Fusang Sword Heart Diagram

Chapter 18 Spirit Refining Technique
Shen Yuanxi felt he had gained a lot. He stretched and turned to Ning Fusang: "Junior Sister Ning, you'll be on holiday for the outer sect competition in seven days. Will you come to watch?"

Ning Fusang walked straight past him, leaving behind two decisive words: "I'm not going."

Shen Yuanxi stood on the steps, gazing at Ning Fusang's retreating figure for a long time. She took a deep breath and said softly, "Junior Sister Ning is so unconventional; no wonder Master always has a headache about her."

At six quarters past the hour of You (5-7 PM), at the Chuandao Lodge.

Ning Fusang arrived 25 minutes early, but before her, there were already a few people in the Preaching Pavilion, who were gathered in small groups, discussing the "Refining Spirit Technique" and chatting.

Ruan San Niang and Jiang Xin were together. When she saw Ning Fusang, she was slightly pleased and raised her hand to greet her. Ning Fusang acted as if she hadn't seen her and walked to the left window to sit down.

Jiang Xin tugged at Ruan San Niang's sleeve, pulling her back to reality, and asked in a soft, sweet voice, "San Niang, how do you pronounce this character?"

Ruan San Niang's father was a poor scholar who taught her to read. Later, Ruan San Niang taught her children to read in the same way. When she saw Jiang Xin, a gentle look appeared in her eyes. She patiently taught Jiang Xin the characters she didn't know several times.

Jiang Xin's eyes sparkled, and she asked with a smile, "Third Sister, may I go to Wuyuan in the future and have you teach me to read?"

Ruan San Niang looked troubled. She glanced at Ning Fusang quickly and then shook her head.

Based on her understanding of Senior Sister Ning, she should prefer peace and quiet and dislike being disturbed by people visiting Wuyuan.

Jiang Xin was visibly disappointed; her eyebrows drooped, and she looked gloomy.

Ruan San Niang smiled gently and said, "Wuyuan is inconvenient. If you want to learn to read, just call me to come to Chuandaolu anytime."

"Or you could go to the sect's library."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xin's eyes brightened, and she nodded emphatically: "I will listen to Third Sister."

Ruan San Niang was also very happy.

When she first came to the sect, she always felt lonely and uncomfortable, but now, after getting to know Senior Sister Ning and Jiang Xin, she has slowly begun to get used to life in the sect.

Although the daytime training made her feel very tired, after resting, she felt a different kind of fulfillment.

Ruan San Niang kept glancing at Ning Fusang's movements, feeling a little guilty and ashamed.

Originally, she was all alone and excluded. It was only after Senior Sister Ning moved into Wuyuan with her that she felt less lonely. But now, she was with Jiang Xin and left Senior Sister Ning aside. She felt terrible, as if she were being repeatedly fried in a frying pan.

After a moment of silence, Ruan San Niang tidied up the papers beside her and handed them to Jiang Xin, then said, "It's almost Xu Shi (7-9 PM), and Master Gu should be arriving soon. Keep these papers safe and read them slowly when you get back. I'll go back to my seat now."

Ruan San Niang sat in the same spot she had sat in yesterday. She only came here because Jiang Xin called her, and they talked for a while.

Jiang Xin tugged at her sleeve: "Third Sister, the seats in the preaching hall are not fixed. Come and sit with me."

Her roommate, Zheng Xiaohui, has made new friends and isn't sitting with her today.

Jiang Xin stared at her with her watery eyes. Ruan Sanniang, soft-hearted, didn't know how to refuse. Just then, Gu Pingsheng walked in, glanced at the students sitting in groups of three or five, and said:
"The preaching hall is so big, is there not enough room for everyone to sit separately? Why are you all huddled together? Are you trying to keep warm?"

Although she knew that Gu Pingsheng wasn't referring to anyone in particular, Jiang Xin's expression changed, and she released Ruan Sanniang's sleeve.

Ruan San Niang breathed a sigh of relief and returned to her seat.

Gu Pingsheng walked to the center and said again, "Today, everyone is sitting separately. If we are all crammed together, we can't even stretch our arms and legs. How can we learn the cultivation method of the 'Spirit Refining Technique'?" Only then did everyone understand Gu Pingsheng's intention.

Gu Pingsheng lifted his robe and sat down at the table in the center. He held a roll of Xuan paper in his hand, slowly unfolded it, and pressed it down with a paperweight.

“You have been in the sect for three days now. Today, I will formally teach you the methods of cultivation.”

The crowd below could not hide their excitement and joy.

Gu Pingsheng did not look at the contents of the Xuan paper. He began to recite the "Refining Spirit Technique" in a clear and unhurried voice.

"Amidst the clamor of the world, I retreat to the high mountains. Looking down upon the mortal realm, I see only illusions. Thus, I take heaven and earth as my dwelling, the sun and moon as my lamps, and bask in the gentle breeze, drifting on the boat of my true nature on the flowing river."

"Let go of material desires to lighten the heart, eliminate restlessness to open the mind. Release tranquility from its cage, let the universe roam freely... Observe the world calmly, and do not be confused by it."

Gu Pingsheng's voice was slow, melodious, and pleasant. As everyone listened, they couldn't help but calm down. The obscure and difficult words seemed to have a touch of spirituality when they were spoken.

This is the preface to the "Refining Spirit Technique," not the main text of the cultivation method.

But Ning Fusang didn't think it was unimportant. Most cultivation methods would get straight to the point and state the essentials of cultivation directly, rarely taking the time to write such a long preface.

After listening to Gu Pingsheng read the preface of "The Refining Spirit Technique" once, Ning Fusang had a new understanding.

The body remains still and silent, while thoughts flow freely. The heart merges with heaven and earth, gaining insight into all things. It is precisely stillness within movement, and movement within stillness.

Suddenly, Gu Pingsheng called out to her from above: "Ning Fusang, come up here and demonstrate for them."

Ning Fusang's wandering thoughts were pulled back. She got up, hugged her prayer mat, and walked to the front.

Gu Pingsheng raised his hand and pointed to an open space, indicating that she could put the cushion there and sit down.

Ning Fusang readily accepted the advice and sat cross-legged, his body straight, his spine neither bent nor crooked, upright and proper, like a sword that had been forged through countless trials.

Gu Pingsheng nodded in satisfaction and looked at the others: "In a quiet place, loosen your clothes and let your body be free from external constraints, so that your qi can flow naturally. Sit cross-legged, clasp your hands together and place them under your abdomen, and be single-minded and without a single thought."

Everyone realized that what Gu Pingsheng was talking about was exactly what was in the "Refining Spirit Technique".

After sitting cross-legged, they hesitated. Under the watchful eyes of others, the traditional concept of separation between men and women, and other factors made it impossible for them to undress without any ulterior motives.

Without saying a word, Ning Fusang took off her outer garment, leaving only her loose inner garment on her body, and untied the tight knots.

There's nothing to hide when it comes to cultivation.

Some solitary cultivators who live in seclusion deep in the mountains often go naked, exposing their chests and breasts, in order to cultivate.

However, this is a sect, and such behavior is unrefined. Most cultivators would only cultivate in their own rooms.

Gu Pingsheng raised the corners of his lips with a half-smile, a few glints of amusement in his eyes, and said leisurely, "Undressing doesn't mean you have to be naked. Don't overthink it. Just do as Ning Fusang does."

Only then did everyone manage to move a little.

(End of this chapter)