Chapter Fifteen: The Divine Method of Refining the Spirit (Happy Women’s Day to all our female readers)

Lu Shouyi had no energy to spare for Shen Lian, for cultivation was not a simple matter to him. He lacked a foundation, a basic understanding of the path of cultivation. The doctrine of Qingxuan stated, "To cultivate one’s conduct, one must first cultivate the heart." In this respect, Lu Shouyi, pure of heart, had no issues, which was why the sect master believed he would achieve great things in the future.

Yet, building a high tower requires a solid foundation, and laying such a foundation was not easy. Lu Shouyi had also learned a visualization technique: he was to picture the scene of "sun and moon together in the sky" within the spiritual sea of his heart. However, never having witnessed such a phenomenon, it was difficult for him to imagine it. Thus, four or five days passed, and aside from becoming disheveled and mentally exhausted, Lu Shouyi gained nothing at all.

Meanwhile, three more people gradually moved into the lower courtyard’s bamboo cottages. Shen Lian left early and returned late, spending his evenings visualizing the “primordial deity,” rooting his soul, and did not waste energy on the newcomers. He grew thinner by the day, his form gaunt as if his very bones showed through. The clarity in his eyes from before had faded, replaced by bloodshot exhaustion.

The Buddhist sutras say, "To become a Buddha or a great dragon-elephant, one must first serve as a horse or ox for all beings." This means those seeking enlightenment must attain it through trials amidst the suffering of the common world. Immortality, after all, is a natural fruit borne of the tree of life, whose roots are nourished by the myriad hardships of the mortal world. Even the gods and buddhas of the heavens are no different.

In past and present lives, Shen Lian had always sought comfort, yet for the first time, he found himself able to endure extraordinary pain for the sake of a single goal. The corrosive power of the Nether River still gnawed at his soul—the pain so deep that each time he climbed ashore, it was as if he had been reborn from hell itself. His once smooth and lustrous skin had grown sallow, his dark hair dry and brittle. Every ounce of fleshly essence he could spare went first to nourish his soul; only thus could he remain conscious.

Most immortal sects in the world first cultivate qi and then refine the spirit. Even the techniques Lu Shouyi had learned from the sect master were visualization methods to focus the mind, not to nurture the soul—meant to help him better study his assigned practice. Shen Lian, by contrast, directly refined his spirit, which was why the body’s previous owner had eventually suffered a deviation and lost control. Since his rebirth, Shen Lian had ceased using the “Supreme Purity Spiritual Treasure’s Natural Soul-Locking True Explanation,” a method that devoured the body’s essence to strengthen the soul. Now, he only visualized the primordial deity holding a ruyi scepter. Even so, the foundation laid before allowed him to reach the state where his soul could leave his body. Moreover, his fusion with the previous owner’s spirit had caused an alienation between his soul and flesh, making it even easier for his soul to depart the body than for others.

This, in the initial stages, seemed a blessing, but in the long run, it was a curse—unless Shen Lian abandoned his flesh altogether, taking Heaven and Earth as his dwelling and embarking upon the path of divinity. The Five-Pass Demon God followed such a path, though more aberrant—devouring human desires to strengthen the soul, which, though powerful, remained unstable.

The innate corrosiveness of the Nether River’s waters wounded Shen Lian’s soul deeply, yet in the struggle for survival, it forced an ever-closer bond between his form and spirit. It was like buying a second-hand house that never truly felt like home until the owner tore out the old decorations and renovated it according to his own will, making it his in truth. Only with a true home does the heart find peace.

Now, for the first time, Shen Lian felt genuine attachment to this life—not merely a shelter he could abandon at will. On the twenty-seventh day, he had gathered all thirty pieces of yin jade three days ahead of the deadline. When he found the final piece, he dragged himself ashore, every muscle trembling as he shook off the Nether River’s water.

His sandalwood sword had grown dark and lustrous, absorbing the river’s water day and night. Whenever Shen Lian held it, he sensed something strange, as if the sword itself had learned to breathe, inhaling and exhaling the vital energy of Heaven and Earth—growing heavier by the day. Yet, three days prior, the sword had stopped absorbing the river’s water, as if it were satiated.

