Chapter 18 Candlelight

"Instructors and Assistant Tutors from the Academic Palace, who search for eligible children, are all Cultivators with the Qi Observation Skill. Paired with this Knowledge Protection Cultivation Plate, they can generally sense the direction of those with Spiritual Vein Talent.

Of course, this method is rather crude. For greater precision, a Grey Candle is used."

Cheng Juxiu placed the Grey Candle at the center of the Compass and said casually, "The main Cultivation Methods taught in the Academic Palace are fivefold: Talisman, Magic, Mind, Sword, and Body.

It is said, 'Talisman and Magic are twin-born, Sword and Mind are one body.'

Talisman refers to Dan Book Talismans, which gather the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth and condense it into iron brushstrokes and silver hooks. Once a Talisman is completed, even ghosts and gods are startled.

Magic refers to numerous Spells, which can control clouds, summon rain, split seas, and shatter mountains.

Mind refers to Thought, the ability to control Spiritual Energy at will through mere intention.

Sword refers to the Sword Dao: 'Amidst a hall of flowers, three thousand guests are drunk with delight; with one sword's frosty glint, fourteen provinces feel the chill.'"

"These four Cultivation Methods can each lead to the Great Dao and require a lifetime of dedicated, arduous study. Only the greedy and foolish, or true geniuses, would attempt to cultivate two different methods.

For example, the current Academic Palace Master, who is also Yu Country's most powerful Cultivator, has cultivated both Talismanic Magic and Sword Dao."

Pu Liuxuan added, "Of course, the Mountain Master's realm has exceeded the comprehension of ordinary people and many Cultivators. Generally speaking, even a genius wanting to cultivate multiple methods must choose Dao Paths that are somewhat similar.

For example, Talisman and Magic, Talisman and Mind, or Mind and Sword."

Li Ang asked without thinking, "What about Body?"

"Body..."

Pu Liuxuan and Cheng Juxiu looked at each other and suddenly burst into laughter, "HAHAHAHAHA!"

As though they had heard some joke, they laughed heartily for a while. Feeling more relaxed, Pu Liuxuan finally coughed lightly to stop. "Body… you'll understand once you go to the Academic Palace.

While there is no high or low, noble or humble in the paths of Cultivation,

the methods of Body Refinement are vastly different from those of Talismanic Magic and Sword Thought, making comparison difficult.

This isn't to say that Body Refinement is inferior to Talismanic Magic and Sword Thought.

It's like 'losing at sunrise but gaining at sunset.'

A true Martial Arts Grandmaster—like those three Generals of Yu Country, the Garrison Commander, and those Tributes serving in the Imperial Palace—can make a myriad of methods yield with a single punch."

"Losing at sunrise but gaining at sunset..."

Li Ang immediately responded, "That means people who lack talent in Talismanic Magic and Sword Thought turn to cultivate the Body Refining Technique."

So, even Cultivators have a pecking order?

"I didn't say that; those are your own thoughts. Don't mention this when you get to Chang'an."

Pu Liuxuan shifted uncomfortably, waving his hand slightly. "Anyway, as long as you have Spiritual Vein Talent, everything else can be discussed.

Ju Xiu."

"Yes."

Cheng Juxiu replied, reaching out to press the wick of the Grey Candle. The candle began to burn slowly, its flame like an orange sprout.

Pu Liuxuan raised his chin. "Extend your hand. Grasp the middle of the candle with your thumb and forefinger, and keep your other three fingers together. Forefinger in front, thumb at the back."

"Okay."

Li Ang took a deep breath and grasped the Grey Candle. He felt a chill, as if he were touching a block of solid ice.

"The Knowledge Protection Cultivation Plate is a testing method Cultivators have used for a thousand years. Based on the color, shape, size, and changes of the candle flame, as well as the direction it points on the Compass, they use complex and detailed calculations to estimate the number and diameter of Spirit Veins, and the suitable Cultivation Path."

Pu Liuxuan stroked his beard and said blandly, "Having ten Spirit Veins is considered quite talented. Fourteen Spirit Veins are found in only one in ten thousand people, and sixteen or seventeen Spirit Veins might not appear in the entire world for decades.

Historical records state that the person naturally born with the most Spirit Veins had twenty. This was two hundred years ago, at the end of the Former Sui era, and the individual was the Head of the Haotian Taoist Sect.

