Starting Cultivation During a Trip

”High Skill is a monumental achievement. Only those who reach this realm can be considered truly enlightened and destined to become Immortals.” Bai Buran spoke in a deep, gentle voice.

If the Daoist Sect’s realms are divided into ten levels, then there are three major barriers.

”Three major barriers!?” Zhang Fan was puzzled.

”Exactly.” Bai Buran nodded in affirmation.

”Recovering Primordial Spirit, Lowering True Fate, Crossing the Calamity Tribulation…”

”These are the three major barriers among the ten realms.”

”I humbly ask for your instruction, Boss.” Zhang Fan inquired respectfully.

”Recovering Primordial Spirit is the first barrier encountered in the Initial Movement stage—one must restrain the Consciousness, awaken the Primordial Spirit, only then can true cultivation begin.”

”Some people’s thoughts are chaotic, their Consciousness restless—even if you teach them to Embrace Unity and Guard Silence, it’s still hard for them to sense the Primordial Spirit, let alone recover it.” Bai Buran sighed.

Back then, Xia Weisheng broke through the first major barrier in only three days, entered meditation and gazed into the void, saw his Primordial Spirit, and after forty-nine cycles, was able to achieve Out-of-Body Experience—he was praised as an unparalleled genius.

Modern people’s emotions are much stronger, their minds more scattered; just this first barrier eliminates the vast majority—ninety-nine out of a hundred.

”Cultivation truly isn’t for everyone.” Zhang Fan nodded.

He had long since passed the first barrier; no need to dwell on it.

”The second barrier, Lowering True Fate, corresponds to the High Skill realm…” Bai Buran intoned solemnly.

”If you wish to step into High Skill, you must return your fate through True Descent.”

”What does Returning to Life by Lowering True Fate mean?” Zhang Fan couldn’t help but ask.

”Primordial Spirit is innately possessed, but born into this Red Dust, once you eat grains and food, you’re tainted by mortal filth and become Postnatal.” Bai Buran’s voice deepened.

”The secret of cultivation hinges upon one word: ’Reverse.’”

If you can cultivate to the Spirit Department level, your Primordial Spirit is strong, True Yang abundant, your body powerful, then you can reverse the flow of life, turning Postnatal back to Innate.”

”Primordial Spirit Baptism!?” Zhang Fan pondered, speaking in a low voice.

Bai Buran’s eyes lit up at these words, then nodded approvingly.

”That’s more or less the idea.”

”Baptism of the Primordial Spirit, like nurturing an infant in the womb—a rebirth.” Bai Buran’s tone was grave.

No wonder High Skill is so extraordinary, called the crucial watershed in Daoist cultivation.

Those who enter this kind of realm, after the Primordial Spirit’s baptism and cleansing of Postnatal filth, transform and transcend—though it’s only a step away from Spirit Department, the difference is vast as heaven and earth.

”How can this be accomplished?” Zhang Fan pressed.

This is the key technique, the secret of cultivation.

”Agarwood!” Bai Buran’s lips parted gently, uttering three words.

”The Daoist Sect’s First Incense!?”

Zhang Fan had read in the Dao Secret Record that Agarwood was used as the first incense in ancient Daoist ceremonies—the head incense, supreme, fit for worshipping Heaven.

As the saying goes, Agarwood rises from the Daoist Sect, its smoke ascends directly to the Ninth Heaven; in broad daylight it summons cranes with mystical calls, bringing down all True Immortals to cultivate.

It’s said that burning this incense can reach the heavens and summon the Immortals above.

”One stick of True Incense ascends to Heaven; all demons and monsters retreat and hide. Those of high Dao Skill gaze into mysteries, and through descent return their fate, proclaimed by the Jade Emperor.” Bai Buran murmured softly.

Light up Agarwood, summon the True Ones, baptize the Primordial Spirit—if you can transform and transcend, you enter the High Skill realm.

The second major barrier, Returning to Life by True Descent, also known as Lowering True Fate, draws its name from this.

”The risk is very high.” Bai Buran’s voice turned grave.

The Primordial Spirit is subtle; the slightest miscalculation brings mortal danger, let alone during the True Descent baptism.

Since ancient times, too many dazzling talents failed to cross this barrier—perished in Agarwood smoke; even those who survive, their Primordial Spirit often suffers greatly—some go mad, some are ruined for life.

Yet, if you can endure it, and your Primordial Spirit transforms, you gain the wonder of returning to Innate.

When the incense brings descending Immortal Cranes, only those of High Skill manifest this sign.

”Immortal Crane?” Zhang Fan was taken aback.

”Not a real Immortal Crane, but Outer Scenery.” Bai Buran intoned.

The Immortal Crane, in ancient China, not only symbolized longevity, but was also a messenger between the Immortal Realm and the Mortal World; mortals ascended riding cranes, Immortals descended atop cranes; the crane, ethereal and mystical, links ’Immortal’ with ’Mortal.’

Legend has it the Ancestral Master of White Crane Temple ascended in broad daylight, riding a crane to the heavens; the name White Crane Temple comes from this.

They say that in Agarwood’s smoke, those who pass their Primordial Spirit’s baptism, return to True Fate, and step into High Skill, may witness the sign of Descending Crane—the more cranes that descend, the higher your cultivation and achievement.

”Boss, this Agarwood…” Zhang Fan hesitated to speak.

Although it could be bought online, the so-called Agarwood sold there clearly isn’t the real thing.

The genuine Agarwood is a secret of the Daoist Sect, precious beyond measure; each sect and school has their own kind, even refined specially to match a person’s Inner Core Technique.

”You practice the Inner Core Technique of North and South Sect Origin, right? I can put in a word for you with Zhenwu Mountain.” Bai Buran said gravely.

”Agarwood is precious, but since you’ve asked, Zhenwu Mountain should be able to prepare it for you.”

”Mmm.” Zhang Fan nodded.

He did indeed cultivate North and South Sect Origin, but before entering Great Night, he practiced Divine Demon Holy Embryo; he wasn’t sure if the Agarwood Zhenwu Mountain custom-made for him would really work.

”No need to rush such matters, even with Agarwood, don’t be hasty.” Bai Buran cautioned.

Returning to Life by True Descent is no small matter—a slight misstep and your Dao Practice is lost. Many hesitate, preparing ten, twenty, even thirty years, yet never muster the resolve to cross that threshold.

”Cultivation is just too hard.” Zhang Fan couldn’t help but say.

”That’s pure nonsense coming from you.”

Bai Buran shot Zhang Fan a look; who the hell manages to break through from Qi Worker to Spirit Department in just three or four months? If that counts as hard, how can anyone else be expected to live!?