Chapter 7, The Transformation of the Great Furnace, Craftsmanship from Nature

Su Yun once again invited Qiu Shuijing to stay in Tianmen Town, but Qiu Shuijing politely declined, leaving the young man with no choice but to give up.

The flower fox is able to reach this level of cultivation in just five to six days, which is quite remarkable among scholars

Emperor Yuan implemented official education, hoping that under education, everyone would be equal, without distinction between commoners and aristocrats. However, a hundred years have passed since Emperor Yuan, and education has actually been monopolized by the aristocracy. Children from commoner families cannot afford to attend private schools, and the official education system does not provide the latest knowledge, leading to increasingly severe social stratification. The path for commoner children to rise, the path of transformation from fish to dragon, has become narrower and narrower

However, he was unaware that the vital energy within Su Yun was surging vigorously, yet every time it reached his eyes, it would suddenly exhibit an unusual condition

Su Yun nodded: "I have studied for six years"

He stopped in his tracks, turned around, and sincerely said: "The situation in the countryside is even more severe. Yun, you come from a humble background, but you have good talent and excellent insight. If you stay in the countryside, you will be overlooked. You must go to the city to pursue your studies! However, even if you go to the city to study, merely attending a public school will not allow you to stand out. You also need to study at a private school while attending the public school."

Qiu Shuijing nodded quietly, gathering the essence of the morning sun, using his own body as a furnace to refine his physical form and cultivate his vital energy. This was indeed a sign of having achieved the first stage of transformation in the Great Furnace.

Moreover, Su Yun's progress in cultivation has been somewhat beyond his expectations

In today's world, it is difficult for those from humble backgrounds to produce distinguished offspring. Why is this the case

On this morning, Qiu Shuijing, accompanied by a person and four foxes, was breathing in the fresh air as they faced the rising sun. Suddenly, Qiu Shuijing felt as if a small sun had appeared beside him. He could not help but open his eyes to look, only to find it was in the direction of the flower fox.

The other three little foxes also studied for two to three years each

Behind Tianmen and Chaotianque lies a vast and boundless ocean

As Su Yun bid farewell, Qiu Shuijing hesitated for a moment, yet continued to impart his earnest advice, saying: "The children of humble origins, although they attend the national academy and study alongside the children of noble families, may seem to be treated equally. However, the children of noble families possess wealth and power, and in addition to the national academy, they have access to private schools. While you learn one thing in the national academy, the children of noble families can learn two, three, four, or five things in private schools. Therefore, the gap in knowledge between the children of humble origins and those of noble families continues to widen."

Qiu Shuijing was taken aback and looked at him with confusion

He looked into Su Yun's progress again, slightly furrowing his brow

Some townspeople came in the morning, saying they had not found anything good at the ghost market, so they came to exorcise demons and eliminate evil spirits. The gentleman argued with them, but they ignored him, only saying that we would harm others

Qiu Shuijing watched as he and Hua Hu buried Mr. Wild Fox, along with the fox demons of Huqiu Village

Among them, the flower fox learns the fastest; he has a foundation in the Master’s Treatise on Cultivating Vital Energy, which makes it easy for him to get started

Qiu Shuijing sighed softly: "My expectations for him were still too high. Even a fox demon can achieve the first level in such a short time, yet he is unable to do so; his eye ailment has a significant impact on him."

This method of cultivating vital energy, although complex, is extremely effective, and the speed of practice surpasses that of the teachings on vital energy by Confucius by an unknown number of times

The flower fox shook her head and said with embarrassment: "I ran away with my younger siblings and did not have time to see their faces clearly. I only remember that one of them was quite handsome, not very old, dressed in bright red clothes, and suddenly flames really erupted behind him, from which a divine bird flew out..."

