Chapter 41: Establishing the Sea of Bitterness (1/2)

Chapter 41: Establishing the Sea of Bitterness

For two months elder Wu Qing Feng did his utmost to instruct Pang Bo and Ye Fan guiding them to step onto the path of immortals. Pang Bo’s cultivation was very smooth, he had already felt the wheel of life within his body and was able to circulate the qi essence within it. His next step was to establish his sea of bitterness to prepare for the release of the spring of divine energy.

Ye Fan was still unable to feel this wheel of life and there were still no fluctuations within the area, only absolute silence. After cultivating each day, he was filled with vitality and his entire body was comfortable and relaxed, brimming with energy. These past few days his strength had steadily been getting stronger and stronger and his speed had also increased by a large margin, his body seemed to be filled with endless amounts of strength, energy and vigor.

Time flew by and two months had passed in the blink of an eye. Elder Wu Qing Feng had to leave and could no longer individually instruct them.

“The path of immortals is wrought with danger and only with a firm will to pursue unremittingly would there be success.” Having said this the elder floated away.

Ye Fan and Pang Bo bowed deeply towards elder Wu Qing Feng’s back, this was not a cursory show of respect but rather one that originated from the heart.

Before the small mountain there were several thatched cottages interspersed with bamboo forests, it was tranquil, quiet and natural. Ye Fan and Pang Bo had slowly gotten used to the daily meals of plain tea and simple food.

The next day they were going to Ling Xu cliff to cultivate and Ye Fan was initially hesitant, he had not joined the Ling Xu sanctuary and felt that it was not right to go together with Pang Bo there to learn. Elder Wu Qing Feng had given him a jade tablet and with it even if one was not a Ling Xu disciple they could go there to learn.

While the moon hangs in the sky, the splendor of the bright moon spills down, the moonlight was soft like the ripples in the water. The woods in the nearby hills were hazy like as if it had put on a thin layer of gauze.

Ye Fan and Pang Bo were both gazing at the stars, they did not talk for a long time and were looking for the star within their hearts. The sky was filled with many bright stars but everything was so unfamiliar, they could no longer see that familiar piece of sky.

Reaching the other side of the stars, the past was simply just too far away and there was no way to search for it.

“I am wondering in the palace of the heaven, this night is which year……”*

“People have their own sorrow, joy, parting, and reunion. The moon has its dimness, brightness, waning, and waxing……. May we all be blessed with longevity. Although a thousand miles apart, we can still share the beautiful moon together.”*

[T/N: Both lines are from the same poem by the Chinese essayist Su Shi]

The two people laid on the grass gazing at the stars, their hands held plain tea but the tea never made it to their mouths as nearly all of it fell onto their faces.

“We can never go back again……”

Thereafter the two fell into contemplation for a long time and laid there silently, looking at the stars completely silent.

It was a long time later before this silence was finally broken.

“We have to live on well……”

Ye Fan and Pang Bo were both optimistic people and the brief period of melancholy was a good bye to the past and they would be steadfast as they met the future.

They moved on from this speedily as their conversation topic switched to questions on cultivation. Although they had only cultivated for two months, this was a ‘new life’ to the two and something they had never experienced before. The path of immortals was shrouded in mist and their future paths were uncertain. Since they had already stepped onto this path, they would have to unswervingly walk on.

Ling Xu sanctuary was one of the six immortal sanctuaries within Yan state, although it could not be compared to those accomplished large sects, it still had nearly one thousand cultivators and its young disciples numbered nearly one hundred people.

The morning sun had risen and the golden glow bathed the mountain cliff, glorious and dazzling.

Ling Xu cliff was a precipice, it was formed by over ten short stone cliffs that did not link to each other. There was a certain distance between each short cliff and they were only seventy to eighty metres in height.

It was dawn and there were many young disciples gathered here. Due to the differences in their cultivation levels, their choices were naturally different as they moved before the different stone cliffs to listen to the mystical arts that most benefited their current cultivation.