In the early morning, Dao Yuan Mountain was shrouded in a thin mist, and the mountain breeze gently blew, carrying a faint sense of spiritual energy. Lingxu Daoist slowly led the four of them into the meditation chamber deep within the temple and calmly said, "From today on, you will sit in meditation and try to feel the energy of all things in the world."
The four of them crossed their legs, placed their hands on their knees, and closed their eyes. However, after several breaths, they could hardly sense any change; their breathing and heartbeat felt just as usual. Wuchensi furrowed his small brows and whispered, "Master said we could sense the energy of the world, but I don't feel anything at all."
Yuan Qingshan muttered softly, "Me neither… maybe my posture is wrong?"
Nie Yunzhuang couldn't help rolling his eyes: "Posture? You two can't even control your breathing properly, and you dare to talk about posture!" He hadn't finished speaking when he burst into laughter, then teased Ling Yunchuan, "Brother Ling, don't pretend to be so steady—you haven't sensed anything either, have you?"
Ling Yunchuan lowered his head and hummed softly, "At least I can keep my mind calm, unlike you two, fidgeting the whole time."
Soon, their chatter and laughter filled the meditation room, making it impossible to focus. Lingxu Daoist stepped out for a short while to attend to other matters, and the children's mischievous nature fully emerged. Wuchensi quietly rose, pulling Yuan Qingshan and Nie Yunzhuang along as they sneaked out of the temple and ran along the mountain path to hunt.
"Wuchensi, do you really think you can catch anything big? You're only a few years old!" Yuan Qingshan panted as he ran, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Nie Yunzhuang laughed while swinging a wooden stick, "It doesn't matter! Even if we don't catch anything, we can scare the little beasts and practice our skills!"
Wuchensi crouched down and pointed at a mountain rabbit, whispering, "Watch closely, just a light tap—whoosh—" His small hand struck, and the rabbit leapt three feet away, squealing in fear as it ran.
Yuan Qingshan held his head and laughed, "Are you hunting or just scaring rabbits, hahahaha!"
Ling Yunchuan walked behind them, shaking his head but smiling slightly, "Forget it, you three, better practice meditation first. You can't even control yourselves properly."
After returning from hunting, the four stepped into the temple, where Lingxu Daoist was quietly seated. The master lifted his eyes and looked at them, his voice calm but carrying a hint of inquiry: "Why weren't you in the meditation room practicing?"
Yuan Qingshan muttered under his breath, frowning: "We can't feel anything, and yet we have to meditate? My legs are numb."
Nie YunZhuang impatiently interjected: "Master, why do we have to learn these things? I only want to learn martial skills that can destroy the demon clan!"
Lingxu Daoist's gaze remained gentle as he spoke slowly: "The path of cultivation is not something achieved overnight. Power must be accumulated step by step; if you rush, you will only make things harder."
He then produced a few crystalline elixirs from his sleeve, placing them gently in their hands: "These pills are the easiest to absorb. They help open your body's senses, allowing you to perceive the surrounding spiritual energy and the energy of the universe."
Yuan Qingshan glanced at the pills and muttered: "If you had this, why didn't you give it to us earlier? You're stingy."
Nie YunZhuang also questioned: "Why not let us just take it directly? Master, wouldn't eating it make us stronger?"
Lingxu Daoist shook his head slightly, his tone patient: "No, the method is more important than the elixirs. Meditation quiets the mind; only with a quiet mind can you truly perceive. You must combine Daoist principles, the Five Elements, meditation, and controlled breathing to integrate the processes of refining essence into Qi, refining Qi into spirit, and returning spirit to void. Adjusting the body, the breath, and the mind—all three are indispensable. Without following the proper methods, no amount of elixirs will help."
The four exchanged glances and lowered their heads, seeming to understand. They sat again, following the master's instructions, trying to adjust their breathing, posture, and mental state. At first, wandering thoughts kept intruding, but gradually, their breaths began to resonate slightly with the surrounding spiritual energy, as if their inner perception was slowly awakening.
Yuan Qingshan couldn't help but whisper a complaint: "Hmph, this is more interesting than hunting. At least no beasts are trying to bite us."
Nie YunZhuang remained impatient, but a trace of curiosity flickered in his eyes: "Maybe… I can really feel something."
Wuchensi closed his eyes, placing his small hands lightly on his knees, silently reciting the mantras taught by the master, sensing the flow of spiritual energy within. Though the youngest, he focused deeply, brows slightly furrowed as if probing his own potential.
Ling Yunchuan sat quietly nearby, occasionally adjusting his breathing and posture, his gaze calm and face serene, yet showing a steady patience beyond his years.