Here, the goal is not to eradicate all thoughts; if all thoughts were eradicated, one would ultimately become a stone without any thinking or feeling. What is emphasized here is the absolute control of the true spirit—aloof and above, controlling these thoughts so they no longer rise and fall, calmly observing as thoughts arise and vanish, yet never escaping the bounds of control. Therefore, the supreme state to be achieved here is not the “state of emptiness where not a single thought is born,” but rather the “state of emptiness where not a single thought arises.” This is truly the essence passed down in a single phrase, while false teachings fill ten thousand volumes. At the same time, this is also the great method for recognizing the true spirit.

Ryan Clark, following this method, subdued all kinds of thoughts in a state of emptiness, letting them arise and vanish within the sea of consciousness, yet never escape their place. Gradually, Ryan Clark felt his mind become singular and focused, and began to visualize the spirit of the clear breeze and bright moon.

Chapter Six: The Clear Breeze Soothes the Spirit, the Bright Moon Illuminates the Soul

The method of visualization is not to imagine the shapes of the clear breeze and bright moon, but to visualize their spiritual essence.

The clear breeze is refreshing and carefree, caressing but not forceful, invigorating the spirit without harming the soul; the bright moon hangs in the sky, eternal through the ages, the essence of the lunar yin, nourishing all things.

Ryan Clark’s soul seemed to be sitting cross-legged above the sea of consciousness, as if stepping out in the early morning, greeted by a gentle breeze that invigorates the spirit. The breeze passes through the soul, carrying away all sorts of acquired impurities usually accumulated, while emotions such as anxiety, unease, excitement, and anger arise with events and dissipate with the wind, no longer leaving imprints to obscure the true spirit. Gradually, a thoroughly clear and bright soul emerges.

Above, the bright moon is like a wheel, slowly turning, drawing internal energy into itself. Then, as if heavenly dew descends, strands of the moon’s essence fall upon the soul. Ryan Clark’s soul, following the rhythm of the breeze, absorbs the moon’s essence that falls upon it, nourishing the soul, and then the breeze carries away the impurities once more.

This continued for an unknown length of time. When Ryan Clark felt his soul had grown much stronger and the absorption of essence had reached saturation, he ended the visualization and withdrew from meditation.

The soul is formless and intangible, while internal energy is formless but has substance; there is a vast gulf between the two, and internal energy is very difficult to use directly to nourish the soul. Even when qi and blood nourish the soul, it is only possible due to the mysterious connection between the body and the soul. Therefore, visualization is needed to build a bridge between the soul and internal energy, transforming internal energy into essence that the soul can absorb. Of course, this is only one of the effects of visualization at this stage. In the future, when the realm is higher, one can visualize and draw upon the corresponding laws of heaven and earth, and at that time directly absorb the essence of heaven and earth and comprehend its laws.

After awakening from meditation, Ryan Clark adjusted his breath slightly and found that most of the internal energy accumulated today had been consumed. He quickly began to circulate his internal energy according to the routes described in the “Secret Record of Circulating Qi through the Twelve Rivers, Eight Lakes, and Seventy-Two Great Rivers of the Jade Pivot” from the “Treasure Record.” Of course, for now, he could only follow the minor circulation routes of the twelve main meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians. Ryan Clark focused his mind, controlling the internal energy as it flowed from the dantian, and felt that after this visualization, with his soul strengthened, his control over internal energy had become much more adept.

After several minor circulations, the internal energy continuously absorbed the heat dissipated from various parts of the body, and had already doubled in strength. Compared to previous methods, the efficiency was several times higher.

In this way, after circulating the qi through three hundred and sixty-five minor cycles, Ryan Clark finally stopped. This number of cycles is just right, as all the dissipated heat is absorbed; any more, and it might start transforming the body’s fundamental essence.

Based on the internal energy accumulated from this major cycle, and the internal energy consumed in strengthening the soul through visualization, Ryan Clark roughly estimated that it would take a little over four months to fill the twelve main meridians and eight extraordinary meridians. As for opening the seventy-two minor meridians, according to the “Secret Record of Circulating Qi through the Twelve Rivers, Eight Lakes, and Seventy-Two Great Rivers of the Jade Pivot,” it would take about seven months. As for how long it would take for the soul to reach the peak of the Soul Strengthening stage, the former Brian Foster had no experience, so Ryan Clark could not estimate, as he had no idea what the strength of a soul at the peak of the Soul Strengthening stage would be.

The troublesome issue now is that the daily cost of replenishing consumed food is about two taels of silver, which is enough to afford a fine banquet at a restaurant. Yet Ryan Clark is not demanding good cooking or fine ingredients—just two taels of silver, which shows how much he is eating. The neighbors are all amazed at how Ryan Clark’s appetite has more than doubled compared to before.

Calculating by time, Ryan Clark will need about seven hundred taels of silver to complete the Qi Cultivation stage. After buying medicine to temper his body and covering these months of expenses, he has less than four hundred taels left, leaving a shortfall of three hundred taels. For reference, an ordinary family in the city only earns twenty or thirty taels a year.

But at this time, Ryan Clark has no intention of going out to find work to earn money. Right now, he is at a stage where he can see clear progress every day in his cultivation, and he wishes he could practice day and night.

After some thought, Ryan Clark decided that when the time came, he would sell this small courtyard. After all, once he completed the Qi Cultivation stage, he would travel the world in search of immortality and the Dao. Other than entrusting Old Brooks’s clan to look after it, he would have to sell it anyway. The courtyard is worth about two hundred and eighty taels; since he is not in a hurry to sell, the silver on hand is enough for seven or eight months. If he takes his time finding a buyer, he should be able to get a good price. After deducting the broker’s fee, official expenses, and deed tax, he should end up with about two hundred and forty taels.