Secrets of Cultivation

Innate qualities lay hidden beneath acquired ones and could only be detected through special means. At the height of her powers, it would not have been difficult for Yuan Xiuxiu to examine someone's innate foundation. Unfortunately, she was currently undergoing tribulation; less than one-tenth of her cultivation remained, and she was severely wounded. She could not employ many methods at all—barely enough to protect herself.

Could he have been possessed instead?

But after carefully examining the changes throughout Yang Huai's body, she quickly dismissed the thought. Yang Huai's condition did not resemble possession by anyone. His aura was exceptionally pure, from within to without; even the reincarnation imprint at the deepest core was remarkably intact.

"Other than that, he could only have consumed some heavenly treasure, or encountered some unexpected opportunity and obtained a visualization secret art that had spread into the world?"

Yuan Xiuxiu's brows drew together. If it was the former, that was still manageable. If it was the latter, then trouble had come.

That would mean Yang Huai's foundation might have been contaminated.

Indeed.

To Yuan Xiuxiu, such consequences were even more "serious."

Crackling sounds rang out as his sinews and bones chimed in unison. Yang Huai opened his eyes.

He felt his blood and vitality surging through his entire body, fierce and scorching. With every lift of a hand or step of a foot, that blood and vitality seeped deep into his muscles and bones, generating a peculiar force filled with tremendous power. Even without any method of exertion, he could split steles and shatter rocks.

"This Heavenly Circuit Heart Method is truly wondrous. It does not merely temper the skin, flesh, sinews, bones, or internal organs. It tempers the human body as an integrated whole, drawing upon the unseen qi of Heaven and Earth to nourish oneself. It is like the means by which Heaven and man give rise to life, nurturing all things without a trace!"

Yang Huai marveled inwardly at the profundity of this secret art.

No wonder Feng Ying had found it so difficult to make a decision.

He suddenly raised his head and saw that Yuan Xiuxiu had somehow come before him, extending a fair, slender hand.

"?"

Confusion filled Yang Huai's eyes.

"Stop pretending. Hand over the wages Father gave you!"

"Hm?"

Yang Huai blinked. Was she planning to seize control of the family finances?

Should he refuse, or should he refuse?

Yuan Xiuxiu said flatly, "I'll prepare some secret medicine for you. The Heavenly Circuit Heart Method actually has accompanying formulas, as well as moving exercises. I thought you would not need them before, but now it seems that without medicinal food to replenish you, your cultivation may be delayed!"

Yang Huai's eyes lit up at those words. Readily, he took out from his sleeve half the payment Yang Dayuan had given him.

Yuan Xiuxiu casually wrapped it in a handkerchief and tucked it into her sleeve. She looked at Yang Huai with a pair of eyes that seemed able to speak.

"Yang, you must answer me truthfully from here on!"

Seeing her so solemn, Yang Huai was somewhat baffled, but he still nodded.

"Speak your mind, wife!"

Yuan Xiuxiu asked gravely, "Have you ever come into contact with visualization-type secret arts?"

Yang Huai froze, then nodded. "I have, indeed!"

He was not lying. The Twenty-Two-Character Primordial Diagram within the Xi Huang Kingdom, as well as the talisman-nurturing chapter of the Heavenly Yang Golden Light Talisman, both required meditation and visualization to take form. This was the inevitable path for secret arts of the soul.

He simply had not expected Yuan Xiuxiu to see even this much.

Seeing that Yang Huai had not concealed anything and answered honestly, Yuan Xiuxiu's expression eased somewhat, though she still shook her head. "Yang, you were far too reckless!"

"Wife, what do you mean by that?"

Yang Huai's expression immediately turned astonished.

Then his gaze settled on Yuan Xiuxiu as he asked, "Wife, I know you are also a cultivator. What exactly is the path of cultivation like? Can one truly attain immortality and the Dao?"

"Curious now?"

Yang Huai nodded.

Yuan Xiuxiu glanced at him, then swept her gaze outside.

"Hee-haw!"

Just then, the old donkey's furious braying seemed to rise from deep within the donkey shed. Yuan Xiuxiu turned her head, pondered briefly, and said, "Since you wish to know, it does no harm to tell you a little!"

"You have likely noticed that most cultivators begin by strengthening their sinews and forging their bones. In truth, this step is called refining essence into qi!"

