Chapter 21

Thus, with the help of the First Ancestor Dictionary, Li Wenjun spent three days thoroughly reading through the entire book, *Miscellaneous Discourses on Cultivation*.

The book *Miscellaneous Discourses on Cultivation* was not very thick, only about 240 to 250 pages, with a total of less than 200,000 words, and it included some illustrations. Li Wenjun spent the majority of his time looking up unfamiliar characters and words.

After thoroughly reading *Miscellaneous Discourses on Cultivation*, Li Wenjun jumped for joy.

*Miscellaneous Discourses on Cultivation* began by clearly defining what cultivation was and how to cultivate. Cultivation, in essence, involves using the elemental energy of heaven and earth to refine one's essence, energy, spirit, tendons, bones, and blood, thereby extending one's lifespan.

In other words, as long as one cultivates successfully, they can effectively extend their lifespan. The Qi Condensation stage can match the longevity of ordinary people who live to a hundred years. The Foundation Establishment stage doubles this to two hundred years. If one advances to the Golden Core stage, their lifespan can reach up to four hundred years. Of course, these are approximate figures. When it comes to individuals, there can be variations, but not by much.

As for how to cultivate, one can directly absorb the elemental energy of heaven and earth, or use a mineral called crystal stone for cultivation. Additionally, one can quickly enhance their cultivation realm by consuming pills that boost cultivation. There are also other methods that can promote cultivation.

After explaining what cultivation is, *Miscellaneous Discourses on Cultivation* briefly introduced some matters related to cultivation, such as commonly used heavenly materials, spiritual herbs, and spiritual beasts, as well as a brief description of commonly used pills.

After reading *Miscellaneous Discourses on Cultivation*, Li Wenjun finally understood that those people he had always mistaken for immortals were not true immortals but cultivators, a group of beings that exist between ordinary people and immortals. Of course, in the eyes of the secular world, these people are no different from true immortals, as they can ascend to the heavens, descend to the earth, and perform all sorts of incredible feats.

Li Wenjun had always been envious of the old Daoist's immortal techniques. After thoroughly reading *Miscellaneous Discourses on Cultivation*, he became even more eager to cultivate. He wished he could immediately transform into a cultivator, with a lifespan of several hundred years, and be respected wherever he went, just like the old Daoist.

After thoroughly reading *Miscellaneous Discourses on Cultivation* several more times and confirming that there were no omissions, Li Wenjun began to read *Changchun Gong*. This was a cultivation technique that, if successfully cultivated, would make one a member of the cultivators.

Following his usual practice, Li Wenjun first read through the entire book, looking up unfamiliar characters in the First Ancestor Dictionary. This was the cultivation technique he was going to practice, so he dared not be the slightest bit careless. It took him ten whole days to understand every word and sentence before he was ready to begin his cultivation.

On this day, after the moon rose above the willow branches, Li Wenjun bathed, changed his clothes, and adjusted his state before officially taking the first step in his cultivation.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. This day was of great significance to Li Wenjun.

According to the description in *Changchun Gong*, whether one can successfully cultivate depends on whether the cultivator has a spiritual root and the quality of that spiritual root. Li Wenjun did not know if he had a spiritual root, nor did he know how to test for it. He could only try with a glimmer of hope.

In fact, even if someone were willing to test him for a spiritual root, regardless of the result, even if he had no spiritual root, Li Wenjun would still resolutely embark on the path of cultivation.

Leaving his hometown and fleeing from famine was a bitter experience for him, but it also broadened his horizons. More importantly, it made him realize the existence of cultivators. How could he possibly be content with returning to his previous life, living in ignorance?

Following the cultivation technique described in *Changchun Gong*, Li Wenjun first used his divine sense to perceive the important acupoints on his body. This process was completed quickly. Then, he moved on to the second and very important step, which was to sense the elemental energy of heaven and earth around him and attempt to guide this energy into these important acupoints.

For several days, Li Wenjun failed to sense the presence of elemental energy. He was both anxious and helpless, and no one told him why this was happening. Did he have no spiritual root at all?

After several days of futile effort, Li Wenjun felt frustrated and restless. In this state, he could not do anything well. He decided to temporarily stop his cultivation, go outside for a walk, and clear his mind. Once his mood had calmed down, he would resume his cultivation.

Leaving his home, Li Wenjun first visited Sun Baicao at the Sun family. Sun Baicao's injuries were recovering well, and after a complete recovery, there should be no major issues, although his previously broken leg might prevent him from doing heavy work in the future.

Li Wenjun stayed at the Sun family for a short while, then went to the teahouse, ordered a pot of tea, and listened to the storyteller recount heroic tales of the current dynasty. In the past, when he heard these stories, he would feel excited and moved. However, now he neither felt excited nor moved. He often thought of the fireball the old Daoist had produced with a snap of his fingers and the ice spikes the black-striped giant python had spewed from its mouth. If these things appeared beside the founding generals of the current dynasty, a single fireball would likely turn them all to ashes.

After listening to the stories for a while, Li Wenjun left a few copper coins and departed. He wandered aimlessly around the county, watching the crowds and listening to the vendors' calls. Despite the bustling and noisy environment, Li Wenjun felt that he could not blend in, as if there was a wall separating him from them.

Standing in the center of the busiest street in the county, amidst the bustling crowds, the noise did not make his heart restless; instead, it gradually calmed him down. Having seen the old Daoist's abilities and witnessed someone flying like a roc, it was impossible for Li Wenjun to return to his previous mundane life.

In the evening, Li Wenjun bathed and changed his clothes again, and calmly began his cultivation.

Sitting in meditation for half the night, by the late hours, Li Wenjun suddenly felt his consciousness go dark, and he entered a very mysterious state.

Li Wenjun felt as if he was in a pitch-black environment where he could control everything. Looking around, he noticed some very special things floating around him.

These things were few in number and small in size, floating in the air like fairies, expanding and contracting like jellyfish, emitting dazzling and captivating light.

After observing for a while, Li Wenjun suddenly realized that these things could not remain in the air for long. After a short time, they would silently dissipate into the universe.

According to the description in *Changchun Gong*, these were the elemental energy of heaven and earth, also known as "Yuan Qi." They were one of the most sought-after things by cultivators and the foundation of cultivation.

Li Wenjun, fearing that all the elemental energy would dissipate, quickly activated the technique described in *Changchun Gong* to absorb the elemental energy. As soon as he activated the technique, the aimlessly floating elemental energy seemed to find a home and rushed toward him.

Li Wenjun tried to open the acupoints on his body, but he found that he could not. His acupoints seemed to be locked, and no matter how hard he tried, they would not open. In desperation, he opened his mouth and inhaled all the elemental energy that rushed toward him.

A mouthful of elemental energy entered his body and immediately split into three parts. One part entered his acupoints and was stored, another part merged with his tendons and bones, slowly and painfully transforming them, while the largest part dissipated directly as it entered his body, unable to be utilized.

This method of absorbing elemental energy was quite wasteful, with an efficiency of less than 50%, meaning at least half of the elemental energy would be wasted. However, wasting was