I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World

Chapter 23: Chapter 14: Wholehearted Pursuit of the Dao

The still night was deep, with a light mist floating.

In the tranquil Qingyou Courtyard, Jiang Yuebai sat on a small stool, holding a jade scroll to her forehead, reading the cultivation technique.

Tao Fengnian sat behind her, dipping a comb in water and gently untangling her frizzy long hair.

Jiang Yuebai’s head tilted back with each tug, but her mind was completely absorbed in the jade scroll.

Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, there are five cultivation techniques in total.

The Five Elements Path corresponds to the five internal organs, the five senses, and the five emotions, five seasons, five tastes, five colors, five directions, containing the Great Dao of the universe.

The ”Five Elements Returning to Truth Skill (Qi Refining Chapter)” describes the method of channeling Five Element Spiritual Energy to temper the five internal organs and the five senses.

When practicing individually, each technique can complete a small circulation on its own.

When co-cultivating, one must first entry into each of the five techniques, forming a Five Elements Qi Vortex like the Metal Qi Vortex.

Then, connect the five small circulations into a grand circulation, allowing energy to traverse the entire body.

Nourishing the organs, refining the bones and blood, smoothing the muscles and skin, and clearing the five senses.

For Jiang Yuebai, entering each of the five techniques individually is not difficult, as long as she remembers the positions of acupoints and meridians, and patiently performs Qi Circulation.

The challenge lies in the transformation of the Five Elements Mutual Generation, such as the nourishment of the lungs by Gold Element Spiritual Energy. When it passes from the lungs to the kidneys, the Gold Element Spiritual Energy must transform into Water Spiritual Energy, and the same applies to other areas, to complete one grand circulation.

Although this method is difficult, it made Jiang Yuebai’s heart surge with passion.

According to the summary of the cultivation technique, once one comprehends the transformation of the Five Elements Mutual Generation and applies it skillfully, different attributes of spiritual energy can be transformed into the required attribute in an instant.

In this way, when her Gold Element Spiritual Energy is insufficient, she can completely transform the other four elements into gold, making her Five Spirit Roots as strong as a Single Spiritual Root, but five times more powerful.

This cultivation method, when performing one grand circulation, takes more time and effort than other techniques, but the results are extremely enticing.

Only in the transformation of the Five Elements Mutual Generation, she couldn’t find the method.

Fortunately, Tao Fengnian had already considered the difficulties and switched her to the ”Five Elements Reincarnation Technique.”

This contains many tips and techniques for transforming the Five Elements, as well as clear and simple analysis of the Five Elements Path.

Jiang Yuebai believed that as long as she studied diligently and tried frequently, she would eventually grasp a method suitable for her.

It seemed that tomorrow the Dharma Hall would have a lecture on the Five Elements Daoist Technique, so Jiang Yuebai quickly found the lecture schedule.

[7:15 AM, Elder Lii Jiuchuan of the Ten Thousand Laws Hall, an introduction to the generation and restraint of the Five Elements]

Jiang Yuebai’s eyes brightened; it was a Golden Core Stage Elder giving the lecture, not an Inner Sect Foundation Establishment Disciple.

Moreover, the ”Five Elements Reincarnation Technique” was written by Lii Jiuchuan!

Jiang Yuebai decided to quickly go through the entire ”Five Elements Reincarnation Technique” overnight, striving to memorize it to avoid not understanding the lesson tomorrow.

She must also arrive early tomorrow, so she can ask Elder Lii a few questions before the class begins; the opportunity is rare.

”Tomorrow it’s Elder Lii’s lecture, so you must attend and listen carefully.”

Jiang Yuebai turned her head but was pressed down by Tao Fengnian, who tied a red string in her hair.

”The Ten Thousand Laws Hall is where the Heavenly Interence Sect innovates and researches various paths, and Elder Lii is also a Five Spirit Roots cultivator. Back when he reached Foundation Establishment, he once topped the strength rankings. While it usually takes at least fifty years for an ordinary cultivator to reach Core Formation after Foundation Establishment, he went from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation in just thirty years, achieving a First Grade Elixir Formation, which is simply unbelievable.”

”He was also a hot figure within the sect at the time, and even the Supreme Elder considered taking him as a disciple. But three hundred years ago, he was seriously injured while resisting the Ghost Tide at the Netherworld Sea. It is said that he has no hope of reaching Nascent Soul, so he stayed in the Ten Thousand Laws Hall to pursue the Five Elements Path.”

”He is gentle and always advocated within the sect that Five Spirit Roots are the true Heavenly Spirit Root. Over the years, he has guided many Five Spirit Roots disciples in Foundation Establishment, but unfortunately, none have reached the Golden Core Realm like him. Alright, see how it looks.”