Su Yun raised his head and said: "Mr. Wild Fox taught me for six years, and did not expel me for being human. I earnestly request that you do not expel them for being foxes"

Although Su Yun has a profound understanding of the transformation of the furnace, he is, after all, blind. He can learn the theory, but to master it physically, he must exert several times the effort compared to others

Before his eyes, the Heavenly Gate appeared out of thin air

The original text of "The Master’s Treatise on Nurturing Vital Energy" was merely intended to cultivate the original energy in the simplest manner. Although it is simple and easy to grasp, achieving profound mastery in its practice is quite difficult

Su Yun and others originally had a shallow foundation, and coupled with the profound nature of the "Cultivation of Qi" section in the "Transformation of the Great Furnace," even a master like Qiu Shuijing took five to six days to barely grasp the basics and learn the first part of the "Cultivation of Qi" section.

He imparted the latter part of the "Transformation of the Flood Furnace: Cultivating Qi" in a haphazard manner to the crowd, and then set off on his journey

Qiu Shuijing said lightly: "Although the Master’s Treatise on Cultivating Qi is indeed an orthodox method for cultivating qi, is there really a textbook that remains unchanged for five thousand years in this world? In today’s era, even a decade of stagnation would be considered outdated. When I came to the countryside, I found that there seems to be a gap of a thousand years between urban and rural areas!"

This feeling is not without reason; rather, it is influenced by the six to seven years of companionship and the calm and unhurried demeanor of Su Yun.

The leading flower fox glanced at Qiu Shuijing with fear, confirming that he had not slaughtered the people of Huqiu Village, and only then did he muster the courage to approach with the last three remaining young foxes.

Su Yun followed him closely and said, "I have heard that diligent study by the impoverished can lead to success..."

Fortunately, although Su Yun's learning speed is slow, he is quick-witted and able to draw inferences from one instance, which has led to his profound understanding of the transformation of the furnace.

The other three little foxes followed suit, but only Su Yun learned the slowest. He was unable to see, and Qiu Shuijing had to teach him hand in hand, again and again, which was extremely laborious

Qiu Shuijing did not expect that Su Yun's eyes would undergo such a change, believing that he was merely perceptive with average talent

In recent days, Su Yun invited Hua Hu and three other little foxes to reside in Tianmen Town; however, Hua Hu and the others were filled with dread towards Tianmen Town and preferred to live in the school instead

"Little, Little Yun..." A fox called from a distance, glancing at Qiu Shuijing with some trepidation

Qiu Shuijing pinched a five-zhu coin from his palm, but at that moment, Su Yun stuffed the other five-zhu coins into his hands

Su Yun accepted those few five-cash coins

What is peculiar is that the Eight-Sided Sky Pavilion is actually absorbing Su Yun's vital energy

A grave mistake! With private schools in existence, it is impossible for common scholars to be more diligent than the sons of noble families! The teachings in public schools are broad and superficial, but in private schools, they can invite teachers like me!

I have studied for seven years

They returned to the hall, and Qiu Shuijing glanced at Su Yun and the four foxes, saying: "What Master Yehu taught you is the Master’s Treatise on Cultivating Qi, right? How many years have you been studying it?"

Qiu Shuijing returned the few blood-stained five-zhu coins to him, saying: "He teaches people not to accept money, while I teach a few fox demons that if they were to accept money, they would be inferior to him. This five-zhu coin is your tuition fee; they do not need it"

Su Yun shook her head

Yin and Yang are charcoal, while all things are copper

Unfair, yet just! Because this is the legacy left by their ancestors through hard work, it is only natural for them to inherit this legacy. A scholar from a humble background, lacking foundation, family background, and connections, if he wishes to stand out, then he must rely solely on a quality that others do not possess

At this moment, faint rustling sounds emerged from the distant mountains and forests, where several foxes with blood-stained faces were peering out from beneath the trees

Su Yun's vitality flowed into his eyes, and the originally pitch-black eyes suddenly "saw" something!

Su Yun stood there, instilling a sense of stability in the hearts of the flower fox and the three little foxes. This young man seemed to be their pillar of support, providing them with a feeling of reliance.

Qiu Shui Jing begins with a gradual exploration, starting from seizing the essence of the sun and moon, using oneself as the universe and the universe as a great furnace. It then discusses how to transform creation into craftsmanship, followed by how to use yin and yang as charcoal, and all things as copper

The chapter on the transformation of the furnace in the cultivation of vital energy regards one's own body as the universe, containing the great furnace within. It stimulates the potential of creation, using the yin and yang energies within as charcoal, and the organs, bones, and blood as copper, to forge a powerful vital energy

Su Yun noted this characteristic and turned around to bow, saying: "Do Mr. Shui Jing's words still hold weight?"

