Bai Qi suddenly realized that beneath the Turbid Tide, everyone possesses the qualification to cultivate the Dao, no longer constrained by the limitations of the Spirit Root.

"Of course, just like a hundred kinds of rice feed a hundred kinds of people, people are born with different levels of intelligence and understanding. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Even in the same cultivation path, there are differences in aptitude ranging from superior to inferior."

Qi Yan recalled the teachings of his master on the mountain. Relaying them to Bai Qi now, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction.

Being a teacher feels so comfortable!

No wonder the master would chatter on endlessly, always saying "I'll continue for another half an hour" after finishing the lessons, only to unintentionally talk for a whole hour.

"Aptitude is determined firstly by comprehension. Those with superior aptitude see the mysterious texts as plain language, grasping the essence naturally without needing to break it down;

those with average aptitude see it like a heavenly book, requiring guidance to enter the path;

while those with inferior aptitude forget nine out of ten things they learn, making it difficult to achieve success."

Bai Qi's eye twitched; was he barely considered average?

Surely, reaching his current state relied on diligence and exceptional talent!

Surely, he should be counted as a genius!

"Secondly, the compatibility between the Five Elements of one's fate and the Cultivation Technique; for instance, at Wild Grass Mountain, the most famous are the Dan and Talisman paths.

The former has scattered and incomplete knowledge with diminished usefulness due to the changes in the world; the latter suits those with Fire, Metal, or Wood elements.

As for me, I am of the 'Planting Golden Lotus in Fire' dual-element fate, thus I practice talisman techniques and refine flying swords."

After Qi Yan finished speaking, he retrieved a long wooden box from his junior's satchel.

Inside were two red incense sticks and two yellow incense sticks.

"Brother Bai, the yellow ones are Memory Fragrance, used by cultivators to gather the Divine Soul and develop the brain before moving on to Daoist Skills and spells.

So light the yellow incense, meditate, and visualize; the higher the ascending blue smoke, the better your aptitude.

Usually, reaching three feet is considered outstanding, and achieving four or five feet is a rarity that happens once in five hundred years.

As for the red ones, they are Life Fragrance, used to examine your life's elements. After burning them, press your palm into the incense ash, and life patterns such as water waves, flames, or massive trees will appear.

Of course, Life Fragrance is just a superficial method, and more detailed examinations are needed to truly know the quality of your life elements."

Listening to Qi Yan's detailed explanation, Bai Qi felt greatly enriched, readily accepting the long wooden box without pretending to decline.

"Brother Bai, if there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask."

Being forthright by nature, Qi Yan felt a good rapport with this Bai Qilang, so he added:

"By the way, forgive my intrusion, but while embarking on dual cultivation of Dao and Martial Arts is an admirable ambition, meditating and visualizing can easily be affected by the Turbid Tide, or be disturbed by external demons or one's own wandering thoughts.

This is why the cultivation of Daoist arts emphasizes tradition—like the Five Daoist Sects, where each generation's masters enter nirvana, and their Divine Souls return to the void, becoming part of the 'Mountain Gate.'

When disciples meditate and visualize, because their cultivation is the same in origin, their minds are guided as if there is an anchor point for a ship in the vast sea, preventing them from easily getting lost."

Bai Qi raised an eyebrow; so the Mountain Gates of the Daoist Sects are not in the physical world, but are interwoven with the infinite void, like an inner landscape?

He raised an eyebrow again, suddenly thinking of Tongwen Hall; with a blink, he found himself following Master Ninghai Zen into the grand hall of the Ancestor Hall.

Isn't this situation similar to the Mountain Gates of the Daoist Sects?

"Could it be that the Ancestor Hall is, like the Daoist Sects' Mountain Gates, a reflection of ancestors' Divine Souls?

But it can't be, the three major techniques of the Tongwen Hall are all martial arts practices, directly pointing to peak Divine Techniques."

Bai Qi was slightly puzzled but didn't show it, maintaining a composed demeanor.

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Qi."

He cupped his hands in gratitude.

"It's time for our lessons, Brother Bai; let's chat another day."

Qi Yan, identifying with Wild Grass Mountain, followed a strict discipline. Specific times were set for meditation, consuming meat, or eating vegetarian meals every day.

"Brother Qi and Brother Lv, please feel free, no need to mind us."

Bai Qi smiled lightly and rose to see them off.

He knew that many monks and Daoists had to observe strict rules and precepts.

There is an ancient saying: 'Without observing precepts, the Dao practice is shallow.'

Especially before the separation from the Dao, the stricter the discipline and the stricter the adherence to the rules, the more powerful the spells and incantations become.

Famous precepts like the "Three Altar Great Vows," "Three Refuges Precept," and the "Nine Precepts for Women" must be diligently observed by practitioners.

Only in this way could one accumulate merit, align body and spirit, and achieve enlightenment to become an immortal!

