Chapter 38: What is Cultivation

**Chapter 38: What is Cultivation?**

After walking over a hundred steps into the Spirit Ruins Paradise, the scriptures echoing in Ye Fan's mind finally ceased. The dozens of ancient bluestone steps at the entrance were left behind; that place was very unusual, but Ye Fan didn't stop, nor was he allowed to linger.

Ahead, the mountains were beautiful, imbued with an invigorating spiritual energy. Looking from afar, a thousand-meter-long waterfall cascaded down from a high mountain. Its white torrent resembled a silver river suspended upside down, and the rumbling sound was like ten thousand horses galloping; it was both magnificent and splendid.

"Truly worthy of being a blessed land and grotto-heaven, the scenery is extraordinary, like a pure land beyond the mortal world."

A winding, pebble-paved path led to secluded spots, passing by the waterfall and winding its way deep into the beautiful immortal mountains. Along the path, ancient trees reached to the sky, their branches gnarled like coiling dragons. Many halls could be seen, nestled among the vegetation, appearing very harmonious and natural.

On both sides of the ancient path were artificially cultivated medicinal fields. Inside, ginseng roots were as thick as a child's arm, and nine-leaved Ganoderma lucidum hung high. Many unknown medicinal herbs shimmered brilliantly, containing faint glimmers of light within, and their fragrance wafted out, refreshing and invigorating.

Most people encountered on the path bowed to the elders, and their attitude towards Weiwei was very friendly. It was clear what status this unparalleled prodigy held in the Spirit Ruins Paradise.

Weiwei returned each greeting, showing no arrogance. In this peaceful pure land, she truly appeared as a fairy, pure and ethereal. Finally, like a gentle breeze, she drifted away gracefully, disappearing into the depths of the picturesque paradise.

Ye Fan and Pang Bo were led to a low mountain. Here, there were three to five thatched huts, two or three bamboo groves, a medicinal field in front of the huts, and several old trees closely intertwined.

Although there were no magnificent towers or jade palaces, everything appeared ordinary and simple. Yet, it excelled in its tranquility and natural beauty, its serenity like a pure land beyond the mortal world. It cleansed the soul as if by baptism, distancing one from worldly affairs and washing away all worries.

"You will stay here for now," the elders instructed before leaving. Another classmate was also brought into the Spirit Ruins Paradise, but they were not housed with Ye Fan and Pang Bo; instead, they were taken elsewhere.

Nearing noon, a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy arrived with a food box, bringing them a meal. The food was very simple and plain: lotus root slices, Solomon's seal, Poria cocos, and Gastrodia elata, mostly medicinal ingredients.

"Can we... eat this food? There isn't even a speck of meat. For the past two days, we've either eaten wild fruits or drunk spring water. And now we're still eating this stuff; our mouths are so bland they're practically watering mountain spring."

Although the food had no grease at all, Ye Fan and Pang Bo still devoured it all, not even leaving a single vegetable leaf.

"Could you send over a roasted chicken?"

Seeing their appearance, the food delivery boy was somewhat stunned. He said, "No... we don't provide that in the paradise. If you two aren't full yet, I can bring more food."

"How can there be no meat? Aren't there many immortal cranes and white deer kept here, and many unknown rare birds and exotic beasts? Just roast one or two, and there'll be plenty! I think those immortal cranes are fat enough."

The food delivery boy fled instantly, as if he had seen a ghost or a demon, avoiding the two like the plague.

"It seems entering the immortal sect for cultivation isn't something to be happy about after all," Pang Bo complained incessantly. "Life is too austere; we can't even eat meat. How are we going to live like this?"

Ye Fan was also very hungry. At that moment, he really wanted to grab a roasted chicken, tear into a pork hock, carry a pot of fine wine, and feast to his heart's content.

For the next dozen days or so, the elders never reappeared. Instead, the food delivery boy gradually became acquainted with the two. Through continuous conversation, Ye Fan and Pang Bo gradually adapted to this ancient Chinese language. The boy was very envious of them, as he said that disciples who had just entered the sect usually did not have independent residences and could only open a cave dwelling once they had achieved success in cultivation.

"Three to five thatched huts, is this considered having our own cave dwelling?"

Ye Fan and Pang Bo put on the clothes the boy brought them. Except for their still short hair, they now looked no different from the people of the Spirit Ruins Paradise.

"You can't say that," the boy replied. "Everything around this low mountain belongs to the two of you. If you gain the ability, you can naturally carve out a cave dwelling."

"Since the low mountain is ours, if we kill a deer and roast two immortal cranes, no one will care, right?"

Hearing them say this, the boy dared not respond again. He felt that these two were truly bold and their ideas were completely different from ordinary people.

"Don't be afraid, we won't cause trouble. Now, tell us, what exactly is this so-called cultivation?"

