Chapter 11: Summer Solstice

The rain at the Summer Solstice is worth its weight in gold.

A hazy drizzle brushed over the fields, which lay bare and emitted the scent of damp earth. In the south, the wheat ripened early; the new harvest had already been reaped, tied into bundles, and stood upright in the fields.

Farmers greeted one another along the ridges, preparing to sow oilseed, turnip, and mustard seeds, ready for the harvest at the end of autumn.

The Li family.

Li Tongya, Li Changhu, and the others had been counting the days, waiting for the stars and moon to align, and at last, the Summer Solstice had arrived.

As the sky turned a dusky gray, the two men brought out a table and knelt before it alongside Li Xiangping.

The Dharma Mirror rested on a stand carved with hornless dragon patterns. On the table sat the first bundle of new wheat harvested for the solstice, several types of melons and fruits, and three cups of clear tea brewed with summer rainwater.

The three exchanged glances and spoke in unison

"Li family disciples Li Changhu, Li Tongya, and Li Xiangping respectfully invite the Profound Brightness Marvelous Dharma, to govern our lives and calm our spirits, and to dedicate ourselves to the cultivation of the Dao."

"We shall fulfill our duties in due time, never failing in our devotion and faith; as the talismans are burned, our bodies shall return to the Great Yin."

Brilliant colors swirled upon the mirror, and white light flickered repeatedly. Three white pellets leaped from the mirror’s surface and flew toward the three men.

The three quickly sat cross-legged, following the methods in the *Reception Dharma* to guide the talisman seeds and accept the incantations.

Watching the white pellets sink into their Niwan Palaces, Li Chijing withdrew his gaze. He sat cross-legged, settled his breath into meditation, and contemplated the moonlit radiance pooling within his Qi Sea acupoint, thinking

"Refined entirely by the Dharma Mirror, eighty-one strands of moon essence have already been forged. The Summer Solstice brings the rise of the heavens and the fading of the Yang into darkness—it is the perfect time for a breakthrough!"

A newborn calf is not afraid of the tiger. With a flick of his mind, Li Chijing formed hand seals. The Qi Sea surged, and the eighty-one strands of moon essence spiritual energy gathered rapidly, chasing one another in a tail-chasing dance.

"Enter the Niwan Palace at the crown to merge into one, then descend through the twelve-storied pagoda... thus the surging state arises, with vital energy curling upward, passing through the twelve-storied pagoda again, and rising from the aperture beneath the tongue..."

Li Chijing silently recited the method for condensing the Profound Scene Wheel from the *Great Yin Breathing and Wheel-Nurturing Scripture*. The moon essence leaped over the twelve-storied pagoda, gathered in the Niwan Palace to condense into liquid, and then flowed down, pooling into a clear pond within his Qi Sea.

"Rise!"

He gave a soft shout. A bright, silvery arc of light emerged from the clear pond like the moon reflected in water. This arc was crystal clear, resembling a delicate crescent moon, and was incredibly beautiful.

"The twelve-storied pagoda pierces the Qi Sea; the Profound Scene Wheel emerges from the clear pond."

Gazing at this sight, Li Chijing couldn't help but marvel. He immediately drove the incantation to solidify the Profound Scene Wheel, doing his utmost to constrain its form.

Yet, as time slowly passed, the Profound Scene Wheel failed to truly settle. The crescent moon remained crystal clear, drifting gently in the pond, shimmering and unstable, looking as if it might dissipate at any moment.

Li Chijing was now exhausted, struggling to maintain the form of the wheel. Large beads of sweat slid down his handsome face, soaking his pale green robes.

Just as he was caught in a dilemma, the clear pond in his Qi Sea parted with a splash, and a white talisman pellet suddenly flew up.

The pellet was round and glowing. It settled onto the Profound Scene Wheel, and the translucent crescent moon instantly stabilized. The magical power in the clear pond also gradually steadied. Li Chijing let out a long breath and withdrew his energy.

The Profound Scene technique was complete. The moon essence spiritual energy within his body had transformed into moon essence magical power; Li Chijing had become a cultivator at the Fetal Breath stage!

He slowly opened his eyes, looked at the Dharma Mirror shimmering in the moonlight on the table, and bowed deeply.

"For bestowing the immortal dharma, for condensing the moon essence, and for the success of the Profound Scene, the Li family is eternally grateful. From this year forward, month after month, our incense shall burn continuously, and our offerings shall never cease."

Li Chijing’s voice, still somewhat youthful, was exceptionally solemn. The boy who had always been sheltered under the wings of his brothers had suddenly become a young man.

"Jing'er."

Li Mutian stood quietly in the moonlight, looking warmly at his youngest son.

"Father, I have condensed the Profound Scene Wheel."

