Old Daoist Yu Zhou, a man, nodded with a smile, "You have practiced the Primordial Root Qi Method, do you understand that after mastering this method, as long as there is progress on the Talisman, your Cultivation Level will also advance?"
"I'm aware."
Elder Jie Liang, a man, had also told him this. The Primordial Root Qi Method, born from the Storing Thoughts Technique and rooted in the Talisman, naturally harmonizes with the Talisman, and the two can mutually enhance each other. Once there is progress in the Primordial Root Qi Method, the Talisman will rise with the tide; once there is a breakthrough in the Talisman, the Primordial Root Qi Method will also be elevated. This is where the method's immense value lies.
"Do you know what symbols to draw for the fastest increase in strength?"
This question was a classic Empirical Department style, simple and straightforward, but undeniably, very intriguing. Yu Ci, a man, immediately sought advice sincerely.
The Old Daoist pushed the Jade Slip next to the book case and the square seal with a smile. Yu Ci took it and scanned it with his divine sense, "Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Refining Method?"
This answer was absolutely unexpected.
Looking at the Old Daoist's smiling expression, Yu Ci frowned and thought, seeming to grasp some threads.
The Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Refining Method is undoubtedly a major work, created by an Earth Immortal named Ha Shi Yi before dozens of Thunderbolt Tribulations. Over tens of thousands of years, it has been supplemented and perfected by generations of cultivators, forming a complete system for enhancing the levels of Magical Instruments and strengthening the connection between cultivators and Magical Instruments. The basic refining methods include 36 Heavenly Gang and 72 Earthly Fiend, totaling 108 Talismans. Each of these Talismans is composed of hundreds or even thousands of relatively simple Talismans. In total, there are over a hundred thousand Talismans to learn and comprehend.
If you include the various steps, levels, and different method schools derived from this, the Talismans involved would exceed millions or even tens of millions, which is extremely complex.
No one can master such a vast system completely. One can only extract one or two schools from it, forming a process that can stack 108 layers of Talismans for refining. Even so, those who can stack and complete 108 layers of refining Talismans in their lifetime have always been few and far between. It's unknown how many people have delayed their own cultivation due to their focus on refining Magical Instruments, and died with regret.
Yu Ci, a man, intended to take these lessons as warnings. But with the Old Daoist's mention, his thoughts were led in another direction:
"Indeed, the Primordial Root Qi Method and the Talisman are interdependent, and the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Refining Method is the largest Talisman system in the world. In this regard, focusing on the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Refining Method is not harmful, but rather a remarkable way to balance both cultivation and refining of Magical Instruments!"
Yu Ci grew increasingly in awe of Elder Jie Liang, the creator of the Primordial Root Qi Method. However, the Old Daoist laughed, "You mustn't voice such admiration in front of Junior Brother Jie. He would surely accuse you of having a narrow mindset and short-sightedness. Brother Qian Bao, after learning his method and applying it in a way that grossly misinterpreted its original intent, disseminated it widely within the Sect, which greatly vexed him."
As the Old Daoist chuckled, Yu Ci joined in, laughing a few times. But the phrase "short-sightedness" stirred something within him, reminding him of his immature thoughts before he arrived.
Yu Zhou continued, "Brother Qian Bao is fond of collecting Magical Instruments and refining them for his use, thus earning him the moniker 'thousand treasures.' His real name, however, has been forgotten by many. In his early years, he was so engrossed in the art of refining that he neglected his cultivation. But through the Primordial Root Qi Method, he had an epiphany, integrating and refining what he had learned in the first half of his life. Although it was refining, it was actually cultivation. Thus, he managed to progress on both fronts simultaneously, carving out a unique path. You could learn from this."
Upon hearing the Old Daoist's words, Yu Ci nodded slowly. Wasn't this the very thing that had been troubling him? It turned out that the senior Immortal Elder had already perfectly solved it. He should be delighted, yet another thought intertwined with his excitement, forming a dazzling Divine Light that he couldn't quite grasp.
There must be more to it than just this.
At this point, Yu Zhou added, "However, the benefits of refining Magical Instruments are well-known within the Sect and aren't considered a secret. What Brother Qian Bao wanted me to pass on to you was a thought that Junior Brother Jie had when he created the Primordial Root Qi Method."
"A thought?"
The Old Daoist nodded slightly, "The Primordial Root Qi Method was praised by the Sect's senior Immortal teachers as 'integrating three parts, pushing it to the extreme.' This integration refers to Junior Brother Jie's thought, his approach to integrate three essences, blending them seamlessly without the distinction of morality, theory, or discipline, forming a unified whole. It's not as simple as saying this is the mantra of the Morality Department, this is the thought of the Theory Department, and this is the experience of the Discipline Department. To put it simply, it's..."
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
"To see the whole through a part, and to move the whole by pulling a single thread."
Yu Ci let out an audible gasp.
The Old Daoist was taken aback, "What's wrong?"
Yu Ci was genuinely taken aback, but inspiration often strikes like this. He nodded and shook his head, feeling a surge of excitement within him, a strong urge to test out a certain possibility. He turned to leave, but then turned back and bowed solemnly to the Old Daoist, "Please convey my gratitude to the Thousand Treasures Immortal Elder on my behalf."
His inspiration was now gushing forth, and he couldn't wait another moment. He turned and left, not hearing the Old Daoist calling after him.
Once the onslaught of inspiration is initiated, it is unstoppable.
Yu Ci felt as though he was on the brink of madness, countless thoughts pouring in, converging within his mind. Wave after wave, they offered him no respite. He found himself oscillating amidst this tidal wave of inspiration, on the verge of suffocation at any moment, yet his heart was filled with an unprecedented thrill.
