After Zhang Yan had walked no more than a hundred steps, his pace slowed involuntarily. He contemplated, "What did that Daoist Nun mean by her words?"
After Foundation Building, his senses had become sharper, so the conversation between the Daoist Nun and Zhao Ying had reached his ears with perfect clarity. Moreover, those words... they seemed intentionally spoken for him to hear?
The Daoist Nun appeared to have come deliberately to provoke him. Yet Zhang Yan instinctively felt that she wouldn't be so shallow as to initiate a conflict without cause. To ask him such a question for no apparent reason must hold deeper meaning.
"Elephant River, Elephant River, overflows when crossed, rounds when insufficient..."
Zhang Yan furrowed his brows in deep thought, mulling over her words repeatedly. Suddenly, he halted mid-step, an idea flashing into his mind. Could it be that she was referring to his cultivation?
Upon realizing this possibility, the more he thought, the more plausible it seemed.
Logically speaking, with the Lin Yao Inquiry Method in hand, his cultivation progress, while not as smooth as before, should have still advanced steadily. However, he felt that no matter how much effort he put in, even though his Inner Qi was robust, he was unable to break through into the "Yuan Cheng Ruzhen" realm. He had previously assumed it was because his effort wasn't enough, yet now, reflecting on the Daoist Nun's words and examining himself anew, a certain clarity dawned upon him—it wasn't that his effort was insufficient; it was too much!
The issue lay in the principle of "excess is as detrimental as deficiency"!
It was as if a bolt of lightning flashed before his eyes. Zhang Yan suddenly understood; the barriers clouding his mind dissipated in an instant. Overcome with joy, he couldn't help but laugh aloud, exclaiming, "So that's it! So that's it!"
Turning back in the direction where the Daoist Nun had departed, he cupped his hands and bowed deeply from afar.
The tiers of Xuanmen Daoist Skill were widely acknowledged, yet hidden within them were pitfalls and secretive hurdles.
For instance, within the stage of Foundation Building, it was commonly believed there were two sub-realms—"Condensing Yuan and Manifesting Intent" and "Yuan Cheng Ruzhen"—yet there was actually another barrier concealed therein, known as "Quenching Yuan and Purging Impurities."
After reaching "Condensing Yuan and Manifesting Intent," to advance further, the Primordial Qi stored within the deep recesses of one's meridians must be purified, not increased in quantity but refined in quality.
Cultivators unaware of this crucial step often spend years, even decades, blindly cultivating. Over time, the fiery and impetuous nature within their Primordial Qi naturally dissolves, eventually becoming refined and unified, allowing them to step into the realm of "Yuan Cheng Ruzhen," thus ascending to the point of Opening Meridians.
However, by proceeding this way, far more time is wasted. Unknowingly, they are left far behind by disciples privy to the secret methods.
It is essential to understand that the spell techniques learned after Opening Meridians are worlds beyond those practiced before. The gap between levels cannot be measured in mere terms of distance. Fall behind by one step, and every subsequent step will lag. Without extraordinary opportunities or outstanding talent, catching up to peers who have progressed ahead becomes nearly impossible.
If one is not from a Xuanmen Family, they will have no chance of knowing these pivotal secrets.
The process of "Quenching Yuan and Purging Impurities" is exclusively imparted in private, passed down orally between master and disciple. It is never explicitly recorded in Daoist Books. Even if such texts once existed, over millennia they were sealed away or destroyed by Xuanmen Families.
Through such deliberate schemes and tacit understandings among themselves, the noble families dominate the higher paths of cultivation within the various sects.
To be sure, the Xuanmen Families' manipulations are not confined to this one area. Cultivation for those without family ties can indeed feel like treading on thin ice—a single misstep, and there is no turning back.
Zhang Yan, always one for strategic thinking, pondered briefly before he dimly grasped the possible circumstances behind this setup.
The Daoist Nun must have noticed that his cultivation had reached this threshold but, unable to state it outright, chose instead to use a metaphor to awaken him. Although he wasn't sure of her intentions, he had now taken note of this favor.
Though Zhang Yan didn't yet know the specific method to refine his Qi, with the Mystical Classics he had studied over the years, he had deduced the nature of his problem and formed some preliminary ideas. Besides, with Broken Jade in hand, as long as he identified the underlying cause, through repeated trials he was certain to find the correct solution.
At this thought, he felt an urgent desire to sit down and meditate on this newfound realization.
Just then, a strange sense stirred him, causing him to turn his head back. He spotted a familiar figure entering his line of sight.
Ai Zhongwen was venturing down the mountain path, seemingly agitated. Raising his head, he unexpectedly caught sight of Zhang Yan. His face instantly lit up with delight, and he hurried forward, clasping his hands in a respectful salute, saying, "Brother Zhang, so you've arrived early here. Could it be that you've come because of the matter with Mo Yuan?"
Zhang Yan, confused, asked, "Brother Ai, what's this about?"
Seeing Zhang Yan appeared unaware, Ai Zhongwen sighed and said, "Alas, it's complicated. Come with me, Brother Zhang, and I'll explain it to you in detail."
The two walked onward together, talking as they went. After about a thousand steps, Zhang Yan finally grasped the full story.