Dawn was just breaking.
Outside the window, the morning sun had only just peeked over the horizon, tinging the sky with a faint golden red.
He slowly rose, feeling the surging power within him.
He had attained the Primordial Breathing realm. His blood and Qi were like mercury, his bones like jade, and all his internal organs brimmed with vitality.
"My strength has soared. I must carefully grow accustomed to it before I can wield it as freely as my own arm."
He murmured to himself and raised a hand, pressing down on empty air.
Air currents swirled beneath his palm, forming a tiny vortex.
The thin spiritual Qi around him was drawn over, yet none of it entered his skin. He held it all under his control within that small space.
He walked slowly into the living room. His movements seemed ordinary, yet carried an indescribable rhythm.
Every step fell in time with the pulse of the earth, as though his entire being had become one with heaven and earth.
Such was the wonder of Primordial Breathing: heaven and man resonated, and the inner and outer became one.
Yet Li Qingshan understood that, rare as this realm was in this world, it was far from the end of cultivation.
According to the inherited memories from the world of Great Emperor of the Cosmos, one could form a Sacred Embryo after Embryonic Breathing.
"A Sacred Embryo..."
His gaze grew distant, as though piercing the void to see a far vaster path.
The Sacred Embryo was a union of mind and energy.
The Daoists called it a Nascent Soul; Western religious sects called it a Holy Spirit.
Once formed, the mind would bind closely with the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth, allowing it to manifest in the material world and wield all manner of divine abilities and supernatural powers.
However, the conditions for forming a Sacred Embryo were exceedingly demanding.
Not only did it require a vast amount of spiritual Qi from heaven and earth, it also required the guidance of an S-rank cultivation technique.
Otherwise, even if one managed to form it, one would have to constantly supply it with spiritual Qi from heaven and earth to sustain it, or it would die in the womb.
"The spiritual Qi in this world is so thin, and there is no inherited S-rank cultivation technique. Forming a Sacred Embryo would be as hard as ascending to heaven."
Li Qingshan shook his head and sighed softly.
But he was not discouraged.
The path of cultivation was, by its very nature, a journey against the heavens.
If the conditions did not exist, he would create them.
He calmed his mind and sank his consciousness into his sea of consciousness.
A spark of spiritual light flickered there. It was the intent of his true self, the anchor of his spirit.
"Since I can't form a complete Sacred Embryo, I'll use my true self as a seed and condense a Divine Seed!"
The Divine Seed was the embryonic form of a Sacred Embryo.
Though it lacked the Sacred Embryo's power to reach the heavens and pierce the earth, it possessed limitless potential.
Once spiritual Qi became abundant in the future, or he obtained an S-rank cultivation technique, the Divine Seed could naturally become a Sacred Embryo, as water flowing into a channel.
More importantly, condensing a Divine Seed relied less on this world's spiritual Qi, making it ideal for cultivation in the Age of Dharma's End.
"Condense!"
With a thought, Li Qingshan circulated his cultivation technique with all his might.
Energy surged within his dantian, converging on that spark of spiritual light like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea.
At the same time, he focused his mind to its utmost, pouring all his thoughts into it.
It was an extraordinarily delicate process, requiring control over energy and spirit to reach a realm of exquisite precision.
Fortunately, Li Qingshan had the foundation of See the Gods, Indestructible, and his control over himself had already reached a transcendent level.
Moreover, his Primordial Breathing realm gave him meticulous control over energy.
Time trickled by. Fine beads of sweat formed on his temples, and his face paled slightly.
Condensing the Divine Seed placed an enormous strain on his mind. Even with his cultivation, he found it somewhat taxing.
But he gritted his teeth and persevered, never relaxing for an instant.
When the clock pointed to seven in the morning, a sudden tremor ran through Li Qingshan's dantian.
A chaos-colored seed the size of a grain of rice slowly took shape, floating in his sea of consciousness and turning slowly.
The seed looked tiny, yet it contained astonishing energy and spiritual power,
like a miniature star, mysterious and profound.
The Divine Seed was complete!
