In a rush of panic, he snatched up a stone, preparing to hurl it at the Black Wind Snake in the hope of scaring it away. But just as the stone was about to leave his hand, Ye Wuji suddenly recalled a phenomenon mentioned in the Hunyuan Formula—that many spiritual beasts, rare herbs, and exotic plants were attracted to Spiritual Qi.
"It's worth a try!" Ye Wuji put down the stone and quickly circulated the tiny bit of Spiritual Qi he had just accumulated within his body, attempting to release it.
A miracle occurred! The moment that faint wispy Spiritual Qi was released from Ye Wuji's body, the aggressive Black Wind Snake abruptly stopped in its tracks, raised its head, and seemed to be sensing something.
"It really can detect Spiritual Qi!" Ye Wuji was both surprised and delighted. He continued to release Spiritual Qi while slowly backing away.
Instead of pursuing him, the Black Wind Snake showed an almost affectionate attitude toward that trace of Spiritual Qi, continually flicking its tongue to taste the changes in the air.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ye Wuji successfully put some distance between them, then turned and quickly walked away from the stream.
Returning to the inn, Ye Wuji handed the gathered Blue-Heart Herb to the old man and recounted his encounter with the Black Wind Snake.
"A Black Wind Snake?" The old man appeared very surprised. "This kind of venomous snake is extremely rare; I never expected one to actually appear here. However, what surprises this old man even more is that my young friend was actually able to influence its behavior with Spiritual Qi."
Only then did Ye Wuji realize he had accidentally let something slip. "Ah, well... actually, I just guessed... I suppose the snake must have been attracted by something else..."
The old man smiled without a word, merely taking the Blue-Heart Herb and examining it closely. "Good, this is indeed the Blue-Heart Herb. Not only can this herb dispel poison, but it also has the effect of enhancing Spiritual Qi. Young friend has done this old man a great favor."
He plucked a leaf from the herb and handed it to Ye Wuji. "Take this leaf, steep it in water, and drink it; it's good for your health."
Ye Wuji hesitated for a moment before accepting the blue leaf. "Thank you, elder."
Back home, Ye Wuji steeped the leaf of the Blue-Heart Herb in hot water. The water quickly turned a pale blue and emitted a fresh fragrance. He cautiously took a sip, finding the taste somewhat bitter yet carrying a hint of sweetness.
After finishing the entire cup of herbal water, Ye Wuji suddenly felt a wave of warmth inside his body, as if a current of warm air was flowing through his entire system. Even more miraculously, he felt that his perception of the surrounding Spiritual Qi had suddenly heightened significantly; the faint spots of light that previously required intense focus to detect were now crystal clear.
*Could this Blue-Heart Herb really have the effect of enhancing Spiritual Qi?* Ye Wuji thought to himself. *Could that old man have given me this medicine because he knew I was cultivating?*
Carrying this question with him, Ye Wuji continued to practice the Hunyuan Formula. As time passed, he found that his mastery over Spiritual Qi was becoming more proficient, and his absorption speed was steadily increasing.
On the seventh day, Ye Wuji went to the inn to deliver medicine to the old man as usual, only to find that the old man had already packed his belongings and seemed ready to leave.
"You've come just in time, young friend. This old man's poison is completely cured, and I'm preparing to set off." A satisfied smile graced the old man's face.
Ye Wuji felt a pang of reluctance. "Leaving already? It wouldn't hurt to stay a few more days."
The old man shook his head. "This old man is used to wandering and dislikes lingering in one place for long. Besides, what needed to be imparted has been imparted, and the test has been passed."
Ye Wuji was stunned. "What does elder mean by that?"
The old man gave Ye Wuji a meaningful look. "How is the Hunyuan Formula? Have you gained anything?"
Now certain that the old man indeed knew he was practicing cultivation, Ye Wuji stopped hiding it. "I've already been able to sense and absorb Spiritual Qi. Although progress has been small, it's truly possible to cultivate! Elder, just who are you?"
