Uncle Biao's Meditation Room

Uncle Biao's Meditation Room

Uncle Biao's meditation room was located in an old office building in the Old Town District.

There were at least seven or eight meditation rooms like his in this office building. Cultivation was still quite a popular industry in this day and age. Though the threshold was high, it could not withstand parents' enthusiasm. Everyone hoped their child would be a cultivation prodigy, make a name with a single stunning feat, and become a cultivator admired by all.

Where there was demand, there was a market.

Meditation rooms were springing up everywhere in this era. As long as one understood some professional cultivation knowledge, or had taken the first step into cultivation, one could open a studio and teach students for money.

Quite a few people even went into private tutoring.

In short, cultivation had given rise to many unexpected professions, and they were all rather profitable.

Uncle Biao was not much of a businessman. His meditation room had always been half-dead, but today, when Li Yi arrived, he found every seat occupied by students. Business was unexpectedly booming, which surprised him.

As he drew closer, he heard a teacher lecturing inside the meditation room.

And judging by the voice, it was a woman, not Uncle Biao.

"Before you formally set foot on the road of cultivation, you must first understand what cultivation is. What is its most fundamental principle? Why, ten years ago, was our world jokingly called the Dharma-Ending Era and Severing Heaven and Earth by so many netizens? Why could not a single cultivator be found anywhere in the world, forcing every country to develop technology, while cultivation has now become such a common thing?"

"Teacher Lin, I know this one. After the Skyfall Event, our world's spiritual energy revived," one student immediately answered.

Teacher Lin, the young woman, said in a stern and earnest tone, "Spiritual energy revival? That is nothing more than a meme. It can barely explain a thing or two, but it does not touch the root cause. Do you know what spiritual energy revival actually is?"

"Th-this... I'm not too sure." The student's voice weakened considerably.

"Before explaining spiritual energy revival, we must first understand the world we live in, even the galaxy we inhabit. As everyone knows, our planet revolves around the sun and rotates on its axis, giving rise to the changing seasons, night and day. But from another perspective, it is the sun that pulls our planet along, hurtling through the universe at a speed of 790,000 kilometers per hour."

"Energy exists in the universe, but Cosmic Energy is not present everywhere. When the sun carries our planet into a region where Cosmic Energy is scarce, our world receives no nourishment from it, and the so-called Dharma-Ending Era emerges. Conversely, if the sun carries our planet into a place rich in Cosmic Energy, all life on the planet is nourished by it, and what you call spiritual energy revival occurs."

"Spiritual energy is a form of Cosmic Energy."

"The Skyfall Event ten years ago was the anomaly produced when our world formally entered a Cosmic Energy field from a barren region. My teacher once said that within a massive Cosmic Energy field, space can become distorted, wormholes can be opened, and two extremely distant planets within the energy field may make brief contact. Once wormholes open, parallel worlds may even be discovered."

"Some of the unusual events occurring in the world now, such as Ghosts/Monsters, strange artifacts, and certain Extraordinary Creatures, are in fact things from other worlds that have come to where we live. The reason we cannot understand or deal with many of these things is that cultivation in our world has only just begun, while the concept of cultivation may have been widespread in parallel worlds for hundreds or even thousands of years."

"So our foundation in cultivation is extremely shallow."

"But do not be discouraged because of that. I believe most people possess talent for cultivation; they merely lack an opportunity to cultivate. As long as you join Uncle Biao's Meditation Room, I believe your future potential will be limitless."

"Today, memberships at Uncle Biao's Meditation Room are discounted. Not 28,000, not 18,000—just 9,800! For the first ten new members, I will also give away one private lesson free of charge."

As Teacher Lin reached the end, she abruptly changed her tune. She stopped lecturing and began promoting the business instead.

Li Yi listened attentively outside, feeling that his horizons had broadened considerably. He was beginning to understand some things about cultivation as well. Unfortunately, Teacher Lin did not continue. If he had money, he would have wanted to get a membership and attend lessons himself.

But Teacher Lin was indeed highly professional. At this moment, many students had already begun paying.

"Heh, hehehe." An excited laugh suddenly sounded behind Li Yi.

It was a middle-aged man nearing forty. His looks were ordinary, his hair was thinning at the crown, but he appeared full of vigor.

"I knew these people would obediently fork over their money. All that trouble dragging my niece over here to be a teacher was not for nothing. Li Yi, what brought you to your uncle's meditation room today? Did your family run into difficulties? Don't worry. Your uncle made a fortune today, so if you have any trouble, just say the word."

Uncle Biao waved a broad hand, instantly filled with lofty spirit.

"There haven't been any difficulties. I've just suddenly become curious about cultivation lately, so I wanted to ask Uncle Biao about it," Li Yi said.

