Chapter 113: Entering the World to Cultivate (Major Chapter Seeking Subscriptions)

Several days of overcast drizzle passed, the gray heavy clouds pressing the sky so hard it could barely breathe.

Finally the sky cleared today; a ray of sunshine pierced through, several beams of light shuttling among the clouds, dispelling the days of gloom, as if hope had been brought back to the world.

Under the sunlight the green hills looked refreshed; that vibrant, lush, almost dripping feeling was like a coiled azure dragon ready to leap, running through the entire mountain range.

A large mass of mist met the forest, like a fish entering the sea and quickly dissipating, dark‑green scales flickering in and out of sight.

Looking at the surrounding trees that blotted out the sky, Ye Qin finally felt at ease; his serpentine body glided over, rubbing against the ground and vegetation, producing a rustling sound.

Perhaps because he had cultivated in the deep woods for a long time, he had grown accustomed to this atmosphere; going to a steel‑and‑concrete city instead made him feel somewhat ill at ease.

This place is Ye Qin's final refuge.

And behind Ye Qin followed several animals; although they had traveled a long distance, their spirits were still good.

These mists were formed from Qi Pills, carrying more or less Spiritual Power, continually nourishing their bodies.

Seeing the familiar surroundings, these animals, who had been only slightly timid, instantly became excited and animated, chirping and chattering without knowing what they were saying.

Their furry beast faces were full of human‑like joy.

They came before Ye Qin, raised their forelimbs, clasped their paws, and bowed devoutly to Ye Qin, their heads bobbing up and down like they were kowtowing.

After doing all that, they reluctantly slipped into the nearby bushes and vanished from sight.

Ye Qin didn't worry about where they would go; the whole mountain forest was their home, and he walked toward the direction of the tomb.

"Judging from this incident, those grave‑robbing gangs must be looking for something; otherwise, why would they keep coming back here time and again?"

It might calm down for a while, but if that thing is truly important, there's no guarantee they won't stage a comeback.

It also sounded a warning bell for Ye Qin.

The villagers know their limits; they would never step into the central area to disturb Ye Qin, merely moving about in the outskirts.

But that doesn't mean others are the same; frequent intruders would still be troublesome.

Ye Qin hasn't been cultivating these past few times; if he were cultivating and were bumped into by someone with intent, it would likely cause unnecessary trouble.

Originally Ye Qin intended to use the Qi Pill as a basis, releasing mist to envelop the whole mountaintop, just as he did this time—dense fog wrapping himself to block outside probing.

Even if captured on camera, all that would be seen is a mass of thick fog.

That would be good, but it's obviously not realistic.

First, the area is too large for him to afford; this thick fog is emitted through the Qi Pill.

The energy inside the Qi Pill is also limited; Ye Qin's current Cultivation Level has not yet reached the Realm where he can summon wind and rain, let alone have an endless supply of energy to feed these mists.

In the short term it's fine, but over a long period he couldn't sustain it, and it would easily drain his essence; he must think of a labor‑saving method.

The forest is secluded and tranquil; broad leaves block the light, and occasionally a few shafts of light filter through gaps between the leaves, forming thin light pillars, like some kind of wondrous formation.

Ye Qin fell into thought.

"Is it possible to set up a formation or something like Mysterious Gate Escape around the perimeter as a protective layer, so that it could block human probing and others' spying?"

Even if someone accidentally intruded, he would know about it immediately.

Formations have been recorded since antiquity, only they are not as mystical as those fabricated in novels.

They were first used in military combat, capable of both attack and defense, essentially an all‑purpose offense‑defense system.

But the 'formation' Ye Qin spoke of is of course the cultivator's kind, containing the mysteries of heaven and earth and possessing special effects.

His current request is not high; as long as he can create a simple Eight Trigrams Formation, anyone who enters will become lost within it.

It sounds easy enough to say, but actually carrying it out is not simple.

The Eight Trigrams Formation is a more exquisite formation derived from the Taiji diagram.

The eight trigrams each contain eight meanings: 'Qian is the horse, Kun the ox, Zhen the dragon, Xun the rooster, Kan the pig, Li the pheasant, Gen the dog, Dui the sheep.'

