Murim's Weakest Princess-Chapter 186: Be Greedy

True to her word, Yan Ping did not let Anji return to the accelerated cultivation chamber. She spent more time resting and recovering physically, taking walks in the forest behind the mountains to understand nature better.

Assimilation with an ever-changing energy source was more difficult than redirecting energy in a specific direction. Anji had no idea what her shifu did to her artificial cores. However, the effort she needed to move the energy was less than before. One breath of qi circulation could easily complete an entire meridian cycle. However, the lack of control also meant most of the energy she circulated did not do anything for her spiritual circuits. The artificial cores did not process anything because the energy passed too quickly. The sieve method she developed could not be used.

It had been a few days since she had learned the sutra that Grandpa Jin had taught her. It was very different from soul cultivation. What was more concerning was Anji’s tendency to slip into her second sight without warning. Back then, she was able to control her Heavenly Eyes. Now, it seemed as if all her past efforts were laid to waste.

Staring at the blank air, Anji observed the various types of energy present in the mountain. Previously, she thought these unusual eyes could only see the aura of someone’s cultivation core. However, after her teacher modified the artificial core seals, Anji realised that she could see faint moving colours if she focused hard enough. It was an accidental discovery but not the most shocking change.

Anji thought her Heavenly Eyes only applied to others. She had never once thought to examine herself using them until she reached to rub her tired eye and saw the spiritual circuits on her hand. The shock broke her concentration almost immediately, but since then, Anji had started testing her new ability on everything she could see.

It started with the grass and trees. Then, she began to see life forms hidden in the vegetation. She spotted birds and squirrels even without knowing they were there, thanks to their stronger and more unique energy signature. The more complex the living organism, the easier it was for Anji to study its energy colour.

Presently, Anji was quietly studying a lazy frog resting on a lotus leaf. It seemed to be taking an afternoon nap, unmoving. It was a very strange thing to be doing, and Anji had no idea how to explain it to anyone who asked. Thankfully, her shifu was blind and could not see what she was studying.

As the frog inhaled, the surrounding faint wisps of energy emitting from the lotus plant were absorbed into it. The aura around the frog also deepened in colour by a little. However, whenever it exhaled, Anji noticed how the aura colour became a shade lighter. However, the energy absorbed into its body does not escape the same way it was inhaled.

Puzzled, Anji wondered why plants constantly emit a glow of energy that could easily be lost to the environment and absorbed by others, but animals do not lose energy that easily but constantly consume it. If the concept of givers and takers exists, then plants were naturally givers, while other living creatures were naturally takers. It did not seem fair to Anji that the plants were always in charge. Wasn’t there a way to give and take simultaneously? 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Sighing, Anji caught sight of her energy leaking from that sigh. Unlike the frog, who could process the plant’s energy efficiently, Anji was like a leaking pipe. It did not matter if the energy came from herself or from the nature around her, it simply would not stay with her.

"Why not just go with the flow?" Grandpa Jin suggested.

Ever since he taught the child the sutra, she had been banned from going back to the acceleration chamber. It was frustrating for him. Why would that blind half-sage give his charge such ridiculous homework? She wanted Anji to attain enlightenment without actually reaching the required cultivation stage. What nonsense was this? If everyone could understand the concept of unity and harmonisation without reaching the Enlightened Core, there would be many sages by now!

Mulling over the suggestion, Anji wondered if becoming one with nature meant following what nature did. It was confusing. Enlightened Core cultivators were recognised as true cultivators for their ability to master insights that make them less human. The Mystical Qilin Sect is a place teeming with researchers of that calibre. Anji spoke with several people about how they attained the ability to become one with nature. While the answers were often confusing, Anji figured out there was only one thing in common.

"What does a person’s true nature mean?" she asked nobody in particular. "Some people say it was the unending quest for more knowledge. Others claim that it was the path to godhood. Some would say it was to earn more money, while others were content with simply living happily with the people they loved."

Humans are complex creatures. That much the Golden Dragon already knew. It was why he did not like the homework Anji’s teacher gave her. When asking a child what they want to become when they grow up, most children draw inspiration from the closest person they have around them. If they were born into a family of butchers, they would dream of becoming a butcher. If they were born into a family of scholars, they would dream of becoming scholars. However, if they were told how amazing a doctor or politician was, even if they were born to shepherds, they would dream of becoming the amazing doctor or politician that someone else aspired to be.

Like many children, Anji’s life was shaped by numerous influences. From doctors to cultivators and scholars, it would be difficult for the young child to decide what she truly wanted for herself. How could she understand her true self to walk on the path of self-purpose? It was ridiculous!

"Bah! Nonsense, all of it!" Grandpa Jin snapped grumpily. It was too difficult for a child to understand. "Forget your true purpose. Humans are so wishy-washy. You want everything. Instead of thinking about what you can do, think about what you’d hate to lose. Embrace your greedy nature entirely and take everything the world has to offer, just like that frog."

Greed? Anji often shoved that aside. She was a good child who did her best to avoid worrying or troubling anyone. She had already received so much from everyone around her. To demand even more? Unthinkable!

Her reluctance made the golden dragon groan. This was why her teacher should have just overlooked everything else. At this rate, they would never make any progress.