Chapter 108: The Art of Physical Cultivation

“Qingyun Sect is said to have one hall, two treasures, three peaks, four rivers, and five cave heavens. The one hall is where the sect leader resides; the two treasures refer to the sect’s revered artifacts—the Mountain Guardian Formation and the Spirit Severing Blade.”

Along a rocky mountain path shrouded in mist, two figures walked slowly, one following the other.

A little girl dressed in simple red cloth held a roasted beast leg in her hand, savoring each bite as she gazed at the cloud-wreathed peaks around them. Her voice, tinged with youthful innocence, drifted softly:

“The three peaks are Tianyuan, Zining, and Lingxiao, each named after the three sect elders’ Dao titles.”

“Then what about the four rivers and five cave heavens?” Lu Daolin, walking behind, looked toward Ji Yao ahead, his eyes glimmering with curiosity. After noting her earlier words, he asked.

“The four rivers are four tributaries, each ending in a secret realm rich in spiritual energy, created by the sect’s founding master for disciple cultivation,” Ji Yao explained, pointing toward a distant azure lake. “That’s Qingyun Lake. At the ends of its four tributaries lie the four secret realms. These four realms are the only places where disciples may compete amongst themselves. As long as no disciple dies, even the masters and sect leader will not interfere.”

“As for the five cave heavens, that relates to the other four great sects beyond Qingyun,” she continued after taking a thoughtful bite of her meat. “The land we stand on is called Tianlan, vast and unified under the five great sects, Qingyun being one of them. Each sect has one inheritance secret realm and possesses tokens to other sects’ secret realms. However, opening any secret realm requires all five tokens to be gathered. Next year, the Lingyun Sect’s realm will open; the year after, ours should.”

“Why is opening the secret realms so complicated?” Lu Daolin asked, puzzled by the explanation.

“That’s beyond what I know. If you want to understand, you might find clues in the Scripture Pavilion. But with your current cultivation, it’s best to focus on your practice. Many things are not for you to know yet.”

Ji Yao, still munching on the beast leg, gave a faint reply and fell silent. Soon, the sound of flowing water reached their ears, and the two arrived at a place of extraordinary beauty.

Looking closely, they found themselves in a valley surrounded on three sides by verdant mountains draped with lush greenery. Nestled within was a magnificent three-story pavilion adorned in gold and jade. Behind the pavilion, cascading down a nearby mountain face, hung a massive waterfall. Flanking the pavilion were cliffs resembling broken precipices, and below lay a sizeable lake. Atop the pavilion, a golden plaque bore the characters "Scripture Pavilion" written in flowing calligraphy.

“What a magnificent sight…” Lu Daolin’s heart stirred profoundly. Such artistry seemed beyond mortal craftsmanship.

“Let’s go in,” Ji Yao said, noticing his amazement. She turned and walked toward the pavilion. “The first floor holds cultivation methods; the second, classic texts; the third is off-limits even to inheritance disciples. The sect has few rules, but none should be lightly broken.”

“I understand, Senior Sister,” Lu Daolin nodded and followed her inside.

A humming sound filled the air as the door opened, and a flash of white light enveloped them as they stepped inside.

“Wow…” Lu Daolin’s eyes widened. The pavilion’s interior space was far larger than it appeared outside. Countless wooden shelves lined the rooms, each holding numerous books.

“Tokens,” a cold female voice suddenly spoke beside them.

Turning, they saw a translucent woman in azure robes floating silently in the void. Her eyes were as cold and unyielding as ancient ice, her stunning beauty emanating an aura that kept others at a distance.

“Show the tokens your master gave you,” Ji Yao said, flipping her palm to reveal a white jade token, then instructed Lu Daolin.

Without hesitation, Lu Daolin retrieved a token of the same material from his bosom.

“Inheritance disciples may remain on the first and second floors; stepping onto the third will result in expulsion,” the cold voice declared, scanning their tokens before fading away.

“Who was that?” Lu Daolin frowned, puzzled. Before he could say more, Ji Yao’s youthful voice interjected:

“She’s the spirit of the Mountain Guardian Formation. Don’t worry about it—just pick your cultivation methods.”

Lu Daolin nodded and began to browse the countless shelves.

“Heaven Severing Sword Technique, Thunderfire Secret Method…”

After about half an hour, his eyes grew weary. He glanced back at Ji Yao and smiled wryly.

“Senior Sister, most of these cultivation methods are extraordinary. My experience is still shallow—please advise me.”

“Huh?” Ji Yao seemed surprised but after a moment’s thought, her eyes sparkled with pride and a faint ethereal aura surrounded her. In a mature tone, she said:

“If you’re sincere, I shall guide you. Everyone in the sect has a method for cultivation. Why not start with a body refining technique? When your power grows, you can return here to choose again.”

“Very well,” Lu Daolin agreed after quick consideration. Together, they moved toward the section housing body refinement manuals.

“Thunder Body Scroll, Asura Classic… Blood Condensation Scripture…”

Lu Daolin’s gaze lingered thoughtfully on the books. Hesitating briefly, he began flipping through them.

“The Thunder God’s Body is indestructible… it constantly draws heavenly lightning, rendering one immortal… can forge a heavenly thunder form impervious to all.”

“Asura’s Body is unafraid of calamity lightning… invincible, unshakable… forged by fusing beast blood to form demonic skin, enhancing strength—only for the highly advanced.”

“Such reckless methods… though powerful…” Lu Daolin clicked his tongue, feeling uneasy. After a pause, he turned to the Blood Condensation Scripture.

