Yu Zhou and the others were still discussing the cause of Nan Songziâs death. Their final conclusion was that his greed had led to his downfall. He had attempted to seize a powerful body for possession and set his sights on a wandering demon. Just as he was about to succeed, however, he had unknowingly provoked Xie Liang, ultimately bringing disaster upon himself.
Yu Ci also found this explanation the most reasonable.
After reaching a consensus, the atmosphere became more relaxed. Seizing the moment, Yu Ci voiced a small question that had been lingering in his mind.
“Corrupt cultivators, that’s what we call them?”
Daoist Hai Yang, being straightforward and outspoken, was quite familiar with Yu Zhou and Xie Liang. This familiarity extended to Yu Ci as well, prompting him to take the initiative in answering before the other two could.
In the cultivation world, there existed a group of people who, due to either their lack of talent or missed opportunities, saw no hope for immortality. With their paths cut off, they simply gave up on cultivation, indulging in a life of debauchery and pleasure. Some even took it a step furtherâsince they couldn’t progress in cultivation themselves, they sought to sabotage others. Their despicable actions were so vile that they were abhorred by both gods and demons alike. Such individuals were known as the parasites of the cultivation world, formally referred to as “corrupt cultivators.”
“The world is full of demonic cultivators and ruthless figures who do whatever it takes to strengthen their cultivation, often at the expense of others. However, as long as they still desire immortality and seek the Dao, they have some reservations. But these parasites? They’ve already given up on their lives. Their minds are filled with twisted and absurd thoughts, and they even commit acts that harm others without benefiting themselves, just for temporary satisfaction. They have no bottom line, and some of their deeds are simply horrifying⌔
As Hai Yang spoke, his voice grew louder, reflecting his deep-seated disgust, likely stemming from personal encounters with such individuals.
Listening to this, Yu Ci had another thought: if that were the case, then Nan Songzi didnât fully fit the definition of a corrupt cultivator. At the very least, Yu Ci knew that the man harbored an intense desire for immortality and was entirely focused on reaching the Void Stepping realm. Compared to that, his obsession with Murong Qingyan seemed secondary.
However, there was another person in his memoriesâŚ
At that moment, his gaze fell upon the tattered piece of red gauze, and he sighed slightly. So this thing was called a Peach Blossom Canopy. He had seen it beforeâin the Twin Immortal Sect.
Immortal Chi Yin wouldn’t have been interested in such an item, but her brother, Great Immortal Zi Lei, was definitely someone who indulged in such pleasures.
Zi Lei was lustful, while Chi Yin was bloodthirsty.
Chi Yin was unpredictable and had killed countless people, earning widespread hatred. However, Zi Lei’s lecherous depravity was even more despicable. He often indulged with multiple w0men in a single day, and aside from his younger sister Chi Yin, whom he dared not touch, he did as he pleased. Even the young girls in their sect werenât spared from his predations. Hanging above his bed was a canopy of the same crimson fabric, which glowed eerily at night. Within its confines, he committed countless atrocities, ruining the lives of many beautiful w0men.
Yu Ci wonderedâwas that scum still alive today?
Back then, he had sensed that this pair of siblings had a deep yearning for immortality. Chi Yin, at least, possessed a strong will and a clear purpose, adhering to her own set of principles. Zi Lei, on the other hand, lacked his sister’s discipline and often delayed his cultivation due to his indulgences. His pursuit of immortality was driven more by his fear of death and his desire to extend his hedonistic lifestyle.
A man like him⌠perhaps the term “corrupt cultivator” suited him best.
At that moment, Yu Ci’s thoughts drifted to Immortal Chi Yin, who was far away in Cliff City. A fire seemed to ignite within his heart.
*****
Whether by coincidence or karma, the matter of the demon and Nan Songzi had been resolved in an almost theatrical fashion.
At Sky Rift Valley, the battle to exterminate demons and seal the passage between realms had reached a critical point. Xie Liang couldn’t afford to delay any longer. The day after slaying both the demon and Nan Songzi, he returned to the front lines. Due to the shortage of manpower in the sect, Hai Yang also left two days later, returning the Heart Prohibition Temple to its usual quiet state.
Yu Ci sat cross-legged in meditation within his private chamber. Though surrounded by four walls, his consciousness expanded into an endless void of darkness and emptiness. This was the “Void Within the Mind,” a mental space derived from his cultivation of the Primordial Origin Qi Techniqueâa place where mental imagery could be formed.
Though he had yet to fully grasp the method of forming his inner image, it wasnât as if he had made no progress at all. Within this dark void, a bright moon had manifested, radiating a faint halo of light that spread outward.
In this Void Within the Mind, all forms were considered mental images, each holding special significance, representing aspects of his own beingâhis body and soul. This bright moon, for instance, was an imprint of his more than ten years of cultivation.
However, Yu Ci hadn’t deliberately drawn this moon; it had appeared on its own the moment he thought about it. This blurred the linesâwas it a mental image, or had it become an inherent part of his Void Within the Mind?
Despite his uncertainty, the appearance of this bright moon gave him a sense of direction.
With its illumination, the boundless darkness seemed to stir, as though something was being nurtured within. A hidden current coursed through the void, and Yu Ci knew that his task now was to gather the fragmented darkness and bring it into focus.
