Duosheng Danyuan

—The Secret Method of Life-Giving Elixir to Live as Long as Heaven, Chapter 1, Cultivation, Introduction—

Those who cultivate themselves possess the creation of heaven and earth, and absorb the essence of the sun and moon, thus achieving spiritual ascension. Therefore, those without spiritual roots cannot cultivate.

What is meant by the creation of heaven and earth?

Mysterious caves hold hidden secrets, the ancient sites of sages bear the legacy of Taoist wisdom, rare and precious materials nurture spiritual energy, celestial treasures and magical artifacts stabilize the universe, ancient scrolls carry the Great Dao, and noble people guide those lost on their path... All extraordinary encounters in the mortal world that are intertwined with destiny and can aid cultivation are gifts from heaven and earth to cultivators. Through extraordinary encounters, encounters with sages, acquisition of treasures, possession of celestial artifacts, mastery of techniques, meeting of noble people, and attainment of the Great Dao, this is the path of plunder and conquest.

What is the essence of the sun and moon?

As the sun rises, purple energy from the east cleanses the body; the bright moon hangs in the sky, its clear light nourishing the spirit; the four seasons revolve, yin and yang alternate, generating spiritual power; all things cultivate, and the changing world is imbued with spiritual energy. All that can enhance cultivation through a cultivator's breathing is the essence of the sun and moon. And the most common essence of the sun and moon is spiritual energy. Expelling impurities, absorbing spiritual energy, storing spiritual power, and establishing the foundation for the Dao—this is the means of utilization.

Therefore, in the path of cultivation, one should use the body as a cauldron and the mind as fire, absorbing the essence of creation into the dantian and fusing it to establish the foundation of the Dao. Only by breaking free from the shackles of the mundane world, severing the cycle of birth and death, undergoing a complete transformation, and ascending to immortality, can one attain the Great Dao and establish one's own heavenly principles.

——Divider——

"What's wrong with that? Are you making fun of us?" Qian Zhe frowned.

"If you switched the positions of your mouth and anus, I would find the air sweeter," Zeng Yixi rolled her eyes and said disdainfully.

"you**!"

"Keep reading, shut up and no one will think you're mute." Ignoring Qian Zhe's rudeness, Zeng Yixi turned another page of the book on the coffee table.

——Practice·Realm——

The so-called realm refers to the process by which cultivation changes a cultivator's physical body.

Nine cycles of divine transformation, nine pills of elixir production, and nine realms of cultivation.

The following is an overview of the nine realms of cultivation:

Qi cultivation: drawing qi into the body, one can live to be 150 years old.

Establishing the Foundation: Building a Jade Mansion in the Dantian, with a lifespan of two hundred years.

Core Formation: The Jade Palace generates a core, granting a lifespan of three hundred years.

Golden Elixir: The core is refined into gold through a hundred refinements, granting a lifespan of six hundred years.

Nascent Soul: A golden elixir transforming into an infant, granting a lifespan of a thousand years.

Transformation into a Deity: The nascent soul leaves the body and stands independently, with a lifespan of 1,500 years.

Fusion: The nascent soul merges with the original body, granting a lifespan of two thousand years.

Mahayana: Jade Palace Powder, the heart and lungs become the new Jade Palace of the Dantian, lifespan of four thousand years.

The path to immortality: When the body and spiritual energy become one, one can become an immortal through heavenly thunder, and live as long as the Mahayana.

Because cultivators differ in spiritual roots, talents, temperament, fortune, and constitution, the speed at which they advance in their cultivation levels also varies. But there is no need to be impatient; Heaven rewards diligence. Let us all strive together.

——Divider——

"So what? It's just a cliché fantasy novel realm classification. You're making a big fuss over something like this?" Qian Zhe scoffed.

"Silly luck," Zeng Yixi chuckled.

"No matter how much you scold me, it won't change anything," Qian Zhe waved his hand dismissively, seemingly used to Zeng Yixi's insults. "Taking this kind of booklet that everyone has, and just spouting some random, nonsensical analysis, and you call that information sharing? Stop talking nonsense. If you don't have anything to say, just say you don't have anything. Why suffer for the sake of saving face? The result is the same anyway."

