Guidance for the Confused: Ant Cultivation

The situation within the Celestial Pool gradually calmed, the churning mist thinning until visibility slowly returned.

Three cultivators stood up and began observing the state of everyone within the Celestial Pool, selecting youths with excellent potential. Whenever they saw someone radiating strong, dense light, they would record it. If someone's light was pitifully weak, almost imperceptible, they would shake their heads. Out of the several thousand people they had observed, only two showed superior potential.

Just then, a Daoist noticed Lu Chen. He possessed not a trace of light, making the Daoist believe he was mistaken. He carefully examined Lu Chen several more times, but still found no sign of light. He had been cultivating for over a decade and had never encountered, or even heard of, such a situation.

He quickly called out to the other two cultivators, "Have either of you heard of someone entering the Celestial Pool for a cleansing without any reaction?"

Upon hearing this, Ru Fa Daoist understood that Lu Chen had failed again. He sighed helplessly, "Alas, you'll know soon enough. Let's continue with the next person."

Blind Lu was also monitoring everything in the Celestial Pool. Seeing Lu Chen's current state, he put away his guqin and smiled faintly. At this moment, he was likely the only one present who knew just how monstrous Lu Chen's cultivation talent truly was.

Within the Celestial Pool, everything returned to normal, as if nothing had happened. The three cultivators quickly opened the barrier around the Celestial Pool and ushered everyone out.

Once everyone was in place, Ru Fa Daoist stepped forward and addressed the crowd, "The Celestial Pool cleansing merely helps you open your connection to it. To truly begin cultivating, you must pass the Qi Gathering test. You will use the Heavenly Net I hold to draw spiritual energy from heaven and earth into your body, circulate it through a full cycle, and then store it within the Celestial Pool."

"What you need to do is place your hand on the compass and visualize the state you were in during the cleansing. The speed at which the compass lights up will indicate your affinity with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and thus, the speed at which you can draw Qi into your body in the future."

"Regardless of the method, as long as you successfully light it up, a standard Heavenly Net will be generated, signifying your entry into the First Layer of Qi Gathering Realm." With that, the three Daoists nodded in agreement and signaled the start.

The three joined forces to release a colossal compass, twenty feet tall. The giant compass then projected numerous smaller compasses, which appeared before the crowd for them to touch.

Ten minutes later, four individuals successfully obtained a compass, reaching the Qi Gathering Realm.

Those who passed the test within ten minutes were basically all from prominent families, possessing excellent cultivation resources and equipment. Coupled with early training on how to cultivate, passing the test was a simple matter.

Two hours passed, and a significant portion of the remaining people gradually obtained their Heavenly Nets, reaching the Qi Gathering Realm, albeit barely.

Four hours passed, and another large group obtained their Heavenly Nets. The vast majority of these relied on luck to get their Heavenly Nets; they possessed barely a trace of spiritual energy within them. However, obtaining a Heavenly Net meant they could indeed cultivate.

Eight hours passed. All the participants in the test, except for Lu Chen, had finished. The crowd had clearly divided into several groups: those with average talent surrounded those with high talent, while those with almost no talent were at the outermost edge.

The people on the outer edge bowed their heads in extreme subservience. Looking towards Lu Chen's side, everyone avoided him as if he were a plague.

Slowly, discussions began to arise from the crowd. "Is he going to make it or not? It's been so long. Even a pig would have succeeded by now."

"You don't know yet, do you? This guy's name is Lu Chen. He hasn't succeeded in ten years. He really might be a pig."

"Don't even mention pigs, pigs are smarter than him. He's just trash, a good-for-nothing."

"Trash, good-for-nothing..." The crowd began to stir, pointing fingers at Lu Chen.

Listening to the crowd's discussions, that Daoist finally understood the meaning behind Ru Fa Daoist's earlier sigh.

Although Lu Chen wasn't greatly bothered by the crowd's chatter – ten years had made him indifferent to such things – his hand remained on the compass, hoping for even the slightest glimmer of success. After all, this was truly his last chance.

Another two hours passed. Lu Chen reached his limit, his eyes dimming. He couldn't understand why he was the only one who consistently failed. If only he could get even one Heavenly Net, he would at least be able to cultivate.

At this moment, Lu Chen felt dizzy and his strength gave out. He fainted.

Waking up the next day, Lu Chen found himself lying in bed. He rolled over and walked outside the village to the Ancient Parasol Tree, where Blind Lu was playing his guqin.

Blind Lu noticed Lu Chen had woken up and began playing a piece that rose and fell dramatically, its melody fluctuating like a warrior in white, facing countless enemies on the battlefield. He was struck down once, only to rise again, struck down again, and rise again, repeatedly, until he was the sole survivor amidst a sea of corpses.

When the piece concluded, the hero stood upon the mountains of corpses and blood, raising his sword to conquer the world.

At this point, Blind Lu pointed to an ant nest at the base of the Ancient Parasol Tree and said, "Do you know what cultivation is for? Do you know why heaven and earth are called heaven and earth?"

Lu Chen looked at the ant nest. They were like four years ago, climbing up, falling down, and then climbing up again. He had answered this question for ten years. Why was his grandfather asking it again?

In that moment, Lu Chen recalled everything that had happened over the past ten years. He felt as if a divine light had appeared, as if everything was unfolding before his eyes, but it had come too late. Knowing the answer now was useless.

Just as Lu Chen was about to say he gave up, it suddenly began to rain heavily. The rainwater washed away the ant nest, but more ants brought clods of earth, building mounds to resist it. Lu Chen slowly crouched down and peered inside.

