The Nature of Spiritual Qi

This question touched somewhat on the essence of things, making Tongtian take it a little more seriously.

"Spiritual Qi can be said to be the Primordial Power behind the growth and evolution of all things in heaven and earth. It is everywhere, yet takes countless different forms.

"You can think of it as one manifestation of the source energy of all things between heaven and earth.

"It contains Vitality and Law Fragments.

"When cultivators absorb Spiritual Qi and refine it into their own mana, they accumulate power and comprehend the Laws.

"As for whether it can be used up..."

He burst into laughter.

"The Prehistoric World is vast and boundless. Spiritual Qi cycles endlessly, renewing itself without cease. How could it possibly be exhausted so easily?"

"A cycle?"

Su Miao caught that keyword. Her little brows furrowed slightly as she tried her best to understand with her limited knowledge.

"Like... like water turning into clouds, clouds turning into rain, and rain turning back into water?

"Then when living things die and things break down, does their Spiritual Qi return to heaven and earth and become new Spiritual Qi?"

Her words were childish, yet they unexpectedly touched upon a certain principle of the Great Dao: the simplest truths lay within cycles.

The smile on Tongtian's face faded slightly, and a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes.

Yuanshi also glanced at her.

Laozi, who had been resting with his eyes closed and a smile at the Corner of his Mouth, slowly opened his eyes at that moment.

His clear gaze fell upon Su Miao, and he spoke gently.

"Heaven and earth are one great furnace; creation is one ingenious craft.

"Scattered, it becomes primordial qi; gathered, it becomes Spiritual Treasures.

"Life and death turn in cycles. Such is nature."

His words were profound and mysterious, yet strangely reassuring.

Su Miao only half understood, but it sounded roughly like the Prehistoric World version of the law of conservation of energy?

Plus the cycle of matter?

Mm, environmental awareness had existed since ancient times!

Tongtian could not help reaching out to rub her slightly curly, soft, fluffy hair. He laughed.

"Your little head is pretty sharp! That's exactly the idea!

"So we cultivators absorb Spiritual Qi and comprehend the Heavenly Dao, but in the end, we must also give back to heaven and earth. That is the Righteous Path."

Captivated by the feel of her hair, he could not resist pinching her soft, baby-fat cheeks again.

Mm, just as soft and springy as expected.

Hehe, this Little Disciple was so much fun!

Su Miao's head wobbled from all the rubbing, and she did not know whether to laugh or cry inside.

Why was this Master petting her like a cat...?

Still, his technique was decent. It was not too annoying.

Yuanshi caught sight of Tongtian fussing with her and habitually frowned.

But when he saw that the little child merely blinked blankly without resisting or crying, the words of rebuke he had been about to say were swallowed back down.

Still, his gaze swept over Tongtian's restless hands with a barely perceptible warning.

Tongtian paid him no mind. Happily holding his human Hand Warmer, he felt that this journey home had become much more interesting.

Yuanshi continued, adding,

"Spiritual Qi does not arise from nothing. It is the product of heaven and earth's cycles and the operation of Laws.

"Where Spiritual Veins converge, Spiritual Qi is naturally abundant.

"In barren and damaged places, Spiritual Qi is sparse.

"There are also Spirit Roots and immortal herbs that can nurture and transform Spiritual Qi."

Su Miao listened intently, her little mind spinning at top speed.

Oh! Renewable resources!

But unevenly distributed, and overexploitation could cause local depletion!

So there needed to be... environmental protection?

Sustainable development?

That was kind of in line with my future career path!

Perhaps the ultimate goal of my career would be to maintain the cycle and balance of this world's energy?

Tongtian saw the thoughtful expression on her little face and found it both adorable and amusing.

Unable to resist teasing her, he changed to a lighter topic.

"By the way, Little Miao Heng,"

He switched the arm holding her and turned her to face him.

"Tell Master, what did it feel like when you transformed?

"Did you see anything special?"

Su Miao's heart skipped a beat.

Here it comes!

The attack of socially mortifying memories!

Her little face scrunched up slightly, her eyes drifting away as she answered vaguely.

"Mm... I... I just fell asleep.

"I slept for a very, very long time... then woke up,

"and... and ended up like this..."

