Chapter Three: The Impure Contemplation of June [Bonus Chapter]

Late at night, the moon was soft as water, light as gauze.

Qingyuan stilled his mind and calmed his breath, practicing in silence. Owing to his lack of spiritual roots, he had never managed to truly set foot on the path; he lingered outside the gates, unable to consider this cultivation in truth—merely contemplation.

Though he knew full well that he could not cultivate, for years he had never slackened, still following the method he had learned in the Purple Dawn Palace, practicing each day, never daring to neglect his efforts.

Day after day, through spring and autumn, winter and summer, in bitter cold and sweltering heat, he had never once ceased.

This technique he practiced was none other than the “Immortal Canon of the Yellow Court,” which he had brought from the Purple Dawn Palace.

Yet, while circulating energy was one matter, the method he used at this entry-level stage of visualization was not that of the Yellow Court, but a different technique altogether.

This method was a secret transmission of the Purple Dawn Palace, known as the “Six Months of Purity Visualization.” The process of practice was called “Visualizing the Impurity for Six Months.”

Back then in the Purple Dawn Palace, unable to make progress with other methods despite many attempts, by a stroke of luck, he was granted this visualization technique.

Recalling those days, he could not help but grow lost in thought for a moment.

…

“This visualization method is extraordinary, yet it is not complicated to practice.”

“First, calm your mind, then visualize a bright moon above your head, shining down upon you.”

He could still remember, in the Purple Dawn Palace, Senior Brother Qingyang, dressed as a middle-aged Taoist, his smile kind and sincere.

Pointing to the top of his head, Qingyang had said, “Then, imagine the moonlight from the heavens pouring down, illuminating every part of your being, dispelling all impure thoughts in your heart.”

“Thus, all darkness and filth within are washed away; you exist entirely within the moonlight, clear and bright.”

“Practice this way, night after night; after half a year—six months—the heavenly moon will split into six.”

Qingyang smiled slightly. “Once the time is ripe and your practice is complete, when the light of six moons shines upon you, all impure thoughts and foul airs within you will be revealed and cleansed.”

“From then on, within your brow’s ancestral point, nine tiers of a jade tower will arise, corresponding to the nine heavens of cultivation.”

At this, Qingyuan had asked, “So it takes a full half year?”

“Exactly,” Qingyang replied. “No matter if you are born of immortal roots and celestial bones or possess poor aptitude and dull wit, you must practice diligently every day without slacking. After half a year, you will surely benefit.”

Qingyuan had nodded, half-understanding and not paying it much mind at the time, but as he learned more, he grew increasingly amazed.

“This kind of visualization is utterly unlike those commonly known,” Qingyang continued. “Practitioners of the world must first cultivate essence, refine qi, store spirit, then harmonize the dragon and tiger, capture Kan to fill Li. The path of cultivation is like parting the mists, groping step by step into the unknown.”

Qingyuan asked, “So what is different about this method?”

…

“The Six Months of Purity Visualization manifests the nine steps of cultivation as nine jade towers, set within the Palace of Spirit and Ancestral Cavern of Mystery,” Qingyang said in wonder. “The path is clear; by opening each tower step by step, one may ascend to the heavens. The great path is made clear to the eyes.”

Though Qingyuan didn’t fully understand, he grasped the general meaning. Others cultivated by feeling their way forward, unable to see what lay ahead. But with the Six Months of Purity Visualization, illuminating the nine jade towers, the way ahead was revealed.

“For this reason, even our grand master, an ancestor among immortals, regarded this visualization as a masterpiece, placing it among the treasures of the high pavilion.”

Qingyang glanced at him and smiled. “It’s thanks to your fortunate chance. Senior Brother White Crane saw your struggles in cultivation and petitioned the master, who gave permission for you to learn this method.”

…

The events of the past had already passed.

Now, all things were present.

Qingyuan sat cross-legged, the dim candlelight casting his face in shadow.

He visualized the bright moon above his head. The moon split into six. The light of six moons shone down, washing away all impure thoughts.

Within his brow, in the Palace of Spirit, under the moonlight, a tall tower faintly appeared.

This tower had nine levels, as if made of jade, ancient in style, shrouded in mist and moonlight, mysterious and lofty.

After visualizing the nine-tiered jade tower, he shifted to the method of the Immortal Canon of the Yellow Court.

He moved his thoughts according to the energy circulation of the Yellow Court method, guiding an illusory breath through the meridians, into the Palace of Spirit, to push open the gate of the jade tower.

Thunderous and rolling, but no matter how many attempts, the door of the jade tower would not budge and all efforts ended in failure.

Qingyuan opened his eyes, disappointment upon his face.

Because he lacked the spiritual roots and immortal bones to give rise to true qi and power, the “breath” he moved was not real qi, but merely the product of his imagination.

“After years of daily breathing exercises, even someone with poor roots would have made some progress, perhaps opened the first level of the jade tower and stepped onto the path of cultivation by now,” Qingyuan mused, discouraged. “But with no spiritual roots, no matter how diligently I practice, I cannot form even a wisp of true qi. I still cannot open the first tier of the tower.”

He recalled how, in the celestial palace, when his peers succeeded in their cultivation, he felt no envy, believing only that his own aptitude was lacking and that he needed more effort.

It was not until the matter of the Celestial Root Register that he realized his problem was not merely poor roots, but the utter absence of spiritual talent.

…

Since descending to the mortal realm, he had practiced without cease, yet could not gather even a thread of true qi, nor showed the slightest sign of moving that first gate.

“Without immortal roots or divine fate, even visualization ought to be beyond me. It is only thanks to the great immortal’s Six Months of Purity Visualization that I am able to see the nine-tiered jade tower at all.”

“The nine-tiered jade tower shows the path, but to open it, one must practice with care and perseverance. There is no shortcut—no clever trick will do.”

He let out a long sigh, lost and uncertain about the road ahead.

He gazed up at the moonlight by the window, sighing softly, yet still immersed in his cultivation.

Years had passed, unchanged.

Even though he had yet to move the nine-tiered jade tower.

…

In the east, the sky grew pale with dawn.

Unnoticed, the night had quietly passed.

Day broke, the first rays of sunlight rising.

At this hour, the sun was newly born, not yet at its zenith. For someone like Qingyuan, not yet initiated into cultivation, the yang energy was present but not at its peak—just the right time to draw a fire talisman.

“The Daoist texts say: Yin and yang transform into the five elements, and the five elements give birth to all things.”

Qingyuan leafed through a manual, his gaze scanning the page. “Within heaven and earth, there are boundless energies, omnipresent, all belonging to the five elements.”

Moist vapors contain the water of the five elements.

Heat holds the fire of the five elements.

Between dust and smoke lies earth of the five elements.

The vitality in the woods carries the wood of the five elements.

Within stone and mountain is hidden the metal of the five elements.