Chapter Fourteen: The Spiritual Pool of the Cave Dwelling

Such an endeavor, whether in the ancient practices of visualization or in modern meditative contemplation, is fraught with danger—a path that can easily splinter the mind and give rise to a second self. Yet for Wang Ling, none of this proved daunting.

What came next, however, was even more difficult and perilous.

With a soft splash, Wang Ling sprang up and plunged into the calm surface of the water as though diving.

Droplets scattered, sending ripples across the pond. In the modern world, Wang Ling had attempted this countless times without success, yet now, astonishingly, he accomplished it in an instant!

As his spirit traversed the "Heart Lake" within the sea of consciousness, the world spun wildly.

In the next moment, Wang Ling’s primordial spirit appeared outside his physical body.

Beneath the moonlight, there was not the faintest trace of a shadow.

He looked down at himself, only to discover his form was as insubstantial as mist, as if a strong breeze could scatter him into nothingness.

“I’ve done it!” A boundless joy surged within Wang Ling, so intense that his entire spirit quivered, nearly to the point of shattering.

Startled, he quickly reined in his emotions, calming his spirit.

Savoring the experience, he discerned an unmistakable sense of discomfort—existing outside the flesh felt as though one stood naked in broad daylight, exposed and unsafe.

But Wang Ling understood: this was merely the vulnerability of the spirit lacking the body’s protection.

All this was natural, and could be overcome as his consciousness—or soul—grew stronger.

It was his first successful out-of-body experience, and not daring to linger long, Wang Ling soon returned his spirit to flesh.

The previous discomfort vanished.

“At last, I have broken through to the phase of spirit projection…”

Amid his joy, Wang Ling felt a tinge of melancholy.

“In this world, so rich in spiritual energy, cultivation comes easily. In my previous life, I squandered half my years only to reach this point…

But this world is not one of immortal cultivation, but rather a realm where humanity reigns harsh and the divine order is strict—a world of gods and men!”

“Perhaps, once my realm is stabilized, I should leave home to seek the Way. The four essentials of cultivation—methods, companions, wealth, and land—cannot be satisfied by solitary practice at home…

Yet in this world, the status of cultivators is exceedingly low. The authorities are hostile; a single misstep might cost one’s head!”

Wang Ling sighed softly. This was far from the first time he had contemplated such things.

But there was no rush; he would wait until his spirit was thoroughly stabilized—at least another half year, enough time to plan carefully.

In truth, following my seventh brother wouldn’t be so bad. If he became a county magistrate, I could serve as his clerk.

With the cover of official status, cultivation would be much safer.

Here, cultivators hold little standing, and many join the government for support.

With power comes the ability to gather followers—this is far safer than wandering in search of the Way!

The authorities are ruthless toward itinerant practitioners, quick to exile or execute them.

Just look at the fate of True Spirit Master—Wang Ling’s fear only deepened.

With this in mind, he absently toyed with the jade box.

The box was ever-changing; after so many days, Wang Ling still hadn’t managed to restore the patterns on its surface.

But he was growing more adept, and now, with his spirit strengthened, his mind was sharper and more agile. At last, with a few deft movements, he completed the patterns.

The constellations shifted, pointing straight to the Northern Star.

Suddenly, with a thunderous flash, a beam of light shot from the jade box and appeared before Wang Ling.

It took the form of an oval dressing mirror, yet the surface rippled like water.

This strange sight reminded Wang Ling of a film he’d seen in his past life, featuring a divine artifact called the Stargate—it looked remarkably similar.

“Perhaps I should try…”

Wang Ling reached out, cautiously touching the surface of the luminous mirror. The instant his hand made contact, a mighty force pulled him inside.

In the blink of an eye, the light vanished, the jade box tumbled onto the bed and disappeared, and Wang Ling himself was gone without a trace.

Crack! Boom!

A peal of thunder suddenly crashed from the heavens.

Wang Ling found himself in a most peculiar place.

The space was about the size of a basketball court, shrouded in swirling mists.

The floor was paved with smooth white jade—resembling the finest mutton-fat jade, though who could say if it was real?

After all, to use such a quantity of precious stone for flooring seemed almost unbelievable.

Mist coiled everywhere. Only a square pool, about three meters across, broke the expanse.

Now only half full, the water in the pool was crystal clear, revealing the bottom at a glance.

Yet upon closer inspection, each droplet seemed extraordinary, as if it contained an entire river or lake.

Gazing too intently could make one dizzy, as though the spirit itself might be drawn in.

Wang Ling dared not look for long. In the pool grew a single lotus, half-open, half-closed, petals half red, half white.

Before he could ponder where this might be, a single breath drew the surrounding mists into his body through every pore.

In an instant, Wang Ling felt himself brimming with power.

He was shocked to realize the drifting vapors were all spiritual energy—condensed into tangible form!

“What is this place? Could it truly be a legendary immortal’s abode?”

Amazement and fear warred within him; that single breath of spiritual energy nearly burst him from within.

Now, unable to refine it, Wang Ling dared not even breathe, retreating slowly.

But the spiritual energy, like mercury, slipped into his meridians through every pore.

“Damn it, if this continues I’ll explode…” Wang Ling was terrified—imagine dying from an overabundance of spiritual energy!

Mist shrouded the entire space; Wang Ling did not know its true expanse. He retreated, step by step, not knowing how far he’d gone, when suddenly he seemed to break through a thin membrane—or something else—and found himself in a stone chamber.

The chamber’s doors were tightly shut. It was as though he’d passed through the wall.

When he came to his senses, he was already inside a room at least a hundred square meters in size.

The sensation of being on the verge of bursting from spiritual energy vanished instantly.

The stone room was spacious, with shelves on every side, but the most striking feature was the incense altar and ancestral tablets at the head of the room—inscribed with the names of the Patriarchs of the Celestial Sanctuary, generation after generation.