Chapter Thirty-Four: Mastery Unbound

Father Tang, Mother Tang, Tang Jun, Tang Wei, and Zi Xuan gathered together in the small manor within the spatial formation, holding the two sets of twins in their arms. The family first prepared a meal and enjoyed it together before each went about their own tasks.

After tasting the crops grown in the space, it became almost impossible to stomach any food from outside. Ever since outsiders had come to their home, they could no longer openly bring out the food from the space, so they would occasionally add some ingredients from the manor to their dishes to make them more palatable for the family. Yet nothing compared to meals made entirely from the manor’s pure produce, so they always feasted inside the manor first.

Once they had eaten, the family began their meditation and cultivation. Tang Wei and Zi Xuan, cradling the two children, headed for the great hall. Little Ling was waiting at the entrance for them. When she caught sight of them, she rushed over in high spirits, her attention fixed not on Tang Wei, but on the children in her arms. Lately, Little Ling adored the twins, Bugs and Yaya; babies a few months old were irresistibly cute, and she was no exception.

Tang Wei watched as Little Ling played with the children, not in a hurry to begin her own cultivation; there was something she needed to ask Little Ling. Zi Xuan noticed Tang Wei standing idle and joined her, though he usually hurried off to cultivate as soon as he entered. Today, however, he knew his future wife had business with Little Ling and wouldn’t let him listen in, so he was determined to learn what was going on.

Little Ling noticed the two standing there, watching her play with the children, and asked curiously, “Why aren’t you cultivating today? Why are you just watching me?”

Zi Xuan scratched the back of his head sheepishly and grinned, “Hehe, I’m waiting for Weiwei.”

Rolling her eyes at him, Tang Wei turned to Little Ling, “I have something to ask you today. The patient I mentioned last time has come to see me, but it’s very difficult to heal her with my current spiritual energy. Do you have any good methods?”

“For this matter, there’s no quick solution; it must be taken slowly. You haven’t cultivated to the Golden Core stage yet, so you’re not a Chaos Spirit Body. I won’t agree to you pursuing medical cultivation on the side, as it would only harm you. With your inferior five-spirit roots, achieving any significant cultivation in this lifetime will be extremely difficult,” Little Ling firmly advised her.

Tang Wei felt discouraged, “Golden Core! How long will it take to reach that stage? There’s a patient waiting for me to save her, and she’s not at death’s door—just a physical problem—yet I am powerless. I can’t refine pills or cultivate life force, so what use is all this medical literature?” At this thought, her mood plummeted; she felt her efforts had been in vain, with her goal still distant and uncertain, and her frustration was palpable.

Zi Xuan, seeing Tang Wei’s dejected posture, was suddenly infected by her mood and felt a deep sadness. His heart held only one thought: no matter what, he must cheer her up. How could he make her smile? He lowered his head and thought. Ah! He remembered the matter Little Ling had discussed with him privately last time; this could both make Weiwei happy and relieve his own guilt.

His eyes lit up as he decided to approach Little Ling, but seeing Tang Wei’s low spirits, he worried that if things didn’t work out, she would be even more disappointed. So he resolved to discuss it with Little Ling privately first.

Zi Xuan looked at Tang Wei, unable to bear her sadness, and comforted her, “Weiwei, it isn’t useless. Reading medical books now is preparation for your future medical cultivation. The Golden Core stage isn’t that far away—we’ll reach it soon. Besides, you aren’t doing this for just one individual; you want to save many people, right? Are you going to give up your goal now? We’ll live for a long time, so we shouldn’t focus only on the present; we must also look to the future. If we persistently build up our efforts, eventually we’ll construct our own pyramid.”

“Brother truly is someone who has died once and been reborn; though his body is new, his old mindset remains, no wonder he’s so open-minded! Without mental shackles, his cultivation is free of inner demons, his state of mind is elevated, and he advances rapidly. Looks like I need to fulfill the old master’s instructions soon,” Little Ling mused silently.

Seeing Zi Xuan comforting Tang Wei, Little Ling joined in, “Sister, I know you just don’t want anyone to die in front of you; you needn’t be so discouraged. With your current spiritual power, if you treat that old lady each day, you might still cure her. But your state of mind isn’t good for cultivation; you need to let things go more.”

Hearing that the old lady might still be cured, Tang Wei visibly brightened, “Little Ling, thank you! But there’s another matter—Old Li, whom we met at the hospital, has come as well. What cultivation method should I give him?” She asked awkwardly. Sigh! She always needed Little Ling’s guidance; if Little Ling were ever gone, she truly wouldn’t know what to do.

