Teaching

"Now that you have entered the outer sect, you must cultivate diligently. Strive to condense a wisp of spiritual power as soon as possible and step into Qi Refining Layer One."

"After reaching Qi Refining Layer One, you may collect one spiritual pill each month from the Outer Sect Affairs Hall to aid your cultivation. This is a benefit the sect provides to Outer Disciples," the steward reminded them at last.

"This disciple understands." Su Bai thanked him and carried his belongings out of the line.

Having collected his Outer Disciple supplies,

Su Bai did not leave immediately. Instead, he stood to one side and waited briefly.

Before long, Wu Tian, who had been behind him in line, emerged carrying a bundle as well.

"Which courtyard were you assigned to?" Su Bai asked.

"Brother Su, I was assigned to Courtyard 122, Room 6." Wu Tian waved the Jade Talisman in his hand.

"Mm, I'm in Courtyard 32, Room 4."

The two courtyards lay in different directions, one east and one west.

Their paths now diverged.

Su Bai and Wu Tian exchanged courtyard numbers and agreed to meet again whenever they had time.

Then they headed toward their respective residences.

There were several hundred residences in the Outer Disciple Courtyard. Each courtyard could house ten Outer Disciples and had one experienced Outer Disciple serving as the Housekeeping Disciple.

Following the signs, Su Bai arrived at Courtyard 32.

It was the same sort of blue-brick, tiled-roof house.

In theory, every courtyard could accommodate ten Outer Disciples.

A faint Magic Array surrounded the courtyard gate.

Those who did not belong to the courtyard and did not hold a Jade Talisman could not enter the corresponding courtyard.

Su Bai presented his Jade Talisman and lightly pressed it against the Magic Array. The array on the gate immediately dispersed, allowing him to push the gate open and enter.

Once inside, the courtyard's spacious layout came into view.

The courtyard was built in the style of a siheyuan. The residences stood to the west, while a rather broad little yard occupied the middle. Looking up, the azure sky seemed close enough to touch.

Dozens of Green Bamboo stalks stood straight and tall at the center of the courtyard.

Beside the bamboo stood several Stone Tables and stone chairs.

At that moment, a Senior Brother who looked to be in his twenties sat beside one of the Stone Tables.

He appeared to have been waiting specifically for Su Bai. Upon seeing him enter, he asked, "Are you Su Bai?"

Su Bai cupped his hands. "Greetings, Senior Brother. This disciple is Su Bai. I only entered the sect today and hope for your guidance."

The Senior Brother nodded slightly. "Mm, I have already received word from the Outer Sect Affairs Hall. Junior Brother Su, I already know your basic information."

"I am Zhou Chang, the Housekeeping Senior Brother of Courtyard 32. You may call me Senior Brother Zhou."

"Senior Brother Zhou!" Su Bai said, cupping his hands again.

"Mm. Since you have entered the Immortal Sect, cultivation should be your foremost priority. Make haste and cultivate. Go settle your things, then come back here. I will first explain the key points of cultivating the first layer of the Radiant Qi Refining Technique to you."

Zhou Chang spoke as though he were an impatient man.

Su Bai naturally could not have wished for more.

Holding his Jade Talisman, he quickly found Room 4 in the courtyard.

It was a simple one-bedroom, one-living-room dwelling, and everyday necessities such as bedding were all brand-new.

The cushion for seated cultivation was made from the fur of some unknown beast, and it was exceptionally comfortable to sit upon.

Su Bai had little luggage. After changing into the Outer Disciple's daoist robe, he carried the Radiant Qi Refining Technique into the courtyard.

Zhou Chang had already been waiting.

"Judging by your bearing, you should be literate, right?"

Su Bai nodded. "I am."

Zhou Chang said, "Mm. First read through the incantation for the first layer of the Radiant Qi Refining Technique yourself and form a rough impression. Then I will explain it to you line by line."

Su Bai opened the booklet and looked down.

As radiant clouds first appeared, the spirit platform cleared. Draw qi into the body, and the hundred meridians first opened. Let the heart be still water, let intent follow the radiance...

