C18 The Divine Sense

Moments later, Han Binn approached a cave dwelling, inhaling the cool air deeply before speaking with reverence, "Master, your disciple has arrived."

In truth, the cave was merely a hollowed-out space in the mountainside, concealed by a simple array that barred entry to outsiders. To Han Binn, the cave seemed indistinguishable from the rest of the mountain wall. Had it not been for the stone stele inscribed with "Wai Peng" at its entrance, he might have mistaken it for somewhere else. Vines blanketed the wall, obscuring any sign of the entrance.

Time passed without a response from within the cave, prompting Han Binn to furrow his brow and murmur, "Could it be that Master didn't hear me? Or perhaps he's not inside?"

No sooner had he spoken than an abrupt voice came from behind, "You lack talent, my boy, but at least you're not foolish."

Startled, Han Binn spun around to find his master standing there, causing him to pause briefly before asking, "Master, how come you're out here?"

Mentioning this only served to stoke Wai Peng's irritation, who retorted sharply, "It's your doing." He stepped forward, gesturing with his right hand. A surge of Spiritual Power emanated from him, causing the vine-covered entrance to ripple like water before a burst of white light revealed an opening as tall as a man.

Witnessing this, Han Binn was dumbfounded, whispering in awe, "Is this Immortal Arts?"

The interior of the cave was stark, furnished with nothing more than a stone bed and a meditation cushion.

Here, the spiritual energy was significantly richer than in the outer courtyard, particularly around the cushion, as if it were a nexus for the ambient energy.

After seating himself on the cushion, Wai Peng slapped the gray Storage Bag at his waist, sending an identical one floating before him. He snatched the bag and tossed it to Han Binn, explaining, "This is a Storage Bag for cultivators. It contains the garments for full-fledged disciples, along with the techniques for the first three levels of the Qi Cultivating Stage." His Divine Sense briefly scanned Han Binn, detecting a greater amount of spiritual energy within him than expected, which slightly eased his frustration. Had Han Binn not even reached the threshold of entry, Wai Peng doubted his own ability to continue teaching.

Han Binn accepted the Storage Bag, loosened the drawstring, and peered inside. Darkness engulfed the interior, rendering it impossible to see anything. Oddly enough, when compared to the villagers' coin purses, this bag was only distinguished by its finer cloth and more detailed craftsmanship. Yet, inexplicably, sunlight seemed unable to penetrate it.

Wai Peng, who had just calmed down, felt his anger flare up again at the sight of Han Binn's bewildered inspection. "What are you staring at? Don't you get it?" he barked.

A massive question mark loomed in Han Binn's thoughts. What was there to get? He was utterly clueless.

Considering Han Binn's limited abilities, Wai Peng realized that questioning him was akin to interrogating a fool. Striving to maintain his composure, he clarified, "This Storage Bag is crafted from Demon Beast hide and is inscribed with a basic array. It would be truly bizarre if you could actually see its contents!" With a gesture, a powerful force surged from the bag in Han Binn's grasp, propelling it straight into Wai Peng's hands.

Holding the Storage Bag, Wai Peng addressed Han Binn, "Given the spiritual energy within you, you've obviously been practicing for a while. It's time I teach you how to unlock your Divine Sense." He explained that a cultivator's spiritual energy, essentially Spiritual Power, starts as a gas during the Qi Cultivating Stage, eventually transforming into a liquid, and finally solidifying.

"Divine Sense?" Han Binn, hearing the term for the first time, inquired, "Master, what exactly is Divine Sense?"

Divine Sense is..." Wai Peng, growing frustrated, finally lost his temper and snapped, "Divine Sense isn't a thing; it's the energy emanating from the soul."

Rebuked by his master, Han Binn couldn't help but feel aggrieved. Having never practiced the Immortal Arts, how could he possibly understand Divine Sense?

"You're truly dense," Wai Peng muttered under his breath. Han Binn's natural aptitude left him feeling at a loss. Even the least gifted outer disciples he had encountered could grasp the concepts of cultivation terminology. Yet here was Han Binn, ostensibly intelligent but painfully slow in grasping the nuances of the Dao. Doubts crept in about whether he could ever guide this student to the first level of the Qi Cultivating Stage.

Han Binn was acutely aware that his natural aptitude was lacking, so it came as no surprise that his master was exasperated with him. Any master would be driven to frustration by a disciple like him. It dawned on Han Binn why those with innate talent could pursue the path of cultivation, while those less gifted were relegated to peripheral roles. Talent was crucial for cultivation, influencing not only the pace of one's progress but also their ability to grasp the nuances of the Dao.

Acknowledging his limitations, Han Binn knew he had to be more inquisitive and studious. He had never been ashamed to ask for guidance. With a respectful bow, he said, "I am but a novice, Master. I seek your wisdom." Kneeling before his master, he recalled the look of despair in his eyes moments earlier. If he didn't act now, he feared his newly sworn master might soon give up on him and leave him to his fate.

Wai Peng felt a wave of despair, yet the sight of Han Binn's earnest plea softened his heart. He silently conceded, "After all, he's my newly accepted disciple. I suppose I can devote a bit more effort." Observing the unwavering belief in Han Binn's eyes, he spoke gently, "Once you're initiated, you'll possess Divine Sense. During your cultivation, have you sensed the presence and concentration of spiritual energy around you?"

"I have sensed it," Han Binn answered earnestly.

"You sense it not with your eyes or nose, but through a unique energy vibration in your mind that detects the presence of spiritual energy," Wai Peng explained, concerned that Han Binn might not grasp the concept. He simplified further, "Divine Sense is an energy emanating from your mind, like invisible ripples. Even with your eyes closed, these ripples of Divine Sense can help you perceive things unseen."

