Chapter Three: The Method of Cultivation

Stepping into the pitch-black entrance, Wang Changsheng was immediately seized by a powerful force that tore at him. He saw bloody gashes appear on his lower legs.

“Uncle... Uncle...” Panic shone in Wang Changsheng’s eyes.

His second uncle, seeing his condition, said in a grave voice, “This is the tearing force of the spatial tunnel. Spread your true energy throughout your body, sink your breath to your dantian, and keep your mind focused! I can’t help you. If I intervene, it could trigger a space turbulence, and we’d both be dead with not even a grave!”

Wang Changsheng quickly followed his uncle’s instructions. The tearing force eased considerably, though his head still throbbed with pain.

Boom—boom—boom...

A series of thunderous sounds reached his ears, and suddenly all the pressure vanished.

“Am I... am I in midair?” Wang Changsheng exclaimed in shock.

Though Wang Changsheng was over two hundred years old and his skills stood at the pinnacle of the martial world, faced with an unknown place, he was still at a loss. Suspended so high in the air—if he were to fall, even with his perfect innate cultivation, he might not survive.

“Don’t move!”

His uncle’s voice rang out, and Wang Changsheng felt a force lift him, allowing him to stand steadily in midair.

He tried stepping down—it felt as if he were treading on cotton.

“Is this... am I really flying?” Wang Changsheng’s eyes were full of disbelief.

Though he could leap into the air and linger briefly, that was only possible because of the rebound of powerful true energy. But now, seeing his uncle standing so calmly in the air, carrying him as well, Wang Changsheng was certain: this was true flight.

“This is nothing for a cultivator. Once you pass the Meridian Opening stage, connect the two bridges of heaven and earth, and condense true essence, you can fly short distances!” his uncle said with a smile.

Cultivator? Meridian Opening? Connecting the two bridges of heaven and earth? Condensing true essence?

“What... what are all these?” Confusion filled Wang Changsheng’s eyes.

Though he didn’t fully understand, he was sure now—just as he had suspected—there were further realms beyond the perfect innate stage! Everything his uncle spoke of was knowledge completely foreign to him.

“These are the cultivation realms after the perfect innate stage,” his uncle explained with a laugh. “Let me clarify: martial artists practice a much lower form of cultivation. Even at its peak, it only reaches the innate stage...”

With his uncle’s simple explanation, Wang Changsheng began to grasp the concept of cultivators.

In the world of cultivators, there were no such distinctions as acquired and innate stages—the so-called acquired and innate realms of martial artists were merely the Qi Refining stage for cultivators.

Qi Refining involved opening all meridians in the body and refining the dantian so it could hold the true energy one cultivated.

After Qi Refining came Meridian Opening—this was what his uncle referred to as connecting the two bridges of heaven and earth, transforming true energy into true essence. Only after this transformation could one be considered a true cultivator.

“There’s no use knowing about the higher realms yet,” his uncle said with a smile. “For now, what matters most is transforming your true energy into true essence. Only then can you become a cultivator! Once you do, you’ll be able to soar through the skies, burrow through the earth, move mountains and fill seas—nothing will be beyond your grasp!”

“Soaring through the skies... moving mountains and filling seas...” Wang Changsheng’s eyes shone with longing. “But... will this bring immortality?”

“Of course!” his uncle replied solemnly.

At the promise of immortality, Wang Changsheng’s eyes lit up.

“Second uncle... what about my father?” he asked at once.

“Your father... your father...” His uncle hesitated. “That’s a long story; we’ll talk about it later. Let’s go home first.”

Wang Changsheng wanted to press further, but suddenly a fierce wind howled around him, and his body was tugged once more—though compared to the spatial tunnel, this force was negligible.

Before long, Wang Changsheng saw an ancient city from midair. The two landed outside its gates and entered together.

His uncle led him to an altar, where several people were vanishing from its surface.

“This is a teleportation array. It allows long-distance travel—at least ten times faster than flying on your own!” his uncle explained.

As they approached the altar, a man in a gray robe came over.

“Three lower-grade spirit stones!” the man said, pointing at his uncle. “One for you, two for him!”

After handing over the stones, the man in gray presented a jade slip to his uncle.

His uncle handed the jade slip to Wang Changsheng. “Hold this tightly—it will shield you from the tearing force of the spatial tunnel! It’s made specifically for those who haven’t reached Meridian Opening. That’s why you pay an extra stone—to use the jade slip.”