At the same time the eight trigrams respectively symbolize the eight natural substances—heaven, earth, thunder, wind, water, fire, mountain, marsh—and are the material basis from which all things arise, with Qian and Kun, heaven and earth, being the mother of all things.

All things are born between heaven and earth in the universe; water and fire are the source of all things and the foundation of Yin and Yang; wind and thunder stir them; mountain and marsh finally form; with mountain and marsh, living things begin to proliferate, life begins to gestate, and thus humanity multiplies.

Meanwhile the Eight Trigrams Formation is also inseparably linked to Mysterious Gate Escape.

The *Yellow Emperor's Yin Fu Classic* records: 'Eight Trigrams and Jiazi, divine mechanisms hidden by ghosts.' That is to say, the marvels of Mysterious Gate Escape are all contained within the Eight Trigrams and Jiazi.

The *Mysterious Gate Escape* is an ancient Chinese occult treatise, the foremost of the three great secret arts—Mysterious Gate Escape, Six Ren, and Great Yin—and the most rational of the three.

Its origin is also steeped in myth; it is said that when Chiyou rebelled, the Huangdi could not prevail in battle, and the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden held a jade box containing a Heavenly Seal Scripture Dragon Armor Divine Chapter.

Based on its contents, the Huangdi defeated Chiyou—not only that, he even developed it into the Thirteen Chapters of Military Art, the Twelve Chapters of the Solitary Void Method, and One Thousand and Eighty Formations of Mysterious Gate Escape, which were passed down to later generations.

This is the origin of Mysterious Gate Escape, and formations likewise arose from reliance on Mysterious Gate Escape.

In antiquity, Mysterious Gate Escape had ten great formations: the Northern Dipper Seven Stars Formation, the Twelve Capital Heaven Gate Formation, the Eight Trigrams Formation, the Ten‑Fold Ambush Formation, the Ten Absolutes Formation, the Nine Windings Yellow River Formation, the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, and the Slay Immortals Sword Formation.

However, these formations have all been lost to the present day, and are merely legends.

Even if some formations have survived to the present, they are only simple kinds, possessing no special effect, let alone the miraculous power recorded in ancient texts.

Although Ye Qin's comprehension is extraordinary and he grasps things instantly, he presently has no conditions at all—not even a formation or book to consult.

It is undoubtedly like building a pavilion in mid‑air—everything is empty.

After studying for half a day with no new findings, he had to temporarily set it aside.

"Studying formations is not something that can be mastered overnight; later I'll watch for any related opportunities, but for now this is all I can do."

Those people probably won't come back to harass him in the short term; at least Ye Qin remains tranquil for now.

When Ye Qin came to his senses, he noticed that many animals had quietly gathered around him.

Their eyes, the size of mung beans, stared at him unblinking; their expressions seemed doubtful, as if they were silently asking why this time there was no comforting gas.

All things possess spirituality; whenever Ye Qin cultivates, these animals gather around him, as if drawn by some unseen attraction, and over time this has become a habit.

Ye Qin had merely been immersed in his own thoughts, researching formations and Mysterious Gate Escape.

Yet the animals mistook it for him cultivating.

Now they have opened a faint spiritual awareness; among them there are even some with higher spiritual awareness, namely the earliest group that followed Ye Qin.

The beasts' pupils are now clear and bright, no longer like the initial murky confusion.

All things are interconnected and interdependent; they live on this mountain peak, harmonizing with the local environment to form a complete food chain.

Their own thriving development can also affect the environment here.

Like Ye Qin, he cultivates here using this mountain peak as his foundation; the surrounding scenery is splendid and the terrain excellent, which in a way also aids him.

As the saying goes, 'one land nurtures one people,' and that holds true.

Cultivating here is definitely more effective than in the city, where traffic bustles, noise never ceases, and too much mortal air clings.

Ye Qin's cultivation here involuntarily radiates spiritual qi, nourishing the land and making it more suitable for cultivation; they mutually nurture each other, forming a virtuous cycle.

