Meditation Training

Du Weilun nodded. "I'll make the arrangements right away."

Yan Shaozhe lifted his teacup and took a sip. "Go on."

"Oh, right. Tell the people in charge of the search to be careful. The edge of Star Dou Forest has seemed rather unsettled lately. Who knows what Di Tian and his lot are up to?"

Du Weilun rose and bowed, then turned and left the office.

After the door closed, Yan Shaozhe sat alone by the window, gently rubbing the rim of his teacup as he murmured to himself.

"Twin Martial Souls... If properly cultivated, I'll have another precious treasure in my hands!"

"Hehehe..."

He smiled as though he could already see the outcome.

As for what that child himself wanted, it had never mattered in his eyes!

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.

"Something's wrong, Dean! Something's wrong!"

The newcomer shoved the door open and rushed inside.

Yan Shaozhe frowned and rebuked him. "Why are you panicking? Have you no decorum?"

"What is it?!"

"Dean... Xiaotao... Xiaotao's Evil Fire has flared up again!"

"What?"

Yan Shaozhe's expression changed. In an instant, he rushed out to find his beloved disciple.

The next morning.

At Lake of Life in Star Dou Forest, a faint green mist hung in the air.

Warm golden morning light streamed slantwise through the broad window of the tree hollow, falling across Lu Yuan's face and waking him from his sleep.

The moment he opened his eyes, Lu Yuan found that he could not move at all. His chest and legs were pinned beneath heavy weights, leaving him unable even to turn over.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion was over three meters long and eight feet tall at the shoulder. Her enormous, sturdy beastly body occupied nearly half the tree hollow.

At some point during the night, the entire massive beast had sprawled across the floor. Her broad back pressed tightly against Lu Yuan, and her huge body had squeezed the six-year-old Lu Yuan into a corner of the hollow, leaving him no room to move at all.

The little one slept soundly. Her long, thunderous snores made the tree hollow tremble faintly, and every now and then, her mouth smacked softly.

"Hey, Auspicious Beast, wake up! You're crushing me to death!"

Lu Yuan raised his hand and pushed against the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's furry body, using all his strength to shove her away.

But the Three-Eyed Golden Lion had a powerful physique, her fur concealing dense, firm flesh. In deep sleep, she was as heavy as a boulder. No matter how hard Lu Yuan pushed, the Auspicious Beast did not budge in the slightest, at most unconsciously flicking her tail.

After several futile attempts, Lu Yuan was panting from exhaustion. Looking at the enormous Auspicious Beast sleeping beside him without a care in the world, his face was full of helplessness.

Fortunately, the tree hollow had a large viewing window. He was still young, only six years old, and small enough to squeeze through the gap by the window frame.

Lu Yuan carefully brushed aside the tail fur tangled around him, hunched over, and laboriously squeezed through the gap by the window. Only when both feet touched the ground did he finally regain his freedom.

He patted down his clothes and grumbled as he headed toward Lake of Life.

"What Imperial Auspicious Beast? She's clearly just a snoring boulder. She has no sense of restraint when she sleeps. She nearly suffocated me in that tree hollow..."

Still muttering under his breath, he arrived at the shimmering shore of Lake of Life.

Lu Yuan crouched down and scooped up the cold lake water, roughly washing his face and rinsing his mouth. He then wet his hands again and smoothed down his messy hair, finishing his simple morning wash.

He lowered his head and stared blankly at the emerald-like lake water.

Then a faint fragrance drifted over from behind him.

Lu Yuan turned around to see Bi Ji descending from the air in a long jade-green dress. She walked slowly across the lakeshore and came to his side.

"Little Yuan, why did you come to the lakeside alone so early in the morning? Where is the Auspicious Beast? Why isn't she with you?"

Bi Ji's eyes curved gently as she smiled at Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan pursed his lips, his tone full of helplessness. "The Auspicious Beast is too big. Her body is over three meters long and takes up the whole tree hollow. When she rolled over, she squeezed me right into the corner. I couldn't wake her no matter how hard I pushed, so I had no choice but to climb out the window."

