This trial was effortless for him. Xie Liang was somewhat surprised and gave him a few glances. “You certainly have an open mind.”
No matter how profound Xie Liang’s abilities were, he couldn’t possibly know the full extent of Yu Ci’s life experiences, nor could he comprehend the depth of Yu Ci’s independent and resilient heart. However, this saved a lot of trouble.
“Now that your obsessions are gone, the meditation technique you have practiced for over ten years is no longer a hindrance but a help. Moreover, you have also mastered the Qi Infusion Technique. With all the necessary preparations in place, I shall now pass this technique on to you.”
Yu Ci’s spirit was lifted, and he listened intently. He heard Xie Liang continue:
“My ‘Primordial Origin Qi Technique’ uses Contemplation for initiation, but its core lies in the technique of drawing talismans. The ‘mental image’ I mentioned before must be drawn stroke by stroke using the method of ‘script-illustration’. In this process, all mental techniques serve merely as guides—the true foundation lies in the mental image and its materialization.
“You are skilled in talisman techniques, so you should understand the principles of painting. The boundless void within your mind is your canvas, the mental technique is your brush, and your essence, Qi, and spirit are the ink. Your mental image roams freely, essence flows, and Qi spreads, allowing you to naturally manifest your true self. This is a simple principle, yet one must remain mindful of it at all times. Focus your spirit—I shall grant you the brush!”
Xie Liang’s words struck Yu Ci like a revelation. They aligned perfectly with his previous insights when he had marveled at Old Daoist Yu Zhou’s sword illusion of fish and dragons. Perhaps Xie Liang had used some special method while speaking, for Yu Ci felt his mind clear as if immersed in enlightenment. His spirit naturally adhered to the teachings, comprehending and memorizing the method without realizing how time passed.
*****
When Yu Ci awakened from his hazy state, daylight had already filled the room.
Xie Liang remained seated in the same place, seemingly unchanged.
Yu Ci squinted against the sunlight filtering through the window. Despite having memorized thousands—perhaps tens of thousands—of words overnight, his mind remained clear and sharp, as if all he had done was receive a brush from Xie Liang’s hands.
As Xie Liang had said, all mental techniques were merely the “brush tip” for forming images. Whether or not he remembered the exact words was unimportant—what mattered was that he now held “the brush” in his hand and had placed it within his mind.
Yu Ci closed his eyes and could vividly sense a large brush, dripping with ink, suspended in midair, ready to move yet motionless. It awaited his first stroke—but what should he draw?
At that moment, Xie Liang asked, “Did you receive the brush?”
Yu Ci solemnly nodded. “Yes.”
“Good.” Xie Liang nodded in satisfaction, then stood up and made his way toward the door.
Yu Ci was startled and quickly jumped up. “Daoist Master, please wait! I still have doubts!”
Xie Liang paused, turned his head slightly, and said, “Speak.”
Yu Ci opened his mouth but suddenly realized he had nothing to ask. In truth, he understood everything, yet he hadn’t expected that such an extraordinary technique as the ‘Primordial Origin Qi Technique’ could be fully imparted in just one night. He had originally planned to spend three to five years diligently studying its mysteries!
Seeing his expression, Xie Liang could roughly guess his thoughts and said:
“If you had failed to grasp it last night, then even if you spent three years making up for it, the result might not surpass what you gained in a single night. You… did well.”
With that, he nodded toward Yu Ci and strode out the door.
Yu Ci respectfully bowed deeply to Xie Liang’s departing figure. Only those like him, who had personally experienced the helplessness of having no path to cultivate, could truly understand how invaluable a good teacher was.
The cultivation of the ‘Primordial Origin Qi Technique’ involved three main steps.
Using Xie Liang’s analogy from last night, the first step was to use the meditation technique to lay out the “canvas.” In terms of mental techniques, this was known as the “Void Within the Mind”—the space where mental images would later be formed. Yu Ci already had a foundation in Contemplation and had freed himself from past obsessions, so this step posed no difficulty for him.
The second step was to “grasp the brush” through talisman-drawing techniques. This required not only a deep understanding of talisman artistry but also the ability to project one’s own “materialized image” onto the “brush” and then connect it with the “mental image.” This was the subtle brilliance of this innate Qi cultivation method.
At this moment, the crucial role of Xie Liang became evident. In just two hours before nightfall, he personally guided Yu Ci, instructing him in meticulous detail—from his skin, flesh, and blood, to his muscles, meridians, internal organs, and even his spirit and thoughts. It was as if he had drawn countless guiding lines, encompassing every aspect of form and spirit, allowing their energies to be systematically gathered onto the “brush” in Yu Ci’s mind. From then on, when the “brush” moved, so did his form and spirit. The “mental image” drawn by the “brush” was an extension of his own “physical form.”
Only a genius like Xie Liang, the creator of this method, could guide Yu Ci in simplifying the complex, transforming the difficult into the easy, and completing this vast undertaking in just one night. Thanks to this step, when it came to the third stage—sketching the mental image—Yu Ci could detach himself from the tedious details of Qi circulation and meridian flow, allowing him to focus his will and concentrate solely on shaping and enriching his mental image.
“This is truly marvelous!”
Yu Ci finally understood why this technique had been honored in the Grandmaster’s Hall upon its creation. Even with his limited understanding, he had already glimpsed an entirely new world beyond his imagination.