As for more ancient, mythological times, without physical evidence and reliable historical accounts, they cannot be regarded as true.

Additionally, the number of Spirit Veins is not the sole determining factor in Cultivation.

More important are comprehension and opportunity.

Spirit Veins are akin to river channels. Twenty channels can transport water, just as ten channels can. However, in the initial stages of Cultivation, having more Spirit Veins allows one to take fewer detours.

Don't let your mind wander. Concentrate and calm your spirit."

"Oh."

Li Ang slowly exhaled a turbid breath, dispelling the nervous thoughts from his mind.

Under the watchful gaze of the three, the orange flame at the top of the Grey Candle began to swell very slowly.

"If one has few Spirit Veins, the candle flame will be weak; if one has many Spirit Veins, the flame will be strong.

If the Spirit Veins are deep, the flame will be thin; if shallow, the flame will be thick.

If there are Spirit Veins in the brain, the candle flame will be golden.

If there are Spirit Veins in the hands, the flame will be blue.

Moreover, the flame will also display various phenomena such as crosses, triangles, and pentagrams, depending on the orientation, shape, and circuit of the Spirit Veins.

For instance, when Emperor Yang of Former Sui first used the Knowledge Protection Cultivation Plate at the age of ten, the candle flame displayed a complex and splendid Dragon form. This greatly pleased the Emperor and led to his establishment as Crown Prince..."

Cheng Juxiu's explanation grew quieter, and his expression became increasingly animated.

The flame of the Grey Candle in Li Ang's hand slowly split—one into two, two into four—until it divided into twenty-four extremely thin leaf-like strands, unfolding above the Knowledge Protection Cultivation Plate.

What could this be? A lotus? An orchid? A peony? Surely it's not a giant octopus, right?

Li Ang didn't understand and didn't dare move his hand away.

Fortunately, the Grey Candle was very durable. It burned without dripping wax and remained as cold as ever to the touch.

Cheng Juxiu furrowed his brow. "It looks like a twenty-four-petal lotus, but the petals are too thin."

Pu Liuxuan also furrowed his brow and added, "There's something off about the shape. A proper twenty-four-petaled lotus should point towards the 'Encounter,' 'Cauldron,' 'Gentle,' 'Decay,' and 'Conflict' characters on the Knowledge Protection Cultivation Plate...

Shall we try calculating it using the Heavenly Gang Method?"

"Yes. The first is termed 'Nine Constants,' allowing one to escape form. The second, 'Nurturing Constants,' transforms one into all plants and trees. The third, 'Mao Constant,' allows one to change into mountains, hills, and all things..."

Cheng Juxiu closed his eyes, his left hand's fingers rapidly tapping and colliding as he muttered what seemed to be some complex and obscure computational rules.

Time passed slowly. Finally, he opened his eyes and said deliberately, "Seven."

Li Ang slightly raised his eyebrows. "Hm?"

"You can let go of the Grey Candle now. The calculation shows seven."

Cheng Juxiu nodded seriously. "Though one appears weak, it is indeed seven. Perhaps it's due to excessive sorrow lately, causing the Divine Soul to be weary."

"Seven, huh."

Pu Liuxuan's tightly knitted brows slowly relaxed, nodding. "That's sufficient."

"Yes, that meets the entry standards for Chang'an Academy.

In a while, I'll sketch the candle flame pattern, write down the calculation formula, attach our teacher's recommendation letter, and send it back to Chang'an Academy. That should be all.

If that's not enough, once you get to Chang'an, we can find a Professor to test you again for a possibly more accurate result."

Cheng Juxiu smiled and waved his hand, extinguishing the Grey Candle. "Junior Brother, don't be disheartened. Our teacher and I only have about ten Spirit Veins each.

As long as you pass the Qi Sensing and Body Concealing Realms,

cultivating with seven Spirit Veins won't be much slower than others.

Things are different now compared to the ancient techniques of Cultivation."

"Ah, I'm fine. I was just startled for a moment, thinking that twenty-four petals meant twenty-four Spirit Veins. Turns out it's not based on the shape."

Li Ang said somewhat sheepishly, "By the way, Senior Brother, what are the Qi Sensing and Body Concealing Realms?"