The Path of Cultivation

Taiji Xuanqing Dao was an unparalleled Daoist Magic of unfathomable profundity, comprehended by the Qingyun Ancestor from the Nameless Ancient Scroll two thousand years ago and refined through generations of Qingyun Sect masters. It seized the Fortune of Heaven and Earth.

Its cultivation progressed from easy to difficult. The first level of the Yuqing Realm alone could trap most people for an entire year before they succeeded. The later realms were even more arduous. The second level required ordinary people four or five years of cultivation, while the third was an even greater dividing line. Those with poor spiritual roots and innate talent might remain trapped there for the rest of their lives, while even those with some talent taking thirty or forty years was nothing unusual.

The first level of the first volume focused on learning to freely control the body's meridians and acupoints, cultivating oneself to the point of drawing qi into the body.

Countless disciples had been trapped at the first level for months on end, unable to draw qi into their bodies.

Even geniuses with exceptional aptitude and spiritual roots could not directly comprehend drawing qi into the body in a single day. Even Xiao Yicai, the Sect Leader's foremost disciple, and Qi Hao, Dao Xuan Zhenren's chief disciple, had needed one or two weeks to grasp it. Lu Xueqi, the heroine of the story, had also spent nine days.

Taiji Xuanqing Dao was already this profound.

Yet the Wuji Xuanqing Dao Su Changqing had comprehended was hundreds of times more profound still.

Of course, this was not Su Changqing's baseless assumption, but a fact laid plainly before him.

At the first level alone, the sign of Taiji Xuanqing Dao reaching great completion was being able to freely open and close every acupoint in the body, guiding spiritual energy into the body's meridians and inner organs to circulate through thirty-six cycles.

When the first level of Wuji Xuanqing Dao reached great completion, it granted not only those abilities but also the power of filtration. It could filter and purify the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, ensuring that the energy entering the body and circulating within it was the purest of the pure. One could imagine how beneficial such spiritual energy would be to the body.

The very first time Su Changqing circulated the Wuji Xuanqing Dao technique, he immediately discovered that Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy had begun flowing toward him.

Upon closer examination, he found that this Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy was incomparably pure. It seemed to have been selected from among the finest spiritual energy in the world, while anything even slightly impure was filtered away.

And that was not all. The might it would display after he attained the Great Dao in the future was even more unimaginable.

After half an incense stick's time had passed.

Su Changqing discovered that he had successfully drawn qi into his body. It flowed through him with extraordinary smoothness, and his cultivation was slowly rising. Though it was slow, compared with others, this was already an astonishing pace.

However, after circulating Wuji Xuanqing Dao for several cycles, his body had become utterly exhausted. His meridians were weary, and his dantian could no longer absorb spiritual energy.

He could not help letting out a long sigh.

This Unrivaled Insight was truly formidable. The Wuji Xuanqing Dao created from altering Taiji Xuanqing Dao was far more difficult to cultivate. Coupled with this body's naturally poor aptitude and spiritual roots, he simply could not cultivate for long periods.

"Master, you..."

Su Changqing softly called out to Shuiyue.

Hearing Su Changqing's call, Master Shui Yue slowly woke from her cultivation and said calmly, "Chang Qing, what is it? Have you encountered something you do not understand in cultivation?"

"Master, this disciple's aptitude is poor. I only cultivated for a short while, yet I already feel tired and weak. I wish to rest for a while and hope Master will understand."

Su Changqing spoke with a bitter smile.

Master Shui Yue looked Su Changqing over and found that he truly was in poor spirits. She silently thought that making someone with such spiritual roots and aptitude cultivate for long periods was indeed difficult for him. She then said, "Yes. You have only just entered the path of cultivation. It is only natural that your body cannot yet bear the hardships of cultivation."

"Wen Min, stop cultivating for now. Find a house within the peak near my residence for Chang Qing to stay in, then go to the other peaks and find some male disciples' clothes for him."

Master Shui Yue instructed Wen Min.

"Yes, Master."

Wen Min woke from her cultivation, rose to her feet, and walked toward Su Changqing. The senior sister, more than ten years older than him, smiled kindly with her pretty face and said, "Little Junior Brother, come with me."

"Thank you, Senior Sister!"

A smile also appeared on Su Changqing's little face as he politely thanked her.

His courteous manner immediately endeared him to Wen Min. She took his little hand and led him out of the hall toward the residence arranged for him.

Along the way, Wen Min told Su Changqing about the sect's twelve rules and twelve precepts, and he silently committed them to memory.

"Here, Little Junior Brother. You will be staying here from now on. Master's residence is that small courtyard over there."

Wen Min brought Su Changqing to a stop before a small house, then pointed toward a small courtyard not far away as she explained it to him.

"All right, Senior Sister."

Su Changqing nodded and entered the small house to look around. Though it was not large, it had every daily necessity, and it was exceptionally clean. It seemed someone came to tidy it regularly.

"I'll go to the other peaks and bring back some clothes that fit you. Rest in the house and wait for me to return."

After Senior Sister Wen Min gave him those instructions, she left.

After being left alone in the room, Su Changqing sat by the bed and began considering the road ahead. Now that he had embarked upon cultivation, with Unrivaled Insight by his side, his goal was to seek immortality, reach the pinnacle, and attain the Great Dao.

In this world's story, the path of cultivation was unfathomably profound, and there were countless extraordinary people. Among them, the protagonist Zhang Xiaofan was a common-born genius who would stir the winds and clouds in the latter half of the story and become an unrivaled prodigy.

After considering it, Su Changqing decided that he should quietly develop himself first and observe this unfamiliar yet familiar world carefully, lest he take a wrong path.

What he needed most at present was to cultivate Wuji Taiqing Dao and find a way to improve his spiritual roots and aptitude. It was not necessary for his aptitude and spiritual roots to be extraordinary, but they at least had to support his cultivation progress.

His current situation was like a high-speed train.

Its speed was incomparably fast, but the train itself was of poor quality. Forget about carrying any weight—if it went any faster, it would likely fly straight off the tracks and end in utter ruin.

He still needed to find a chance to ask whether his spiritual roots and aptitude could be improved.

As Su Changqing continued thinking, his body could no longer withstand its exhaustion. He fell onto the bed and drifted off to sleep. By the time Wen Min returned, he was already sleeping soundly. She covered him with a blanket, set down the clothes, and left.

The next day, Su Changqing rose early and went to find Master Shui Yue.

"Master, the cultivators in the hall are all Senior Sisters. I know men and women should keep their distance. Could Master find another cultivation ground for me?"

Su Changqing had considered this yesterday. The technique he cultivated was Wuji Xuanqing Dao. Though it had been improved from Taiji Xuanqing Dao, the two were worlds apart. To avoid anyone noticing, he had come to request another cultivation ground.

"That is reasonable. Then come with me."

After pondering for a moment, Shuiyue agreed to Su Changqing's suggestion. She rose and led him to a cave residence, then turned and explained, "This is my Jingxin Cave Mansion, where I cultivate in seclusion. The spiritual energy here is abundant and no worse than any other blessed land. You may cultivate here from now on."

Su Changqing was overjoyed. He had only expected to be allowed to cultivate alone in the small wooden house, but Master Shui Yue had directly given him a blessed land.

Su Changqing firmly remembered this kindness she had shown him.

"Thank you, Master!"

Su Changqing thanked her.

After Su Changqing had settled in, Shuiyue left first, leaving him to cultivate on his own within the cave mansion.