Blind Lu appeared behind Lu Chen and said, "It seems you've found what you believe to be the answer. Do you remember the last time I asked you what cultivation was, and you told me that the ants were striving upwards, competing with heaven and earth, and that you also wanted to compete with heaven and earth?"

"You only saw the ants climbing upwards, but you didn't see the sky darkening. You saw the ants climbing upwards, but you didn't see them bringing clods of earth, fetching food, and step by step building mounds outside their nest to protect against the rain. You thought they were cultivating, competing with heaven and earth, but have you considered that they are simply trying to survive? They have a goal. Did they pay attention to your gaze when they were cultivating?"

Lu Chen heard Blind Lu's words and murmured to himself, "Other people's gazes, the purpose of cultivation. Other people's gazes, the purpose of cultivation."

Seeing Lu Chen's enlightened expression, Blind Lu knew he had succeeded. He said to him again, "Cultivation doesn't necessarily require the use of a Heavenly Net. Before the Heavenly Net existed, countless people were cultivating. If you feel you've understood the purpose of your cultivation, I will take you to a place for you to cultivate."

Lu Chen understood that the place Blind Lu was referring to would bring about a drastic change in his life. Blind Lu was asking him: Do you have the courage to touch that place? In pursuit of the purpose of cultivation.

Lu Chen immediately said, "Grandfather, please take me there. I am willing to continuously explore what cultivation is through my practice. I must become a cultivator. I want to know why I will cultivate."

Just then, the weather cleared. Light flashed in Lu Chen's eyes, and the Twin Fish Plate on his chest shimmered, as if agreeing with his words.

Blind Lu asked Lu Chen to stand up. Lu Chen asked curiously, "Grandfather, what are we going to do?"

Blind Lu ignored Lu Chen and spoke to himself, "Qingfang Village wasn't called this name before. During the Genesis Era, a Heavenly Emperor emerged from this place. This Heavenly Emperor was revered as the 'Azure Emperor.' Later, to commemorate this Heavenly Emperor, the village's name was changed to Qingfang Village, and it has been used ever since. This Ancient Parasol Tree was planted by that Heavenly Emperor."

"A story has been passed down in the village: if a descendant of Qingfang Village wishes to cultivate and has the aptitude, they can enter from this place to seek opportunities."

As he spoke, Blind Lu opened a hidden compartment beneath the guqin strings and took out a round token. The front of the token depicted a city, but half of the city was in ruins, engulfed in flames. Yet, the other half of the city was vibrant and full of life, with towering trees, much like the Ancient Parasol Tree before them.

Although the scene should have been conflicting, it appeared remarkably harmonious due to a solitary figure at the boundary. This person looked towards the city, holding a tattered military banner in their hand. The banner bore the character "Azure".

Upon seeing this, Lu Chen felt a sudden wave of desolation, yet also a sense of familiarity, as if this were a memory from his own past.

Blind Lu looked at Lu Chen and explained, "This is a token passed down through generations in Qingshanfang. It has only one purpose: to open the teleportation gate within this Ancient Parasol Tree. However, for thousands of years, no one has ever entered, so no one knows what lies beyond the gate. If you truly wish to cultivate, you can try to go in, but you only have one chance. If you fail, you will not be able to enter again."

With that, Blind Lu pressed the token against the tree. The token instantly melted into it, and a black, ethereal teleportation gate slowly appeared on the trunk.

Blind Lu turned to Lu Chen and said, "You only have one chance, so work hard."

"I will succeed this time, Grandfather. When I come out, I will definitely succeed!" With that, Lu Chen prepared to enter.

"Wait," Blind Lu suddenly turned and called out to Lu Chen, tidying his clothes neatly, straightening the Twin Fish Plate, and then patting Lu Chen's head. "Go. Since you want to cultivate so badly, going to see is one way."

This was the first time Lu Chen could remember seeing Blind Lu tidy his clothes for him. Lu Chen looked up at Blind Lu, a bad feeling stirring within him.

"Hurry up and go, or the portal will disappear soon," Blind Lu said, urging Lu Chen to enter.

Hearing this, Lu Chen glanced back at the villagers of Qingshanfang and waved goodbye.

Little Doggy also waved at Lu Chen. Lu Chen turned back to look at Little Doggy and said, "Wait for me to come back, and we'll cultivate together."

With that, Lu Chen walked towards the portal. Just as his entire body passed through, a beam of green light shot straight into the sky. He suddenly saw a group of cultivators flying from afar.

Lu Chen wanted to warn Blind Lu, but before he could speak, he was pulled into the portal.

After Lu Chen entered the portal, Blind Lu put away his牌子. The surrounding villagers each formed a hand seal, changing their appearances, and then bowed to Blind Lu, saying, "Greetings, Lord of Ceremonies."

Little Doggy, who had been a child moments before, transformed into a petite, spiritual beast.

Standing on Blind Lu's shoulder, he spoke, "Sir, do you think this is wise? Is it a bit too harsh to have him face that future when he knows nothing?"

Blind Lu was no longer in his elderly guise. He stood tall and straight, dressed in a plain white robe, a black belt with auspicious cloud patterns tied around his waist. His silver-white hair cascaded down his back. He was exceptionally handsome and refined, his dark eyes gazing towards the approaching cultivators in the distance.

Blind Lu shook his head and said calmly, "There isn't much time left. The passages between the myriad worlds must be almost open. Proceed according to the plan." Blind Lu looked at the Ancient Parasol Tree, a hint of worry on his face. "I hope all of this is not too late. The future rests on you, Young Master."