Chapter 35: Yin and Yang, the Intertwined Cycle

Chapter 35: Yin and Yang, the Intertwined Cycle

Entering the Mental Sea

Seeing Ji Jingqiu's hesitant expression, Elder Master Yang spoke again, his voice echoing directly into Ji Jingqiu's ear, ensuring it didn't reach a third person.

"There are two reasons why I want you to enter the Mental Sea now."

"Firstly, your Life Body has taken on the embryonic form of a Treasure Body, a qualitative transformation. In theory, your current Life Body should be able to support your Soul Cultivation at this stage."

"I speculate that your recent loss of direction occurred before this transformation."

"Secondly, since you've already experienced one instance of loss, and have made contact with the Mental Sea, we can't delay any longer. Instead of being passively summoned, it's better to take the initiative and actively engage."

Ji Jingqiu suddenly understood, and after bidding farewell to the others, he sat down next to Zhang Xingshan.

Zhang Xingshan nodded at him, his gaze subtly indicating the golden-chained bald man on stage and Luo Xi.

Unaware of Zhang Xingshan's gesture, Ji Jingqiu stared blankly, not comprehending his meaning.

Luo Xi, noticing Zhang Xingshan's subtle action, glared at him in annoyance.

She had already contacted her family, and to her surprise, the 'Old Luo' they referred to was not her father, but her grandfather!

According to her family's wishes, she was to address this 'Eighth Lord' respectfully and politely.

If this meant that Ji Jingqiu, whom the man called 'our little brother', was also considered her grandfather, that was certainly unacceptable!

"Now that our little brother is here, we have everyone we need." Zhang Chongba, brought by Yang Yan to assist, rubbed his bald head and sighed, "Let's begin, no more wasting time. Light the incense!"

After waiting for a while, seeing no one move, Zhang Chongba couldn't help but glance at the direction of his Second Uncle.

At that moment, Elder Master Yang was still providing Ji Jingqiu with final instructions, and sensing Zhang Chongba's gaze, he frowned and glanced at him.

Zhang Chongba suddenly realized.

Having his Second Uncle light the incense for him?

Damn, that's a bit much!

He quickly glared at Yang Yao, saying earnestly, "As the senior brother, how can you lack such basic awareness and foresight?"

Yang Yao: "..."

A pleasant aroma gradually filled the air, permeating every corner, seeping into everyone's minds, igniting a sense of calm and stability within them.

Sensing the thirty thousand federal credits, Ji Jingqiu didn't rush into meditation.

The Yang Master continued to brief him on important matters.

Moreover, he didn't require guidance to enter meditation.

"The Mental Sea is divided into five layers: the outer layer, the shallow zone, the deep zone, the abyss, and the 'Wilderness', which no one has ever ventured into."

"When entering the Mental Sea for the first time, without guidance or directions, one will likely lose their way and wander in the outer layer."

"But with Zhang Chongba here, he will guide you.

All you need to do is take big strides forward, as far as you can, until you can't go any further.

Because the depth reached on the first formal exploration, and the coordinates obtained, are crucial for your subsequent Mental Sea journeys."

Yang Yan felt regretful.

He didn't know what Insight Technique Ji Jingqiu had cultivated before.

Unfortunately, it wasn't the 【Tiger Devouring Saber Diagram】.

【Tiger Devouring Saber Diagram】, though only reaching the Middle Tier Insight Chart, still retained a trace of divine intent as a simplified version of 【Dragon Tiger Wind and Cloud Diagram】.

After mastering the Insight Chart, one could, through this divine intent, invite a wisp of divine consciousness from the Guardian God General in the Mental Sea's abyss, to protect and ward off evil influences.

The Federation doesn't prohibit the development of divine beings because they are needed to guard the abyssal regions of the Mental Sea.

Among the Federation's existing divine hierarchy, the Guardian God General's rank is only inferior to the four Divine Lords.

With Zhang Chongba's guidance, Ji Jingqiu's consciousness gradually descended.

A sense of weightlessness gradually enveloped him.

Ji Jingqiu felt as if he had fallen from the sky, surrounded by an all-encompassing, fathomless darkness.

Until a green flame lamp was lit, illuminating a clear boundary in the pitch-black world.

He opened his eyes.

The flame lamp entered his gaze.

The flame and his eyes merged, revealing the area beneath and before him, shrouded by the lamp's light, while the surroundings remained pitch-black, not even a finger visible.

Amidst the clattering sound of fingertips rubbing against metal, a blurry sensation emerged from the darkness, like countless intertwining shadows dancing, appearing eerie and ominous.

This was the source of the Federation's Martial Dao's soaring heights—

The Mental Sea?

Information about the Mental Sea gradually surfaced in Ji Jingqiu's mind.

His civic rank met the requirements, and after updating his terminal, he had intentionally searched for information about the Mental Sea multiple times.

The Federation was established ten thousand years ago, and since then, its territorial expansion had been minimal.

