Chapter 4: Brother, Who Is She?
Shortly after, Xia Yanming left Mingyan’s residence and found the master and disciple.
“Yunfeng, inform Elder Li to seal off Rain Terrace Blessed Land. No one is allowed to leave without my personal permission.” Xia Yanming’s expression was grave. “Also, notify the elders in seclusion to emerge early. Significant events might unfold soon.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.” Liu Yunfeng nodded and left.
Xia Yanming turned to Mingyan. “Attend to Celestial Huang these next few days. See to her needs and treat her with utmost hospitality. She is an important person in your life. Earning her favor will greatly benefit your cultivation.”
“Understood, Sect Leader.” Mingyan nodded.
“Go on, then.” Xia Yanming patted Mingyan’s shoulder and departed.
Mingyan felt uneasy. Bringing Huang Feiyan back seemed to have caused trouble for the sect. Perhaps he should have saved her but not brought her back.
Although Xia Yanming hadn’t blamed him, the situation suggested otherwise. He had been too rash. Sighing, Mingyan returned to his residence.
Huang Feiyan was still sitting by the bed, resting with her eyes closed. Hearing his footsteps, she opened her eyes.
“Celestial Sister,” Mingyan pulled up a chair and sat down. “If you have any needs, please tell me. I’ll do my best to fulfill them.”
Huang Feiyan nodded, studying him for a moment. “Your sect leader seems to value you highly.”
“Perhaps. I hope I won’t disappoint him.”
Huang Feiyan smiled faintly and closed her eyes again.
Mingyan’s room was simple: a desk, a chair, shelves for medicine bottles, and nothing else. Huang Feiyan hadn’t made any requests, so Mingyan simply sat there.
He could faintly sense the spiritual energy flowing faster around Huang Feiyan. She was absorbing the surrounding energy to heal. Although she had no visible external injuries, she must have been severely hurt, considering she had been unconscious and remained weak after waking up.
Mingyan focused his attention inward.
It had been six months since he broke through to the Gathering Stream Realm. After this period of consolidation, his realm was stable. It was time to seek the opportunity to break through to the Great Brook Realm.
The Spring Opening Realm was straightforward. Its four minor realms—Spring Gushing, Gathering Stream, Great Brook, and Illuminating Sea—could be seen as descriptors of the cultivator’s capacity to absorb spiritual energy. Spring Gushing was the initial connection with natural energy, opening a “spring” within the body to draw upon. Gathering Stream expanded this spring for more efficient absorption. Great Brook further increased the flow, like a small stream, and Illuminating Sea represented a vast ocean of readily available energy.
The Spring Opening Realm was a process of quantitative change leading to qualitative change. It didn’t require complex understanding, relying primarily on natural talent.
The first “spring” a cultivator opened was located on the sole of the foot, at the Yongquan acupoint, hence the name “Spring Gushing.” This was why cultivators meditated cross-legged, feet off the ground, preferably barefoot. Higher cultivation levels opened more acupoints, like the two additional “springs” at the Gathering Stream Realm, further increasing absorption efficiency. Naturally, the more spiritual energy one could utilize, the stronger they became, as it not only strengthened the body but also enhanced martial techniques.
It was generally inadvisable to immediately strive for the next realm after a breakthrough. For example, after reaching Gathering Stream, one should consolidate the current realm before aiming for Great Brook. Without proper consolidation, the “springs” could collapse during later cultivation, leading to regression or even permanent damage, rendering further progress impossible. Therefore, consolidating each realm was crucial.
Mingyan had begun seeking the breakthrough to Great Brook half a month ago.
Reaching this realm required carefully shaping the Tai Xi acupoint on the ankle into a “spring.”
This process was delicate and susceptible to various influences.
Firstly, natural spiritual energy varied in nature. Some were gentle and stable, while others were violent and erratic. Using the latter to shape a spring could lead to collapse before completion.
Secondly, the body’s capacity to absorb spiritual energy mattered. Ordinary cultivators had weaker constitutions and needed to absorb energy slowly during spring formation to avoid collapse. Someone like Mingyan, with a strong physique, could absorb faster, but physical strength fluctuated. For example, female cultivators experienced menstruation, a period of vulnerability during which spring formation was unwise.
