Chapter 14: Daoist Method

When Xu Xian woke up, the sky was already bright. He felt his spirit as clear and open as the daylight, with none of the muddle that usually comes upon waking.

He sensed that the golden light in his spirit, which had previously been tinged with other colors, was now pure gold. Even without anyone to guide him, he understood that he had made another step forward.

But he still couldn’t say what use this light was. Xu Xian couldn’t help but guess that the Daoist who taught him this method hadn’t actually passed on any profound Daoist arts. Although the name sounded impressive,Starry Sea Transmission Record , in a wuxia novel it would probably be on par with something like Iron Sand Palm.

If Taiyin Zhenren , who had taught him this heart method, knew that the thing he’d devoted his life to was being dismissed as something as common as Iron Sand Palm, his Dao heart would probably shatter, and regardless of karma or right and wrong, he’d just call down thunder and strike Xu Xian dead on the spot.

But if he saw Xu Xian’s current state, he’d probably forget how to summon thunder. Because Xu Xian’s current condition was truly strange.

There are three thousand paths to the Dao, and countless Daoist sects and methods in the world, each with their own cultivation methods and different names for their stages. But if you generalize, most divide into the stages of “Foundation Building , Refining Essence into Qi , Refining Qi into Spirit ,  Refining Spirit to Return to Void ( , Refining Void to Merge with Dao , Shattering the Void .”

The Starry Sea method took a different path, focusing entirely on cultivating the spirit and soul, abandoning the body. “Lighting the Star ” corresponded to Foundation Building, and then it skipped Refining Essence into Qi, going straight to accumulating star power, Refining Qi into Spirit. But this required borrowing power from the heavens, and only those with great fortune could do it.

Because for ordinary people, cultivating the Dao is done with a mortal body; all that talk about drawing in the world’s spiritual energy is nonsense. The real path is eating grains and working with the body’s own essence to refine Qi. This is the right way, but it’s slow and requires the perseverance of water wearing through stone.

Xu Xian was exactly such a person of great fortune, not only did he have the opportunity, but with his unique worldview, he lit the Sun Star as his main star, something never done before.

Normally, to reach the stage of Refining Spirit to Return to Void, one must first clear the mind and purify the soul, cultivating the Yin Spirit. Then, through the interplay of yin and yang, one cultivates the Yang Spirit. The Yin Spirit is like a ghost, but the Yang Spirit is the means of the immortals, gathered, it forms a body; dispersed, it becomes Qi; it can create avatars outside the body, truly freeing one from the flesh.

If Foundation Building is just stepping through the door, then cultivating the Yang Spirit is entering the hall, and only then does the path of cultivation truly begin.

Xu Xian had not been cultivating long, and should at most be at the Yin Spirit stage. But the sun is the ultimate yang thing in the world, and Xu Xian, with his soul purified by absorbing the Sun Star’s power, was now neither Yin nor Yang Spirit, perhaps not even his master could say.

But Xu Xian didn’t understand how unusual his situation was. Because he didn’t know any techniques for using it, he was like a miser who only knows how to save money but not spend it, he had a fortune but didn’t know what it was for, thinking it was just nice to look at.

If he’d practiced another method, one that refined essence into Qi, he might at least get to play at being a martial arts master. But the Starry Sea method was “cultivate spirit, not body; cultivate mind, not flesh,” on the principle that “this body is something to be discarded sooner or later, so why bother training it?”

Not knowing any techniques, Xu Xian didn’t taste much benefit. It was only thanks to this method that he had a photographic memory and became a xiucai. He was often grateful to the Daoist for this, so he never slacked in his practice, treating it as the most important thing every day. That’s how, in just a few years, he reached the stage of Yin Spirit and clarity of mind.

On the path of cultivation, whether Daoist or Buddhist, the key is the heart. If the heart is enlightened, the way is open to heaven; if the heart is confused, no amount of effort will move you forward.

As the Sage said: “How virtuous was Hui! With a single basket of food and a single ladle of drink, others could not endure his poverty, but Hui never changed his joy.” This refers to Confucius’s disciple Yan Hui, who could remain content in hardship. But even the Sage praised this as a rare state, how many ordinary people can truly keep their hearts calm in such circumstances?

