System crash? I prove it with my control panel!

Chen Wen sat cross-legged on the couch, quietly circulating the Xuanhuang Refining Heart Technique, transforming the few stray thoughts in his mind into a clear tranquility.

Once his mind was completely clear, like an ancient pool, he slowly closed his eyes, placed his hands in a mudra before his dantian, and silently recited the Daoist scripture already imprinted deep within his soul:

"The highest good is like water; the ultimate way is purity. Heaven and earth have their pivots; all things contain spirit..."

As the scriptures flowed through his heart, his breathing gradually became long and deep, eventually almost imperceptible.

His mind sank into the depths of his dantian, into that chaotic and unfathomable darkness.

At first, there was nothing unusual.

Only boundless silence and darkness.

I don't know how much time passed; it felt like an instant, yet also like the passing of dawn and dusk.

Suddenly, in that absolute "nothingness", a very subtle and cool "touch" quietly emerged.

It did not come from the outside world, but from the depths of one's own flesh, bones, and even every inch of skin, a faint glimmer of light rising and separating.

It seemed to exist yet not exist, like smoke or mist, but it carried a kind of lively vitality, slowly gathering towards the dantian.

Is this... spiritual energy?

Chen Wen remained calm and focused, using only the purest form of "contemplation" to experience the world.

One thread after another...

At first, it was like a gentle spring rain, silent and still;

Gradually, like a trickle of water, it seeps out from every part of the body and every acupoint, flowing towards the same center.

This involves taking one's own pure energy as a foundation, and then absorbing the energy of heaven and earth, thus enabling oneself to unite with heaven and earth.

The Tao Te Ching says: "Attain utmost emptiness, hold fast to stillness, and all things will arise together; I will observe their return."

His current state perfectly aligns with this principle.

Without deliberately guiding or forcing the capture, simply "observe" and "guard".

The streams of spiritual energy that gathered there swirled and intertwined in the void of the dantian, following a mysterious rhythm, and naturally began to rotate.

The rotation became clearer and clearer, and at the center, a faint but stable "gravity" quietly emerged.

Just as in the beginning of chaos, the clear and the turbid began to separate.

This point of gravity is the starting point of his foundation, the first wisp of "existence" born from "nothingness".

Afterwards, more spiritual energy was captured and drawn in by the rotating gravity, and the trickle gradually converged into a small but nascent light blue "cyclone".

This cyclone is cool, clear, and vibrant, yet it embodies a sense of "tranquility." It neither contends nor fights, but simply rotates silently, welcoming all who come and letting go of those who do not wish to remain...

As it rotates, it seems to slowly wash away something heavy and sluggish that has accumulated in the body.

Just as the cyclone stabilized and began to rotate continuously on its own—

"boom!"

The spiritual energy in the courtyard seemed to be touched by something, quickly gathering and swirling around Chen Wen, causing the doors and windows to rattle slightly.

The commotion startled the three people inside the courtyard who were studying the cultivation technique.

They ran out quickly.

Xiao Hongyu's face still held a hint of resentment.

"Who is it? Why are you making so much noise at night instead of sleeping...?"

She suddenly froze, seeing Chen Wen sitting by the window, meditating with his eyes closed.

She had not yet grasped the cultivation technique and could not see any spiritual energy, but she could see a gentle breeze swirling around Chen Wen.

Even a fool would know that

Chen Wen succeeded!

The expressions on the three people's faces became extremely complicated.

Chu Feng was delighted and happy.

The other two, however, had unspeakable bitterness.

The two exchanged a glance, realizing that their superior spiritual roots were truly useless.

The family says they have exceptional talent and extraordinary comprehension.

But now, it can't even compare to a mid-grade spiritual root...

Time passed slowly.

In the blink of an eye, half an hour had passed.

The spiritual power within Chen Wen's body had transformed into pure magical power... no, it should be called Azure Netherworld magical power.

Rich, pure, and solid.

Although he is not good at killing, he is extremely gentle and patient. Because he has a wood spirit root, the magic he cultivates is full of vitality.

He felt that it had been a long time since he first entered the Dao, and his meridians were faintly throbbing with pain.

So he slowly finished his practice.

Although he had noticed that there were three people standing by his window, he did not rush to open his eyes.

Instead, he carefully contemplated the changes that followed his entry into the Dao before slowly opening his eyes.

Seeing him stand up, the three of them bowed in unison, as if they had rehearsed it:

"Congratulations to Senior Brother Chen on successfully entering the Dao! A bright future awaits you!"

Chen Wen was about to speak when he suddenly felt a metallic taste in his throat. "Cough cough—Pfft!"

He spat out a mouthful of brown phlegm, streaked with blood, into the spittoon.

The three people outside were still staring at him with curiosity.

He couldn't help but blush, "Gentlemen, my apologies!"

Xiao Hongyu smiled slightly and explained:

"It's alright, Senior Brother Chen. This is just impurities being expelled as his body is tempered by spiritual energy after successfully entering the Dao. It's a normal phenomenon!"

"Oh, is that how it is? I see!"

Chen Wen suddenly realized what was happening and immediately got off the bed and went outside.

