What is your age this year?

Shen Hui walked back along the bluestone path to his humble little hut, only to find a neatly folded cotton quilt quietly placed at the doorstep.

The quilt cover was made of indigo coarse cloth, washed somewhat pale, but upon closer inspection it was clean and thick, puffing up with a hint of warmth under the moonlight.

Shen Hui paused, then understood—this must be Senior Brother Qing Shi finally remembering this matter.

He bent down, picked up the quilt, pushed open the door, and entered the room.

He placed the quilt on the hard wooden bed, then took out the spirit fruits that his senior brothers and sisters had stuffed into his robes, carefully setting them on the rickety wooden table.

He didn't lie down to sleep immediately. Instead, he sat cross-legged on the bed, adjusted his breathing according to the method the eldest senior brother had taught him during the day, focused his mind on his dantian, and soon sank back into that vast, empty meditative state.

Deep in his consciousness, the ancient parchment interface quietly emerged:

code
[Taoist Title]: Qingxuan
[Bone Age]: Twenty-two
[Realm]: Not Yet Entered the Dao (1/10)
[Status]: Meditating
[Cultivation]: Six (Assignable)
[Dao Arts]: None
[Destined Path]: Unrevealed
[Corpse Liberation Wheel]: Not Activated

Shen Hui's mind stirred. When he had exited meditation that afternoon, he remembered [Cultivation] was "Five," but now it had become "Six."

Was this small increase the natural accumulation over these few hours, or... the effect of the spirit fruit he had eaten?

He tried to maintain his meditative state, guiding that faint thread of heaven and earth's spiritual energy.

Yet the number after [Cultivation] seemed frozen, showing no further change.

"It seems today's 'accumulation' or 'capacity' has reached its limit."

Shen Hui pondered briefly, then without hesitation, he allocated all six points of cultivation toward [Realm].

The [Realm] bar flickered once, becoming (7/10), while [Cultivation] instantly reset to zero.

Shen Hui continued meditating, but the rate at which he absorbed spiritual energy was extremely slow. After a long while, there was still no change.

At this pace, filling the remaining progress through daily meditation alone would take no small amount of time.

Shen Hui opened his eyes. The room was pitch black, with only the faintest moonlight filtering through the window paper.

He fumbled in the dark, picked up a deep purple spirit fruit from the table, wiped it clean, and ate it in a few bites.

The flesh was soft, carrying a peculiar berry-like sweetness.

Not long after it entered his stomach, a cool breath, more noticeable than that of the earlier green-red fruit, rose up and quickly merged into his limbs and bones, bringing a pleasant, tipsy sensation.

He immediately re-entered meditation.

The parchment interface appeared, and [Cultivation] had indeed changed: (One).

It had increased by another "One" point.

It seemed these spirit fruits were indeed effective, but each provided a limited amount of "Cultivation" points, likely varying by fruit type and age.

Shen Hui thought for a moment, then picked up two small golden fruits and ate them together. This time, after waiting a while and checking in meditation, [Cultivation] became (Three).

He no longer hesitated and directly allocated all three "assignable" points into [Realm].

[Realm]: (10/10)!

The moment the progress bar filled, Shen Hui's entire body trembled.

It was as if some invisible shackle had been quietly unlocked, or like a dry riverbed finally receiving enough flowing water.

His dantian suddenly grew hot, and then a stream of qi, far thicker and more lively than before, surged forth like a thawing spring creek, joyfully racing through the meridians in his body.

It felt as though every pore on his body had opened in that instant, and even his connection with the outside world became abruptly clearer.

His ears could hear the faint chirping of night insects farther away, the tip of his nose could distinguish more subtle scents of grass, wood, and soil in the air, and even his skin's perception of the cool night temperature had sharpened.

The words on the parchment interface had already updated:

code
[Realm]: Qi Induction (0/10000)
[Status]: Meditating
[Cultivation]: Zero (Not Assignable)

His realm had broken through!

"Not Yet Entered the Dao" had become "Qi Induction," and the progress behind it now read "0/10000."

Shen Hui carefully "counted" that string of zeros—ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousand...

The next realm required ten thousand points?

Shen Hui clicked his tongue. Based on past experience, his daily cultivation seemed to accumulate at most five or six points. Even with the occasional spirit fruit, saving up ten thousand points would take several years, wouldn't it?

This path of cultivation was indeed long.

Suppressing the emotions in his heart, he continued to maintain his meditative state, carefully experiencing the changes after the breakthrough.

Sure enough, the rate at which spiritual energy seeped into the Baihui acupoint at the crown of his head had noticeably accelerated, and the stream of energy within his body had also become more condensed, driving the increase in the number for [Cultivation Base] to seem slightly faster than before.

Time flowed within the stillness of meditation.

By the time he felt a slight weariness in his mind and spirit, the sky outside the window had already taken on a faint hint of cyan. He checked the interface:

[Cultivation Base]: Five (Distributable)

From the early hours until now, roughly two to three hours, he had actually accumulated five points.

