Chapter 474: Calming the Mind
Chapter 474: Calming the Mind
After listening to Teacher Xue, Chen Chuan glanced at the bowl of Living Water a few times, and as his gaze swept over, the surface of the water also rippled slightly.
He tried to suppress his field, but it didn't seem to have any effect. He then attempted to alter his field, but the result remained the same.
He couldn't help but start thinking of a solution.
He remembered that when Teacher Xue placed the bowl of Living Water in front of him, there was no ripple at that moment.
But Teacher Xue specifically asked him to sense it with his field, probably because this action stimulated the water, causing it to sense his presence and become alert.
In other words, the water 'remembered' him.
This might have formed some kind of mental connection, and it wouldn't be easy to eliminate. Perhaps as long as he was here, it would be difficult to accomplish this task.
If the goal was solely to achieve the result, the simplest method would be to directly use his second self to block out external distractions. In that case, the Living Water wouldn't sense his presence, and he could pass the test instantly.
However, he was trying to learn to control his divine self, and doing this wouldn't help with his training at all. It wasn't a life-or-death battle, so there was no need to go that far.
So, he slowly gathered his thoughts, which wasn't too difficult. After all, practicing the Furnace Breath Technique required concentration and stillness, and it inherently demanded mental control.
Moreover, he had a reference right in front of him, and he could immediately see if he was doing it correctly.
But after trying, he found that it wasn't very effective. The ripples did become slightly weaker, but they didn't disappear.
He was certain that without the proper technique, no matter how much he tried, he wouldn't be able to do it perfectly. Perhaps with a few days, he could further weaken the connection, but relying solely on this method, it was impossible to break the mental link.
He thought about it again. Teacher Xue had mentioned restraining his thoughts, and it seemed that following this approach would work, but he doubted it was that simple.
Teacher Xue spoke casually, and he looked carefree, but there were hidden pitfalls in his words. If he followed his instructions blindly, he would fall into the trap Teacher Xue had set. After being fooled once, he couldn't afford to make the same mistake again.
After careful consideration, Chen Chuan believed that restraining his thoughts was just one aspect, and there might be other things to pay attention to.
Teacher Xue had specifically mentioned field techniques, which couldn't be without purpose.
Changing the field was also a way to utilize spiritual power. Now, since altering the field wasn't effective, it might be because the field represented multiple information. Perhaps only by eliminating other expressions and focusing solely on the spiritual aspect, allowing the restrained spirit to undergo similar changes, could he accomplish this task.
Whether it was true or not, he could give it a try.
If he hadn't done this before, it would be difficult to achieve it immediately. Fortunately, he had this bowl of Living Water as the most intuitive reference, allowing him to constantly adjust himself.
Teacher Xue stood by, observing him with his fingers on his knees, slowly tapping as his eyes showed interest and a hint of expectation, as if waiting for something.
After a few minutes of effort, the ripples in the bowl of Living Water suddenly disappeared. But just after one breath, they reappeared.
At this moment, Chen Chuan also realized that it was difficult to maintain this state, just as Teacher Xue had said—those who hadn't practiced before would find it challenging to control their spirits.
He could indeed transform it, but if it were a complete field, it would be easier. He could do it effortlessly, but if it were purely spiritual, it would be hard to grasp.
To achieve this, there should be some technique involved, something he couldn't figure out on his own.
But he felt that there might be another way.
Teacher Xue smiled slightly. In fact, at this point, Chen Chuan had barely passed, as Teacher Xue had only asked him to make the ripples disappear, without specifying how long it should last. Even if it was just for an instant, it would still be acceptable.
But it seemed that Chen Chuan wanted to continue, so Teacher Xue would wait and see how far this student could go.
Chen Chuan thought for a moment. Since he couldn't restrain it, he decided not to restrain it at all and didn't need to maintain a single state.
Referring to the field changes, he could constantly alter the manifestation of his spirit, changing it enough so that the bowl of Living Water wouldn't sense his presence, thus making him a 'stranger.'
A stranger wouldn't trigger a reaction.
With this in mind, he began to try, gradually adjusting himself during the process.
In this world, some things are difficult because you don't know where you're going wrong or what to strive for. Having this reference in front of him was like having a clear direction, which he should make good use of.
Teacher Xue noticed that the ripples on the surface of the bowl of Living Water didn't just disappear; sometimes they intensified, sometimes they became very weak, and sometimes they vanished for a while.
After repeating this process several times, as the hour approached, the water finally became completely still and remained so until the end.
Teacher Xue chuckled and turned to Chen Chuan, saying, "Chen, you've accomplished the task within an hour, well done. Especially commendable is your initiative and resourcefulness in seeking solutions instead of rigidly adhering to rules. That's the kind of student I appreciate."
