However, as he looked at the surrounding female retainers of his mother, they didn't react to the cloud of smoke he saw.
He frowned and wondered if something possessed his little sister.
A few hours later, when the Empress and his little sister had been cleaned, Wang Chang entered the room. He carefully tiptoed and stared at the baby girl in his mother's arms.
She peacefully slept with an innocent face.
Wang Chang stood beside the bed and inspected her facial expression. She didn't seem to be in any pain. He had doubts, but he didn't know if it was his imagination.
There are many things I don't understand in the world.
Wang Chang furrowed his eyebrows as he thought of what to do. His mother was deep in sleep as giving birth had thoroughly exhausted her.
After a while, determination welled in Wang Chang's heart. He extended his hand and gently shook his little sister to wake her up. She slowly grumbled and then opened her eyes.
Those eyes were blank and lost. She blinked and then closed her eyes. Her face scrunched, showing that she was about to cry.
"N-no! Shhh!"
Wang Chang gently rubbed her head. He shushed close to her face.
She calmed down and opened her eyes again. Her eyes stared at him with intense curiosity.
"Can you understand me?" Wang Chang asked.
He thought that maybe she was the same as him and she reincarnated.
However, her eyes still stared at him the same. There was no change.
"Shhh…"
Wang Chang covered her eyes and gently rubbed her forehead. He then took a step back.
He turned to his mother and he jumped in fright.
Her two eyes were gazing at him silently. As soon as she saw him look, she smiled.
"Are you curious about your little sister, Jiayi?"
Her voice and words tickled Wang Chang's ears. He nodded and smiled.
"Her name is Jin Jiaying. Doesn't her name sound just like yours?"
The Empress giggled, albeit weakly.
Wang Chang blinked his eyes and his mouth formed an 'O' shape.
"Her name means good and clever, Jiayi."
The Empress smiled. She overflowed with maternal love now that she birthed two children. Wang Chang unknowingly thought of spring as he stared at her and his little sister.
Spring was the start of the seasons. It was the time when the dead would come back to life, and it was the time for new life to appear.
His little sister was the new life brought by spring.
As he thought of this, the Jin Imperial Cultivation Manual he practiced appeared in his head. The Spring was the condensation of dew on a grass blade.
It was a simple concept but as his enlightenment grew deeper as the moment passed, he realized that he could improve it.
Spring is the start. Then that means there are also Summer, Fall, and Winter. The full cultivation manual of the Four Grass Sect is… the Four Seasons!
It was a roundabout way of thinking, but he still arrived at the correct answer. As he did, Wang Chang realized why he was feeling pain while cultivating.
Spring was not supposed to last forever. It was supposed to be replaced by Summer then Fall then Winter and then back to Spring. The cycle of the seasons played in Wang Chang's head.
His past life reflected in his eyes as he remembered the seasons he had watched pass. The joy of Spring, the heat of Summer, the despondency of Fall, and the chill of Winter.
The cultivation manual he cultivated changed. His mind seemed to activate.
The spiritual energy in his body flowed and circulated all over his veins. They formed the joy of Spring, the heat of Summer, the despondency of Fall, and the chill of Winter.
By continuously cycling, the four seasons maintain balance.
This removed the pressure of his spiritual energy and made it so that he could easily absorb spiritual energy into his body.
It was as if he was back to when he had started cultivation!
A white mist of spiritual energy formed around Wang Chang. They swirled around his body and entered his pores.
The Empress gawked and pulled her head back in disbelief. The immense spiritual energy pouring in from outside filled the room. They rushed into Wang Chang's body and filled his body with spiritual energy.
That wasn't the end.
Wang Chang was still lost in thought.
I get it now. I have experienced it myself. The full cycle of human life.
Wang Chang released a sigh, and it contained all the frustration he had in the past four years. Contrary to what he thought, he had something to use to his advantage in cultivation.
The phenomenon around Wang Chang slowly dissipated as the spiritual energy calmed. His enlightenment aroused them, but it wasn't enough to push him to the limit of the Spiritual Gathering realm.
"The 8th Spiritual Gathering stage…"
A great deal of his body was filled with spiritual energy. The flow continued on their own even without any intervention on his part.
"Jiayi!"
The Empress shouted in disbelief.
"Mama?"
Wang Chang remembered where he was and looked at her. Happiness welled up in his face as he let out a wide grin.
"Y-You're amazing!"
She shook as she held his little sister. Even the little baby girl was staring at him with wide eyes. The phenomenon he produced was shocking to anyone who saw it.
"I got enlightenment!"
Wang Chang raised his hands up and embraced his mother. He was so excited.
After years of frustration, he finally took a step forward.
"I myself am only at the 6th stage…" she muttered under her breath as she embraced him.
It was hard to calm down after experiencing such a shock.
"It's all thanks to Mama"
Wang Chang kissed her on the cheek.
"What do you mean?"
The Empress found it hard to believe she had something to do with it. Enlightenment came at random times, and it was hard to gain it. She didn't think there was anything special as she rested on the bed.
"Jin Jiaying and Mama helped me realize that Spring is the start of life!"