Cultivation (I)

Hao Meng's departure had deeply stirred Li Mu. As the first friend he could call a brother after transmigrating, Senior Hao had given Li Mu great inspiration, whether in character or in his dedication to cultivation. He had been like an elder brother.

"I need to work harder too. I can't let Brother Hao leave me too far behind. In two years, at the Sect Selection, we must enter a sect together. And Qingzhu, Xiaoyu, Xiaomeng—we all have to get in together."

The Cangyun Empire's Sect Selection was held once every five years, a grand event in which cultivation sects throughout the empire broadly selected gifted disciples. The Sect Selection was divided into two stages.

The first was the preliminary selection. Selection sites were established in each of the empire's one hundred and eight major cities. Anyone who had graduated from a registered basic academy within the empire during the past five years and reached the Core Formation Realm could register. Selection officers dispatched by the empire would give contestants a composite score based on strength, speed, and practical combat ability. The top ten would advance to the final selection held in the Imperial Capital.

The thousand-odd contestants who passed the preliminary selection would gather in Cangyun City, the capital of the Cangyun Empire, for an even harsher elimination round. The content and format of the selection changed every session, mainly determined jointly by the Cangyun Empire's top ten cultivation sects.

The final twenty victors of the elimination round would earn the qualification to be chosen by the ten great sects. Of course, in previous years, some contestants particularly outstanding in certain aspects had caught the eye of smaller sects during the elimination process and been recruited directly. But overall, only a mere few dozen people from each Sect Selection were ultimately chosen by sects. Compared with the scale of over a million people across the empire registering for the Sect Selection, it was truly one in ten thousand.

The Cangyun Empire lay in the east of the continent, with territory vast beyond measure. Yet there were only around fifty forces that could truly be called cultivation sects. Though many Aristocratic Clans with millennia of inheritance could rival sects in cultivation methods, Martial Skills, and even strength, the mainstream of the Immortal Realm was still those sects standing one after another.

Having made up his mind, Li Mu began his arduous cultivation life at the academy. Countless people in the Immortal Realm cultivated from childhood, yet those who truly entered the Core Formation Realm were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. This was because the path of cultivation was exceedingly dull and tedious. Once one chose cultivation, all the dazzling splendor of the world no longer had anything to do with them. All that remained in their hearts was the desire to pursue higher realms. Very few could persist through such loneliness and hardship for decades or centuries.

Yet all things under heaven maintained balance. Every cultivator who achieved something in cultivation could gain transcendent status. One could become renowned in a region upon reaching the Nascent Soul Realm, while the Immeasurable Realm could determine the life and death of mortal nations—let alone the Tribulation Crossing Realm, or even that illusory Ascension Realm.

This world was ultimately one where the weak were prey to the strong. Once cultivation, which ordinary people found unbearable, bore fruit, it brought supreme glory, immense power, and the flourishing of one's Lineage. Thus, for thousands of years, though everyone knew this road was fraught with immense difficulty and that fewer than one in ten thousand could succeed, every Household still sent its children onto this single-log bridge without hesitation.

"Why does this Sect Selection feel a little like the college entrance examination from my previous life? Those ten great sects are like prestigious schools such as Tsinghua and Peking University. Come to think of it, I dropped out before I even took the college entrance exam. This time, I've been given another chance."

At that moment, Li Mu was continuously practicing his sword in the woods behind the dormitory. Half a year had passed since Hao Meng left. He had cultivated the three forms of the Li Family Sword Style to a nearly perfect level. At his current realm, there truly was nowhere left for improvement.

"Now that my Martial Skill tempering has reached its peak, these three sword forms can already transform freely into all kinds of moves, achieving countless changes without departing from their origin. But after repeatedly attempting the fourth form, Sword Intent Horizontal and Vertical, I've still ended in failure every time. It seems my realm is still insufficient. Even with the boost from my comprehension talent, insufficient Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi within my body means I still can't execute the fourth form."

Li Mu finished another set of sword moves and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He was also extremely anxious about the bottleneck he had encountered.

"I'll ask Teacher Mu for advice after class this afternoon."

After thinking for a long time and still failing to find a way to break through, Li Mu stopped burrowing into a dead end by himself. Muttering to himself, he set off for class.

