After Skyfall

Uncle Biao’s meditation chamber was located in an old office building in the old district.

There were at least seven or eight meditation chambers like his in this building. After all, in this era, cultivation is still a relatively popular industry. Despite its high entry barriers, parents are enthusiastic. Everyone hopes their child can be a cultivation genius who will astonish everyone and become an admired practitioner.

Where there is a demand, there is a market.

Meditation chambers were blossoming everywhere in this era. As long as you have some professional cultivation knowledge or have entered the path of cultivation, you could open a studio and teach students to make money.

Some even became private tutors.

In short, many unexpected professions have emerged around cultivation, and they tend to be quite lucrative.

Uncle Biao was not very good at managing—his meditation chamber usually struggled with business. However, today, when Li Yi arrived, he found the chamber packed with students. Business was surprisingly good, which left him somewhat bewildered.

As he approached, he heard the voice of a teacher lecturing inside the meditation room.

And it was not Uncle Biao’s voice—it was a woman’s.

“Before you formally embark on the path of cultivation, you must first understand what cultivation is. What are the fundamental principles of cultivation? Why was our world jokingly referred to online as the ‘The Dharma-Ending Age’ ten years ago? Why were there no cultivators anywhere in the world, and nations could only develop technology, whereas now cultivation has become quite common?”

“Teacher Lin, I know this. It’s because after Skyfall, the spiritual energy in our world revived.” One student immediately responded during the lecture.

The young woman, known as Teacher Lin, spoke with a serious and earnest tone. “Spiritual energy revival? That’s just a concept. While it can be loosely explained, it doesn’t touch upon the fundamental reasons. Do you know what spiritual energy resurgence really means?”

“Well, um… I’m not quite sure,” the student’s voice weakened.

“Before explaining spiritual energy revival, we must first understand the world we are in and even the galaxy we are in. As we all know, our planet revolves around the sun and rotates on its axis, giving rise to the four seasons, day, and night. But from another perspective, it’s the sun that guides our planet, moving continuously at a speed of 790,000 kilometres per hour through the universe.”

“There is energy in the universe, but not every place has it. When the sun takes our planet to a place where universal energy is scarce, our world does not receive the nourishment of universal energy. This is when the so-called era of decline appears. Conversely, if the sun leads our planet to a place abundant in universal energy, all living beings on the planet receive the nourishment of universal energy, which is what you call spiritual energy resurgence.”

“Spiritual energy is a form of universal energy.”

“Ten years ago, Skyfall marked a significant transformation as our world transitioned from a barren region into a universal energy field. One of our professors explained that in such a vast energy field, space can become distorted, wormholes can open, and two very distant planets within the energy field might make brief contact. It’s even possible to discover parallel worlds through these wormholes.”

“The unusual events happening in the world today—such as ghosts, rare Artifacts, and extraordinary creatures—are essentially entities from these parallel worlds entering our realm. The reason we struggle to understand or deal with many of these phenomena is that our practice of cultivation has just begun, whereas the concept of cultivation in parallel worlds might have been established for hundreds or even thousands of years.”

“So, in terms of cultivation, our foundation is quite weak.”

“But don’t let this discourage you. I believe most people have a natural talent for cultivation; they just lack the opportunity. By joining Uncle Biao’s Meditation Chamber, I believe your future potential is limitless.”

“Today, Uncle Biao’s meditation chamber offers a discount for members. Not 28,000, not even 18,000, but only 9,800! And for the first ten new members, I’ll throw in a free private lesson!”

Teacher Lin’s tone suddenly shifted from lecturing to promotional mode.

Listening intently outside the room, Li Yi felt he had learned a lot about cultivation and expanded his knowledge significantly. He regretted that Teacher Lin did not continue the lesson. If he had the money, he would have signed up for a membership to attend the classes.

However, it was clear that Teacher Lin was quite professional, as many students were already lining up to pay.

“Hey, hey,” a gleeful laugh suddenly came from behind Li Yi.

A nearly forty-year-old man stood there, looking ordinary, with a slightly balding head, but full of energy.

“I knew these people would eagerly pay up. It was worth the trouble of bringing my niece here to be the teacher. Li Yi, what brings you to Uncle’s Meditation Room today? Is there some trouble at home? Don’t worry, Uncle made a lot of money today. If there’s any problem, just let me know.”

Uncle Biao gestured broadly, full of enthusiasm.

“I haven’t faced any difficulties, just recently got curious about cultivation and wanted to learn more from you, Uncle Biao,” Li Yi said.

