Like the eternal bright moon hanging high in the nine heavens, it cast its pure silver radiance in every direction without reserve, illuminating every corner of Chen Shuangbai's spiritual altar.
That was why Chen Shuangbai had earned a reputation as a genius at such a young age.
The Jade Spring Qi Ingestion Method, which the sect had taught him during the day, had now coalesced into a small booklet, floating quietly beside the [Great Yin Dao Fruit].
Looking at the two, Chen Shuangbai could not help feeling a surge of excitement.
He clenched his fists, the lake of his heart far from calm. Only after taking a long while to settle himself did he stir his thoughts.
[I humbly beseech Grand Yin: use this Jade Spring Qi Ingestion Method as a foundation to deduce the path beyond it and evolve a fundamental method perfectly suited to my Dao Path!]
A beam of clear, jade-like light descended from the [Great Yin Dao Fruit] and shone upon the Jade Spring Qi Ingestion Method.
Before long.
The booklet containing the Jade Spring Qi Ingestion Method had vanished. In its place was a talisman shaped like fine jade, its substance exquisite.
Chen Shuangbai gazed at the [Great Yin Dao Fruit] before him, which had clearly grown much dimmer, and his thoughts were confirmed.
"Three years of accumulation, all used up."
Ever since his memories of a previous life had awakened, Chen Shuangbai had conducted many experiments with the [Great Yin Dao Fruit].
Only then had he established that this golden finger had many wondrous uses.
The most readily apparent was what had just happened.
It had evolved the Jade Spring Qi Ingestion Method, a manual given to every Registered Disciple of the Jade Spring Sect, into a brand-new cultivation method best suited to Chen Shuangbai's physique and condition.
But this [evolution] required a great deal of energy.
After some exploration, Chen Shuangbai had found that he could slowly recharge the Dao Fruit by basking in moonlight.
But since he was merely basking in moonlight, the charging speed was naturally pitifully slow.
And sure enough.
After a single use, the clear radiance surrounding the Dao Fruit had dimmed considerably.
"Even if it's gone, it doesn't matter. I only need to bathe in more of the moon's clear light. Fortunately, I succeeded in evolving the Jade Spring Qi Ingestion Method in the end."
Chen Shuangbai speculated inwardly.
The Dao Fruit was clearly in a relatively damaged state. If he could find a more efficient and powerful way to recharge it in the future, perhaps he could discover more wondrous uses for it.
For now, the most pressing matter was to develop a sense of Qi as quickly as possible.
At that thought.
Chen Shuangbai took the evolved jade talisman in his hand.
To his surprise, the moment the jade talisman entered his hand, it vanished without a trace, while a brand-new, more profound Daoist method appeared in Chen Shuangbai's mind.
[Using this method as a foundation, drawing upon the utmost softness of the water phase, the cycle of the moon's phases, communion with the seasons of heaven, and the reflection of the divine soul, the Moon-Worshipping Clear Illumination Method has been evolved!]
It was called the Moon-Worshipping Clear Illumination Method.
It involved cultivating through worship of the twelve phases of the moon over the course of a year, refining Clear Illumination Law Power of utmost essence and purity. It was a supreme method for cultivating the body and nourishing the spirit, clearing the soul and moistening the ethereal soul, a method of utmost clarity and purity.
An indescribable excitement surged through Chen Shuangbai, and he could scarcely contain himself.
A moment later, back in the real world.
Chen Shuangbai slowly opened his excited eyes, tiptoed to the door and opened it, then slipped out of the disciples' quarters beneath the cool moonlight.
He followed the winding mountain path to a cliff.
The vegetation was sparse here, and the view was open-a fine place to bask in moonlight.
Chen Shuangbai sat on a cleared bluestone and circulated the Moon-Worshipping Clear Illumination Method.
[I bow my head to Grand Yin; its mysterious radiance pierces the nether dark. I have heard of the crimson script of primordial chaos, the primal essence that awakens the soul. The moon is the yin soul of heaven and earth, the flowering splendor of water's virtue...]
