Yu Ci strolled leisurely through the snowy forest. The crisp, cold air brushed against his face, yet his chest burned with warmth that spread steadily to every part of his body. Even in the chill of a winter morning, he was invigorated, his exposed skin showing no signs of cold.
He stretched out his hand and clenched it firmly. Though his palm was empty, Yu Ci felt as though he had grasped something substantial.
Xie Liang had taken his leave the previous night, heading directly toward the Sky Rift Valley. Before departing, he reaffirmed a promise: once Yu Ci mastered the Qi Infusion Technique, he would be qualified to learn the Primordial Origin Qi Technique, the orthodox foundational cultivation method of the daoist sects.
With Xie Liang’s character, such a promise would not waver, regardless of the scheming of the old daoist, Yu Zhou.
Taking several deep breaths of the frosty air, Yu Ci calmed his fervent emotions. He was now just one step away from grasping the secret to immortality. However, he knew better than to assume this final barrier could be easily overcome. Though he did not fully agree with the old daoist’s theories, there was one point he took to heart:
Immortality is never born of imagination; it is achieved through action.
Even with hope before him, Yu Ci knew he had to confront the challenges of the present.
The Qi Infusion Technique! To gain access to the Primordial Origin Qi Technique, he first needed to conquer the Qi Infusion Technique.
Yesterday, at the Prominent Virtue Hall, he had witnessed the difficulty firsthand. Among the gathered disciples and daoists, some had cultivated for twenty or thirty years and achieved mastery of their Yin Spirit, yet not one met Xie Liang’s standards during their attempts.
Yu Ci had tried once as well. The first recitation of the Purifying Heart Incantation went smoothly. However, the moment he started the second, his spirit and vital Qi clashed with the talisman’s spiritual circuit. The talisman shattered, and his Qi dissipated. This was the harsh reality of attempting the Qi Infusion Technique.
After Xie Liang departed, Yu Ci gave the matter serious thought, contemplating how to approach the task.
After much deliberation, his thoughts shifted away from the Qi Infusion Technique itself. Instead, he decided to examine it from another angle. He reasoned that the Primordial Origin Qi Technique, being Xie Liang’s own creation, must carry his distinct personal style. Thus, that morning, Yu Ci sought out Yu Zhou to inquire about Xie Liang’s temperament and the so-called “Four Paths of Cultivation” he had overheard the previous night. The insights proved invaluable.
Within the Rifting Earth Sect, there existed a fundamental scripture titled the Nine Paths of True Heavenly Mystery Scripture, a text Yu Ci had glimpsed in the Hall of Collective Merit. It was the first among the “boundless myriad methods” he had seen.
This scripture was profound and vast, and due to differences in opportunity, temperament, and intellect among practitioners, its interpretations varied greatly. Over time and through generations of transmission, the sect developed several distinct cultivation approaches, despite originating from the same text. The most representative of these approaches were known as the “Four Paths of Cultivation.”
1. Morality – Attaining the “origin” of the Dao. This path embraces the principles of nature and human sentiment, achieving transcendence through simplicity and the purest understanding of morality.
2. Theory – Attaining the “purity” of the Dao. It pursues the essence of reason within nature and humanity, stripping away all superficiality to focus solely on “reason” as the ultimate truth of the Dao.
3. Discipline – Attaining the “correctness” of the Dao. Beginning with the smallest and most immediate matters, this path disregards abstract ideals, emphasizing steady progress through clear rules and disciplines, gradually aligning with the Dao.
4. Practicality – Attaining the “might” of the Dao. This path focuses on overcoming all obstacles through cultivation and force. It is straightforward, emphasizing power and progress with clarity and determination.
These “Four Paths of Cultivation” were not entirely exclusive. Sect cultivators could master multiple paths, though ideological conflicts often arose.
Xie Liang exemplified this complexity. Entering through the path of Discipline, he later integrated the paths of Morality and Theory, becoming a pivotal figure within the latter. However, he staunchly disapproved of the Practicality path’s “forceful proof of the Dao,” viewing it as straying into heretical extremes.
Leaving aside the complex concepts of longevity, focusing solely on Xie Liang’s actions and words, it was clear that he did not agree with the ‘Empirical Sect’s’ philosophy of “proving the Dao through strength.” Thus, the practice of the ‘Primordial Origin Qi Technique’ or its foundational ‘Qi Cultivation Method’ was unlikely to be achieved through brute force alone.
If one were still fixated on repeatedly drawing talismans a thousand times, hoping their meaning would naturally manifest, that would be the most foolish approach.
Therefore, Yu Ci concentrated on sensing and comprehension.
Having settled his thoughts and calmed his mind, he reached out to pick up a talisman imbued with the ‘Tranquil Heart Spell’. He neither activated it nor attempted to use the Qi Cultivation Method, instead letting it rest lightly in his palm, maintaining a state where it seemed ready to activate but hadn’t yet. This allowed him to sense the shift and flow of divine intent and innate Qi as it resonated with the forces of heaven and earth.
