughout this expanse of heaven and earth
In the moment of running, the breath is concealed within the body, resonating through the organs and the dantian. Those with high innate talent can hold their breath and run for a hundred steps, or even two hundred steps, while those with lower talent can only manage a few dozen steps before becoming dizzy and disoriented. This actually reflects the strength of one's innate energy.
Some things are predetermined from the moment of birth, and there is no way to change them; one can only accept their fate
But does someone with a temperament like Fang Chi also complain
Some individuals are born with a weaker innate energy, resulting in a frail constitution and dull intellect
He faced this situation without even the slightest ability to struggle
As I raise my head slightly, it feels as if I can see bolts of lightning streaking across the vast sky above!
Those with a strong innate vitality naturally possess better talents and are more likely to receive favor
Many people feel that those who do not strive for progress and fail to seize opportunities are often ridiculed in silence
Those who are over 3 inches in height possess excellent qualifications and can be taught
First, he inquired about the health of his parents, then mentioned how Fangcun's recent studies were progressing. He then stated that he had just entered the celestial palace and was quite busy with various matters, which had caused him to neglect his correspondence with home. However, he intended to return home to visit his family once he had settled some of his affairs, in order to fulfill his longing.
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