Moreover, he felt that this accumulation rate had not yet slowed down, as if there was still more capacity.

"Was it because of the increased efficiency after the breakthrough, or... because a new day had started and the 'upper limit' had refreshed?" Shen Hui speculated, feeling slightly more at ease.

At this rate, if he diligently cultivated without pause, supplemented by spirit fruits, perhaps the time could be shortened considerably.

He withdrew from the meditative state, feeling refreshed and clear-headed, without any trace of the fatigue from staying up all night; instead, he felt brimming with energy.

Outside the window, the faint sounds of the temple's morning activities could be heard in the distance.

Morning lessons were about to begin.

Shen Hui rose, washed up with cold water, and changed into his Daoist robe.

He decided that after today's morning lessons, he would definitely ask his senior brothers and sisters for a thorough explanation of the divisions of the cultivation realms, and... how to acquire cultivation resources more efficiently.

Pushing open the door, the crisp morning air rushed in to meet him. On the eastern horizon, a streak of golden red was struggling to break free from the embrace of the mountains.

"The sun really rises early here..."

Shen Hui sighed, adjusted his collar, and walked steadily toward the direction of Chengxin Studio.

Before the morning bell had rung, he had already stepped into Chengxin Studio.

The residual warmth of the charcoal fire still lingered in the room, while the meditation cushions were cold. He found the spot he had sat in yesterday, sat down, closed his eyes, and waited quietly.

Before long, the senior brothers and sisters arrived one after another. Seeing that Shen Hui was already there, they were all somewhat surprised.

Jinghui even leaned in and asked in a low voice, "Junior Brother Qingxuan, you're up so early. Did you sleep well last night?"

Shen Hui smiled and nodded. "Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister. I slept quite well."

It seemed that the cotton quilt had been brought to him by Fourth Senior Sister. Although it hadn't been needed last night, it had indeed solved an urgent problem for him.

Old Daoist Ji Chen arrived punctually, his gaze sweeping over everyone, pausing briefly on Shen Hui before he began the morning lessons without further comment.

Today, they were still reciting the Pure and Tranquil Scripture.

Shen Hui focused his mind, listening intently, and followed the others in reciting softly.

Compared to yesterday's muddled recitation, he felt a world of difference today.

The pronunciation and form of many characters were now confirmed against what Senior Sister Jingming had taught him last night. Those originally awkward and obscure syllables now seemed to be endowed with concrete forms and meanings, and his memory of them had suddenly deepened considerably.

"Man can be constantly pure and tranquil, heaven and earth will both return..."

Shen Hui silently recited this line, comparing it with what he had learned the night before. The characters for "pure," "tranquil," "heaven," "earth," and "return" were now clear in his mind in terms of both writing and meaning. When he recited them now, there was already three parts understanding and seven parts less confusion.

The hour-long morning lesson, spent in Shen Hui's fully concentrated comprehension, actually felt much shorter than yesterday's.

After the morning lessons ended, everyone bowed and then went to the dining hall for breakfast as usual.

Shen Hui noticed that Master Ji Chen did not go with them, so he casually asked a fellow disciple, "Doesn't Master eat breakfast?"

Upon hearing this, Jinghui immediately raised her little face, a hint of pride showing on it. "Master's cultivation is profound; he's long since achieved Bigu! Do you know what Bigu is? It means to subsist on wind and dew, to abstain from the food of the mortal world!"

Bigu? Shen Hui's heart stirred.

This fit his previous life's imagination of "immortals."

Recalling the effortless way the old Daoist by the stream had acted that day, and the longing in Master's voice when he mentioned Patriarch Cloud Deer True Man's "peerless flying sword," his curiosity about the specific divisions of the cultivation realms grew even stronger.

Entering the dining hall, the group sat around an old wooden table, eating plain congee and pickled vegetables.

Shen Hui took the opportunity to ask, "Senior brothers and sisters, as a newcomer, I am truly ignorant. May I ask, how exactly is the path of cultivation divided?"

"I know this!"

Jinghui was the first to speak up. "After Qi Induction, it's Foundation Establishment! It's like laying a foundation to build a house; the more stable the Dao foundation, the higher the future achievements!"

Third Senior Brother Qingyi smiled and nodded, adding slowly and methodically, "Establishing the Dao foundation means continuously condensing the spiritual energy drawn into the body, building the very root of cultivation within the dantian. This stage most emphasizes meticulous effort and the tempering of one's nature."

"And what comes after that?" Shen Hui pressed.

Li Changxing swallowed his porridge, wiped his mouth, and his expression turned serious. "Since Junior Brother Qingxuan asks, I will tell you. The path of cultivation is vast and long. Different schools and sects may have slight variations in their descriptions, but generally speaking, it is mainly divided into four major realms, from low to high: Qi Induction, Foundation Establishment, Refining Gang and Sha, and Dragon-Tiger Union. These correspond to the Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul realms commonly mentioned in secular storybooks."

Shen Hui silently memorized this, then asked, "And after Nascent Soul? Is there nothing more?"

