In the world of cultivation, 99% of cultivators are in the Qi Refining stage. Because of this, they often divide the Qi Refining stage into nine levels, while the later stages are only split into three smaller levels. However, the Wendaozong is different; for its disciples, the Qi Refining stage is just the starting point, so there’s no need to categorize it further.
At Wendaozong, there is only the Qi Refining stage, without any subdivisions.
“Do others also draw energy into their bodies like this?” Lu Yang asked curiously. If everyone practiced this way, why was his progress the slowest?
Yun Zhi shook her head. “What you’re doing is the ancient method of cultivation. The ancient ancestors felt the nature around them, achieving a unity with the heavens and becoming cultivators by drawing spiritual energy into themselves.”
In the beginning, there were no guides or manuals for cultivation, just constant understanding and trial and error with their own bodies.
“As for your meridians, they were fully opened while soaking in the medicinal bath, allowing spiritual energy to flow freely. In your state of unity with nature, the energy moves within you according to your feelings, and this path is the most suitable for you, surpassing any technique of any level.”
In the cultivation world, techniques are often divided into five levels: Yellow, Profound, Earth, Heaven, and Immortal. But for Yun Zhi, there are only two types of techniques—those that suit you and those that don’t.
“Any technique was not originally designed for you to cultivate. There are many techniques suitable for sword cultivators, and I have a whole box of them, but none are suitable for you.”
“From today on, I’m giving you a long-term task: create your own technique.”
Of course, when Yun Zhi said to create a technique, it didn’t mean Lu Yang would be doing it alone; she would guide him. But even with her help, the difficulty was clear.
Creating a technique was something only the elders of the cultivation world could do.
Lu Yang’s mouth twitched. “The predecessors who created techniques stand at such a high level. They understand all the realms thoroughly and have the qualifications to create techniques. For someone like me, who has just started drawing energy into my body, to create a technique seems too…”
Yun Zhi interrupted Lu Yang’s complaints. “Creating a technique isn’t as hard as you think.”
“Do you know that Wendaozong has a rule that after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, every disciple must complete tasks assigned by the task hall to fulfill their responsibilities?”
Lu Yang nodded; he had heard of it.
Other sects have similar systems where disciples must complete tasks because sects don’t support idle people. Contributing to the sect shows your value.
But the five great sects are different; they require disciples to complete tasks not just for the sect, but for the righteous path.
The five great sects lead the righteous path, and that’s not just talk.
“Ordinary tasks require going down the mountain to slay demons, exorcise ghosts, and so on. I don’t like the mundane world, so I chose a different way to complete tasks.”
“What is it?”
“There’s a fixed task in the task hall to back up a technique that Wendaozong hasn’t recorded. That counts as completing a task.”
“Then Senior Sister, you…” Lu Yang had a bold and somewhat ridiculous thought.
“So, to deal with… completing the task, I created many techniques myself and then tricked them into thinking I found them in ancient ruins.”
“Unfortunately, I was later found out.”
“How were you found out?” Lu Yang asked.
“Because according to the tasks I reported, I had explored every ancient ruin, and I didn’t know which one to make up next.”
“So you see, creating a technique isn’t difficult.”
Yun Zhi spoke with reason and evidence, making it convincing.
Lu Yang opened his mouth, wanting to say, “Senior Sister, I thought you were honest, but I didn’t expect you to lie,” or “Senior Sister, your talent is far beyond ordinary people,” or “For you, it’s called creating a technique; for me, it’s just making things up.”
But when he met Yun Zhi’s cold gaze, all his words turned into one sentence.
“The Senior Sister is right.”
“Though you’ve become a cultivator, you’re still far from being a qualified sword cultivator. Here, take this book.”
The Senior Sister handed him an ancient book made from some unknown beast's hide, large, thick, and heavy.
“‘Monsters of the Wild’?” Lu Yang opened the ancient book, and a chilling aura rushed at him. Various monster images leaped off the pages, and he could almost hear the roars of the beasts in his ears.
This ancient book was definitely priceless!
Lu Yang thought for a moment. A sword cultivator needs sword intent, but how could he cultivate sword intent when he had just started refining Qi?
He had heard that ancient sword cultivators gained their first sword intent through life-and-death battles with monsters, facing the fierce intentions of the beasts.
So the answer was clear: he needed to visualize the images of the monsters, understand their fierce intentions, extract the essence and discard the dross, and gather the various beasts into one point to comprehend his own sword intent.
Though this method was difficult, it was just right for someone like him with a sword spirit root.
It also showed the Senior Sister's earnest expectations for him.
“I understand now.” Lu Yang nodded, grasping the Senior Sister’s meaning.
Yun Zhi glanced at him, unsure of what he understood. She waved her hand, and a puppet brought over a cart of tofu.
“It’s good that you understand.”
“To become a sword cultivator, you need to practice your eyesight. Now I will throw this sesame seed into the tofu residue, and you must find it in the shortest time possible.”
Lu Yang knelt down with a thud. “Senior Sister, let’s do it another way!”
Yun Zhi quietly looked at the pleading Lu Yang, her eyes calm and unchanging.
“Oh.”
(End of Chapter)