In addition to the Tianmen, there is also the imposing and towering Chaotian Gate with its eight sides

The Chaotianque continuously devoured Su Yun's vital energy, preventing him from ever achieving the first level of the Honglu transformation.

Su Yun revealed a look of joy and stood up: "Brother Hua Er? You are still alive?"

After all, he is a private school teacher, and there are many scholars from prominent families in Shuofang City who need him to teach, so he cannot delay too long in the Heavenly Market.

The Chaotian Tower of Tianmen Town has long been lost from sight; this eight-sided Chaotian Tower is not the one from Tianmen Town, but rather a mark in Su Yun's eyes

After the morning class concluded, Qiu Shuijing began to contemplate leaving

Although the flower fox is a demon, its aptitude and comprehension are quite good, and it has already attained the first level of cultivation

This sentence serves as the general outline of the "Transformation of the Furnace and Cultivation of Qi" chapter

His large sleeves billowed as he walked forward, his voice echoing from afar: "The city is a vast furnace, filled with struggles and opportunities everywhere. You must preserve your wildness, use wildness as the yin and yang, and struggle as the charcoal, to ignite the furnace, seize creation, and only then can you break free from the rigid class structure, transcend boundaries, and ascend!"

Su Yun stood up, opened his palm, and in the center of his hand lay several blood-stained wuzhu coins, which he must have found in the ruins while collecting the bodies just moments ago

Su Yun quietly listened and asked, "Does Second Brother still remember their faces?"

Qiu Shuijing observed the other three foxes. Although the three little foxes had a shallow foundation, their progress was also not slow, and it would not be long before they achieved the first level of cultivation.

According to his predictions, Su Yun, due to his eye ailment, would learn at the slowest pace, but his cultivation speed should be the fastest. Unexpectedly, Su Yun turned out to be the slowest one.

I remember clearly every word they said as they passed by me

And the heavens and the earth serve as the furnace, while nature acts as the craftsman

It was a fox with black and yellow fur, emerging from beneath the tree, followed by several little foxes. The little foxes were holding onto the tail of their companion in front, approaching with a sense of fear

Qiu Shuijing said: "The sons of the gentry work harder than the sons of the commoners! When the official school dismisses, the children from the countryside go out to play, while the sons of the gentry continue their studies in private schools! When the official school is on break, the sons of the commoners stay at home, but the sons of the gentry are still studying in private schools!"

Su Yun's tone was remarkably calm: "After I went blind, I could only rely on sound to recognize people. If I hear their voices again, I will definitely recognize them"

The eight sides face the sky, resembling eight bottomless pits

Qiu Shuijing looked at the boy who was crawling on the ground, and after a moment, said: "What I say naturally counts. However, do you have any money?"

Su Yun believed that this situation was part of the treatment for his eye ailment, and thus did not inform Qiu Shuijing of the abnormalities he experienced during his cultivation, leading to Qiu Shuijing's misunderstanding

However, even if your learning is the same as that of the scholars, and your knowledge is equal, you may not necessarily achieve the success of a carp leaping over the dragon gate. This is because the sons of noble families possess distinguished family backgrounds and extensive connections, all of which require you to spend over a decade, or even several decades, to catch up. Is this fair

He shook his head and said: "What I am going to teach you is the latest and most fundamental foundational technique from the official schools in the capital, the 'Transformation of the Great Furnace and Cultivation of Qi'.

After the massacre event last night, these fearless little foxes have become somewhat fearful of humans

Qiu Shuijing pondered and said: "Did Master Wild Fox teach you and take your money?"

Among them are quite a few of their classmates, and Hua Hu and those little foxes inevitably had another big cry

Qiu Shuijing patted his student's shoulder and said earnestly: "That is wildness. The wildness of the countryside! A wildness that the scholars of the city do not possess!"