Her expression remained calm as she faced the blazing sunlight streaming down through the window. "But our Nine Heavens Orthodox Path generally begins by nourishing essence and qi, then refining the spirit and transforming it, returning the elixir and awakening transformation, ultimately attaining sanctification of the fleshly body. Both the foundation and the eventual achievements far surpass those of Dao-seekers cultivated through ordinary paths."

"Especially since the cultivation arts passed down by our Nine Heavens Orthodox Path are pure and flawless. The radiance of life cultivated through them is exceedingly difficult to contaminate with spells and arts. With the orthodox to command the unorthodox—even to command the wicked—there is no impediment. One will not easily stray onto crooked paths or take a wrong step."

"As for attaining immortality and the Dao, within our Nine Heavens Orthodox Path, it is no moon reflected in water or flower seen in a mirror, visible yet untouchable. It is utterly real!"

Though her expression remained composed as she spoke, her tone carried an indescribable pride.

And rightly so. Countless seekers of the Dao longed to enter the Nine Heavens Orthodox Path but could not, and could only take the perilous crooked road of heterodox sects.

At any moment, they might plunge from a cliff and have their souls scattered and spirits dispersed.

Having said this, she turned her gaze to Yang Huai. "Your foundation has not yet been established. If you cultivate spells too early, the radiance of your life will inevitably be contaminated, affecting your future achievements!"

"There are such taboos in cultivating spells?"

Yang Huai's expression immediately became solemn. He was also drawn in by the "Nine Heavens Orthodox Path" Yuan Xiuxiu had described.

Yuan Xiuxiu nodded. "Indeed. The stronger the spell, the greater its spiritual fluctuations, and the more easily one will be shaken by them. In mild cases, one suffers injury; in severe cases, one becomes infected by the many traits within the spell, forming all manner of yin dregs. Afterward, it becomes very difficult for the Primordial Spirit to become pure yang... This is still too early for you. You only need to know that you must diligently cultivate the Great Dao. As for high-might spells, I have several in hand. Once your foundation is complete, I naturally will not leave you lacking methods to protect your Dao!"

"So there really are such taboos!"

A trace of relief flashed through Yang Huai's heart.

Although he had currently cultivated visualization methods, he probably had not cultivated any spells.

And strictly speaking, his true body had never come into contact with cultivation. It was Qingli who cultivated. Though his soul power had increased, it had all passed through the Bronze Mirror, filtered by the Bronze Mirror without a trace of impurity remaining.

Yang Huai's eyes flickered, and he suddenly asked, "Then can cultivators of the Nine Heavens Orthodox Path not come into contact with spells before Foundation Establishment?"

Yuan Xiuxiu shot Yang Huai a glance and immediately understood what he was after.

She said blandly, "It is not that they cannot. Could our Nine Heavens Orthodox Path truly be such an inconvenient lineage?"

"If you are truly so eager for it, I can pass on to you the Heavenly Circuit Spirit-Light Protective Incantation!"

"This is also part of the Heavenly Circuit Heart Method's inheritance and belongs to the Dao Foundation chapter. I had intended to teach it to you once your Heavenly Circuit Heart Method reached great completion, but it does no harm to teach it to you early!"

She immediately recited an elegant passage silently and had Yang Huai recite it after her, imprinting it deep within his sea of consciousness. As he silently recited the incantation, he felt his soul faintly tremble, and dizziness washed over him.

Seeing his brow furrow, Yuan Xiuxiu shouted, "Hold fast to your original heart! This incantation uses the spiritual nature of Heaven and Earth to resonate with the radiance of your own spirit, forming a spirit-light womb to protect the soul. The trembling of your soul is merely the first trial. Afterward, you must subdue the nameless delusions born from the resonance between your spirit and the spirit of Heaven and Earth. Do not—"

Before she could finish, an incomparably tranquil golden light spilled from deep within Yang Huai's brow, protecting the hundred apertures throughout his body and making him seem like a golden man.

"!"

At this sight, even Yuan Xiuxiu was greatly astonished.

Yang Huai had directly subdued his delusions and mastered the Heavenly Circuit Spirit-Light Protective Incantation!

Outside the house, the old donkey in the donkey shed also stared wide-eyed, wearing an expression as though it had seen a ghost.