Bi Ji could not help laughing softly. "That child has always been a deep sleeper. Her body is heavy, and when she is asleep, she truly weighs as much as a mountain."

"But since you woke up first, I'll teach you the basics of your morning cultivation."

"Let's meditate for a while before breakfast."

As she spoke, Bi Ji raised a hand and motioned for Lu Yuan to sit cross-legged on a bluestone nearby.

"First, calm your mind!"

Lu Yuan obediently sat down cross-legged, placing both hands flat on his knees.

Bi Ji stood behind him and gently pressed both palms against his back. A steady stream of warm, gentle Emerald Swan Soul Power flowed from her palms into every limb and bone of Lu Yuan's body.

"I'll first teach you the circulation route for Soul Power during meditation. Slow down the flow of your Soul Power, and don't rush to force your strength forward."

Bi Ji's gentle voice entered Lu Yuan's ears, guiding him carefully.

"Meditation is not simply about piling up Soul Power. It is about refining and containing it. You have accumulated an immense amount of power within your body. If you cannot calmly sort it out, then no matter how much Soul Power you possess, it will only be a mass of chaotic, murky energy."

Lu Yuan closed his eyes and, following Bi Ji's guidance, slowly guided his Soul Power in a circuit through his body.

"Remember this peaceful feeling. From now on, every morning's cultivation must be rooted in this state of mind."

As Bi Ji assisted him with meditation, she patiently explained the essentials of cultivation.

"This is your first time meditating. Try circulating it for five cycles first."

By the lakeside, one person and one beast quietly immersed themselves in cultivation amid the shimmering lake light.

Two and a half hours later.

Lu Yuan completed all five cycles.

Lu Yuan's long eyelashes trembled softly as he slowly opened his eyes. He felt refreshed, light, and clear all over.

Bi Ji, who had been guarding him nearby, looked at him with gentle eyes and asked softly, "You completed all five cycles. Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"

Lu Yuan stretched his arms, and his bones gave a series of faint, relaxing cracks. A cheerful smile appeared on his face. "I feel completely refreshed. I'm not tired at all. It feels great!"

Bi Ji smiled and nodded. With a wave of her hand, a pile of plump, glossy spirit fruits overflowing with shimmering light rolled out of her Storage Soul Tool and spread across the clean bluestone.

Their sweet fragrance filled the air, enough to whet anyone's appetite.

"Have some fruit to fill your stomach. These fruits all contain some medicinal potency. They are gentle and nourishing, perfect for your breakfast."

Lu Yuan immediately moved closer, casually picked up a fruit, rinsed it in the lake water, and took a large bite. The flesh was sweet, soft, and dense.

While he was eating, Gu Yuena emerged from the lake in a silver-white robe.

She walked slowly over the water toward them.

Bi Ji rose and bowed. "My Lord, I have taught Little Yuan the method of meditation. He has already completed five meditation cycles."

Gu Yuena's gaze fell upon Lu Yuan, who was busy gnawing on fruit, and warm approval rippled through her eyes.

"Big Sister!"

Lu Yuan called out.

"Mhm, you did well!"

Gu Yuena gently raised a hand and rubbed the top of his head. Then her tone shifted, carrying a hint of urging. "However, cultivation cannot be neglected halfway through. After you finish these spirit fruits, stay by the lake and meditate calmly until noon."

"After resting at noon, you will practice swordsmanship."

"Each of the two swords of your Martial Soul has its own specialty, yet all you know now is how to swing them around wildly. You have not even mastered the basic sword forms!"

"If you do not steadily hone your swordsmanship, then even with two sharp weapons in hand, you will have no idea how to wield them. You would be wasting the gifts your Martial Soul has bestowed upon you."

Lu Yuan answered vaguely through a mouthful of fruit. "I know, Sister Na. After I finish eating, I'll keep meditating. This afternoon, I'll definitely practice my swordsmanship properly!"