Purely taking may yield maximal short-term gain, but it is ultimately unsustainable and violates the Way of nature, inevitably inviting retribution.

Following Ye Qin's way is the supreme path, in accord with heavenly principle and natural law.

Likewise, this land breeds more spiritually qi-endowed creatures, which feedback to the environment, naturally increasing its spiritual qi; over time this creates a relationship where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

This is why small animals gather here; Ye Qin has never driven them away, first because it's unnecessary, and second because their gathering does not affect his cultivation.

Second, if these creatures gain the opportunity, they can improve themselves and, unconsciously, feedback to these mountains and rivers, although their impact will surely not match Ye Qin's.

Nevertheless, it's better than nothing, and they have the advantage in numbers.

Imagine if, in the end, all the animals on the mountain awakened spiritual intellect—what a scene that would be.

Monster Mountain Holy Land?

But thinking about these now is still too far ahead.

"It seems we can find an opportunity to give these little brothers a session of opening an altar to expound the Dao."

As for whether they can understand and how much they can absorb, it entirely depends on these creatures' fortune.

Previously Ye Qin refrained from intervening, thinking it unnecessary, but now most of them have slightly awakened spiritual intellect, and with his cultivation level steadily deepening, this matter can also be put on the agenda.

In the future, even if he is not in the mountains, this group of animals will have the ability to protect themselves and can also help him guard this place, serving as a Dao barrier, since he currently cannot set up a formation.

Considering all factors, his doing this entails no loss, but will bring many benefits later.

At this moment, these animals still do not know Ye Qin's thoughts, but their fate has already, invisibly, turned onto another mysterious and profound path.

Ye Qin's idea is merely a rough outline; he is not in a hurry to expound the Dao, after all, he has not yet finished his own affairs.

He must first finish what is at hand before he can attend to other matters.

"Looking at it this way, there is still much to do."

Formation and expounding the Dao can wait; they can be set aside for now, while the urgent task is to continue cultivating.

Only realm and cultivation level are the foundation for establishing oneself.

Although Ye Qin has reached the Qi Pellet Realm, he still needs to continue alchemy; to become a true internal pellet requires continual condensation and time.

Just as before, the qi mass condenses into a pellet, then the qi pellet is further compressed, continually condensed and refined, ultimately forming a true—monster pellet.

From qi mass to formed qi pellet, much time has been spent; unknown how much more time will be needed for true pellet formation.

Ye Qin does not pursue speed; he values steady progress, for cultivation is never an overnight achievement—only step by step can success be attained.

Thus, from start to present, he has proceeded gradually.

Alchemy thus means needing many herbs; his previous stores have been mostly consumed, so he must gather anew.

Ye Qin's mental power spreads out, linking to these animals' bodies and establishing a connection.

Upon receiving his command, the small animals' silhouettes quickly vanish across the mountains and fields, heading in all directions; they are already well practiced at this.

These animals can already identify most medicinal herbs; initially they might mistakenly pick non‑medicinal plants, but after one mistake they quickly correct themselves.

Moreover, each time they harvest they leave a remainder, not stripping everything bare, allowing the medicinal plants to regrow; they remember the spot and can return later to reap again.

The animals' learning ability is strong; how much more so for those that have faintly awakened spiritual intellect, which is in no way inferior.

When they reappear, their mouths or paws will have a few extra green plants.

Ye Qin also took out the cauldron; I must say, after replacing the large vat, this cauldron indeed speeds up refining considerably and saves him much time.

Today's alchemy method is roughly the same as before, yet there are slight differences between the two.

Previously, Ye Qin used alchemy as a medium to retain postnatal qi within his body, continually expanding the qi mass, ultimately aiming to form a qi pellet.

Now his body has already condensed a qi pellet, and it contains abundant heaven‑and‑earth qi, which can be said to be self‑sufficient.

"Perhaps we can try adding a bit of heaven‑and‑earth qi inside; it might produce some special effect and speed up the formation of my monster pellet."

Previously, Ye Qin added Emperor's Flowing Paste, which was the only way to extract the life essence from the herbs, thereby preventing the postnatal qi from dissipating.