Before going out, I even looked in the bronze mirror—thinking I was going to pee on my skin!

On second thought, he realized that he had been eating spiritual fruits and rice since he was a child, so what impurities would he have in his body to expel?

The person in the mirror was fair-skinned and had red lips; he was truly handsome, like a fairy boy from a painting. Although he was good-looking before, he was never as ethereal as he was now, with delicate and smooth skin.

Compared to appearance, bodily sensations are more pronounced.

As soon as my feet touched the ground, I felt light as a feather, as if a gust of wind would blow me away.

However, this feeling came and went quickly, and I soon got used to it.

After meeting up with the three others, they sat down at the stone table in the courtyard.

The three of them waited for him to sit down before taking their seats in turn.

Seeing this, Chen Wen quickly waved his hand and said:

"What are you all doing here? We are all fellow disciples from the same academy, so there's no need for such formalities. Please make yourselves at home and act as usual."

Upon hearing this, Chu Feng immediately breathed a sigh of relief, a teasing look on his face. "Jingwen, how does it feel to enter the Dao?"

Xiao Hongyu and Jia Xu also relaxed a little, their gazes falling on Chen Wen with curiosity.

Chen Wen raised his hand, circulated his spiritual energy, and immediately his fingertips glowed with a faint blue light. He smiled and said:

"There's not much difference from before, except I feel a bit stronger and lighter, as if a heavy burden has been lifted. I've only just begun my cultivation journey; other miraculous effects haven't yet manifested!"

"Even so, it's perfect..."

Jia Xu stopped joking and stared intently at the glimmer of light on Chen Wen's fingertip.

The same applies to the other two.

Although they were all confident that they would eventually attain enlightenment.

But if one does not enter the path of enlightenment, one will remain an ordinary person in the end.

They're talking different things!

The group then asked about their experiences when they first entered the path, as well as some points to note.

They dispersed, their faces filled with undisguised envy, determined not to sleep tonight and to figure it out!

Chen Wenze sat in the courtyard, gazing at the starry sky, a slight smile playing on his lips as he muttered to himself, "Hehe, I've succeeded!"

He quietly experienced the changes that came with entering the Tao.

First of all, the whole world became more real and three-dimensional in his eyes, as if everything had a spirit.

With each breath, the scents of the surrounding grass, trees, birds, and beasts flowed through my nostrils.

Most importantly, he was finally able to use the Xuanhuang Refining Heart Technique freely.

When you want to swing a hammer, the sky is filled with hammer shadows.

When you don't feel like swinging the hammer, no amount of thoughts can affect you.

However, Chen Wen still kept it running.

After all, there's a ghost living inside him; who knows when he might suddenly attack?

Besides that, there is spiritual perception.

Spiritual perception is the manifestation of a cultivator's soul.

Generally speaking, someone like him who has just entered the path has only just begun to develop spiritual awareness, and is only slightly more perceptive than ordinary people, able to detect the movement of the wind and grass, the chirping of insects and the singing of birds.

Spiritual consciousness only emerges in the mid-stage of Qi Refining. At this point, one can use the Art of Manipulation to control objects or explore the surrounding environment.

But...

Chen Wen's expression was strange.

He discovered it as soon as he finished his practice.

Even with his eyes closed, he can see everything within a ten-meter radius around him, and it's a God's-eye view, three-dimensional.

This... cannot be called spiritual perception, it should be called spiritual awareness!

But...shouldn't one awaken at the mid-stage of Qi Refining?

Chen Wen was somewhat puzzled, but in the end he could only attribute it to the Xuanhuang Refining Heart Technique.

There is no other explanation.

He opened the panel.

Name: Chen Wen (Chen Jingwen)

Lifespan: 8/160

Race: Human.

[Spiritual Root: Mid-grade Wood Spiritual Root.]

Cultivation Level: Qi Refining Level 1 (1/100)

[Technique: Introduction to the Azure Sky Qi Guiding Technique (5/100)]

Xuanhuang Refining Heart Technique, First Level: Beginner (50/100)

Techniques:

Xuanwen: Minor Success (35/100)

General term: Max

Calligraphy: Max

...]

[Supernatural Power:]

Supernatural Seed: Soul of Ink Swamp (Sealed) Not Yet Beginner (0/100) (Click for details)

Everything about me is very different now.

The most obvious effect is the increase in lifespan, which increased by nearly twenty years in one go.

There's also the increase in various levels of proficiency, especially in the Xuanhuang Refining Heart Technique, which is like taking stimulants.

However, he was happy to see it happen.

He was still planning what methods to choose for this top-tier reward.

He had already thought it through last time and decided to choose a body-refining method.

We need to start thinking about the foundation building now.

Humans possess three treasures: essence, energy, and spirit. Foundation building is divided into three stages: essence, energy, and spirit.

Now, Chen Wen's fundamental method is to cultivate Qi, and his Xuanhuang Refining Heart is to cultivate Shen; he is only missing Jing.

Now that I've gotten an A grade, I might consider learning a spell, preferably one that can generate resources.

