"Focus your mind, maintain your concentration, and feel the spiritual energy within your dantian. Then use the Sanqing Temple Heart Sutra to guide that energy throughout your body.
The spiritual energy will move according to your will," Yun Yanshuang instructed her brother patiently as they sat in the cellar.
Yun Yanshui sat cross-legged on a simple wooden bed, carefully following his sister's guidance. He focused on sensing the flow of spiritual energy within himself and directed it throughout his body using the techniques described in the Sanqing Temple Heart Sutra.
Opening his right palm, Yanshui channeled a thread of spiritual energy to his hand. Immediately, a soft glow emanated from his palm, pulsing like rippling water with a gentle, calming aura.
"The amount of spiritual energy you use can be adjusted at will, depending on what you need," Yanshuang added, smiling brightly as she watched her brother quickly grasp the technique.
"I understand now," Yanshui said, nodding as he committed her words to memory.
"Master said that spiritual energy enhances a cultivator's combat abilities. Life-and-death battles between cultivators are essentially contests of spiritual energy.
"In the same realm, the one with the more abundant and refined spiritual energy usually has the upper hand," Yanshuang explained.
"And what else?" Yanshui asked, eager to learn more.
"Additionally, cultivators use spiritual energy to activate their magical artifacts. This energy gives the artifacts their strength.
"However, the power of a magical artifact isn't determined solely by the cultivator's spiritual energy. The grade of the artifact also matters," Yanshuang explained with a serious expression.
"Artifacts have grades too?" Yanshui asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Yes! Master said that in the immortal world, everything—artifacts, pills, herbs, techniques, and spells—has a hierarchy of grades.
"To use magical artifacts or techniques effectively, a cultivator must match their own cultivation level with the strength of the artifact or technique.
"If a cultivator's level is too low, using a high-level artifact or technique can lead to dangerous consequences, even death, due to the backlash," Yanshuang explained meticulously, recounting everything she had learned from the blind Daoist.
"I see. So, what are the grades of these artifacts and items?" Yanshui asked, intending to record everything for future reference. He hoped to create a guide for later generations, so any descendants who pursued cultivation wouldn't repeat the same mistakes.
"According to Master, artifacts and pills are graded from strongest to weakest as: Divine Grade, Sacred Grade, Heavenly Grade, Earth Grade, Mysterious Grade, and Yellow Grade. Each grade is further divided into nine levels," Yanshuang explained.
"I didn't expect there would be so much to learn about the immortal world," Yanshui remarked, amazed.
"Of course!" Yanshuang replied with a sweet smile.
"Alright, it's getting late. You should go to bed now. Tomorrow, you have to visit Master again," Yanshui said, waving her off.
"Alright, I'm leaving now," Yanshuang said as she stood and left the cellar.
Left alone, Yanshui glanced at the old bronze mirror on the decrepit offering table. He noticed that since the mirror had absorbed the game he hunted as offerings, a small sapling had sprouted from it in just one day.
By his calculations, it would bloom and bear fruit in a few days.
When it produced its celestial fruit, he planned to offer one to Yantian to see if consuming it would enhance his cultivation progress.
If it worked, Yanshui would gain the benefit of both his sister's and Yantian's cultivation efforts, effectively amplifying his own progress.
Shaking off the thought, Yanshui picked up a book and carefully copied down everything his sister had explained earlier, word for word, without leaving out a single detail.
The days passed peacefully.
Yanshui remained in the village, hunting in Yunzhang Mountain with his black war bow. He regularly offered the game he hunted to the bronze mirror in the cellar.
When Yandong returned from his private school lessons, Yanshui often took him to Lizhai Valley to fish and catch shrimp, treating themselves to small feasts.
At night, Yanshui would listen to his sister recount more knowledge about the immortal world, carefully transcribing her teachings into a book.
The details about the Hundred Skills of Cultivation came from the blind Daoist of Sanqing Temple. According to him, the disciples of Sanqing Temple were particularly skilled in crafting talismans.
The Daoist had promised to teach the art of talisman crafting to Yanshuang and Yantian in the future.
However, for now, he instructed them to focus on their cultivation, as dividing their attention too early could hinder their progress.
Meanwhile, Yun Yunshan continued his usual work in the forge, crafting iron tools like plows for the clansmen to aid their farming.
