Below is the lecture time of Master Ye:

**********

"Indeed, thanks to your reminder, Uncle Yu, if we strip off those empty words, this is the most concise and clear theory of cultivation!"

The young man spoke proudly, full of confidence, "What did I say was the key to the Nature-Connecting Realm before?"

Yu Ci humorously replied, "Master Ye once said that the Nature-Connecting Realm is about a cultivator understanding the structure of the Divine Soul, refining the nature of the Divine Soul, enhancing the level of the Divine Soul, until refining the Yin Spirit and achieving Astral Travel. As for what the key is among these, I'm afraid we have to ask Master Ye for guidance."

A slight blush appeared on Ye Tu's face, but he managed to hold his composure. He clapped his hands together, "The most crucial part of the Nature-Connecting Realm is, of course, the structure of the Divine Soul. Without it, all the refining and Yin Spirit are just a muddle. Today, I will definitely explain the structure of the Divine Soul clearly!"

Ye Tu sat cross-legged on the ground with confidence, gesturing for Yu Ci to sit next to him. Then he said, "I've mentioned before that the structure of the Divine Soul is 'One Essence, Two Reality, Three Illusion'. It sounds strange, but it's actually easy to understand."

He took a deep breath and drew a circle in the air with his finger, "This is the Conscious Soul."

Then he moved his finger back to the center of the circle, "And this is the Original Soul."

"The Original Soul is a bit of divine light from birth and also represents Innate Nature. All cultivation is about returning to its origin and pursuing its Innate Divine Power. The Conscious Soul represents thoughts and perceptions, what we think and feel, and is responsible for daily affairs. As Taoist scriptures say, when the Conscious Soul retreats, the Original Soul emerges. Isn't that what it means in plain terms?"

He pointed at the diagram twice with his finger. Yu Ci nodded repeatedly. The relationship between Conscious Soul and Original Soul might seem complicated and tedious to explain in thousands of words. However, with this diagram, it suddenly became vivid. It was clear that Ye Tu had put in a lot of effort.

"The Original Soul and Conscious Soul are two ultimate concepts that coexist in the structure of the Divine Soul. This is what 'Two Reality' refers to. But why do we need to add 'One Essence' before it? We have to thoroughly understand a concept here. What exactly does 'thoughts and perceptions' mean in terms of Conscious Soul?"

Ye Tu lifted his head and stared into Yu Ci's eyes. "You see, I started by drawing a circle. This represents an ideal state of perfect mental state. And how does this 'perfection' come about? It's precisely because in a situation without any external interference, it's a reflection of the 'Original Soul's' perfect innate state. When it's still in its Primal Soul state, there's no distinction between Conscious Soul and Original Soul. They are one and the same, flawless and perfect. It's just Primordial Preexistent Soul and Divine Light Illumination at the level of the Divine Soul. The 'Original Soul' is the foundation, the only one, the essence of that point."

"But in reality, this state of spiritual perfection cannot be achieved. From the moment we inherit our parents' essence and are nurtured in our mother's womb, we are constantly influenced by the external environment. These influences are perceptible and imperceptible, memorable and unmemorable, including every stumble from childhood to now, every act of kindness or malice, every good or bad event, and everything else...

Having said so much in one breath, Ye Tu also stretched his arm to its maximum extent, as if embracing an unbearable burden, then pressed it down in one go, adding sound effects:

"Clang!

"In this way, the perfect circle becomes imperfect! But every time a force makes the 'circle' 'not round', our instinct will provide a corresponding counterforce, hoping it will return to completeness. After a while, practice makes perfect, and a whole set of responses to external changes will form. This set of responses is the foundation of our behavior, it's acquired, that is, the thoughts of the acquired mind, also known as the 'Conscious Soul'..."