For instance, the Three Altar Great Vows are collectively known as the "Initial Truth Vow," "Middle Great Vow," and "Celestial Great Vow."

Only those who hold the Initial Truth Vow without any offenses are permitted to receive the Middle Great Vow, and those without offenses in all three hundred Middle Great Vows are granted the Celestial Great Vow.

This is a highly demanding and progressive process.

Laws such as "those who become negligent after initial diligence in practice, shall be expelled from the Dao registry, lose fortune and longevity, and die entering the Hell of Bronze Columns in Fengdu," "disciples shall not recite Buddhist books, demon chapters, or false and unverified texts, nor invoke Buddhas and ghosts, violators are reduced to rogue spirits in Fengdu," "law enforcers shall not associate with treacherous or evil people for legal discussions, violators will be beheaded," "law enforcers shall not consort with prostitutes, nor shall they engage in intercourse on the twenty-seventh of the lunar month, violators will surely shorten their life"...are detailed regulations that cover every aspect.

The slightest negligence results in the tragic removal from the Dao registry and separation of the soul.

Therefore, those willing to adhere to these regulations are regarded as true practitioners and are greatly admired.

"Speaking of which, Brother Bai, your Black River County can truly be considered a tranquil place. My senior brother and I went around several times and didn't see a single demon."

Lv Nan expressed his feelings before leaving.

The eight hundred miles of Black Water River, almost bottomless, strangely have not fostered any large demons, truly a rare occurrence.

"Thanks to the protection of the Dragon King, the weather is harmonious, and the harvests are bountiful."

Bai Qi's lips curled slightly. The eight hundred miles of Black Water River and five hundred miles of mountain roads, any slightly formidable demon was long since dealt with by Master Ninghai Zen, just like turning soil for crops, cutting them as they sprout.

Sending off the brotherly duo Qi Yan and Lv Nan, Bai Qi glanced at Bai Ming who was sitting upright:

"Has your cultivation technique practice made any progress recently?"

Whether it was because of practicing the Vocabulary Fragment taught by Uncle Dao or not, Bai Ming's qi and blood permeated his body, making his lips red and teeth white, his brows clear and eyes bright, more like the young master of a trading house than a fisherman's family.

He nodded slightly and reported to his elder brother:

"I have practiced martial arts four times, achieving a small success in the muscle barrier, and am now refining power. As for Daoist skills, I barely completed five days of fasting, thanks to the numerous external items prepared by my elder brother, making the process of eating elixirs notably easier."

Previously, He Jingfeng specially sent gifts, preparing many external items for cultivating Dao, such as Jade Water Rice and stalactite wax.

Because Bai Qi achieved perfection in the muscle barrier, even upon entering the path of Daoist skills, he didn't need to go through the fasting and eating elixirs process.

His physical body was honed to near flawless perfection, able to fully sustain the great consumption of meditation visualization.

Therefore, he provided all those rare external items, worth thousands of taels of snowflake silver, to his younger brother Bai Ming to aid in his elixir consumption.

"Take your time, there's no need to rush. Once I enter the three practices, even without relying on my master's reputation, I'll be able to overturn the trading houses. Then we'll head to Yihai Prefecture to broaden our horizons.

You never know, we might even secure you a spot as a Daoist school student. From what I see, that kid He Jingfeng thinks about it all the time, probably has some connections. We'll inquire when the time comes."

Bai Qi said this.

"Yes, I'll follow elder brother's arrangement."

Bai Ming nodded.

"Qi Yan just mentioned too, without a proper lineage at hand, don't lightly attempt meditation visualization. This is a taboo in practice, remember that, unless Lady Willow God can protect you."

Bai Qi advised.

Many adventurous things he could do as an elder brother, because he could withstand the waves, but Bai Ming lacked such support and might not endure.

So many times, Bai Qi would take the initiative to pave a way for his younger brother to follow, ensuring that nothing went wrong.

"Elder brother..."

After Bai Ming practiced Dao, his thoughts became more agile, subtly grasping a change in Bai Qi's mood. He bowed his head and said:

"These years, you've worked hard."

Bai Qi laughed. Ever since Bai Ming shot up in height, he no longer indulged in ruffling his hair, but today he made a rare exception:

"What silly things are you saying? Practice diligently, and one day, when you ascend to immortality, I can also bask in the glory. Then I'll tell everyone 'My brother Bai Ming,' and who wouldn't respect me threefold!"

Bai Ming blushed, always feeling that his own talent was far inferior to his elder brother's.

His elder brother was a dual cultivation master of Dao and martial arts, and was also favored by a prominent figure like Master Ning.

The two brothers stood together, practiced together, as night deepened and moonlight turned bright, they each lit two yellow incense sticks in a dedicated quiet room.

Then they closed their eyes, each meditating according to their methods, one subduing the sea of inner demons, the other a towering, swaying tree.