Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

In the current environment, there is no resistance while riding the Metal Element’s cloud and flying away.

Ji An’s speed is not fast. He sees many marks resembling knife cuts in the channel, the deepest being about half a finger deep.

These are traces left after the Spirit Tide outbreak, silently narrating the scenes of the past Gold Element Spiritual Mechanism rampage.

After a while, he encounters two cultivators standing side by side in the passage, about thirty meters straight distance from the ground.

”Fellow Daoist, please clear the way. I need to continue downward.”

The passage is not spacious, and two people standing in the middle occupy half of it.

As he speaks, he summons the Wuji Xinghuang Banner, with a yellow spirit light protecting his body, and golden flowers rippling all around him.

The reason is none other than caution.

If one were to surmise malicious intent in people’s hearts, should these two attack him, the time left for him to react would be very little, so using a Spiritual Artifact for protection is a wise choice.

A cultivator with a goatee slightly raises his eyebrow and says:

”Hehe, your vigilance is indeed strong. I have seen all cultivators who can withstand large-scale Spirit Tide outbreaks, and I haven’t seen you before. Is this your first time experiencing a large-scale Spirit Tide outbreak?”

He has been here for more than ten years, knowing most cultivators aligned with the Gu Clan who can endure massive Gold Element Spirit Tides.

Ji An nods, ”Yes, what advice do you have, fellow Daoist?”

”I wouldn’t presume to advise, many cultivators have shallow perceptions of the Metal Element and misjudge the situation.

The deepest part of this channel is about fifty meters from the ground, the Spirit Tide outbreak is akin to facing a strong Sword Cultivator’s attack.

If this is your first time experiencing such intensity, it’s best not to delve too deep.”

The goateed man says this, sticking to the stone wall of the channel to make way.

If one delves too deeply into the passage, during a Spirit Tide outbreak, there’d be no time to withdraw and one would have to bear it forcibly, and even a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact might not be able to withstand that ephemeral glow.

He has experienced seven or eight high-intensity Spirit Tide outbreaks and deeply understands their terrifying nature, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it’s like a thousand arrows piercing the heart.

”Thank you for the reminder,” Ji An said with a smile, it’s remarkable for someone to say such things given their lack of connection.

If he were in such a situation, he wouldn’t bother saying much, everyone must take responsibility for their choices.

He solemnly bows in thanks, then continues to dive deeper while riding the clouds.

After Ji An leaves, the goateed man shakes his head and sighs lightly, ”Ah, it seems one won’t realize until they stumble.”

The cultivator beside him sneers and says:

”Why sigh, old friend? Trying to counsel a doomed ghost is difficult, mercy cannot save those who have chosen their end.

It’s not persuasion but the brick wall that awakens the world, battering till one bleeds teaches one a lesson. We were the same in our youth!

Just a passerby, no need to disturb our mood.”

Despite some cultivators being positioned deeper, once the Spirit Tide bursts, everyone will retreat, eventually all exiting the passage.

With shallow understanding of the Metal Element, one can only grind slowly through this stupid method, gradually experiencing what the ultimate Metal means through firsthand encounters, thus comprehending Gold Generating Water.

...

Ji An flies downward, encountering three more cultivators in succession before reaching the deepest layer of the passage.

Here are several massive cracks, half a foot wide, with intense Gold Element Spiritual Qi swirling within.

He senses the vigorous Spiritual Mechanism and nods slightly, closing his eyes to carefully perceive the changes within.

Possessing a top-grade Metal Dao Seed and a middle-grade Xin Metal Dao Seed, he holds a significant advantage over others.

Ji An silently chants in his heart, ”The Five Elements are a nature, a form in the energy transformation.”

The energy remains the same, as the so-called Five Elements Mutual Generation refers to achieving transformation from one form to another.

The Five Elements undergo transformation due to the Yin-Yang transformation.

With Yin turbid and Yang clear, when Yin-Yang is balanced, this nature is stable.

When Yin and Yang are unbalanced, they separate, Yang ascends and Yin descends, only then does transformation from one form to another occur.

These simple words encapsulate his years of understanding.

Upon this thought, he suddenly recalls the Three Levels of Zen Meditation proposed by Qingyuan Xingsi, a Zen master from the Song Dynasty.

First level: To see mountains as mountains, to see water as water;

At first encountering, one accepts appearances from a pure, uncomplicated perspective, judging by appearances conveys this meaning.

Second level: To see mountains not as mountains, to see water not as water;

With accumulation of experience and knowledge, one begins to question appearances and explore the essence, understanding some things yet truly understanding nothing, thus falling into self-doubt.

Third level: To see mountains still as mountains, to see water still as water;

Returning to authenticity after enlightenment, transcending appearances and obsessions with a clear mind, understanding complexity yet accepting the essence with a reverted simple attitude.

Ji An feels that even though understanding the Five Elements Mutual Generation, the realm he’s in is merely the second level.

Different cognition leads to different perspectives.

”The Dao that can be described is not the true Dao, cultivation is also called cultivation of truth, preserving truth and discarding falsehood, this should permeate the cultivator’s life.”

He collects his thoughts, extends his Divine Sense, spreading it like tendrils to perceive the changes in the Metal Element Qi.

Ji An stands with his legs apart, shoulder-width, lifting both hands gradually from the navel to the chest, looking upward, retracting his neck, slowly moving his hands forward.

This is the step for Golden Eating and Qi Circulation, he exhales producing the sound ”xi,” followed by a natural inhale.

Subsequently, a strand of Metal Qi is swallowed into the abdomen, causing silver light to shine in the Lung’s Golden Mansion within the body.

Ji An falls into deep thought, merging his aura with the surrounding environment.

As time flows, he feels a change in the Metal Element that converges Divine Intent, akin to bubbles emerging in a calm pond.