"Talismans, Magic, Sword, and Mind—though vastly different in the later stages, fundamentally all four Cultivation Paths are applications of nature's spiritual energy.
They're generally divided into Five Ranks:
Qi Sensing, Body Concealing, Rain Listening, Cloud Patrol, and Candle Cloud.
Qi Sensing is about feeling the Spirit Vein within oneself, using it to channel nature's spiritual energy into one's Qi Sea. This process is also known as 'Initial Guidance.' The completion of Initial Guidance signifies entry into the Qi Sensing Realm.
The Body Concealing Realm is when the Qi Sea gradually fills up, allowing the Cultivator to expel the stale and take in the new from nature in a continuous cycle."
Cheng Juxiu explained patiently, "Those in the Qi Sensing Realm are still considered ordinary people.
Only when one enters the Body Concealing Realm does one become a true Cultivator.
They can project Spiritual Energy outward to push stones or iron ingots five steps away or to blow sails ten steps afar.
Cultivating the talismanic Tao, one can write a Boiling Water Talisman, Featherweight Talisman, Dust Removal Talisman, or a Micro Flame Talisman.
Cultivating the Magic Skill, one can unleash the Clear Wind Skill, Loud Sound Skill, or Flying Arrow Technique.
Compared to those, progress in the Sword Dao is slower; you might be able to slowly lift a sword into the air, flying no faster than a person walking.
This is also what makes each Dao Path unique."
"Things change once you reach the Rain Listening Realm."
Pu Liuxuan said unhurriedly, "The circulation between one's Qi Sea and nature's spiritual energy becomes incredibly smooth. Standing in the rain, you could clearly count every raindrop falling on you.
It wouldn't be an overstatement to say that a person is reborn and transcends the mundane world.
Above the Rain Listening Realm is the Cloud Patrol Realm; as the name implies, one can soar and patrol through the clouds.
Cultivators at these two realms rarely fall ill, and their lifespans are much longer than that of an average person.
However, to go a step further and advance to the Candle Cloud Realm is as difficult as reaching the heavens."
"Once you've reached the Candle Cloud Realm, even just standing on the ground and channeling your Spirit Vein can illuminate the clouds high in the sky."
Cheng Juxiu sighed with wonder, "All the people in the world today who are in the Candle Cloud Realm, including Martial Arts Grandmasters on par with that realm,
are but a few dozen. Each of them can cleave mountains and part seas, changing the course of the world with their power alone."
"What about beyond that?"
Li Ang asked, "Is there another realm?"
"Beyond that..."
Cheng Juxiu and Pu Liuxuan glanced at each other. Pu Liuxuan then slowly said, "To surpass Candle Cloud is to reach Lin Yuan.
Calm and deep as an abyss, free-flowing as an untethered boat.
Unconstrained by worldly attachments, aware of heavenly destiny, extricating oneself from the bitter sea of life and death, overcoming all tribulations.
Utter transcendence, ultimate freedom.
However, that realm exists only in legends. No one knows what it's truly like—at least, no one alive today knows."
Li Ang asked hesitantly, "Then what about you, Senior Brother, and Teacher..."
Pu Liuxuan raised his eyelids slightly. "Fifteen years ago, I was at Mid-level Cloud Patrol."
"If it weren't for that person, you would have voluntarily sealed your Spirit Vein and left the Academic Palace. By now, you might be just a step away from the Candle Cloud Realm..." Cheng Juxiu sighed heavily with resentment, but immediately realized his faux pas and waved his hand. "Let's not talk about that anymore. As for me, ha, it's somewhat embarrassing. After all these years of Cultivation, I'm only at the Cloud Patrol Early Stage."
Pu Liuxuan nodded with a smile, saying contentedly, "To be at the Cloud Patrol Realm at this age is already quite remarkable. Furthermore, it's Dual Cultivation of Magic and Sword."
Dual Cultivation of Magic and Sword... Li Ang's eyelids twitched. He thought back to Cheng Juxiu's sword draw yesterday, so fast it was nearly invisible.
"Heh, would you like to see it?" Cheng Juxiu smiled amiably and casually waved his hand. The Longsword at his waist suddenly unsheathed and hovered above his head.
TAP.
With a light flick of his finger, the Longsword shot around the backyard at lightning speed. As its Sword Qi swept over the pond, it even split the entire pond in two, startling the fish within.
"Just like Talismans, Magic, and Mind, the Sword Dao taught by the Academic Palace Professors also has two sub-paths. One is to wield a Longsword and overcome all techniques with the sword. The other is my style: the Flying Sword."
Cheng Juxiu lightly tapped the stone tabletop, and the Flying Sword elegantly returned to its position above his head.
"The shape of a Flying Sword varies according to the Cultivator's preferences and habits. There are spherical sword balls, as well as Shuttle-shaped Swords, thin swords, and Straight Swords. I also have a senior brother I'm close with who believes that the bigger the sword, the stronger its might. He simply uses an unsharpened, door-panel-sized giant sword. Though it's not easy to steer, it doesn't need to be steered. When it smashes down on any demon and monster, they all fall silent."
Cheng Juxiu said with a laugh, "The hilt of this sword of mine is also just for decoration; I hardly ever swing it anyway."
"Then... Senior Brother, can you perform Sword Flight?" Li Ang looked at the Flying Sword above Cheng Juxiu's head, his eyes sparkling, eager to snatch the sword down and try it out.
"Ahem, I can fly... yes, I can. But the posture isn't very graceful, and it's not as good as me using Spiritual Energy to levitate and glide," Cheng Juxiu said, flicking his finger somewhat awkwardly. The Flying Sword returned to its sword scabbard silently. "Besides the Sword Dao, I have also cultivated Magic."
He reopened the square iron box, first placing the Compass and Grey Candle back inside. Then he took out a copper ingot, closed the box, and placed the copper ingot above the top of the box, making it levitate.
"This iron box is also a product of the Academic Palace. Besides being impervious to blades and weapons, and resistant to water and fire, it also has several other functions. For instance, assisting in forging."
Cheng Juxiu said calmly, his palm resting on a protruding sphere on the box's lid, gently turning it.
BOOM!
Flames suddenly erupted from the four corners of the iron box, blazing intensely and converging around the copper ingot.
Li Ang instinctively leaned back, avoiding the extreme heat.
Under the scorching flames, the copper ingot slowly melted. However, the molten droplets didn't fall but continued to levitate in mid-air. Under Cheng Juxiu's control, they gradually formed into a spherical shape.
After about a hundred breaths, the copper ball's form became distinct: it was a hollow sphere, its surface adorned with flowing cloud patterns, looking as exquisite and detailed as if sculpted by a master craftsman.
"This is the Iron Melting Skill and Iron Casting Technique of the Cloud Patrol Realm."
Cheng Juxiu extinguished the flames. Once the residual heat on the surface of the copper ball had slowly dissipated, he let it fall naturally and caught it in his hand.