He particularly favored students like Chen Chuan, who had already mastered the necessary skills and possessed the required qualities, but also had the ability to find solutions based on subtle hints without stubbornly sticking to one approach. This made teaching them a delightful experience.
Teacher Xue continued, "Chen, you should have noticed that the spirit is active and fluid, making it extremely challenging to control. Even if you can restrain the core of your self, you can't gather all the dispersed thoughts. Instead, it's relatively easier to guide its transformation."
Chen Chuan nodded in agreement.
"It's difficult to avoid this," Teacher Xue explained, "because as long as one is alive, the spirit possesses this vitality. However, to ascend and harness its power, one must first concentrate the spirit."
"The more concentrated the spirit, the more resilient it becomes, and only then can it possess true power. It's like scattered water flows that must gather to form an ocean to make an impact. Now, I'll teach you the techniques to achieve this."
"The first step is called 'Calming the Mind,' which involves stabilizing your thoughts."
"However, spiritual techniques are challenging to convey verbally, so I'll use a method to help you experience it directly."
"It's not appropriate to use field techniques to convey spiritual techniques, as the information can be too chaotic and impure, causing unnecessary interference and sometimes even polluting the spirit. So, we'll use an alternative approach."
"In the book, on page 69, you'll find the answer."
Teacher Xue extended a hand and said solemnly, "Chen, grab my wrist."
Chen Chuan reached out and held Teacher Xue's wrist, and in that instant, he felt his body become ethereal, as if his consciousness had detached from his physical form. The surroundings became quiet, and all sensory perceptions seemed to disappear, as if he were immersed in a void.
At that moment, he heard Teacher Xue's voice resonating in his mind, "I'll demonstrate it for you."
In reality, Teacher Xue hadn't spoken those words, and Chen Chuan didn't hear them either; they resonated directly from his spiritual awareness.
"To calm the mind, one must first clear it of distractions. Your thoughts are like a thousand monkeys, jumping and elusive. It's challenging to capture them one by one, but when the mind is quiet, it becomes easy to control them. This concept is also known as 'Binding the Monkey Mind.'
"However, achieving this state doesn't mean the task is complete, as the monkey mind can still break free. Therefore, you must focus your intention on a single object, visualize it, and use it to guard your initial thought."
The voice resonated, and Chen Chuan suddenly saw a radiant light appearing in the void, like a luminescent jade. As soon as it appeared, it seemed to capture his entire consciousness, leaving him captivated.
The voice continued, "When your spirit is gathered, your thoughts and memories, your emotions and past experiences, will all be bound together, making it difficult for external forces to invade."
"However, if this spirit collapses, a person may lose their sense of self and become a mere shell, a walking corpse. The dangers of spiritual attacks are no less severe than physical combat, and in some cases, they can be even more perilous."
"After achieving this state, you must continue to practice and refine it. Over time, you'll eliminate impurities and retain only the essence, transforming into a crystal-like, radiant jade."
As Teacher Xue spoke, Chen Chuan witnessed the luminescent jade becoming clearer and more transparent, glowing brightly as if illuminating everything around it.
Suddenly, Chen Chuan felt a tremor throughout his body, and he emerged from this spiritual state. It was as if he had fallen from the clouds, and his consciousness returned to his physical body. Then, a flood of thoughts rushed back from every corner of his mind.
During the previous calm state, these thoughts had been like a quiet moon on a still night, hanging silently. But now, it was as if he had abruptly entered a bustling street, filled with unrest and chaos, creating a stark contrast. After a while, he regained his usual state of mind.
Teacher Xue waited for Chen Chuan's thoughts to settle before smiling and saying, "I've guided you this far, not because I'm unwilling to continue. This guidance is also a way to gather your spirit, but it's relatively gentle. However, those who have never trained their spirits will find it challenging to endure for long."
"If we continue, it will inevitably consume your spiritual stillness. When the spiritual stillness is exhausted, it doesn't stop; instead, it extends and continues to deplete your essence energy and vital blood. If you don't break free, it will consume your entire life force, leading to demise."
Chen Chuan nodded in understanding. Teacher Xue's explanation also helped him comprehend the reason for Jian Chengsheng's defeat and death.
Jian Chengsheng must have taken a desperate gamble, staking everything on a pure spiritual attack. But if he failed to extinguish his opponent's spirit, the backlash could have shattered his own spirit, a truly extreme approach.
"I've shown you the technique for calming the mind. Once you grasp this, I'll guide you in the next step, the refinement technique," Teacher Xue concluded.
(End of Chapter)
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