She held out her chubby little hand and gestured at her current appearance. Her tone held a hint of grievance and gloom that she herself did not notice.

"Maybe... maybe I didn't sleep well... so I didn't grow taller..."

"You fell asleep?"

Tongtian laughed.

"For Innate Creatures, transformation is a crucial stage of comprehending heaven and earth and condensing a Dao body. Who wouldn't prepare with utmost seriousness? Yet you fell asleep?"

Yuanshi's gaze also settled upon her, carrying scrutiny and a hint of investigation.

Incomplete Transformation, a Fixed Juvenile Form, and old wounds alongside fresh marks upon the origin of her soul...

If she had truly "fallen asleep," then that sleep must have been terribly perilous.

Laozi slightly opened his eyes and glanced at Su Miao.

That gaze seemed capable of seeing through the faint cracks deep within her soul.

Then he closed his eyes again, still wearing that expression of one who understood everything.

Thoughts turned within the Three Pure Ones' hearts. They became increasingly certain that something had gone terribly wrong during their Little Disciple's transformation, and that it was most likely connected to the injuries in the origin of her soul.

Yet she herself seemed muddled and unable to explain it clearly.

After returning to Kunlun, the first priority would be to thoroughly examine the injuries to her divine soul and find a way to nurture and restore it.

Yuanshi pondered silently.

Tongtian saw her instinctively begin to pout again, as though she were about to recall something unpleasant.

He hurriedly stopped, asking no further questions.

His large hand rubbed the top of her head again as he said brightly,

"It's fine, it's fine! You have your Masters now!

"You'll definitely grow tall in the future! Taller than mountains!"

Su Miao: "..."

That really wasn't necessary.

She shook off her slight gloom, only for new sights to draw her attention. She continued her "hundred thousand whys."

Tongtian was happy to answer. He found that while his Little Disciple's questions were sometimes innocently amusing, they sometimes came from such unusual angles.

Occasionally, they even left him stunned for a moment, forcing him to think carefully before he could answer.

This journey was not boring in the slightest.

Although Yuanshi often kept a stern face, sometimes correcting Tongtian's imprecise explanations or adding deeper principles,

his gaze never left the tiny figure.

As he listened to her childish voice asking questions that always seemed to touch upon the essence of the Rules, the string called "responsibility" in his heart tightened even further.

At the same time, an indescribable and peculiar feeling rose within him, like that of teaching a fledgling bird.

Laozi, meanwhile, remained as steady as the Dinghai Divine Needle.

At key moments, he would occasionally use the simplest, plainest words

to point out the core essence of the Dao, allowing Su Miao to vaguely feel as though she had grasped something, while leaving Yuanshi and Tongtian deep in thought.

Amid this wonderful atmosphere of questions and answers, laughter and contemplation,

at the distant border where heaven and earth met,

the vague silhouette of an enormous mountain range, too vast and miraculous to be described in words, gradually emerged from the clouds and mist.

The Spiritual Qi there was so dense that it seemed to have condensed into tangible azure haze, shrouding the surrounding lands and radiating an ancient, desolate, yet incomparably sacred aura.

Tongtian was the first to raise his eyes toward it. He smiled.

"Look, Little Miao Miao, we're almost there! That's our home, Kunlun Mountain!"

Upon hearing this, Su Miao immediately followed his gaze and looked as far as she could. Her heart was filled with anticipation and a trace of nervousness.

Kunlun Mountain! The Three Pure Ones' headquarters!

The legendary Ancestor of All Mountains! I wonder...

Whether it has Wi-Fi...

Pah, pah, pah! I mean, I wonder what it's like!

Yet as she looked at the enormous mountain range that seemed to support heaven and earth,

a question born of the habits of her previous life slipped out involuntarily.

"Master, Kunlun Mountain... is so huge and amazing!

"But... with such a massive Spiritual Vein, how much Spiritual Qi does it produce every day?

"Is there enough for all of us to use? Could it... someday run out too?"

This question was no longer limited to mere curiosity.

It carried a faint concern for resources and sustainability.

Tongtian was startled. He instinctively wanted to say that Spiritual Veins in the Prehistoric World could never dry up, but suddenly paused.