Li Changxing gave a wry smile. "The Nascent Soul realm, where the Primordial Spirit manifests, is akin to being reborn. Those who reach it are already figures capable of founding a sect, roaming the world freely. Junior Brother, do not aim too high; it is the right path to walk steadily, one step at a time."

Shen Hui quickly acknowledged this, then asked curiously, "Then... what realm has Master reached now?"

At the mention of the master, Li Changxing's face immediately showed respect. "Master is blessed with extraordinary talent and has cultivated for over a hundred and twenty years. His Dao foundation is now fully complete. He only awaits the right opportunity to condense his Gang and Sha and achieve the Golden Core."

Upon hearing this, Shen Hui was stunned.

He had originally thought that a master who could casually extinguish a water spirit with a wave of his hand and see at a glance that his "fate was mysterious and profound" would at least be a Golden Core or even a Nascent Soul big shot... but it turned out he was only at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment?

Li Changxing keenly caught the shift in Shen Hui's expression and said seriously, "Junior Brother Qingxuan, do not underestimate Master's cultivation. The path of cultivation is as difficult as ascending to heaven. Qi Induction is the act of knocking on the door to the Dao—among a hundred people, nearly half will spend their entire lives spinning in place before that very door. The Foundation Establishment barrier alone has blocked countless talents. I..."

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of emotion beneath its calm: "I met Master at the age of thirty and was fortunate enough to be taken in. I have cultivated for over fifty years since then, never ceasing day or night, and I have only just touched the late Qi Refining stage. I still do not know if I have any hope of Foundation Establishment."

"Over fifty years?"

This time, Shen Hui was genuinely shocked. He looked at the senior apprentice brother's face—square, upright, and vigorous, appearing no more than thirty—and couldn't help asking, "Senior Brother, may I ask... how old are you this year?"

Li Changxing replied frankly, "I have idled away my years; I am eighty-six."

Eighty-six! He looks like he's thirty-six!

Shen Hui clicked his tongue, thinking to himself that the effect of cultivation on preserving youth was far too exaggerated.

He then turned his gaze to the second senior sister, Jingming, whose temperament was cool and aloof.

Following his gaze, Li Changxing continued, "Your second senior sister has exceptional talent, and her mental fortitude far surpasses her peers. She entered the sect only twenty years ago and has already touched the threshold of Foundation Establishment. She is the foremost talent of Clear Wind Temple in the past century."

His tone was full of relief and pride.

Hearing this, Shen Hui looked at Second Senior Sister Jingming. She merely lifted her eyes slightly, her clear gaze resting on Shen Hui's face for a moment. The corner of her lips seemed to twitch, but she said nothing. Instead, she lowered her head and gently stirred the congee in her bowl with her chopsticks.

Shen Hui then turned to Third Senior Brother Qingyi.

Seeing Shen Hui's gaze shift to him, Third Senior Brother set down his chopsticks and gave a gentle, refined smile: "I entered the sect fifteen years ago. My aptitude is mediocre, and I am still wandering in the mid Qi Refining stage. I hope the junior brother will not laugh at me."

Fourth Senior Sister Jinghui quickly swallowed the pickled vegetable in her mouth and rushed to say, "I, I also entered the sect fifteen years ago, together with Senior Brother Qingyi! I'm also at mid Qi Refining now! I'm twenty-eight this year!"

After speaking, she blinked, as if to say, "See how young I look."

"Swallow what's in your mouth before you speak," Jingming said flatly, glancing at Jinghui.

Jinghui immediately shrank her neck and obediently drank her congee.

Fifth Senior Brother Qing Shi scratched his head somewhat sheepishly: "I... I entered the sect the latest. Twelve years ago, Senior Brother picked me up from outside the mountain. My aptitude is dull; it wasn't until last year that I finally sensed the qi flow and formally entered the stage. Now... now I'm still fumbling around in early Qi Refining."

His voice grew softer and softer, carrying a fair amount of shame.

Li Changxing patted him on the shoulder and comforted him, "Don't sell yourself short. Cultivation is inherently difficult. How many people in this world spend their entire lives unable to even touch the threshold? The fact that you could enter the stage means you have already surpassed countless others."

Shen Hui listened, his thoughts racing.

So cultivation was truly this arduous. The senior apprentice brother was at late Qi Refining at eighty-six, the second senior sister was a genius for touching the Foundation Establishment threshold in twenty years, and the fifth senior brother barely entered the stage after eleven years... What about himself?

In a single night, breaking through from "not yet on the path" to "Qi Induction"—was this speed fast or slow?

He suppressed the urge to confess and obediently lowered his head to drink his congee.

That interface of his had an unknown origin and such astonishing effects; it was better to keep it secret for now.

But the momentary pause in his expression did not escape Jingming's eyes.

She lifted her eyelids and gave Shen Hui a faint glance, a hint of contemplation mixed into her gaze. In the end, however, she said nothing, simply picked up her bowl of congee and took small sips.