Chapter Two: The Primordial Dragon and Tiger Elixir Thunder Technique

Wang Ling shook his head slightly. If this world had the imperial examination system, things would have been somewhat better.

Despite its many flaws, the imperial exam was at least relatively fair. As long as you put in the effort, even if you weren’t guaranteed a reward, at the very least there was hope.

However, in this world, the system was one of recommendation and selection, not open examinations. There was nowhere for one to exert effort even if one wished to.

To put it plainly, the system of recommendation was a competition of ancestry.

At least for now, in this world, the system simply measured the merit of one’s family and its influence.

Whichever clan boasted power and prestige, whichever family name rang loudest and could best serve the authorities, would receive a nomination for “Filial and Incorrupt,” and ascend to official rank in a single leap.

If a family’s reputation was sterling, its name widely known, it could have its sons selected as local officials, from where they could steadily climb the ranks.

The Wang clan of Danling was a great family, but in this county alone, there were at least two or three families who could rival them, if not ten. Among the younger generation of the Wang family, there were already over twenty or thirty, and in the previous generation, those in their thirties or forties who had not yet entered officialdom numbered as many as thirty or forty more. Altogether, there were at least forty or fifty eligible candidates.

For a collateral branch member like Wang Ling, orphaned of both parents, with only a few hundred mu of thin land to his name, what chance was there?

Truthfully, as a son of the Wang family of Danling, Wang Ling was merely eligible to become an official. But eligibility was common enough; to actually don the official’s robe was no easy feat!

Moreover, what he sought was a carefree and eternal life, not the so-called “deification after death” his cousin spoke of, which held no appeal for him.

Seeing that he could not persuade Wang Ling, Wang Yue let out a gentle sigh.

In his eyes, among all the brothers of this generation, Wang Ling was the most talented and the one most likely to bring glory to the Wang family of Danling.

It was just a shame his cousin seemed to have little interest in officialdom—or perhaps little confidence.

And truly, for someone like Wang Ling, a collateral branch son, becoming a minor county official was possible, but true office was hard to come by.

After all, the strength of the family, however great, could only be exerted on a handful of the legitimate sons of the main branch.

A pity, truly a pity!

After a moment’s thought, Wang Yue said, “Thirteenth Brother, do not lose heart. The Lady of the County has already said she will nominate me for filial and incorrupt. Wait a few years, and when I take office, I will find a way to support your nomination as well!”

Wang Ling could only smile at this, cupping his hands and saying, “That is wonderful news. Congratulations, Seventh Brother, congratulations indeed!”

Wang Yue smiled slightly—this was indeed good news. The court had always placed great importance on the selection of the filial and incorrupt.

Those thus chosen would enter the National Academy at Shenluo to study, and from there, they were eligible to enter officialdom, with the lowest starting post as a county magistrate of the seventh rank.

This was the true path to office in this world. Only those who began as filial and incorrupt could hope for a great future; in time, they might sit among the Three Excellencies or the Nine Ministers.

It was the equivalent of the metropolitan graduate in his former life’s civil service exam.

This Seventh Brother, Wang Yue, had always looked after him, so Wang Ling’s congratulations were heartfelt and sincere.

Wang Yue said earnestly, “Brother, do not be impatient. Stay home, study diligently, build your reputation. In the future, even if I cannot secure for you a nomination as filial and incorrupt, I will at least help you obtain a post as a senior official.”

In the current administration, officials and clerks belonged to one system, and there was no rule preventing a clerk from becoming an official.

A major county clerk was equivalent to the head of a bureau in the county in his former life, already possessing considerable power.

And just as before, there were opportunities for promotion—to county magistrate, governor, even the great territorial lords.

Indeed, it was not impossible to rise to the level of the Three Excellencies or the Nine Ministers!

In short, Wang Yue’s promise was weighty indeed.

Wang Ling understood his cousin’s goodwill. Though he did not particularly care, he was still moved and could not refuse, so he simply smiled and said, “In that case, thank you, Seventh Brother.”

Wang Yue laughed heartily and slapped Wang Ling on the shoulder. “We are brothers—what need for such words? In the future, let us work together to bring glory to the Wang family of Danling!”

They enjoyed their wine to the fullest, and it was not until Wang Yue staggered away, supported by two young servants, that Wang Ling let out a quiet sigh.

The remains of the feast had been cleared away. Wang Ling shut the doors and windows, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes in contemplation.

Though he had drunk a little wine, it was only rice wine—light in strength, though enough to induce a pleasant drowsiness—so he went to bed early.

The next morning, after tidying up, he sat with his eyes closed, focusing his mind on a single image.

After all, this was a world where the Dao revealed itself, spiritual energy was abundant, and since his rebirth, his soul seemed to have grown much stronger.

So, calming his mind just a little, in the sea of consciousness he visualized a bright mirror.

The mirror was ancient yet exquisite, its rim carved with tiny, door-lintel-like teeth.

There was a minimalist elegance to it, yet also a sense of lively grace.

This dynamic balance was the most difficult aspect to capture in contemplation.

Yet this was not the most important part; the key was the mirror’s surface.

On its jet-black, gleaming face, one could see one’s own reflection—a mirror of the heart.

It was said that at a high level of cultivation, one could reflect all things within, even one’s true self, upon the heart-mirror.

But for now, Wang Ling was not capable of such feats; what appeared in the mirror was but a blur, within which a faintly white silhouette could be made out.

This was his original self, what was called the primordial spirit.

Yet his primordial spirit was weak, untended, nothing but a vague mass.

Thus, what he needed to do now was to nurture his spirit slowly, to nourish and strengthen it—a practice known as refining qi to restore spirit.

However, before one could refine qi to restore spirit, there was another step—refining essence into qi.

By slowly transforming his own essence and blood into true qi, and then using that qi to nourish the primordial spirit.

Yet, the essence and blood of the body were limited; if one focused only on extraction without replenishment, it was easy to exhaust oneself.

Therefore, a cultivator needed to eat various grains and supplements, to take medicines, and even to absorb the spiritual energy of the world to restore essence and blood.

At this moment, as Wang Ling visualized, through the mirror of the heart, he gazed inward, shining its light into his central field, where it began to spin slowly.

It was as if a massive vortex had formed, drawing in the spiritual energy from the surrounding mountains and fields, all of it pouring into Wang Ling’s body.

At the same time, as he breathed in and out, the spiritual energy circulated along his meridians, finally settling in his internal organs, nourishing his blood and essence.

This was called the union of spirit and qi—where the vital energy of the body and the power of visualization worked together in a slow, harmonious cycle.

This was one of the most orthodox and profound secret arts of the Daoist school, a method that combined visualization, breath regulation, internal refinement, and the absorption of energy.

The common people, in their ignorance, believed that a cultivator could simply take in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and directly transform it into inner power.

But in truth, it was not so!

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth worked much like the subtle essence of grains and food, providing energy and strengthening the blood and vitality.

Only after the blood and essence—what is called vital energy—are abundant, can they be converted into inner qi.