Chapter 14
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Chapter 14: Breakthrough and Journey
Over the course of six months, Shi Xuan secretly checked on Mrs. Fang and her two sons, who were doing well. Following Shi Xuan’s instructions, Xu Tianqi hired an old monk to pretend to subdue the evil spirits in the house. The house was then transformed into a temple dedicated to the Bodhisattva Fang Yu, with rituals to suppress evil spirits and pray for blessings. Shi Xuan also undertook the task of collecting knowledge about spiritual practices.
The temple renovation was completed in just over four months. Mrs. Fang and her sons appeared less eerie due to the new spiritual practices, resembling celestial beings with auras of light and mystic sounds around them.
Mrs. Fang was very grateful to Shi Xuan for his help, although he felt it was a small favor. Xu Tianqi had orchestrated most of the events, as Mrs. Fang and Xu Tianqi believed Shi Xuan’s guidance was crucial to their newfound understanding of spiritual practices and temple rituals.
Shi Xuan refrained from explaining the depth of his knowledge to avoid further complications. He understood only the basic principles of spiritual practices from the ancient texts he had studied.
Shi Xuan did not meet Xu Tianqi in person as Xu Tianqi was focused on martial arts practice. Messages from the family elders were conveyed through Mrs. Fang. Mu Jin, under Xu Tianqi’s tutelage, dedicated himself to martial arts training.
Meng Yuqiong and Xu Jinyi had left Xia’an Prefectural City over two months ago. Despite their curiosity about Shi Xuan’s whereabouts, the secrecy surrounding Old Taoist Xu’s teachings remained intact, leaving them without any concrete information.
Shi Xuan had hoped Xu Jinyi would return to learn the spiritual teachings from Old Taoist Xu. He believed she possessed the necessary qualities to carry on the legacy. Through Du Bai’s memories, Shi Xuan learned of Old Taoist Xu’s desire for a successor within the Xu family.
Since Shi Xuan didn’t come, he didn’t force it. It just meant she didn’t have the chance. If someone talented, patient, and determined comes in the future, it’s not too late to pass it on.
In the past six months, some dental clinics brought people to see the yard. But Shi Xuan doesn’t need money now, and doesn’t want to spend time finding a new place to live. So, she kept delaying and planned to sell it before leaving.
At midnight, when it was quiet, Shi Xuan sat cross-legged on a cushion, following the route in the book "Yushu Twelve Jiang Eight Lakes Seventy-Two Great Rivers Qi Record" to move internal energy. After passing through the twelve main meridians, the eight extraordinary meridians, and the seventy-one minor meridians, the internal energy gradually condensed. Then, under Shi Xuan’s will, it rushed towards the last point of the meridian. Despite the powerful energy, that point stood firm like a strong dam, resisting three consecutive attempts.
Shi Xuan didn’t expect this last point of the meridian to be so difficult to break through. After breaking through the seventy-first meridian, she expected to achieve the Great Body Circle within half a month. But now, a month and a half had passed, and she still couldn’t break through the last point. Fortunately, Shi Xuan’s True Divine Method of Clear Wind and Bright Moon had made great progress. Although she hadn’t reached the peak of the Soul Strengthening Period, her soul had greatly strengthened. She had also made significant progress in controlling her emotions, so now Shi Xuan wasn’t overwhelmed by disappointment and impatience.
Shi Xuan stopped circulating Qi, calmed the emotions that had just surged, cleared her mind, and prepared to first practice today’s visualization exercise before moving on to Qi Refining.
Under the bright moonlight and gentle breeze, Shi Xuan felt her soul becoming stronger and more ethereal with each purification and removal of impurities, as if her consciousness could control every corner of her soul, everything was within her grasp.
Suddenly alert, Shi Xuan’s thoughts soared as she looked down on her soul in a contemplative manner. She was surprised that a hint of impatience almost led her astray. In meditation, the feeling of being in control of every corner was a sign of veering towards danger.