The words flowed through his mind like golden seal script, blazing with light. Every word was a pearl, their mysteries streaming into the depths of his heart.
The moonlight seemed to grow a little brighter, falling on him as though it had become a mother's gentle hands, softly caressing every inch of his skin.
And so he sat in meditation all night.
When dawn broke.
Chen Shuangbai slowly roused himself from a posture like an old monk deep in meditation. His eyes sparkled as he slowly breathed out a mouthful of turbid Qi. He felt a ball of icy Qi gathering ceaselessly around his lower abdomen, giving off a chill that did not harm his body.
"I did it."
Chen Shuangbai knew that he had developed a sense of Qi.
As he descended the winding path, refreshed in mind and spirit, he encountered quite a few disciples from the same intake. They recognized one another by sight and exchanged nods in greeting.
At first, Chen Shuangbai was a little surprised that they had risen so early.
But on second thought, he found it unsurprising.
Diligence could make up for a lack of talent.
That, too, was a truth unchanged through the ages.
For the next month.
Apart from attending lessons each morning, Chen Shuangbai devoted the rest of his time to cultivation.
After about half a month.
One after another, people succeeded in ingesting Qi and developed a sense of it. They informed Deacon Tian and received encouragement from the sect.
Chen Shuangbai was among them.
He did not make himself too conspicuous, however, choosing a time that was neither early nor late.
That way, no one paid him too much attention.
A genius who died young was no genius.
Until he had the strength to protect himself, Chen Shuangbai thought it best to keep a somewhat lower profile.
The three-month deadline arrived.
Of the more than thirty disciples, eight had still failed to develop a sense of Qi and were ultimately sent home by the sect.
Chen Shuangbai still remembered how dejected they had been.
They pleaded bitterly, hoping the sect would give them another chance, but a few words from Deacon Tian utterly extinguished the last of their resolve.
Deacon Tian said coldly, "For us cultivators, it all comes down to one word: 'struggle.'"
"But besides 'struggle,' there is another word: 'fate.'"
"What fate has in store will come in time; what fate does not grant cannot be forced."
"If you insist on going your own way and force what cannot be obtained, you will die without a place to be buried."
Those words turned the seven or eight disciples' faces ashen. The faint flame of resolve in their hearts seemed to have been drenched in cold water, leaving a chill that pierced their bones.
The remaining Registered Disciples who had developed a sense of Qi watched the others, their faces haggard, trudging like walking corpses along the bluestone path they had taken up the mountain, until they disappeared into the white mist of the mountain-guarding formation.
No one spoke.
Chen Shuangbai, Fu Qianlan, and He Qi, who formed a small group, also fell silent.
Even the usually lively He Qi remained silent, eyes full of pity.
Chen Shuangbai knew.
This was the cultivation world's first lesson for its newcomers.
But it would certainly not be the last.
He suddenly understood a little.
Why Deacon Tian had insisted that those disciples who had developed a sense of Qi come and watch with their own eyes.
Perhaps it was precisely because they had learned how cruel cultivation could be.
For some time afterward.
The newly admitted Registered Disciples cultivated with even greater diligence.
The disciples who had developed a sense of Qi were now considered formally admitted to the sect. Deacon Tian took them to the Registry Hall to have their names entered in the records, fully confirming their status as Registered Disciples.
However.
Just as Chen Shuangbai had expected, the sect was also divided into an inner sect and an outer sect.
Unless they were like the three disciples with first-grade aptitude who had entered the sect three months ago and, thanks to their outstanding talent, had been admitted directly to the inner sect, granted the sect's finest Daoist methods, and given the best teachers to instruct them.
Most, like Chen Shuangbai, who had middling aptitude, could only start out dutifully as outer-sect disciples.
Still.
Chen Shuangbai was not discouraged.
"The outer sect will do. I'll start as an outer-sect disciple, keep my feet on the ground and secure my footing at every step, until I finally climb to the highest summit and take in the most beautiful scenery."