This was a question that both Ye Fan and Pang Bo were very concerned about. Until now, they understood nothing about it, having only heard people mention "Sea of Bitterness," "Divine Bridge," and "Other Shore" a few times, but without any comprehension.

The boy shook his head, unable to explain much. He himself had only recently entered the Spirit Ruins Paradise and had not yet truly embarked on the path of immortals.

"It seems you're already a bit impatient." Just then, an old man with a youthful complexion and hair white as crane feathers appeared before the low mountain. His wide sleeves billowed, and his feet didn't touch the ground; as if riding the wind, he arrived in front of the thatched huts. He nodded to the boy who was bowing nearby and said, "You may go."

"You are..." Both Ye Fan and Pang Bo did not recognize this ruddy-faced old man with snow-white hair; he looked like an old immortal from another world.

"I am an elder of the Spirit Ruins Paradise, named Wu Qingfeng. All disciples who have entered the sect within the last three years are taught by me."

"Greetings, elder."

"No need to be so formal."

"Elder, could you first improve our food?" Pang Bo complained bitterly. "If this continues, we'll truly ascend to immortality by starvation before we even begin cultivation. This food is too bland; now, we even salivate at the sight of a grasshopper."

Elder Wu Qingfeng said with a solemn expression, "The mortal world is full of desires. Upon first entering a blessed land and grotto-heaven, the first thing one must do is sever ties with worldly glory and purify one's body and mind. If you cannot even give up the desire for food, then facing the various temptations on the path of immortal cultivation will likely be very difficult."

Hearing these words, Pang Bo genuinely found it hard to say anything more. As for Ye Fan, since he hadn't joined the blessed land and grotto-heaven, it was even more inappropriate for him to make any demands.

Ye Fan and Pang Bo had many questions in their hearts, but Ye Fan found it hard to speak up. Pang Bo, however, being a disciple of the Spirit Ruins Paradise, had no such reservations. He invited Elder Wu Qingfeng to sit on a wooden stool in front of the thatched hut and began to ask all sorts of questions, as they were completely ignorant about this so-called cultivation.

"Do you find this sky clean?"

"Cloudless for thousands of miles, the sky is clear blue like it's been washed; naturally, it's very clean," Ye Fan replied. He didn't know why the elder asked this, but seeing the elder look at him, he answered.

"Wrong, dust is endless," Elder Wu Qingfeng said, opening his palm. "Even within this small space of my hand, there is endless dust."

"You... what do you mean?" Pang Bo asked, puzzled.

Elder Wu Qingfeng was very calm, like an old immortal from beyond the world, and continued, "What do you think this endless dust is?"

"What else could it be? Naturally, it's just dust."

"It is dust, and it is not dust," the elder said calmly.

"I understand it's dust, but what do you mean it's not dust?" Pang Bo asked.

"It is a world, a vast world," Elder Wu Qingfeng said casually and calmly, as if describing something commonplace.

"A vast world... You're not joking, are you?" Pang Bo asked, full of doubt.

"You will understand in the future; every speck of dust, every blade of grass, every piece of wood is a world."

"Can you... explain it more plainly?" Pang Bo asked. "I feel like I'm listening to something from a heavenly text. Although the literal meaning is easy to understand, I don't grasp any of the profound implications."

Elder Wu Qingfeng sat there, smiling faintly. He said, "Let's not discuss these today. What I want to say is that there is endless dust between heaven and earth, and every speck of dust is a world. Similarly, our bodies are the same; though we see nothing, they contain countless 'doors,' as numerous as the dust in the universe. This seemingly tiny body contains countless 'doors.' Continuously opening these doors and discovering the 'true self'—that is cultivation."

Seeing the astonished expressions on both their faces, Elder Wu Qingfeng remained as calm as an ancient well, and asked, "Now, do you understand what cultivation is?"

"It seems... we understand a little."

"Good, you can slowly understand it later," he said. "Now, I will explain to you what the Sea of Bitterness is. There are countless cultivation methods in the world, but all of them begin by opening the immortal path from here."

"Elder, this time, please be more detailed," Pang Bo said. Although they hadn't truly embarked on the path of cultivation yet, both Ye Fan and Pang Bo understood that the initial concepts were the most crucial.

"All things in the world grow with age," he began. "Some can exist forever, eternally imperishable, while others are born in the morning and die in the evening, or even pass through an entire life in the snap of a finger."

"Elder, what you're saying is too profound. What exactly are you trying to tell us?"

The elder did not fault him for interrupting. Pointing to an ancient tree not far away, he asked, "Can you tell how old it is?"

"Naturally, we can. Cut it down and count the rings, and you'll know."

"Exactly. Time is merciless; it always leaves its marks on all things. Trees have annual rings, and our bodies also have wheels of life."

"We humans have these things too?" Ye Fan and Pang Bo felt it was somewhat absurd.

"The cultivation I speak of begins with the human body's wheel of life..."