The Spirit Body Manual

Ignoring the little book spirit for a moment, Xu Xian opened the Spirit Body Manual and began to study it by the lamplight.

In the Cangming Realm, specifically in Fanzhou, the grades of cultivation techniques from weakest to strongest are: yellow grade, mysterious grade, earth grade, heaven grade, immortal grade, and divine grade. Each grade is further divided into low, middle, and high tiers.

The Spirit Body Manual in his hands was a high-tier mysterious grade manual.

In Fanzhou, the introductory cultivation for a cultivator consists of two stages: first is body refining, and second is qi refining.

Body refining refers to the tempering of the physical body.

This stage is about breaking the limits of the physical form.

The methods recorded were essentially two types. One involved using external forces like pills, spiritual plants, or immortal fluids to forcibly expel impurities from the body.

The other relied on body refining techniques to slowly cultivate and polish the body.

To put it simply, one relied on external aid—like pulling a seedling to help it grow—while the other relied on oneself, forging the body through slow, steady tempering.

However, regardless of the method, one had to undergo body tempering, bone forging, and blood coagulation, finally breaking the ten shackles within the body that locked away one's potential. Only then could one reach the great completion of the body refining stage.

After that, one could draw the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the body to form a spirit sea, allowing them to cultivate qi refining techniques.

In Fanzhou, the highest-grade body refining technique known was the Vajra External Scripture, practiced specifically by ascetic monks of the Buddhist sects; its rank was low-tier earth grade.

Aside from that, whether it was the body refining arts of the orthodox, demonic, Confucian, or Daoist paths, the highest were only mysterious grade.

It was undeniable that the Wendao Sect's Spirit Body Manual was absolutely top-tier among the body refining techniques in Fanzhou.

Unlike other sects, although talent might differ in the Wendao Sect, the techniques provided were the same for everyone.

Whether you were a direct disciple of an Elder or just an ordinary disciple, you could practice them.

Furthermore, the Wendao Sect never differentiated between inner and outer sect disciples.

The Wendao Sect established itself through the sword. Swordsmen were fearless and upright, adhering to the principle of staying grounded and taking things one step at a time.

The greatest taboo was taking shortcuts on the path of cultivation through external items.

Thus, all disciples of the Wendao Sect walked a hard path, and they considered it a disgrace to break through to qi refining by forced means like pulling seedlings to help them grow.

Of course, there was one exception: certain innate immortal bodies and Saint Bodies. These special physiques were born carrying the aura of heaven and earth—they were the darlings of the heavens. They didn't need to cultivate; as long as they grew naturally, they could break through the body refining stage.

This was similar to many demons and beasts with powerful bloodline forces.

Xu Xian flipped to the first page of the Spirit Body Manual. Two lines immediately stated the core essence of this technique's cultivation.

'Without the biting chill of winter, the plum blossom would not have its fragrant scent.'

Continuing to read, Xu Xian felt his head swell and his brain buzz. Closing the book and pinching the bridge of his nose, he grumbled, "Is this even cultivation? This is playing with your life."

Breath regulation and meditation were just the basics.

Mountain climbing, horse stance, standing under a waterfall to let the current wash over you, and so on...

Every exercise you could imagine to temper your body was recorded in here, and they were all the most extreme versions.

You could say that aside from the breathing and meditation mnemonics being somewhat sophisticated, the rest of this so-called Spirit Body Manual was just a super fitness regimen.

It was grueling.

With a sigh, he flopped onto the ground and stared blankly at the moonlight outside the window. "I really don't want to cultivate..."

The little book spirit hopped onto the manual and asked, "Master, can you not understand it? I can teach you."

Xu Xian glanced sideways at the little fellow. His eyes darted about as he asked, "Um, Little Shuer, do you have a way to make me succeed in body refining instantly? You know, without having to suffer through the things in this book?"

Hearing this, the little book spirit put its hands on its hips, adjusted its cap, and said confidently, "Of course I do. More than one way, in fact."

Xu Xian's eyes immediately lit up. He sat up with a start and asked impatiently, "Really? Tell me, tell me!"

