Chapter 38: What Is Cultivation
After walking over a hundred steps into the Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven, the scriptures echoing in Ye Fan’s mind finally ceased. The dozens of ancient bluestone steps at the entrance lay behind him. That place was extraordinary, but Ye Fan did not stop, nor was he allowed to linger.
Ahead, the mountain peaks were beautiful, and the spiritual energy was overwhelming. Looking into the distance, a thousand-meter-long waterfall cascaded down from a high mountain. The white torrent hung like an inverted Milky Way, its rumbling sound like ten thousand horses galloping—majestic and magnificent.
“Truly worthy of being a blessed cave heaven. The scenery is extraordinary, like a pure land beyond the world.”
The winding path led to seclusion. A small road paved with cobblestones passed by the waterfall and meandered deep into the beautiful immortal mountains. Along the road, ancient trees towered to the sky, their branches sturdy and gnarled like coiled dragons. Many halls and pavilions could be seen, half-hidden among the vegetation, harmonious and natural.
On both sides of the ancient road were artificially cultivated medicinal fields. Inside, ginseng was as thick as a child’s arm, glossy ganoderma hung with nine leaves, and many unknown medicinal herbs sparkled with crystalline light, containing faint points of brilliance. The fragrance of medicine wafted through the air, refreshing the heart and mind.
Most people they met on the road bowed to the several elders, and their attitude toward Weiwei was also very friendly. The status of this unparalleled genius within the Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven was easy to imagine.
Weiwei returned every greeting without a trace of arrogance. In this peaceful pure land, she was as pure and ethereal as a fairy maiden. Finally, like a gentle breeze, she drifted away gracefully, disappearing into the picturesque depths of the cave heaven.
Ye Fan and Pang Bo were brought to the foot of a low mountain. Here, there were three or five thatched cottages, two or three bamboo groves, a medicinal field beside the cottages, and several old trees growing closely together.
Although there were no jade towers or golden halls, and everything seemed ordinary and simple, it excelled in tranquility and naturalness. It was peaceful like a pure land beyond the world, allowing the soul to undergo a baptism, far from the mortal realm, washing away all troubles.
“Stay here for now.” The several elders gave a few instructions and then left. Another classmate was also brought into the Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven, but he was not housed with Ye Fan and the others; he was taken elsewhere.
Around noon, a twelve- or thirteen-year-old boy arrived carrying a food box, letting them eat. The food was simple and light—lotus root, polygonatum, poria, and gastrodia—mostly medicinal ingredients.
“This food… can we eat it? There’s not even a bit of meat. For the past two days, we’ve been eating wild fruits and drinking spring water. Now we’re still eating these things. Our mouths are so bland that spring water is about to flow out.”
Although the food had no oil or fat, Ye Fan and Pang Bo still devoured it all, not leaving a single vegetable leaf behind.
“Can you bring us a roast chicken?”
Seeing them like this, the boy delivering the food was somewhat dumbfounded. “No… no, the cave heaven doesn’t provide such things. If you two are still hungry, I can bring more food.”
“How can there be no meat? I saw plenty of cranes and white deer, not to mention many rare birds and strange beasts. Roasting one or two of them would be easy. I think those cranes are already fat enough.”
The boy looked as if he had encountered a snake or ghost and immediately fled, wanting to avoid them at all costs.
“It seems that entering the immortal sect for cultivation isn’t really something to celebrate. This life is too austere. We can’t even eat meat. How are we supposed to get by?” Pang Bo kept complaining.
Ye Fan also felt very hungry. At that moment, he wanted to grab a roast chicken, tear off an elbow, and lift a jug of fine wine to feast heartily.
Over the next ten-plus days, the several elders never appeared. However, the boy delivering the food gradually became familiar with them. Through constant conversation, Ye Fan and Pang Bo slowly adapted to this ancient Chinese language. The boy was very envious of them. He said that disciples who had just entered the mountain gate usually wouldn’t have independent residences; they could only open up a cave dwelling after achieving some success in cultivation.
“Three or five thatched cottages—this counts as having our own cave dwelling?”
Ye Fan and Pang Bo put on the clothes the boy brought. Except for their hair, which was still very short, they were now no different from the people inside the Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven.
“You can’t say that. Everything around this low mountain belongs to you two. If you have the ability, you can naturally open up a cave dwelling.”
“Since the low mountain is ours, no one will care if we kill a deer and roast two cranes, right?”
Hearing them say this, the boy didn’t dare to respond again. He felt that these two were really bold, with thoughts completely different from ordinary people.
“Don’t worry, we won’t act recklessly. Now, tell us, what exactly is this so-called cultivation?”
This was a question Ye Fan and Pang Bo were very concerned about. So far, they didn’t understand it at all. They had only heard people mention “Sea of Suffering,” “Divine Bridge,” and “Other Shore” a few times, without any real understanding.