"Can you shut up?" Zhang Muyun said coldly.

"you..."

"Snapped!"

"Stop it, okay?" Lin Xu slammed his hand on the coffee table, glanced back and forth between Zeng Yixi and Qian Zhe, and said in a deep voice, "This is the second time. Qian Zhe, you're the ones who invited us here. If you keep talking nonsense and refusing to cooperate and communicate, we're going back."

"...I won't mention her then." Lin Xu and Qian Zhe stared at each other for a long time before Lin Xu looked away. After a long silence, Qian Zhe said sullenly.

"Hmph, wouldn't it have been better if you'd said this earlier?" With a light snort, Zeng Yixi began to explain to us, "The problem I discovered lies in the last sentence. 'Therefore, the speed at which cultivators advance their realms also differs.' The problem is obvious, isn't it? We arrived in this world yesterday, and at that time, Elder Jianshan said we were already Qi Refining stage disciples. But today, after passing through the 'Heart Refining Pool,' Elder Huaizhen actually said that we are all Foundation Establishment stage disciples."

"Let me make this clear, I'm not trying to pick a fight with you," Qian Zhe shook his head, pushed up his glasses, and said seriously after Zeng Yixi finished speaking. "The essence of this world is terrifying and cannibalistic, and I believe everyone has already felt that. Therefore, in such a world, cultivation is not an important part; it merely exists as a backdrop. Under these circumstances, it's pointless for us to dwell on the Sheng Dan Academy's concerns about the disciples' cultivation progress. Yes, the cultivation method that Sheng Dan Academy is making us practice is definitely wrong, okay? So what? So the people here have ulterior motives towards us? Isn't that written all over their faces? Look, the scratches from that old man on my neck haven't faded yet. These things, to put it bluntly, are objective facts; they don't need any further verification, that's all."

As he spoke, Qian Zhe lifted his collar, revealing bright red claw marks on his neck.

"Qian Zhe is right." Lin Xu pondered for a moment, and seeing that no one responded to Chen Yu, he spoke up, "The underlying nature of this world is the bizarre and governed by rules. As far as cultivation is concerned, I can't sense anything yet. The three people I have sensed have all broken the rules. Let's look at it with simple logic: if cultivation requires breaking the rules, and we who abide by the rules are safe, then what will be the situation for those of us who break the rules for cultivation? I think we will be in danger."

"There are still some discerning people out there," Qian Zhe nodded, speaking with a hint of arrogance despite his restraint. "Things are quite clear now. If this really is a mystery of rules, then violating the rules will definitely bring punishment. And I dare to speculate that the progress of cultivation is a manifestation of the rules punishing us. Once we've violated a certain number of rules, we'll probably end up like the senior brothers and sisters we met yesterday."

"Hmm." Zeng Yixi nodded slightly at Qian Zhe's words, seemingly in agreement, as if she were affirming him.

"You've gone a bit off track," I said at that moment. "The essence of the problem isn't here."

"What do you mean?" Chen Yu asked.

"The Secret Method of Life-Generating Elixir of Immortality" was given to us by Elder Huaizhen. And it is very clear that Elder Huaizhen's stance is definitely not ours. Assuming that the Life-Generating Elixir Academy has more power, his stance can only be on behalf of the Life-Generating Elixir Academy.

"Of course, isn't that right?" Wang Hao asked doubtfully.

"As the elder who distributed the 'Secret Method of Longevity Elixir', since his stance is on the side of the Elixir Academy, wouldn't the cultivation method he gave us be on the side of someone else?"

"this..."

"Probably not," Lin Xu said after a moment's thought. "This cultivation manual is the direct way for the Shengdan Academy to instill cultivation concepts in us beginner disciples. In other words, the information in this book must be what the elders of the Shengdan Academy want us to know."

"So what? What does this mean?" Qian Zhe asked, frowning.

"I shouldn't be the one to say the next thing, should I?" I said, crossing my legs and glancing at Zeng Yixi, who had been watching me.

