"This…" Xiao Chen was momentarily stunned by Yaodaozi's words before his face lit up with joy. Falling to his knees, he kowtowed repeatedly. "Thank you, Master! Thank you!"
He had made it. His father's humiliation had not been in vain. From this moment on, Xiao Chen swore to make his parents proud, to ensure that no one could ever disgrace them again.
Though he didn't yet fully grasp Yaodaozi's status within Falling Cloud Valley, he could tell from his master's demeanor that it far surpassed Elder Hu's. Xiao Lin, the Xiao family clan leader's son, might have become Elder Hu's nominal disciple, but Xiao Chen was now a disciple of Yaodaozi—a comparison that filled him with pride.
"Alright," Yaodaozi said, waving a hand dismissively. "You've rested a day already. Go back to your room and get more rest. Your senior sister left a few jade slips for you. They contain some basic knowledge about the cultivation world. Study them for a few days, and then come see me."
With that, Yaodaozi turned back to tending his medicinal herbs, and Xiao Chen hurriedly bowed before retreating to his room.
Returning to his quarters, Xiao Chen noticed three jade slips placed neatly on the table. There was no sign of Ji Yuewu, but he paid it no mind. Eagerly, he picked up the first jade slip and pressed it to his forehead. Information began to flow into his mind.
Three hours later, Xiao Chen set down the jade slip, rubbing his temples. His eyes sparkled with astonishment.
The cultivation world… so this is the cultivation world!
He had learned of the Eight Great Stages of Cultivation: Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Undying, Unity, Tribulation Crossing, and Grand Ascension. Reaching the Grand Ascension stage allowed a cultivator to transcend mortality, becoming a true immortal—eternal and unyielding, sharing the lifespan of the heavens and earth.
Each of these stages was further divided into Early, Middle, Late, and Peak sub-stages. The gap between sub-stages was vast, and the higher one climbed, the more insurmountable the barriers became.
For instance, upon reaching the Core Formation stage, cultivators faced heavenly tribulations. Success would grant them immense power and extend their lifespan to 500 years. Failure, however, meant utter annihilation.
The Nascent Soul stage brought the Three-Nine Minor Heavenly Tribulation. Passing it enabled one to walk the Nascent Soul path with a lifespan of 1,000 years. Failing meant death.
The Undying stage represented the pinnacle of the mortal cultivation world. Beyond it lay ascension to the Spirit Realm, requiring one to endure the terrifying Thunder Tribulation. Many failed, perishing on the cusp of their greatest breakthrough.
The jade slip contained no details about realms beyond Grand Ascension, but what little Xiao Chen had learned was enough to leave him drenched in cold sweat. Cultivation was an arduous, perilous path, and even a single misstep could result in death. Yet the sheer power described made his blood boil with excitement—until he remembered his lack of a spiritual root. That realization sent a wave of frustration washing over him.
After calming himself, Xiao Chen picked up the second jade slip.
This one detailed countless types of medicinal herbs found in the cultivation world, their uses, and methods for harvesting them. Just skimming the content revealed over ten thousand different plants. Xiao Chen glanced through it briefly before deciding to save it for later—it wasn't something he could absorb in a single sitting.
The third jade slip differed slightly in color. Pressing it to his forehead, Xiao Chen saw thousands of words flood his mind, beginning with the title:
"Mantra of the Living Grass and Wood."
Beneath the title was a note written in small characters:
"Xiao Chen, though you lack a spiritual root, it does not mean you cannot cultivate. Progress will simply be slow. This 'Mantra of the Living Grass and Wood' is not an extraordinary technique, but it has low cultivation requirements. Consider it my gift to you as your master. Diligently cultivate it and never give in to despair!"
Xiao Chen's heart soared with joy. Energized, he focused all his attention on the content of the mantra.
"From the birth of the universe, the division of heaven and earth gave rise to the Five Elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth…"
Though it was a basic cultivation method, the Mantra of the Living Grass and Wood was still a true cultivation technique. As he read it for the first time, Xiao Chen found it profound and challenging. Certain passages seemed to hint at deeper truths of the cosmos, leaving him in awe.
By the time he finished studying the text, the sky had turned dark. Exhaustion lined his face, but his eyes gleamed with excitement. After hours of focus, he had memorized the mantra completely. While some concepts eluded him, he felt he had grasped its essence.
In the days that followed, Xiao Chen devoted himself to studying the mantra. Occasionally, he ventured outside and became acquainted with some of the outer disciples managing the valley's affairs.
Finally, feeling confident in his understanding, he decided to attempt cultivation.
Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Xiao Chen took a deep breath and began to practice the technique, focusing on absorbing the spiritual energy of the world around him.
One hour passed.
Then two.
By the third hour, his legs had gone numb, and there was still no sign of the spiritual energy described in the mantra.
Frustration gnawed at him. The text claimed the technique was simple, and that even beginners should sense spiritual energy within half an hour. Why was it so different for him?
The answer, he realized bitterly, lay in his lack of a spiritual root.
Yet even as despair loomed, Xiao Chen's resolve hardened. If three hours weren't enough, he would try six. If six failed, he would go for twelve. He refused to believe he was truly barred from the path of cultivation.
Time blurred. Xiao Chen, lost in concentration, suddenly felt something—a faint presence, like tiny specks of light floating around him. When he tried to focus on them, they seemed to blur and vanish, remaining just out of reach.
Unconsciously, he continued practicing the mantra. Slowly, the specks of light drew closer and transformed into a cool, refreshing energy that entered his body.
Startled, Xiao Chen opened his eyes. The room was as it had been, but within him, he felt a thread of delicate, icy energy flowing through his body.
"Spiritual power…" Xiao Chen murmured, his voice trembling with emotion. "This must be spiritual power—the essence of a cultivator!"
Suppressing his excitement, he closed his eyes again and resumed the mantra. Each time he absorbed another speck of light, the thread of energy grew stronger, its presence in his body more distinct.