The first-layer incantation was only a little over fifty characters long, yet every line was packed with obscure and stubbornly difficult profundities.

Without someone to explain it, it truly would have been difficult to understand.

After Su Bai read through it once, Zhou Chang began explaining. "The Radiant Qi Refining Technique is the foundational qi refinement art of our Jade Mist Sect. Its quality surpasses that of ordinary Qi Refining Techniques outside."

"It uses the absorption of Heaven and Earth's radiant glow as an aid, helping first-time cultivators refine Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy for their own use."

"Therefore, cultivating this technique at the moment the Rising Sun first emerges each day yields twice the result with half the effort."

"Of course, cultivating at ordinary times is not affected in the slightest."

"Sit cross-legged and sink your qi into your Dantian."

After seeing Su Bai comply, Zhou Chang continued to guide him. "At the start of cultivation, your mind must be free of stray thoughts, with your intent guarding the spirit platform. Only when your heart is still as water can you sense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy. If your heart is restless and your qi impetuous, Spiritual Energy will struggle to enter, and your efforts will be in vain."

"The Spiritual Energy at Jade Mist Sect's mountain gate is several times denser than outside, making it much easier to sense."

"Cast away your distracting thoughts. Can you sense anything?"

"..."

Under Zhou Chang's hands-on guidance,

Su Bai, who had copied a Three Spirit Root, actually sensed Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy.

In his meditative state, he could sense countless Spiritual Energy particles of different colors dancing around his body.

Among them, the blue, red, and green Spiritual Energy particles were especially active.

Some Spiritual Energy particles were drawn by his spirit roots and automatically merged into his body.

But these were only a small number, still far from enough to condense his own Spiritual Power.

What Su Bai needed to do was guide this Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy into his body and open all the hundred meridians throughout him.

Once All Hundred Meridians Opened, his speed of absorbing Spiritual Energy would greatly increase, and he could then attempt to condense Spiritual Power within his Dantian.

Once he condensed his first wisp of Spiritual Energy, he would have reached Qi Refining Layer One.

In the blink of an eye, more than two hours had passed.

In just a short time, under Zhou Chang's instruction, Su Bai had sensed Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy and begun opening his meridians.

"Your comprehension is good. You learn quickly. Next, you may return to your room and cultivate on your own."

"Qi Refining Layer One is the beginning of the Immortal Path. It requires accumulation day after day and must not be neglected."

"No matter how lazy your nature may be, you must cultivate during that hour each Early Morning when the Rising Sun first emerges. Do you understand?"

Su Bai nodded. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother Zhou."

"No need to be polite. This is the duty of a Housekeeping Disciple. The sect has already rewarded me with spiritual pills," Zhou Chang said.

Though it was a duty, Su Bai thought, there were probably quite a few Housekeeping Disciples who could not be as responsible as Zhou Chang.

In the end, it was because Zhou Chang himself possessed a kind and upright character.

Su Bai could not help but develop a few more favorable feelings toward him.

"Senior Brother Zhou, are there only the two of us in Courtyard 32?" Su Bai asked curiously.

Zhou Chang shook his head. "Your two Senior Brothers are in Room 2 and Room 3. They arrived in the past few days as well. Both are very diligent. After I taught them the incantation, they have stayed in their rooms cultivating except for their three daily meals."

"The Recruitment Ceremony is still ongoing. More Disciples should be sent here one after another over the next few days."

"Every time a Junior Brother arrives, I have to personally teach him the incantation."

"I still have plenty to keep me busy!"

Su Bai said, "Why not wait until all the Junior Brothers have arrived, Senior Brother, and teach everyone together?"

Zhou Chang replied, "Wouldn't that waste too much time? The path of cultivation is a race against every second. Sometimes, being short by just a Period of Time can mean the body begins to decline, leaving one unable to break through to the next realm, with no hope left for the Immortal Path."

"Explaining it to each one as he arrives is also because I hope you can enter the state of cultivation as early as possible and understand that cultivation requires racing against every second!"

He was a good person, Su Bai thought as he looked at Zhou Chang.