Adjusting State of Mind, Breaking Through Again

The spirit beast raised its head, its nostrils twitching slightly. It didn't retreat, nor did it make any warning sounds. I stood my ground, the talisman seal still pressed against my palm, its warmth unchanged.

Mist flowed slowly from around a standing stone three feet ahead, like rhythmic breathing. The stone's surface was smooth and dark, like old wood soaked in water for years. I took two steps forward. The moss underfoot was soft yet resilient, not sinking but allowing moisture to seep upwards.

I stopped and glanced at the spirit beast. It turned its head, its horn lightly brushing my arm, then slowly moved forward to a position half a step ahead of me and stopped.

I knew what it meant. It was leading the way and keeping watch.

I followed it forward. I took each step lightly, listening to the sounds around me. That low hum was still there, not loud, but ever-present, like a vibration from beneath the earth. The closer we got to the standing stone, the clearer the sound became.

When I was still five steps away from the stone, I stopped.

The System spoke in my mind.

[Host's current state of mind is fluctuating significantly. It is recommended to immediately begin regulating your breathing and enter a state of quiet cultivation.]

I didn't respond immediately. I simply put the talisman seal in my hand back into my storage bag. Then, I sat down cross-legged, my back to the standing stone, facing the direction I came from. The view here wasn't expansive, but it was enough for me to see my escape route clearly.

The spirit beast lay down to my right, its front legs tucked beneath it, its head raised, its eyes fixed on the depths of the mist.

I closed my eyes and began to breathe according to the four-line incantation.

"Mind like still water reflecting the vast sky, thoughts like floating clouds drifting east and west."

At first, my mind was filled with images of breaking through the barrier just now. The feeling of spiritual power colliding with that barrier returned, and my Dantian tightened. I took a deep breath and pulled my attention back to the air at my nostrils.

In, out.

In again, out again.

I didn't try to suppress those thoughts, nor did I chase them away. They came, and they went, like the wind rustling through the treetops, just blowing past.

"Without striving for merit or fruit of the moment, innate spiritual light will break through the darkness."

I repeated the last two lines over and over. Once, twice, ten times. After an unknown amount of time, my body slowly relaxed. My chest no longer felt constricted, and my shoulders were no longer stiff.

I felt the spirit beast's breathing become steady, each breath gradually aligning with mine.

The first day passed like this.

As the light faded, I opened my eyes. The mist was thicker than during the day, but it wasn't cold. The spirit beast was already asleep, its breathing even. I moved my limbs, confirming that my meridians were clear and my spiritual power was still abundant.

The next morning, I got up and walked around the vicinity.

The mist was thinnest at this time, allowing me to see things within ten steps. I walked around the standing stone a few times and noticed some fine patterns on the back of the stone. They weren't carved, but rather looked like natural cracks, arranged somewhat regularly.

I reached out and touched it. It was cool, but not slippery.

I then looked at the surrounding trees. Their trunks were thick, with vertical grooves in the bark, and moss grew on the shaded side. The positions of the stones on the ground also seemed strange, as if they had been moved by someone, but not quite.

I kept these observations in mind.

Returning to my spot, I continued to meditate. Closing my eyes was not as difficult this time. There were still distractions, but they no longer churned. As soon as I noticed my mind wavering, I silently recited the incantation and pulled my consciousness back.

Around noon, the mist thickened again. My visible range shrank to within three steps. The air gained a new scent, hard to describe, somewhat like the smell of earth before rain, with a hint of the bitterness of grass roots.

I took out the talisman seal and gently placed it on my forehead.

The moment it touched my skin, the talisman seal grew slightly warm. This was not a warning, but a reminder. I knew I couldn't completely empty my mind; I had to retain a sliver of consciousness to guard my true heart.

The spirit beast leaned closer at this moment, its paw lightly resting on my shoulder. Its body heat radiated through my Daoist Robe, stable and real.

Relying on this single connection, I continued to regulate my breathing.

On the third day, I could feel a change in my state.