The canvas was spread, and the brush was in hand. The only problem now was—how should he begin his mental image?
*****
In the blink of an eye, more than ten days had passed, and the coldest part of winter was over.
Yu Ci still hadn’t found his mental image.
However, Xie Liang, who had taught him the method, was not surprised. In his view, there were two kinds of people in the world who could cultivate this technique: The first were those who already had a deep understanding of their own “physical form,” at least those who had successfully refined their Yin Spirit. With a solid foundation, they only needed to master the method to achieve a “mental image.” The second were those who lacked a clear understanding of their “physical form,” meaning that in the process of sketching their “mental image,” they would also be deepening their knowledge of themselves—something that couldn’t be accomplished in just ten days or half a month.
So, after imparting the method, everyone’s focus shifted to hunting demons.
A vicious and cunningly intelligent demon was lurking nearby, posing a serious threat to most of the outer disciples and guest daoists of Heart Prohibition Temple.
As one of the most powerful fighters below the Core Formation stage in the temple, Yu Ci temporarily set aside his studies of the Primordial Origin Qi Technique and joined his fellow disciples in assisting the elders in searching the surrounding mountains.
“There’s nothing within a fifty-mile radius.”
Yu Ci had used the Divine Map countless times to scan the area, and he was certain of his conclusion. The elders had also come to the same judgment and shifted their focus outward. The farther they searched, the broader the area became, making it difficult for Heart Prohibition Temple’s manpower to cover everything. However, Hai Yang, an elder skilled in exorcism and soul-suppressing techniques, found clues by examining animals tainted by demonic energy. He had been performing a special ritual over the past few days to gradually pinpoint the demon’s whereabouts.
The atmosphere grew tense. Then, on a snowy night, everything suddenly erupted.
Yu Ci did not make it to the battle in time—he was still twenty miles away when it happened. He only saw Xie Liang make his move, with dark clouds engulfing the sky and rolling thunder echoing for miles. By the time he arrived, the cunning Core Formation demon had already been reduced to ashes by Xie Liang. But it wasn’t the only casualty.
Nan Songzi!
This was an outcome that no one had expected.
According to Xie Liang, while searching the mountains, he sensed a sudden surge of intense energy fluctuations in the distance. Rushing over, he discovered the demon struggling violently within an illusion formation. Its form clearly showed that its soul was being seized—someone was trying to take over its body.
Xie Liang did not intervene immediately but observed from the sidelines. Once he determined that both parties involved were malevolent, he struck. At that moment, the demon unleashed illusionary techniques from the Myriad Cosmos Sect and even summoned a demonic artifact in a desperate struggle. However, under Xie Liang’s Five Thunders Annihilation, it was instantly reduced to ashes.
The reason they could confirm it was Nan Songzi was because of the illusion formation and techniques from the Myriad Cosmos Sect , as well as a half-burned piece of red gauze—no longer than half a foot—with scorched edges.
This was the demonic artifact that had been summoned, though Xie Liang’s lightning had nearly destroyed it, leaving only a fragment.
Back at Heart Prohibition Temple, the red gauze fragment now lay in Yu Ci’s hands, as the three elders—Yu Zhou, Xie Liang, and Hai Yang—watched him closely.
As someone who had been involved in the battle at Southern Frost Lake, Yu Ci was the most qualified to assess it. He pinched the red gauze between his fingers and felt an abnormal residual heat. When he rubbed it, there was a faint burning sensation. Infusing it with his “Innate True Qi,” he detected a subtle yet distinct fragrance. Sniffing it too deeply made him slightly dizzy. The scent was exactly the same as what he had smelled at Southern Frost Lake, though much fainter.
Based on his understanding, the red mist that had enveloped the lake must have originated from this demonic artifact. Moreover, Nan Songzi’s soul must have relied on it as a vessel after leaving his body.
Yu Ci confirmed his findings.
The red gauze fragment was passed around among the elders. Being well-versed in such matters, they quickly reached a consensus. Finally, Hai Yang spoke:
“It is undoubtedly the Peach Blossom Canopy.”
Hai Yang was a short and stout man with jet-black hair and beard. His voice was so powerful that it echoed through the hall.
Stroking his beard, Yu Zhou added, “The region along the Azure River has been restless in recent years. Demons lurk in hiding, and many rogue cultivators and small sect disciples—especially female cultivators—have been drained of their Yin essence and perished… Who knows if Nan Songzi was responsible for some of those crimes?”
The Peach Blossom Canopy was an infamous artifact in this world. It was crafted using the Yin essence and blood of female cultivators, woven into a gauze canopy, making it a vile and abominable object. Some depraved individuals used it for perverse pleasure, while others took it a step further—sacrificing lives to enhance its power. Nan Songzi was clearly one of the latter.
Given the circumstances, it was evident that after losing his body, Nan Songzi had no other vessel besides this artifact. Now that it had been destroyed by lightning, his soul had undoubtedly been annihilated as well.
Hai Yang laughed heartily. “The heavens are just! Scum like him taint the name of cultivators, and now he has met his end under Brother Xie’s divine thunder—this is nothing but karmic retribution!”
Scum?
Something about Hai Yang’s tone made Yu Ci feel that this term carried a deeper meaning.
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