The little book spirit said with an air of sophisticated maturity, "The simplest way is to take pills."

"What pills?"

The little book spirit counted on its fingers, rattling off a string of names.

"Nine-Life Spirit Void Grass, Golden Crow Hibiscus Fluid, Great Void Moon Tree Fruit, Chaos God-Burying Flower..."

Xu Xian stared blankly. He hadn't heard of a single one.

But even a fool would know that such things weren't something an ordinary person could possess.

"Let's try another way."

The little book spirit paced back and forth on the book with its hands behind its back. "Fine. Those are indeed hard to find. The power of the laws on this continent is so weak that it's impossible for those things to be born here. I didn't consider that. In that case, drink blood."

"Drink blood? Whose blood?"

The little book spirit said casually, "Any blood will do. As long as it's from an ancient divine beast, an ancient fierce beast, or a divine beast variant. The older, the better; the purer the breed, the better. Dragon blood is the most violent. After refining just one drop, it wouldn't be a problem to reach qi refining in a single day."

Xu Xian was speechless. He couldn't help but retort inwardly, 'Listen to yourself. Is that even human talk? Where am I supposed to find that stuff? Can't you be a bit more realistic?'

The little book spirit rolled its eyes and shot back, "Please, you were the one who started being unrealistic first."

Xu Xian was temporarily at a loss for words. He probed, "Isn't there anything simpler and easier?"

"Yes, there's one way that's very simple."

"Tell me."

"Take out that sword from earlier."

"And then?"

"Give yourself a quick slash."

"Huh?"

The little book spirit said, "An early death means an early reincarnation. Maybe in your next life, you can be born into a better family. If you could be born into an Emperor Clan, a God Clan, or even end up with a divine beast bloodline, wouldn't that be great?"

Xu Xian fell silent.

He was certain now; he was being toyed with.

The little book spirit, however, didn't think much of it and lectured him quite logically, "Why are you looking at me like that? I'm right. There are three paths: either you risk your life, reincarnate into a better family, or you have money and take pills. Otherwise..."

It stomped its right foot on the Spirit Body Manual beneath it and said plainly, "You can only suffer."

Xu Xian was speechless.

Some were born in the capital, others were born as beasts of burden.

Clearly, he was the latter.

A sleepless night passed. Suddenly, the crowing of a rooster was heard, and then the sky brightened. Immortal cranes soared above the floating clouds as the morning light arrived with the wind. In the early morning, the disciples of the Wendao Sect discovered that Wendao Square, which had been sealed for four years, was now open.

Disciples of Sword Inquiry Peak were busy within.

Sweeping, weeding, trimming, and renovating.

Passing disciples all stopped to catch a glimpse of what was happening. Soon, the news spread through the entire Wendao Sect like the wind.

"Xu Xian is awake!"

Everyone knew.

Many people came upon hearing the news to join the excitement. On Wendao Square, the sword stele was still there, but the unfinished chess match was gone, and the youth was nowhere to be seen.

As for the protagonist, Xu Xian, he had been woken up early by Wen Qingxue. Before he could even wash his face, he was dragged to the Personnel Hall on Zhijian Peak.

Wen Qingxue said, "...The Personnel Hall is one of the thirteen halls of the Wendao Sect. It is responsible for the registration and record-keeping of all personnel, internal transfers, and the distribution of sect disciple benefits. Your direct relatives in the mortal world will also receive condolences from the Personnel Hall every year—gold and silver from the secular world, or food, depending on the situation—to ensure they live without worry so that disciples can focus on their cultivation..."

Xu Xian's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

"Mhm... It's that good?"

Wen Qingxue added plainly, "If you accidentally die for the sect, the sect will be responsible for supporting your relatives for three generations. These all fall under the scope of the Personnel Hall's responsibilities."

Wen Qingxue suddenly stopped, looked back at the youth, and warned, "So when you fill out your information in a moment, be as detailed as possible. Avoid being in a situation where we can't find your family when the time comes."

Xu Xian was stunned, thinking, 'What is that supposed to mean?'

Nevertheless, he nodded in agreement.

"Alright!"