Spiritual Energy

This continued for a while, then I felt the pores of my body opening and closing, as if breathing.

With each opening and closing, I felt something being expelled from my body and something entering it.

I felt incredibly relaxed, as if I could stay like this forever...

I don't know how long it took, but when I emerged from that state, the sun was already setting.

I looked around and saw Martial Uncle sitting beside me, staring blankly at me.

Because I had been sitting there from morning until sunset as soon as I entered the formation, Martial Uncle had been guarding me the whole time.

Feeling a little embarrassed, I said, "Martial Uncle, I'm sorry.

Because my whole body felt so comfortable inside, I forgot to come out earlier."

Martial Uncle snapped back to attention and asked me, "Do you know how long you were sitting in there?"

I glanced at the sky and replied, "Probably seven or eight hours." I answered Martial Uncle with a bit of uncertainty.

Martial Uncle rolled his eyes. "Seven or eight hours? It's already the afternoon of the third day..."

I was startled and then said, "Martial Uncle, don't joke with me. I only felt like I sat for a few hours.

How could it be several days and nights? Besides, I need to eat."

Speaking of eating, I realized I didn't feel hungry at all, and I was puzzled.

Logically, I had started cultivating right after waking up this morning, and it was already afternoon.

I should feel hungry, but I felt nothing right now.

Martial Uncle's eyes grew brighter as he looked at me and said, "What did you feel after you went inside?"

I told him about the sensations I had experienced after entering.

Martial Uncle exclaimed in admiration, "You're a good seedling for cultivation. Most people take ten days to half a month to find Qi Sensation.

Some take two or three months, but you found it as soon as you went in."

I asked Martial Uncle, "How long did it take you to find it when you were cultivating?"

Martial Uncle coughed and said sheepishly, "I didn't feel anything even after four hours..."

Then Martial Uncle changed the subject and asked, "Never mind me for now. Tell me how your body feels right now."

I replied to Martial Uncle, "I feel light and floaty, extremely relaxed.

Everything I see with my eyes now appears incredibly clear.

The sounds I hear are also clearer. Lastly, I feel refreshed with every breath."

I asked Martial Uncle with some doubt, "Did I really sit here for days and nights?"

Martial Uncle nodded. "I wouldn't gain anything by lying to you." I thought about it and agreed, then stopped dwelling on it.

Martial Uncle waved his hand. "Alright, that's enough for now. You feel refreshed, but my old bones can't handle it."

I apologized and then helped Martial Uncle into the house.

Martial Uncle asked if I felt hungry. I said no, and out of curiosity, I asked what was happening.

Martial Uncle explained that when a person is in a cultivation state, they won't feel hungry for a short period.

This is because Spiritual Energy is continuously entering the body, and the body's functions switch to consuming Spiritual Energy.

Therefore, one won't feel hungry for a short time, but this state cannot be maintained indefinitely.

Generally, ten days or eight days is fine, but if this state continues for too long.

The body's muscles will slowly atrophy, and eventually, the entire body will wither.

Because you haven't opened your body's meridians, you can't circulate the Heavenly Cycle, and Spiritual Energy will run rampant within your body.

In this state, the body is constantly expelling impurities.

Once the impurities are expelled, the body will also expel good substances.

He then told me to remember this state and not to sustain it for too long, as the consequences would be severe.

"Alright, prepare to rest. Tomorrow I'll teach you how to open your body's meridians, and then we'll officially begin cultivating."

I replied with an "Okay" and then asked Martial Uncle, "I can sense Spiritual Energy now, so what is my realm?"

Martial Uncle glanced at me and said, "You? Unbounded...

You can't even circulate the Heavenly Cycle, nor can you use Spiritual Energy, so how can you have a realm?

You haven't even begun to learn. Stop thinking about all sorts of things; cultivation requires a down-to-earth approach."

The next day, I returned to the same spot and sat inside the formation as I had yesterday.

Martial Uncle looked at me with a serious expression and said:

"Listen carefully now. Do as I say, step by step. Don't rush at all."

I nodded and replied, "Okay." Martial Uncle then spoke beside me, "Listen closely. This is the cultivation method of our Maoshan sect.

Remember, you cannot pass it on to others unless they join the Maoshan disciples."

I quickly said, "Then what about me? I'm not a Maoshan disciple." Martial Uncle replied that I was an exception.

I am his senior brother's grandson, and a junior to all these fellow disciples.

"Alright, stop interrupting and listen to me. Next are the cultivation incantations. Memorize them well."

I replied with an "Okay" and listened intently to Martial Uncle's next words.

Martial Uncle said with a serious expression, "Gather Qi into the Dantian, condense it and hold it tight, warmth will spread through the abdomen and waist.

The first stage rushes the lumbar vertebrae, the second stage rushes the spine, the third stage rushes the central gate, and the Heavenly Cycle will open on its own."

I stared blankly at Martial Uncle, then weakly said, "Martial Uncle, I didn't understand."

Martial Uncle slapped his forehead, then covered his face with one hand and remained silent for a long time...

Suddenly, a "hahaha" laugh erupted from the sealed red jar in the courtyard.

"I'm dying of laughter, kid, you're really dumb. My face turned red and I didn't say anything."

Then Martial Uncle took a few deep breaths and shouted at the jar, "You shut up! If your cultivation goes wrong later, I'll throw you into a pot of boiling oil."

A "hmph" came from the jar, and then it fell silent.

Martial Uncle then said to me, "Alright, I'll explain it in a different way. Listen carefully."

I said "Okay" and listened attentively.

Martial Uncle organized his thoughts and then said, "When you enter that state from yesterday.

Try to gather the surrounding Spiritual Energy into your Dantian, which is around your navel.

Then hold the Spiritual Energy. When it reaches a critical point.

You'll feel a burning sensation in your lower back and abdomen. Then guide that sensation towards your lumbar vertebrae.

If successful, you'll feel Qi moving towards your back. If not, try a few more times.

Once the meridians in your lumbar vertebrae are opened, guide the Spiritual Energy up your torso.

If you encounter resistance, break through it like before. Once you break through, you'll feel Qi flowing to your chest.

Your chest will then feel stuffy, as if something is blocking it.

At this point, try to move the Qi upwards. Once it gathers a bit, forcefully push it upwards.

If successful, you'll feel gas entering your body and then flowing back into your Dantian. That's success."

After finishing, Martial Uncle asked if I understood. I said I did, and Martial Uncle asked me to repeat what he had said.

I repeated it, but Martial Uncle was still not reassured and asked me to repeat it again.

I complied. Only when I had repeated it word for word did Martial Uncle finally relax.

Martial Uncle nodded and said, "You can start now. I'll oversee it for you.

Remember to take it slow and steady. Don't rush, it's okay to be slow, but be stable."

I took a few deep breaths, then slowly relaxed the hint of tension and unease in my heart, struck a pose, and entered the cultivation state.