But he only retained a portion of the Emperor's Flowing Paste, which is of the 'use a little, lose a little' kind.

No one knows when the Emperor's Flowing Paste will descend again, so this substance is extremely precious and must be used sparingly.

Even if Ye Qin consumes half a drop each time, continuing thus would not be viable.

Now that a qi pellet exists within his body, he can better mobilize heaven‑and‑earth qi; adding it here might replace the effect of Emperor's Flowing Paste.

Inside the small cauldron, countless green light points have already emerged, swirling around Ye Qin, and one can feel the vigorous life force emanating from within.

The green light points resemble fireflies, adding a special charm to the antiquated cauldron's body.

Seeing that the moment has ripened, Ye Qin mobilizes the qi pellet within his body; only see the qi pellet slowly turning, with several strands of heaven‑and‑earth qi diffusing out.

Ye Qin manipulates his mental power to inject these heaven‑and‑earth qi into the cauldron.

Strangely, these heaven‑and‑earth qi seem to be drawn to something, drifting over slowly, almost without Ye Qin needing to act himself.

Sure enough, there's promise!

The heaven‑and‑earth qi that enters the cauldron quickly blends with the herbal essence, replacing the function of Emperor's Flowing Paste, as if two invisible hands in the air slowly knead them together.

The green light points originally scattered around instantly become orderly, faintly forming a straight line that encircles the cauldron's mouth.

From afar, it looks like a green ribbon swaying beside the cauldron, full of an indescribable grace.

Patterns of flowers and grasses are carved around the cauldron's body; at a glance, those flora seem ready to come alive.

Under the veil of life essence, they strive to stretch out their forms.

Ye Qin can sense that the heaven‑and‑earth qi inside the cauldron has not dissipated; instead, it shows a tendency to condense and take shape ever more firmly.

「The material of this cauldron is indeed somewhat special; it can actually store Heaven and Earth Qi. 」

If it were replaced with that previous large vat, even if Ye Qin used his mental power to wrap the Heaven and Earth Qi and send it inside, as soon as he withdrew his mental power, that qi mass would dissipate momentarily.

Now this cauldron has managed to do so; although the main reason is that Ye Qin has already condensed a Qi Pellet, the cauldron's function cannot be ignored, otherwise it wouldn't be so easy to succeed.

And to maximize the elixir's effect, Ye Qin continuously draws Heaven and Earth Qi into the cauldron.

He feels sorry for the Emperor's Flowing Liquid, because using it reduces it, but Heaven and Earth Qi is different—it can be replenished at any time.

Although Heaven and Earth Qi is also scarce in the present age, unable to compare with antiquity, yet since only Ye Qin uses it in the whole world, it is inexhaustible and endless, so there's no need to worry.

It only requires consuming a bit of time and energy.

Soon the green light grew brighter and brighter, with layers of green radiance encircling the entire cauldron, as if its color had changed.

Heaven and Earth Qi gathered together, forming a hazy mist that enveloped the entire small cauldron, equivalent to adding a protective layer, within which there was also much permeation and life essence.

The hazy mist and green light points intertwined, making the surrounding scene appear dreamlike and illusory.

Not long after, a fresh aroma wafted over, refreshing the heart and spleen, filled with an indescribable medicinal fragrance.

The originally quiet animals became excited again, each raising their heads in anticipation, extending their necks and heads, their little noses constantly sniffing, trying to capture the presence of these gases in the air.

They naturally dare not hope for that elixir, but the faint aura emanating from the elixir is a blessing to them.

Occasionally a few green light points accidentally escaped and landed on them, each appearing as if they had obtained a precious treasure.

The green light and mist slowly dissipated, everything returned to calm, and the small cauldron seemed to revert to its original ordinary appearance.

Ye Qin crawled over and looked; inside the cauldron there was only one green medicinal pill, unlike before when it usually could produce several.

But this pill appears larger, and more round and plump, with several auspicious patterns on its surface.

He could feel that its power was more refined, existing at several times the previous level.

"Now it seems the quantity has decreased somewhat, but the quality has greatly improved."

