Gu Wen slowly opened his eyes, a thread of spirit light lingering in the deep gaze that refused to fade away. He looked around, then lowered his head to look at his own body.
"Is this what entering the gateway feels like?"
He hadn't expected it to be so simple—just like reading and understanding text, making sense of those obscure scriptures with a single glance.
No, it was the Fate Diagram that simplified the otherwise indecipherable Daoist scriptures for him.
When Gu Wen first received this Cultivation Technique, the scriptures on it appeared as a series of blurry halos—barely were the corridors visible. He understood a few characters, but soon he would become dizzy and feel faint, due to the mental strain.
From this he guessed that the so-called Cultivation Technique was not as straightforward as text—words were just a form of expression, just like the symbols used in modern academic disciplines. They served merely as a symbol, not the essence of some Law itself.
The purpose of the Cultivation Technique, like a textbook, was to teach living beings to cultivate, to understand the Laws of Heaven and Earth; this was the realization of Heaven and Earth.
Yet the Heavenly Marrow within the Fate Diagram was comprehension... a bunch of crap, this was nothing short of force-feeding knowledge!
Excitement was evident on Gu Wen's face as he tried hard to calm himself down, but the more he thought about it, the harder it became to stay cool.
The role of the Fate Diagram was simple: insight. It allowed him to quickly learn and use the Yuqing Heart Method, correcting the slightest errors in the method's circulation. After that, Gu Wen wouldn't make the same mistake again, and after a few repetitions, it became as familiar as muscle memory.
But it was limited to learning and wouldn't allow him to ascend to heaven in one step. Just this was already invaluable; as the saying goes, the beginning is the hardest, and the ability to swiftly comprehend Daoist Skills could be extended infinitely.
[Heavenly Marrow Integrated]
"..."
How come so much is missing?
Gu Wen felt as if his heart was being torn apart.
Using the Fate Diagram consumed Heavenly Marrow, which was also the foundation of his becoming an immortal. Consumption was understandable, but one single technique cost nine Heavenly Marrows, and now he didn't even know where to obtain more Heavenly Marrow.
He couldn't possibly go to the Immortal Yu Hua for help, could he? Wouldn't that be exposing himself?
"First, cultivate; take it one step at a time."
The knife was already at his throat; the situation in Daqian was growing increasingly unstable, with three civilian uprisings in the city just this year alone due to the construction of the palace. He didn't know how long the court could hold, as the collapse of a dynasty could happen in an instant—a flood washing away all past accumulations in a sweep.
All he could do was ensure his own survival.
Pushing down his excitement and doubts, Gu Wen crossed his legs on the bed, closed his eyes, and in that instant, his breathing took on an indescribable rhythm.
A breath of Qi began circulating through his body, as if beside the blood vessels there was another set throughout his physique. Finally, it converged at his dantian, forming a tiny glowing orb.
It felt a bit awkward at first, completing a Cycle. When Gu Wen opened his eyes again, the candle had burnt out, and the sound of the night watch drifted in.
"Midnight watch, mind the candles."
About an hour had passed.
"It's a bit slow, and lacks the special sensation of the first time."
Gu Wen closed his eyes again for a second session of cultivation. A mouthful of True Qi wandered through his body—perhaps due to his own aptitude, every step was excruciatingly difficult, like crawling through cracks and tunnels.
The second session ended, and by the actions of the shop boys who were refilling the lanterns outside the window, he could tell it was close to 1 a.m.
The speed was still slow.
Gu Wen closed his eyes again, this time focusing his thoughts on the Fate Diagram. He could bear the monotony of cultivation, but the current situation clearly didn't afford him decades to practice Qi Cultivation.
It had to be fast. He needed the power to resist being pushed into a corner by Zhao Feng, the Emperor, and the officials.
He must secure the ability to protect himself before Daqian's complete collapse.
The Fate Diagram trembled slightly, as streams of auspicious light descended.
His level of cultivation hadn't improved, but his speed of Qi Cultivation surged exponentially!
Before, it was like navigating a maze; now, he followed a straight path.
Gu Wen's mind filled with a marvelous sense of clarity, elevating his understanding of the mental method to a new height.
He cultivated the True Qi with a thirst, his proficiency now resembling that of an old cultivator in decades of silent practice. The Heavenly Marrow inside the Fate Diagram poured out, correcting the Qi pathways Gu Wen had mistakenly taken, time and time again.
The glow the size of a grain of rice.
The size of a thumb.
The size of an egg.
Then, as if reaching a critical point, the egg-sized orb of light condensed and shrank back to the size of a rice grain, but this time it became a strand of cyan Qi.
The Fate Diagram vibrated slightly, and a clear realization rose within Gu Wen's heart.
[Refining Essence and Transforming Qi]
```
[Yuqing Daoji First Level: Eternal Life]
This cultivation technique is divided into nine levels and three realms, with the first to the third levels being the Refining Essence and Transforming Qi Realm, which can make one's breath long and continuous, very much like the Inner Skills mentioned in legends.
However, since it is a technique for cultivating immortality, it is probably even more mysterious than Inner Skills.
[Heavenly Marrow Depletion]
"..."
Gu Wen had not expected to go bankrupt in the blink of an eye, and now he had no idea where to find Heavenly Marrow.
-----------------
Prince's residence, candles burning bright.