At this point, there was another thunderous roar in the Sky Rift Valley. The surrounding creatures were somewhat restless, but Yu Ci didn't care. This scene had been played out too many times last night. Ye Tu was completely immersed in his own world and didn't notice at all, he spoke with great animation:

"Understand this. Every force exerted by the outside world will leave a trace in our consciousness. Some we can feel, some we cannot. Those things that are difficult to perceive may seem insignificant, but in fact, their total volume is dozens or even hundreds of times that of the information we can perceive. After decades of accumulation, they have become substantial and far exceed what we can perceive."

With his hand almost touching the outer arc of the circle, he drew another circle, forming a set of concentric circles with the previous figure: "This thin outer circle is what we use daily, the ordinary conscious awareness, which I call 'Manifest Consciousness'. The inner part is referred to as 'Hidden Consciousness'. Together they form the true 'Conscious Soul'.

"The information inside the 'Hidden Consciousness' is incredibly vast and contains enormous power. It includes our suppressed emotions and desires for many years, the wild instincts left by our ancestors, and even some mysterious bloodline inheritance. This is often referred to in cultivation as 'talent' or 'aptitude'. It's where our potential accumulated over the years lies."

The young man slapped his palm heavily on the concentric circles: "This is a complete 'diagram'. Look, the Original Soul is inside, the Conscious Soul is outside; Hidden Consciousness is deep within, Manifest Consciousness is on the surface. It forms a clear three-layer structure. All cultivation in the Nature-Connecting Realm can be represented by it. Look!"

Ye Tu drew two lines from the center of the circle with his index finger extending beyond the two concentric circles.

Yu Ci was taken aback at first but then slapped his thigh in realization as it aligned with his own cultivation experience: "Separate Consciousness & Thoughts!"

Ye Tu, brimming with joy, said, "Indeed, after practicing the 'Three Barriers of the Mundane', the Divine Soul gradually strengthens. However, what truly strengthens is the Original Soul at the deepest part of the Divine Soul. When it becomes powerful enough, it can penetrate the Conscious Soul, allowing spiritual power to seep out and actively perceive external information. We call the former 'Divine Sense' and the latter 'Divine Consciousness'. Collectively, we refer to them as 'Divine Intent', which is the first step towards spiritual enlightenment!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Ci had an epiphany.

The Divine Soul system is as such: The Original Soul and Conscious Soul are its basic elements; The Conscious Soul can be further divided into Manifest Consciousness and Hidden Consciousness; The Original Soul, Hidden Consciousness, and Manifest Consciousness form the basic structure of the Divine Soul from within to without.

As for Divine Sense, Divine Consciousness, and their collective term "Divine Intent", they are concepts derived from the Original Soul itself, merely a branching hierarchy.

In this way, priorities are distinguished.

His reaction was the best reward for Ye Tu. The youth waved his hand demonstratively, his fair face glowing with excitement. He continued enthusiastically, his finger tracing dozens of arrows converging inward from the outer edge:

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

"The next goal is to extend controllable thoughts inward as much as possible, transforming the elusive Hidden Consciousness into controllable Manifest Consciousness. This process is known as 'refinement' and is a critical step in the cultivation of the Nature-Connecting Realm.

"Remember, Hidden Consciousness harbors many emotions and desires. It's a mix of good and bad, a murky pool that can be considered the dirtiest corner of one's heart. During cultivation, Tribulations often arise from here, which is the root cause of inner demons. If not thoroughly refined, not only will it be difficult to advance in cultivation, even if you do manage to progress, your foundation will be unstable and will eventually collapse."

At this point, Ye Tu shook his head: "This is where the importance of a good Longevity Method comes into play. Ordinary breathing exercises and meditation can only train you to Separate Consciousness & Thoughts. However, from the 'refinement' step onwards, you must have a qualified Longevity Method to guide you. Every sect in the Cultivation World has their unique refinement techniques. As a Lone Cultivator, Uncle Yu is indeed at a disadvantage."

Of course, Yu Ci was aware of his predicament but he wouldn't show it in front of Ye Tu. He simply smiled and said: "There's always a way when we get to the mountain. As for opportunities, who can predict them?"