“Blood stains the azure sky with a triumphant laugh, ten directions of immortals and gods cut down by a single sword. Twelve forms, each slaying evil! One blood moves heaven and earth; one form destroys ten thousand demons!”

“This method condenses one’s blood energy to strengthen the body… twelve forms, but this scroll shows only six… Could it be incomplete?”

After skimming, Lu Daolin noticed only six techniques remained. He hesitated briefly before looking to Ji Yao.

“Senior Sister, this method seems good. I’ll take this one.”

Lu Daolin’s choice had reason. The body refinement methods here were either self-destructive or bizarrely sinister, despite their claimed strength. Only this Blood Condensation Scripture seemed grand and truly formidable. Though incomplete, it was better to advance steadily and seek further methods later.

“Why choose an incomplete scroll? If you like it, take it,” Ji Yao said oddly, glancing at him as she resumed eating her meat leg and headed for the exit.

Lu Daolin smiled faintly, carefully stowing the scripture before following her out.

“The three main peaks I mentioned before: Lingxiao Peak cultivators mostly focus on swordsmanship; Zining Peak specializes in sorcery. Both have thousands of disciples, divided into inner and outer peaks, core and inheritance ranks.”

Leaving the Scripture Pavilion, Ji Yao led Lu Daolin toward a cluster of mountains that seemed unusually majestic and imposing.

“Senior Sister, is Tianyuan Peak different?” Lu Daolin asked, his mind sharp enough to sense something.

“Hmm…” Ji Yao replied softly, falling silent for a moment. A somber expression crossed her face, and her voice came low and distant:

“Our Tianyuan Peak… once you stay long enough, perhaps you’ll understand…”

Lu Daolin studied Ji Yao’s troubled look, reflecting quietly before nodding.

Soon they reached a refined cliffside cave dwelling, spotless as if recently tidied. The path had grown increasingly desolate, with no one in sight upon arrival.

Ji Yao left a scripture behind and departed swiftly. Watching her go, Lu Daolin’s eyes gleamed with thought as he murmured:

“Master should have informed me after giving the elixir… but to be so earnest with me upon first meeting… Ji Yao and Master seem strange… Could it be related to the mysterious mountain?”

“Well…” After a long pause, Lu Daolin shook his head with a wry smile, guilt softening his features as he spoke softly:

“No matter their motives, they have set me on the path of immortality and gifted my village elder a precious elixir. I should be grateful. Such suspicion is premature…”

“Never imagined, in just one day, I, Lu Daolin, could become a cultivator…”

He glanced at the scripture Ji Yao left and his eyes brightened as his breath quickened:

“Qi Condensation Scroll…”

“Life is but an ant’s, yet one must harbor lofty ambitions! Fate is fragile as paper, yet the heart must be unyielding! Mortals seeking power, cultivators desiring freedom—enter Qingyun Sect! I, Qingyun Daoist, impart this teaching!”

“The nine layers of qi condensation, the path of the immortal spirit…”

Reading the opening page, Lu Daolin felt his spirit tremble. One who spoke so grandly was surely no ordinary person.

He looked closely: the signature read Qingyun Daoist.

After thoroughly studying the scripture, Lu Daolin sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. The gray vortex at his dantian slowly turned, as the surrounding spiritual energy gently flowed into his body.

“Wait!” Suddenly, Lu Daolin’s eyes snapped open. He scrambled through his belongings and pulled out a jade pendant of unknown gray material. His expression grew serious as he whispered:

“The curse of Blood Nightmare Peak won’t vanish without cause. Back then, a sacred force surged into me…”

He hesitated briefly, then followed the scripture’s method, channeling his spiritual energy into the pendant. Nothing happened.

“Perhaps it needs a blood imprint…”

Biting his finger, he smeared blood onto the pendant.

A deep, ancient hum echoed. A flash of white light enveloped him, and the surroundings shifted dramatically.

Above, the sky was divided: one side pure and holy, the other stained with blood clouds.

Beneath the boundless heavens, countless white and blood-colored figures clashed endlessly. Roaring explosions erupted, and terrifying energy waves engulfed Lu Daolin.

Sensing the aura of either pure holiness or overwhelming fury from those figures, a storm of emotion surged within him.

Such a spectacle was beyond words—utterly breathtaking!

Boom!

Amidst his shock, a thunderous roar tore through the air.

Looking up, Lu Daolin saw a bronze coffin falling from the sky, smashing into the ground with earth-shaking force.

Above it hovered a woman in ancient attire, her blue-green qipao fluttering, three thousand strands of white hair dancing in the wind.

Her eyes held the dissolution of countless stars, and an overwhelming aura pulsed around her. The bronze coffin radiated fierce azure light.

As the light shifted, a sudden white flash appeared, followed by a piercing, agonizing scream.

When the vision faded, pale white mist filled the air. The half-white, half-blood sky had turned gray.

No life remained in the area—not a single soul, not even a corpse.

Only the white-haired woman stood silently overhead. Raising her hand, she gathered the mist, her cold murmur reaching Lu Daolin’s ears:

“The primal energies of immortals and demons…”

The vision slowly dissipated, leaving behind a strange, sinister mist before Lu Daolin’s eyes.

At the same time, far away by a riverside cottage, a handsome young man stood quietly.

In front of him, three white-robed figures knelt, seemingly awaiting orders.

“First day in the sect and already an inheritance disciple of Tianyuan Peak—is this news reliable?” After a long pause, the youth opened his eyes slowly, his voice cool but shining with unprecedented intensity. To him, such a newcomer rising so quickly was inconceivable.

Yet if that person possessed unparalleled talent, it might be plausible.

But such unmatched talent was rare indeed.

Thinking this, the youth shook his head slowly.