Building a sect from scratch.

Chapter 135 What is Spiritual Energy?

Physics, or physical science, is a discipline that studies the most general laws of motion and the basic structure of matter. It is also the foundation for the research of other natural science disciplines.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, what is the meaning of 'matter'?"

"It refers to the physical objects and fields that constitute all things in the universe; all entities in the world are matter."

"Is spiritual energy also 'matter'?"

"Personally, I think so. But since there are no definitive experiments to prove that it can be observed, we cannot rule out the possibility that it is not matter."

Wang Qiqing's words sent shivers down Lü Wenyuan's spine.

This familiar yet unfamiliar way of speaking, or rather, the way of describing things, is exactly the same as the style of the test questions on the exam paper he just took! This rigorous, meticulous, and precise language, as seamless as the mortise and tenon joints in architecture, seems to come from a completely new and grand world!

No, they are knowledge from another world!

In an instant, the thirst for knowledge ruthlessly crushed his arrogance. For once, Lü Wenyuan bowed deeply to this Qi Refining stage cultivator whom he would normally not even glance at, and said respectfully, "Please, Fellow Daoist Wang, do not hesitate to enlighten me!"

"Hey, no, no, no," Wang Qiqing was startled and quickly helped the other person up, saying warmly, "There is a sequence to learning, and everyone has their own expertise. How about this, I happen to be struggling with too many questions about cultivation. Let's team up, you teach me cultivation, and I'll explain natural science and physics to you, how about that?"

This experience of exchanging ideas with someone of vastly different cultivation levels yet on equal footing was something Lü Wenyuan had never felt before. For some reason, he curled his lips into a smile: "I shall comply!"

No sooner had Lü Wenyuan finished speaking than Wang Qiqing expertly pulled out a small table from somewhere, followed by two cushioned chairs, and casually set them up on the spot, inviting everyone present, "Come, come, fellow Daoist, please sit down first, let's talk slowly!"

Lu Wenyuan subconsciously looked around. Although there were many people in the hall, the space was large and people were far apart, so the two people's voices did not affect anyone. Even the administrator who was sitting behind the counter at the entrance and dozing off did not notice Wang Qiqing's behavior.

"It's okay! I organized a lot of the books in this library myself! And there's no rule against bringing tables and chairs, it just says no eating or drinking inside, right?"

Wang Qiqing, as was his habit, sat down first, then took out several leather notebooks and a dozen sheets of straw paper. He then grasped the most popular graphite pen in Chang'an and quickly got into the zone.

Seeing this, Lü Wenyuan had no choice but to sit down as well, and asked in a feignedly humble manner, "I wonder what troubles you have in your cultivation? Although I am only a Golden Core cultivator, I have some experience in cultivation and may be able to help you resolve some of your doubts."

“Fellow Daoist, look, I don’t quite understand this part about guiding Qi into the body. I’ve read many books on Qi-guiding theory, such as the ‘Supreme Mysterious Yin Qi Guiding Technique’ and the ‘Heavenly Origin Qi Guiding Method,’ which all mention using spiritual Qi to cleanse the eight extraordinary meridians. However, in the modern medical theories of our Blue Star that I know, ‘meridians’ are blood vessels, which I can find. But I don’t understand this ‘meridian’. How can I find the so-called ‘meridian’?”

Wang Qiqing asked questions without any hesitation, while unfolding a folded piece of paper, which was a rather detailed diagram of human anatomical blood vessels.

"The Eight Extraordinary Meridians are just one...category"

Lu Wenyuan tried to explain in this rigorous and detailed way that he had just come into contact with: "The blood vessels you mentioned, I think, are indeed roughly 'vessels'. As for 'meridians'... Fellow Daoist Wang, close your eyes now, mobilize your spiritual power, don't deliberately guide it, just absorb the spiritual energy from the surroundings, let it gather freely until it overflows, and you will be able to feel where it flows out. When the spiritual energy has traveled all over your body, this path is the 'meridian'."

Wang Qiqing frowned: "It has no physical form? It has never been observed?" "It depends on which meridian it is. The eleven meridians are like this diagram, they have physical form and can be observed." When he got excited, Lü Wenyuan learned a few new terms without a teacher and even used them very enthusiastically: "But the eight extraordinary meridians can only be felt by the flow of spiritual energy in the body."

Wang Qiqing suddenly realized: "It's the path of spiritual energy!"

Lu Wenyuan thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "That's about right. But you're right, so far, no one has tried to 'observe' it."

"Meridian system...spiritual energy..."

Wang Qiqing pondered, quickly scribbling on scrap paper, recording his fleeting inspiration.

"If spiritual energy is a real substance, then will objects affected by this substance undergo a transcendent change? Hmm... let's call it a 'spiritualization reaction' for now!"
“If it were truly a ‘spiritualization reaction,’ the entire Guixu Realm should be devoid of any concept of spiritlessness. But this is not the case. So why isn’t the probability of a ‘spiritualization reaction’ 100%? What inhibits the ‘spiritualization’ of most objects?”
"Furthermore, are more advanced organisms more likely to actively interact with spiritual energy? According to current statistics, all ordinary people who systematically learn cultivation can perform the most basic and simplest qi-sensing behavior. After guidance and learning, more than 80% of them can initially draw qi, which is very different from plants, which have a larger base but less 'spiritualization'."

"If we can find a way or catalyst to help plants undergo a 'spiritualization reaction,' does that mean the entire material world of the Void will be 'spiritually transformed'?"
"If not, why?"
Does Reiki possess the characteristic of being 'alive'?
"What exactly is spiritual energy?"

The huge, dark question mark occupied several words. Wang Qiqing became more and more excited as he wrote. He was panting heavily, and his forehead was covered with beads of sweat, as if he was struggling with something, or as if he was engaged in some battle or charge.

"Fellow Daoist Wang...?"

Lu Wenyuan couldn't understand what Wang Qiqing had written. He only saw that the other person suddenly became absorbed in a state of complete absorption while talking, and he was immediately dumbfounded.

Wang Qiqing was pulled out of his strange state by Lü Wenyuan's voice, but before his mind could process it, he instinctively shouted, "What exactly is spiritual energy!?"

Many people in the library turned to look, making Lü Wenyuan want to pretend he didn't recognize this Taiyin Sect disciple who had been perfectly normal but had suddenly become abnormal. If Lü Wenyuan had spent a lot of time with players, he would know that this situation was called: "social death."

Even more disturbing was the faint whisper of conversation that reached my ears:

"Spiritual energy is just spiritual energy, what else could it be!"

"Is that person perhaps an idiot?"

"Shh, keep your voice down. What if he's emotionally fragile and can't handle it? Let's not say anything!"

Regarding the eleven meridians: Although the systematic theory of traditional Chinese medicine should be twelve meridians, I adopt the view from the "Huangdi Neijing" and earlier, which states that there are eleven meridians.

As for the later classics... they were probably forced together by our ancestors' obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

The meridians (or collaterals) are recorded in the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic as observable (visible to the naked eye) and tangible entities, but they have become increasingly mystical in modern times.

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(End of this chapter)