Tao Fengnian handed over a bronze mirror, reflecting Jiang Yuebai’s hair styled in a double bun, cute and delicate like a child under the Daoist Ancestor.

”Why a double bun? My mother said it’s safest for a girl alone outside to dress like a boy.” Jiang Yuebai pouted.

Tao Fengnian said, ”In the Cultivation Realm, little emphasis is placed on gender difference, so you don’t need to worry.”

”Really?” Jiang Yuebai’s eyes sparkled.

Tao Fengnian nodded, ”Indeed, though cultivators come from the Mortal World, some carry mortal traditions of male superiority for some time. But Yun Country is relatively free in this regard; there are female officials and generals in the court. Cang Country is more conservative, where women aren’t allowed to show themselves in public.”

”But in the Cultivation Realm, the higher the cultivation, the less gender matters, only strength does. Our sect’s founder, Lu Xingyun, was like this. When she appeared in the Three Realms, she was unmatched, and the breathtaking Wind Chasing Sword Monarch from Guiyuan Sword Sect devotedly loved Lu Xingyun for three thousand years, even changing his honorific to Chasing Cloud.”

”The Chasing Cloud Sword Lord even said he’d willingly serve Lu Xingyun as a servant. Such statements are not criticized in the Cultivation Realm, simply because Lu Xingyun’s prowess deserves admiration; to serve is an honor too.”

Jiang Yuebai was full of interest, ”What happened later? Did Lu Xingyun and the Chasing Cloud Sword Lord end up together?”

Tao Fengnian smiled, ”The Chasing Cloud Sword Lord had intentions, but Lu Xingyun had no feelings. Her heart was solely devoted to the Great Dao, with no room for romance.”

Jiang Yuebai nodded excitedly, ”I also want to be like the sect’s founder, pursuing only the Great Dao!”

Tao Fengnian’s eyes lit up slightly and he quickly agreed, ”That’s indeed the way, but grandpa is telling you this, hoping you won’t belittle yourself because of your gender. May it be that you choose not to wear a double bun because you don’t like it, rather than fearing others finding out you’re a girl.”

Jiang Yuebai looked at herself in the mirror again, ”It’s not pretty, looks like ox horns, moo~~”

”Haha, you youngster, alright, alright, grandpa will change it to a Daoist bun for you.”

After some adjustments, Jiang Yuebai’s head sported a neat Daoist bun, and Tao Fengnian took out a simple wooden hairpin, threading it into her bun.

A cool aura emanated from the wood pin, clearing Jiang Yuebai’s mind.

”This is an Enlightened Mind Hairpin, may you gain enlightenment and maintain humility in the future.”

Jiang Yuebai touched the wooden hairpin on her head, meeting her true nature with humility and prudence, she liked the meaning and would remember the words.

Early the next day, Tao Fengnian personally piloted a paper crane to take Jiang Yuebai to the bottom of Heavenly Full Peak, chattering along the way.

He repeatedly urged her to never disclose her root value and breakthrough time to others, to be cautious even when indirectly questioned.

”I know, I know, root value and breakthrough time, even if a knife is at my neck, I won’t tell, better to die than to say!”

As soon as the paper crane landed, Jiang Yuebai ran off, not looking back and just casually waving her hand, leaving Tao Fengnian’s words unfinished, and even forgetting to take the rice balls he prepared.

Yet, she did not forget to take the talismans he prepared for her.

”I’ll come to pick you up after class.”

Tao Fengnian earnestly called out, but only the echoes of the empty valleys responded. Holding the rice balls, he felt a hollow loss inside.

Returning to Huaxi Valley, he ran into Song Pei’er with Lv Ying.

Seeing Tao Fengnian’s melancholic look, Song Pei’er knew he had risen at dawn to send Jiang Yuebai to class and teased him.

”Elder Tao, you’ve not just taken an apprentice; it seems you’ve raised a granddaughter, personally teaching and escorting her. What kind of apprentice never has to do any work?”

Tao Fengnian replied in a muffled voice, ”She is my granddaughter!”

After speaking, he walked past, unbending.

Song Pei’er chuckled, then saw her own apprentice Lv Ying stretching her neck to look toward Heavenly Full Peak, full of envy.

”You want to go to the Dharma Hall too?”

Lv Ying twisted her clothes’ corner and nodded timidly.

Song Pei’er rolled her eyes teasingly, ”Then go yourself, I’m not taking you; there’s work to do in the fields.”

Lv Ying was overjoyed and dashed out of the valley.