Thinking about it this way, it's bound to cause a sensation tomorrow!

Chen Wen thought to himself.

He wasn't going to hide anything.

Although he was afraid of death and adhered to a prudent approach, he did not suffer from paranoia!

Such a large sect can't even accommodate a genius?

That would be ridiculous.

There aren't that many confrontations.

That so-called Senior Brother He from that day, there was no follow-up either!

As for the White Execution Hall? If he's not stupid, he'll come to make peace tomorrow.

If he doesn't come... then pretend he didn't say anything.

Within the Azure Nether Sect, there is boundless glory and countless opportunities. To gain a foothold in this sect, it is essential to distinguish oneself.

We can't just stay hidden forever and expect others to bring us opportunities.

Of course, opportunities and risks coexist.

He will be well prepared and will calmly deal with any risks!

After thinking it through, Chen Wen returned to his room, lay down on the bed, but did not fall asleep.

There's one more thing to do.

It's time to check the cultivation resources provided by the family!

He pulled a palm-sized brocade pouch from his pillow. It was dark red, tough, and somewhat made of animal hide. The character "Chen" was embroidered on its surface.

Following the instructions given by Steward Wang on the way here, he took out the silver needles he had prepared, pricked his fingertip, squeezed out a drop of blood, dripped it onto the brocade pouch, and then injected a wisp of spiritual power to activate it.

As soon as the pouch opened slightly, he probed it with his spiritual sense.

The next moment, a space several times larger than his room appeared in his consciousness.

The room was filled to the brim with jade, including tens of thousands of pieces the size of a fingernail and hundreds the size of an egg.

He knew that these were spirit stones; those the size of a fingernail were low-grade spirit stones, and those the size of an egg were mid-grade spirit stones. Although the difference between the two seemed to be only one, they were actually a thousand times different.

The reason is that low-grade spirit stones are used by Qi Refining stage cultivators, while mid-grade spirit stones are used by Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, or even Purple Mansion stage cultivators.

The difference in the concentration and quality of spiritual energy is so great that it is like a chasm!

There were also many bottles and jars, talismans and jade slips.

Chen Wen glanced at the jade slips and found that they mostly contained basic spells such as Cleansing, Object Manipulation, Fireball, and Wooden Arrow.

The only thing that can be passed down in the book of first-grade talismans is the foundation of the Chen family's heritage.

There is also a second-grade inheritance, but only the main family can have it.

There is also a book on the inheritance of first-class medical skills, which Chen Polang seems to have obtained by chance.

Another small shield, a silver needle, and a jade pen.

All three items are recorded on jade slips and are magical artifacts usable during the Qi Refining stage.

The small shield is a first-tier, mid-grade defensive magic weapon, the Xuan Turtle Shield.

The jade brush is made of lapis lazuli and wolf hair, and is a high-grade magic tool used specifically for drawing talismans.

Only that needle, called the Soul-Piercing Needle, is a top-grade first-tier magic weapon. Even Foundation Establishment cultivators would be tempted by it and might even kill to steal it.

Chen Polang instructed in his record that it must never be shown to anyone.

As for those bottles and jars, there were Yellow Sprout Pills for improving cultivation, Rejuvenation Pills for healing injuries, and Blood Explosion Pills for life-or-death battles...

Chen Wen only glanced at them before going to study the poison pills more carefully.

This is mainly because Master Li taught that these low-level pills are for use by small sects and independent cultivators outside the sect.

They naturally want their magical power to be pure and of high quality, so they avoid taking pills if possible, and even if they do take them, they take them slowly and carefully!

Just as he was about to take out some items to examine them closely.

Sudden.

Images flashed through his mind.

There were cultivation practices, fights, and even intimate scenes...

"Distracting thoughts are the fuel..."

The next moment, the hammer formed by the Xuanhuang Refining Heart Technique began to strike wildly, almost smoking!

Memories were shattered into fragments by the hammer, only to be hammered again...

The panel in front of Chen Wen was still open, and he saw that the proficiency of the Xuanhuang Refining Heart Technique had increased rapidly, rising by five points in a short time.

And it's still rising.

Chen Wen quickly got up and sat cross-legged, using his magic power to activate the Xuanhuang Refining Heart Technique even more frantically.

Only then did he realize why the Xuanhuang Refining Heart Technique had increased so rapidly; it turned out that it was because that old rascal Chen Polang always secretly fed him memories in the middle of the night.

It turned out that he had no cultivation and could not detect anything; he only possessed the Heart Refining Technique and worked like an old ox, diligently and tirelessly.

Only now can we begin to realize it.

"Damn it, that old bastard!"

Chen Wen cursed under his breath, then stopped being distracted and focused on dealing with the situation.

An hour later, Chen Wencai finally recovered and used the Xuanhuang Refining Heart Technique to refine all of Chen Polang's memories.

This is why it took him so long—he had to go through all his memories.

Otherwise, half an hour would be enough.

Even as usual, he could let the Xuanhuang Refining Heart Technique refine itself, but Chen Wen was not at ease and felt more comfortable refining it as soon as possible.

And so, he slept peacefully.

........