Over the following days, Su Changqing, who had joined Little Bamboo Peak of the Qingyun Sect, began cultivating in seclusion within Quiet Heart Cave every day. With the Wuji Xuanqing Dao comprehended through his Unrivaled Insight, his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, and he gained new insights time and again.
On the seventh day.
Su Changqing sat cross-legged in Quiet Heart Cave, calmly cultivating, when he suddenly sensed an unusual disturbance within his body.
Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy began surging toward Su Changqing like a tidal wave. The vital essence within him stirred excitedly, while a faint swelling sensation arose in his dantian.
Su Changqing carefully sensed it and hurriedly circulated the Wuji Xuanqing Dao, guiding the incoming spiritual energy in an orderly flow through his meridians. Following their paths, it entered his internal organs and nourished and regulated the vital energies within his body.
Only after successfully completing sixteen circulation cycles did Su Changqing open his eyes and slowly exhale a breath of turbid air.
"First layer, great completion—success!"
Su Changqing sensed the extraordinary changes within himself, and a slight smile touched his lips.
In this world, the path of cultivation consisted of seven great realms: Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Tribulation Crossing, and Immortal Ascension. Each realm was further divided into nine levels, which one advanced through in sequence. Every major realm differed as vastly as heaven and earth.
At Su Changqing's current first layer of the Wuji Xuanqing Dao, his Cultivation Level was equivalent to the third level of Qi Refinement.
As for his master, Shuiyue, she had cultivated the Taiji Xuanqing Dao to the sixth level of the Supreme Purity realm. Her Cultivation Level stood at the peak of the sixth level of Spirit Transformation, already among the greatest experts in the world.
Among the Qingyun Sect's many Peak Lords, Cang Song Zhenren, Peak Lord of Dragon Head Peak, had reached the eighth level of Spirit Transformation. Tian Buyi, Peak Lord of Great Bamboo Peak, and several other Peak Lords were likewise at the sixth or seventh level of Spirit Transformation.
The person with the highest Cultivation Level in the entire sect was undoubtedly Sect Leader Dao Xuan Zhenren. He stood at the peak of the ninth level of Spirit Transformation and needed only to break through his bottleneck to enter the legendary realm of Tribulation Crossing.
"Once one enters the Dao, the path runs as deep as the sea. The road ahead is long, and I must still cultivate diligently."
Su Changqing let out a soft sigh, though his heart remained full of confidence.
Just then, a voice suddenly sounded from outside the door.
"Is Little Junior Brother inside?"
It was Senior Sister Wen Min's voice.
"Greetings, Senior Sister!"
After getting dressed, Su Changqing rose and walked outside. He bowed in greeting.
"It's good that you're here, Little Junior Brother. The sect is holding an assembly, and all disciples are required to attend at the mountain gate plaza. Master asked me to bring you along."
Senior Sister Wen Min explained with a gentle smile.
At the same time, she sensed the unusual aura around Su Changqing. How had this little junior brother's temperament changed so much after only a few days apart?
"Oh, then sorry for the trouble, Senior Sister."
Su Changqing also noticed Wen Min's gaze and hurriedly responded, diverting her attention.
Wen Min did not dwell on it. She took out her Flying Sword, brought Su Changqing aboard with a leap, and headed toward the mountain gate plaza.
Standing upon the Flying Sword, Wen Min wore a warm smile as she asked with concern, "Little Junior Brother, you've been at Little Bamboo Peak for several days now. Have you grown accustomed to life on the peak? If there is anything making you unhappy, you can tell Master or me."
"Senior Sister, all my senior sisters treat me very well, and Master often looks after me too. With all that, this little junior brother could not be more content."
Su Changqing answered with a faint smile.
Those were his true feelings. Although Little Bamboo Peak was filled with female cultivators, he, a boy, had never once been treated coldly there. On the contrary, all his senior sisters treated him very well. Knowing that he was still growing, they would occasionally bring him tasty food.
