"If you are feeling hungry, we can have lunch, even though it's a little late."
"No need, Master. These sweets are quite filling."
"Good. Then why don't you tell me a little about yourself? Where did you come from? What was your family situation?" Lin Yinxuan continued asking while sipping tea the boy made earlier. Serving tea can be left to him now. I will teach him how to cook a little later.
"I come from Xuanyuan Prefecture, Sheng City. Gu family is a local noble clan with a few cultivators. They usually send youth with spiritual root to the Xuan Dao Sect."
"Yet you came to our sect."
"Yes. My mother was a favored daughter of Grandfather. My father married in to the clan. But when I was born, mother lost too much blood and lost her vitality. She passed away when I was six.
After that father was sent out. Grandfather never talked to me. Servants used to gossip that I was born unlucky and brought misfortune to the family.
No one bullied me in the clan, but no one treated me like a family either. That's why I decided to find my way independently.
If I achieve success in my cultivation, I'll repay them for bringing me up."
On the side Lin Yinxuan was questioning his life choices. Sigh, I still recruited a protagonist. But if you think about it, everyone is a main character of their own story.
After giving himself a pep talk, he patted his disciple on the shoulder.
"Heart holds no grudges, mind meets no obstacles. Your path in Dao will be smooth, Xiao Ning.
That's enough talking for today. You must be tired already. Let's go, I'll show you to your room. Then we'll make something to eat."
He built his courtyard in L-shape. Kitchen was on corner, 4 rooms stood in a row behind. Two near the kitchen had doors on the veranda. On the other end was a living room and his bedroom. He gave the room beside the kitchen to Gu Ning.
It was a simple room with a wooden bed. There was a table with two chairs near the window. The cultivation mat was hung on the wall when not used. Opposite the door stood an open-frame wooden shelf.
"There are two chests behind the bed. You'll find some bedding in one. I had a new one brought in a few days ago. Other is for your clothing or just general storage.
Do you know how to sweep and dust?"
"I have seen servants do it, Master. It shouldn't be a problem."
"I used to do the cleaning by myself. Now you'll clean your room and kitchen. Sweep daily, dust the shelves and windows once a week. I'll give you a broom, keep it under your bed. We'll also air out the beddings once in a while when days are warmer.
Now, let's prepare the dinner. I guess you never had to do such menial work before. I'll teach you slowly."
"Thank you Master for your teachings."
"Hmm. One should be independent. Relying on servants is alright, but as a cultivator, you'll go on journeys on wilderness. You won't find an inn or someone to cook for you in the forest."
"Forgive this one for his ignorance, but Master, don't cultivators stop eating? How do they go into seclusion for many years?"
The boy asked with confusion.
"There are indeed some pills to stave off hunger or even replace food. But they are tasteless. Food is life, Xiao Ning. Remember this.
One should never indulge in pleasures of the world, yet having no desires is also impossible for a person with mind and soul. So indulge in things that cannot harm you.
You'll understand when you are older. For now, just remember this.
When you reach higher levels of cultivation, spiritual energy can also alleviate your need for food. I'll teach you how to do that when you break through to the Foundation establishment realm."
"I understand."
"I'll give you some clothes to wear daily tomorrow. For now, the robe you are wearing will do. I'll change my clothes, go to the kitchen and wait for me."
"Yes, Master."
Lin Yinxuan usually ate whatever he wanted and whenever he wanted. He was thinking of making some dumplings. But seeing how reserved his disciple was being, he decided to have a hotpot with him.
"We are having a hotpot today. Here, wear this apron when working in the kitchen."
He made spicy soup base blocks a few days ago, so they only needed to make mild broth. He threw a whole chicken with some aromatics to simmer in a pot.
"While the chicken simmers, we'll prepare vegetables and meat. Come, let's pick together."
They picked some Napa cabbage, spinach, bok choy, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, taro, and different mushrooms such as shiitake, enoki, oyster. After washing them properly, he gave one knife to Gu Ning and took one himself. Then he showed how to cut each piece of vegetable and mushroom.
The boy worked slowly, but steadily. Lin Yinxuan got to prepare meat himself.