Li Chijing stood up and looked at his father with a smile, gently opening his left hand to reveal a milky-white magical power floating above his palm.

"The first step of cultivation is called Fetal Breath. The Fetal Breath stage requires the condensation of six wheels, named respectively: Profound Scene, Bearing Brightness, Cyclic Walk, Azure Origin, Jade Capital, and Spiritual Beginning. This Profound Scene Wheel is the gateway to the Dao."

"Good, good." Li Mutian was deeply comforted and nodded repeatedly.

Waving his hand to disperse the magical power, Li Chijing sat cross-legged once more to consolidate his cultivation.

————

"What a marvelous technique!"

Li Xiangping was the first to open his eyes. He laughed, stretched, and stood up to grab the teapot on the table, taking a deep gulp.

"I obtained the Wheel-Nurturing Scripture and a technique called the Water-Avoiding Dharma."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Li Tongya awoke from his meditation. He raised an eyebrow and said with satisfaction

"I obtained a technique called the Evil-Expelling Art."

The two chatted for a while before Li Changhu finally opened his eyes. Seeing his three younger brothers staring at him expectantly, he said helplessly

"The technique is called the Garment-Cleansing Art."

Once all three brothers had awakened, Li Chijing, who had been waiting patiently, spoke up excitedly

"I have already condensed the Profound Scene Wheel!"

"So fast?"

Li Xiangping exclaimed, tilting his head in confusion.

"It is entirely thanks to the power of the Dharma Mirror."

Li Chijing looked at the mirror on the table and said sincerely

"This mirror naturally condenses moon essence; using it to temper the power of the moon is truly twice the result for half the effort."

Li Tongya and the others finally understood. Li Changhu patted Li Chijing’s head and said with a smile

"I have heard that in the books, it is said that the human body has spiritual apertures; once magical power flows through the body, one can perceive them. Jing'er, can you check for us?"

Li Changhu felt that he had struggled immensely during the reception, unlike his two younger brothers, and had begun to secretly doubt his own aptitude for cultivation.

Scanning his three brothers, Li Chijing placed his left hand on the shoulder of Li Xiangping, who was closest, and closed his eyes to search for the spiritual apertures.

"Its energy rises, breathing never ceases, like a fish leaping..."

Li Chijing silently recited the description from the breathing method, his magical power circling through Li Xiangping’s meridians.

After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, he opened his eyes in shock and muttered to himself

"None..."

He froze for a moment, then hurriedly placed his hands on his other two brothers' shoulders to probe with his magical power.

"None, how can there be none?!"

Li Chijing’s face turned pale. He sat cross-legged on the spot, closed his eyes in meditation, and channeled his magical power throughout his entire body. Indeed, there were no so-called spiritual apertures.

"The *Great Yin Breathing and Wheel-Nurturing Scripture* clearly states that spiritual apertures are the foundation of the Great Dao. No matter what immortal technique or marvelous dharma, without spiritual apertures, there is no path to speak of..."

"This... this..."

Li Chijing’s state of mind fluctuated wildly; he couldn't even maintain his meditation. With trembling lips, he looked at Li Mutian, who was fiddling with the tea leaves, and said softly

"Father!"

"You were right. This Dharma Mirror is also the cause of our family's potential destruction."

"If any true cultivator learns of this object, not only will we be killed and our souls imprisoned, but the entire Lijing Village—and even all the villages, large and small, throughout the Ancient Li Path—will be wiped off the face of the earth."

"I have already forged the Profound Scene Wheel, and my magical power flows through my entire body. Unless I cripple my own cultivation, those Qi-Refining practitioners will be unable to detect the location of my spiritual apertures with their own power."

Li Chijing stood up in horror and solemnly instructed

"As for the disciples of the Li family, those who have received the Profound Pearl talisman seed but have not yet achieved the Profound Scene must never show off in public!"

"Exactly."

Li Mutian took a sip of tea, looking at them with a grave expression.

"At first, when Jing'er was able to cultivate, I only thought it was his unique talent. Han Wenxu once said that those born with spiritual apertures are one in a thousand; perhaps Jing'er is that one."

He laughed at himself and continued

"Now it seems this Dharma Mirror is truly an extraordinary immortal object. It can turn decay into magic; by bestowing this talisman seed, even mortals can catch a glimpse of the immortal path."

The group felt both fortunate and terrified, looking at their father in silence.

"Alright, go and cultivate. I am going to the fields to take a look," Li Mutian said after a long silence.

"Yes."

The group bowed their heads in agreement and returned to their rooms to cultivate.

Li Mutian respectfully put away the Dharma Mirror, tidied the table, and with his hands behind his back, headed out to the fields.

(End of chapter)