Chapter 36

"Mind-intent is the intention within one's heart. Cultivators use the cultivation of the spirit as... when mind-intent never ceases, all things flow and turn..."

He was screwed. With this classical explanation that quoted scriptures at the drop of a hat, reasoned things out, and moved people with emotion, he could only understand bits and pieces. Bian Chunchou had even brought a charcoal pencil and scratch paper, but... well, great. There was no need for them at all. Some of the rare characters, he simply did not know how to write.

Cultivators actually had excellent memories. At least, Bian Chunchou's memory was quite good. But even with such a good memory, he still could not retain those long, dry explanations written like heavenly scriptures. The more he listened, the less he understood. Why was it that cultivators spoke so normally when communicating with one another, yet the moment it was put onto paper, it became a heavenly scripture?

Why not use simpler, easier-to-understand language to record cultivation methods? Were they afraid others would understand them too well? Or were jade slips so expensive that they could not bear to use another one or two?

No, it was probably neither. Everything that existed had a reason for existing. Bian Chunchou was a science student; he did not believe in things that were mysterious beyond mystery. He only knew that if an established fact existed, then it had significance in existing.

Even if this was the cultivation world.

And it was not merely one person's cultivation method that had been written into an intelligible heavenly scripture. Everyone had chosen to summarize cultivation methods with extremely concise wording. So what exactly were cultivation methods?

They should help cultivators cultivate, not become... roadblocks on a cultivator's path.

Yet they had been written so that clouds veiled the mist, vague and ambiguous. That could only mean one thing—

Cultivation methods could only be written this way. If they were not, they would lose their meaning.

Bian Chunchou thought, I really am a little genius at spouting nonsense. After thinking about mind-intent for so long, I actually went in a circle in my head and returned right where I started. So... I still can't understand it.

Sui Yuan True Person only taught for one shichen. He went from controlling mind-intent to one's personal minor Dao, then to the specific Dao of comprehending wood and water. He explained profound principles in simple terms. The disciples in the front rows listened as though intoxicated, but Bian Chunchou felt as though he were sitting on pins and needles, with thorns in his back.

But he felt that he had to overcome it. Thus, for seven days in a row, he dragged Chen Zui to Six Lectures Peak for classes. It did not matter which lecturer it was; they would listen first and talk later. Unfortunately, Chen Zui had gleaned a trace of insight, while he himself still could not find the door in.

Water-Fire Harmonization—just how was it supposed to harmonize?

He had even slipped into a Spirit Transformation venerable's class for one session, but it had to be said that it was so profound it made him want to sleep. Instead, he found the content explained by Foundation Establishment Realm senior brothers somewhat easier to understand.

So the higher one's cultivation, the less one knew how to speak like a human?

Bian Chunchou put away his paper and pencil, scratched his head, and for once, his face carried not the slightest smile.

"Junior Brother Bian, Junior Brother Bian, wait."

Among cultivators, the accomplished came first. Between disciples of the same generation, the one with higher cultivation was honored. When Bian Chunchou had entered the sect, he was at the Third Layer of Qi Refining, and he was still at the Third Layer now. But Lin Congcong was already at the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining.

"You are... Senior Brother Lin? What does Senior Brother Lin want with me?" Bian Chunchou was not one to harbor many schemes, so he relied on instinct in his dealings. This baby-faced senior brother looked approachable enough, but he always felt that this person... did not think much of him.

"It's like this. Yesterday, I wanted to ask Wen... Little Martial Granduncle some questions, but my communication talisman went unanswered for a long while. I was merely worried, so I wanted to ask you about it."

That "Little Martial Granduncle" sounded as though it carried a few gritted teeth. Bian Chunchou smiled. "I don't know either. Why don't you go take a look at Springless Peak?"

Lin Congcong's expression stiffened. Who on Yonglu Mountain did not know that idlers were forbidden from entering Springless Peak? Even if it were the sect master, the Divine Venerable of Springless Peak would dare slap them right off the mountaintop. Much less little disciples like them who had not even reached Foundation Establishment.

Lin Congcong had never expected that a blind man from the Mortal Realm would rely on his gifted Spiritual Root to become the disciple of an Integrated Body Great Talent! What was more, his master was the cultivation world's sole Divine Dragon Divine Venerable.

Jealousy filled his heart, but reason told him that he ought to befriend Wen Xu. Yonglu Mountain would never allow such a genius, one who had appeared out of nowhere, to perish halfway along his path. By becoming friends with someone like that, Lin Congcong would surely benefit as well.

But Wen Xu was one thing—what was Bian Chunchou? A man with a Waste Spiritual Root had somehow become the disciple of a Spirit Transformation venerable and entered the inner sect. Yet after entering the inner sect, his cultivation had not advanced a single inch. He was simply worse than even outer sect disciples.

Perhaps after next year's disciple tournament, Bian Chunchou would be expelled from the inner sect for failing to meet the cultivation requirement.

"Junior Brother Bian, could it be that you have some prejudice against me?"

"No. I merely offered a suggestion."

Lin Congcong put on his signature smile. "Is that so? Then it seems your relationship with Brother Wen Xu is not as close as you make it out to be. There is no need for you to proclaim to the entire inner sect that the two of you are so close."

Wow, what a dead green tea! Don't think I can't see through you, brat! If I could beat you, I'd definitely roll up my sleeves and—

"Our relationship is, of course, very good."

Hearing Wen Xu's voice all of a sudden, Bian Chunchou spun around in surprise. "Wen Xuxu, you finally came out of the mountain!"

Wen Xu gave Bian Chunchou a faint smile before turning to Lin Congcong. "But the relationship between you and me has not reached the point where we can address each other as brothers. Nephew Lin, you should still follow the rules and call me Little Martial Granduncle."

Wow, wow, wow! As expected of my good brother! 'Should I become rich and honored, I shall not forget you'—that was real, and 'do not forget one another' was real too! Wen Xuxu is so good, I'm crying myself to death.

Lin Congcong's expression stiffened. Just as he was about to flee, he discovered something even harder to accept. "How did you—" It had only been seven days, yet Wen Xu's cultivation had reached the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining. What kind of terrifying speed was this? During the Mountain Examination, Wen Xu's cultivation had barely been at the Second Layer of Qi Refining.

He had practically advanced one minor realm per day since entering the sect. Was this the terrifying speed of a Mutated Spiritual Root?

Lin Congcong was truly miserable now. He did not even try to salvage his dignity before leaving in dejection. In truth, how could Lin Congcong have been the only one feeling miserable? This was Six Lectures Peak, where most disciples were at Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment. A blind man with a Mutated Wind Spiritual Root was easy to recognize. Even if they had never seen this newly admitted genius Little Martial Granduncle before, they could identify him at a glance just from the ribbon over his eyes.

How long had he been in the sect, and he was already at the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining? As expected of a Mutated Spiritual Root—terrifying indeed!