Shen Lian handed the thirty pieces of yin jade to the sect master, whose name he now knew—Zhang Ruoxu. He was over six hundred years old, and it was said that two centuries ago, he had already reached the “Illusion Breaking” realm, the final threshold before immortality. There were countless cultivators in the world, but those who reached the Illusion Breaking realm were almost as rare as true immortals.

Learning this, Shen Lian respected Zhang Ruoxu all the more. It was a reverence for cultivation and a yearning for the fruits of the Dao. He was also deeply grateful to Zhang Ruoxu, who not only saw his flaws but also offered guidance. Now, Shen Lian had lost the ability to let his soul leave his body; his soul had weakened considerably, but his mind was clearer than ever in meditation.

Even though his soul was much diminished, Shen Lian felt stronger than he had ever been.

In the grand hall of Qingxuan, Zhang Ruoxu took the yin jade from Shen Lian and set it aside, looking at him with pleasure. This disciple was now in the “Aperture Activation” stage, yet his spirit and energy were solid and unyielding. The last time someone at this stage had impressed him so was Lu Jiuyuan of the Xuantian Sect, who was now recognized as the foremost figure below immortality.

Cultivators seek immortality, not out of a lust for violence, but as long as hearts remain, so do anger and desire. Without means to protect the Dao, immortality is but an empty dream.

“If it had been before, learning the ‘Purple Tenuity Cavern Mystery’ would indeed have suited you well. That method excels at divining fate, and combined with the ‘Great Unity Divine Art,’ it is highly beneficial for overcoming calamity and adversity. But in doing so, you would inevitably squander some of your current foundation.” Zhang Ruoxu’s feelings were mixed, but joy was predominant.

“Master, what do you think I should pursue next in my cultivation?” For one still finding his way, Shen Lian knew to seek the advice of those more experienced, and Zhang Ruoxu was indeed such a master. Without pretension, Shen Lian asked openly.

“I cannot say for certain. Your time in the Nether River has tempered your form and spirit exceedingly well; your body now possesses some qualities of the soul, and your soul some qualities of the body. You may not sense it now, at the ‘Aperture Activation’ stage, but when you next reach ‘Soul Departure,’ you will truly understand how different you are from others. What intrigues me most is what soul-refining method you used to undergo so many tempers in the Nether River and yet keep your soul’s root wholly intact.

Although I instructed you to gather thirty pieces of yin jade, I never truly expected you to succeed. It was meant as a lofty goal to push you to your limits. Had you failed, I would have intervened to save you. Yet you have exceeded all my expectations.” Zhang Ruoxu smiled slyly.

Shen Lian’s face darkened. This was not how the game was supposed to be played. His lack of understanding about cultivation left him unaware that if the Nether River were so effective for tempering form and spirit, someone from Qingxuan would have attempted it long ago. But damage to the soul is never easily repaired; without a supreme soul-refining method, even a robust soul would have had its foundation ruined.

In truth, Zhang Ruoxu had been secretly watching Shen Lian with the Mirror of Heaven and Earth all along, ready to intervene should his soul show any sign of collapse.

P.S. Thank you to Zhiyong for the 10,000 tip, making you the seventh helmsman of this book; to Benrenwo for the 1,888 tip; to the lurking demon for 688; to sanacheng for 588; to the teammate trapper for 600; to Wutong for 588; to Chatty Beijing for 588; to 674581909 for 588; to Linghaijingnian for 588; to Running Snail 007 for 588; to Laughing Wanderer for 200; and to Gaosangshu, The Legendary, Half-Day Ancient Moon Again, Fellow Readers Sleep Early, Laughing Wanderer, Ye Lixin, The Slacker and The Genius, Please, Call Me Li Bai, Cangwu Immortal, The Enlarged Golden Staff, Big Fish, Thousand Layer Pie, First Kiss Under Nightfall, nym_liu, Mi Nianle, Qiu Senmo, It Wasn’t Me, and Number 10086 for their rewards.

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