As a basic academy before cultivation, Qinglan Academy's courses mainly focused on fundamental theory, practical combat techniques, and common knowledge of cultivation.

To many children of Aristocratic Clans, these were all dispensable courses. What they valued more were the guidance of experienced instructors, obtaining various medicinal pills, and learning supplementary professions. But to many commoner children, these foundational courses were still extremely important and practical.

After choosing the comprehension talent, Li Mu's learning ability became astonishing. In half a year, he had thoroughly mastered all the courses that ordinary students needed two or three years to learn. At the same time, he had chosen alchemy as his supplementary profession and achieved rather good results.

When the elderly instructor announced the end of class, Li Mu quickly left the classroom and arrived at a three-story white building. It was Mu Bai's office.

"You said you've encountered a bottleneck?"

Mu Bai looked at the youth before him. He could also sense that the yuan qi around Li Mu was abundant, and that Li Mu had already reached the peak of the Half-step Core Formation Realm. All he needed was to pierce the final layer of paper, and a brand-new realm would await him.

"That's right, Teacher Mu. I actually felt a month ago that I had reached the peak of the Half-step Core Formation Realm. The speed at which I absorb Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi has also become slower and slower, but after inspecting my dantian many times, there's still no sign of Core Formation."

Li Mu held nothing back as he explained his condition and doubts. Mu Bai had once been a powerful expert at Nascent Soul Realm Perfection, had traveled the world, and possessed broad knowledge. Perhaps he had a solution.

"There are two ways to advance through a major realm. The first is to use a martial technique as a catalyst, driving the Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi within the body into circulation and ultimately achieving Core Formation. Hao Meng broke through this way. The Dragon Tiger Fighting Saint Fist advanced, and with the power of medicinal pills, it directly reshaped the Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi within his body, allowing him to break through. The second is to cultivate a cultivation method. Cultivation methods are unlike martial techniques, and most do not possess direct destructive power, but a good cultivation method can improve one's control over Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi. For example, the Lineage cultivation method you practice, the Innate Art, is an exceptionally fine foundational cultivation method. A breakthrough in one's cultivation method realm can also drive changes in the Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi within the body, thereby achieving Core Formation."

Mu Bai was indeed worthy of once being a supreme expert. With just a few simple words, he summarized the two more common paths to breaking through into the Core Formation Realm.

"Then, Teacher Mu, which aspect do you think I should begin with now?"

After hearing Mu Bai's analysis, Li Mu nodded thoughtfully, then immediately pressed on with another question.

"The sword style your father created places great emphasis on actual combat. It can perfectly bring out a swordsman's strength. This also owes much to his profound realm and his control over Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi, which had few rivals among those of the same rank. And what gave him all this was your Li Family's ancestral Innate Art, which laid a solid foundation for him in the early stages of cultivation. It could be said that if the Innate Art were not only suited for cultivation before the Nascent Soul Realm, it would definitely not be merely a Yellow Tier Mid-grade Cultivation Method."

Looking at Li Mu's furrowed brow, Mu Bai voiced his own opinion. The Li Family's Innate Art was famous far and wide, though only members of the Li Family knew its methods. As a Yellow Tier Mid-grade Cultivation Method, breaking through with it was undoubtedly the most suitable approach.

"I understand, Teacher Mu. Previously, I really did spend too much energy honing my sword style. From now on, I'll place greater emphasis on cultivating the Innate Art and see whether I can break through this bottleneck."

Li Mu gladly accepted Mu Bai's suggestion. Hao Meng's breakthrough through the Dragon Tiger Fighting Saint Fist had indeed influenced him, making him pay greater attention to refining his Martial Skills while neglecting the dull and tedious cultivation of the Innate Art. Thinking about it now, perhaps this was what they called taking a detour.

"Only members of the Li Family understand the cultivation of the Innate Art best. I suggest you seek out your father or your elder brother. They may be able to help you."

Seeing that Li Mu before him had quickly understood the underlying principle, Mu Bai was greatly gratified. As an academy teacher, who would not want their students to become more outstanding?

"I understand. Then I'll return to the Lineage right away. Thank you for your guidance, Teacher Mu. This student will take his leave first."

After bidding Mu Bai farewell, Li Mu hurried back to the Li Family without stopping. His desire for a breakthrough made the youth unwilling to delay. He had to find a way to help himself shatter this bottleneck as soon as possible.