Chapter 35

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Chapter 35: Cultivating Body and Soul Together

In the residence of the outer disciples, Ye Yun sat quietly in the courtyard. He had always felt that cultivating in the small building wasn’t as pleasant as doing so outdoors—a matter of personal preference.

Moonlight draped the land like silver silk. Ye Yun sat motionless, his mind empty, his heart still as an ancient well.

The competition would begin tomorrow, yet he made no effort to absorb spirit stones now. His cultivation had reached the Internal Breathing stage after three years as a servant disciple. Such progress was already remarkable. Further leaps might draw suspicion from Elder Lan and others.

Instead of spiritual power, he focused on his mental state.

The path of cultivation meant defying the heavens, wrestling life from nature. An unsteady mind invited distractions and errors, hindering progress. A stable heart warded off Mental Demons, allowing deeper insights into the Dao’s laws.

Ye Yun had learned this early on. The elder who taught the basic cultivation techniques had warned them: neglecting the mind would trap them at the Qi refining stage.

Though concepts like cosmic mysteries seemed distant now, the elders’ spiritual pressure and the golden pill’s assault had shown him the importance of mental resilience.

Sharpening one’s mind strengthened the spirit. A robust spirit increased chances of Foundation Establishment and forming a potent alchemy pill. True cultivation required advancing both body and soul.

Most low-tier cultivators ignored this, chasing pills and treasures for quick power. Ye Yun once thought the same, believing methods and medicines could nurture the spirit.

But after gaining the black and white lights and enduring the elders’ pressure, he realized a weak mind rendered even enhanced spirits hollow. A burly man cowering before a weaker opponent—this simple truth now made sense.

Elder Seven’s murderous intent, the public competition, and the sect trial’s hidden threats weighed heavily on him. Yet witnessing the golden-armored warriors’ onslaught—mountains crumbling, rivers severed, the black and white figures standing unshaken—had transformed his perspective. Pressure now felt like an opportunity.

During his three years as a servant disciple, his progress stemmed not just from training but mental discipline. Daily hardships taught him to purge distractions, maintaining focus.

Countless struggles taught him stillness: *Amid chaos, remain an unrippled well.*

It took two years to glimpse that strange state—where the world vanished, leaving only void. He couldn’t explain how this emptiness accelerated his cultivation, but after first experiencing it, his progress quickened.

In two years, he barely reached the second layer of body refinement. But after the black and white light’s Marrow Cleansing, he surged to the Third Level’s peak, becoming exceptional among servant disciples.

*Cultivate body and soul. Fearless progress. Empty as the void.*

Moonlight seeped through his robes, rendering him translucent. A night passed like a breath.

Dew dripped onto his forehead at dawn. He opened his eyes.

“With better techniques, even clearing my mind and letting spiritual power flow freely would bring greater benefits.”

The eastern horizon glowed faintly. The New Outer Disciples’ competition approached.

His spiritual power hadn’t grown, but his spirit felt denser, sharper. Closing his eyes, he heard whispers a hundred zhang away.

“Duan Chenfeng… Qu Yiping…”

Ye Yun inhaled deeply. Today might grant him advanced techniques, but those two lingered in his thoughts.

Duan Chenfeng, a royal from the capital, puzzled him. If truly talented, why endure three servant years before earning an assessment quota? Even if the Heavenly Sword Sect disdained Jin Kingdom’s nobility, they relied on secular support. A gifted royal shouldn’t need such drudgery.

*Is he feigning incompetence?*

Qu Yiping, though calm around others, turned vicious toward Duan Chenfeng. His black bracelet hinted at high family standing—spiritual weapons weren’t common among mortals.

Their clash suggested hidden strife. Perhaps Qu Yiping was sent to target Duan Chenfeng, whose arrogance masked his true self.

Neither showed their full strength. They likely had more spiritual weapons.

Ye Yun’s eyes narrowed. His right hand produced a jade pill bottle.