Chapter 13: Sensing Spiritual Energy

Without further hesitation, Zheng Yi once again poured ten strands of Mortal Aura into the "Longevity Health Practice." At the same time, he kept silently repeating in his heart, "Seek a place rich in spiritual energy for cultivation," over and over.

When sincerity reaches its peak, even metal and stone can be moved. Perhaps driven by his obsession, the Mortal Aura simulation indeed began to change.

[You have infused ten strands of Mortal Aura into the Longevity Health Practice.]
[In the first year, you continue diligently cultivating the Longevity Health Practice. With your spirit sharpened to near-perfection, you distinctly perceive a strange wisp of energy, fleeting and elusive.]
[Unwilling to accept failure, you persist in your cultivation.]
[In the second year, your stillness gives way to action as you resolve to seek a place abundant in spiritual energy for your practice.]
[You journey south of the city to the quiet slopes of Black Tortoise Mountain, spending a year in seclusion there. Yet you gain nothing.]

"It really works!"

Zheng Yi's eyes brightened suddenly. It appeared the Mortal Aura simulation could indeed be altered from its mechanical course through strengthened autosuggestion.

He suppressed his excitement and continued reading.

[In the third year, you remain in seclusion at Black Tortoise Mountain. Once again, you sense that mysterious wisp of energy—still fleeting and intangible.]

"It's useful!"

Zheng Yi murmured softly. In the dozens of previous simulations, that wisp of energy had always been described as "strange." But atop Black Tortoise Mountain, it was now "mysterious"!

A thought flashed through his mind, and he immediately commanded, "Go to White Cloud Mountain! Go to White Cloud Mountain!"

White Cloud Mountain lay to the north of the city, a scenic peak. Most important of all, there was the Cloud Dust Temple atop it, where the envoys of the Long River Sect resided.

Why had the cultivators of the Long River Sect chosen White Cloud Mountain? Could it be that spiritual energy existed there?

He pressed the simulation onward.

[In the fourth year, you leave Black Tortoise Mountain and journey to White Cloud Mountain in the north.]
[In seclusion there, you once again feel the presence of that mysterious wisp of energy.]
[In the fifth year… you continue your quiet cultivation at White Cloud Mountain, keenly aware of the mysterious energy swirling around you.]
[You then attempt to absorb the mysterious energy using the Longevity Health Practice. Instantly, your entire body is wracked with pain, your meridians shatter, and a mouthful of blood spurts forth—you nearly collapse.]
[At that moment, as you suffer grave injuries, a figure in white Daoist robes, exuding a murderous aura, suddenly appears before you. With cold indifference, he declares, "A mere mortal dares attune to spiritual energy—your death is deserved."]
[Before his words fade, a sword light sweeps over you.]
[You are dead.]
[This round of Mortal Aura simulation ends. Five strands of Mortal Aura are returned to you.]

"It ended just like that!"

Zheng Yi was stunned.

Damn it! Not only did he fail to absorb that mysterious energy in this simulation—he was actually killed!

His killer must be none other than the hidden cultivator, Cloud Dust Master, residing in the Cloud Dust Temple.

Still, it wasn’t all bad. Of the ten strands of Mortal Aura invested, five were returned. This Mortal Aura Compendium certainly showed some fairness.

That man was ruthless indeed. Just seeing someone trying to cultivate on White Cloud Mountain, drawing a wisp of spiritual energy, he struck without hesitation, caring nothing for his own status.

It seemed that in this era, spiritual energy was extremely scarce and precious to cultivators.

This person was clearly decisive and resolute—one to be wary of should they ever cross paths again.

Even so, he’d gleaned much useful intelligence from this simulation.

First: There truly was a cultivator at the Cloud Dust Temple atop White Cloud Mountain.
Second: The mysterious energy sensed with the Longevity Health Practice was indeed spiritual energy.
Third: Seeking places rich in spiritual energy really did make it easier to sense such energy.
Fourth: Was it truly impossible for mortals to absorb spiritual energy? Or was his method flawed?

Regardless, he would have to keep trying!

He closed his eyes, turning these matters over in his mind. Besides White Cloud Mountain to the north, where else near the capital might spiritual energy exist?

According to the two retainers, spiritual energy in the world now was like a retreating tide—extraordinarily rare. Only the famous mountains and rivers, remote forests, or places with exceptional geomancy might hold large amounts of it.

"Famous mountains and great rivers, deep forests—surely other cultivators have claimed those already, just like White Cloud Mountain," Zheng Yi mused. "So where else might be suitable?"

"Excellent geomancy… geomancy!"

Suddenly his eyes lit up as an idea struck him.

Heavenly Longevity Mountain!

Located in the northwest of the capital, it was a mighty and perilous peak, guarding the city’s northwest entrance. The imperial court had even built a pass there—the Heavenly Longevity Pass.

Most importantly, this mountain was also the burial ground for emperors of the Former Jin Dynasty—the royal mausoleum!

Within its slopes rested twenty-three emperors of Former Jin, along with countless princes, nobles, and consorts.

Three years ago, when conquering the Former Jin capital, Zheng Yi and several allied warlords had launched their final assault against the dynasty’s remaining elite at Heavenly Longevity Mountain.

In that battle, over six hundred thousand men fought in the surrounding hills. More than two hundred thousand soldiers perished—many burned or buried on the spot.

The imperial tombs, numbering in the hundreds, were all destroyed and looted by the rebel forces, leaving the place a wasteland.

As the imperial mausoleum, Heavenly Longevity Mountain must have the best feng shui—the very dragon vein of Former Jin. If anywhere near the capital still held spiritual energy, it had to be there!

Indeed, in recent years, there were rumors of ghosts seen on Heavenly Longevity Mountain, and of wailing voices heard at night. The place had become so feared that not even the garrison of Yu Kingdom dared station troops anywhere but the foot of the mountain, avoiding the old pass entirely.

"It's decided—Heavenly Longevity Mountain!"

A glance at his Mortal Aura reserves—ninety strands left. That would suffice.

He drew out another ten strands, investing them in the Longevity Health Practice.

"Go to Heavenly Longevity Mountain for cultivation!"
"Go to Heavenly Longevity Mountain for cultivation!"

With his obsession fueling the simulation, the Mortal Aura scenario shifted once more.

[You have infused ten strands of Mortal Aura into the Longevity Health Practice.]
[In the first year, you journey to Heavenly Longevity Mountain and cultivate the Longevity Health Practice. With your spirit honed to near-perfection, you distinctly sense a mysterious energy swirling around you.]
[You attempt to absorb the mysterious energy using the Longevity Health Practice. Instantly, your entire body is wracked with pain, your meridians shatter, and a mouthful of blood spurts forth—you nearly collapse.]
[Unwilling to fail, you recover from your injuries and resume your cultivation.]

Zheng Yi frowned. This simulation was just like the previous one—attempting to absorb even a single strand of spiritual energy resulted in excruciating pain and broken meridians.

Was spiritual energy truly impossible to absorb?

[In the second year, you continue cultivating the Longevity Health Practice atop Heavenly Longevity Mountain, absorbing spiritual energy.]
[This time, your injuries are even graver than before—you are left nearly paralyzed, unable to move.]
[You starve to death.]
[This round of Mortal Aura simulation ends. Eight strands of Mortal Aura are returned to you.]

"Starved to death?"

Zheng Yi's eyes widened in disbelief. Was that even possible?

Spiritual energy, spiritual energy!

He rose abruptly, face grim.

He recalled the words once spoken by the wandering cultivator Huang Zhu: without a spiritual root, one cannot cultivate!

"Is it truly impossible to cultivate without a spiritual root?"