Yu Ci strolled through the forest after a snowfall, the crisp, cold air brushing his face. Despite the chill, a warmth radiated from within him, spreading to every part of his body, making him feel exhilarated even in the cold winter morning. His cheeks and other exposed skin felt no cold.
He extended his hand and clenched it tightly. Although it was empty, Yu Ci felt a profound sense of accomplishment.
Elder Jie Liang had excused himself the night before, heading directly to Sky Rift Valley. However, before leaving, he had confirmed once more: once Yu Ci mastered the Qi Leading Method, he would be qualified to learn the 'Primordial Root Qi Method' from him, thus inheriting the authentic Mysterious Sect's Innate Qi Cultivation Technique.
Given Elder Jie Liang's character, this was a promise, one that would not be altered by Old Daoist Yu Zhou's schemes.
Yu Ci took several deep, cool breaths to calm his fiery emotions. One could say that he was only a paper-thin barrier away from the Longevity Methods, but he couldn't assume that this barrier could be easily breached. While he disagreed with some of Old Daoist's theories, one thing he paid great attention to was:
Immortality was not about imagination, but practice.
Despite the hope ahead, Yu Ci still had to ground himself in reality and face the difficulties at hand.
Qi Leading Method! To obtain the 'Primordial Root Qi Method', he first had to pass the hurdle of the Qi Leading Method.
Yesterday at the Moral Hall, he had seen it. Among the Outer Disciples and Freelance Daoists, there were many who had practiced for twenty or thirty years, and masters who had achieved Yin Spirit, but none of them could meet the standard set by Elder Jie Liang when they tried on the spot.
Yu Ci also gave it a try. The first round of the Clear Mind Incantation was of course no problem, but the moment he started the second round, his Divine Intent Energy clashed with the Spirit Attachment circuit of the Talisman, causing the Talisman to disperse. This was the result of his direct attempt at the Qi Leading Method.
After Elder Jie Liang left yesterday, he had seriously considered how to proceed.
After much thought, he decided to approach it from a different angle: he wondered if the 'Primordial Root Qi Method', being a technique created by Elder Jie Liang, would bear his strong personal characteristics. So, this morning, Yu Ci specifically sought out Yu Zhou to inquire about Elder Jie Liang's temperament, including the so-called "Four Methods" he had heard about the night before. He felt he had gained a lot from this.
Within the Lichen Sect, there exists a fundamental scripture known as the "Heavenly Mansion Nine Degrees Book." This is the first scripture that Yu Ci encountered in the "Infinite Dharma" collection at One Mind Hall.
This scripture is profound and extensive. Many who study it, due to differences in their opportunities, temperament, and wisdom, interpret the scripture differently. As time passes and the teachings are passed down, although they are studying the same scripture, the sect has gradually developed several distinct methods of cultivation. Among these, the most representative are the so-called "Four Paths."
Morality, Theory, Discipline, and Empiricism.
In fact, over the course of many years, these four paths have evolved beyond mere methods of cultivation based on scriptural theory. They have become four relatively independent concepts of Immortality, each with a complete system and distinct characteristics.
The Morality Path is the "origin" of achieving Dao. It encompasses the understanding of the universe, human nature, and adheres to the laws of nature and the rules of the human heart, achieving a state of perfection and transcendence. Its pursuit is the most primitive and simplest true understanding of Morality.
The Theory Path is the "purity" of achieving Dao. It seeks the purest principles in nature, all things, and human hearts, discarding all physical decorations and taking only the "principle" as the ultimate goal of Dao.
The Discipline Path is the "righteousness" of achieving Dao. It starts from the smallest and most immediate things, not pursuing elusive concepts but focusing on clear rules and discipline. Step by step, it allows people to align themselves with the Dao through continuous improvement.
The Empirical Path is the "might" of achieving Dao. It follows the path of proving Dao through strength. Regardless of the difficulties and dangers ahead, it overcomes obstacles with one's cultivation level, with each level representing a different strength. It's straightforward and vigorous.
These "Four Paths" are not entirely distinct. A cultivator from the sect can master multiple paths. However, they are not always harmonious, and intense ideological conflicts often occur.
Elder Jie Liang is the best example. He started with the Discipline Path, later incorporating Morality and Theory, and today he is a significant figure in the Theory Path. However, he has a strong dislike for the Empirical Path's approach of "proving Dao through strength," believing it to be a deviation from the essence and a step towards the demonic path.
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Regardless of these complex Immortality concepts, judging solely from Elder Jie Liang's character and rhetoric, he clearly disapproves of the Empirical Path's "proving Dao through strength." Therefore, neither the "Primordial Root Qi Method" nor the basic Qi Leading Method should be practices that can be completed solely through brute force.
If one still thinks that drawing talismans a thousand times will reveal their meaning, it would be the most foolish approach.
Therefore, Yu Ci focused on perception and comprehension.
Having settled on this, after calming his mind, he took out a Clear Mind Incantation scroll. He did not activate it or attempt the Qi Leading Method. Instead, he simply held it in his palm, maintaining its state of being neither activated nor inactive, and used it to sense the changes in the flow of divine intent energy after it stirred the forces of heaven and earth.