Ye Qin swallowed it; it melted upon entry, a sweet fluid immediately flowed along his serpentine passage into the five viscera, also bringing a slight coolness, somewhat like the feeling of being bathed in nectar.

Since he only swallowed one elixir, Ye Qin sensed that his Qi Pellet temporarily showed no change; perhaps after taking more doses it will take effect.

"It seems the effect of adding Heaven and Earth Qi this time is quite good; this would have been impossible before breaking through the Qi Pellet, because Heaven and Earth Qi simply cannot be stored."

"In that case, we no longer need to add Emperor's Flowing Liquid in the future."

"Cultivation requires frugality, after all I am poor."

For things that diminish with use, it's better to spend them on the blade.

Time flowed like water, hastening by; life in the mountains seemed dull, almost day after day, Ye Qin was either cultivating or making pills, yet to him it was enjoyable.

Everyone's pursuits differ; for Ye Qin, seeking the Dao is his greatest pursuit in life.

But today he broke his usual habit, neither cultivating nor making pills, instead wandering among these mountains and rivers.

Ye Qin came to the highest point of the terrain, his serpent eyes unblinking as they gazed into the distance, the splendid scenery filling his view.

Beholding the endless undulating mountains, like a giant beast coiled here, his gaze was deep and far-reaching.

"Calculating the time, I have been in this realm for a while, yet I have still not engaged in contemplation."

It's not that Ye Qin doesn't want to; it's that nearby there is nothing suitable for his contemplation object.

After prior cultivation and taking elixirs, he could sense that his internal Qi Pellet had been thoroughly solidified, so regarding his realm there is no need to worry for now.

Then the contemplation object must be put on the agenda; only in this way can this realm be considered truly complete.

After all, Ye Qin's cultivation path follows the Contemplation Great Dao, and the Origin Contemplation Object is its foundation.

"Finding a contemplation object that suits one's heart is truly not an easy matter."

Ye Qin felt that everything should pay attention to a certain affinity.

In this beautiful landscape, he did not find an object that matched his visual affinity.

Since he cannot find it here, he will go out to look; although it takes some time, in some respects training is also a form of cultivation.

Just like the last Daoist temple, if Ye Qin had not gone out, there would have been no subsequent affinities or events, nor the series of things that followed.

Perhaps even now his body would not have formed a Qi Pellet.

Although the mountains are serene and remote from the mundane world, a good place for cultivation, yet from some aspects entering society is not a bad thing either.

As the ancient Buddhists say: entering the world is cultivation; leaving the world is clearing the mind.

Going out for a walk may yield different gains and insights, of course one cannot act blindly, after all this world is truly vast.

Moreover, his current realm is lowly, and it is not suitable to overly expose himself; if he stays in society too long, he will attract attention and easily invite change.

Furthermore, Ye Qin must also consider his family; he cannot stray too far or too long from home, so for now he can only wander about near Wu Du.

"Since last time he went to a Daoist temple, this time the destination should still be a Daoist temple or Buddhist monastery."

Regarding the marvelous aspect of failing to derive the contemplation object from the Daoist temple last time, Ye Qin still harbored a slight resentment; Shangqing Temple lacked the mottled temporal force, perhaps other places might possess it.

Ye Qin had a feeling that if one day he truly penetrated it, clarifying what this actually is, for his cultivation level and state of mind it would definitely be a great improvement.

"Previously Shangqing Temple was a small Daoist temple on the verge of abandonment, not famous; if this time we change to a bustling ancient famous temple, would there be any difference?"

"Of course, it's also possible that the birth of the mottled temporal fragments has nothing to do with this, but surely the basic condition is that this place is sufficiently ancient and special?"

"Regardless, first go take a round; if one can re-enter the mottled temporal fragments, that is an opportunity; if not, then look for a new contemplation object."

This time Ye Qin intends to focus his gaze on those flourishing Daoist temples or monasteries; perhaps there will be new discoveries, and having decided, he will immediately set out.

Although according to Ye Qin's current physique it is easy to attract outside attention, if there is mist to conceal it, it becomes much more convenient.