Deep into the night, the Meditation Room was devoid of light. However, the Divine Bronze Mirror on the desk emanated a faint, ethereal glow. Yu Ci reached out and picked it up.
"One can know the whole by observing a part, and the whole body moves when a single hair is pulled."
What a profound saying!
That night, when Elder Jie Liang was imparting the Primordial Root Qi Method, he helped Yu Ci fuse the "Physical Image" with the "paintbrush" in his mind, enabling the "paintbrush to move as the Physical Spirit moves". The myriad details of skin, flesh, meridians, organs, and even the Divine Soul's thoughts were all connected by a single stroke.
That was a complete, harmonious whole.
But if the concept of "whole" was further expanded, wouldn't the Divine Bronze Mirror in his hand, an "external object" he possessed, also belong to this "whole"? What about the Heart-Tugging Horn, Hook Rope, and Pure Yang Talisman Sword?
Yu Ci thought, indeed!
Though there seemed to be a distinction between self and object, the Physical Spirit underwent metabolism, and objects were subject to change. As long as they were owned and used by him, there was essentially no difference. Grasping this, even external objects could be considered part of the "Physical Image", and could be connected to the "paintbrush" in his heart, drawn with his intention, and manifested in the "Inner Void of the Heart".
This "connecting line" was nothing other than refinement.
Through refinement, the Magical Instrument communicated with the Physical Spirit, merging object and human nature. Under such circumstances, why distinguish between the external Magical Instrument and the "Physical Image" of the Physical Spirit?
Just like the Divine Bronze Mirror in his hand, after months of relentless refinement, it had long been in sync with his intention. This "connecting line" had long existed on the "paintbrush", only deliberately separated by his obsession. Now that the obsession was gone, everything became simple.
Yu Ci closed his eyes and entered the "Inner Void of the Heart", witnessing the boundless darkness and the solitary moon hanging in the void.
The void was desolate, with only the undercurrents swirling in the depths.
At that moment, the almost never moved "paintbrush" in his heart trembled slightly, immediately staining the void with ink. Layers of faint images unfolded, most of them still hidden in the darkness. Yet, by their contours, mountains, rivers, trees, flowers, birds, beasts, fish, and insects were all present. It was like a forest in the night, so real yet elusive.
This was the Divine Map!
Although the Divine Map had not yet been restored, its impression left on the Divine Bronze Mirror would remain unchanged for Yu Ci. Now, Yu Ci moved it into the "Inner Void of the Heart", making it the most appropriate reflection of the Divine Bronze Mirror therein.
"The Inner Void of the Heart" underwent a tremendous transformation. Beneath the bright moon, the boundless darkness was no longer empty, but unveiled a world of mountains and forests, where the scenery constantly shifted, as if it had a life of its own.
The monotonous world suddenly sprang to life.
However, that was not all.
For guiding him, it was not only the Immortal Elder Qianbao, but also his talented senior sister, Meng Wei.
She proposed that before depicting the Mental Image, one needed to layout the plot, establish a basic structure, and adhere to rules and regulations. Previously, the "Inner Void of the Heart" was vacant, making it impossible to discuss layout or plot. But now, through a holistic concept, the reflection of the Divine Bronze Mirror was incorporated, greatly enriching the space inside, providing Yu Ci with material for transformation and manipulation.
Following Meng Wei's advice, "One positive and one negative, one Yin and one Yang, one active and one passive," and so on, the structure that complements each other has the most plasticity. Yu Ci, following this line of thought, made variations.
Now it is known that the "bright moon" in the "Inner Void of the Heart" is the imprint of his past cultivation, the sprawling forest is the reflection of the Divine Bronze Mirror he now possesses, then, isn't the boundless void beyond it his yet unexplored future?
The Bright Moon Forest is what he already possesses; the boundless void is where he seeks to explore.
With this as the mainstay, the bright moon represents the past, the forest represents the present, and the boundless void is the future. A clear and understandable structure is thus established.
With a single thought, the "Inner Void of the Heart" reverberated.
However, Yu Ci did not bother with these. His inspiration was still not exhausted: when this structure was created, the past, present, and future all had a basis. So, where is "I"?
This question was almost instantly resolved.
The brush in his heart trembled again, the moon in the sky shifted, casting its clear light and illuminating the forest. In the middle of the forest, a small lake appeared, shimmering with light. In the heart of the lake, a faint shadow was seen, wandering under the water.
Yu Ci immediately "saw" that shadow, but could not accurately describe it with words. Instead, a strong palpitation surged from the deepest part of his heart:
"That's my Mental Image!"
I didn't draw it, but I found it!
At the same time, a tremendous force erupted in the Inner Void of the Heart, transforming into a blinding light that swept across the heavens and the earth.
Yu Ci was instantly blasted out.
Suddenly opening his eyes, a Divine Light penetrated through his crown, twisting and changing in the void, without a stable shape. However, the surrounding fog was peeling away layer by layer, making the light clearer and the outline more stable.
This is the "True Spirit", the "shadow" formed by the light of the Original Soul penetrating the Conscious God.
The Original Soul is the sun, the Conscious God is the form, and the True Spirit is the shadow. The clearer the shadow, the more substantial its source.
He hadn't fully recovered yet when he felt the force that had erupted from the "Inner Void of the Heart" pushing him forward, taking a steady step forward with an unstoppable momentum.
Yu Ci, of course, did not move, but an invisible barrier in front of him shattered with a boom.
Nature-Connecting Middle Stage, achieved in one fell swoop!
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I have also posted the following more chapters [All free] on: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e