At dawn in the Zichen Dao Sect, mist coiled through the air as spiritual energy permeated everything. On the training grounds, the five core disciples had long since seated themselves cross-legged, cultivating with full concentration. Shi Jian circulated the basic earth cultivation technique Xuan Chen had taught him, a faint earthen-yellow spiritual aura surrounding his body as he sat as steady as an unyielding rock; Qing He invoked the Life Dao Principle, resonating with the spiritual energy of the surrounding grasses and trees, her aura gentle and mild; air currents surged around Feng Ling, his form sometimes hazy and ethereal, sometimes solid and visible, as he cultivated the Wind Dao Principle while tempering his movement technique; Lei Yan was deducing basic formations, his fingertips sketching simple formation patterns that merged into the surrounding spiritual energy; before Shui Rou floated a pool of spiritual water that, as she circulated her technique, sometimes transformed into droplets and sometimes condensed into a water shield, nimble and extraordinary.
Xuan Chen stood at the edge of the training grounds with Nüwa and Fuxi, watching the disciples cultivate with such earnest focus. Satisfied expressions appeared on their faces.
"The disciples have cultivated diligently. Though their aptitudes are not outstanding, their comprehension is quite good. Given time, they will surely achieve something," Fuxi said with a smile. The Bagua Mirror in his hand flickered faintly as it deduced the disciples' cultivation progress.
Nüwa nodded in agreement. "They have suffered through hardship, so they understand even more how precious the opportunity to cultivate is. However, what they are cultivating now are all basic techniques, and their understanding of Dao Principles remains shallow. They need greater guidance from Master and from us."
After pondering for a moment, Xuan Chen said, "I gathered the disciples today for two matters. First,