He did not want to trouble others with his family's affairs. It was fine for someone to help once, but what about twice, three times, ten times?

In the end, a person still had to rely on himself.

"It's good that nothing happened. After your dad became one of the Silent Ones, you were what worried me most. If you have any difficulties, speak up. Don't feel embarrassed. Back when your dad and I were together, we were brothers who had risked our lives for each other. If he wakes up one day and learns that I ignored you, he'd probably beat my head to a pulp, hahaha." Uncle Biao laughed.

"You said just now that you're interested in cultivation? That's wonderful. I told you long ago that your dad was a true cultivation genius. Your talent is probably not low either. If you take this road, you'll surely achieve no small success. You used to turn it down with the excuse that you had to care for your family, but I understand. Cultivation takes a lot of time. You're the only one left in your family now, and you still have to earn money for Nutrient Solution. If you cultivate, you really won't be able to look after your family."

At this point, Uncle Biao thought for a moment, then added, "My teaching level is limited, and I wouldn't dare lead you astray. I'll have my niece teach you. Her level is far higher than mine. You heard her lecturing inside just now—there's a lot of professional knowledge even I can't explain."

"Wouldn't it be inappropriate to trouble Uncle Biao's niece?" Li Yi asked awkwardly.

"What's inappropriate about it? From now on, you can come listen whenever you want. It's free." Uncle Biao patted Li Yi on the shoulder, then smiled. "Wait here."

With that, he walked into the meditation room.

Li Yi could not help feeling moved. His father's friend was truly reliable.

Not long after Uncle Biao entered the meditation room, its doors opened. A young woman with short hair and a sharp, capable outfit came out.

She looked Li Yi over, then smiled and extended her hand. "Li Yi, right? My name is Lin Yue. You might not remember, but we played together when we were children. Uncle Biao used to bring me to your home often, and before your dad became one of the Silent Ones, he even gave me guidance in cultivation. Later, I left Tianchang City for further study elsewhere, so we drifted apart over the years. Don't worry. If you want to cultivate, I will certainly help you with all my heart."

"Thank you, Lin Yue," Li Yi said. At the same time, he recalled that there really had been an older sister who played with him when he was little.

It was just that after growing up, many of his childhood memories had become blurred.

"Don't be so reserved. I'm older than you, so just call me Sister Lin. Come to my office; this isn't a place to talk." Lin Yue spoke warmly and proactively.

Li Yi said nothing and simply followed behind her.

Once they reached the office, Lin Yue had Li Yi sit down. Then she skillfully picked up the kettle and brewed a cup of green tea. "Li Yi, I'm a straightforward person. I don't like beating around the bush, so let's get straight to the point. How much do you know about cultivation?"

"Not much. I haven't come into contact with it before. I've only heard some things about cultivation online and at relatives' homes," Li Yi said, shaking his head.

"So you're a complete newcomer?" Lin Yue asked thoughtfully.

Li Yi said, "If Sister Lin finds it troublesome, I can go back and look up some information first, then sit in on a few classes."

"No, that's not what I mean. Don't overthink it. I'm only considering where to begin, since you're a newcomer. I can't start by teaching you how to cultivate right away; I need to teach you some basic theory first." Lin Yue said, "How about this? I'll explain, and you can ask whenever you don't understand something. That will save us some trouble."

"Alright." Li Yi nodded.

Lin Yue toyed with the teacup in her hand as she said, "Cultivation is actually very simple. It is the process of absorbing Cosmic Energy, thereby causing one's body to evolve and transform. In ancient times, it was called cultivating immortality, while Cosmic Energy is what novels call immortal energy or spiritual energy."

"Sister Lin, isn't our world polluted? Wouldn't cultivating recklessly make people go mad, or even die?" Li Yi asked.

"That's correct. The Cosmic Energy in our world is polluted. If an ordinary person who knows nothing directly steps into cultivation, that will be the result. But this situation changed six years ago. So far, two barely viable paths of cultivation have been summarized."

"Let's talk about the first one first."

"There are actually countless tiny wormholes around us, too small to observe. But abundant Cosmic Energy fields can distort wormholes and even open some of them. Though the openings are brief, that brief period allows the Cosmic Energy from the other side of a wormhole to enter our world."

"Before that Cosmic Energy is polluted by our world, use your mind to guide it into your body and stimulate cellular evolution, thereby stepping into cultivation."

"This method is the safest and most widespread, but its drawback is obvious: the efficiency is extremely slow."

"Because too little Cosmic Energy leaks out through wormholes, and its output is unstable. To cultivate, you must invest a great deal of time and effort. Moreover, guiding Cosmic Energy into the body to be absorbed by cells is not guaranteed to succeed; there is also a chance of failure."