He didn't like pork, but other types of meat were plenty in the storage. Beef, lamb, chicken, duck, rabbit, fish. He took little bit of everything, and picked catfish as it had less bones.
After he finished slicing the meat, it was time to prepare dipping sauces. Soy sauce, chili oil and fermented bean curd paste were already there, so all he needed to do was mix with aromatics.
Soy sauce paired nicely with garlic. Chili oil was mixed with vinegar and cilantro. He toasted sesame a little and added it to all dipping sauces. Sesame oil wasn't his favorite, but sesame seeds were nice in everything.
Gu Ning also finished chopping the veggies and slicing the shiitake mushrooms. Enoki and oyster were left whole. By this time, chicken broth was also ready.
Lin Yinxuan set the hotpot on top of the stone table and poured the clear broth into one side of it. Spicy soup base block went to the other side. He poured some hot water and lit fire under the hotpot. When the block melted, he poured more water.
They carried all the plates of ingredients and set them around the hotpot. Lin Yinxuan used his Qi to lower the table a bit, so it would be more comfortable.
While eating he wanted to struck up conversation and talk to his disciple. But only common topic between them was cultivation and he didn't want to make this a lesson. Today they would relax.
Gu Ning was also either comfortable with silence like him or felt awkward to ask questions. So they ate in silence.
In about an hour they were done.
"Thank you for this wonderful dinner, Master. This disciple will do the cleaning."
"No need for that, Xiao Ning. I don't use Qi for cooking, but cleaning isn't that interesting."
With a wave of his hand a stream of water materialized and dishes were clean in moment. He sent them flying to the kitchen.
"Let's go, I'll take you to our little shrine."
They walked uphill in a leisurely pace. Sun already set, moon was out. Few crickets here or there trilled in loneliness. Light breeze rustled the bushes around. Moss covering the stone stairs muffled their steps.
On top of the peak wind picked up a little. This wasn't a usual time for Lin Yinxuan to come here, so scenery was somewhat new, at the same time nostalgic. Moonlight dyed the walls of shrine grey.
Lin Yinxuan conjured a few fireballs around to bring some warm light. He took out 3 incense sticks and lit them using the floating fireball. Then he bowed in front of portraits of the Three Pure Ones.
"This disciple pays his respect to the Pure Ones. Today has become a day of double happiness, thanking True Ones for your blessings.
This disciple has brought a junior to pray for protection and fortune on his way to seek Dao. May your wisdom guide him to the righteous way."
He gave three bows and inserted the incense sticks in the holder. He retreated to the side. Gu Ning took the hint and walked forward with reverent posture. He also got three sticks and lit them like his Master.
"This junior pays his respect to the Pure Ones. This ignorant one has used up his luck to meet my Respected Master. I pray for blessings from the Pure Ones on my cultivation."
He gave a bow to each portrait as well and stuck the incense a little behind Lin Yinxuan's. They left the shrine after a bow.
"We'll talk about some common knowledge in cultivation tomorrow. Remember that the Three Pure Ones are omnipotent sages watching over us, Daoists, and extend their protection. From time to time, come here and light incense for them."
"Understood, Master."
"Now go, take a walk around the peak. Digest the food a little, then you can go back to your room and sleep.
I usually wake up at dawn. If you manage to get up, you can join me for the morning exercise. We'll start the lesson after the breakfast."
"Yes, Master. Good night."
"Good night."
Next day in the morning they started exercising together. Lin Yinxuan practiced moves from Tranquil Body refinement technique. He had already reached Marrow Refinement stage in body cultivation.
Gu Ning was using exercises that resembled taichi. It was probably something to strengthen the body. Most mortals used either such martial arts or ones focused on increasing vitality.
After they finished their routine, Lin Yinxuan asked about the technique. As expected, it was Physique Strengthening Art.
"This art is too low level. I have two Earth-grade body refinement technique, and a dozen Iron-grade ones. Let's see if the Earth-grade ones seem suitable for you."
Lin Yinxuan took out 2 jade slips.