Prince Zhao Feng, who stood in front of a side courtyard, paced back and forth, wanting to enter but was blocked by a donkey grazing at the door. When he tried to have someone pull it away, the donkey kicked them away. A strong and healthy courtyard guard was directly kicked three meters away, fainting on the spot.
This donkey was no ordinary animal.
Zhao Feng could only bow respectfully and say, "Senior, the kitchen has made some pastries. I would like to offer them to the immortal for a taste."
The donkey ignored him, acting as if it didn't understand human speech, leaving Zhao Feng awkwardly stuck in place, unable to go in or give up.
Yu Hua, the immortal, had been in the mortal world for several days now, and except for the first day, his interactions with her had been almost nonexistent. His servant Gu Wen had more interactions with the immortal! And it was the immortal who took the initiative to talk to Gu Wen, while he, a prestigious prince, could not even get a private audience, to the point that a simple nod from her would make him incredibly joyful.
Every morning, Zhao Feng would intentionally pass by here, feeling content just to look at the house where Yu Hua stayed.
If Gu Wen knew about it, he would undoubtedly mock Zhao Feng. Wasn't this the very definition of a lovelorn fool?
That's also why Zhao Feng had people watch Gu Wen closely, fervently obsessive in his affection.
After a standoff, Zhao Feng could only leave sullenly, leaving the box full of pastries on the ground,
The old donkey picked up the box and ambled into the courtyard. Under the bright moonlight and in the pavilion, a snowy white figure stood silent and serene. Approaching the figure, the donkey set the wooden box on the ground and spoke human words, "The young one from the Zhao family sent this to you."
Yu Hua shook her head and said, "I have already taken the Fasting Pill."
On hearing this, the donkey started to open the box with its mouth and munch on the pastries inside, while saying, "To become an immortal, you must first transform the mortal. In the Immortal Land, even with your cultivation reaching the heavens, you need to eat like a mortal. Continuously consuming pills might damage your body."
"That Zhao boy has both talent and background. The Yuqing Sect doesn't preach detachment from worldly affection."
Yu Hua slightly turned her gaze, her figure more chilling under the moonlight, and said, "Did senior also receive benefits from the Zhao family?"
The donkey revealed a grin and said, "The Lord Emperor gave me a thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine."
"So, that's it. I thought senior had become senile, perhaps kicked by oneself in the head."
Yu Hua's tone was calm, her straightforward insult causing the donkey to pause momentarily. Not taking offense, the donkey chuckled and said,
"You are quite something, girl. Not only do you scold me but also the Lord Emperor? Holding control of Immortal Land in this era where everyone covets the chance of becoming an immortal is no simple task for the Zhao family. If you can get his assistance, the sect's grand plan will advance even further."
"How much did the Lord Emperor give you for this speech?"
"A Golden Core."
"I will write to the sect."
The donkey laughed heartily, unabashedly shameless, "Just move my lips and I get benefits, only a fool would refuse. I wasn't paid for the next part, so you can listen as you see fit. Listening with such attentiveness is against the Heaven and Earth Laws, harmful to heavenly harmony, better to use it sparingly. Leave the search for the Immortality Pill to the Zhao family."
The search for the Immortality Pill – that was the sole purpose for Yu Hua to enter the Immortal Land, also a major plan of the Three Pure Sect for thousands of years.
Seeing that Yu Hua still was unmoved, the donkey felt puzzled and circled around her, asking, "You haven't taken a liking to that Gu-name descendant, have you? He has already lost that treasure and no longer qualifies to be your Guardian. In my opinion, the Zhao boy is better, the Emperor promised a great elixir to me if he succeeds."
"Senior's mind has really been kicked by oneself, always preoccupied with matters of affection," Yu Hua said flatly without mincing words, her insult devoid of emotional fluctuations.
"I carry a great responsibility of the sect, and must restrain myself and stay focused."
The donkey brazenly said, "I'm old now; I just enjoy watching you young folks talk about love. And, not to mention anything else, why did you pass on the Yuqing Heart Method to that boy?"
The Yuqing Heart Method is one of the core cultivation methods of the Three Pure Sect. Although, according to the philosophy of the Daoist Sect that "all under heaven may cultivate the Three Pure Ones," it had been passed to outsiders, it's not just casually given away.
Yu Hua indifferently said, "The Three Pure Sect owes him."
"Obstinate, just like your master." The donkey commented, "Not to mention anything else, but the Yuqing Heart Method is one of the hardest techniques of the Three Pure Sect. Giving it to him, are you not afraid that he'd never be able to master it in his lifetime? Within a thousand years of the Three Pure Sect, fewer than ten people have managed to cultivate it."
"And if I'm not mistaken, you didn't give him the Foundation Establishment Chapter, but the Foundation Building Chapter."
A mere play on words, yet the difficulty is like reaching for the heavens.
Foundation Establishment is merely a Qi Cultivation method, not very useful in today's environment of scarce Spiritual Energy and chaotic Laws. Foundation Building is not about cultivating Qi but about Refining Oneself, forging the Dao foundation.
The former is about increasing cultivation; the latter is about raising the potential, talent, even involving the secrets of becoming immortal. One is pouring water into a bucket; the latter is expanding the bucket into a vast ocean.
Yu Hua replied, "The Spiritual Energy in Immortal Land is scarce; ordinary methods of Qi Cultivation are useless. True to its name, the Immortal Land is replete with opportunities to become an immortal, never lacking in Divine Medicine. Therefore, Foundation Building is more suitable."
"What if he fails to learn it?"
"....."
```