Thankfully, by following the methods of recognizing the true self and gathering the mind as described in the True Divine Method, Shi Xuan always practiced visualization. This is why she was alert at the critical moment, pulling away her thoughts. After waiting for a moment and calming her mind, Shi Xuan resumed her visualization.
After the meditation, Shi Xuan was surprised that despite the close call of going astray, her soul became even clearer, with a faint glow emerging. The peak of the Soul Strengthening Period, which she never thought of before, now seemed within reach, no longer lost in confusion as before.
After coming out of meditation, Shi Xuan didn’t immediately move his internal energy, instead, he got up and practiced a set of compact boxing skills from Old Taoist Xu. With controlled punches and graceful footwork, after finishing the set, Shi Xuan had a bit of sweat on his forehead but his spirit was calm.
Shi Xuan felt that his body and mind were at their best after the previous boxing practice, so he sat back down with crossed legs, closed his eyes, and started moving his internal energy again. During this practice, Shi Xuan focused on controlling the flow of internal energy without thinking about opening up his energy channels, just letting the energy flow naturally.
Shi Xuan felt his twelve main energy channels were like large rivers, constantly fed by seventy-two smaller rivers. Eight major lakes regulated the flow between the rivers and channels. With every breath, Shi Xuan’s body felt like a complete entity, except for one noticeable imperfection.
Naturally, internal energy gathered and surged towards the last energy channel. With his strengthened soul, Shi Xuan could easily control this energy, making it finer and faster towards that point. Suddenly, a loud sound resonated within him as the gathered energy broke through the channel, nourishing it. Shi Xuan endured a tingling sensation as the energy flowed through the channel and back to the main energy flow, circulating smoothly.
Shi Xuan calmed down the internal energy control but let it circulate naturally, a sign of achieving the Great Body Circle. With this ability, he could withstand any weather and defend himself instinctively. He didn’t need to consciously manipulate his energy during movements; everything flowed naturally.
Opening his eyes, Shi Xuan felt the warm and stable flickering candlelight, hearing the distant sounds of wind through leaves, water, and clouds. He saw swirling currents in the air, dancing dust particles, and sensed the activities around the courtyard.
Finally achieving the Great Body Circle, it was time to leave.
Although it was time to leave, Shi Xuan still had many things to take care of, so he couldn’t leave just yet.
In the following months, Shi Xuan busied himself with clearing up the clutter in the courtyard and consolidating his skills. He only needed to bring along a few items such as clothes, silver, True Returning Book, talisman, mirror, special incense, and a few tools and notes. Shi Xuan burned and paid respects to Old Taoist Xu’s belongings at his grave as a farewell gesture.
The materials for talismans had all changed into talismans during these days. Shi Xuan now had not only the sixteen talismans left by Old Taoist Xu, but also around thirty more that he drew himself. Together with the ones Du Bai drew before, he had a total of sixty-five talismans. However, the talismans were not kept in the bag, but neatly stored in hidden pockets in his Daoist robe sleeves, around his waist, and inside his clothing for easy access.
Items used for making medicine and bath potions were all destroyed by Shi Xuan and then buried using a dirt gathering spell in the outskirts. All items related to Daoism were handled in the same way. Any extra clothing and such, Shi Xuan just gave away to beggars on the street.
Furthermore, three months after the dental clinic visit, when Shi Xuan brought someone again to see the courtyard, he didn’t negotiate the price anymore and simply sold it at the buyer’s offer of two hundred and seventy-two silver coins. After going through the official deeds and taxes, and adding the profits from the dental clinic, Shi Xuan finally ended up with two hundred and twenty-nine silver coins. In total, Shi Xuan now had two hundred and thirty-five silver coins and some copper coins.
And so, one day in March, Shi Xuan carried his bundle and walked out of the gates of Xia’an Prefectural City, leaving the place he had stayed for over a year, stepping onto his journey to seek immortality and Dao.