The sun shines brightly outside the dormitory.
Inside, Chen Yun follows the prerequisites for the initial preparation of "Huajing Gong".
"The first step is to digest food."
He first stretches his palm to the Gate of Life, then slowly and gently rubs down until reaching the sacrum.
Once.
Three times.
Fifteen times.
It was quickly performed 81 times.
Chen Yun felt the food he had just eaten digesting gently under the strokes, "Usually one to four cycles are enough. I've been talking to Wang Zixi for so long, there's not much food left in my stomach. One time is sufficient."
Digestion complete, it's time for meditation.
He looked at the window open, quite satisfied. It's best to have good ventilation when meditating, but it's not suitable for meditation if there is wind everywhere, so doors should be closed as much as possible to prevent being disturbed.
Now Chen Yun is in a state of isolation, no one will disturb him.
Therefore, he directly sat in the half-lotus position, head up, neck straight, chin slightly tucked in, tongue resting against the upper palate.
After completing the basic movements, Chen Yun did not rush to close his eyes, but first calmed his mind and maintained a steady breath.
Only when his emotions were completely quiet and his breath became even, he slowly closed his eyes.
It wasn't a complete closure, but rather leaving a sliver of light.
He focused his attention on his breath.
Because the foundation for a hundred days often requires meditation, Chen Yun is proficient at it, quickly entering a state of concentration.
He could clearly feel that after the food was digested in his stomach, it transformed into essential nutrients and spread to the spleen.
Then...
Hmm, Chen Yun couldn't feel anything.
The feeling of the stomach digesting food is easy to perceive, but the process of the spleen transforming the refined essence of grains and vegetables into vital essence is almost imperceptible.
Although Chen Yun has been diligently learning for these days, he knows where the spleen is located, but he really can't feel the spleen transforming refined essence of grains and vegetables into vital essence.
Approximately half an hour of meditation.
Unable to find that sensation, he had no choice but to stop.
"I can't even feel how the spleen transforms refined essence of grains and vegetables into vital essence, how can I cultivate grain?"
Chen Yun's eyebrows furrowed slightly, "This is almost the same as when I was cultivating the foundation for a hundred days and couldn't feel where the meridians were. Although there was foundation soup to assist in the process, when true qi circulated through the meridians, I felt it and understood what to do next. Now we haven't brewed refining essence soup yet, so I can only figure it out by myself slowly. It seems that progress won't be fast."
If it were any other time, he could have started to gather the herbs needed for the refining essence soup and brew it himself.
However, he is currently in isolation and unable to go out to buy the herbs.
"I'll continue to try first, and if I really can't feel it, I'll ask Master Wang Zixi tomorrow."
Thinking so, Chen Yun tried again.
...
The next morning, early in the morning.
Wang Zixi came to the window again.
Wang Zixi spoke simply and clearly most of the time, except when explaining the cultivation process in detail.
Upon hearing that Chen Yun could not perceive how the spleen transformed refined essence of grains and vegetables into vital essence, Wang Zixi shook his head and said, "Cultivation requires self-awareness. I cannot guide you on this."
Chen Yun said with a sigh, "Alright, I'll try again later."
"Mm, I'll take my leave first."
After speaking, Wang Zixi mysteriously smiled and left.
To be honest, when Wang Zixi learned that Chen Yun completed foundation-building in such a short time, his confidence was greatly shaken. However, today, hearing that Chen Yun's cultivation progress had become no different from that of others, he felt much better and smiled for the first time in a rare moment.
This wasn't a mocking smile, but a smile of restoring confidence.
It's like he lost his confidence somewhere and found it again somewhere else.
After confirming that no one could help him understand how the spleen operates, Chen Yun could only calm his mind and try again.
...
Time went by day by day.
Finally, the fifteen-day period of isolation ended.
On this early morning, Chen Yun was released by Wang Laozhi himself.
Standing in front of the door, Wang Laozhi, with a stern face, asked, "What enlightenment have you gained from this isolation?"
Chen Yun bowed and said, "I know I am wrong, and it has pierced my heart."
Mm, this is a formality.
In reality, he had been immersed in cultivation for over a week and had not reflected at all.
Wang Laozhi saw his sincere attitude and nodded with satisfaction, "Knowing your mistake is the best way to make amends. Alright, from now on, you will work in the herb garden in the morning, and after lunch, you will help in the talisman workshop since Cai's apprentice is busy."
Chen Yun was taken aback, "Help in the talisman workshop in the afternoon?"
Wang Laozhi sighed helplessly, "The miscellaneous affairs of the monastery are handled by Cai's apprentice. Wang Zixi is responsible for passing qi to you. Originally, the talisman workshop was managed by Lin Chen. However, he was driven away from the mountain by me. The remaining permanent workers each have their own responsibilities. I have been a bit busy with some matters recently and haven't had time to go down the mountain to recruit new workers. Since your herb garden isn't too busy, you can go and help Cai's apprentice for now."
