Breath-and-Spirit Absorption Art

Dong Lin left the side hall and headed for the Cavern Repository, the sect department specifically responsible for managing supplies.

Following the signs, he arrived before a teleportation gate leading from the side hall into the center of the main hall.

When he pushed open the gate, a layer of cloud and mist obscured the middle of the teleportation portal before him, making it impossible to see what lay on the other side.

Dong Lin cautiously extended one foot toward the gate. The instant his left foot touched the portal, he felt a fierce suction force yank his entire body into it.

The teleportation happened in an instant. Dong Lin shook his head and opened his eyes. Before him stretched an incomparably vast space. This was not a hall at all, but a world of its own. High in the heavens floated a Rootless Mountain. Looking upward, he could not see its summit at all. The mountain stood several hundred meters high, and thick clouds shrouded everything above its waist, concealing it from sight.

The enormous mountain blocked out the sky and sun. Dong Lin emerged from a translucent gate in the side hall onto a massive stone platform. Clearly, this was a teleportation formation normally used by sect disciples.

This teleportation formation was located in the northeastern corner of this world. Dong Lin gazed into the distance, but could not see what lay on the other side.

Sparse crowds came and went across the teleportation formation. Some stepped out and rode away upon clouds; others transformed into streaks of golden light and shot toward the distant mountains. It was a scene straight out of an immortal realm.

Dong Lin was nearly dazzled by the sight and hurriedly took out his Sect Jade Token to inspect it.

"Sure enough, there's a three-dimensional map of the sect inside the Sect Jade Token."

Through a soul art, the Sect Jade Token displayed the approximate locations of the Profound Dao Celestial Sect's various major institutions, and its holder could clearly see his current location.

"Divine Affairs Hall, Immortal Arts Hall, Spirit Chambers... Cavern Repository, there it is!"

This is incredible. Even the top VR headsets from my previous life couldn't achieve something like this, Dong Lin marveled inwardly.

Following the directions of the Sect Jade Token, Dong Lin headed toward the Cavern Repository.

For Dong Lin, an ordinary man with no cultivation whatsoever, the journey to the Cavern Repository was unbearably long.

Along the way, Dong Lin swallowed a Five-Grain Pill that Chief Steward Xuan Qing had stuffed into his hand.

One pill was enough to sustain this mortal body of Dong Lin's for several days.

After dry-swallowing the Five-Grain Pill, Dong Lin felt that his stomach could barely take it. It took quite some time before the discomfort eased.

"Luckily, this was the closest place. If it were any farther, I really wouldn't be able to walk anymore." Dong Lin wiped the sweat from his brow and breathed a sigh of relief.

There were quite a few disciples walking along the road, but they all seemed perfectly at ease. Even when walking swiftly, they did not so much as pant.

The difference in physical capability between cultivators and ordinary people was plain to see.

After walking for at least two hours, Dong Lin finally arrived before the Cavern Repository.

Dong Lin looked up. The three gilded characters, Cavern Repository, on the plaque above the gates emitted a golden radiance so dazzling that he hurriedly looked away.

In a sacred immortal land, even a simple plaque was something mortals could not gaze upon directly.

Dong Lin entered the repository through the side entrance on the left.

The moment he entered, ten golden gates greeted him head-on. Each was dozens of meters tall, grand and imposing, like a golden city wall separating the entire interior of the repository from the outside.

All of these golden gates stood in the center of the Cavern Repository. The ten gates were joined together, forming a semicircular space that completely cut off the rear half of the building.

Not far before the ten golden gates stood ten counters. A plaque floated beside each one, bearing the words: pills, cultivation arts, medicinal herbs, materials, clothing, immortal artifacts, food, talismans, divine abilities, and Spirit Stones.

Following the list on his jade token, Dong Lin went to each counter to collect his items.

"Starter benefits secured!" After collecting everything, Dong Lin hurried back to his residence.

After returning, Dong Lin was so exhausted that he did not even have time to inspect the supplies he had received before collapsing into sleep.

Early the next morning, Dong Lin climbed up from the floor.

Dong Lin stretched hard.

"The meditation cushion is actually pretty comfortable to sleep on."