Such subtle and profound sensing wasn’t something that could be achieved overnight. Yu Ci wasn’t in a hurry; he toyed with the talisman as he wandered leisurely through the forest to clear his mind.
He arrived at a spot where the view was relatively open. A light layer of snow covered the ground, glittering under the sunlight, pristine and beautiful. Finding a stone to sit on, he adjusted his breathing briefly and took out the ‘Primordial Origin Qi Technique’.
After last night’s experience, Yu Ci held this talisman scripture in higher regard. Anything recognized by both Xie Liang and Yu Zhou must have greater value than he had originally assumed. Naturally, he wanted to draw inspiration from it.
Unfolding the silk scroll containing the scripture, Yu Ci started reading from the first line, intending to thoroughly understand the general principles and see if he could gain any insights.
He had just read a few lines when he heard birds chirping above.
A bird’s call wasn’t unusual, and Yu Ci considered his focus strong enough to withstand minor distractions. However, the sharp, urgent sound carried a distinctly unfriendly tone.
Since mastering the art of spiritual perception, Yu Ci’s sensitivity to subtle information had greatly improved. He looked up to see an ordinary mountain sparrow perched on a tree branch, its tail feathers long and slender. The bird was staring at him as it chirped, but as soon as he glanced its way, it seemed startled and flew away clumsily.
“Strange,” Yu Ci muttered, displeased at the interruption. There was something odd about the bird—purely a gut feeling. It seemed that wherever it had flown, a faintly discordant energy lingered, which Yu Ci picked up on. However, explaining exactly how it was out of harmony was difficult.
This was just a minor incident in his studies. The serene forest quickly calmed his mind, and he resumed reading the talisman scripture, oblivious to the passage of time. After carefully studying the general principles, dissecting the wording, and contemplating each phrase, he felt he had made some progress. Reluctantly, he closed the scripture and stood up. By now, the sun was high in the sky.
Realizing it was mealtime, Yu Ci began his journey back. The ‘Tranquil Heart Talisman’ in his hand had been replaced several times during the process, and he had grown familiar with it. The flow of divine intent and innate Qi now seemed etched into his palm.
Still, something was missing.
Clear and profound understanding could sometimes become a mental trap. While Xie Liang could layer talismans endlessly with success, younger practitioners like Yu Ci repeatedly failed. There had to be a fundamental difference.
What Yu Ci sought now was a feeling unlike anything he’d experienced before.
While deep in thought, he heard the familiar bird call again.
At that moment, Yu Ci felt a subtle sensation. Peering through the gaps in the forest, he saw a faint figure clad in black daoist robes and a dark crown. In the snow-covered forest, the figure stood out clearly.
The person’s attire was the most traditional daoist style, their form slender, making it hard to discern gender under the loose robes. Strangely, the very bird that had acted so hostile toward Yu Ci was now happily flitting around the person’s outstretched hand, fluttering up and down with remarkable agility.
The stark contrast in treatment caught Yu Ci’s attention. Moreover, could such high-level maneuvers, stopping and starting in such tight spaces, really be performed by an ordinary sparrow?
While pondering this, the daoist withdrew their hand. The sparrow, left without a perch, chirped in mild protest and took flight. Just then, a flock of magpies flew overhead. The sparrow darted toward them, and the air seemed to ripple momentarily. Yu Ci blinked, and when he looked again, the sparrow was gone—replaced by one more magpie among the flock.
“A Flat-feathered Bird!”
Yu Ci exclaimed softly, startled. He had encountered the illusionary techniques of such rare birds before and recognized them instantly.
Hearing his voice, the daoist in the forest turned their head. Due to the angle and the trees, Yu Ci couldn’t clearly see the person’s face but felt certain they weren’t someone from the ‘Heart Prohibition Temple’. Still, anyone capable of taming such a bird should be worth speaking to. Yu Ci nodded and smiled politely. The daoist appeared to smile faintly in return and began walking toward him.
Yu Ci stopped, prepared to exchange a few words. Before he could speak, a voice called sharply from behind him:
“Yu Ci, stand there!”
The tone was rude, but Yu Ci recognized the voice. Without reacting immediately, he turned to the daoist and offered an apologetic nod before pivoting to face the two young men approaching from behind.
As he turned, his peripheral vision caught the daoist’s gaze—a deep, clear, and exquisitely elegant expression.
The daoist seemed inclined to observe and remained standing in the forest.
Meanwhile, the two young men approached Yu Ci.
“Yu Ci, what have you done!”
The speaker was none other than Jin Chuan, the eldest son of the Jin family. Despite his efforts to maintain composure and dignity, his agitated emotions were evident. By his side stood Kuang Yanqi, slightly older and more composed, his thoughts harder to discern.
During their time here, they had likely received some troubling news. The dense network of informants within the Heart Prohibition Temple seemed more extensive than Yu Ci had expected.
Earlier that morning, after seeking advice from Yu Zhou regarding Xie Liang and the Four Paths of Cultivation, Yu Ci had also learned why these two rising talents of the Sun Light Sect had come to this place from the Rifting Earth Sect’s mountain gate.
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