Chapter Five: A Pure and Steadfast Mind, the Wisdom Sword Cuts Through Worldly Attachments

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Library of Scriptures, Inquiry into the Way Academy.
After a satisfying meal and seeing off Chang’an Zi, Xuanming sat cross-legged on his meditation cushion, eyes closed, gathering his spirit.
Last night, upon entering the mysterious gate, he perused the Yellow Court Classic. Beyond the Purity Formula, he gained two new insights.
First, he perfected the Primordial Qi Technique.
The cosmic scene of heaven and earth’s creation he witnessed last night was actually the cultivation process of the Essence Refinement stage.
The primordial chaos is like the human body, mysterious and vast, filled with treasures and immense potential.
Heaven and earth correspond to the Yellow Court (lower dantian).
Yin and Yang represent the harmonization of dual energies.
All things emerge as the Hundred-Day Barrier.
Mountains and rivers symbolize the condensation of jade liquid.
The stabilization of heaven and earth marks the blossoming of the Essence Flower.
Now, the Primordial Qi Technique can be cultivated to the complete Essence Refinement stage, its subtleties boundless and ineffable, ranking among the world’s top Essence Refinement methods.
Second, he comprehended the Eight True Spirits of the External Realm.
These were observed as the Eight Spirits that stabilize heaven and earth, aligning with the legendary Eight Spirits of the External Realm from past lives.
For example, the first true spirit is the Stomach Spirit, named Tong Weiyu, styled Daozhan, yellow in color; the second true spirit is the Intestine Spirit, named Zhao Tengkang, styled Daohuan, yellow-red in color, and so forth.
The Yellow Court Classic regards the human body as a microcosm of heaven and earth, containing all manner of creation and myriad divine natures. Every orifice, organ, marrow, and meridian, the gateways of life and death, houses a spirit. Through focused reflection and spirit preservation, one may achieve longevity and clear vision, as enduring as the sun and moon of the same age.
Each successful visualization of a spirit through the Eight True Spirits of the External Realm greatly amplifies Xuanming’s essence, qi, and spirit, dramatically boosting his innate source, vitality, strength, and breath, refining his Dao body to be stronger and more condensed.
This is a superior method that cultivates both internal and external realms.
Sitting cross-legged on the cushion, Xuanming planned to first visualize the Stomach Spirit, commanding the yin and yang qi to accelerate the birth of the Left Yang and Right Yin Spirits, then use these yin and yang spirits to guide the Great Sun’s purple energy and the Great Moon’s lunar essence, refining true yang and true yin to form a virtuous cycle.
An hour later, he opened his eyes, a faint and elusive divine radiance flickering within his gaze—subtle, yet undeniably present.
His rapid initial progress owed much to the Yellow Court Classic enhancing his foundational constitution and comprehension.
Rising and stepping out, he lightly tapped his toes, leapt up, and sat cross-legged atop a treetop, as in the early morning, circulating his profound cultivation arts to gather the Great Moon’s lunar essence, bolstering his internal primordial qi.
Half an hour later, he ceased and returned to his room to rest.
At dawn, desire is strongest.
The roots of vexation stir restlessly and actively.
Even Xuanming’s steadfast will found it difficult to endure, forcing him to awaken.
Especially since in this life he had been a child cultivator for six decades, cultivating a unique method, these desires were like a blazing fire in an old house—fierce and perilous.
Sitting cross-legged, silently circulating the Purity Formula, an invisible Sword of Wisdom appeared in his mysterious gate, slashing away the false thoughts in his heart, keeping his spiritual platform bright and clear. It felt as if he truly cut through his troubles with a single stroke, severing attachments to vexation.
Once desire was subdued, Xuanming opened his eyes to see the rising sun in the east and the setting moon in the west, the interchange of sun and moon, yin and yang in harmony.
He first mobilized the power of true yang and true yin, their convergence tracing a thread of grayish primordial qi, then transforming it into overwhelming magical power.
He then sat again on the treetop to gather the morning sun’s purple energy.
After breakfast, he returned to the scripture hall to study.
—
Contemplating scriptures, realizing the Way, gathering qi, cutting desire, refining magic, preserving spirit...
