This “Mystic Orb Offering Technique” far surpasses the “Manual of Lunar Breathing and Harmonizing Disk” in length. It primarily explains how to use the mirror’s surface to channel the Moonlit Yin Essence to condense the Seed of Arcane Pearl Glyph. <br><br>By planting the glyph within another person’s Core Energy Center, one could assist them in cultivation. Once that person achieves mastery or passes away, the energy will return to the planter’s benefit, forging the Dark Moonlight Essence... <br><br>Among its teachings was also a method called the “Energy Conduit Technique,” which instructs recipients on how to summon the Seed of Arcane Pearl Glyph from the mirror and then nurture it within their Core Energy Center. <br><br>River Sage Lu froze for a moment, feeling that this “Mystic Orb Offering Technique” seemed somewhat sinister, reminiscent of the dark arts described in books. Yet, after carefully studying the text, he confirmed that the Seed of Arcane Pearl Glyph not only caused no harm to its recipient but offered numerous benefits. <br><br>The “Mystic Orb Offering Technique” was the innate foundational technique awakened by the mirror. The number of Seeds of Arcane Pearl Glyphs it could condense depended on the strength of his spiritual consciousness. Currently, he could only sustain six glyphs. <br><br>With this in mind, River Sage Lu focused his consciousness, sweeping through the entirety of the Li household. He couldn’t help but sigh: <br><br>“What a great change!” <br><br>During his three years of slumber within the mirror, the Li family had dug a pond, built a grand hall, and flourished immensely! Li Changhu had even taken a wife and grown a beard, fully embodying the demeanor of the new head of the Li household. <br><br>Activating a technique, he scanned the members of the Li family, only to find—unsurprisingly yet disappointingly—that not one of them possessed a “Spiritual Nexus.” <br><br>This meant that barring any unforeseen circumstances, the members of the Li family were destined to remain disconnected from the immortal path, bound to the mundane world. With luck, they might live peaceful lives and pass away naturally at seventy years old. <br><br>Gazing at the Li family members around him, River Sage Lu sighed deeply and activated the technique. <br><br>“Father, look quickly!” Several of the Li family members were already gathered around. Li Chijing, with his sharp eyes, called out. <br><br>Matthew Lee immediately fixed his gaze. On the mirror’s surface, a dazzling white light flickered, revealing tiny, densely packed characters. He patted Li Chijing’s shoulder and exclaimed repeatedly: <br><br>“Fetch cloth and ink!” <br><br>The brothers scattered to retrieve the items. Fortunately, the Li family had built a study, stocked with writing tools discarded by the village’s teacher; otherwise, they would have had to borrow from the village head. <br><br>Before long, Li Changhu brought cloth, and Li Tongyai stubbornly carried over a wooden table prepared for writing. Meanwhile, Li Chijing had already stationed himself beside the mirror, memorizing the earlier text that appeared and vanished on its surface. <br><br>Among the brothers, Li Chijing was the youngest but had read the most books. Thus, Matthew Lee designated him to transcribe the text with a brush. <br><br>The Energy Conduit Technique was rather lengthy. Li Chijing wrote for the time it took for an incense stick to burn, his wrist aching unbearably, before passing the task to Li Tongyai. The others watched closely, fearing a single character might be copied wrong. <br><br>So they swapped back and forth, taking turns for an entire hour before finishing. <br><br>River Sage Lu, concerned that the brothers might practice incorrectly, displayed the text on the mirror three times, including detailed annotations of certain cryptic Daoist phrases and a few diagrams of energy circulation. Only after seeing the brothers meticulously cross-check everything did he gradually withdraw the light from the mirror. <br><br>“The Energy Conduit Technique.” <br><br>Li Xiangping gazed at the tiny characters on the cloth and slowly read aloud: <br><br>“The Mystic Orb becomes the True Core. At the first cycle, the core descends into the heart pathways, hence the phrase ‘Core Palace within the Central House.’ The descent marks one cycle... After the descent, one holds the breath for nine counts per cycle, completing nine cycles after eighty-one counts. Thus it’s called the Ninth Cycle Number...” <br><br>“This is the path of immortality!” <br><br>Li Changhu was both shocked and ecstatic, nearly wanting to hug and kiss the mirror. <br><br>Suppressing their excitement, the brothers took turns reading it carefully, reciting it silently with the annotations in the scroll for guidance. <br><br>Li Xiangping’s eyes quickly scanned the cloth, landing on the final few lines of the text: <br><br>“When practicing the Conduit Technique, choose days linked to Jiazi, Gengshen, one’s destiny, the Three Primordials, the Three Meetings, the Eight Festivals, the new moon, and the dark moon. On these days, when the heavens give life and light overcomes darkness, place the ritual mirror under Moonlit Yin Essence, burn incense, bathe, and bow deeply to invite it, saying: ‘Disciple of this house, [Name], humbly invites the Mystical Radiance, guardian of life and spirit, to follow the Way and cultivate. I vow to practice diligently, fulfilling trust and promises, and when finished, to return and honor the Moonlit Yin Essence.’ Conclude with three breaths.” <br><br>“‘Practice diligently, fulfilling trust and promises, and when finished, to return and honor the Moonlit Yin Essence.’” <br><br>He softly repeated. <br><br>Matthew Lee observed the silent child with his head bowed, gently patted his head in comfort, and calmly spoke: <br><br>“‘Guardian of life and spirit, follower of the Way.’” <br><br>———— <br><br>Morning. Wisps of cooking smoke curled up from the rooftops of the village, blending with the thin, gauzy mist in the air. <br><br>“Uncle Li, is today a special day?” Matthew Lee hummed as he walked past the fields, hearing someone laughingly ask. <br><br>Matthew lowered his head. It was his nephew, Franklin Ye, a simple and honest-looking boy with a knack for witty remarks. <br><br>“The green ears in the field are looking splendid!” Matthew chuckled in response. <br><br>Li Jing Village had four major clans: Ye, Tian, Lee, and Liu. The Ye clan was the largest, making up more than thirty percent of the villagers. Should they unite, they would be a force to reckon with. <br><br>“Well, it must be thanks to Brother Changhu’s good fortune!” Franklin Ye leaned on his hoe respectfully, answering with a grin. <br><br>“You truly have a way with words!” <br><br>The old man knew Franklin was referring to Li Changhu’s recent wedding. Ren Shi was adorable, obedient, and wholeheartedly devoted to Li Changhu. <br><br>Matthew Lee planned to reveal some news once Ren Shi bore children. She was a trustworthy lady. Living under the same roof, excessive secrecy might breed unnecessary suspicion. <br><br>“Tongyai refuses to marry, and Xiangping has come of age,” Matthew Lee mused, stroking his beard as he counted the households in the village. <br><br>“That brother who raised Grace Tian… She’s a fine match, both in age and character. I’ll ask Xiangping. If things go well, we’ll carry gifts and formally propose.” He smiled contentedly. <br><br>In the courtyard, Li Tongyai and the others were diligently studying the Energy Conduit Technique, while Li Changhu had rushed back from the fields to join them. <br><br>Only Matthew Lee, feeling his age and diminishing mental sharpness, refrained from pursuing the immortal path. Instead, he oversaw the fields. <br><br>Someone had to manage the worldly affairs; otherwise, there’d be no sustenance. Additionally, he kept watch to deter any nosy intruders. <br><br>In a leisurely mood, Matthew Lee sat by the field ridge, chatting casually with the village elders. <br><br>———— <br><br>The Li Household. <br><br>River Sage Lu’s spiritual consciousness settled over the courtyard, focusing on the four seated cross-legged with their eyes shut. Above their heads, faint white glows began to appear. <br><br>Li Chijing’s Sacred White Strand was the longest, measuring about eight inches, gleaming brilliantly. Li Tongyai and Li Xiangping’s measured six and five inches respectively, while Li Changhu’s was merely three inches. <br><br>The initial appearance of the Sacred White Strand during the practice of the Energy Conduit Technique reflected an individual’s compatibility with the Seed of Arcane Pearl Glyph. Those with a one-foot Strand could intake the glyph and cultivate as if they were born with a Spiritual Nexus. <br><br>Li Chijing’s eight-inch Strand indicated cultivation speed at eighty percent of that of someone with a Spiritual Nexus, while Li Changhu’s mere three-inch Strand meant only thirty percent of the speed. <br><br>In other words, Li Changhu’s full day of cultivation would yield the same results as four hours of someone with a Nexus...)
