C14 The Spiritual Energy Leaked out

Seeing the skepticism on Han Binn's face, Xie Hu grew a bit impatient and said, "You really should believe me. Acquiring this item is no simple task. First off, it can only be sold to outer circle disciples. If it gets sold to the mortal world, that's a death sentence." Noticing Han Binn's attentive listening, he continued, "Secondly, even though the Empire provides a stipend for our families, it's peanuts compared to what the inner sect disciples get. It's just enough to scrape by. The same goes for the registered disciples. That's why many of us in the outer circle are looking to make some extra cash to send home. This has led to an unspoken rule: if you've got the money, you can buy the cultivation method. Naturally, this chance doesn't apply to the newbies. It's reserved for those who've been around for a few years. Think about it. Those who've stuck it out and completed their missions for years have a shot at the cultivation method. They might as well make some side money!"

Finally grasping the concept, Han Binn asked, "Does the sect turn a blind eye to this?"

Xie Hu dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand. "Turn a blind eye to what? As long as the cultivation methods aren't leaked, no one's going to question it. Everyone knows the score. We outer circle disciples lack the innate talent; even with the methods, we can't make heads or tails of them. Moreover, the elders actually endorse this practice. They conduct a check every three years among us to see if anyone has reached the Qi Cultivating Stage. If so, that disciple gets fast-tracked to registered status or might even be handpicked by an elder to become an official disciple."

For others, this might be trivial, but for Han Binn, it was an astonishing revelation. He hadn't expected such a stroke of luck. But then, why had Tang Xiaofeng been so secretive? Was he truly unaware, or did he choose to keep quiet to make Han Binn feel indebted to him? Regardless, Tang Xiaofeng had lent him a hand, and Han Binn wasn't one to bear grudges. As long as nothing was too extreme, he wouldn't dwell on it.

After Xie Hu finished speaking, Han Binn inquired, "Have you started your cultivation practice?"

Xie Hu nodded, his voice tinged with frustration. "I practiced yesterday morning, but there's not a trace of Spiritual Power in me. I have no idea how long it's going to take." He turned to Han Binn with a serious expression. "Han Binn, I consider you a brother. Pay close attention later and memorize the cultivation method and the incantations." He truly saw Han Binn as a brother; otherwise, he would never share something so crucial, much less hand it over.

Moved by the gesture, Han Binn hesitated before speaking. "Xie Hu, this is so significant, and yet you're willing to..."

Xie Hu interrupted with a chuckle. "What's so significant about it? It's just a piece of paper. I can write more and sell them for some cash."

Han Binn gave a wry smile, foregoing any pretense. He accepted the cultivation method from Xie Hu and studied it intently. Even though he was familiar with the contents, he scrutinized it carefully, partly to check for any alterations by Tang Xiaofeng. More importantly, he wanted to convince Xie Hu that this was his first time seeing the document. While the sect might overlook private exchanges, sharing cultivation methods could lead to an investigation if discovered.

After reviewing the document, Han Binn exhaled deeply. "This is incredibly intricate."

Xie Hu nodded, as if in solidarity. "I was baffled when I first saw it too, especially the breathing technique. It felt so unnatural."

Recalling his own struggle to adapt to the awkward breathing method, Han Binn had persevered until he mastered it. With a smile, he encouraged Xie Hu, "You've got to have faith in yourself. We came here for the purpose of cultivation, right? Now that we have this chance, we need to value it. Who knows, maybe in three years, we'll be official disciples?"

Xie Hu, aware of his own limitations, replied with a self-deprecating smile, "Becoming an official disciple would be a stretch, but I'd count my blessings if I could even become an in-name disciple." He paused, then added, "I've heard that those with exceptional talent can grasp the breathing technique in just a few days and reach the first level of the Qi Cultivating Stage within a month. For us, managing to get a foothold in the sect within ten years would be an achievement in itself."

Armed with the Heavenly Dao Imperial Jade Seal, Han Binn brimmed with confidence. "Maybe it won't take as long as we thought," he asserted. While Xie Hu was willing to share his cultivation techniques, he couldn't reveal the Heavenly Dao Imperial Jade Seal. This artifact could gather spiritual energy and transform it for a cultivator's absorption. The idea of such a miraculous object falling into the wrong hands was too perilous to contemplate.

"I'm sorry, Xie Hu, I can't assist you at the moment," Han Binn silently lamented upon noticing Xie Hu's lack of confidence.

Oblivious to Han Binn's internal struggle, Xie Hu offered a reassuring smile. "Alright, let's head out to cultivate! Remember, avoid places with people around. This practice might not break any sect rules, but it's still not exactly legal, so it's best kept under wraps. If we don't stir up trouble, no one will look into it." With a brotherly slap on his chest, he added, "And if anything does go wrong, just tell them I gave you the item."

Han Binn was deeply moved by these words; this was the true meaning of brotherhood. He verbally agreed with Xie Hu, yet he resolved internally that he would never let Xie Hu suffer on his account.

Leaving their quarters, they ascended the mountain. Han Binn trekked northward, the morning mist revealing disciples hastening up the slopes. He had seen such scenes before but only now understood that, like him, they were all seeking a place to cultivate.

After a three-mile hike, Han Binn found a secluded valley. There, he produced the Heavenly Dao Imperial Jade Seal and commenced his cultivation.

