Summer solstice rains are worth a fortune.
The hazy raindrops beat against the fields, which lay bare, exuding the scent of earth. The wheat in the south matures early; the new wheat had already been harvested, tied into bundles, standing upright in the field.
Farmers greeted each other across the ridges of their fields, ready to sow oil seeds, green vines, and mustard, waiting for the harvest at autumn's end.
Li Family.
Li Tongya and Li Changhu, along with a few others, counted the days with eager anticipation, and at last, the summer solstice arrived.
As the sky just started to darken, the two of them set up the altar table, and kneeled before it with Li Xiangping.
The Dharma Mirror was propped up by the Chi Dragon Pattern Mirror, and on the altar were the first stalk of new wheat harvested on the summer solstice, several kinds of fruits, and three cups of tea brewed with summer rain.
The three of them looked at each other and said in unison,
"Disciples of the Li Family, Li Changhu/Li Tongya/Li Xiangping, respectfully invite the profound and wonderful Immortal Law, to command life and appease the spirit, dedicating ourselves to the Taoist Cultivation."
"With time as our witness, fulfilling our promise, as the tablet turns to ash, we offer ourselves to the Taiyin."
The Mirror blazed with shifting colors, and brilliant white light flashed continuously, as three white pills suddenly emerged from the mirror's surface, flying towards each of them.
The three of them quickly sat cross-legged, following the 'Guidance Technique' spell to guide the Talisman Seeds and receive the spells.
Watching the white pills enter the Niwan Palace of the three men, Li Chijin withdrew his gaze, sat cross-legged, entered a deep meditation, and watched the sea of Qi Acupoint filled with moonlight, thinking to himself,
"Relying solely on the Dharma Mirror's refinement, eighty-one strands of the Power of Moonlight are ready. On the day of the summer solstice, life is heralded as the bright gives way to the dark, the perfect opportunity for a breakthrough!"
Brash as a young calf facing a tiger, Li Chijin's thoughts stirred, his hands formed seals, and waves surged within the Sea of Qi Acupoint, as the eighty-one strands of Moonlight Spiritual Qi sped to converge. They chased each other, coiling and swimming within the Qi Sea.
"Ascending to the Niwan Palace and fusing into one, passing through the Twelve-Storied Pavilion... Hence, the vigorous state arises, breath spirals up serenely; through the Twelve-Storied Pavilion, rising from the acupoint beneath the tongue..."
Li Chijin silently recited the method for condensing the Xuanjing Wheel from the 'Taiyin Breathing and Wheel Nourishing Scripture', as the moonlight leaped over the Twelve-Storied Pavilion, gathering in the Niwan Palace to form a liquid, then flowing down and gathering into a clear pond within the Sea of Qi Acupoint.
"Rise!"
With a soft command, a bright silver arc, akin to the moon in water, emerged from the pond. This arc was crystal clear, like a fine crescent moon, incredibly beautiful.
"Through the Twelve-Storied Pavilion, the Qi Sea engulfs, the clear pond reveals the Xuanjing Wheel."
Marveling at the sight, Li Chijin couldn't help but praise, then quickly activated the spell to solidify the Xuanjing Wheel, striving to stabilize its form.
Yet as time trickled by, the Xuanjing Wheel remained unsettled. The translucent crescent shimmered in the pond, gently drifting, sparkling with ripples, looking as if it might dissipate at any moment.
Exhausted, Li Chijin barely maintained the form of the Xuanjing Wheel, as sweat dripped copiously from his handsome face, soaking his pale green robe.
Caught in a dilemma, the clear pond in the Qi Sea suddenly parted, and a white Talisman Pill shot up abruptly.
This Talisman Pill was round and bright, settling firmly upon the Xuanjing Wheel, immediately stabilizing the form of the moonlit crescent; the pond's mana gradually steadied, allowing Li Chijin to exhale and finish his practice.
With the completion of the Xuanjing Skill, the Moonlight Spiritual Qi within transformed into Moonlight Spell, and Li Chijin became a Cultivator in the Fetal Breathing Realm!
He slowly opened his eyes, looked at the Dharma Mirror that seemed to flicker in and out of existence within the halo of the moon, and bowed deeply.
"For bestowing the Immortal Law, refining the Power of Moonlight, with the Xuanjing Skill accomplished, the Li Family is immensely grateful. From now on, year after year, month after month, the incense will burn continuously, the offerings never-ending."
Li Chijin's youthful voice was exceptionally solemn. This boy, who had always been shielded by his older brothers, had suddenly become a young man.
"Jing'er."
Li Mutian stood quietly under the moonlight, looking at his youngest son with a gentle gaze.
"Father, I have condensed the Xuanjing Wheel."
Li Chijin stood up, smiling at his father. He gently opened his left hand, and a milky white mana appeared in his palm.
