Chapter 15: Initial Practice of Qi Cultivation, The Difficulty of Achieving Sitting in Oblivion

Jiang Youling steadied herself, knowing that for a skill like this, there were no shortcuts; only constant practice could lead to mastery.

She composed herself and brought the blade down again.

"Scritch—" It went crooked again.

She practiced more, and it went crooked again.

Jiang Youling spent the entire day practicing. By the time work ended at the hour of Shen (3:00–5:00 PM), the green elm tree had been ruined beyond recognition.

The trunk was covered in dense, messy knife marks. Forget about peeling off a complete piece of bark; she hadn't even managed to remove a piece the size of a fingernail.

She felt a little discouraged, but quickly cheered herself up.

It was only the first day, after all. Take it slow; no need to rush.

After calming her mind, Jiang Youling headed to the dining hall after work, where she ran into Shen Yingshu, who had also just finished her shift.

"Youling!"

Shen Yingshu waved at her, drawing side-glances from others.

Remembering the rule against loud noises in the dining hall, she quickly covered her mouth with her hand and lowered her head, feeling guilty.

A faint smile appeared on Jiang Youling’s lips as she walked over quickly.

The two ate their evening meal in silence. As soon as they left the dining hall, Shen Yingshu couldn't wait to share what she had seen.

"A senior sister took me to tour the Alchemy Courtyard today. From sorting herbs and lighting the furnace to refining and forming pills, I saw the whole process. Alchemy is so interesting!

"The senior sister also said that since new disciples like me haven't entered the Dao yet, we start with chores like chopping wood. Once we enter the Dao in three months, she’ll teach me how to identify spiritual herbs..."

Shen Yingshu chattered on the whole way, only asking at the end, "Right, Youling, did you tour the Talisman Courtyard today? Is making talismans as fun as alchemy?"

Jiang Youling thought for a moment. "The senior sister took me to the Talisman Courtyard, but she didn't explain it in such detail. She gave me a task: to make ten sheets of talisman paper every month."

Shen Yingshu frowned. "Making talisman paper? That sounds really hard!"

"It’s bound to be a bit difficult at first. Once I get the hang of it in a few days, it shouldn't be hard anymore."

Shen Yingshu nodded. "I suppose the rules are just different for each courtyard. We’re all new disciples who haven't entered the Dao yet; I imagine no one would intentionally make things difficult for us."

Jiang Youling nodded. "Let’s go, let’s head back quickly. We haven't read the *Introduction to Qi Cultivation* that was handed out this morning. And we should read the *Xuanmen Rules and Precepts* too, so we don't accidentally break any rules."

Hearing this, Shen Yingshu felt a bit restless, though she said, "Without a master’s guidance, I’m afraid we won't understand it just by reading it ourselves, right?"

"We have to read it anyway. 'Read a book a hundred times, and its meaning will reveal itself.' If we can read the entire *Introduction to Qi Cultivation* until we know it by heart, won't everything become clear once the immortals give their lectures on the first and fifteenth of the month?"

Shen Yingshu nodded vigorously and quickened her pace. "That makes sense."

The two hurried back to their room, put down their things, and began to read.

Opening the first page, they saw the introduction

"The beginning of cultivating the Dao lies in stilling the thoughts; when thoughts are stilled, the spirit condenses; when the spirit condenses, Qi is born.

A single lamp of the heart illuminates the profound mystery; when the waves of the sea of delusions are flat, the true self is revealed."

After ruminating on it twice, Jiang Youling turned the page.

"The path of cultivation begins with stilling thoughts. If delusional thoughts fly, the spirit and Qi will scatter; only when the heart is like still water can one see the mysterious gate.

Choose a quiet room with a bright window and sit on a meditation cushion. Keep the spine straight like a pine, tuck the chin as if holding a pill, and press the tongue against the upper palate. Sit in the lotus position; those who are poor can sit cross-legged. Form the 'Zi-Wu Interlocking Seal' with your hands: press the left thumb against the Wu position and hook the right thumb around the Zi position, placing them naturally against the Dantian.

First, exhale turbid air through the mouth three times, slowly, like an autumn leaf leaving a branch;

Then, breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth, gradually becoming silent and soundless. When the breath becomes long and steady, forget the breath itself, as if it were spring water flowing on its own.

