Over the past two months, Elder Wu Qingfeng had devoted himself wholeheartedly to teaching Pang Bo and Ye Fan, guiding them onto the path of immortality. Pang Bo's cultivation was progressing smoothly; he had sensed his Life Wheel and was able to guide his vital energy. Next, he needed to open the Sea of Suffering to prepare for the release of the divine energy reservoir in the future.
Ye Fan, however, still could not sense his Life Wheel. It remained as still and silent as before, but with each day of practice, he felt clearer in mind and more invigorated, his energy constantly flowing. Over time, his strength and speed had grown significantly, and his body seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of vitality.
Time passed quickly, and the two months were soon over. Elder Wu Qingfeng was about to leave, and would no longer teach them individually.
"The path of immortality is treacherous. Only with firm resolve and perseverance can one achieve success," the elder said, before drifting away.
Ye Fan and Pang Bo bowed deeply to the elder's back. This was not a formal gesture but a heartfelt salute.
In front of the low mountain, there were several thatched huts, and a few bamboo groves. The place was peaceful and natural. Over time, Ye Fan and Pang Bo had gradually adjusted to this simple life.
The next day, they would go to Lingxu Cliff to begin their cultivation. Ye Fan had initially hesitated, as he had not joined Lingxu Cave Heaven and was unsure if he could study the arts there. However, Elder Wu Qingfeng had given him a jade token. With this token, even though he was not a disciple of Lingxu Cave Heaven, he would be allowed to practice there.
The bright moon hung in the sky, its silver light spreading down, soft and smooth like ripples. The woods around the low mountain were faintly visible, like a veil of mist.
Ye Fan and Pang Bo lay on the grass, gazing at the starry sky. They were searching for that one star in their hearts, but the sky was unfamiliar now. The constellations were different, and they could no longer find the familiar stars they once knew.
"Not knowing the celestial palaces, which year is it tonight...?"
"People have sorrow and joy, parting and reunion, the moon has its phases... May we live long and share the beauty of the moon from afar."
They lay there in silence, staring at the stars, their cups of coarse tea in hand. But the tea never reached their lips, spilling onto their faces instead.
"We can never go back..."
After a long while of silence, this quiet moment was finally broken.
"We must live well..."
Ye Fan and Pang Bo were both optimistic individuals. The brief sense of loss was just a farewell to the past. From then on, they would face the future with composure.
They quickly moved past these emotions and shifted the topic to their cultivation. Although they had only been training for two months, it felt like a "rebirth" for them. It was an unprecedented experience. The path of immortality was ethereal, and the future was unpredictable. Since they had already embarked on this journey, they could only continue walking with determination.
Lingxu Cave Heaven was one of the six blessed lands of the Yan region. While it couldn't be compared to the long-established large sects, it still had nearly a thousand cultivators, with several hundred younger disciples.
As the first light of dawn appeared, golden rays fell upon the cliff, shining brightly.
Lingxu Cliff was a series of steep rock faces, made up of several low, separate stone cliffs, each about 70 or 80 meters high. They were spaced out from each other, and each cliff had a certain distance between it and the others.
In the morning, many young disciples gathered here. Because the levels of cultivation varied, they each chose a different stone cliff to listen to teachings suited to their current level.
Ye Fan and Pang Bo arrived early. As they were only beginners, they had no choice but to head to the farthest stone cliff. By the time they arrived, there were already a number of people gathered, both male and female, ranging from children as young as seven or eight years old to adults in their thirties, their faces marked by the years.
"Whoosh!"
A flash of light appeared, and a divine rainbow shot through the sky, landing on the stone cliff. As the light dimmed, a white-haired elder sat cross-legged on the cliff, casting a brief glance over the crowd, his gaze pausing slightly on Pang Bo and Ye Fan, before he began transmitting the teachings.
At the same time, other cliffs also saw divine rainbows descend, all from the elders of Lingxu Cave Heaven. The cliffs were spaced apart, so the teachings did not interfere with each other.
As the first rays of dawn bathed the cliffs, many of the disciples felt a sense of novelty. Most were new to Lingxu Cave Heaven.
The elder on the cliff was calm and composed, his voice devoid of emotion, yet very detailed in his explanations, covering the things new cultivators needed to be aware of.
Half an hour later, the transmission of teachings ended. The elder glanced down expressionlessly and said, "If there are any questions, ask now. If not, today's session is over."
Several young disciples rushed forward with questions, which the elder answered one by one. Once there were no more questions, the elder summoned the divine rainbow and flew into the sky.
The first time attending these teachings, Ye Fan and Pang Bo found it rather plain and even somewhat boring. Their foundations had already been solidified in the past two months under Elder Wu Qingfeng's guidance, and many of the issues raised had already been clarified for them.
"The beginning chapters of the Dao Sutra alone are enough for us to cultivate for the next two years. These small techniques are quite dull. The elder has already pointed them out," Ye Fan said.
"Don't aim too high," Pang Bo replied. "Didn't the elder remind us to build a solid foundation? Since he's insisted we come here, there's definitely a reason behind it."
For the next half month, though they felt bored, they still dutifully attended every session. Gradually, they began to notice the benefits. Occasionally, the elders on the cliffs would share their personal experiences and insights from their own cultivation journeys, which were extremely valuable. For beginners, hearing about others' cultivation experiences was like a guiding light, helping them relate it to their own situation and speeding up their progress.
One morning, the elder on the cliff suddenly spread his palm, and dozens of beams of light shot down, landing in the hands of Ye Fan, Pang Bo, and the others. Each disciple received a small jade bottle, clean and smooth. When opened, a fragrant aroma wafted out.
"This is the elixir to help you open the Sea of Suffering," the elder explained briefly.
The Sea of Suffering and the Life Wheel were interconnected. To release the vast amount of vital energy stored in the Life Wheel, one had to continually open the Sea of Suffering.
The elixir was extremely precious, distributed only once every three months. Each person could receive a maximum of four bottles per year.
Pang Bo's Sea of Suffering had been gradually changing. Over the past three months, it had expanded from the size of a jujube pit to the size of a fingernail, surrounded by wisps of life essence, making him appear more energetic.
Although Ye Fan had also consumed a small bottle of the elixir, his Sea of Suffering remained silent. There was not the slightest change, not even a tiny spark of energy flowing.
However, over these days, his strength and speed continued to grow. His body felt like a torrent of vitality, his energy surging with the power of a dragon or elephant.
"I'll just keep cultivating like this," Ye Fan thought. "Though I can't open the Sea of Suffering yet, nor can I communicate with the Life Wheel, my body is growing stronger, and that can't be a bad thing."
"I think you're way better than me," Pang Bo complained. "I'm always working on the Sea of Suffering, but I don't see any increase in strength or speed. I can't even use any techniques. I don't know what good this cultivation is doing."
The next day, unable to hold back, Pang Bo approached the elder at the base of the cliff and asked, "Master, do we have to keep practicing like this? When can we use the divine rainbow to fly?"
The elder glanced at him indifferently and said, "You can't rush things. You have to take it one step at a time. If you want to run before you can walk, you'll only fall."
Though the elder reprimanded him, he still provided some insight to give everyone hope.
"When the Sea of Suffering is large enough, you can proceed to the next step. That involves opening a direct passage from the Sea of Suffering to the Life Wheel at the bottom, forming a 'spring well,' releasing the divine energy from the Life Wheel. That's when you'll truly have achieved something and can begin to use your divine techniques."