Chapter 36: Realms of Cultivation

Yan Chixia had not expected that not only was Tu Xiaomeng quick-witted and eloquent, but her memory was also astonishing. The very first chapter of the Analects, which she had only studied yesterday, now flowed from her lips with clarity and precision—“The Master said,” followed by another “The Master said,” each passage recited flawlessly from beginning to end, without a single mistake.

“Well, Brother Yan, how do you think I did? My academic performance isn’t too shabby, is it?” Tu Xiaomeng asked with evident pride after finishing her recitation in one breath.

Yan Chixia immediately praised her:

“Not just ‘not too shabby’—it’s outstanding! Xiaomeng, to be honest, when I first learned the opening chapter of the Analects, my teacher made me recite it, and it took me two whole days to memorize it word for word. I never expected your memory to be this remarkable!”

“Exactly!” Bai Xiaoyue chimed in with delight, “Xiaomeng is truly exceptional! She learned the first chapter of the Analects just once yesterday and remembered every bit of it! Wonderful! If you keep this up, you’ll surely accomplish great things in the future...” As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Songta’er. “Songta’er, how did your studies go?”

Songta’er’s cheeks flushed as she answered,

“Sister Bai, I... I’m not as clever as Xiaomeng. Of what we learned yesterday, I’ve only remembered the opening passages...”

“Oh.” Bai Xiaoyue hurried to comfort her, “Songta’er, don’t lose heart. As long as you’re willing to work hard, you’ll understand and master it before long...”

“Sister Bai is right!” Tu Xiaomeng agreed at once, “Songta’er, don’t be discouraged. When we study again, I’ll help you so you won’t fall behind. How about it? Old friend, am I being a good classmate?”

“You certainly are!” Songta’er replied, deeply grateful. “Thank you, Xiaomeng!”

“Hey, what’s there to thank me for? No need at all!” Tu Xiaomeng waved her hand dismissively, then turned her bright eyes to Yan Chixia. “Brother Yan, I really loved the jade bangles Sister Bai gave me yesterday! But I only wore them for less than an hour before they vanished into thin air! Heehee... Brother Yan, after breakfast, could you give me a pair of jade bangles like the ones Sister Bai gave me?”

“Of course, no problem.” Yan Chixia replied cheerfully, “Xiaomeng, with my current skill in the Art of Paper Talisman Creation, the jade bangles I can conjure for you should last at least three months...”

“And then they’ll just disappear again?” Tu Xiaomeng cut in, a little unwilling.

Yan Chixia replied,

“That’s right. But don’t worry, Xiaomeng. When the bangles vanish, I can make you another pair—I promise, each time you’ll be able to wear them longer than before...”

“Brother Yan, can’t you make me a pair of jade bangles that I can wear for a lifetime?”

“I can! But that will have to wait until my cultivation reaches the ‘Crossing the Tribulation’ stage—the same level as my master’s current attainment.”

“Oh. Brother Yan, what is your current stage of cultivation?”

“My current stage is ‘Heart Awakening.’ To reach ‘Crossing the Tribulation,’ I still need to pass through the stages of ‘Golden Core,’ ‘Nascent Soul,’ ‘Spirit Departure,’ ‘Soul Division,’ ‘Unity,’ ‘Void Penetration,’ and ‘Great Perfection’—seven more stages in all...”

“What? That many more steps? Brother Yan, then... how long will it take you to reach ‘Crossing the Tribulation’?”

“I have no idea... I only know that the road of cultivation grows harder the farther you go—my master has been cultivating for nearly two hundred years, and only now has he reached the stage of ‘Crossing the Tribulation’...”

“Wow! Brother Yan, your master is incredible! He’s endured countless hardships and finally reached the pinnacle of cultivation!”

“No! My master has not yet reached the pinnacle. He continues to cultivate... Xiaomeng, you may not know this, but the path of cultivation is divided into two phases. The first phase starts with ‘Foundation Establishment,’ then ‘Opening of Light,’ ‘Fusion,’ ‘Heart Awakening,’ ‘Golden Core,’ ‘Nascent Soul,’ ‘Spirit Departure,’ ‘Soul Division,’ ‘Unity,’ ‘Void Penetration,’ ‘Great Perfection,’ and ‘Crossing the Tribulation’—that’s the first phase. The second phase is ‘Loose Immortal,’ ‘True Immortal,’ ‘Mysterious Immortal,’ ‘Grand Golden Immortal,’ ‘Supreme Golden Immortal,’ and ‘Primordial Supreme Golden Immortal.’ Only when one reaches the level of ‘Primordial Supreme Golden Immortal’ has one truly ascended to the very summit of cultivation!”

Hearing this, Tu Xiaomeng could not help but widen her eyes:

“What? Brother Yan, after hearing all that, the road of cultivation is so, so, so long!”

“Long?” Yan Chixia was filled with emotion. “The road of cultivation is not only long, it is filled with hardship, with suffering, and with danger—but even so, I am determined to keep going until I reach my goal, and I will never give up!”

Bai Xiaoyue, inspired by his words, declared:

“Well said! Brother, since you have such resolve, I will cultivate alongside you!”

“And so will I!” Tu Xiaomeng refused to be left out. “Brother Yan, Sister Bai, I want to cultivate together with you...”

Songta’er then added loudly,

“And I want to cultivate with you all as well...”

After breakfast, Yan Chixia activated all the remaining food he had brought with his “paper talisman” technique.

Bai Xiaoyue, overjoyed, carefully stored the food away for Tu Xiaomeng and Songta’er.

Tu Xiaomeng’s delight at seeing so many delicious things made her bright black eyes narrow with joy; Songta’er too was beaming from ear to ear.

Afterwards, Yan Chixia went to the study, took up a cinnabar ink brush, and drew a pair of jade bangles on a sheet of talisman paper. Using his technique, he activated them and handed them to Tu Xiaomeng, saying,

“Xiaomeng, here—put them on.”

“Thank you, Brother Yan!” Tu Xiaomeng’s face lit up with happiness as she took the bangles and slipped them onto her wrists, admiring them and brimming with hope. “So beautiful! Heehee, how wonderful it would be if I could also use the Art of Paper Talisman Creation to conjure a pair of bangles like these!”

Yan Chixia smiled and encouraged her:

“Don’t worry, Xiaomeng. As long as you’re willing to work hard at your cultivation, one day you’ll surely be able to do it.”

“Indeed!” Bai Xiaoyue nodded. “Xiaomeng, you and Songta’er have only just begun your cultivation, and time is on your side. As long as you’re willing to put in the effort, you’ll gain much in whatever you do.” She turned to Yan Chixia. “Brother, while Xiaomeng and Songta’er are still minors, making sure they’re well fed is the most important thing. Just now, when you activated food for them using your talisman technique, I had an idea: we can’t always rely on you to do this, since it takes a lot of vital energy and could slow your own progress. So today I want to go down to Qixia Town and buy some millet, cured meat, eggs, and so on for Xiaomeng and Songta’er. That way, not only will we solve their food problem, but you’ll also be spared a lot of trouble. What do you think?”

Yan Chixia readily agreed,

“Good idea! Sister, you’re always so thoughtful. In that case, I’ll go down to Qixia Town with you today to buy supplies.”