“I’ve prepared for that already. I found a cultivation method suitable for everyone called ‘Free Wanderer.’ Don’t judge it just because it’s universal; it’s not inferior. Free Wanderer can evolve into different moves: those who love the sword can develop sword techniques, those who prefer the blade can train in blade techniques, those who favor fists can use it as a fist method. It adapts to whatever the practitioner desires, so long as they have the talent. Even those who follow its basic moves by rote will achieve something, and it’s simple enough that even the dullest person, with persistence, will feel stronger and more clear-minded. Eventually, internal power will arise, granting strength like an ox, and soon they’ll feel light as a swallow. With some luck or medicinal aid, they can break through the acquired stage into the innate stage, at which point a trace of spiritual energy is generated. When internal power is fully transformed into spiritual energy, they become a Qi-refining cultivator. This path of martial cultivation is generally referred to as sword cultivation. Their method differs from yours, yet a peak acquired-stage sword cultivator can easily defeat a Qi-refining cultivator. At the Qi-refining stage, sword cultivators can match Foundation Establishment cultivators. The gap narrows over time; at most, sword cultivators suppress their peers slightly,” Little Ling explained at length.

Tang Wei’s head throbbed as she endured, “Little Ling, you’ve already told me about sword cultivators; I just wanted to know which method you chose for them!”

Little Ling rolled her eyes, “Sister, I told you about sword cultivation, but not in such detail. If people ask you, how will you answer? Won’t you just come back to ask me again? I’ve thought ahead for you, yet you act like you don’t want to listen. Next time, I won’t tell you! I—”

Tang Wei quickly surrendered, unable to bear Little Ling’s increasing verbosity, “Little Ling, I was wrong! I won’t do this again. Thank you for thinking things through for me; I’ve let down your painstaking efforts. I truly deserve punishment! I’ll atone by going to cultivate right away in gratitude for your great kindness!”

Incensed, Little Ling set down the child and tried to chase her, but after two laps without catching Tang Wei, she pouted, “Sister, you’re so bad now, always making fun of me. I’m not talking to you anymore!”

“Alright, alright, just teasing! Don’t be mad!” Seeing Little Ling ignore her, Tang Wei hurried over to placate her, tapping her lips, “If you wish, I’ll stand still and let you hit me, vent your anger. Look! If you keep pouting, your lips will be big enough to hang an oil can! Haha!”

“Hmph! Always laughing at me!” Little Ling turned and slapped Tang Wei’s hand, giggling.

“I’ll go take a bath first, you two carry on!” With that, Tang Wei vanished from the hall.

Little Ling saw Zi Xuan still standing there, seemingly lost in thought. She went over and pushed him, asking, “Brother, why aren’t you cultivating today? What are you thinking about?”

Zi Xuan returned to himself and looked at Little Ling, “I’m thinking about what you told me last time.”

“Really! Brother has finally made up his mind. So, when should I help you refine them?” Little Ling exclaimed happily.

Zi Xuan shook his head, “I have made up my mind, but it’s not me who will refine them—I’ve decided to let Weiwei do it. The Five Spirit Treasures only help me cultivate faster; if I work harder, I’ll progress quickly enough. Besides, I enjoy cultivation and can choose several powerful methods to protect myself. But it’s different for Weiwei: she doesn’t like cultivating and only wants to pursue medical arts. If she refines them, she can start pill refinement immediately, use the treasures for defense, and the Five Spirit Treasures can continuously assist her cultivation, compensating for her innate laziness. I want us to advance together; if I climb alone, what meaning does it have?”

Little Ling looked troubled, “But the old master instructed me to only tell one person, and it’s meant for you alone!”

“He said it’s for me to hear and use, but he didn’t say I can’t give it to her. If Weiwei uses it, isn’t that still me using it? If I secretly enjoy this benefit alone, I’ll feel guilty for life. You too—if you only give it to me and not to Weiwei, you’ll have to hide it from her forever; wouldn’t that weigh on your conscience?” Zi Xuan played the wolf grandmother, earnestly persuading Little Red Riding Hood.

Poor Little Red Riding Hood felt miserable, “Yes, if I kept this from Sister, I’d feel guilty too. But...!” Little Ling still couldn’t decide, as the old master’s instructions weighed heavily—if she disobeyed, would he dissolve her and remake her?

“Alright, I’ll take responsibility,” Zi Xuan said resolutely, nothing like his silly demeanor when facing Tang Wei.

“Fine, I’ll tell Sister soon. If the old master blames me, Brother, you must plead for me!” Little Ling finally gathered her courage.

“Of course! A true man takes responsibility. It won’t fall on you, rest assured. But when you tell Weiwei, don’t make a fuss about how rare or precious it is, just mention it’s a bit special, not something everyone has, and don’t say it was my gift. Otherwise, she won’t accept it. Let her refine it first if she asks.”

Little Ling nodded, indicating she understood. Then Zi Xuan chattered on about how to keep Tang Wei from finding out. Little Ling could only grumble inwardly, “Sister calls me naggy, but Brother is no better!”