Ye Tu pondered for a moment, then suggested, "How about this, Uncle Yu and I return to the East Sea together. Our Half Mountain Island has made its unique contributions in the field of Longevity Methods. With your excellent mastery of the Sword Way, if I were to speak to my master about you, wouldn't it be wonderful if he took you under his wing?"

The youth grew more excited as he spoke, and Yu Ci was somewhat moved, though he didn't hold out much hope. Although Ye Tu had never formally introduced his sect, from the hints he occasionally dropped, Yu Ci could sense that the Half Mountain Island was primarily dominated by the Ye Clan, with very few outsiders. It would not be easy to gain entry into such a place.

So he just smiled and steered Ye Tu back to the topic at hand, "We can talk about the Longevity Methods later. You just mentioned 'refinement', what comes next?"

Ye Tu, excited by his own vision, became even more enthusiastic and responded fluently:

"When we have refined all of our Hidden Consciousness, completely transforming it into Manifest Consciousness that we can perceive and control, it proves that our control and grasp of the spirit has reached a certain height. At this point, there is no longer a distinction between Hidden Consciousness, Manifest Consciousness, or even Conscious Soul. They are collectively referred to as 'Yin Spirit'. Once the Yin Spirit is formed, the immense potential hidden within the Divine Soul will gradually be unlocked, causing the strength of the Divine Soul to soar until it separates from the physical body and achieves Astral Travel. That is the third step!

"In this way, corresponding to these three steps, the Nature-Connecting Realm has three major signs: The first is Separate Consciousness & Thoughts, marking the beginning of spiritual connection; The second is Manifestation of True Spirit, serving as the pivot of spiritual connection; The third is the departure of Yin Spirit, signifying the completion of spiritual connection!"

"What is True Spirit?" Yu Ci asked the most crucial question.

Ye Tu answered smoothly: "True refers to seeing one's original heart, and Spirit refers to all senses being connected. True Spirit is a term in contrast to Hidden Consciousness. It allows Hidden Consciousness to manifest and initially understand its own deepest intentions. The Original Soul inside then shines brightly through this outline, projecting various different spiritual lights outward. This is what True Spirit is. In fact, it's just the shadow formed by the Original Soul penetrating the Conscious Soul, nothing more."

Upon hearing this, Yu Ci couldn't help but think of the flame burning at the crown of his head. According to Ye Tu's explanation, that should be his True Spirit.

Ye Tu nodded and said: "Exactly. Uncle Yu, your True Spirit burns brightly like fire but its form is singular. You should know that a person's Hidden Consciousness naturally reflects their true self. Therefore, the True Spirit that is manifested through this outline should also resemble one's own image. Thus, you have just touched upon your Hidden Consciousness and have not reached a deeper level. In the initial, middle, and advanced stages of the Nature-Connecting Realm, you have completed the initial stage but not yet fulfilled the middle stage."

"Uncle, you've only been in the Nature-Connecting Realm for a few days, yet you've already made such progress. It must be because you've solidly established the 'Three Barriers of the Mundane'. Oh, you practice methods like contemplative meditation, which compared to those who cultivate from the outside in or merely guide their breath, gives you a great advantage in nourishing the Divine Soul."

Ye Tu's erudition indeed earned Yu Ci's admiration. Then, the young man began to conclude:

"If one successfully achieves the human form without duality, it indicates that the Hidden Consciousness has been successfully refined, reaching the level of Yin Spirit. By then, with Yin Spirit as form and True Spirit as shadow, when one reflects on the Original Soul, it's like observing the sun and moon traverse the sky. At this point, the Original Soul can be referred to as 'Yang Spirit'. Of course, the current 'Yang Spirit' is just a term and has a long way to go before reaching the 'Yang Spirit' cultivation level where it can 'take shape when gathered and transform into gas when dispersed'."

Upon hearing this, Yu Ci couldn't help but slap his thigh in admiration. Regardless of how profound or accurate the boy's theories were, they were coherent and well-rounded. Today, he had truly broadened his horizons.

