In a dilapidated apartment building at least thirty years old, Bai Li Che sat cross-legged in his cramped little room, circulating his Internal Energy through the Taiyang, Yangming, and Shaoyang three meridians in his hands. He visualized the secret art as well, faintly sensing the stars above.
But this was merely a secret art. It could not allow a Qi Nourishing Stage cultivator like him to truly sense the spiritual energy between heaven and earth, or the Power of Stars and Geomagnetic Force. Rather, in Bai Li Che's memories, there had long ceased to be experts of such a level in this world, much less the immortals of myth and legend who could move mountains, overturn seas, Summon Wind and Rain.
As Spirit Stone and restriction technologies became ever more refined and breathtaking, allowing countless ordinary people to enjoy convenience and making life increasingly colorful, the standards of cultivators throughout the world had somehow declined day by day. Bai Li Che estimated that only Elders single-mindedly pursuing arduous cultivation within those few dozen orthodox sects might have broken through to the Soul Departure Stage.
"It shouldn't be like this. The flourishing development of Spirit Stone technology can have only limited influence on breakthroughs in cultivation realms. At most, this dazzling, garish world should eliminate those whose Dao Hearts are unstable. Why are people like us, wholly devoted to the Dao, still struggling bitterly and unable to get what we desire? There must be something else at work here."
Bai Li Che had been frail since childhood, and his family had never had much money. His greatest hobby was reading ancient books and myths and legends, and he yearned deeply for those carefree, powerful immortals. Yet after growing up and raising his cultivation to the Qi Nourishing Stage, he could no