There was no bed in his residence, which was somewhat torturous for Dong Lin. Yet this meditation cushion seemed to possess an effect that calmed the mind and steadied the body. After one night, yesterday's exhaustion seemed to have been swept away entirely.

Taking out the items issued yesterday, Dong Lin set the two bottles of pills aside for the moment, then opened the jade slip containing the basic cultivation art and began reading it carefully.

This jade slip contained an introductory cultivation art, the Breath-and-Spirit Absorption Art.

Essentials of the Spiritual Breathing Pivot

Heaven and earth are the bellows of great transformation; the human body is the cauldron of the lesser circuit. Qi pervades the six directions in swirling mists. When exhaled, it is like spring rain moistening all things; when inhaled, it is like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.

Chapter One: General Principles

Qi is the master of form and the vehicle of spirit. The ancient True Persons followed the four seasons to regulate their breath and emulated tortoises and cranes to nurture their true nature. Thus, exhale the old neither hurriedly nor slowly; inhale the new as though it were there, as though it were not. Breath from the heels connects to the Gushing Spring; divine light pours into the Muddy Pellet. This is the pivotal mechanism of embracing the origin and guarding the one.

Chapter Two: The Method of Circulating Qi

At tiger hour, face the southeast. Sit cross-legged, firm as a boulder. Press the tongue against the upper palate like a bridge, and lower the eyes until their light is a faint curtain. Cover the Dantian with both palms, as though cradling Kunlun jade. Exhale from the Chest Center, fine and unbroken as drawing silk, and after nine breaths, exhaust the turbid qi. Inhale from the Mysterious Female, flowing like drinking from a spring, and after seven turns, hold the light within. Between them, the bellows push against each other, like heaven and earth swirling in mist as all things are refined.

Chapter Three: Breath-Regulation Formula

With one inhalation, draw the earth essence down to the Perineum; with the second turn, send the river cart up the spine; with the third, pass the Jade Pillow and gather at the Hundred Meetings—this is called advancing the yang fire. With one exhalation, bring heaven's clarity down to the Flowery Pool; with the second, cross the Magpie Bridge into the Crimson Palace; with the third, return to the Yellow Court and store the true seed—this is called withdrawing the yin talisman. Complete three hundred and sixty circuits, and the mystery of long, unbroken tortoise breath shall arise naturally.

Chapter Four: The Method of Preserving the Spirit

At the hours of rat and horse, visualize the radiant light of the Northern Dipper entering through the Heavenly Gate, descending along the central channel, and transforming into golden liquid and jade nectar. Let the left eye be the sun and the right eye the moon; let their lights meet at the Hall of Brightness and condense into a violet-gold pellet. This method requires one to forget form and sever thought, like an ice vessel holding an autumn moon—brightly illuminating without leaving a trace.

A basic Breath-and-Spirit Absorption Art that led directly to the great path of Nascent Soul lay completely before Dong Lin in four chapters. Unfortunately, even the most basic circulation of qi was beyond him at present.

Dong Lin shook his head. "Such a basic cultivation art is already this obscure and difficult to understand. It seems I should first go to the Immortal Arts Hall and learn the basics."

Dong Lin took out the robe he had been issued. "Black-Tier Self-Purifying Daoist Robe. What a straightforward name. Most of the sect disciples I saw yesterday seemed to be wearing similar robes. I wonder how this Black Tier is ranked among the various grades."

Dong Lin changed into the Daoist robe and faintly sensed a ball of warmth slowly circulating through his body, as though it were...

"Eh?" Dong Lin exclaimed in surprise.

"The words 'self-purifying' don't mean the robe cleans itself automatically. They mean it slowly purifies the body and removes impurities?"

Dong Lin rubbed his forehead. "Looks like I was thinking too simply. I was wondering why the sect had given the robe such a plain name."

As the warmth circulated, Dong Lin could feel filth within his body being expelled. The process was exceedingly slow; only by calming himself and carefully sensing it could he experience this remarkably wondrous sensation.

"Looks like I can't casually take this robe off."

Although he did not know the deeper meaning behind this robe's effects, it surely had to be something beneficial to cultivation.

Dong Lin placed great importance on anything that benefited cultivation.