Whenever disputes or conflicts arose among the clan, he would be the first to intervene, mediating and resolving issues.
To instill discipline and maintain order, Yun Yunshan proposed the establishment of a Clan Tribunal to his eldest brother. This tribunal would manage and oversee the behavior of the Yun clan, ensuring harmony within the family.
Naturally, Yun Yunshan became the first head of the tribunal.
Yun Yunyue, the second brother, spent his days training the younger and more physically capable clansmen in archery and martial arts.
Having previously run a martial arts school in town, it was no challenge for Yun Yunyue to train a group of skilled family warriors for the Yun clan.
To aid this effort, he had specifically requested funding from his elder brother to construct a dedicated training ground in the village. This included the purchase of weapons such as spears, bows, crossbows, sabers, and swords.
Meanwhile, Yun Yunyang, who oversaw the clan's finances, focused on improving the family's prosperity. He led efforts to clear and cultivate wasteland, as well as repairing and expanding the only road connecting Yun Village to the nearby town.
In addition, he established a weaving and dyeing workshop within the village, employing women skilled in sericulture and weaving. The fabrics and garments produced were transported to town for sale under his supervision.
As a seasoned businessman, Yun Yunyang had many connections in town and faced no difficulty in finding buyers for their products. The income generated helped improve the living conditions and homes of the Yun clan.
To ensure the safe transport of goods, Yun Yunyue and his trained warriors personally escorted the caravans.
Beneath the large willow tree outside Yun Village, the blind Daoist had become a figure of respect among the Yun clan.
The three brothers—Yun Yunyang, Yun Yunyue, and Yun Yunshan—often visited to greet him, bringing fine wine and delicacies. Their conversations were casual but carried a tone of gratitude.
The Daoist observed—or rather, sensed—the transformation taking place in the Yun clan since the three brothers had assumed leadership.
What had once been a modest and struggling family was now undergoing significant change, its fortunes steadily rising.
The Daoist couldn't help but admire the brothers' management abilities, despite their inability to cultivate. The only disappointment among them was Yun Yunfeng, the third brother.
Though Yun Yunfeng was no longer bullying villagers or engaging in petty theft thanks to his elder brother's strict oversight, he remained lazy and unwilling to work. Even when forced to help clear fields with the other villagers, he would shirk his duties whenever possible.
The Daoist, however, saw this as a family matter and refrained from intervening. His focus remained on recovering from his injuries and properly training his two disciples, ensuring the legacy of the Sanqing Temple was passed down fully to them.
"Master, I feel like the spiritual energy in my dantian is about to overflow," Yun Yanshuang said, opening her eyes slowly after meditating under the willow tree. She turned to the blind Daoist, who was enjoying his wine and meat nearby.
"Haha! As expected of my treasured disciple—you're about to break through," the Daoist replied with a hearty laugh.
"Break through?" Yanshuang asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"Yes. When your dantian's spiritual energy overflows, it signals a breakthrough.
"Next, you must use the Heart Sutra I taught you to compress and condense the overflowing spiritual energy.
"As the energy compresses into a fine thread, it will transform—becoming more refined and robust.
"At that point, you'll achieve a breakthrough, advancing from the first layer of the Fetal Breath Realm to the second layer," the Daoist explained patiently.
"Congratulations, Yanshuang," Yun Yantian said warmly, genuinely happy for his sister. He had been cultivating alongside her under the Daoist's guidance.
"Yantian, you're progressing quickly too! In just half a month of training with Master, you've already reached the first layer of the Fetal Breath Realm. You must be close to a breakthrough as well," Yanshuang said, encouraging him.
"Haha! Almost there. I'll need a few more days," Yantian replied with a smile.
"Keep at it, Yantian. I'll start condensing my spiritual energy and see if I can break through," Yanshuang said, closing her eyes again to focus.
To ensure no distractions interfered with Yanshuang's breakthrough, the Daoist waved his sleeve, creating an invisible barrier that enveloped her, isolating her from all external noise.
As the sun set, the Daoist sensed a shift in Yanshuang's aura.
The spiritual energy within her dantian had successfully condensed into a fine thread, stronger and more refined than it had been in the first layer of the Fetal Breath Realm.
"Truly exceptional talent—to achieve a breakthrough so quickly!" the Daoist murmured to himself, impressed by her rapid progress.