Xuanming devoted himself fully to cultivation, immersed deeply, gradually sensing the profound mysteries of the Great Dao. The Dao energy within him thickened, the Dao principles in his heart multiplied, naturally giving rise to the meaning of Dharma.
Time flowed silently, like deep still waters.
When he regained awareness, the Hundred-Day Barrier was nearing completion.
Sitting cross-legged on the treetop, the white-haired elder absorbed purple energy.
Purple mist swirled like a cloud, enveloping his body; part was refined, part flowed into the Three Treasures before him.
Finishing his practice, he looked at the two pieces of lightning-struck wood and the silkworm thread floating before him and smiled with satisfaction.
During this period, combining secret methods of contemplation, he often used the essence of sun and moon and the primordial magical power to refine and purify the Three Treasures.
Now, the Hundred-Day Barrier was nearly complete.
The Three Treasures had been refined for eighty-one days.
The lightning-struck peach wood had already taken the form of a sword embryo.
The interaction of lightning-struck jujube wood and silkworm thread had developed a wondrous connection.
Recalling the hardships endured, even Xuanming broke out in a cold sweat, secretly grateful for having gained a firsthand understanding of the Four Words of the Great Dao: “Only hard to attain.”
The term Hundred-Day Barrier is only a general term.
Some cultivate their foundation in a month, others in a year.
It depends on the strength of one’s innate source.

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Generally, children have abundant innate source and a pure childlike nature, making it easiest for them to pass the Hundred-Day Barrier.
He, however, truly needed to endure the full hundred days.
The barrier of desire was hard to bear, perilous day by day.
One day more was too much; one day less was insufficient.
In the first month, the intensity increased tenfold each day.
Relying on the Purity Formula and his willpower, he managed to endure.
In the second month, intensity increased twentyfold daily.
He had to sever desire at least a hundred times each day.
He also studied scriptures like the Classic of Pure Heart, using their teachings to distract his mind.
In the third month, intensity increased thirtyfold daily.
He had to sever desire at least a thousand times each day.
Besides scripture study, he used the cold mountain pools to cut desire.
If he had not successfully visualized the Stomach Spirit, Left Yang Spirit, and Right Yin Spirit—the three true spirits—his physique greatly enhanced and supported by primordial magical power, he might not have survived.
“Strong winds and waves will come someday; I will hoist my cloud-white sail and cross the vast sea.”
Xuanming mused.
Fortunately, it would all soon be over.
Fortunately, no dramatic misfortunes had arisen since he entered cultivation.
—
The next morning.
Before the sunrise and before the waning moon set, the white-haired elder sat cross-legged on the treetop, expression grave.
Closing his eyes to concentrate, he silently circulated the Primordial Qi Technique; the sun and moon harmonized, and majestic energy surged into his body once more.
Xuanming, practiced and smooth, transformed it into magical power.
Like a flood breaching a dam, the roar of rivers surged within him. Vast primordial qi poured forth from true yang and true yin, transforming into surging magical power, immense as the sea.
A gentle breeze stirred, his Dao robe fluttered.
A powerful aura burst forth from within him.
The Hundred-Day Barrier was broken; the hundred-day foundation had been laid!
Riding the momentum, he broke through the bottleneck in one breath, entering the third stage: Jade Liquid Condensation.
Transporting energy through the Heavenly Circuit, vast magical power flowed along the Ren and Du meridians into the lower dantian.
On True Profound Peak, a figure leapt into the air.
Xuanxu looked toward the scripture library with joy.
“Senior Brother has broken through!”
On Fiery Sun Peak, another figure rushed toward the scripture library—a burly man with a beard—Daoist Xuanyang.
Swish! Swish!
The sound of rushing air was unceasing.
Xuanyin, Xuankong, and others also moved.
Half an hour later, with the red sun high overhead, Xuanming retracted his energy, his realm exceptionally stable, his aura more ethereal and transcendent.
Opening his eyes, he felt genuine joy.
Not only had his realm advanced and strength multiplied, but having endured the Hundred-Day Barrier, his Dao heart was purer, as if all impurities had been washed away, renewed wholly.
Glancing at the cultivators waiting outside the academy, Xuanming rose and gracefully descended to the ground, stepping out of the courtyard.