"This one is Tranquil body refinement technique. It focuses on harmony of the body. It's a very slow technique focused on long-term gains. You won't see fast results or drastic increase in your strength. It tempers the body and makes you more durable, increases resistance to poison, toxins, spells, and gives you more stamina.
This one is Vajra body refinement technique. It focuses on explosive strength and defensive skin. Even in lower levels your skin can become tough enough to dull mortal weapons. Higher levels also grant one protection against artifacts and spells. Increase in explosive strength is said to be exponential. There is an inner sect elder who practiced it to the Integration stage. They say he killed a demon beast on the same realms as himself in one strike. Cultivators have inherently weaker body than demon beasts, so you can imagine how strong it is."
"Master, do you practice the Tranquil Body refinement technique?"
Lin Yinxuan smiled and nodded in response. This disciple seemed quite perspective, his judgement wasn't wrong.
"Indeed. How did you come to this conclusion?"
"I watched Master's moves earlier. They gave me a feeling of a carefree immortal.
Disciple wants to follow Master's footsteps and chooses this technique."
Lin Yinxuan taught him how to use the jade slip and told him to start analyzing it slowly. After that they went to have a breakfast.
Before the morning exercise he would put some congee on simmer every day with different additions. Yesterday they had a lot of meat, so he cooked nut congee with peanut and sesame seeds for today.
Besides congee, they had some steamed buns with spinach filling. There were plenty of fruits as well.
After a hearty breakfast they went to the veranda and sat on two mats face-to-face. Gu Ning poured herbal tea for both of them, and their first formal lesson was started.
"What is Dao?
Some say it is a path. We all walk different paths to reach the destination.
Some say it is a tool. Daoists use it to shape the world in their desired way.
Some say it is the laws of the universe. Dao keeps the world running, we are mere observers of it's power.
Do you see the difference between these explanations?"
Gu Ning pondered over this question for a while, then answered in a measured tone.
"Those who say Dao is path see it as a description or label people put on themselves and others to create different groups. Just like noble and peasant are inherently same, people from various factions are also no different, except in man-made definitions. For them this distinction is meaningless.
Those who say Dao is tool emphasize the power of those who wield the Dao. For them, might makes right.
Those who say Dao is the law acknowledge fate. Cultivators are no different than the stone under their feet or food they eat. Fate is supreme and Dao is eternal."
"Good. Which one seems more correct view of the Dao?"
"This disciple is a bit confused, Master. They all seem correct, but also wrong. If I have to choose, the first one sounds more suitable."
"Hmm, you are not wrong. They are indeed flawed in one way or another.
I think that there are many ways of seeing and understanding Dao as and they are all right for their respective people.
Killing is Dao, mercy is Dao. Harmony is Dao, war is Dao. Sword is Dao, staff is Dao. Whatever you think Dao is Dao.
So the first important thing I must teach you is choosing your Dao."
Lin Yinxuan paused a little for the boy to understand everything. He finished his cup of tea and continued.
"I'll also give you a cultivation technique. Your main task will be cultivation for some time. Another task is contemplating this question "What is my Dao?" For a few hours every day.
You won't find a straightforward answer right away. It will take years, even centuries to get a faint feeling of certainty. But you have to do it slowly every day.
In Qi Condensation, that is the beginning realm in cultivation, it doesn't play much role. That's why many cultivators can easily break through minor stages with talent and perseverance alone. One can even reach Foundation establishment realm with enough resources. But after that comprehension marks the speed of your progress.
By thinking about the nature of your Dao every day, your character will be shaped in that nature. Opposite is also true. Your Dao is reflection of your character."
"Master, you said Dao can be everything. How does that work with character?"
"Literally. Let me give you an example. A man says his Dao is Dao of No Emotions. As he progresses further and further on his cultivation, he'll lose all emotions: love, hate, anger, sadness.
If a man chooses Sword as his Dao, Dao of Sword manifests as different swords according to his character. A bold and reckless person might have single-edged saber, an upright man will have straight sword, cunning one can have a whip-blade.
Do you understand?"
"I think I do." Gu Ning furrowed his brows and started contemplating.
Lin Yinxuan gave him time to digest words.
"Master, is it safe to say Dao is either conceptual or material?"
