Chapter 5: Drawing Qi into the Body

Generally, the method by which cultivators draw spiritual energy into their bodies is independent of their chosen cultivation technique. However, once spiritual energy has been successfully guided within, possessing a refined cultivation method can greatly benefit the initial process of condensing and refining this energy. Hansu’s foundational technique was the "Mystic Ice Sun God Manual," a gift from the sect leader. Although Lanhe Daojun and his wife had also prepared several high-tier manuals in advance, none were as suitable for her as the Mystic Ice Sun God Manual. They did regret not having the "Frostfire Heart Condensation Technique," but ultimately, they had never harbored extravagant ambitions. Their daughter's innate talent already placed her ahead of most on the path of cultivation, and with their support, the freedom to pursue the Dao was more than enough.

Hansu’s mother, Jiang Tong, whose Daoist title was Everwave, was known as Master Everwave. Descended from a family renowned for medicine and gifted with a water spiritual root, she was naturally adept at healing arts and had entered the Dao through the practice of medicine. After becoming Dao companions with Lanhe Daojun, who specialized in cultivating spiritual herbs, the two complemented each other perfectly in their medical pursuits, each gaining new insights and making further advances. The Green Reed Azure Flame Bath, which Hansu had been immersed in every seven days since birth, was their joint creation—a medicinal bath designed to aid development. This bath used green reed grass as the primary ingredient, combined with various spiritual herbs, and was refined using the Azure Flame True Fire, an insight gained by Lanhe Daojun after forming his core. Regular soaks in this bath were extraordinarily effective for strengthening a child’s body, opening their meridians, and nourishing the soul. For this reason, Hansu’s parents took her recent changes in stride, attributing them to the regimen and not paying them much mind.

The medical family from which Master Everwave hailed had its own unique method for drawing spiritual energy into the body—gentler and more stable than those of other families, with remarkable benefits for initial energy gathering. Over the past few days, Hansu had been following her mother’s arrangements: soaking in the Green Reed Azure Flame Bath to temper her physique, and taking the Jade Essence Pill—gifted by Jade衡 Daojun previously—to cleanse her marrow and eliminate impurities, all in preparation for drawing spiritual energy within. After her final medicinal bath, Hansu, guided by her mother, drank a cup of the family’s ancestral Seven-Star Qi-Gathering Decoction. Once again, amid the radiant peach blossom grove, she began practicing the art of guiding spiritual energy.

Seated on a small meditation cushion fragrant with herbs, Hansu closed her eyes and imitated her mother, seeking to attune herself to heaven and earth. Whether thanks to thorough preparation or her own innate gifts, she soon calmed her thoughts and entered a state of perfect clarity. At first, she could still hear the songs of cicadas and birds, smell the peach blossoms on the breeze, but gradually, the world seemed to fade away until only she remained. In time, even her sense of self vanished. It was as if clusters of light spun and danced in the distance, slowly converging to form a new, radiant version of herself. Suddenly, more and more of these lights rushed forward and quietly merged into this luminous "her." The more light entered, the clearer this shining Hansu became. When her form was so distinct that every detail was visible, Hansu felt herself reappear, merging perfectly with the radiance. Warmth flooded her body as the tiny points of light streamed into her meridians, circulated throughout, and finally gathered at her lower dantian. The heat built and built, suffusing her with an indescribable comfort. When the last of the radiant clusters had converged, Hansu finally emerged from this mysterious state.

Her senses sharpened anew, she found herself once more in the dazzling peach blossom grove, with her mother still by her side. The only difference was that she felt drenched in sweat, her mind clear and invigorated, and her vision and hearing keener than ever before. For example, her mother’s delighted exclamation at that moment seemed magnified several times in her ears...

"Susu! You actually succeeded so quickly! And you even entered the state of perfect clarity! I must tell Senior Brother at once!" The impulsive Master Everwave darted off to share the good news with her Dao companion, completely forgetting to use a gentle water technique to clean her now grimy, hyper-sensitive daughter. Hansu gazed in dismay at her dirty little hands, hesitating over whether to waddle off for a bath. She had spiritual energy now, but no idea how to use it...