Not to mention that Master Shuiyue had even given him her own seclusion cave for him to cultivate peacefully in.
"That's good. Master and I were worried you might not be used to living here."
Senior Sister Wen Min rubbed Su Changqing's head in relief, then asked with concern, "How has your cultivation of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao been? Have you gained any insight? If there is anything you do not understand, you can come ask us in the hall."
"Senior Sister, I've gained some understanding of the Dao scriptures during my recent cultivation, so my progress has been all right. If I encounter anything I don't understand, I'll come ask you. I only hope you won't find me slow-witted then."
Su Changqing merely said his progress had been all right, finding an excuse to brush the matter aside.
With the boost of Unrivaled Insight, his cultivation journey had been fairly smooth so far. There was nothing he did not understand that required him to seek answers.
"What are you saying? Would Senior Sister ever dislike her little junior brother?"
Wen Min laughed sweetly and lightly tapped Su Changqing's forehead with a finger. She knew he was joking and did not take offense.
However, she then recalled a name that had been frequently mentioned throughout the sect lately.
"Oh, right. Little Junior Brother, you've been cultivating in Quiet Heart Cave and probably don't know much about the sect's news. Lin Jingyu, who joined the sect at the same time as you, has been attracting a great deal of attention recently."
"What happened to him?"
Curious, Su Changqing asked Wen Min.
"There have been reports that Lin Jingyu is a Child of Destiny with extraordinary talent. In just seven days of cultivation, he has already learned to draw spiritual energy into his body. Before long, he will bring the first layer of the Xuanqing Dao to completion and step into the first level of Qi Refinement!"
"With such talent and cultivation speed, he is already a rare genius within the sect. He is only slightly inferior to Senior Brother Xiao Yicai and Senior Brother Qi Hao in their younger days. If he reaches completion within three days, he may even rival Junior Sister Lu!"
Senior Sister Wen Min spoke with repeated amazement.
"So that was it. Back when we were in the main hall, the Sect Leader and all the Martial Uncles praised him highly. It seems that now he has embarked on the path of cultivation, he truly is this impressive."
Su Changqing smiled and nodded, praising Lin Jingyu along with Senior Sister Wen Min.
"But don't be discouraged, Little Junior Brother. You must not let others influence you into becoming greedy or rushing recklessly ahead. Just be yourself and follow your heart."
"The path of cultivation values gradual progress and keeping one's feet on the ground. As long as you do not give up and can endure hardship, the day will surely come when you achieve the Great Dao."
Senior Sister Wen Min repeatedly reminded him.
Su Changqing obediently nodded and agreed to every word, which delighted Wen Min. Whatever else could be said, this little junior brother had a very good temperament. Perhaps one day, he truly would achieve his own Great Dao.
The Flying Sword arrived above the mountain gate plaza and gradually descended.
The mountain gate plaza was already packed with people. Over a thousand disciples from across the sect had gathered there, their discussions filling the air in a lively clamor.
"Junior Brother Lin, I heard you can already draw spiritual energy into your body. In a few days, you'll be able to cultivate the first layer to completion. Is that true?"
"How could it be false? Look at the spiritual energy flowing toward Junior Brother Lin. Isn't that the sign of drawing spiritual energy into the body?"
"So Junior Brother Lin truly can reach completion in a few days? This cultivation speed is nearly the same as Senior Brother Qi Hao's in his day. He might even surpass Senior Brother Qi Hao."
At a glance, Su Changqing spotted Lin Jingyu amid the crowd. Lin Jingyu stood surrounded by numerous disciples, chatting and laughing with them, clearly holding the position of their leader.
"You shouldn't say that. Senior Brother Qi Hao is my role model. Jingyu does not seek to surpass Senior Brother Qi Hao; I only hope to stand shoulder to shoulder with him."
Lin Jingyu was brimming with high spirits as he conversed with them one by one. He no longer possessed the simple, youthful spirit of the child who had once run through the countryside of Caomiao Village.
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