Chapter Five: Opening the Meridians

Di Yuan did not wander far. He hid his figure within the lush foliage of a towering tree, his gaze piercing through the gaps in the leaves to fixate on the bamboo huts, observing every movement below.

The first step on the path of cultivation is known as "Pulse Opening," a pivotal moment where a bond is established between the heavens, the earth, and the practitioner. During this phase, the heavens open a spiritual sea for the cultivator, actively accepting their body as a vessel for spiritual energy.

The capacity of an individual to contain this spiritual energy is often viewed as a key metric for measuring their cultivation potential.

For Di Yuan, who bore the responsibility of mentorship, assessing the Pulse Opening progress of these new disciples was a mandatory duty, one for which he would later have to report to the higher-ups of the Sword Sect’s inner circle.

Just then, a beam of light suddenly erupted from above one of the distant bamboo huts, shooting straight toward the heavens like a pillar.

Immediately following, countless rays of light, as thin as silk threads, rose in succession. Each sliver of light symbolized a disciple who had successfully achieved Pulse Opening.

In an instant, the area containing the bamboo huts in the mountain valley was enveloped in a vast spiritual sea, ethereal and shimmering with celestial energy.

"This generation of disciples is truly extraordinary; they are arguably the most brilliant group in recent years, save for that girl surnamed Lu." Witnessing this magnificent spectacle, Di Yuan nodded in satisfaction and muttered to himself, "This is well. I might even be able to..."

Suddenly, a thunderous boom erupted. A pillar of light, as thick as a mountain peak, shot into the sky without warning, cutting off Di Yuan’s words.

This pillar surged toward the nine heavens, possessing a majestic and fearless momentum, like an unparalleled divine sword intent on cleaving the firmament asunder.

The clouds in the sky seemed drawn by this force, dipping low, while the spiritual energy around the bamboo huts was scattered by the shockwave, revealing the scene beneath.

Di Yuan was struck dumb by the sight.

Meanwhile, in the very heart of the Sword Sect, several waves of overwhelming pressure converged from all directions upon the summit of Tianya Peak, staring down at the disturbance below.

Di Yuan narrowed his eyes, sensing several familiar auras within the pressure in the sky. Recognizing the owners of these auras, his expression turned even more horrified.

The pillar of light remained dazzling and crystalline, showing no signs of fading.

Struggling to calm the turbulence in his heart, Di Yuan turned his gaze toward the source of the pillar, his eyes widening in shock.

That was... the hut where Lin Fei resided?

The pillar of light formed by spiritual energy did not last long. Realizing that the small, hastily arranged formation he had set up had not produced the intended effect, Lin Fei withdrew his concentration.

He stood up and looked out the window toward the horizon. Feeling the residual, formidable aura in the air, he mused to himself that he had somewhat underestimated the commotion caused by Pulse Opening.

Just then, the door was shoved open with force. Di Yuan, shedding his usual composed and stern demeanor, rushed in with a look of panic and uncertainty, his eyes darting between the two people in the room.

Despite the world-shaking events outside, the interior of the bamboo hut remained unusually calm, as if suppressed by some unseen force.

Xia Yi happened to be popping the last spiritual fruit into her mouth, a satisfied smile on her face. She seemed entirely unaffected by the commotion outside, remaining immersed in her own world.

Di Yuan’s gaze finally settled on Lin Fei, a flicker of astonishment in his eyes: "It was you?"

Lin Fei smiled faintly and pointed a finger gently toward Xia Yi: "It was her."

Xia Yi blinked, looking lost and confused, seemingly unaware of what had just transpired: "What?"

Overnight, news spread throughout the Sword Sect: the new junior sister in the outer sect not only possessed the rare Heavenly-grade Sword Heart but had also triggered a heaven-and-earth anomaly during her Pulse Opening, drawing the attention of numerous inner-sect elders.

The path of cultivation is usually monotonous and long, but with so many peers gathered on Tianya Peak, the new disciples no longer found their training lives unbearable.

While practitioners value talent, the resilience of one's character is what truly determines future achievement. On the peak, disciples gathered in small groups to discuss cultivation insights and spar, their relationships growing closer as laughter filled the air.

The entire Tianya Peak hummed with vitality, with disciples chasing and pushing one another toward constant progress.

With the first cheer echoing through the courtyard, more and more disciples broke through to the second, and even the third, layer of the Qi Refining Realm, crossing the first major threshold on the road of cultivation.

Yet, among these disciples, there was one anomaly.

Lin Fei’s cultivation path seemed distinct. Although his methods were no different from the others, while his peers broke through one after another, his own cultivation remained frozen, showing no signs of improvement.

His progress remained as still as stagnant water, devoid of the slightest fluctuation of spiritual energy.

Though Di Yuan was somewhat dissatisfied with Lin Fei, he considered his rare Earth-grade Sword Heart and made multiple attempts to reach out, hoping to identify the source of the problem.

However, Lin Fei seemed indifferent to this, brushing off Di Yuan’s concern with casual excuses before becoming even more indulgent.

When other disciples struggled to shake off sleep at dawn to meditate and refine their Qi, Lin Fei chose to sleep in. By midday, when everyone else was tempering their bodies under the scorching sun, Lin Fei preferred to lounge in the shade of the forest. During the leisure of the afternoon, he would even spend his time watering the glazed flowers and trees on the summit, appearing remarkably relaxed.

Lin Fei’s behavior was a far cry from that of a typical Sword Sect initiate; he no longer bothered to feign the posture of a cultivator, acting more like a loafer enjoying life.

Watching this from afar, Di Yuan could only shake his head in resignation, his heart filled with disappointment. Yet, he understood that cultivation was ultimately a personal affair, and as a mentor, he could only offer guidance.

If things continued this way, it would not take three years; the upcoming entrance trial would force Lin Fei to face reality and see him expelled from the Sword Sect.

...

"The sunset on Tianya Peak truly has a unique charm." Lin Fei leaned against a giant rock at the summit, gazing at the sinking sun on the horizon, his tone filled with ease.

Xia Yi sat cross-legged beside him. She nodded softly, a look of deep agreement on her face.

When it came to laziness, if Lin Fei was second, Xia Yi was undoubtedly first.

Yet, since her entry, she had broken through at an astonishing pace, becoming a legendary figure in the eyes of many. Her cultivation at the fifth stage of Qi Refining left her far ahead of her peers.

To those disciples who looked up to her, even if Xia Yi remained behind closed doors all day, they saw it as the prerogative of her innate genius.

But what remained baffling was that this exceptionally talented girl insisted on keeping company with Lin Fei.

"You owe me a huge favor, and you must make it up to me!" Xia Yi suddenly turned her head, her bright eyes fixed squarely on Lin Fei, her tone laced with playfulness.