But this didn't mean the Federation was content with the status quo; on the contrary, they had never ceased their exploration.

The direction of their expansion, however, was no longer limited to the stars, but rather, to the other side—

The Mental Sea, also known by many as the 【Dark Wilderness】

This world's mysteries and splendor far surpass human imagination. Some even believe that the secrets of immortality and divinity are hidden here.

The last time he was lost and left too quickly, leaving Ji Jingqiu no time to properly experience it.

He stood still, quietly sensing the surroundings.

A sense of accumulated pressure, growing over time, piled up in his heart, causing a suffocating, oppressive, and lonely feeling.

This must be what the forums call "Water Pressure."

The longer one stays, or the deeper one goes, the more "Water Pressure" accumulates, until one can no longer bear it and either voluntarily withdraws or is forced to "burst."

The forums say that the latter feels the same as death.

At the same time, many dangers lurk in the Heart Sea.

Non-voluntary withdrawal often comes with severe mental trauma, and in some cases, even death.

Every year, many martial artists encounter this situation, not due to accidents, but because of "greed."

The accumulated "Water Pressure" can serve as fuel for the Heart Lamp, helping it burn brighter.

When the Heart Lamp burns to its peak, it is the moment for the heart to transcend.

However, martial artists cannot continuously enter and exit the Heart Sea.

This is related to the Heart Mirror and the Visualization Chart used in cultivation.

Therefore, some martial artists try to accumulate as much fuel as possible in one go, often resulting in counterproductive outcomes.

The deeper one goes into the Heart Sea, the higher the quality of the fuel obtained.

And the deeper one goes, the greater the opportunities encountered.

It is said that the early Heart Sea was full of opportunities, allowing the first group of martial artists to climb many Martial Dao mountains.

Feeling the pressure in his heart, Ji Jingqiu's mind stirred.

In an instant, branches sprouted and buds grew in his Heart Lamp, the Bodhi Sprout took root in the Heart Lamp, spreading crystal-clear light, and once again bolstering a Pure Land.

The range illuminated by the Heart Lamp had expanded, though the area remained four feet, it was much larger than before.

The accumulated pressure and silence in his heart were instantly alleviated.

This left Ji Jingqiu somewhat bewildered.

The reduction was a good thing, but would it slow down his progress in accumulating fuel?

Soon, Ji Jingqiu found his answer—

The effect of the crystal-clear light was not to suppress, but to expand.

Expanding his capacity to hold fuel.

If others' capacity was a bowl, his was now a basin, and this capacity would grow as the Pure Land expanded.

Given time, even a vat might not be impossible.

This left Ji Jingqiu somewhat silent.

At this moment, that familiar sensation came again from a distant place, even stronger than before!

As Ji Jingqiu hesitated, a spiritual thread, akin to a rope, quietly circled his waist.

It felt very familiar, like Zhang Chongba!

Coincidentally, the guidance from Eight Brother aligned with the strange call.

After a moment's thought, Ji Jingqiu decided to investigate.

He followed the call deeper into the Heart Sea.

There is no concept of time in the Heart Sea.

After an unknown duration, even with the expanded capacity of the crystal-clear light, he gradually could no longer withstand the accumulated water pressure.

Like long-accumulated fatigue gradually erupting from his heart.

It was a fatigue born from the heart, so exhausting that it seemed his heart could no longer beat.

His steps grew increasingly heavy, his mind constantly flashing with the thought of stopping right here, his soul lingering here...

In a daze.

It seemed he returned to last night's dream.

That towering divine tree, its roots deep in the dark depths, branches and leaves lush, spanning countless calamities, holding up a divine kingdom and pure land.

Branches as paths, leaves as rules.

Its roots delved into the depths unseen, piercing through layers of mist.

Such a magnificent sight, it truly moved the heart and spirit.

Ji Jingqiu was stunned on the spot, unsure whether what he saw was an illusion or reality.

At this moment, the sky-scraping giant tree that seemed to support the entire Heart Sea withered and died in an instant, the divine kingdom welcomed dusk.

Above Ji Jingqiu's head, the Bodhi Sprout rooted in his Heart Lamp gently swayed, emerald green, though not as large as a single branch or leaf of the other, it was brimming with life.

The two, one withered and one thriving, stood in contrast to each other.

...

...

As the seconds passed, including Yang Yao, everyone had concluded their Meditation and left.

Only Ji Jingqiu continued.

Zhang Chongba's full, round head began to glow with the size of a soybean.

Watching this, Yang Yan couldn't help but recall the first time he guided Ji Jingqiu into Meditation.

He waited for four hours, seeing no sign of Ji Jingqiu reaching his limit, and with the sky darkening, he finally woke him up.

Yang Yan suddenly fell silent.

He had previously informed Ji Jingqiu that he only needed to persist until he could no longer bear it.

But the reality was that the guide might be the one who couldn't hold on first.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end