"You can say so."
"Then which one is more preferable?"
"That is different for each people. A simple-minded and straightforward person can pick saber or staff as his Dao and walk further in the path of cultivation than someone equally simple but with grand-sounding Dao such as "Dao of Emptiness". So, it's the question of which one feels more suitable to you."
"Is it okay to ask someone about their Dao, Master?" The boy asked curiously.
"Generally yes. But it has to be a suitable occasion, and the person should be more than an acquaintance to you for it to be not awkward.
So, it's not an easy thing to ask, but not taboo either.
There's actually a ritual called Discussing Dao. Two cultivators compare and discuss their understanding of Dao.
When you're a bit higher level, we can have such a discussion. It'll be beneficial to your understanding as well."
"Could you tell me your Dao, Master? It'll be a template for this disciple."
Looking at the sparkling puppy eyes, Lin Yinxuan decided to indulge him.
He sat in a lotus pose, left hand resting near his abdomen and right hand raised near his mouth. As he activated his Qi, white-colored spiritual energy enveloped his body and raised him a little above the floor. It slowly flowed around him and formed Yin-Yang fish pattern.
"Dao birthed One.
One split into Two.
Two sought balance and became Three.
From Three, everything was born.
One is Self. Self is soul and mind. Soul and mind found a body to exist in, thus Self was reborn.
My Dao is Dao of Self.
Who is certain the world is world? It maybe a dream, or an illusion. Only reality I am sure of is me. I am the origin, I am the source.
To seek control of the world is to chase shadows. Mastering oneself is the superior way. Others may think they shape events, but they are carried on currents they do not see. I am the current, I am the source.
When the self is steady, the world bends quietly around it; when the self is turbulent, even the smallest wave topples me. Only by knowing myself utterly — my fear, my desire, my limits — can I move the world without resistance, without waste, without breaking..."
Lin Yinxuan cut it short. A bit of display was acceptable, but too much exposure would damage his foundation. Every being had their own Dao. Preaching your Dao on the person who hadn't realized theirs yet was no different than brainwashing and destroying that original Dao.
"Master's Dao is profound. This disciple is in awe."
"After 300 years of contemplation, you'll also become quite proficient.
Now, let's come back to cultivation. Do you know what is it?"
"Refining spiritual energy?"
"Hmm, that is one explanation. In lower levels, one indeed snatches the energy of Heaven and Earth into their Dantian and uses it to execute techniques or spells.
The cultivation realms are Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divine Spirit, Mastering Laws and then Immortal Ascension.
Your spiritual root has a balance of five elements: fire, water, wood, metal, and Earth. You can cultivate any cultivation technique just fine, as long as they are for these elements or their combination.
"There are other elements?"
"Yes. Some of them are said to be the derivations of five elements, some of them stand in their own category. They are quite rare. Thunder, ice, cosmic, wind type spiritual roots are the ones you have higher chance of meeting.
Spiritual root determines your cultivation technique, cultivation speed and control over elements.
If you are interested, I have some scrolls that explain it broadly. For now, I'll just talk about your case.
As I said, you can pick any cultivation technique related to five elements. If you pick single element, your speed will be decent, but you won't have any advantage over the ones with non-balanced root. To take advantage of your special condition, you'll need to cultivate five-elements cultivation technique.
You'll sacrifice speed, but your reserves of spiritual energy will be higher. It'll also be easier to learn all types of spells."
"Can I use spells related to other elements of I pick one?"
"Yes, but it'll be quite hard to master them. During cultivation, your Qi will be affected by the cultivation technique. That's why five-elements cultivation technique is advantageous. It'll result in neutral qi. I also cultivate five-elements technique."
"Then I'll do as Master says."
Lin Yinxuan took out another jade slip.
"This is Harmonized Five Qi cultivation technique. You can cultivate till the Golden Core realm with this knowledge. Personal disciples are permitted to receive till this part. When you form your Core, sect will give you the rest.
For today, this will be enough. Go over it first, then start meditation. The book has all the instructions. If you don't understand, you can ask me. Your task for now is to sense spiritual energy. Go."
"Thank you, Master."