He did not want to trouble others with his family’s issues. It was fine to ask for help once, but what about twice, thrice, or ten times? Ultimately, one has to rely on oneself.

“Glad to hear everything’s fine. Ever since your father became Mute, you’ve been my biggest concern. If you ever encounter any difficulties, don’t hesitate to reach out. Your father and I were like brothers, always looking out for each other. If he ever wakes up and finds out I haven’t been helping you, he’d probably beat my head in, haha,” Uncle Biao laughed.

“Oh, you mentioned you’re interested in cultivation? That’s fantastic! I’ve told you before: your father was a true genius in cultivation, and I suspect you have a similar talent. If you pursue this path, you’re bound to achieve great things. You’ve always put it off, saying you needed to take care of the family, and I understand that. Cultivation is time-consuming, and being the sole provider means you have to earn money for things like nutrition supplements. It’s tough to balance that with cultivation.”

Having said that, Uncle Biao thought for a moment and continued, “My teaching skills are quite limited, and I don’t want to misguide you. I’ll have my niece teach you instead. She’s much more proficient than I am. You heard her lecturing earlier; she knows a lot of professional knowledge that I can’t even explain.”

“Isn’t it too much trouble to ask your niece for help?” Li Yi asked, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Not at all. Anytime you want to attend a class, just come over. It’s free,” Uncle Biao said with a smile, patting Li Yi on the shoulder. “Wait here for a moment.”

With that, he walked into the meditation room.

Watching this, Li Yi could not help but feel touched. His father’s friend was indeed reliable.

After a short while, Uncle Biao emerged from the meditation room, followed by a young woman with short hair and a sharp, professional demeanour.

She glanced at Li Yi, then smiled and extended her hand. “You must be Li Yi. I’m Lin Yue. My uncle told me to guide you in your cultivation. Don’t be nervous. Although this is our first meeting, I know your father. Uncle Li guided me before he became Mute, so we share a connection.”

“Thank you, Lin Yue.” Li Yi said.

“Don’t be so formal. I’m older than you, so just call me Sister Lin. Come with me to my office; this isn’t the best place to talk,” Lin Yue said warmly, taking the initiative.

Li Yi followed silently behind her.

Once in the office, Lin Yue motioned for Li Yi to sit down. She skillfully prepared a cup of green tea and then said, “Li Yi, I like to get straight to the point without beating around the bush. So let’s dive right in. How much do you know about cultivation?”

“Not much. I haven’t had any exposure to it before. I’ve just heard bits and pieces from the internet and some relatives,” Li Yi replied, shaking his head.

“So, you’re a complete novice?” Lin Yue mused thoughtfully.

“If it’s too much trouble, I can go back and do some research first; maybe sit in on a few classes,” Li Yi suggested.

“No, that’s not what I meant. Don’t overthink it,” Lin Yue reassured him. “I was just considering where to start since you’re new to this. We can’t jump straight into cultivation techniques without covering some basic theoretical knowledge first. Here’s what we’ll do: I’ll explain, and you can ask questions if something isn’t clear. That’ll make things easier.”

“Okay.” Li Yi nodded.

Lin Yue toyed with her teacup and continued, “Actually, cultivation is very simple. It’s about absorbing universal energy to initiate a process of evolution and transformation within oneself. In ancient times, this was referred to as the pursuit of immortality, and the universal energy is essentially the ‘immortal energy’ or ‘spiritual energy’ described in novels.”

“But Sister Lin, isn’t it true that our world’s energy is polluted and that reckless cultivation can lead to madness or even death?” Li Yi asked.

“That’s correct. The universal energy in our world is polluted. If a person who knows nothing about cultivation jumps in blindly, it can indeed result in dire consequences. However, this situation changed six years ago. Since then, we’ve identified two viable paths for cultivation.”

“Let’s start with the first method.”

“Around us, there are countless tiny wormholes that are almost impossible to observe. However, a strong universal energy field can distort these wormholes and even open some of them briefly. During this short window, universal energy from the other side of the wormhole can enter our world.”

“Before the universal energy becomes polluted by our world, we can guide it into our bodies through sheer willpower, stimulating cellular evolution and thus stepping into the path of cultivation.”

“This method is the most reliable and widespread, but it has a significant drawback: its efficiency is extremely low.”

“The universal energy that leaks through wormholes is minimal and highly unstable. Cultivating with this method requires an immense amount of time and effort. Additionally, guiding universal energy into the body for cellular absorption isn’t always successful; there is a chance of failure.”

