Catalog of Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist Contemplation Methods

Contemplation Society

When Li Xijun entered again, the quiet atmosphere of the nine-story pavilion, cut off from all outside sounds, struck him with particular clarity.

The nine-story wooden pavilion looked no different from an ordinary library.

Yet the feeling of being divided into two separate worlds truly carried a hint of immortal means.

Especially when

Li Xijun, now at the peak of Orifice Opening, looked again at the plaque that read, "That which is sacred yet unknowable is called divine,"

the powerful spiritual will emanating from its brushstrokes and ink seemed to carry a faint sense of eternal indestructibility.

It made Li Xijun feel insignificant beneath the boundless heavens and earth.

The pressure from this single piece of calligraphy is even greater than when I first encountered Su Nianyi in the cafeteria.

It seems the Spirit-Refining System in this world can reach much higher realms.

It definitely has broader prospects than the psychic power talents from before.

Li Xijun grew increasingly eager for the second realm of spirit refinement and walked straight toward the middle-aged scholar in a long robe at the first-floor desk.

"Huh? Young man, you actually became an Orifice Opening cultivator?"

Before Li Xijun could speak, the man looked up from his newspaper, swept his gaze over him, and revealed a surprised expression.

The man's words made Li Xijun's body stiffen.

He had not expected the man to tell at a glance that he was an Orifice Opening Realm cultivator.

"Heh heh, young man, there's no need to be so surprised. The bearing and eyes of ordinary people and Spirit-Refining Cultivators are worlds apart."

"Not to mention that in all my years at the Contemplation Society, I've seen countless people who entered Orifice Opening and came here to buy introductory texts for the Spirit Solidification Realm."

"Even Spirit Solidification Realm cultivators could recognize you as a fellow spirit refiner in your current state."

From the sound of it,

the man could merely tell that he had entered the Orifice Opening Realm and differed from ordinary people.

It was not that he possessed some method that could directly discern his exact spirit-refinement realm. Li Xijun secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He hurriedly bowed respectfully and said,

"Senior's insight is truly sharp. This junior has indeed been cultivating in the Orifice Opening Realm for some time."

"I came this time to obtain an introductory text for the Spirit Solidification Realm as soon as possible."

The middle-aged scholar was quite satisfied with Li Xijun's attitude. He lightly stroked his goatee, tossed the newspaper aside, and rose to walk toward the stairs.

"Young man, just call me Mister Jia. Follow me."

Naturally, Li Xijun went along with it and followed Mister Jia up the stairs.

One behind the other, they passed through the second, third, and fourth floors, which were filled with Confucian classics, Taoist scriptures, and Buddhist sutras, before finally reaching the somewhat emptier fifth floor, where there was only a single bookshelf.

Because the floor was so empty, Li Xijun immediately spotted the thread-bound copy of "Spirit Solidification Realm Introductory Guide" in the middle of the shelf, along with the price marked below it: two hundred taels of silver.

Mister Jia did not put on any airs. He led Li Xijun straight over and handed him "Spirit Solidification Realm Introductory Guide."

Li Xijun hurriedly reached into his robes for silver, but this time the middle-aged scholar was unusually lenient.

"Ah, no rush, no rush. You can pay for the book after you finish reading it."

This seemed different from the strict rule during his first visit, where he had been required to buy before reading.

It made Li Xijun somewhat wary. He silently activated the warning mode and toxin detection of his Nano Protective Suit.

Only after confirming that there really was no problem

did he begin reading "Spirit Solidification Realm Introductory Guide" page by page.

As usual, the author was arrogantly full of himself while describing the might of the Spirit Solidification Realm.

First, it was exactly as Li Xijun had thought.

Cultivation in the Spirit Solidification Realm began strengthening one's soul, granting Spirit-Refining Cultivators power beyond the mundane.

Although the Spirit Solidification Realm still could not project spiritual power outward,

upon reaching minor accomplishment in the Spirit Solidification Realm, one could already begin using one's mind and spirit to refine and wield Mystic Items.

Among Mystic Items, the most famous and widespread were Flying Swords forged from Blood Vein Cord smelted by those Taoist alchemy practitioners.

Such Flying Swords were extraordinarily sharp and could easily pierce rock.

With one, a cultivator at minor accomplishment in the Spirit Solidification Realm could easily kill a Tendons and Bones Realm martial artist.

If they acted with intent against an unprepared opponent, especially through a sudden ambush, killing a Viscera Refinement Realm martial master was not impossible either.

A cultivator at major accomplishment in the Spirit Solidification Realm could begin using their soul to influence an enemy's mind.

For example, they could intimidate an enemy's mind, causing a brief blank in the opponent's thoughts during battle, or confuse the opponent's mind and induce them to speak the truth.

After boasting enough, the book followed its usual pattern and explained the entire cultivation process and every detail of the Spirit Solidification Realm with great thoroughness.

When Li Xijun turned to the final few pages,

the soothing words from the last page of "Introduction to Spirit Refinement" appeared again.

