Clear Mirror and Still Water

Linked Mountains University is a long-established powerhouse. Even if the test results are poor, their past performance will prevent them from falling into the category of a weak team. Others will not be complacent because of this. Showing weakness to the enemy will only bring shame upon themselves and will not bring any other benefits. As a strong team, it is safer to stick to the right path.

"Alright, leave this to me. I wouldn't understand what the chief priest is talking about even in class anyway," Si Ming said with a self-deprecating laugh, then remembered the most important thing, "By the way, where is the lottery taking place?"

"Earth Emperor University."

Upon hearing the name, Si Ming suddenly remembered that his high school classmate Yun Yinmo also attended Earth Emperor University. Although she hadn't shown much talent in high school, as a disciple of the Sword-Forging Manor and a descendant of Void Returning Great Grandmaster, her cultivation level must be quite high. Perhaps she had already become a member of Earth Emperor University's martial arts team.

Seeing Si Ming's thoughtful expression, Ke Chajing misunderstood and said, "I suppose you've heard that a student named Wei Mengchen from their school has already advanced to the Spirit Transformation. If I were to draw lots, I probably wouldn't fare well. Whether the draw is good or bad is secondary; if I were to embarrass our Second Martial Arts Club, that would be a grave offense. That's why I wanted to send you or Murong Qing, to prevent Earth Emperor University from becoming too complacent."

Si Ming asked, "Judging from your tone, Non-Self can cause a scene?"

Ke Chajing laughed and said, "No problem, it's not our territory anyway. If we really make a scene, it'll only make them lose face." She was not one to behave herself.

"Then let me go. Murong Qing has already advanced to the Nascent Spirit Transformation, making it easy for them to see through my true strength. Once they discover this, they certainly won't dare to underestimate me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Si Jingyu leaned over and said, "Count me in too, I have nothing else to do anyway."

Si Ming asked suspiciously, "It's just drawing lots, wouldn't it seem strange to send two people?"

"That's easy. You play the role of a young master from the Aristocratic Clan, and I'll play your maid."

Si Jingyu pressed her right hand down on her left, placed her left hand on her left hip, bent her knees together, lowered her head slightly, and said softly, "Young master, would you like me to serve you in bed?"

"... You suddenly pulled this on me, I'm a little flustered."

Accustomed to Si Jingyu's imperious manner, Si Ming was caught off guard by her sudden change to a subservient tone, especially since she acted so convincingly, her soft and sweet voice like a whisper in his ear, as if she had truly become a delicate and easily swayed personal maid.

Seeing this, Ke Chajing panicked a little and quickly reminded him, "Although I said we can make a big scene, we can't kill anyone. We still need to restrain ourselves."

Si Jingyu opened her fan, covered her face, and laughed, "Don't worry, I'm not the type to cause trouble."

Looking at the four characters "This place is shrouded in secrecy" on the fan, Ke Chajing sighed, "Let's hope so."

Chapter 767 Clear Mirror and Still Water

Inside a train compartment.

Although he couldn't absorb solar energy, vacuum Zero-Point Energy was everywhere, which didn't hinder Si Ming from converting spiritual energy to cultivate his the Unseen Internal Cultivation. He could sense that he was about to break through level fourteen and enter a better level, since every two levels of Internal Cultivation was a watershed.

However, a gaze was fixed on him during his cultivation, making him quite uncomfortable. He couldn't help but open his eyes and say, "Are you planning to keep staring at me like this?"

Si Jingyu smiled and said, "My current role is that of your maid, so of course I have to keep a close eye on the young master. It's my duty."

Every time Si Ming heard that title, he felt an itch down his spine and quickly said, "There's no one around now, so there's no need to act."

"No, if I don't take it seriously, how can I fool others? You must know that even the most meticulous plans can have flaws, and the failure of a scheme often begins with seemingly insignificant details."

Si Ming didn't think it was a big deal to be discovered. It wasn't like he was venturing into a dragon's den or a tiger's lair. Even if his identity was exposed, it wouldn't be a big deal. At most, people would suspect him of having strange fetishes. Anyway, there were plenty of people who liked playing role-playing games. For example, there were many masters in martial arts novels who were good at acting and pretending to be crazy. But the other person was in the middle of an exciting time, so he didn't want to spoil the fun. Instead, he advised in a different way, "As a martial artist, you should spend more time on cultivation."

Si Jingyu said, "I am cultivating right now; cultivation is not just about sitting in meditation and circulating internal energy."

Just as Si Ming was about to retort, he suddenly noticed that the other party had used "cultivation" rather than "cultivation." Although the two can be used interchangeably in a broad sense, they are different in a narrow sense. So he focused his attention and observed that Si Jingyu's whole body was empty, her heart, pulse, and breathing had stopped, and all physiological activities were almost non-existent, like an old man waiting to die.

He was surprised and released his spiritual sense to penetrate the other's body for a more detailed observation. Si Jingyu did not resist and allowed the other's spiritual sense to enter his body.