“Once we’re out of the tunnel, you’ll need to return the jade slip,” his uncle added.

Wang Changsheng nodded.

“Enough dawdling—it’s your turn!” the gray-robed man called.

The two stepped onto the teleportation array.

Darkness swallowed Wang Changsheng again. The tearing force returned, but it was much weaker than before.

“Grip the jade slip—it’ll help you!” his uncle urged. “If you’re not yet at Meridian Opening, you could die in the tunnel!”

Wang Changsheng nodded and tightly squeezed the jade slip. Immediately, a gray mist issued forth, wrapping around him.

Enveloped by the gray mist, all the pressure vanished.

“How mysterious...” Wang Changsheng said with wonder. “The methods of cultivators are truly far beyond those of martial artists!”

A martial artist at the peak could only leap briefly into the air—flight was impossible. Yet cultivators not only flew, they could open these incredible spatial tunnels. Wang Changsheng couldn’t believe such passages existed since ancient times; they must have been made by human hands.

In just a few breaths, light returned to his vision. He found himself standing on another altar, in a completely different environment.

“This is the Sanctuary of Wanderers, the sect I’ve joined,” his uncle said.

Wang Changsheng nodded.

He didn’t need his uncle’s explanation—he could tell from the crowds, most of whom were wrapped in black robes, exposing only parts of their faces.

After returning the jade slip, Wang Changsheng followed his uncle down from the altar.

“I’ll take you to meet the Master,” his uncle said gravely. “The Sanctuary of Wanderers is different from other factions. If you wish to join, you’ll need the Master’s approval.”

“Join the Sanctuary?” Wang Changsheng asked, puzzled.

“Yes,” his uncle replied. “Your current cultivation is at the very bottom in the world of cultivation. Without joining a faction, it’ll be nearly impossible for you to progress.”

“What’s more, if you join a faction and make enough contributions, you’ll get more resources for your cultivation,” his uncle explained.

Wang Changsheng nodded.

Before long, they reached a tall pavilion.

“Follow my lead,” his uncle instructed.

He bowed deeply to the pavilion, and Wang Changsheng imitated him at once.

“Enter,” came a voice from within.

His uncle led Wang Changsheng inside, where they found a middle-aged man in a black robe.

“Master,” the uncle said, bowing. Wang Changsheng did the same.

“This is the one you spent your entire fortune to bring back?” the Master asked.

His uncle did not answer directly, but bowed and said, “He is my elder brother’s son. I brought him back in hopes he could join the Sanctuary and serve it.”

“Serve?” the Master’s voice was stern. “He hasn’t even reached Meridian Opening. Have you forgotten the Sanctuary’s rules?”

Boom—

A surge of overwhelming force erupted from the Master, sending both uncle and Wang Changsheng flying.

“Urgh!” “Urgh!”

Both men spat out blood.

“I haven’t forgotten...” his uncle stammered, rising to his feet, terror-stricken. “He’s my brother’s son, so... so...”

“No!” the Master interrupted with a wave of his hand. “Let him go. The Sanctuary does not accept anyone below Meridian Opening.”

“He’s not even a true cultivator—completely useless!”

“Remember the Sanctuary’s rules: anyone below Meridian Opening who wishes to join must have made a great contribution—or else...”

The Master closed his eyes. Helpless, the uncle signaled Wang Changsheng to follow him out.

Once outside, Wang Changsheng wiped the blood from his mouth and said quietly, “Second uncle, is it truly necessary to join the Sanctuary?”

After all, Wang Changsheng had once been the leader of the martial alliance, standing at the martial world’s summit—his commands obeyed by all. Now, seeking entry to the Sanctuary, he was treated like rubbish, dismissed outright. He could not help but feel indignant.

His uncle understood his feelings perfectly.

“Changsheng, you’re new to the world of cultivation. You don’t yet understand its cruelty,” his uncle said with a bitter smile. “Here, life is as ruthless as a world where people devour each other.”

“Joining the Sanctuary at least guarantees you its protection.”

“More importantly, as a member, you’d gain access to cultivation methods and resources—the most coveted things for any cultivator!”

His uncle’s face was full of regret as he looked at Wang Changsheng.

“You’re now at the peak of Qi Refining. If you want to break through to Meridian Opening, you must have the right cultivation method. Otherwise, you’ll never advance!” His uncle sighed. “The Sanctuary’s methods may not be the best, but they’re still far superior to most!”