Zhie Ying Pavilion stands as a majestic structure, with its Qi Training Hall alone spanning thousands of square meters. It serves as the training ground for Lingdong period disciples. At this early hour, dozens of figures are already gathered in the spacious hall, clustered in small groups discussing matters of interest.
Wei silently finds a less crowded corner and sits down cross-legged, seizing the opportunity for a bit of cultivation before the foundation-building monk arrives to teach. Just then, footsteps approach.
'Ah, isn‘t this Junior Brother Wei?' comes a mocking voice. 'I heard you’ve been in closed-door cultivation but still haven’t broken through to the second level?'
Ignoring their taunts, Wei reflects on how the world of cultivation, far from the serene image held by mortals, is even more brutal and pragmatic than the secular world. Here, power and status are not measured in wealth but in one's cultivation level, quality of magical artifacts, and quantity of medicinal pills.
Despite three years of hard cultivation, Wei, lacking a spiritual root, lags far behind his peers, often facing their scorn.
'Just a mortal without a spiritual root. No matter how hard you try, you can't compare to us. Better to leave the sect than to bring it shame,' they sneer.
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Unperturbed by these shallow provocations, Wei focuses on his practice. The respect of such people is not worth his peace of mind.
After about half an hour, a bell rings, signaling the start of the lesson. The disciples, including Wei, line up as a middle-aged man, Master Zhang Yu, enters. Despite his apparent age, he is certainly older, as cultivators' lifespans increase with their cultivation levels.
He begins to teach the secrets of the Lingqi Shield, a basic protective spell forming an energy barrier around the body. The disciples, especially those with spiritual roots who have reached the mid-Lingdong stage, listen eagerly.
Wei, still unable to use the Lingqi Shield due to his lower cultivation level, takes diligent notes for future reference.
After the lesson, he retreats to his modest wooden hut, far less luxurious than the dwellings of higher-ranking cultivators. He records everything he learned about the Lingqi Shield, a practice he has maintained for three years.
Returning to the Path of Heart Refinement, Wei faces a new challenge: a world of biting cold and relentless snow, a stark contrast to the previous fiery trials. Despite the freezing illusion, he continues his meditation, absorbing the spiritual energy around him.
After two days, undeterred by the biting wind and ice, Wei rises and heads deeper into the Path of Heart Refinement, seeking even purer spiritual energy to break through his bottleneck, undaunted by the increasingly terrifying illusions that await.