But broad daylight is still too conspicuous; to avoid unnecessary trouble, Ye Qin travels in the early morning or evening, and tries to avoid appearing on streets, either taking mountain paths or rarely trodden small lanes, and if necessary, walking through green belts.

Thus this journey was peaceful and undisturbed, attracting no one's notice.

Another day, the horizon just brightened; the deep sky revealed a hint of light, misty exhaling a corner of azure blue, golden sunlight continually diffusing from the clouds and scattering upon the earth.

The sky was still early, yet from not far away came the lingering toll of bells, drifting beneath the firmament—evening drums, morning bells—indeed it carried a different ambience.

In the city most people were still asleep, while in the temple the chanting of Buddhist names had already begun; these monks had to perform their morning duties.

The sound of the wooden fish seemed to possess a kind of magic, making people's hearts also become calm and tranquil, beat by beat, highly rhythmic, accompanied by the heavy bell sounds, encircling the temple's surroundings.

Ye Qin smelled the sandalwood unique to the temple from afar, allowing one to focus and calm the breath.

He looked at the building not far away, which was completely different from the Shangqing Temple he had seen before.

It is said that there once stood a giant bodhi tree here, where a famous monk cultivated and attained enlightenment, ultimately achieving perfect merit and turning into relics.

Later generations built a temple here to commemorate the monk, and this is how the Bodhi Temple came to be.

Of course, this is all legend, basically nonsense fabricated to deceive tourists and their offerings.

At this moment, the temple roof was covered entirely in glazed tiles, shining gold and brilliant in the morning light, coated with a faint golden glow, looking as if bathed in Buddha's light, filled with an indescribable solemn dignity.

The whole structure is grand and imposing, occupying a vast area, with halls, sutra halls, pagodas, and monk quarters interspersed.

The surroundings are vermilion walls, with plenty of greenery planted around, and at the gate stands a vigorous ancient tree, its branches lush, roots intertwined, showing its great age.

It is like a silent old man, standing before the temple, quietly watching people come and go, occasionally shaking its canopy to cast a patch of shade.

Ye Qin was just in the shrubbery not far from the temple, a place that was relatively hidden and not easily noticed.

"Indeed, it lives up to its fame as an ancient temple."

Ye Qin originally wanted to go inside the temple to explore thoroughly, but monks came and went inside, and he would run into one after just a few steps.

Unlike the Shangqing Temple, where there were only two young Daoists, hard to spot.

The Bodhi Temple has a long history and early fame, drawing many pilgrims who heard of it, even some who purposely come early.

Entering at this time is obviously not a wise decision.

However, Ye Qin is patient; worst case, he waits until night, when the pilgrims have left and the monks sleep early, then he can explore without delay.

In the morning it was fine, but by noon approaching afternoon, the crowd grew, the packed flow leaving Ye Qin astonished; no wonder it's a renowned ancient temple.

Only during the period when the Shangqing Temple went viral did many people go there to check in, comparable.

Ye Qin noticed for a moment that many people were going to worship the wealth god.

Smoke and mist swirled around the temple almost without cease, making the sandalwood scent in the air grow ever stronger, yet still within tolerable limits.

As night fell, this situation only slightly diminished.

The night was like a black great bird, watching the sunset sink bit by bit into the sea of clouds; as the last light faded, it spread its wings.

A distant, faint bell rang, sending off the last batch of pilgrims, and the temple fell from daytime clamor into silence.

Ye Qin looked at the building not far away; under nightfall, the temple's outline was faintly visible, still grand and imposing, merely with an added indescribable mystery.

Apart from the temple, the only other sizable structures nearby were small shops selling incense; as night came, with no business they closed early, keeping the same schedule as the temple.

The familiar wooden fish sound rang again, drifting in the night until it faded completely, and the temple fell utterly silent.

Following the surrounding walls, Ye Qin slowly climbed into the temple.

To the outside world, a patch of white mist appeared out of nowhere at the temple gate.

However, there were no pilgrims around, most monks had already slept, so no one noticed; a snake had already entered the temple.

(End of chapter)