"The first step in Cultivation is called Fetal Breathing. The Fetal Breathing Realm requires the condensation of six wheels, named Xuanjing, Chengming, Zhouxing, Qingyuan, Yujing, and Lingchu. This Xuanjing Wheel, it is the gateway to the path."
"Good, good," Li Mutian said repeatedly, his heart filled with immense satisfaction.
Dispersing the mana, Li Chijin sat down again and began to consolidate his cultivation.
————
"What a powerful spell!"
Li Xiangping was the first to open his eyes, stretched out lazily, stood up, and took a big gulp from the teapot on the table.
"I've acquired the 'Taiyin Breathing and Wheel Nourishing Scripture' and a spell called the Water Avoidance Technique."
No sooner had he spoken than Li Tongya came out of his meditation. Raising an eyebrow in satisfaction, he said,
"I have obtained a spell, known as the Exorcism Technique."
After chatting for a while, Li Changhu finally opened his eyes and, looking helplessly at his three younger brothers staring earnestly at him, he said:
"The spell is called the Cleansing Technique."
Once all three older brothers had awoken, Li Chijin, who had been holding back his excitement for quite some time, eagerly spoke up:
"I have already condensed the Xuanjing Wheel!"
"So soon?"
Li Xiangping exclaimed in surprise, turning his head with some confusion.
"All thanks to the power of the Dharma Mirror."
Li Chijin looked at the Dharma Mirror on the case and sincerely said:
"This 'Mirror' by itself can condense the Moonlight, which truly doubles the efficiency when tempering the Power of Moonlight."
Only then did Li Tongya and the others realize, and Li Changhu, with a smile, patted Li Chijin's head, saying:
"It is said that a Taoist within the tome possesses a Spirit Aperture, and when mana pervades the body, its location will be known, perhaps Jing'er can help us check."
Li Changhu, however, felt that his initiate Guidance Technique was incredibly strenuous, not as effortless as his younger brothers', and began to secretly doubt his own natural gift for Immortal Cultivation.
Turning his gaze toward his three older brothers, Li Chijin placed his left hand on Li Xiangping's shoulder, closest to him, and closed his eyes to search for the Spirit Aperture.
"Its qi ascends ceaselessly, breathing without end, like fish leaping..."
Li Chijin silently recited descriptions from the breathing technique, and his mana circled through Li Xiangping's meridians once.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he opened his eyes in shock, muttering to himself:
"It's not there..."
He paused, quickly placing his hand on his two other brothers' shoulders to probe with his mana.
"How can it not be there?!"
Li Chijin's complexion turned somewhat pale; he sat cross-legged on the spot, closed his eyes and entered meditation, his mana flowing through his entire body, but indeed, there was no so-called Spirit Aperture.
"The 'Taiyin Breathing and Wheel Nourishing Scripture' clearly states that the Spirit Aperture is the foundation of the Great Way. No matter what kind of Immortal Secret or wonderful technique, without the Spirit Aperture, there's essentially no discussion to be had..."
"This... this..."
Li Chijin's state of mind was in turmoil, unable to maintain meditation, his lips trembling as he looked at Li Mutian, who was fiddling with tea leaves, and said softly:
"Father!"
"You're right, this Dharma Mirror is also the cause of our family's annihilation."
"If a true Cultivator were to learn of this item, not only would we face death and our bodies be destroyed, but our souls would be bound by others, and the whole Lijing Village and even all the small and large villages of the ancient Lidao would be obliterated."
"I have refined the Xuanjing Wheel, and mana flows through my entire body. Unless I discard my Cultivation Level, those Qi Cultivators will not be able to use their mana to detect the location of my Spirit Aperture."
Li Chijin stood up abruptly, solemnly instructing:
"As for the descendants of the Li Family, those who have received the Mysterious Pearl Talisman Seed and have yet to become Xuanjing should absolutely not show off in public!"
"Indeed."
Li Mutian took a sip of tea, his expression grave as he looked at the others.
"Originally, when Jing'er was able to cultivate, I merely thought that Chi Jing had exceptional talent. Han Wenxu once said that one in a thousand miles may possess a Spirit Aperture, and perhaps Jing'er is that one."
He laughed self-deprecatingly and continued:
"Now it seems, this Dharma Mirror truly is an extraordinary Immortal item that can turn decay into wonder, bestowing this Talisman Seed allows even a mortal to glimpse the Immortal Path."
The group felt a mixture of relief and fear as they sat in silence, watching their father.
"Okay, go on with your cultivation. I'm going to check on the fields," Li Mutian said after a long silence.
"Yes."
The brothers naturally bowed their heads in agreement and returned to their respective rooms to cultivate.
Li Mutian, with great reverence, returned the Dharma Mirror to its place, tidied up the case table, and with hands clasped behind his back, he went to the fields.