The ideal time for spring formation was in a location with stable and gentle spiritual energy, free from external disturbances. It was also best to choose a time when one’s physical condition was optimal and their emotions were stable, as the process required utmost precision.
Not all acupoints could become “springs.” Many were inert, known as “flat acupoints,” suitable for practice before attempting to open a true spring. This practice, however, required reaching the Spring Gushing Realm first, as one needed to be able to draw in and manipulate spiritual energy. Therefore, the initial Spring Gushing breakthrough was the riskiest, either granting entry to the world of cultivation or permanently crippling one’s potential. Of course, this was assuming one could even sense spiritual energy, which most people couldn’t.
The current time wasn’t ideal… Summer wasn’t a good season for breakthroughs. The heat made spiritual energy violent and unstable. Winter energy, while stable, was too cold and stimulating, posing risks during spring formation. Spring and autumn were the most suitable seasons.
Autumn was approaching, and it would soon be time to attempt the breakthrough…
Mingyan opened his eyes. Huang Feiyan was still meditating on the bed. The spiritual energy around her flowed much faster than before. She was like a bottomless pit, drawing in and absorbing all the surrounding energy. The efficiency was astounding, leaving Mingyan speechless. The amount of energy he normally absorbed was a mere drop compared to what she was consuming.
Mingyan remembered his master saying that after reaching the Transcendence Realm and establishing the Yin Tomb and Yang Tomb realms, cultivators generally didn’t need to absorb large amounts of external energy. They could generate their own. However, Huang Feiyan was a special case. She was injured, and although Mingyan didn’t know the severity, it was clearly serious enough to require external energy.
This intense absorption didn’t last long. The swirling energy gradually slowed and calmed. Mingyan had started to wonder if she would absorb all the energy in his vicinity… Women were terrifying, capable of depleting the very earth… No, that wasn’t the right analogy.
“Brother! Brother!”
A clear voice called from outside. It was Liu Mengli. Her footsteps grew closer. Huang Feiyan also heard her and looked towards the door, then at Mingyan, puzzled.
Mingyan stood up, about to ask Liu Mengli to wait outside, but the door burst open, and a small figure darted in.
“Brother, you’re not…” Liu Mengli stopped mid-sentence, noticing the beautiful woman in red sitting on Mingyan’s bed, a fiery lotus-like mark on her forehead. She stared at Mingyan, then asked softly, “Brother… who is she?”
“Uh… it’s complicated. Why are you here?” Mingyan coughed, quickly changing the subject.
“I saw a super huge snake in the sky over Dragon Ridge! Daddy said it was a dragon. I was worried because you went to Dragon Ridge too. I was so scared! I waited at the sect entrance, but you didn’t come back. I wanted Elder Li to find you, but he took me home and locked me in!” The petite and adorable Liu Mengli angrily shook her tiny fist. “That nasty old man! Daddy just came back and told me you were back, but he wouldn’t let me see you. I snuck out! I’m so glad you’re okay, Brother!”
It was hard to believe these words came from an eight-year-old. Despite her clinginess, Liu Mengli genuinely cared for him. Warmth filled Mingyan’s heart. He stroked her head. “Brother is fine. Go back now. Master will be worried if he finds you missing.”
“Oh…” Liu Mengli blinked, then pointed at Huang Feiyan. “Then Brother, who is she?”
Mingyan had hoped her long explanation would distract her, but Liu Mengli wasn’t easily fooled. He coughed. “She’s a guest of the Blessed Land, and my guest as well. You can call her Sister Huang Feiyan. Also, don’t tell anyone about her being here, okay?”
“Huh? If she’s a guest of the Blessed Land, why can’t I tell anyone? Why is she hiding here, Brother… Is she my future sister-in-law?” Liu Mengli asked with wide, innocent eyes, full of curiosity.
Huang Feiyan’s lips twitched as she glanced at Mingyan, who broke out in a cold sweat. “You can’t just say things like that, Mengli…”
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