According to standard cultivation theory, in the Primordial Origin Qi Technique, the process of transforming “physical imagery” into “mental imagery” was akin to refining the Yin Spiritâa practice belonging to the mid-level stage of Divine Connectivity. Within this process, there existed a method for purification known as “cleansing the void, leaving no speck of dust behind.”
Of course, in the Primordial Origin Qi Technique, these were merely the preliminary steps to cleanse the “canvas,” with the real focus being on depicting the mental image.
Yu Ci did not work behind closed doors; he had once sought guidance from the old daoist Yu Zhou. However, the old daoist followed the style of practicality, which emphasized empirical verification and was rather cautious about such mystical perceptions. Still, he recalled that a junior brother in the Practical Hall had successfully cultivated this method and promised to ask for his insights on Yu Ciâs behalf.
Yu Ci was quite looking forward to this because, if nothing else, the Practical Hall’s accumulated experiences were often highly feasible, very different from Xie Liangâs approach, which emphasized personal comprehension.
At the same time, prompted by the old daoistâs advice, Yu Ci also realized that seeking guidance from others and broadening his perspective was a good approach. So, aside from consulting a few senior brothers in the temple who had successfully condensed their Yin Spirits, he also wrote letters to two exceptionally talented disciples from sects he was acquainted with.
Li Youâs reply arrived quickly and was extremely conciseâjust three words:
“Spare me, please!”
That guy truly wasnât suited for this sort of thing.
Yu Ci wasnât surprised. Two days later, he received Meng Weiâs response.
At that moment, Yu Ci was on his way to a small valley for cultivation. Coincidentally, just as he was about to leave the temple gates, the reply from the sect arrived, so he took it along with him to the valley.
Li Youâs response could be understood in a single glance, but Meng Weiâs was a carefully written reply in neat, flawless small script. After just a few glances, Yu Ci straightened his posture and focused his mind.
“âŚThe mental image is highly individual, differing from person to person. I can hardly offer specific suggestions, but regarding the act of depiction itself, I do have a few thoughts.”
“The four branches of our sect each have different focuses: the Virtue Halls emphasizes perception, the Scholarly Hall emphasizes reasoning, the Disciplinary Hall emphasizes rules, and the Practical Hall emphasizes effectiveness. Each branch has its own priorities in cultivation. Senior Uncle Xie, with his extraordinary talent, has mastered all three branchesâVirtue, Scholarly, and Discipline. His Primordial Origin Qi Technique has even been praised by our elders as âa method that integrates all three branches to perfection.â Thus, the essence of these three branches must be reflected within it.”
“From your letter, it seems that you place more emphasis on perception. However, the reasoning of the Scholarly Hall and the structure of the Disciplinary Hall cannot be ignored. Otherwise, relying solely on perception may lead to illusion and delusion. You must be cautious.”
Yu Ci nodded repeatedlyâthis was spot on. His current difficulty likely stemmed from this very issue of “illusion versus reality.” Self-reflection was not something that could be achieved through mere guesswork.
Next, Meng Wei expanded on Xie Liangâs personality and scholarly approach, aligning perfectly with Yu Ciâs own thoughts when he first studied the Qi Cultivation Method. However, Meng Weiâs understanding of Xie Liang far surpassed his own.
“Senior Uncle Xie advocates that âprincipleâ is the source of the Great Dao. He seeks an all-encompassing principle that embraces all things under heaven. That is his philosophy, and I will not comment on it. However, I believe that you must also have your own guiding principle. This will serve as the framework of your mental imageâthe unifying spirit that runs through it all.”
“As for structure, though I am not skilled in painting, I do know that before setting brush to paper, one must plan and organize, forming a fundamental structure in mind. Otherwise, painting without a framework will lead to disorder. If you are unsure what structure to follow, I can share some wisdom imparted by our master:”
“The most fundamental and simplest structure in our sect is the balance of oppositesâone positive, one negative; one Yin, one Yang; one active, one still. Everything under heaven follows from this and evolves from it. In my cultivation of the Dispersing Mist Sword Technique, the Relentless Sword moves outward while the Pine-patterned Sword guards withinâthis, too, follows the same principle.”
“If you truly do not know what structure to adopt, you may start with this method. Even if you modify it in the future, you will be able to evolve from it without hindering your cultivation⌔
Yu Ci walked forward slowly, reading the letter from beginning to end, then reading it a second time before carefully storing it away. He sighed inwardly:
“These are words of gold and jade!”
He realized that, like Li You, he now deeply admired Meng Wei. This senior sister, who had reached the Core Refinement stage in just twenty-eight years, was undoubtedly a true genius. She had precisely pinpointed the flaws he had neglected over the past few days and provided a highly practical solution.
Taking a deep breath, Yu Ci felt an immense sense of clarity.
The feeling of being within a sect was truly wonderfulâthere were masters who imparted teachings and fellow disciples to exchange knowledge with. Compared to his past years of struggling alone, it was like the difference between heaven and earth.
He grinned.
Just then, a mountain breeze blew against his face, and his smile suddenly froze.
Carried on the wind was a scent he recognized all too wellâone that had no reason to be here. With his keen sense of smell, he immediately identified it:
Peach Blossom Canopy?
The scentâs source was four miles away.
His heart thudded heavily, and his steps came to an abrupt halt. At that moment, he felt a chilling presence sweeping down from the snow-covered ridges of the mountainsâlike a hidden beast lurking within the dense forest, its eyes gleaming, its fangs flashing with an icy light.
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