Chapter 203

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Hearing the sound of thunder, Zhang Xiaohua suddenly recalled his cultivation experience in the herb field’s shelter during the previous stormy night. He thought of the deafening thunder that seemed to strike directly at his heart, the lush green herbs that filled the field by morning, and even the faint trace of True Qi that had formed in his meridians.

Remembering all this, Zhang Xiaohua immediately stopped tidying up, pushed open the door, and ran out without a second thought, entirely ignoring the rain drenching him to the bone.

When he reached the herb field and hurriedly sought shelter in the straw hut, Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but smile bitterly and shake his head. He had just run back to his room from the forest to avoid getting wet, yet here he was, soaked like a drowned rat anyway.

Paying no mind to the rainwater dripping from his body, Zhang Xiaohua sat down cross-legged, intending to guide qi into his body. But as soon as he settled and calmed his mind, hesitation crept in.

The memory of being struck by thunder during his last attempt to guide Qi still lingered vividly in Zhang Xiaohua’s mind. It had been a profound and indescribable shock to his spirit. Fortunately, he had fallen asleep at that time. If he had been awake, he couldn’t fathom what might have happened.

With this thought, Zhang Xiaohua stopped circulating his energy and began to waver. Judging by He Tianshu and the others’ reactions after returning from the Medicine Hall, the issue of the withering herbs didn’t seem as dire as they had feared. Did he really need to take such a risk?

If he acted recklessly and ended up struck by thunder again, causing unforeseen consequences, who would ever understand his painstaking efforts?

However, Zhang Xiaohua quickly reminded himself that, regardless of whether the withering of the herbs was serious or not, it was ultimately a consequence of his own actions— a result of ‘taking herbs from the field’ as if stealing food from another’s mouth. If he left things as they were, not only would He Tianshu and the others face punishment from the Medicine Hall, but his own conscience would be unable to bear it. Perhaps years later, he would regret not making the right choice at this moment.

With this thought, Zhang Xiaohua’s expression grew more resolute. Gazing at the downpour outside the straw hut, his determination solidified. Finally, he made a choice without regret. Taking a deep breath, he calmed his mind and followed the first layer of the [Carefree Heart Sutra] to guide Qi into his body.

At the very instant, Zhang Xiaohua began to guide Qi, his heart suddenly felt a profound lightness, as if shedding an invisible shackle. A sense of vitality and freedom surged within him. Xiaohua’s state of mind not only matured but also ascended to a new level.

The cultivation of one’s state of mind complements the practice of heart methods. While the practice of heart methods can be recorded in words and structured into clear rules, the honing of one’s state of mind relies solely on individual experience. Each person’s encounters and experiences vary, making their journey of mental refinement unique. Traditionally, when a master teaches a disciple, they not only impart the heart method but also share the essential insights and principles for cultivating the right state of mind. This ensures a virtuous cycle in the practice of the heart method.

Zhang Xiaohua, by sheer coincidence, had stumbled upon the [Carefree Heart Sutra] and had been fumbling his way forward, oblivious to the additional guidance it might have contained. All he knew was that his heart felt incredibly light at the moment, as though it could soar. He gave no thought to the reasons behind this feeling or the significance of the step he had just taken.

While Zhang Xiaohua’s resolve was absolute, his sense of perception expanded cautiously, tentatively reaching outward. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth surrounding the herb field was as sparse as ever, no different from what he had encountered last time.

At this moment, though the rain was abundant, the thunder in the vicinity was sparse, echoing only occasionally in the distance. Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but feel a sense of frustration at this “distant thunder” that couldn’t quench his immediate “thirst”. However, lacking the mystical ability to summon lightning at will, he had no choice but to adhere to the basics—drawing the faint spiritual energy near the herb field into his body. He hoped, perhaps, that this effort might slowly draw the thunder closer.

In truth, even as he reached this stage, Zhang Xiaohua still maintained a “let’s see what happens” mindset. Though he acted resolutely, he had no understanding of the relationship between lightning and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. He couldn’t guarantee that drawing lightning would necessarily attract sufficient spiritual energy to save the withered herbs.

What he did know was this: only by attempting this could there be a chance of reviving the herbs. If he didn’t, their withering was a foregone conclusion.

As time ticked by, Zhang Xiaohua continued guiding the spiritual energy into his body bit by bit. The influx of spiritual energy remained imperceptibly faint, circulating with his True Qi through his meridians, gradually refining and strengthening it. Zhang Xiaohua could sense a subtle improvement in himself, but this wasn’t the progress he sought. He gradually became a little anxious. He wasn’t here to cultivate qi tonight. If the night passed like this, wouldn’t that completely contradict his original intent?

As these thoughts crossed his mind, a faint rumble of thunder sounded from the distant sky. Although it was still extremely far away, this thunder was distinct from the others. Despite its remoteness and ethereal quality, it stood out against the rhythmic pattering of raindrops, which failed to mask its resonance. The sound seemed to strike directly at Zhang Xiaohua’s heart. He couldn’t help but feel a stirring deep within, a sudden thought flashing across his mind: “Could it be that the thunder has already been drawn by me?”

Sure enough, the rumbling of thunder came one after another, as if striking the drumbeats in Zhang Xiaohua’s heart. The thunder grew increasingly closer, and as the anticipated booms echoed, Zhang Xiaohua’s anxiety deepened. The last time he encountered such thunder, it had struck him as he drifted into sleep. This time, if he remained awake, what would happen?