My spiritual power was no longer as restless as before; its circulation was smoother. With each breath, the airflow within my body completed its entire cycle, finally returning to my Dantian without any impact or collision.

I tried to guide it with my intent, bypassing the acupoints I had previously impacted, and routing it through the outer meridians. The spiritual power flowed like water along the edges of the meridians, without obstruction or rebound.

I knew that wound was healing.

On the fourth morning, I stood before the standing stone and placed my hand on it.

The stone was still cool, but I felt a faint pulse within it, like a heartbeat. It was very slow, one beat, then a long pause before the next.

I withdrew my hand, turned, and said to the spirit beast, "It's about time."

It raised its head, looked at me, then stood up and moved to a position half a step behind me.

I didn't hesitate any longer. I sat down cross-legged, placing my hands on my knees, palms facing upwards.

I closed my eyes and began to recite the incantation again.

This time, it wasn't to suppress my emotions, nor to escape failure. I had truly let go.

I didn't want to break through today, nor did I want to prove anything. I just wanted to see if, without forcing it, that door would open on its own.

Time passed slowly.

The mist seemed to quiet down. Even the hum from beneath the earth grew fainter.

I felt the flow of spiritual power within my body. It was no longer rushing to gather, but circulating naturally in circles. Each cycle was smoother and more complete than the last.

Suddenly, I sensed a change deep within my Dantian.

It wasn't a collision, nor a shock. It was a loosening.

Like a frozen river surface cracking open.

I didn't move, nor did I urge it on. I just continued to breathe, continuing to let the spiritual power flow.

That gap slowly widened.

I could feel new passages forming. They weren't forced open; they were places that had been blocked, opening on their own.

The corner of my mouth twitched.

Here it comes.

I slowly raised my hands, forming a seal in front of my chest. The movements were slow, but every inch was steady.

Spiritual power flowed along my fingertips to my palm, forming a small vortex. The temperature rose slightly, but it wasn't hot.

I took a deep breath and mentally recited the last section of the incantation one more time.

Then, I began to guide the spiritual power into that newly opened passage.

At first, it was thin, like a thread. As I guided it, it grew thicker and deeper.

My meridians didn't hurt; instead, they felt stretched. It was like a body that had been curled up for a long time finally straightening its back.

The spirit beast lay beside me, its body pressed against the ground, only its ears twitching occasionally.

I didn't open my eyes.

All my attention was focused within my body. That surge of spiritual power had already passed the first checkpoint and was advancing towards the second layer.

The speed wasn't fast, but it was steady.

I could feel the barrier still there, but it was no longer an iron wall. It was like a membrane; the greater the pressure from the outside, the tighter it became. But now, I wasn't pushing against it; I was guiding it inward along its elasticity.

Little by little.

It was like the spring breeze melting the ice, not shattering it, but thawing it.

After an unknown amount of time, the second barrier was also broken through.

The warm current in my Dantian suddenly quieted down. It wasn't stagnant; it had found a new position, a new balance.

I felt a warmth spread from my chest, all the way to the tips of my limbs.

It was done.

I slowly released the hand seal, placing my palms flat on my knees.

I still hadn't opened my eyes.

I didn't want to break this state. I knew it wasn't over; this was just the beginning. The real breakthrough wasn't at this moment, but in the subsequent continuous integration.

But I had already crossed over.

I heard the spirit beast move, lift its head, and gently nuzzle my sleeve.

I reached out and touched its horn. It was warm, carrying a fiery energy.

I said in a low voice, "We've waited for this."

Just then, the System in my mind chimed.

[Detected host's state of mind compatibility reaching standard, spiritual power circulation trajectory conforms to the 'Way of Accordance' model, determined to have achieved pre-enlightenment state. Do you wish to initiate the next stage of guidance?]

I didn't answer immediately.

Instead, I refocused my attention back inside my body.

The newly opened passage was still slightly warm, and spiritual power flowed slowly within it, like a just-thawed stream, not yet fast, but already moving.

I knew that with just a little more effort, it could surge forward.

Closing my eyes, I lightly tapped my knee with my finger.

Then I said, "Let's begin."