As Li Fan delved deeper into the Five Spirits Qi-Sensing Method's description of the immortal path, he found it increasingly unsettling.
Before the Golden Core stage, it seemed relatively normal—absorbing the spirit of heaven and earth, borrowing the wonders of heaven and earth, and peering into the methods of heaven and earth.
However, after reaching the Nascent Soul stage, the approach gradually turned frenzied.
Seizing the essence of heaven and earth, extracting the marrow of heaven and earth, sacrificing the soul of heaven and earth...
And finally, defying the principles of heaven and earth.
Merely reading these phrases was enough to make one's heart race with fear.
The heavenly dao stands lofty, nurturing all things.
For immortal cultivators to practice in such a manner is akin to turning against the heavens, a grave transgression.
What does this signify? Do the cultivators not understand?
Yet, this method of cultivation progresses too swiftly.
The book records that since the Immortal Sovereign imparted the teachings, a large number of ordinary people, who were previously unable to cultivate, rose to prominence within mere decades.
Cultivators of Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Divine Transformation stages emerged like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.
The prosperity of the immortal cultivation world at that time was truly such that Golden Cores were as common as dirt, and Nascent Souls were as numerous as dogs.
Those who adhered to the ancient methods of cultivation, seeing their own cultivation levels easily surpassed by mere mortals, how many could persist in their ways and not attempt the Immortal Sovereign's method?
Thus, the ancient methods gradually declined; the new methods took their place.
A thousand years after the new methods became widespread, the immortal cultivation world reached its peak.
Unfortunately, the principles of heaven are clear: what flourishes must decline.
Countless cultivators, like wolves and tigers, greedily plundered the resources of heaven and earth without restraint.
Even the increasingly frequent heavenly tribulations could not suppress the growing number of cultivators.
Eventually, one day, the heavens retaliated.
The world underwent a massive upheaval, and a great calamity descended.
From then on, the immortal arts could no longer be practiced together!
The flourishing immortal cultivation world was struck a heavy blow.
Cultivators, in search of a slim chance of survival, fell into endless mutual slaughter.
For a long period, the immortal cultivation world bore an air of desolation and decline.
It took thousands of years to slowly recover.
Today's cultivators have grown accustomed to the malice of heaven and earth.
They have summarized their experiences and lessons, establishing a new order of cultivation on the wastelands left by the great calamity.
...
After introducing the origins of the current immortal cultivation world, the book proceeds to the Five Spirits Qi-Sensing Method.
If a mortal, free of miasma, cannot easily draw qi into their body, they can nurture their own five spirits, forcibly absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, refining it, and breaking through to the Qi Refining stage.
The so-called five spirits refer to the five innate emotions of humans.
Greed, fear, rage, hatred, and self-centeredness.
These five emotions lie hidden within the human heart, inexhaustible and ever-present.
The Five Spirits Qi-Sensing Method uses these five spirits as fuel to cultivate the Root of Heaven and Earth in the dantian.
The Root of Heaven and Earth connects the cultivator's dantian with the heavens, and once formed, the cultivator can use it to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth for their own use.
Compared to the ancient methods of cultivation, which relied entirely on aptitude, the Five Spirits Qi-Sensing Method emphasizes stability.
Those with exceptional aptitude can cultivate the Root of Heaven and Earth in a day and night, embarking on the path of cultivation.
Even those without any aptitude for cultivation can, through persistent effort, form their own Root of Heaven and Earth within ten years at most.
Having grasped the method of drawing qi into the body, Li Fan secluded himself at home, practicing the Five Spirits Qi-Sensing Method daily.
Even though he was mentally prepared for the possibility that his path of cultivation might not be smooth, three years passed without him successfully drawing in qi.
Li Fan was well aware of his cultivation talent—mediocre, not a genius, but certainly not poor.
The current situation was due to other reasons.
"The Xuanhuang Heart Refining Mantra... truly a mixed blessing," Li Fan thought with some helplessness.
The Five Spirits Qi-Sensing Method requires the five emotions as fuel to drive the formation of the Root of Heaven and Earth.
However, Li Fan practiced the Xuanhuang Heart Refining Mantra, which greatly diminished these emotions.
Even if he didn't deliberately run the mantra, it instinctively shattered these negative emotions in his mind.
It was akin to moving forward with a burden, resulting in Li Fan's slow progress.
Li Fan had also attempted to draw qi into his body without the Root of Heaven and Earth.
But he clearly lacked Xiao Heng's talent.
The external spiritual energy seemed indifferent to him.
Without guidance from others, relying solely on his own exploration, Li Fan had no confidence in how long it would take to draw qi into his body.
Therefore, Li Fan decided to honestly use the Five Spirits Qi-Sensing Method to break through to the Qi Refining stage.
Slow as it was, it was stable.
What Li Fan lacked most was time.
In the first three years, He Zhenghao occasionally sent people to inquire about Li Fan's cultivation progress.
But after Li Fan showed no progress for a long time, they stopped sending people.
At the Treasure Pavilion, due to Li Fan and Xiao Heng's presence, even without the backing of the Wanhua Merchant Guild, the business on the surrounding islands improved.
No one wanted to offend a business possibly backed by an immortal master, so they avoided conflicts with the Ten Thousand Immortals Treasure Pavilion as much as possible.
Thus, the pavilion expanded its market over three years, thriving with prosperity.
Yin Yuzhen, brimming with confidence, was eager to reclaim control of the Treasure Pavilion headquarters on Night Orchid Island.
...
Li Fan only occasionally paid attention to external affairs.
Most of his energy was focused on cultivating the Root of Heaven and Earth.
Unfortunately, this matter couldn't be rushed.
Li Fan estimated that, barring any accidents, he would need about two more years to succeed.
Having been cooped up at home for a long time, one day, Li Fan felt the urge to go out.
Without alerting anyone, he changed his clothes, donned a felt hat, and went to the market on Glass Island.
Compared to three years ago, it seemed unchanged.
The sounds of bargaining, hawking, and playful banter filled the air.
Here, Li Fan felt the long-lost "human touch."
Thoughts in his mind, like parched saplings receiving nourishment, surged forth.
In just that moment, the progress of his Root of Heaven and Earth surpassed three days of secluded cultivation at home.
Li Fan suddenly realized.
For most cultivators, seclusion and focused cultivation are necessary because they don't lack the five spirits as fuel.
But Li Fan's situation was unique; the Heart Refining Mantra constantly operated in his mind, turning these distractions into nourishment for strengthening his spirit.
The Five Spirits Qi-Sensing Method was evidently not as advanced as the Xuanhuang Heart Refining Mantra, unable to seize much, only picking up the leftovers.
Li Fan couldn't change this situation for now. To accelerate the formation of his Root of Heaven and Earth, he needed to increase the daily distractions in his mind.
Seclusion was clearly not the answer; he needed to engage with the world.
Understanding this, Li Fan felt a sense of joy.
Perhaps he wouldn't need two years to reach the Qi Refining stage.
...
"Li Elder?" At this moment, a somewhat familiar voice called from behind.
Li Fan turned around, recognized the person, and after a moment, remembered who it was.
It was none other than Zhang Haobo, the captain of the Cangyuan Ship from Glass Island, with whom he had once crossed paths.
(End of Chapter)