The instant the Divine Seed took shape, Li Qingshan felt as though his mind had undergone a sublimation,
becoming clearer and more perceptive.
He could sense certain invisible laws between heaven and earth-the traces of the Great Dao.
Though still indistinct, they truly existed.
Is this the benefit of the Divine Seed?
Li Qingshan rejoiced inwardly.
Though the Divine Seed did not grant him direct divine abilities like the Sacred Embryo, it gave him a deeper understanding of heaven and earth,
which would be immensely beneficial to his future cultivation.
More importantly, the Divine Seed was less dependent on external spiritual Qi,
growing on its own. Though slowly, it grew steadily.
In an Age of Dharma's End such as this, it was undoubtedly the most suitable choice.
He slowly opened his eyes, feeling the changes within him.
In his sea of consciousness, the Divine Seed turned slowly, giving off a faint glow,
constantly nourishing his body.
Though his cultivation had not visibly improved, his foundation was firmer, and his control over energy more refined.
"Fortune rests upon disaster; disaster lurks beneath fortune.
I failed to form a Sacred Embryo, but condensed a Divine Seed instead. Perhaps this is the best outcome."
Li Qingshan was lost in thought.
With this, the direction of his cultivation grew clearer.
In the Age of Dharma's End, spiritual Qi had dried up, making it difficult to seek it externally.
He should focus on seeking inward, digging deep into the body's divine treasures that See the Gods, Indestructible had opened up;
and make seeking outward secondary, drawing on the thin spiritual Qi of heaven and earth.
With that thought, he tried circulating his cultivation technique to absorb the spiritual Qi around him.
Sure enough, he got half the results for twice the effort.
The spiritual Qi in this world was far too thin. Even when he circulated his cultivation technique with all his might,
he could draw in very little spiritual Qi.
"It seems I really do need to focus on seeking inward."
Li Qingshan shook his head slightly, but he was not disappointed.
See the Gods, Indestructible allowed him to perceive the tiny acupoints within his body and already held infinite mysteries.
Now, with Primordial Breathing and the Divine Seed to aid him, he could explore them in depth.
Just then, his mother called from outside the door:
"Qingshan, get up! If you don't get up now, you'll be late for school!"
Only then did Li Qingshan remember that he was still a high school student.
His two years in the Dragon and Snake world had nearly made him forget that identity.
"Coming!"
He called back, washed up quickly, and left his room.
Breakfast was already laid out on the dining table. His mother was busy in the kitchen, while his father watched the morning news.
Everything was just as it had been two shichen ago, as though those two years in the Dragon and Snake world had been nothing but a dream.
But Li Qingshan knew it had not been a dream.
The surging power within him and the Divine Seed turning in his dantian both reminded him that those two years had been real.
"Hurry and eat. I made your favorite soup dumplings today."
His mother came out carrying a plate, a loving smile on her face.
Warmth filled Li Qingshan's heart. This was what home felt like: ordinary, yet real.
He sat down and ate breakfast while considering how to improve his parents' health.
Now that he had achieved success in his cultivation,
he could cleanse his parents' marrow and extend their lives.
But he needed to find the right time and method.
After all, in his parents' eyes, he was just an ordinary high school student.
After breakfast, Li Qingshan used a "school activity" as an excuse not to go straight to school,
instead going first to a Chinese medicine shop to buy some medicinal herbs.
When he returned, he quietly infused a trace of "spiritual Qi" into the tea served with breakfast and let his parents drink it.
This trace of energy was gentle and could subtly improve their physical condition.
Afterward, using a "newly learned massage technique" as a pretext, he gave his parents a simple shoulder and neck massage,
secretly transferring a trace of pure energy into them to gently nourish their internal organs and clear their blocked meridians.
The two of them felt warm all over and indescribably comfortable.
"That's strange. My whole body feels much more relaxed."
His mother moved her arms, surprised.
His father also seemed thoughtful.
"It does. My neck feels much better."
Li Qingshan smiled without speaking.
"Maybe the massage technique I just learned is working.
I'll give you massages often from now on."
