The Difficulty of Cultivation

"You wouldn't understand even if I told you... Forget it, I'll tell you. The so-called Dharma Nature Passage, simply put, is the process of using Yang Gang energy to stimulate the body and cultivating the first level of the Pure Yang Sword Art, thereby giving birth to the first thread of Dharma power within oneself. If you can't get past it, then immortality cultivation will have nothing to do with you in this life." Seeing Shen Luo's eager expression, Bai Xiaotian explained.

"If I understand correctly, it's like a crucial threshold. Only by getting through it can one continue cultivating immortality. Could it be some kind of enlightenment?" Shen Luo nodded thoughtfully and asked.

"That isn't entirely wrong, but it isn't completely right either. Dharma Nature Passage isn't an experience of enlightenment, but a transformation of the body from within to without. It also requires the assistance of certain external forces to achieve."

"What external forces?" Shen Luo pressed.

"You can't seriously be thinking of cultivating the Pure Yang Sword Art, can you? Honestly, instead of wasting your time on wild thoughts, you'd be better off diligently cultivating the Minor Transforming Yang Art and finding ways to get more pills from Daoist Luo..." Bai Xiaotian rolled his eyes.

"Who only tells half the story?" Shen Luo glared right back at him.

"I really can't do anything with you. I can't say too much about exactly what external forces are needed, but they're nothing more than things like miraculous pills and precious medicines. Such things are rare treasures that can only be encountered by chance. And even with external assistance, fewer than one in a hundred ultimately succeeds." Bai Xiaotian sighed.

"The success rate is that low?" Shen Luo's eyes widened.

"That's why, despite the temple recruiting so many disciples in recent years, there are still only three Inner Disciples. You can imagine how difficult Dharma Nature Passage is." Bai Xiaotian chuckled.

"Then could you tell me more about the Pure Yang Sword Art? If it involves any forbidden sect rules, there's no need to force yourself."

"Hehe, as long as it doesn't involve the specific contents of the technique, there's no harm in telling you a little. There's actually nothing worth hiding. Outer Disciples know more or less about it, though they tend to generalize from limited information or exaggerate matters. The Pure Yang Sword Art has twelve levels in total. The hardest to cultivate are the first level and the final two levels. The first is difficult because of Dharma Nature Passage, while the final two are difficult because of the technique itself. Once you pass the Dharma Nature Passage threshold, the next nine levels can eventually be mastered in a few decades, even if your aptitude is poor and your cultivation progresses slowly." Bai Xiaotian spoke at length.

"A few decades? By the time one finishes cultivating it, wouldn't one's lifespan be nearly exhausted?" Shen Luo grimaced.

"I forgot to mention this earlier. As long as you achieve Dharma Nature Passage and enter the Qi Refining Stage, your lifespan will increase by around sixty years. That should roughly be enough time to cultivate those levels." Bai Xiaotian slapped his forehead.

"If one cultivates to the ninth level, how much lifespan can be gained?" This was what Shen Luo cared about most.

"As long as you fail to break through the Qi Refining Stage, the additional sixty years of lifespan won't change much. But if you cultivate the tenth level of the Pure Yang Sword Art to completion, you can attempt to break through the Qi Refining Stage and enter the Fasting Stage. After entering the Fasting Stage, your lifespan can increase by at least two hundred years." Bai Xiaotian smiled as he explained.

"Two hundred years..." Shen Luo murmured to himself.

"You should focus on living a little longer first before worrying about two hundred years. Young people shouldn't aim too high. Hahaha." After laughing, Bai Xiaotian suddenly seemed to recall something and changed the subject. "Are you still tinkering with talismans?"

"I'm still studying them, but I haven't made much progress yet." Shen Luo shook his head.

After Yu Yan's guidance in the dream, his understanding of talismans had indeed deepened considerably. However, he had not yet had the time to practice and verify it thoroughly, so he truly could not claim to have made much progress.

"I knew you wouldn't give up so easily. I have no use for these things anymore, so take them for now." Wearing a self-satisfied expression as though he had expected this all along, Bai Xiaotian raised a hand and tossed over a small drawstring cloth pouch.

Shen Luo caught it and weighed it in his hand, finding it surprisingly heavy.

Curious, he opened the pouch and discovered seven or eight Yuan Stones inside. His heart immediately filled with joy.

"Brother Bai, Brother Bai, you're truly a timely blessing to me. I was just worrying about not having these treasures. This time, I can't let myself get something for nothing again. Tell me, how much?" Shen Luo asked delightedly.

"Talking about money between brothers hurts our feelings. In a few days, treat me to a good meal at the tavern in town. Everything else is negotiable, as long as you keep the wine flowing. The wine bugs in my stomach have been crying out for days." Bai Xiaotian slapped him on the shoulder and grinned.

"That's certainly no problem. But no matter how I look at it, aren't all your deals losing propositions?" Shen Luo said after thinking for a moment.

"Fine, if your conscience can't bear it, give me a hundred or a thousand taels of gold. I wouldn't mind having something weighing down my money pouch." Bai Xiaotian said with a grin, rubbing his hands together.

"The wine will keep flowing." Shen Luo nodded to himself and walked ahead with his hands clasped behind his back.

Bai Xiaotian burst into laughter and followed after him.

The summer night was tranquil. Beneath the moonlight, insects chirped like tinkling bells, crisp and pleasant.

A solitary figure made his way up the mountain path toward the summit. After passing the Jade Emperor Hall, he soon arrived before an independent courtyard.

The outer courtyard gate stood open, and candlelight shone from the two-story building within.

"Daoist Luo, disciple Shen Luo requests an audience." Shen Luo stopped in the patch of light at the entrance, respectfully bowed toward the interior, and called out.

"Come in and speak..." After a brief silence, a voice finally came from within.

Hearing this, Shen Luo hurried into the inner courtyard. Before he had even approached the door, a sound rang out, and the two black doors opened inward on their own.

Daoist Luo, dressed in a Daoist robe, sat in a grand chair in the main hall. Beside him rested a pot of freshly brewed tea, wisps of white steam rising from it alongside the fragrance of tea.

"This disciple heard from Senior Brother Bai that Master had returned to the mountain, so I came specially to pay my respects." Shen Luo lowered his gaze at Daoist Luo's weathered face and respectfully bowed.

After parting ways with Bai Xiaotian, he had pondered for a long time before finally deciding to visit this master who had just returned from beyond the mountain.

Daoist Luo held a teacup in his hands, his gaze sweeping over this Registered Disciple. His brow could not help but furrow slightly.

"It seems your martial uncle was right. You truly have gone astray in cultivating the Minor Transforming Yang Art. Your already meager vitality, essence, and spirit have become even more depleted. You are not long for this world." Daoist Luo set down his teacup and spoke bluntly without reservation.

Hearing this, Shen Luo's heart sank sharply, and his last trace of hope was completely reduced to ashes.

"Please save me, Daoist Luo, and teach me a way to prolong my lifespan and preserve my life." Shen Luo bent lower and bowed deeply.

Seeing him like this, Daoist Luo's dark red face showed little change in expression. He merely picked up the teapot beside him, refilled his cup, and gently blew at the tea leaves floating on its surface.

Shen Luo straightened slightly and stepped forward. He took a heavy purplish-red wooden box from his robes and placed it with both hands on the tea table beside Daoist Luo before respectfully saying:

"Daoist Luo, this is a small token of this disciple's regard. Please accept it. If there is a way for me to survive, this disciple is willing to pay a great sum for it."