Starfall Nine Heavens

"Good." Lu Xiuyuan looked approving and took something out of a brocade box on the side of the desk.

It was a palm-sized token, neither gold nor jade, but warm and slightly cool to the touch. The background was a serene, deep black, with subtle, flowing cloud patterns along the edges. The front of the token was inscribed with the two characters "守心" (Shou Xin, meaning "Guard the Heart") in ancient seal script, the strokes powerful and vigorous, carrying a weighty significance. The back featured a unique star-shaped pattern.

Lu Xiuyuan held the token flat in his palm. He extended his right index finger, and even before the fingertip touched the token, a condensed blue light emanated from it, as if he were wielding an invisible brush of spiritual light. Using his finger as a brush, he slowly traced the lower left corner of the token's back. As the light passed, the token's material seemed to be silently imbued, and the two neat and clear characters "Lin Fan" quietly emerged, becoming one with the token as if they were naturally there.

"This is the Guardian Token. It's our organization's token."

"Now, make it truly yours, give me a drop of your blood." Lu Xiuyuan gestured for Lin Fan to extend his finger.

Following Lu Xiuyuan's instructions, Lin Fan gently bit the tip of his left index finger, and a bright red bead of blood suddenly appeared.

Lu Xiuyuan pointed his fingers and a wisp of extremely subtle yet incredibly gentle spiritual energy emanated from his fingertips, gently enveloping the drop of blood and lifting it steadily, moving it above the two characters "Guard the Heart" on the front of the token.

"fall."

As Lu Xiuyuan uttered a single word, the drop of blood precisely fell into the center of the token.

hum-

A barely audible hum rang out. The moment the blood droplet touched the token, it didn't slide off; instead, it was absorbed quickly, like water droplets falling into a sponge. The entire token then glowed with a faint golden light, which vanished in an instant, before returning to its original warm, dark black color. But Lin Fan felt a slight warmth in his palm, as if the token had formed an inexplicable connection with him, as faint as breathing, yet undeniably present.

"Alright." Lu Xiuyuan handed over the token. "From now on, this Heart-Guarding Token belongs to you alone. Keep it safe."

Lin Fan took the token with both hands. It was heavy. He looked at it over and over, but couldn't see anything special about it.

"Its uses are quite simple," Lu Xiuyuan said. "First, it's a token of identity. With it, you're considered one of our own by all your colleagues. If you encounter other people you've never met before who also possess this token, you can show it to each other and touch it with your spiritual power to know that you're one of us."

His gaze seemed to pass through Lin Fan, reaching into the distance, his tone carrying a touch of melancholy: "Don't think that we only have a few people in our shop. Chenyuan Pavilion has been around for so long, and although its branches and leaves are not lush, it doesn't just guard this small area. Some colleagues are always out there dealing with unusual events in remote areas; others are stationed in key positions in other cities or historical sites, ensuring peace in their respective regions."

Lu Xiuyuan withdrew his gaze and smiled gently at Lin Fan: "So, keep it safe. As you travel further and further in the future, you might encounter unfamiliar colleagues with the same Guardian Token somewhere. At that time, it will be the most reliable proof."

Lin Fan listened, a thought stirring within him. He had initially thought the Dust Fate Pavilion consisted of just these few people, but now he realized it was actually a much larger network, hidden throughout the world. The small token in his hand felt like an invisible thread connecting him to many strangers. He lowered his head and touched the two characters "Guard Your Heart" on the token, gaining a more concrete understanding of the weight of the word "organization."

"Second," Lu Xiuyuan continued, "is to prevent being harmed by formations. There are formations in some parts of the pavilion, such as the scripture pavilion and the underground training room. If you approach with the Guardian Token, the formation will sense the bloodline imprint in the token and let you pass without harming you. If you try to force your way in without the token—" He smiled and didn't finish his sentence.

Lin Fan understood. The meaning behind that smile was probably "you'll have to bear the consequences."

"What if the token is lost?" Lin Fan asked.

"If it's lost, we'll just replace it," Lu Xiuyuan said casually. "But you have to tell me or Shi Yue immediately. The token itself is useless to outsiders, but losing it is always a hassle."

"Is it useless for outsiders to take it?"

"Of course." Lu Xiuyuan pointed to the command plate. "It's already bound to you through your blood. If someone else takes it, the formation won't recognize it, and they won't be able to infuse it with spiritual energy. It's like a lock that only your key can open."

Lin Fan nodded and gripped the token tighter.

Seeing that he had put the token away, Lu Xiuyuan said nothing more, turned around and walked to a futon next to the desk, sat down cross-legged, and gestured for Lin Fan to sit down as well.

Lin Fan sat down opposite him as instructed.

Lu Xiuyuan changed his tone, "Next, I'm going to talk to you about cultivation. That's another reason you came here today."

Lin Fan raised his head, his expression turning serious.

"The first step in cultivation is called sensing the spirit." Lu Xiuyuan's voice calmed down. "Between heaven and earth, there is an invisible and intangible energy that is full of vitality, called spiritual energy. Ordinary people can't feel it in their entire lives, but the first step for a cultivator is to open this door to perception."

He told Lin Fan to close his eyes and relax. "I'll teach you a section of the 'Spirit Guiding Technique.' It's not a cultivation method, just an introductory method to help beginners calm their minds, capture, and guide a wisp of pure spiritual energy into their bodies. Feel it carefully."

Lin Fan closed his eyes and regulated his breathing. Then, he felt Lu Xiuyuan's fingers gently touch his brow.

hum-

It wasn't a sound, but a strange vibration that reverberated deep within his mind. A clear yet profound incantation, carrying the rhythm of breathing and the key points of mental visualization, appeared directly in his consciousness like a brand! It wasn't something he heard with his ears, nor something he saw with his eyes; it was as if this knowledge had always existed, only now being awakened.

"This... is directly imprinted in my mind? This is incredible..." Lin Fan was shocked. This teaching method was completely beyond his understanding, giving him a more direct and extraordinary understanding of the word "cultivation".

"Calm your mind and don't let your mind wander." Lu Xiuyuan's voice carried a calming power. "In the world, all things have a spirit. This spirit is not consciousness, but a primordial energy that nourishes and constitutes all things. It permeates everything around us, yet it is formless and intangible. What you need to do now is to use your heart and your will to perceive it, as recorded in the manual, just as you would perceive the flow of the wind or the temperature of the sun."

Lin Fan suppressed his surprise, cleared his mind of all distractions, and focused all his attention on the rhythm of the incantation, trying to capture the "vitality" that Lu Xiuyuan had described.

The first attempt yielded nothing. All that remained was silence and the sound of my own breathing.

The second time, he felt somewhat anxious and his mind was scattered.

The third time, the fourth time... Time slipped by unnoticed, and beads of sweat appeared on Lin Fan's forehead. He felt like a blind man groping in the dark, clearly told that something was there, yet unable to reach it.