A flicker of hesitation flashed through his mind—he almost stopped drawing in spiritual energy.

Yet, he quickly calculated the time. It was nearing midnight. If he stopped now, he might fall asleep soon after. How would he continue guiding Qi into his body then? How would he summon the thunder?

Moreover, if he failed tonight, could he count on the following days to provide the same stormy weather? Would he have another chance like this?

These uncertainties piled up, compelling Zhang Xiaohua to persevere.

In the end, time resolves all questions.

As the final clap of thunder “exploded” directly above the herb field, the accompanying flash of lightning illuminated the night sky. The violent energy from the lightning tore through the heavens, brimming with unrestrained vitality. At the intersection where the energy met the air, a dense surge of spiritual energy unexpectedly emerged. On a normal day, this dense spiritual energy would have dispersed across the world in an instant. But now, with Zhang Xiaohua fully focused on drawing spiritual energy, his influence subtly pulled this newly-born, tempestuous energy toward the herb field. Like a river finding its course, the spiritual energy surged in waves, converging on Zhang Xiaohua’s position and flowing toward the struggling herbs.

Thus, an astonishing scene unfolded once more. Boundless spiritual energy surged into Zhang Xiaohua’s pores like a stampeding bull, showing no mercy. Even his resilient body, which could shrug off acupoint attacks, was pushed to its limits. Fine strands of blood seeped from his pores as they ruptured under the onslaught.

At this moment, for the very first time, Zhang Xiaohua truly experienced what the [Carefree Heart Sutra] described: “The infinite, omnipresent Yuan Qi of Heaven and Earth.” Yet, the Yuan Qi no longer required his deliberate guidance. It surged forth as if it had found its rightful home, rushing in chaotic torrents, overwhelming him entirely.

The influx of Yuan Qi behaved unlike before. It was no longer imperceptible or delicate. What began as a gentle trickle soon turned into flowing streams, and before long, a raging torrent. Zhang Xiaohua’s mental state shifted with each phase—from curiosity to comprehension, and then to outright panic.

When the Yuan Qi of Heaven and Earth flowed like a trickling stream, Zhang Xiaohua finally understood that the [Carefree Heart Sutra] was not merely a plain record. Every description within it could be profoundly experienced: the endless Yuan Qi, the pathways for Qi to enter the body, its convergence, and refinement, and so on.

However, when the Yuan Qi erupted into a flood, panic consumed him. The uncontrolled surge of Qi was no longer something his body could endure. It wasn’t just his pores that ruptured. The overwhelming influx gathered with increasing force and crashed into his meridians. Although his meridians had unknowingly been broken and repaired before, this time, the sheer magnitude of the Yuan Qi’s force was beyond comparison. Like a withered tree in the face of a storm, his meridians were utterly defenseless, shattering inch by inch under the relentless pressure.

Zhang Xiaohua endured the searing, bone-deep pain coursing through his body, a torment that tore at his very core. Amidst the agony, he couldn’t help but muse bitterly to himself, “Could this be an even more frenzied state than going mad from Qi deviation?”

But after the panic subsided, it seemed that his mental state once again took a step forward. A profound clarity and tranquility rose within his heart, a stark contrast to his body’s suffering. “One achieves their ideal and cannot regret it,” he thought. He had chosen this path, and though the consequences were far from what he had wished, what was the use of panic now? Perhaps his life was nearing its end tonight, at this moment. Yet, he wondered, with his last bit of clarity: Are the medicinal herbs in the fields outside receiving the nourishment of this abundant Yuan Qi?

Unfortunately, Zhang Xiaohua had no energy left to care about anything else. His vision went dark as he lost consciousness. He didn’t know whether it was from the unbearable pain or the soothing onset of midnight, pulling him into a dream-like state. Either way, a faint, breathing-like rhythm enveloped him, imperceptible to the naked eye. A shimmering resonance connected him to the distant stars, which sent down endless starlight that surrounded him, forming a thin membrane of light, cloaking Zhang Xiaohua’s body.

Just like that rainy night before, the starlight filtered out the violent turbulence within the Yuan Qi, repairing his shattered meridians while directing vitality into the mysterious recesses of his mind.

What was once chaos gradually settled into order, flowing along a trajectory—a trajectory unknown to Zhang Xiaohua.

Not to mention Zhang Xiaohua in the grass hit. Meanwhile, in the small courtyard, He Tianshu was filled with frustration.

Earlier that evening, he had been plagued by the withering condition of the herbs, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. He decided to seek Zhang Xiaohua to discuss the situation again, but when he reached Zhang Xiaohua’s room, though the light was on, the person was nowhere to be found. Puzzled, He Tianshu waited for a long time but saw no sign of Zhang Xiaohua returning. He briefly considered that Zhang Xiaohua might have gone to the shed by the herb fields but quickly dismissed the idea after glancing at the pouring rain and hearing the occasional roll of thunder in the distance. He returned to his room late in the night, thinking that Zhang Xiaohua would never venture out in such weather.

Usually, He Tianshu rarely needed sleep, as he would replace it with internal energy cultivation. However, tonight was different. Stormy nights with thunderclaps were unsuitable for practicing internal techniques, as the roaring thunder made one prone to Qi deviation. Unwilling to risk his life over a moment of boredom, He Tianshu forced himself to close his eyes and rest.

But this was no ordinary night. He Tianshu could not shake the feeling that the deafening thunderclaps seemed to be rolling directly overhead, roaring incessantly. It wasn’t until the approach of dawn that the storm began to subside.