Chapter 53: Cultivation

Wang Feiyin was also proud to have such a talented junior sister, so he immediately recited five crucial prescriptions involving Zhi Shi, citing medical texts such as The Elbow-Back Formula for Emergencies and The Thousand Gold Prescriptions.

Fortunately, Pan Yun had an eidetic memory; after hearing each prescription twice, she could recite them flawlessly.

To ensure they memorized them thoroughly, Wang Feiyin made them recite the prescriptions aloud all the way back to the temple as he carried his basket on his back.

Not only Pan Yun, but even Miao Zhen, who was not well-versed in medical texts, had them memorized perfectly.

The three children were exhausted from the day’s labor; upon returning to the temple, they sat down and couldn’t move. But Wang Feiyin still didn’t let them rest—they had to sweep the grounds, refill the oil in the incense lamps, cook meals…

He went to fetch water.

Xuanmiao had entered seclusion again, while Tao Ji and Tao Yan were still downstairs treating the wealthy benefactor Qian Dahong.

Wang Feiyin ate with them, and once they had bathed and changed into clean clothes, he gestured and said, “Come, tonight I’ll teach you cultivation.”

It was nearly youzheng, around six in the evening. For Pan Yun, this was the time after work or school in her past life; in this life, it was also cultivation time, so she accepted it readily.

But for Miao Zhen and Miao He, this was their bedtime.

Though obedient and eager to learn, they couldn’t help drooping their heads.

Wang Feiyin smiled warmly at them—he wasn’t forcing them to be diligent. Times had changed. Before Pan Yun arrived, these two girls occasionally wished to go down the mountain, but mostly they were content with their humble, Daoist life on the mountain.

But since Pan Yun came, though she never spoke of her life below, Wang Feiyin sensed that Miao Zhen and Miao He now harbored greater longing for the world beyond the mountain, and their desire to descend had intensified.

Don’t think he didn’t notice the three girls sneaking off to scout the southern mountain path.

Human desires are hard to quell, especially in children of this age. As they grow older and gain more experience, their desires will only multiply and deepen.

Eliminating them is impossible. So let them learn more, prepare better for descending—the hardship here is better than losing their lives down there.

Thus, as dusk fell and all sounds faded, the three sat in a row before Wang Feiyin.

Wang Feiyin said, “Fifth sister, do you know how your cultivation differs from ordinary people?”

Pan Yun thought for a moment, then nodded. “Miao Zhen and Miao He cultivate internal qi, using it to draw external qi into their movements.”

Wang Feiyin said, “The former is internal strength, the latter martial techniques. To cultivate the Dao, you must first learn martial arts. Whether entering the Dao through literature or through martial arts, you must first study meridians and internal strength. Only when you learn inner observation can you truly enter the path of cultivation.”

“But you—without internal strength—have already entered the Dao. You’ve already refined your internal qi and can draw cosmic qi into your body for cultivation.”

“I assume you can already perform inner observation?”

Pan Yun nodded amid Miao Zhen and Miao He’s exclamations. “Yes.”

Wang Feiyin’s expression remained calm. He didn’t ask how she did it, but turned to Miao Zhen and Miao He: “Do you know why I made you practice internal strength before entering the Dao?”

Miao Zhen said, “To achieve inner observation?”

“Correct,” Wang Feiyin said. “The human body is a universe. Only when you can perform inner observation, when you see your own body clearly, do you glimpse the universe and touch the edge of the Dao. Only after inner observation can you see your body’s meridians, your internal qi, your strength, and the qi outside your body.”

“Only when you see all this clearly can you consciously draw in external qi—only then are you truly on the path of cultivation.”

Pan Yun: “When they practiced, I saw spiritual energy entering their bodies, but… then it left again.”

Miao He immediately asked, “Is spiritual energy the same as cosmic qi?”

Wang Feiyin nodded. “It’s just a different name. Spiritual energy, cosmic qi—whatever you call it, it’s a form of energy. The broader concept is qi: formless, shapeless, primordial energy, the source of life. The body’s path is refining qi—to give the body an endless source of life, to attain immortality.”

“The mind’s path is tracing back to the origin. If you can comprehend how the universe formed and how it operates, you draw infinitely close to the Dao.”

“The body is merely a vessel. The true essence of a person is the spirit-soul. Eternal spirit-soul is what we cultivators seek.”

Wang Feiyin: “But a tall building needs a solid foundation. So mastering martial arts and refining the body is absolutely indispensable.”

Wang Feiyin was no longer just teaching Miao He and Miao Zhen—he was also teaching Pan Yun.

After finishing the cultural lesson, Wang Feiyin began guiding them in cultivation.

Miao He and Miao Zhen practiced internal strength, striving to achieve inner observation and begin refining qi.

Pan Yun practiced her Kunyuan Art, drawing in vast amounts of spiritual energy.