“Congratulations, Senior Brother, on successfully passing the Hundred-Day Barrier.”
“Congratulations, Senior Brother, on breaking through.”
The cultivators sincerely offered their felicitations.
The Truth-Seeking Sect was a minor Daoist lineage with a short tradition and limited strength.
Most disciples were only at the fourth stage; those at the third stage were already pillars within the sect.
Senior Brother Xuanming had entered the Way with a superior foundation technique; the stronger he became, the better for the Truth-Seeking Sect and all its members.
“I merely got lucky to break through. Thank you all for your concern.”
After brief pleasantries, each had their own duties. Knowing Xuanming had just broken through and needed to manage his power carefully, they departed.
Left alone, Xuanming sat cross-legged in his humble abode, meticulously feeling the changes within himself. He still needed to practice to master the effortless control of his magical and vital energies.
Fortunately, the Hundred-Day Barrier was past.
He had finally weathered the storm and seen the bright moon emerge from the clouds.
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That evening.
Chang’an Zi sneaked into the Inquiry into the Way Academy.
Aside from the Sect Leader and Elders, whose profound cultivation allowed them to sense it, only the neighbor Xuanming knew of his breakthrough.
Moments later, seeing a plate of fresh spiritual meat and a spirit crane egg on the table, Xuanming’s brow twitched:
“Did you slaughter Xuankong Senior Brother’s spirit crane?”
Chang’an Zi protested immediately.
“Uncle Master, how could I dare?”
“Those are Xuankong Senior Brother’s treasures.”
“I’m not ready to die yet.”
“I bought these with my own savings from the Fire Residence Hall.”
Tapping the table lightly, Xuanming spoke gravely:
“I’ll give you one more chance.”
“Please speak clearly. Tell the truth.”
Under Xuanming’s penetrating gaze, Chang’an Zi hesitated and stammered, “I… I borrowed one sincerely from Sister Changning’s chickens on Pure Maiden Peak to congratulate you on breaking through.”
Hearing this, Xuanming’s eyelid twitched violently.
Sister Xuan Su was far harder to manage than Xuankong Senior Brother.
Changning was her beloved daughter, doted on since childhood; this little maid had no other hobby than eating chicken.
Her raised spirit poultry was renowned throughout the Truth-Seeking Sect.
“No one saw you, right?”
“Don’t worry, Uncle Master, I handled it.”
Seeing Chang’an Zi pound his chest in assurance, Xuanming felt temporarily relieved.
This kid was somewhat reliable in handling matters.
He then began to enjoy the meal wholeheartedly.
After all, it wasn’t his theft.
If confronted, he would feign ignorance and deny everything.
Sister Xuan Su wouldn’t kill Chang’an Zi over this.
Not to mention, the chicken tasted quite good.
Meanwhile, atop Pure Maiden Peak, a young and delicate female cultivator counted her returned spirit poultry with a frown.
“No matter how I count, one is always missing.”
“Did it wander to another peak and fail to return on time, or did someone dare to steal poor me’s chicken?”
—
Inside the scripture library, tea fragrance lingered, and the scent of books filled the air.
Xuanming, as always, poured over scriptures and pondered the Way.
He did not slacken after breaking through; instead, he focused even more on extracting the Dao’s truths from the texts to build a foundation, observing mountains and waters to comprehend deeper mysteries.
Studying scriptures, realizing the Way, refining magic, cultivating...
Days passed one by one.
Xuanming’s Dao cultivation increased steadily; his magical power deepened.
He dwelled close to the mountains and waters, accompanied by clouds and winds.
In leisure, he wandered Floating Cloud Mountain, enjoying its scenery and the changing seasons.
Content and carefree, his mind at ease.
He was very satisfied with his current life.
Most importantly, he had avoided the calamity laws that usually beset transmigrated protagonists.
After entering the Way, nothing untoward occurred.
During the Hundred-Day Barrier, nothing happened.
After breaking through, nothing happened.
This was ordinary and good.
Daoism pursues purity and tranquility; it should be so.
Until half a year later, after the snow melted and the sky cleared, with the first thunder of spring, awakening all things, Floating Cloud Mountain suddenly trembled violently.