Xu Xian was like this. Though his nature was carefree, and he was even more easygoing after being reborn, how could he not care about his family’s poverty? At first, this concern wasn’t obvious, but as his cultivation deepened, it became a shackle.

The things needed for cultivation are summed up as “method, wealth, companion, place ”

“Method” means the technique or Daoist method, without it, sitting around daydreaming isn’t seeking the Dao. Xu Xian already had this, the method he was practicing.

Next is “wealth,” even more important than companion and place. For ordinary people, if you can’t even eat, if you’re always struggling for a living and feeling inferior under others’ scorn, how can you calm your heart? Talking about cultivation is a joke.

Only today did Xu Xian finally have no worries about food and clothing. His only sister was taken care of, and with his worries gone, he could look up and see the way to heaven, what a relief.

Xu Xian looked back and saw Pan Yu’s bed was empty, the bedding neatly folded. The window was wide open, sunlight streaming in. The room had clearly been tidied, and a gilded incense burner on the greenwood table sent up a curl of blue smoke.

Xu Xian lay in bed in the morning sunlight, the beds at the academy were much more comfortable than at home. Lying in this antique room, he finally felt a bit of a transmigrator’s privilege.

“Who wakes from the great dream first? In this life, I know myself. Sleeping well in the thatched cottage in spring, outside the window the song is slow to come.” Xu Xian couldn’t help but sigh, “If even Zhuge Wolong couldn’t get enough to eat, always busy with survival, he wouldn’t have had such refined interests. The pleasures of life can only be appreciated after you’re fed and clothed.”

“Good poem, good poem!” A voice of praise pulled Xu Xian out of his thoughts.

Pan Yu was standing there with a food box, looking at him admiringly. Xu Xian smiled awkwardly. “That’s something a passing monk recited when I was a child,don’t tell anyone.”

Pan Yu smiled and didn’t press further. He set the food box on the table and opened it. “Come eat something!” He laid out the layers of the box, delicate dishes, thin porridge, steamed buns.

Pan Yu ladled a bowl of porridge into a white porcelain bowl and handed it to Xu Xian, his own hand as white and delicate as the bowl. Xu Xian took it, feeling how comfortable it was to be served by someone like this, though a little uneasy as well.

The two sat facing each other, following the rule of not speaking at meals, eating in silence.

After breakfast, Xu Xian felt content and couldn’t help but sigh, “Mingyu, you really are a good person!”

Pan Yu was sipping his porridge and smiled. “Last night you wanted to break off relations, today I’m a good person? Brother Hanwen, your thoughts are truly unpredictable!”

Xu Xian blushed, unable to explain. He just vaguely felt that the beautiful, jade-like young man before him had returned to his usual calm and composure, his jokes were measured, and for some reason, Xu Xian felt a faint sense of loss.

After washing up, he went outside and saw a crowd gathered in front of the academy’s screen wall, discussing something.

Xu Xian walked up and saw that the results of yesterday’s exam were posted. He looked for his name in the middle of the list, but Pan Yu didn’t bother,his name was at the very top, the highest scorer.

Several students came up, apparently familiar with Pan Yu, and congratulated him: “Brother Pan is first again,truly worthy of the title ‘Number One Talent of Jiangnan!’”

Pan Yu repeatedly said he didn’t deserve it, naturally chatting with them and instantly becoming the center of the group. As he handled the greetings, he looked around to make sure Xu Xian wasn’t being left out, but saw him chatting with his hometown friend Wang An, not paying attention at all. Pan Yu shook his head slightly.

Among the scholars, a particularly refined young man was always watching for cues. Seeing Pan Yu’s slight dissatisfaction with Xu Xian, he sighed, “Although everyone here at Jintian Academy is talented, there are always those with empty reputations. Some claim to be prodigies in their little counties, but when they come to Hangzhou, their true colors show. Especially Brother Xu, he was a bit too reckless yesterday.”