Wang Feiyin had them sit together to cultivate, hoping Miao Zhen and Miao He would be bathed in spiritual energy—even if they didn’t actively absorb it, the movement of the art might cause the incoming energy to circulate with their internal qi.

Even if only one percent did, their internal strength would grow faster.

Her body, subconsciously sensing this was a safe place, after completing two minor heavenly cycles, Pan Yun became fully immersed in cultivation.

Seeing her enter deep cultivation, even performing a major heavenly cycle, Wang Feiyin raised an eyebrow.

Less than half an hour later, Miao Zhen and Miao He quietly cracked open one eye. Though still seated, their bodies swayed slightly, their hips tilted.

Wang Feiyin glanced again at Pan Yun, still in deep meditation, and sighed. Such was talent.

He picked up the dust whisk on the table, flicked it lightly, and tapped each of their heads. Miao Zhen and Miao He opened their eyes and smiled sweetly at him.

Wang Feiyin gestured for them to rise and leave, not to disturb Pan Yun.

They immediately stood up.

Outside the door, everything was pitch black—but the sky above shimmered with countless stars, like a basin of diamonds pressed tightly together. The heavens seemed so close, as if one could reach up and grab a handful.

Miao Zhen and Miao He had lived in the mountains since childhood, yet rarely saw such a starry sky.

Most of the time they slept early; even when they stayed up late, the sky rarely offered such clarity.

Miao Zhen stared blankly. “So many stars, so bright—why is the mountain still so dark?”

Wang Feiyin: “Precisely because it’s so dark that you can see so many, so bright stars.”

The three took their cushions and sat on the steps outside the door, gazing upward. Pan Yun remained seated inside the hall, continuing her cultivation.

In the world unseen by Miao Zhen and Miao He, torrents of multicolored spiritual energy surged toward Pan Yun like rainbows—but they still felt the night was unusually clear, the air exceptionally fresh, and couldn’t help taking deep breaths.

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Wang Feiyin could see it all, but he didn’t care that the swirling energies made him look disheveled.

The master and his three disciples were unusually quiet.

But half an hour passed, and Pan Yun was still cultivating.

Miao Zhen couldn’t help asking, “Master, is Xiao Shu’s intense focus due to the art, or her talent?”

Wang Feiyin: “Both talent and effort.”

He said, “I heard that since childhood, she could sit still for hours. Every day, except eating and sleeping, she only cultivated—never even left the room.”

Miao Zhen and Miao He were astonished, gazing at Pan Yun with admiration.

Wang Feiyin said, “Practicing inner observation is a process of cultivating stillness. Daoist cultivation is divided into Five Times and Seven States. Though we’ve never formally categorized them, it’s good for you to understand.”

Miao He, nearly asleep, perked up instantly. “Master, what are the Five Times and Seven States?”

Wang Feiyin: “The names say it all: First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth Times; First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh States. The First Time is called the Ten Thousand Realms Stage; the Second, the Human Stillness Stage; the Third, the Heart Stillness Stage; the Fourth, the Mind Gathering Stage; the Fifth, the Mind Settling Stage.”

“When you reach the Mind Settling Stage, you can perform inner observation. Passing it allows you to enter the First State, officially entering cultivation and refining qi.”

Miao Zhen: “Master, how do we judge our own and others’ realms?”

Wang Feiyin: “Fight. Or cultivate together and compare how long you stay in meditation and the power you generate.”

“But the latter isn’t reliable—you still need to fight.”

Miao Zhen: “…”

Miao He: “Master, Master, what realm are we in now?”

Wang Feiyin glanced at them. “You’re both still in the First Time.”

They were slightly discouraged.

Miao Zhen asked, “What about Xiao Shu?”

“Her?” Wang Feiyin frowned. “If I judge by her cultivation and meditation depth, she’s already in the First State. But if I fight her, she’s only just touched the Third Time.”

She was barely at the edge of the Third Time. When she first arrived, he tested her—her internal power was only at the Second Time.

Wang Feiyin’s frown deepened. Pan Yun was strange: the qi accumulated in her body differed greatly from her apparent cultivation level and years.

Whatever. Children have their secrets—it’s normal. She’s not Miao Zhen or Miao He, raised here since childhood, where I know everything about them.

Wang Feiyin sensed the spiritual energy surging behind him slowing—he knew she was about to emerge from meditation. He said to Miao Zhen and Miao He, “Go back to sleep.”

They didn’t move. Good friends sleep and rise together—they would wait for Pan Yun.

Wang Feiyin didn’t disrupt their friendship. He nodded. “Since you’re staying, let me tell you why I never told you your levels before.”

They shook their heads.

“Because I didn’t want you fighting others or obsessing over ranks.”

Miao Zhen: So now you’re telling us… so we can fight?

Today’s and tomorrow’s lucky numbers are those ending in 8, screenshot as proof

PS: Requesting monthly votes, requesting monthly votes

(End of Chapter)