At this point, Lin Yue sighed helplessly, “If it were just this, it wouldn’t be too bad. With enough perseverance, one can eventually achieve something. However, absorbing universal energy from the other end of the wormhole is highly dependent on luck. For instance, I’ve spent three days in the meditation chamber without gaining anything—not a trace of otherworldly energy around me.”

“Of course, there are lucky moments too, when the universal energy from the wormhole spills out in large quantities. But it’s like a person dying of thirst in the middle of the ocean suddenly encountering a torrential downpour. Even though there is an endless supply of fresh water falling, all you can do is catch a few drops to wet your throat.”

“That feeling can really drive one insane. But here, I must solemnly remind you: no matter how ‘thirsty’ your body feels during cultivation, never absorb the polluted universal energy from our world. Don’t even think that absorbing just a little bit won’t hurt.”

“A shipwreck survivor, even if dying of thirst, wouldn’t drink seawater because the more they drink, the faster they die.”

As she spoke, Lin Yue suddenly fixed a very serious and intense gaze on Li Yi.

Clearly, this warning was crucial.

“I understand.” Li Yi nodded solemnly.

Lin Yue chuckled. “Don’t be so nervous. You don’t even know how to cultivate yet, so it’s a bit early to worry about this.”

Li Yi scratched his head and said, “You’re right. But Sister Lin, what is the second method of cultivation you mentioned?”

Lin Yue’s smile faded as she raised one slender, fair finger. “The second method is quite simple—possessing a rare Artifact.”

“These Artifacts generate their own energy fields, which can eliminate energy pollution within a certain range. This prevents practitioners from undergoing mutations while absorbing universal energy. It’s like a shipwreck survivor in the ocean having a water purifier, providing a steady source of fresh water instead of relying solely on rainfall.”

“Therefore, the difference between practitioners with and without Artifacts is substantial.”

Li Yi felt a surge of excitement. If the half-knife coin in his pocket was an Artifact, his cultivation speed could skyrocket.

“But don’t get your hopes up. Artifacts are extremely precious and personal ownership is prohibited. Even if someone is lucky enough to find one, it will be forcibly reclaimed by the state if discovered,” Lin Yue said.

“I’ve heard of incomplete Artifacts. What are those?” Li Yi asked.

Lin Yue explained, “Incomplete Artifacts are simply those that are not whole. The state doesn’t forcibly reclaim these because their value is significantly reduced. However, the market price for incomplete rare items is still skyrocketing, making them unaffordable for ordinary people.”

“Can incomplete Artifacts also eliminate energy pollution?” Li Yi asked, his curiosity piqued.

Lin Yue frowned slightly. “I don’t know much about Artifacts, but incomplete ones must have flaws. Only those who possess incomplete Artifacts know what these flaws are, and they don’t usually share that information.”

“How can you tell if something is an Artifact?” Li Yi finally asked the crucial question.

He had avoided asking directly at first, fearing it would reveal his intentions too clearly, so he saved this question for last.

Lin Yue chuckled, “You haven’t even started cultivating, and you’re already thinking about Artifacts?”

Li Yi smiled awkwardly. “Just asking out of curiosity. It would be a huge loss if I stumbled upon one someday and didn’t recognise it.”

“In that case, let me answer that question for you. It’s indeed challenging for ordinary people to discern rare items. They could be a stone, a feather, or even a hand or a corpse. To determine whether something is an Artifact, I know of a reliable method: practising near the item.”

“Once you enter a state of cultivation, you can sense the cosmic energy around you. Artifacts naturally emit an energy field, so by comparing the two, the answer becomes apparent.”

“In addition, as one advances in cultivation, their eyes can perceive many things that ordinary people cannot, even sensing the existence of energy fields. Therefore, advanced practitioners can easily judge whether something is an Artifact at a glance.”

“I see,” Li Yi’s eyes couldn’t help but light up upon hearing this.

It seemed that only after he began his cultivation could he determine whether the half-knife coin in his possession was indeed an Artifact.

“Sister Lin, I want to cultivate. Can you please teach me?” Li Yi earnestly requested.

“Of course, no problem. However, there’s an old saying: ‘The master leads the way, but the cultivation path is individual.’ I can only introduce you to the basics. How far you can advance in cultivation and whether you will achieve anything depends entirely on you. Don’t have overly high expectations. I’ve taught many students, and quite a few have practised for three to five years without any progress.”

“Talent in cultivation is crucial. As for what your cultivation talent is, you will understand after taking the first step.”

Lin Yue took a sip of tea and continued, “I don’t want to waste time. Since you don’t have time to prepare yourself, let’s start your cultivation now.”

“Okay.” Li Yi nodded solemnly.

(End of Chapter)

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