The Seal was more than a conduit for spiritual energy; it purified it by removing impurities, yielding the most refined spiritual essence. For Han Binn, cultivation was straightforward: he simply placed the Seal before his nose and breathed deeply. The purity of the energy meant no internal circulation was necessary. He just needed to follow the prescribed cultivation path, converting the spiritual energy into Spiritual Power, allowing it to flow through him.

By adopting this method, Han Binn not only conserved time needed to condense spiritual energy but also accelerated his cultivation pace.

Time zipped by, and before he knew it, over half a month had passed. Throughout this period, Han Binn dedicated six hours each morning to his practice. Although brief, the results were remarkably significant. His body's spiritual energy had reached full capacity, unable to absorb even a fraction more. Tang Xiaofeng's writings had addressed this scenario—it marked the pinnacle of the Qi Cultivating Stage. By subtly executing the technique to unlock the second tier of cultivation, one could resume the absorption of spiritual energy.

Despite numerous attempts, Han Binn struggled to breach this threshold, his efforts fruitless even when lying in bed. He recognized that innate talent played a crucial role here: those blessed with it might succeed on their first try, while others with lesser gifts could require hundreds, thousands of attempts, or might never succeed at all.

Laughter and jubilation echoed from outside, signaling the approach of the New Year. Cultivators were expected to cast aside distractions and focus on their practice, but for peripheral disciples like Han Binn, the standards were not so stringent. The sect's rules relaxed during the festivities; while they couldn't indulge in mortal customs like setting off firecrackers or hanging couplets, enjoying a feast with wine was permitted—a once-a-year exception.

The door swung open, and Xie Hu barged in, clutching a jug of wine. He wobbled over to Han Binn and slurred, "Brother, why not join the celebration and have a few drinks? If money's the issue, I've got you covered." He slapped his chest with a generous grin.

Drinking during the New Year wasn't free, and the Heaven Light Sect was far from lavish. There were only two options for acquiring wine: trek to the city miles away or purchase it from fellow disciples. Buying from others meant either paying double or trading Wind Runes. Senior disciples hoarded these runes, often under the guise of needing them for family visits. Though worthless outside the sect, within its bounds, these runes were as good as gold, especially valuable to outer disciples who stockpiled them for a grand feast come New Year's.

Upon hearing Xie Hu's remark, Han Binn offered a slight smile and replied, "No thanks, I'll practice a bit longer." He had always preferred solitude over the hustle and bustle, which, despite its outward cheerfulness, often masked an underlying melancholy. The outer disciples, limited by their innate abilities, could never ascend to immortality. Each harbored some degree of bitterness, which they sought to drown in drink, an indulgence permitted but once a year. With the exception of the female disciples, it was almost a tradition for all the others to drink themselves into oblivion on this occasion.

Xie Hu grabbed the wine jug and took several hearty swigs before turning to Han Binn. "Brother, why bother with cultivation? If you couldn't make progress this morning, what hope is there tonight?" He pushed the wine gourd toward Han Binn and insisted, "Hear me out, we're not sobering up today, no—" His words were cut short as the jug slipped from his grasp, clattering to the floor, and he collapsed in a heap.

With a wry smile, Han Binn realized Xie Hu was thoroughly inebriated and helped him onto the bed. He was about to resume his practice when a thought struck him, and he hastily secured the door and windows. Approaching Xie Hu's bedside, Han Binn retrieved the Heavenly Dao Imperial Jade Seal from within his robes and placed it near Xie Hu's nose, whispering, "Brother, this is all the help I can offer. Whether you make it into the sect is now in the hands of fate." Having hit a plateau in his own cultivation, Han Binn hadn't needed the jade seal lately, which was now brimming with spiritual energy. By channeling his own Spiritual Power, he could cause the seal to emit a potent surge of energy—a technique he'd learned only after harnessing the Spiritual Power within himself.

As the spiritual energy flowed from the Heavenly Dao Imperial Jade Seal into Xie Hu, Han Binn worried it might not be enough for him to make the breakthrough, so he released it in copious amounts. Considering Xie Hu wasn't actively cultivating, it was uncertain whether his body would retain the energy. In his focus on releasing the spiritual energy, Han Binn overlooked one detail: spiritual energy, much like air, is intangible and elusive; merely closing doors and windows wouldn't contain it.

Han Binn wasn't the first to notice the issue; it was a disciple passing by the door. Stumbling drunk, this disciple, having practiced cultivation before, was more attuned to spiritual energy than most. The room was radiating an intense spiritual energy that seeped through the door cracks. Despite his inebriation, he recognized that absorbing this energy could grant him entry into the sect. Dropping his wine gourd, he promptly sat down cross-legged to meditate.

Just then, another disciple called out from a short distance, "Wang Fei, what are you up to? Come back and join us for a drink."

Wang Fei gestured dismissively, slurring his words, "No, no more for me... I'm going to cultivate."

His declaration left the nearby disciples in shock. Cultivation was meant to be a clandestine affair—how could he blurt it out like that? A few disciples, also versed in cultivation, insisted he was just babbling drunken nonsense as they hurried over to assist him. But as they approached Han Binn's room, they too sensed the pure spiritual energy emanating from within. Their groggy minds snapped to attention, and exchanging knowing glances, they too settled into a cross-legged position to cultivate.