Xu Yi dared not waste time and got moving again. After spending nearly half a day following up on visits to more than a dozen cave abodes, he finally pieced together a complete text.
Just as he had expected, the writing on the walls was a cultivation method called the Minor Cloud Crane Art.
The Minor Cloud Crane Art was divided into three parts: Qi Refining, Restriction Refining, and Artifact Refining.
There was not much to it, but it was fairly complete. Xu Yi read through it several times. From the general outline alone, it seemed to be meant for entry-level disciples of some sect.
But on closer study, he sensed profound mysteries and ingenious ideas within it. It opened the door to an entirely different path of cultivation.
Xu Yi had traveled through three realms. The levels of cultivation might differ from one world to another, but the overall path was the same: "With utmost sincerity, one can reach the soul and spirit"—strengthening the soul with the spirit, and nourishing the spirit with the soul.
The specific methods all began with strengthening the body—that is, tempering the flesh.
But the Minor Cloud Crane Art followed a path of cultivating both soul and spirit. It emphasized refining Qi and regulating the breath, circulating it through the body, strengthening the internal organs, and awakening the soul and spirit, so that both would grow strong together.
After carefully assessing it, Xu Yi had to admit that the Minor Cloud Crane Art's method was grander and more expansive.
Once the thought arose, he could not suppress it. He was an impatient sort. With an immortal estate's magic art right before him, how could he be content without trying it?
At once, he found a secluded spot, chipped open the stone wall, excavated a