(Annotation: The method of breathing is of great importance; new disciples require a master to provide guidance at their side.)

Close your eyes and visualize a green lamp appearing in the center of the chest. Its light is warm and gentle, like the moon reflecting on a cold pool; its flame is steady, like an ancient well without ripples. When distracting thoughts arise, simply recite the True Incantation of Purity; do not chase them, do not reject them.

(Warning: If you see strange lights or illusions, immediately click your teeth together thirty-six times.)"

The following pages contained illustrations of disciples meditating, as well as an analysis of the Zi-Wu positions.

Jiang Youling continued to flip through.

"The first seven days of cultivation Upon waking in the morning, there is clear light in the eyes, and dark rooms become bright; During meditation, the Hand Taiyin meridian appears, like viewing a stream through mist; A faint sound of wind is heard by the ears, seeming both far and near.

After four periods of nine days of diligence The heart lamp shines brightly, illuminating the internal organs; The twelve regular meridians are clearly distinguishable; The Dantian feels warm and melted, as if embracing the sun’s harmony..."

They read until the hour of Xu (7:00–9:00 PM). As the sky grew dark, the words on the page became difficult to see.

Jiang Youling closed the book. Recalling the diagrams she had just seen, she formed the Zi-Wu seal with her hands and assumed the meditation posture.

Before long, her legs ached unbearably, and her spine slumped forward unconsciously.

As for the methods of breathing, entering stillness, and visualization, she couldn't find the way in at all.

It seems that one truly does need a master to provide guidance!

With no results from self-study, she would just have to wait for the first and fifteenth of the month to listen to the immortals' lectures.

Jiang Youling simply stretched out her legs, let out a huge yawn, and went to sleep.

At the beginning of the hour of Mao (5:00–7:00 AM) the next day, Jiang Youling was already up.

She practiced boxing twice in the courtyard and stood in a horse stance for an hour until the sky began to brighten.

Shen Yingshu pushed the door open while yawning, but upon seeing the person in the courtyard, she was startled, instantly wide awake.

"Youling, you’re up so early?"

Jiang Youling explained, "I’ve always gotten up this early at home, and I’m used to practicing. If I don't, my body feels uncomfortable and my heart feels unsettled."

Shen Yingshu shivered, looking at her as if she were a monster, and couldn't help but shake her head and cry out, "That’s too terrifying!"

How could anyone be willing to practice voluntarily!

When she was at home, her parents had to force her with a ruler before she would practice.

She had thought she would finally be free after entering the Taixuan Sect, but she hadn't expected her fellow disciple to be this terrifying—

Jiang Youling felt a bit uneasy under her gaze. "Did I disturb you?"

"No, no..."

Shen Yingshu shook her head quickly and changed her question. "Don't you find it hard to get up so early to practice?"

Jiang Youling admitted, "I did at first, but I’m used to it now."

"Fine, fine. Anyway, I could never do that. Let’s go, let’s go get breakfast!"

What followed was a repetition of breakfast, going to the Talisman Courtyard to get bark, dinner, and returning to the room to read.

For the next nine days, Jiang Youling’s skill in peeling bark improved day by day, though she still couldn't catch a glimpse of the path to immortality.

Until the tenth day, the day of the full moon arrived. The disciples were given a day of rest and headed to the Hall of Hearing the Dao to listen to the teachings of the High Master.

The Hall of Hearing the Dao had floors of green jade and desks of purple sandalwood. The walls were hung with the original calligraphy of the *Huangting*, and the Three Pure Ones were enshrined in the center. It could accommodate thousands of disciples at once.

Inside, an "Echo Array" was set up to ensure that even the disciples in the last row could hear every word clearly.

Jiang Youling hurried over with Shen Yingshu, only to find the hall packed with people, with almost no empty seats.

The two quickly found seats in the back row and heard the senior brothers in the front row whispering.

"A lot of new fellow disciples joined recently. With the High Master lecturing today, I’m afraid he’ll just be teaching the *Introduction to Qi Cultivation* again."

"It doesn't matter. We have to go through this cycle every year. Every time I listen, I gain a new insight into the method of Qi cultivation."

"...True. According to custom, it’s most likely True Person Qingwei coming today."

As they finished speaking, the Hall of Hearing the Dao suddenly fell silent.

The weather was fine today, suitable for an extra update.