This subtle, mystical connection was not the work of a single day. Yu Ci was in no rush, leisurely playing with the Spirit Talisman as he strolled through the forest, circling around to clear his mind.
He arrived at a relatively open area where a thin layer of snow was spread out, sparkling flawlessly under the sunlight, utterly charming. He found a rock to sit on, took a moment to regulate his breathing, and then took out the "Shangqing Star Secret Talisman Book".
After the previous night, Yu Ci had gained a new respect for this Talisman Book. Anything that could earn the recognition of Elder Jie Liang and Yu Zhou was undoubtedly more valuable than he had originally thought. Naturally, he wanted to draw inspiration from it.
He spread out the silk scrolls of the scripture, starting from the very first sentence. He intended to read through the general outline to see if he could glean any insights.
But after only a few sentences, a bird began to chirp above him.
The chirping of a bird was not unusual, and Yu Ci prided himself on his concentration. But the sharp, urgent sound of this bird seemed to carry an ominous undertone.
Ever since he had mastered the art of Soul Sensing, his grasp of these subtle signals had taken a leap forward. He looked up to see a rather ordinary mountain chickadee perched in a tree, its long tail feathers twitching as it stared at him and called out. But as soon as he looked up, it seemed startled and flew off in a daze.
"How strange," muttered Yu Ci, feeling somewhat annoyed at having his studies interrupted. He also had a gut feeling that there was something odd about the bird. It seemed as if the bird's movements through the natural world were capturing some discordant information, but he couldn't quite articulate how.
This was just a minor interruption in his research. The forest was serene, and Yu Ci quickly refocused, reading the Talisman Book, oblivious to the passage of time. He read through the general outline, dissecting sentences and savoring words. He felt that he had gained some insights and reluctantly closed the book, only to find that it was already midday.
Realizing that it was time for lunch, Yu Ci started to head back. He had lost count of how many times he had rotated the Clear Mind Incantation in his hand. The flow of Divine Intent Energy seemed to have been imprinted in his palm.
But something was missing.
Clarity and depth, in a way, could also be a trap for the mind. When it came to Drawing Talismans, Elder Jie Liang could layer them endlessly, while their younger generation repeatedly failed. There must be a difference.
What Yu Ci was looking for now was a feeling different from before.
Just as he was thinking this, he heard the familiar bird song again.
At that moment, Yu Ci sensed something. Through the gaps in the trees, he saw a vague figure dressed in a black Taoist robe, standing out against the snow. This person's attire was the most orthodox Taoist garb, and their slender figure was indistinguishable under the loose robe. The bird that had previously been rather hostile to him was now flapping its wings, following the person's outstretched finger, flying up and down, clearly having a great time.
Setting aside the issue of disparate treatment, could an ordinary titmouse perform such high-difficulty maneuvers, stopping and starting at will within such a relatively narrow space?
Just as he was wondering, the Taoist over there withdrew his hand. The titmouse, bereft of its target, cried out somewhat unwillingly a couple of times before it flapped its wings and soared high. At that moment, a group of magpies happened to be leaping and flying in the air. The titmouse charged straight towards them. The air seemed to ripple once, and Yu Ci's vision blurred. There was no longer a titmouse in his sight, only a group of magpies with white bellies and black feathers flying overhead. The titmouse seemed to have vanished into thin air, or perhaps...
Had it become one of the magpies?
"Water Mimic Bird!"
Yu Ci exclaimed softly, somewhat surprised. He had seen the illusion technique of this rare bird species before, and recognized it at a glance.
Hearing his exclamation, the man in the forest turned his head. Because of the angle obscured by the trees, Yu Ci couldn't quite make out the man's face, but he felt that there was no such person in the Still Heart Temple. However, someone who could play with birds in the snow forest should be quite amicable, so he nodded and smiled towards him. The Taoist also seemed to smile, then slowly walked towards him.
Yu Ci stood still, prepared to chat with this person. Just as he stopped, someone called out from behind:
"Yu Ci, stand still!"
The voice was quite rude, but Yu Ci recognized who it was. He remained calm, first bowing his head to the Taoist who was walking towards him as an apology, then turned around to face the two young men who were rushing over from behind.
As he turned around, Yu Ci caught a glimpse of the Taoist's eyes in the forest from the corner of his eye. They were deep and clear, exceptionally delicate.
The Taoist seemed to be interested in watching, so he also stopped and continued to stay in the forest.
By now, the two young men had already rushed up close.
"Yu Ci, well done!"
Looking at Jin Chuan, the eldest son who was clearly upset but still trying to maintain his composure and dignity, Yu Ci couldn't help but smile. Kuang Yan Qi, who was slightly older than Jin Chuan and more steady, seemed to hide his thoughts deeper.
Perhaps in the meantime, they had received some news. The situation in the Still Heart Temple, with its many informers, seemed quite serious.
This morning, after Yu Ci had finished asking Yu Zhou about Elder Jie Liang and the four methods, he had also figured out why these two rising stars of the White Sun Mansion had come here from the Mountain Gate of the Lichen Sect.
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