"Of course, there are times when luck is good, and one encounters a huge spill of Cosmic Energy within a wormhole, but that feeling is like a thirsty person adrift on the ocean suddenly encountering a downpour. Clearly, there are countless freshwaters falling, yet all you can do is open your mouth and catch just a tiny bit to moisten your throat."
"That feeling really drives people mad, but here I must remind you seriously, no matter how 'thirsty' your body is during cultivation, never absorb the polluted Cosmic Energy of our world, and don't entertain the thought that absorbing a little bit will be harmless."
"A victim at sea, even if dying of thirst, won't drink seawater, because the more they drink, the faster they die."
Towards the end, Lin Yue suddenly looked at Li Yi with a very serious and earnest expression.
Obviously, this reminder was very important.
"I'll remember that," Li Yi promised earnestly with a nod of his head.
"Hehe," Lin Yue chuckled again, "Don't be nervous, you don't even know how to cultivate yet, worrying about this is a bit early."
Scratching his head, Li Yi said, "You're right, but what is the second method of cultivation that you mentioned, Sister Lin?"
Lin Yue's smile faded, and she extended a snow-white finger, saying, "The second method of cultivation is simple, owning a Mysterious Object."
"Mysterious Objects have their own Energy Field, which can eliminate energy pollution within a certain range, preventing cultivators who absorb Cosmic Energy from mutation. This is like a castaway on the ocean with a shortage of water having a seawater purifier, able to obtain fresh water continuously, instead of just relying on rainfall from the heavens."
"So, you can imagine the disparity between cultivators with and without Mysterious Objects."
At this moment, Li Yi couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. If the half-piece of Sword Coin in his pocket was a Mysterious Object, wouldn't his cultivation speed be incredibly fast?
"But don't get your hopes up, Mysterious Objects are far too precious, individuals are not allowed to possess them. Even if someone is lucky enough to obtain one, once discovered, it would be forcibly confiscated by the state," said Lin Yue.
"I've heard about incomplete wonders; what are they?" Li Yi asked further.
Lin Yue explained, "Incomplete wonders are incomplete Mysterious Objects. However, the state doesn't forcibly claim these as their value is greatly diminished when incomplete. Even so, the market price for incomplete wonders continues to rise, and they are still not something ordinary people can afford."
"Can incomplete wonders still eliminate energy pollution?" Li Yi asked with some curiosity.
Lin Yue frowned at this point, "I don't know, I'm not very knowledgeable about Mysterious Objects. But an incomplete object is certainly flawed, and only those who possess incomplete wonders would know what those flaws are, as they wouldn't go around talking about it."
"Then, how do you determine if something is a Mysterious Object or not?" Li Yi finally asked the key question.
He hadn't dared to ask directly from the start since it was too obvious and could expose him, so he only asked at the end.
Lin Yue let out a chuckle, "You haven't even started cultivating, and you're already thinking about Mysterious Objects?"
Li Yi gave an awkward smile, "Just asking in case I'm lucky enough to come across a Mysterious Object one day and don't recognize it. That would be a huge loss."
"If that's the case, then I'll answer your question. It's indeed difficult for ordinary people to discern Mysterious Objects. They can be a rock, a feather, an artifact, or even a palm or a corpse... A reliable way to find out if it's a Mysterious Object is to practice cultivation beside it," she continued.
"Once you enter a state of cultivation, you'll be able to sense the Cosmic Energy around you. Since Mysterious Objects have their own Energy Field, simply comparing the two will give you a clear answer."
"Moreover, once a person cultivates to a certain level, they can see many things that normal people can't and can even sense the presence of Energy Fields, allowing a profound Cultivator to judge whether something is a Mysterious Object with a single glance."
"I see," said Li Yi, his eyes shining with understanding.
It seemed he would only be able to determine if the half-piece of Sword Coin in his hand was a Mysterious Object after he started cultivating.
"Sister Lin, I want to cultivate, could you please teach me?" pleaded Li Yi.
"Of course, there's no problem, but there's an old saying: 'the master leads the way, but cultivation depends on the individual.' I can only show you the way, but whether you achieve anything in cultivation is up to you. Don't get your hopes up too high; I fear the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. I've taught many disciples and many of them have gained nothing even after three to five years of cultivation," warned Lin Yue.
"Cultivation talent is very important, and you'll understand what that is once you officially begin," Lin Yue said, taking a sip of tea and continued, "I don't want to waste time, so let's start your cultivation journey right now."
"Okay," Li Yi nodded solemnly.