The old man laughed heartily. "This old man is merely a nobody. However, discovering a genius like my young friend in this remote village is quite a pleasant surprise."
"A genius? Me?" Ye Wuji was greatly astonished.
"Indeed." The old man nodded. "When ordinary people first begin cultivation without professional guidance, it takes them at least half a month just to sense Spiritual Qi, yet my young friend managed it in just a few days. Your aptitude is truly extraordinary."
Amidst his astonishment, a new question arose in Ye Wuji's mind. "Elder, could you possibly be... an immortal cultivator?"
The old man smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying it. "There are plenty of eccentric and extraordinary people in this world; this old man merely understands the basics. However, this old man can offer my young friend one more gift."
With that, he extended a finger and traced a few lines in the air. To Ye Wuji's astonishment, the old man's fingertip actually left a faint trail of light that lingered in the air for a moment before slowly drifting toward him.
"This is...?"
"A wisp of pure Spiritual Qi, which can help my young friend step onto the true path of cultivation more quickly," the old man explained. "Remember, the road of cultivation is long and perilous; you must always keep a benevolent heart and never stray onto the wrong path."
That wisp of Spiritual Qi drifted before Ye Wuji and automatically merged into his body. In an instant, Ye Wuji felt every pore in his body relax as an unprecedented warmth originated from his dantian and rapidly spread throughout his entire frame.
"This... this is amazing!" Ye Wuji marveled as he felt the changes within his body.
The old man nodded. "Cultivate diligently. Perhaps one day, you will discover a vast world." With that, he slung his pack over his shoulder and turned to leave the inn.
Ye Wuji hurried out after him. "Elder, you still haven't told me your name!"
Without looking back, the old man merely waved a hand. "Names are merely worldly ties, no need to mind them. Cultivate the Hunyuan Formula well; it will lead you to find your own path."
Watching the old man's retreating figure vanish into the dawn light at the village entrance, Ye Wuji fell into deep thought. He vaguely sensed that from this moment on, his life would undergo earth-shattering changes.
Returning home, Ye Wuji said nothing to his parents, simply continuing to silently help his father with blacksmithing and his mother with gathering herbs, outwardly leading the same ordinary life as always.
Yet whenever night fell and all was quiet, he would take out that tattered copy of the Hunyuan Formula and practice according to its methods. Aided by the wisp of Spiritual Qi left behind by the old man, his cultivation progress noticeably accelerated, and in less than half a month, he completed the first stage of "guiding Qi into the body."
One night, while Ye Wuji was in the middle of cultivation, he suddenly felt the Spiritual Qi within his body begin to circulate autonomously, forming a small cycle. At that moment, he seemed to hear a faint "click" from somewhere inside his body, like a door being unlocked.
Immediately afterward, the surrounding Spiritual Qi seemed to be drawn by some attraction and actively poured toward him. To his astonishment, Ye Wuji discovered that these wisps of Spiritual Qi came in various colors—blue, red, green, yellow, and so on—representing different attributes. Even more miraculously, after entering his body, these multi-attributed wisps of Spiritual Qi were able to coexist harmoniously without any repulsive reactions.
"What is going on?" Ye Wuji was somewhat puzzled. The Hunyuan Formula stated that most cultivators could only absorb Spiritual Qi matching their own spiritual root attribute, and that Spiritual Qi of different attributes would conflict with one another.
Opening the Hunyuan Formula, he carefully reread the chapter concerning spiritual roots. The book stated that a cultivator's spiritual root determined which attributes of Spiritual Qi they could absorb, with the common ones being the five single spiritual roots of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, as well as dual and triple spiritual roots formed by their various combinations.
The purer the single spiritual root, the faster the cultivation speed, though adaptability was poorer. Conversely, the more spiritual roots one possessed, the slower the cultivation speed, but the stronger the adaptability. As for the "Chaos Spiritual Root," which could absorb Spiritual Qi of all attributes, the book merely brushed past it in a single sentence, calling it "a once-in-ten-thousand-years rarity."