The boy shook his head, unable to say anything. He had only recently entered the Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven and hadn’t truly set foot on the immortal path yet.
“It seems you’re already a bit impatient.” Just then, an old man with crane-white hair and a childlike complexion appeared at the foot of the low mountain. His wide sleeves fluttered, and his feet didn’t touch the ground, as if he were riding the wind as he arrived at the thatched cottage. He nodded to the boy who was bowing beside him and said, “You may go.”
“You are…” Ye Fan and Pang Bo didn’t recognize this ruddy-faced, white-haired old man. He looked like an old immortal from beyond the world.
“I am an elder of the Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven, named Wu Qingfeng. Disciples who have entered within three years are all taught by me.”
“Greetings, elder.”
“No need to be polite.”
“Elder, can you improve our meals first? If this continues, before we even start cultivating immortality, we’ll really ascend to heaven. This food is too bland. Now, even seeing a grasshopper makes us drool.” Pang Bo kept complaining.
Wu Qingfeng’s face was solemn. “The mortal world is full of greed and desire. When first entering a blessed cave heaven, the first thing to do is to cut off glory and splendor, purify the body, and calm the mind. If you can’t even give up the desire for taste, then when facing the various temptations on the path of cultivation in the future, I’m afraid it will be difficult to pass the test.”
Hearing these words, Pang Bo really couldn’t say anything more. As for Ye Fan, since he hadn’t joined the cave heaven, it was even less appropriate for him to make any requests here.
Ye Fan and Pang Bo had many questions in their hearts, but Ye Fan found it hard to speak up. Pang Bo, already a disciple of the Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven, had no such reservations. They invited Wu Qingfeng to sit on a wooden stump in front of the thatched cottage and began to ask various questions. They knew nothing about so-called cultivation.
“Do you think the sky is clean?”
“There isn’t a single cloud in ten thousand miles, and the blue sky is as clear as if it had been washed. Naturally, it’s very clean.” Ye Fan didn’t know why he asked this, but seeing the old man looking at him, he answered.
“Wrong. There are endless specks of dust.” Wu Qingfeng opened his palm. “Even in the space between these fingers and the palm, there are countless particles of dust.”
“You… what do you mean?” Pang Bo asked, puzzled.
Wu Qingfeng was very calm, like an old immortal from beyond the world. He continued, “What do you think these endless specks of dust are?”
“What else could they be? Naturally, they’re dust.”
“They are dust, and yet they are not dust,” the old man said calmly.
“I understand they are dust, but what are they if not dust?” Pang Bo asked.
“They are worlds, vast worlds.” Wu Qingfeng spoke lightly, naturally, and calmly.
“Vast worlds… You’re not joking, are you?” Pang Bo was uncertain.
“In the future, you will understand. This speck of dust, this blade of grass, this tree—each is a world.”
“You… can you speak more plainly? I feel like I’m listening to a heavenly book. Although the literal meaning is easy to understand, I don’t understand the profound meaning at all.”
Wu Qingfeng sat there, smiling faintly. “Let’s not talk about that today. What I want to say is that the heavens and the earth are filled with endless specks of dust, and each speck of dust is a world. Similarly, our bodies are the same. We can’t see anything, but they contain countless ‘doors,’ as numerous as the specks of dust between heaven and earth. This seemingly insignificant body contains countless ‘doors.’ Continuously opening these doors and discovering the ‘true self’—that is cultivation.”
Seeing the shock on their faces, Wu Qingfeng remained as calm as an ancient well. He asked, “Now, do you understand what cultivation is?”
“It seems… we understand a little.”
“Good. You can slowly comprehend it later. Now, I will tell you about the Sea of Suffering. There are countless methods in the world, but they all begin from here to open the immortal path.”
“Elder, this time you must explain it in detail.” Although they hadn’t truly embarked on the path of cultivation yet, both Ye Fan and Pang Bo understood that the initial concepts were the most important.
“All things in the world grow with the passage of years. Some can exist forever, unchanging through the ages, while others live only from morning to evening, or even in the blink of an eye, their lives passing in a flash.”
“Elder, what you’re saying is too profound. What are you trying to tell us?”
The old man didn’t blame them for interrupting. He pointed to an ancient tree not far away and asked, “Can you tell how many years it has lived?”
“Naturally, we can. Cut it down and count the rings.”
“Correct. Time is merciless; it always leaves marks on all things. Trees have rings, and our bodies also have a Wheel of Life.”
“We humans have that too?” Ye Fan and Pang Bo found it somewhat absurd to hear.
“The cultivation I speak of begins with the Wheel of Life in the human body…”
This is the first chapter today. I will strive to write three chapters. Brothers and sisters, please support me with member clicks and recommendation votes.