At this point, Lin Yue sighed as well, feeling helpless. "If that were all, it would still be fine. As long as you had perseverance, you would eventually gain something. But absorbing Cosmic Energy from the other side of a wormhole depends too much on luck. Take me, for example. At my unluckiest, I sat alone in a cultivation room for three days and gained nothing. There was not a trace of energy from another world around me."

"Of course, there are lucky times too, when vast amounts of Cosmic Energy spill out from a wormhole. But that feels like a thirsty person stranded at sea suddenly encountering a torrential rain. Countless drops of fresh water are falling, yet all you can do is open your mouth and catch a tiny bit to moisten your throat."

"That feeling can truly drive a person mad. But here, I must solemnly remind you: no matter how 'hungry' and thirsty your body feels while cultivating, never absorb the polluted Cosmic Energy of our world. And don't ever think that taking just a little will be fine."

"A shipwreck survivor at sea would rather die of thirst than drink seawater, because the more they drink, the faster they die."

As she spoke those final words, Lin Yue suddenly stared at Li Yi with utmost seriousness.

Clearly, this warning was important.

"I'll remember it." Li Yi nodded solemnly.

"Hehe." Lin Yue smiled again. "Don't be nervous. You don't even know how to cultivate yet, so it's still too early to worry about that."

Li Yi scratched his head. "You're right. But Sister Lin, what is the second cultivation method you mentioned?"

Lin Yue's smile faded. She raised one pale finger. "The second cultivation method is simple: possess a strange artifact."

"Strange artifacts come with their own energy fields. They can eliminate energy pollution within a certain range and prevent cultivators who absorb Cosmic Energy from mutating. It's like a shipwreck survivor lacking fresh water at sea who possesses a seawater purifier. They can obtain fresh water continuously instead of relying solely on the heavens to send rain."

"So the difference between cultivators with and without strange artifacts is easy to imagine."

Li Yi could not help feeling a surge of heat in his heart. If the half Knife Coin in his pocket was a strange artifact, would his cultivation speed not advance a thousand miles in a single day?

"But don't think about it. Strange artifacts are too precious. Individuals are not allowed to possess them. Even if someone is lucky enough to obtain one, once it is discovered, the state will forcibly confiscate it," Lin Yue said.

"I've heard of incomplete strange artifacts. What are those?" Li Yi asked again.

Lin Yue explained, "Incomplete strange artifacts are simply strange artifacts that are not whole. The state will not forcibly confiscate this kind, because once a strange artifact is incomplete, its value is already greatly reduced. Even so, the market price for purchasing incomplete strange artifacts has been rising steadily, and they are still not something ordinary people can possess."

"Can incomplete strange artifacts also eliminate energy pollution?" Li Yi grew curious.

Lin Yue frowned. "I don't know. I don't know much about strange artifacts, but incomplete things surely have flaws. As for what those flaws are, only the people who possess incomplete strange artifacts know, and such people would not go around telling everyone."

"Then how can one determine whether something is a strange artifact?" Li Yi finally asked the key question.

He did not dare ask directly at the start, because that would make his intentions too obvious and easily expose him. That was why he only asked this question at the end.

Lin Yue burst out laughing. "You haven't even begun cultivating, and you're already thinking about strange artifacts?"

Li Yi smiled awkwardly. "I was just asking. What if I get lucky and encounter a strange artifact one day but don't recognize it? That would be a huge loss."

"Since that's the case, I'll answer that for you. Strange artifacts are indeed difficult for ordinary people to identify. They can be a stone, a feather, an object, even a palm or a corpse. I know one fairly reliable way to determine whether something is a strange artifact: cultivate beside it."

"Once you enter a cultivation state, you can sense the Cosmic Energy around you. Since strange artifacts possess their own energy fields, comparing the two makes the answer obvious."

"Besides that, once someone cultivates to a certain level, their eyes can see many things ordinary people cannot. They can even sense the existence of energy fields. Therefore, advanced cultivators can also tell at a glance whether something is a strange artifact."

"So that's how it is."

Li Yi's gaze flickered at those words.

It seemed that only after he began cultivating could he determine whether the half Knife Coin in his hand was a strange artifact.

"Sister Lin, I want to cultivate. Can I ask you to teach me?" Li Yi pleaded.

"Of course. But there is an old saying: the Master leads you through the door, but cultivation depends on the individual. I can only bring you through the door. How far you can cultivate afterward, whether you achieve anything, can only depend on yourself. Don't place too much hope in it. The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. I've taught many students, and many of them cultivated for three to five years without gaining anything."

"Talent for cultivation is very important. As for what cultivation talent is, you'll understand once you take your first step through the door."

Lin Yue took a sip of tea and continued, "I don't want to waste time. You don't have time to prepare. Cultivation starts now."

"Alright." Li Yi nodded solemnly.