Over the past two months, Elder Wu Qingfeng devoted himself wholeheartedly to teaching Pang Bo and Ye Fan, guiding them onto the path of cultivation. Pang Bo's progress was smooth, he sensed his own Life Wheel and could already direct the flow of essence. His next step was to open up his Bitter Sea to prepare for the future release of godpower.
Ye Fan, on the other hand, still couldn't sense his Life Wheel. It remained silent and still. Yet, after each day of cultivation, he felt refreshed, relaxed, and filled with boundless energy. In recent days, his strength had increased significantly, and his speed had also improved greatly. It was as if his body held an inexhaustible reservoir of vitality.
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the two months were over. Elder Wu Qingfeng was preparing to leave and would no longer teach them individually.
"The path to immortality is perilous. Only with steadfast determination and perseverance can one achieve anything." After these parting words, the elder drifted away gracefully.
Ye Fan and Pang Bo bowed deeply to his departing figure. It was no empty gesture, it came from the heart.
In front of a low hill stood several thatched cottages and a few groves of bamboo. The place was peaceful and natural. With simple meals and quiet days, Ye Fan and Pang Bo had gradually grown used to this life.
The next day, they would begin cultivating at Desolate Spirit Cliff. Ye Fan had been hesitant, since he hadn't joined Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven, he felt it wasn't right to accompany Pang Bo to study. But Elder Wu Qingfeng gave him a jade token that served as proof of identity. With it, even though he wasn't an official disciple, he could still cultivate there.
The full moon hung high in the sky, casting gentle moonlight like rippling water. The nearby forest and hills were cloaked in a hazy veil, like a layer of fine gauze.
Ye Fan and Pang Bo lay quietly on the grass, gazing up at the starry sky without speaking. They were searching for a familiar star, but the sky above was filled with unfamiliar constellations. They could no longer find the stars they once knew.
They had come to the far side of the stars, and the past was now too distant, forever out of reach.
"I wonder what year it is tonight in the heavenly palace..."
"People experience sorrow and joy, partings and reunions; the moon waxes and wanes... I only wish we live long and share the beauty of the moon from afar."
The two of them lay on the grass, still gazing up. They held cups of coarse tea, but the tea never reached their lips, most of it spilled over their faces.
"There's no going back anymore..."
They fell silent for a long time, lying there quietly beneath the stars, not saying another word.
Only after a long while was the silence finally broken.
"We have to live well..."
Both Ye Fan and Pang Bo were optimistic by nature. Their moment of melancholy was a farewell to the past. From now on, they would face the future with resolve.
They quickly shook off the mood and turned the conversation to cultivation. Though they had only practiced for two months, it felt like a rebirth, a completely new experience. The path to immortality was ethereal and unpredictable. Since they had stepped onto it, they would walk it with determination.
Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven was one of the six Grotto-Heavens in the State of Yan. Though it couldn't compare with the most renowned great sects, it still had nearly a thousand cultivators, with several hundred younger disciples.
As the morning sun rose, golden light bathed the cliffs, making them gleam brightly.
Desolate Spirit Cliff was a series of sheer stone walls, over a dozen short cliffs spaced apart, each only about 70 to 80 meters tall. They weren't connected, and each was used independently.
At dawn, many young disciples gathered here. Due to varying levels of cultivation, they naturally chose different cliffs to listen to teachings suited to their level.
Ye Fan and Pang Bo arrived early. As new initiates, they had only one option: the last stone cliff at the end. Already, dozens of people had gathered there, men and women alike. The youngest were just seven or eight years old, their faces still childlike. The oldest were in their thirties, visibly worn by life.
A flash of light streaked across the sky, a divine rainbow descending onto the cliff. The light faded, revealing a white-haired elder sitting cross-legged. He scanned the crowd below, his gaze pausing briefly on Pang Bo and Ye Fan before he began his lecture.
At the same time, divine rainbows landed on other cliffs too, each one a different elder of Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven. The cliffs were spaced far enough apart that lectures didn't interfere with one another.
Bathed in morning light, the disciples listened attentively to the teachings. For many, this was their first time attending such a session as new initiates of Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven.
The elder on the cliff spoke with calm detachment. His voice carried no emotion, yet his teaching was meticulous. He covered all the essential matters new cultivators needed to know.
After half an hour, the lecture ended. The elder looked down and said, "If you have questions, ask now. Otherwise, we're done for today."
Several young disciples quickly stepped forward to ask questions. The elder answered each one, and once no more questions were raised, he flew off in a divine rainbow.
Ye Fan and Pang Bo's first experience listening to the teachings was plain and uneventful. They felt there was nothing novel or exciting about it. After being taught directly by Elder Wu Qingfeng for two months, they had already built a solid foundation and were well aware of most beginner-level issues.
"The introductory chapter of the Dao Scripture is enough for us to cultivate for two years. These minor techniques are boring. Elder Wu already covered them."
"Don't be arrogant. The elder told us to build a solid foundation, didn't he? If he insists we learn here, he must have his reasons."
Although they found the lectures dull, they came every day for the next half month. Eventually, they began to see the value. Occasionally, the elders would share their own insights and experiences from cultivation, these were incredibly helpful! For beginners, such real-world insights were like a guiding light. Comparing those experiences to their own progress, they could often gain inspiration and speed up their practice.
One morning, the elder on the cliff suddenly opened his palm, and dozens of beams of light shot down, landing in the hands of Ye Fan, Pang Bo, and the others. Each person received a small jade bottle, smooth and pristine. When opened, a fragrant aroma filled the air.
"This is medicinal liquid to help you open your Bitter Sea," the elder said plainly, not wasting a single word.
The Bitter Sea is linked to the Life Wheel. To release the immense essence stored in the Life Wheel, one must continually expand the Bitter Sea.
The liquid in the jade bottles was extremely precious, distributed only once every three months. Each person could only receive four bottles per year.
Pang Bo's Bitter Sea was gradually expanding. Over three months, it had grown from the size of a date pit to a fingernail, with faint streams of life essence swirling around it. He now appeared much more vibrant and spirited.
Ye Fan, though he also drank a small bottle, experienced no change. His Bitter Sea remained utterly silent, unopened and inert. Not even a sesame seed–sized area could be activated. No trace of life essence flowed within.
Yet during this time, his strength and speed continued to increase. His inner vitality boiled like a raging cauldron, and his life force surged fiercely, comparable to that of a flood dragon or a mega-mammoth.
"I'll just keep training like this. Even though I can't cultivate the Bitter Sea or connect with my Life Wheel for now, my physical body is growing stronger. That can't be a bad thing."
"Exactly! I think you're already stronger than me. I've been focusing on cultivating my Bitter Sea all day, but I haven't gained any strength or speed. I can't even use mystical techniques yet. I don't know what the point of this kind of cultivation is," Pang Bo grumbled.
The next day, he couldn't resist and asked the elder under the stone cliff: "Are we going to keep cultivating like this forever? When will we be able to fly with divine rainbows?"
The elder gave him a calm glance and said, "You have to eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time. If you don't learn to walk and try to run, you'll only fall on your face."
Though his words were rebuking, the elder ultimately gave an explanation, to offer hope to everyone present. He briefly described the future stages of cultivation.
"Only when your Bitter Sea is large enough can you move to the next stage. That is to open a direct channel from the bottom of the Bitter Sea to the Life Wheel. This will form a 'spring,' allowing divine essence from the Life Wheel to flow. That's when you've truly achieved something, and can begin to use mystical arts. That's what you all hope for: supernatural abilities."