Chen Yun understood and replied, "Alright, I'll go there in the afternoon."
End of dialogue.
Wang Laozhi walked away with his hands clasped behind his back.
Chen Yun went to the Meditation Hall for breakfast.
In the Meditation Hall, besides Wang Zixi and Cai Ruojin, all the other permanent workers were present.
The two senior brothers sitting on the left side of the table near the door were Wang Siyan and Yu Lüping, who were doing embroidery. On the right was Master Zhao, Master Tang, and others.
Further inside were Zhang Qian, Li Si, and others who were close to Chen Yun.
Perhaps it had been a long time since they last saw Chen Yun, and all the people who were originally eating their meals turned to look at him as soon as he walked into the cafeteria.
Chen Yun didn't care about the looks from the crowd, and he went straight to the table where Zhang Qian, Li Si, and Master Ding were having their meal.
Zhang Qian smiled and greeted, "Chen junior, you're out?"
Although this was a sentence of concern, Chen Yun couldn't help feeling like he had just been released from prison.
But he still replied with a smile, "Yeah, finally out."
Li Si, being quite amicable, offered to get him a bowl and chopsticks, saying, "Hurry up and have your breakfast. There's a lot of work in the herb garden later."
"Okay."
Chen Yun sat down, took the spoon, and scooped a bowl of porridge.
Just as he was about to start eating,
The usually cold and aloof Master Ding suddenly asked, "Chen junior, have you completed the foundation-building a dozen days ago?"
Everyone seemed to be interested in this question, and some people slowed down their eating, one by one, straining to hear.
Wang Siyan and Yu Lüping were like that.
Master Tang and Master Zhao were also like that.
Let alone Zhang Qian and Li Si at the same table, both of whom were curious.
Chen Yun grunted in affirmation, "Yes, I completed the foundation-building."
Upon hearing this, the others whispered to each other.
"How long has he been here?"
"Not even two months yet."
"Only a few days to complete the foundation-building?"
Everyone looked quite surprised.
Master Ding looked a bit impressed and asked further, "Since you've completed the foundation-building, I suppose Master Wang Zixi should have taught you the method of refining grain into essence. Have you made any progress?"
Zhang Qian smiled and said, "Brother Ding, what are you saying? Chen junior completed the foundation-building in just a few days, how could he not master the method of refining grain into essence?"
Li Si nodded in agreement beside him.
The others all thought the same, believing that Chen Yun had exceptional talent and that refining grain into essence should be simple for him.
However, what no one expected was that Chen Yun said proudly, "I haven't, I haven't even seen the door yet."
"Ah?" Zhang Qian said in confusion: "Hasn't seen the door yet? Chen junior, what does this mean?"
Master Ding also seemed puzzled.
Master Ding, Li Si, and other people, including Wang Siyan and Zhang Qian, were all in a similar state of confusion.
Chen Yun spoke frankly and said, "I can't feel the spleen transforming essence into vitality, so I have no idea about it."
Hearing this, Li Si laughed, "Ah, I see. Chen junior, don't worry. I was like that too in the past. It took me three months to have some insights. You've only had a dozen days, so don't lose your confidence over this."
Zhang Qian rolled his eyes and said, "You are you, Chen junior. He only spent a dozen days completing the foundation-building, which is like a prodigy. He should be able to gain some understanding very quickly..."
Before he finished speaking, he realized his mistake and quickly corrected himself, saying, "Yes, it can't be rushed. Chen junior, don't put too much pressure on yourself."
Chen Yun, however, felt no pressure.
Anyway, after being released from the isolation, he intended to start purchasing the herbs needed for brewing the refining essence soup.
Once the refining essence soup was brewed, he should be able to quickly understand the principle, and then even without taking the soup, he could cultivate by himself.
However, the others did not think that way.
Both Master Ding and the others, including Wang Siyan and Zhang Qian, breathed a sigh of relief.
Originally, they thought Chen Yun's foundation-building in just a dozen days was a prodigious talent, and he would one day truly become a disciple of Dao Passage Monastery, so they felt some pressure when interacting with him.
Now that they learned that Chen Yun's progress in refining grain into essence was no different from everyone else's, they felt that they could interact with him on an equal footing in the future, without the need for such pressure, and thus breathed a sigh of relief.
Chen Yun had no idea what the others were thinking. He just wanted to hurry up and gather the ingredients to brew the refining essence soup so that he could quickly enter the stage of refining grain into essence.
He secretly hoped in his heart that with the help of the refining essence soup, he could quickly refine grain into essence?