The more Yu Ci reacted this way, the happier Ye Tu became. He not only talked about it but also repeatedly demonstrated it according to the diagram on the ground. His aim was not to explain in great detail but to gradually reveal a complete outline of cultivation. This was far superior to his previous method of blindly reciting from books, which was significantly more sophisticated.

At this moment, Yu Ci suddenly felt as if listening to Ye Tu was more enlightening than ten years of reading. He listened even more attentively. The two of them, one speaking passionately and one listening intently, lost track of time. Gradually, Yu Ci began to ask questions to better understand the information. He was more interested in the Sword Way, so after a few exchanges, he asked about "Divine Soul Sword Control".

"Speaking of Divine Soul Sword Control... that's another extensive topic." Ye Tu hadn't prepared for this question. He scratched his head and improvised:

"Divine Soul Sword Control is an application of 'merging spirit with qi'. This 'merging spirit with qi' is not part of the system I mentioned earlier but involves aspects of refining qi and forging the body. Simply put, it's about the Divine Soul merging with the Primordial Qi throughout the body, blending essence, qi, and spirit into one inseparable whole. This is what is meant by 'embracing spirit and qi', 'spirit entering qi points', and 'the union of three into one'! From this arises high-level powers like 'gang' and 'sha'. When channeled into a sword, it enables divine control of the sword while enhancing the vitality of the Original Soul. It's a very practical technique."

"Hmm, sounds intriguing..."

"Of course, it does. For others, it might not matter much, but for a sword cultivator, Divine Soul Sword Control is the essence of Cultivating Swords. It's the foundation one needs to build upon for a lifetime. Uncle Yu, your self-taught skills show that you have a solid base in cultivation, abundant Primordial Qi, and an extraordinary talent in swordsmanship!"

"Such high requirements? What about Yan Daoist..."

"What about Yan Daoist?" Ye Tu looked utterly confused.

Yu Ci promptly shared his encounter with Yan Daoist, emphasizing the final powerful strike.

Upon hearing this, Ye Tu was stunned. He murmured, "Impossible, since when did everyone master Divine Soul Sword Control?"

He shook his head, collected his thoughts, and began to explain to Yu Ci, "There's a crucial process of the divine energy embracing and transforming into Qi. This Qi is not ordinary Qi, but Gang, Sha, and Primordial Qi, which are superior to the True Qi cultivated within the human body. It's the result of cultivation at the Golden Elixir Stage in the future. It's difficult for a Nature-Connecting Cultivator to refine Primordial Qi, and even if they do, it's a fleeting fusion of divine energy that can't be maintained for long.

"I've never met Yan Daoist, but based on your description, Uncle Yu, his method of releasing the sword with True Spirit illumination and controlling Qi with divine power is likely Divine Soul Sword Control. However, his deliberate posturing was somewhat inferior. The power of his strike was rather... oh yes, lend me your Nine Yang Talisman Sword."

He took the Nine Yang Talisman Sword and examined it carefully before laughing, "Indeed, this Sword Technique might not matter to others, but it has Rune Patterns that accumulate Sha Qi. It probably relies on Divine Soul Sword Control and some other methods to trigger its enormous power. This power doesn't entirely come from Yan Daoist's own strength."

Yu Ci looked down and followed the Rune Patterns to infer their purpose and found it to be true. He remembered that the jade slip he got from Yan Daoist did contain this information; he just hadn't had the chance to study it yet.

Nodding his head, he was about to ask another question when the commotion caused by the Birds of Prey started to spread, and a violent tremor suddenly erupted beneath their feet. Ye Tu, who was facing the edge of the slope, swept his gaze over it and was left speechless.

***********

Writing such theories is indeed a thankless task. However, for the sake of future plot development, I've decided to include it here. If you think Teacher Ye has explained it clearly, please clap your hands and send your collections and votes. If you didn't quite understand it, please send your critical collections and votes as encouragement. Thank you.

I have also posted the following more chapters [All free] on: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e