Chapter Twenty-Five: Masterful Political Maneuvering

"Master, you flatter me. It is entirely due to the protection of our ancestors and the grace of opportunity that I have attained my current level of cultivation."

In the six years since he began his training, Zhou Qing had met Beimingzi only a handful of times. Yet, each encounter left him with a different impression. Now that he had stepped into the realm of the Spirit-Awakening Transformation, that feeling seemed all the more profound.

Returning to the Void was truly a miraculous state. With his current spiritual perception, he could discern nothing of it, yet as his senior brother had mentioned, the leaders of the Yin-Yang School might well have attained this level, possessing formidable power.

Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Zhou Qing smiled slightly at his master’s words. He bowed respectfully, then looked up to meet his master’s eyes, nodding in acknowledgment.

"I am ashamed, Master. I have failed to live up to your teachings," Chisongzi said from the side, his expression filled with chagrin. He was already in his forties and still at the level of the Spirit-Awakening Transformation, whereas his junior brother, Xuanqing, had reached that same level at only six years old. The comparison made him deeply embarrassed.

"Daoist cultivation emphasizes following the natural path. When the opportunity arises, one will break through. Our founder did not even begin his practice until he was an old man, yet within a few years, he passed through barrier after barrier, his body merging with all things."

"It seems your opportunity has not yet arrived. Since you have come together with Xuanqing today, I shall explain the wonders of the Spirit-Awakening once more. Xuanqing, this is a rule I have set: anyone in the sect who breaks through to the Spirit-Awakening stage is permitted to hear my teachings."

Beimingzi shook his head with a faint smile. From his perspective, while it would be difficult for Chisongzi to break through to the Void-Returning stage, it was not impossible; it all depended on personal destiny. Seeing that Chisongzi wished to use this opportunity to seek a breakthrough, he saw no harm in it and nodded in agreement.

"Thank you, Master, for your compassion!" Zhou Qing pressed his palms together, bowing once more, his youthful voice echoing.

"Thank you, Master! Thank you, Junior Brother!" Chisongzi was suddenly overjoyed. He hurriedly bowed as well, his clear voice ringing out. He then looked at his junior brother, knowing that without him, he would not have been granted this blessing.

***

Having been stuck in the Spirit-Awakening Transformation for years, the barrier felt like a chasm that was impossible to cross. He had begun to lose hope, but the arrival of his junior brother had offered him a new possibility. If his junior brother could break into the Void-Returning state, he was confident he could learn from him, and with his master’s guidance, his own chances would increase significantly.

"The path of cultivation begins with building the foundation—cleansing the body of impurities, washing the flesh, and purifying it to make it more suitable for cultivation, thereby accelerating the refinement of vital energy."

"Following this is the refinement of Qi and the opening of the meridians. By using breathing techniques to draw in the energy of heaven and earth, one gathers it into the Dantian, opens the eight extraordinary meridians, and circulates it throughout the body. When the cycle is complete, one enters the Primordial Innate stage."

Beimingzi spoke at a measured pace. As his two disciples watched intently, a faint, mystical black aura flickered around him. His presence grew from weak to strong; with each breath, wind swirled and his meridians resonated in perfect harmony.

He waved a hand toward the nearby waterfall, creating ripples in the small pool below. His words and actions intertwined, manifesting the wonders of cultivation.

"The Primordial Innate stage is an extension of Qi refinement, where the inner strength gathered in the body is released. According to the discussions of the Hundred Schools of Thought over the past centuries, a martial artist in this realm can exert power within a radius of a hundred meters."

"Beyond a hundred meters, the power fades. Furthermore, within that radius, the further the target is from the practitioner, the weaker the attack. However, every school has its own unique techniques to overcome this flaw."

"Apart from our Daoist 'Tao Te Ching,' the best at this is likely the Ghost Valley's Vertical and Horizontal school. Their 'Opening and Closing of the Universe' allows for unparalleled power within a hundred meters. Whether it is the 'Hundred-Step Flying Sword' or the 'Horizontal Sweep of the Eight Directions,' they are arguably the strongest in terms of offensive capability."

Hearing his master mention the Ghost Valley school, Zhou Qing pricked up his ears. During his travels, he had learned much about this school. Though they only ever had two disciples per generation, each was a prodigy.

For a hundred years, the strife of the Warring States period seemed to be a painting brushed by the disciples of the Ghost Valley. Sun Bin, Pang Juan, Su Qin, Zhang Yi... the appearance of each had struck fear into the hearts of the world's lords.

Hence, the saying among the Hundred Schools: "When a Ghost Valley disciple is angry, the lords tremble; when they are at peace, the world rests." Though they were active in the courts, their individual martial prowess could not be ignored, or they would have been assassinated long ago.

Furthermore, calculating the time, the current generation of Ghost Valley disciples must have already emerged. It would be interesting to meet them in the future.

"The Mohist 'Ten-Step Fatal Strike' is also not weak, and the Confucian 'Haoran Qi' is uniquely mysterious... When inner strength breaks through the body and can be wielded at will within a hundred meters, that is the perfection of the Primordial Innate stage."

***

"Afterwards, if the opportunity arises and one's spiritual perception merges with heaven and earth, one can break through to the Spirit-Awakening Transformation. Xuanqing, you have just broken through, so you should remember this clearly."

Beimingzi outlined each stage of cultivation with clarity. His voice, though not loud, resonated like a great bell in their ears and hearts. The two sat with backs straight, listening quietly, a faint, mystical light flowing around them.

The waterfall beside them changed forms under Beimingzi’s control, embodying the shadows of various Daoist techniques, moving at will to interpret the wonders of heaven and man.

"The Spirit-Awakening Transformation is the merging of the spirit with heaven and earth, controlling the energy of the universe, and using it to empower oneself. It is the realization of the true meaning of the movement of the cosmos. In my view, this realm consists of two layers."

"Upon first entering the Spirit-Awakening, spiritual perception increases greatly. Every movement in the surrounding area is known to the heart, and where the strength strikes, it is peerless. Whether in movement, internal energy, or physical form, one is far superior to the Primordial Innate stage."

With continuous movements, he made the water in the pool erupt into dozens of pillars, which transformed into water snakes dancing in the air. Under his power, they shimmered with myriad colors and rainbow light, possessing a unique charm.

"More importantly, one must use the power of heaven and earth to refine internal energy, causing the essence to undergo a transformation. It is truly unparalleled. Today, the leaders and heads of the various schools are at this level. However, to reach the perfection of the Spirit-Awakening, one must achieve the unity of Yin and Yang, where hardness and softness advance together."

"Just like this water: it can be as soft as a stream, as hard as iron, or dissipate into mist. It can be all three at once. Once one reaches this step, the Spirit-Awakening can be considered to have reached its culmination."

"If one cannot grasp this, one will experience what you are feeling now, Xuanqing. Your spiritual perception will continue to expand into the void of the heavens—hundreds of meters, thousands, tens of thousands. When your perception reaches its limit, your consciousness will dissolve completely into heaven and earth, and your physical body will wither and die."

"The way of heaven and earth is the harmony of Yin and Yang; to retract and release at will is the true path. Spiritual perception is endless, but the body is finite. To use the finite to carry the infinite is unwise." Beimingzi closed his hand, and the water froze into ice crystals, frost spreading as clouds rose and water vapor filled the air.