The path of martial cultivation is simplest at the Skin and Flesh Realm. One need only have sufficient Medicinal Baths and great medicines; even a mediocre talent or rotten timber can cultivate successfully.

At the Tendons and Bones Realm, however, martial cultivators need talent beyond ordinary people. With an unbroken supply of Medicinal Baths and great medicines, they can achieve it in half a year. Those of somewhat better aptitude need only work hard for three years to complete their tendons and bones, while those of poorer talent will remain stuck here for life.

Yet we Spirit Solidification cultivators possess souls beyond the mundane. Once spirit refinement reaches minor accomplishment, we can easily and precisely guide qi and blood to temper our tendons and bones, something ordinary martial men cannot achieve. With no lack of Medicinal Baths or great medicines, Greater Bone and Tendon Refinement can be achieved in merely three or four months—bronze skin and iron bones, flawless and complete.

Li Xijun kept nodding as he read. According to the book, October Viscera Refining seemed entirely achievable.

So here was the question.

Your "Spirit Solidification Realm Introductory Guide" had droned on about so much.

Where was my Contemplation Method?!

The most crucial Contemplation Method was missing from your book?!

Li Xijun silently turned his gaze toward the middle-aged scholar standing beside him.

The man seemed to have expected this. Seeing Li Xijun's speechless expression, he laughed heartily as he stroked his goatee, pulled out a copy of "Catalog of Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist Contemplation Methods" from his sleeve, and handed it over.

"After the war between the East and West, the imperial court did promote spirit-refinement methods, allowing many commoners and students to become cultivators."

"But Contemplation Methods are of paramount importance. They are the foundation of the later realms of spirit refinement, and neither Buddhism, Taoism, nor even Confucianism would lightly pass them on to outsiders."

"According to the Contemplation Society's rules, I have two proposals for you."

"First, if you swear an oath upon your soul to join our Dasheng Contemplation Society and receive a salary from the imperial court from now on, I can make the decision to give you a mid-grade Contemplation Method."

"Second, you may spend another three hundred taels of silver to buy a basic low-grade Contemplation Method here."

"The quality of a Contemplation Method determines the future path of spirit refinement. Young man, you should think carefully."

Mister Jia's words plunged Li Xijun into silence.

As he read through the "Catalog of Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist Contemplation Methods" handed to him, his brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

According to its contents,

Contemplation Methods were the fundamental cultivation methods of Spirit-Refining Cultivators.

Low-grade Contemplation Methods could only cultivate one to major accomplishment in the Spirit Refinement Realm.

Mid-grade Contemplation Methods could cultivate one to major accomplishment in the Sitting in Oblivion Realm.

High-grade Contemplation Methods could cultivate one to major accomplishment in the Embryonic Breathing Realm.

The very best were the supreme Contemplation Methods of Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist sects across the land, which could cultivate one to major accomplishment in Manifestation of Sagehood.

Not only that,

starting from mid-grade Contemplation Methods, each came with its own special enhancements.

The foremost Contemplation Methods of the three teachings even came with accompanying Mystical Power Spells in the later Embryonic Breathing Realm and Manifestation of Sagehood Realm.

For instance, Great Enlightenment Temple's supreme Contemplation Method, "Dragon Elephant Bodhisattva Demon-Slaying Contemplation," possessed Mystical Power Spells such as Dragon Elephant Sanskrit Chanting and the eight-armed, weapon-wielding Asura Dharma Protector.

During the great war between the Eastern and Western Continents, that Manifestation of Sagehood Realm abbot manifested the Great Dragon Elephant Vajra Prajna Bodhisattva Heart-Image and, wielding Mystical Power Spells, fought across realms and killed three high-grade Potion Sequence 2 powerhouses of the Black Night Church by himself, shaking the world.

The Eternal Life Taoist Temple near Jinmen possessed the mid-grade "Twenty-Four Rank White Lotus Salvation Chart" and the high-grade "Eternal Life Salvation Mother Vacuum Contemplation," which respectively granted the abilities to attack and kill souls, and to hide in the void and shift through space.

As for the basic Contemplation Method bought for three hundred taels of silver, it was essentially a blank slate, and its cultivation efficiency and progress were far inferior to those Contemplation Methods.

Sure enough, this is still a feudal society. Their control over cultivation techniques is simply too strict, Li Xijun sighed inwardly.

Opportunities like the Main World Federation, where one could purchase cultivation technique copyrights with money or exchange university credits for all kinds of cultivation techniques and Outer Scenery Moves, were ultimately rare.

But with the Grand Luo Mark and a boundless future ahead of him, he was even less likely to join the Contemplation Society.

"Give me a basic Contemplation Method first."

He planned to cultivate a basic blank-slate method for now, then find a chance to obtain a better one later.

But how was he supposed to get his hands on such a good Contemplation Method?

Li Xijun recalled the rumors that Su Qiuzhen was connected to the Eternal Life Taoist Temple.