Han Binn's eyes widened in confusion; truth be told, he didn't understand Wai Peng's explanation at all.

Noticing Han Binn's puzzled look, Wai Peng sighed deeply. He retrieved a sealed wine jar from his Storage Bag and set it down before Han Binn. "Can you sense what's inside?" he asked.

Upon spotting the wine jar, Han Binn blurted out without a second thought, "Wine!"

"Wine?" Wai Peng felt a sudden urge to slap Han Binn but restrained himself, admonishing, "Don't just think of wine when you see a jar. You need to use your Divine Sense to perceive it."

Han Binn turned his attention to the jar, yet no matter how he tried, he couldn't detect anything inside. Eventually, he abandoned the attempt to harness this elusive Divine Sense, still unclear about its nature or how to engage it. As he lifted his head to address his master, Xie Peng's tense voice cut in, "Did you sense anything?"

"Master, I truly can't sense anything," Han Binn confessed, looking quite blameless.

"You..." Wai Peng rose to his feet, breathing heavily, and demanded, "With spiritual energy within you and an ability to detect its rich presence around you, how can you fail to utilize your Divine Sense?"

Han Binn was eager to inquire about the nature of Divine Sense, but the sight of his master's seething anger sapped his courage, leaving him to simply bow his head in silence.

Xie Peng was beyond frustrated. He had long suspected Han Binn's talents were lacking, but the reality was even more disappointing than he'd anticipated.

After a lengthy pause, Wai Peng spoke with a detached tone, "Close your eyes and attune yourself to everything around you. When you can detect the contents of the jar, shatter it. That's how I'll know." With those words, he swept his sleeves and departed swiftly, his hurried exit betraying his reluctance to even glance at Han Binn again.

With a sigh, Han Binn settled into a cross-legged position on the ground, trying to tune in to his surroundings. In the darkness behind closed eyelids, he saw nothing and, despite his efforts, sensed nothing. Time passed until a growl from his stomach prompted him to open his eyes, only to be met with the stern visage of his master.

"You still haven't sensed it?" Having spent the day away with no word from Han Binn, Wai Peng had returned, unable to contain his concern. Yet, he had barely arrived when he was greeted by the sound of the young disciple's rumbling hunger.

When Han Binn remained silent, Wai Peng realized he hadn't sensed anything. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a vial and handed it to Han Binn, saying, "Take this."

Han Binn accepted the vial and tipped out a yellow pill that exuded a faint, enticing aroma. The scent made him involuntarily swallow his saliva. He was about to pop the pill into his mouth when a thought struck him. Looking up at Wai Peng, he asked, "Master, what is this you're giving me?" He wasn't naive; although he didn't suspect Wai Peng of foul play, his natural caution prevailed, and he sought confirmation.

"A Fasting Pill," Wai Peng replied, clearly reading Han Binn's hesitation. With a hint of impatience, he added, "If I wanted to harm you, a mere flick of my finger would suffice. As your master, do you truly believe I would hurt you?" After watching Han Binn swallow the pill, he continued, "You won't need food for a month after taking this. Stay here and focus on sensing your surroundings. Once you can detect the contents of the jar with your Divine Sense, then you can wake up."

Time sped by, and before he knew it, Han Binn had been in the cave for over half a month. Aside from sleeping, he dedicated every moment to probing the darkness around him. Despite his efforts, he discovered nothing. Yet, his determination to cultivate and his tenacious spirit meant he was not one to easily concede defeat. Even with the knowledge that using Divine Sense was a formidable challenge, he held onto the belief that persistence would eventually yield results.

That very night, as Han Binn settled into a cross-legged position to rest, he noticed a tiny white dot of light piercing the all-encompassing darkness. No larger than a grain of rice, it seemed both tantalizingly close and impossibly distant. This was the first time he had detected such a light after so much effort. Ignoring whether this was the Divine Sense his master had spoken of, he concentrated all his attention on reaching the elusive glow.

The light dot was incredibly distant. Han Binn's consciousness raced through the darkness for what felt like ages, yet the light remained unchanged. Exhaustion made his mind heavy, tempting him to sleep several times. Fearful of losing the light upon waking, he resorted to pinching his thighs, using the sharp pain to jolt himself into alertness. This torturous technique would be unbearable for most, but it was remarkably effective; each pinch not only banished drowsiness but also sharpened his focus even further.

Han Binn racked his brain but couldn't fathom the reason, so he persisted in his pursuit of the elusive light spot. As he raced after it, time flew by swiftly. Ten days later, the light spot in his mind had grown to the size of a thumb, seemingly within arm's reach. Clenching his teeth, Han Binn's consciousness surged forward, hurtling toward the light spot like a shooting star. Upon impact, a sharp pain shot through his mind, and then he felt nothing. But a second later, clarity returned, and he saw that the light spot was none other than a white Imperial Jade Seal. If it wasn't the Heavenly Dao Imperial Jade Seal, what else could it be?

"The Heavenly Dao Imperial Jade Seal, in my mind?" Han Binn was bewildered, struggling to make sense of his predicament. As he grappled with his confusion, the light transformed into a beam and vanished into his consciousness. The engulfing darkness receded, revealing a transparent world. He glanced at the stone bed, noticed the prayer mat, and his gaze landed on the wine jar.

The sight of the wine jar sparked an immediate curiosity in Han Binn about its contents. No sooner had the thought formed than a peculiar energy burst forth from his mind like a tidal wave, piercing through the wine jar in an instant. As the contents of the wine jar came into full view, Han Binn was dumbfounded, overwhelmed by the surreal sensation of being in a dream.