"If you like to talk, I'll listen," Zeng Yixi said with a smile, picking up where I left off. "What does this mean? It means two possibilities. First, the information in the book is wrong; second, our training in the Refining Heart Hall today is wrong."

"These aren't two possibilities," Qian Zhe shook his head and said, "These are two things that could happen, understand? These two things could happen simultaneously, or they could not happen at the same time. They are not independent of each other. At most, they are just two of your conjectures. Besides, why are we talking about cultivation again? Didn't Lin Xu and I already discuss that cultivation is not important here?"

"Oh? That's what you think?"

"Isn't that right?"

"Of course not," Zeng Yixi shook her head, then continued, "Who do you think compiled this cultivation manual?"

"Elder Jianshan? I remember him saying he was the Transmission Elder."

"Perhaps it's Elder Huaizhen, after all, he was the one who directly gave us the cultivation technique."

"From what you're saying, do you think Zeng Yixi is the current head of the Shengdan Academy? But there's no way to verify that."

"Perhaps... it's that middle-aged scholar we saw yesterday in the Refining Heart Hall, the one who taught cultivation techniques to Core Formation stage disciples?"

"If that's your guess, then I have to speak up. Among the people who took Su Wanqing away, there's clearly a completely new face we've never seen before, okay? I could also say he made it up!"

That makes sense.

"..."

Everyone chimed in, offering their opinions, from logical reasoning to exhaustive enumeration, and each explanation seemed to make sense.

Finally, Zeng Yixi sighed, putting an end to everyone's speculation, and said, "I think there are many possibilities, but the author of this book is definitely not one of the instructors of the Refining Heart Hall. Do you agree?"

"Why?" Wang Hao asked almost instinctively.

"Tsk, didn't that woman just say that there's a difference between the compilation of the cultivation method and the actual practice in the Refining Heart Hall?" Qian Zhe said with a hint of disappointment.

"Oh, right."

"That's no problem, please continue," Lin Xu said.

"Therefore, this cultivation method must not have been compiled by Jianshan, Huaizhen, or that scholar. Otherwise, they would have no reason to give us a book with information that differs from reality as our cultivation method."

"Um."

"But is it possible that the cultivation method he gave us was flawed from the start?" Tang Anran tried to say.

"That's impossible," Zeng Yixi shook her head. "If Jian Shan and Huai Zhen wanted to tamper with this, they would definitely give us a cultivation method that fits our experience as our introductory manual, instead of directly giving us this method that differs from reality, understand?"

"That makes sense..." Tang Anran nodded shyly and said.

"So, the technique itself isn't the problem, then the problem lies with the Refining Heart Hall?" Wang Hao frowned.

"Yes, that's the only possibility." Zeng Yixi nodded and continued, "This is my real discovery. First, the compiler of the cultivation method is definitely not Jian Shan, Huai Zhen, or that guy who teaches in front of the Core Formation stage disciples; second, most of the problems were caused by these elders of the Refining Heart Hall, namely the three people I just mentioned."

"They don't even dare to modify a cultivation technique, yet they dare to openly make small moves in the Refining Heart Hall?" Zhang Muyun said solemnly, his tone seemingly incredulous.

"They probably wouldn't dare," Tang Anran chimed in.

"What's so strange about that?" Qian Zhe waved his hand, unusually agreeing with Zeng Yixi's words. As he spoke, he glanced at Chen Yu beside him. "This kind of thing is probably commonplace everywhere."

"I advise you not to joke about me." Beside Qian Zhe, Chen Yu said angrily, his face darkening.

"Okay, okay, don't be like that." Seeing that Chen Yu was unhappy, Qian Zhe quickly stopped talking.

"So, you mean there are unspoken rules in the Refining Heart Hall?" Lin Xu asked after a moment's thought.

"Most likely so," Zeng Yixi nodded. "This unspoken rule isn't the basic rule of the Refining Heart Hall that we're told about openly. It's a kind of unspoken rule that Jian Shan and Huai Zhen set up to exploit us. I'm afraid that 'Refining Heart Purification Pool' is also a trick they came up with to facilitate their exploitation."

"These can be discussed further. Do you have any other information?" I asked Zeng Yixi.

That's all.

"OK."