Cleansing the marrow had to be done gradually; it could not be rushed.
Once his cultivation advanced further, he would have more ways to extend his parents' lives.
Just then, someone knocked at the door.
His mother opened it to find their neighbor, Aunt Zhang, there to borrow something.
"Oh my, Old Li, what's gotten into you two? You both look so healthy!"
Aunt Zhang exclaimed as soon as she entered.
His mother smiled.
"Our son just gave us a massage. I have to say, it was quite comfortable."
Aunt Zhang said enviously,
"You're so fortunate, having such a filial son. Mine only knows how to play games all day."
With that, she looked at Li Qingshan.
"Qingshan, when will you teach my boy too, so he can give us massages?"
Li Qingshan did not know whether to laugh or cry, and quickly agreed.
After Aunt Zhang left, Li Qingshan finally got ready to go to school.
As he walked, countless thoughts ran through his mind.
The road of cultivation was long, and he could not stay hidden forever.
He needed a suitable identity as cover, so he could explore the mysteries of this world more easily in the future.
"Perhaps it's time to plan for the future."
He was lost in thought.
With his current knowledge and abilities, getting into a top university would be no problem.
Afterward, he could pursue an academic path and stay at the university to teach.
"A major in classical Chinese would be a good choice."
The thought suddenly occurred to him.
As a professor of classical Chinese, he would have every reason to study ancient texts and visit historical sites.
More importantly, it was a peaceful profession that would leave him ample time to cultivate.
Having thought of it, he would do it.
Li Qingshan decided to start displaying some of his "talent" to pave the way for his future.
He had already possessed a photographic memory, and learning any kind of knowledge came easily to him.
With the Divine Seed's additional aid, his mind was even quicker and his comprehension exceptional.
By the time he reached the school gates, he had mapped out his future path.
First, he would get into a top university with excellent grades and choose classical Chinese as his major.
While at university, he could publish a few substantial papers to attract the attention of the academic world.
After graduation, staying on to teach would follow naturally.
With the identity of a university professor, exploring historical sites in various places would be much more convenient in the future.
More importantly, this profession would allow him to better immerse himself in the mortal world
and experience the many facets of life, which would greatly benefit his cultivation.
When he entered the classroom, his classmates were all doing their morning reading, and no one noticed the change in him.
But Li Qingshan could feel that his perspective had completely changed.
Looking at his classmates absorbed in their studies, he felt as though he were observing it all from another dimension.
This was the change cultivation had brought.
It was not about looking down from on high, but about understanding this world more deeply.
He sat down in his seat, took out his textbooks, and began planning his studies for the days ahead.
Although, with his current abilities, getting into any university would be no problem,
he still had to go through the process to avoid arousing suspicion.
Besides, learning was itself a form of cultivation.
Wisdom lay within knowledge, and truths were hidden between the written words.
The ancient classics in particular contained the ancients' profound thoughts on heaven, earth, and human life,
and were an unexpected help to him in comprehending the Great Dao.
"Ring!"
The bell rang, interrupting Li Qingshan's thoughts.
The teacher entered the classroom and began the lesson.
Li Qingshan gathered his thoughts and listened attentively.
Class ended.
Back home, Li Qingshan continued to tend to his parents' health, while not neglecting his own cultivation.
In the dead of night, he stood on the balcony and gazed up at the starry sky.
The Divine Seed slowly revolved in his sea of consciousness, faintly resonating with the stars that filled the sky.
After a long while, he slowly withdrew his gaze, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
"Interesting. This world really isn't as simple as it appears."
He thought no more about it, turned, and went back inside to continue cultivating.
Whatever lay ahead, strength was the foundation.
The Divine Seed rose and fell, constantly absorbing energy and slowly growing.
Though its growth was slow, it was unwavering.
One day, this Divine Seed would emerge from its cocoon as a butterfly, transforming into a Sacred Embryo, or even something higher,
and all of this was only a matter of time.
As the night deepened, Li Qingshan immersed himself in cultivation, his mind and spirit merging with heaven and earth, merging with the Dao.