The next moment, Si Ming felt that Si Jingyu's essence, energy, and spirit were all concentrated in his Dantian, forming a round "dan," so that the person was in a state between death and immortality, like a "living dead."

This situation is different from when a martial artist gathers their essence, energy, and spirit to unleash their ultimate move. When unleashing an ultimate move, the martial artist's entire body seems to be burning, and their aura is terrifyingly strong. However, at this moment, Si Jingyu's essence, energy, and spirit are contained within and do not leak out at all. This is the difference between movement and stillness.

"Popularity is qi, condensation is essence, and ingenious application is spirit; it is clear that movement is the normal state of these three, but you are going against the norm..."

Si Ming seemed to understand something. If one is used to the state of condensing essence, energy, and spirit, then unleashing ultimate moves will undoubtedly be much easier and will not put too much burden on the body. In normal combat, one can also ensure that when making a move, one can unleash more than 100% of the power, and when not making a move, one can maintain a perfect state of not losing any True Qi. This is the same principle as "retracting the fist is for a better punch".

If you keep in a punching position, each punch will only have 70-80% of your power. But if you pull back your fist, gather your strength, and then punch again, you can deliver 120% of your power.

In addition, concentrating one's energy and spirit puts the body in a state of full exertion. Once you get used to it, your potential will increase. This is a static cultivation method.

Just as Si Ming was about to express his praise, a sense of déjà vu suddenly surfaced in his mind. Upon closer reflection, he realized, "Isn't this just the training method of Super Saiyans at full power?"

Maintaining the body in Super Saiyans state, making it a habit, and remaining in a static state without consuming ki until the moment of battle, allows one to unleash fighting power beyond their limits. Although the forms are different, the principles are the same.

"Interesting, I'll give it a try."

Without hesitation, Si Ming immediately tried this cultivation method of gathering essence, energy, and spirit into a pill. However, he soon discovered that he couldn't even take the first step.

Gathering essence, energy, and spirit is not difficult; the difficulty lies in gathering them without consuming them. It should be noted that Si Ming's gathering was achieved by forcibly compressing the three elements with external force. This process naturally consumes True Qi. As for maintaining the state afterward, it goes without saying that the True Qi consumed was enormous. It was almost necessary to operate the Vacuum Zero-Energy Furnace at full power to keep up with the consumption. However, when the essence, energy, and spirit were gathered, the body was in a static state and could not absorb external Spiritual Qi to replenish it. He could only watch helplessly as the True Qi in his body was rapidly depleted, and it was completely consumed in less than five minutes.

"This is way too difficult."

Si Ming tried several times, but unsurprisingly, each attempt ended in failure. He realized that if this extreme state of condensing the three elements was so easy to maintain, it wouldn't be necessary to unleash an ultimate technique to enter it. He immediately asked, "How do you manage to condense your essence, energy, and spirit without consuming any vital Primal Qi?"

Si Jingyu said, "It's very simple. I didn't force the three elements to condense; rather, the three elements voluntarily condensed into one."

"How could this be?" Si Ming couldn't believe it; his essence, energy, and spirit had no self-awareness.

"Simply achieve 'a clear and still mind,' a tranquil and serene heart, responding to what comes and letting go of what has passed. With each Clear Mirror and Still Water, the three elements (mind, body, and mind) move accordingly."

This kind of metaphysical understanding cannot be described in concrete words. According to Si Jingyu's own account, the state of mind of "Clear Mirror and Still Water" is the highest State of Mind in the Si Clan's ultimate skill, "Water Moon Precious Mirror." She comprehended it at the moment when her mind and spirit were sublimated during her advancement to the Nascent Spirit Transformation, combining the profound meanings of "True Scripture of Sinful Punishment" and "Dustless and Stainless Glazed Pure Body." Both of these are Cultivation Method that focus on tempering one's character.

The "True Scripture of Sinful Punishment" teaches that by experiencing the suffering of others, one can understand the Paramārtha of compassion and mercy. It is a practice of the Mohist School of "suffering to the extreme," using others as a mirror to illuminate oneself.

"The Dustless and Stainless Glazed Pure Body" speaks of "the mind as clear as a mirror, which should be constantly wiped clean," meaning that through continuous cleansing, the mind can be kept forever pure.

Both of these Cultivation Method contain the imagery of a "mirror," which coincidentally mirrors the "Water Moon Precious Mirror," thus helping Si Jingyu advance three levels and reach a level that only the ancestor of the Si Clan had achieved in hundreds of years. Considering that the ancestor only comprehended this State of Mind at the age of sixty, it is not hard to imagine the shock that would be brought to the clan once Si Jingyu made this public.

"The mind of a sage is like Clear Mirror and Still Water or still water; it reflects things when they come and empties itself when they go. He responds to all things in accordance with their natural order, thus assisting the natural course of all things."

Si Ming tried several times, but was completely baffled. It wasn't that he had a vague understanding; he couldn't even find the entrance. Finally, he had to admit that the Mind-Body Flow method was indeed unsuitable for him. He decided it was better to focus on strengthening his physical body. Rather than "abandoning the boat to learn to swim," he was better suited to "building a large ship."