Chapter 37: 惊梦曲

You are still under the effect of the 'Awakening Dream Song,' though, and this will fade over time. Chen Xinglan's words were like cold water poured over his head, dashing his fleeting joy.

"But you can use this opportunity to properly experience spiritual sense. That way, when you break through next time, following this feeling will be much easier."

"Can I download this 'Awakening Dream Song' online and listen to it every day? Wouldn't that mean I'd constantly be training my spiritual sense?" Chen Mobai, full of hope, thought of a good idea.

"You're thinking too much," Chen Baolan shook his head. "The 'Awakening Dream Song' isn't just music; it's a supplementary cultivation method inherited from the Immortal Sect, evolved from the 'Spirit Awakening Song.' It only achieves such an effect when you hear it live and the performer gives their whole heart to it." Chen Baolan shook his head, as Chen Mobai was not the first to have such an idea.

"What is the 'Spirit Awakening Song' then?" Chen Mobai asked.

"It is the Immortal Sect's foremost supplementary divine skill. Grand cultivators in the late Nascent Soul stage can experience the Soul Transformation realm after hearing it. Unfortunately, no cultivator has mastered it for two millennia. Grandmaster Bian is the closest vocal cultivation grandmaster to achieving mastery of the 'Spirit Awakening Song.' However, due to his inadequate spiritual root, he could only master the 'Awakening Dream Song' within the limits of his cultivation."

After listening to Chen Baolan's explanation, Chen Mobai gasped. "In that case, why not use the Immortal Art: Mending Heaven to refine Grandmaster Bian into an immortal spiritual root? A grandmaster who masters the 'Spirit Awakening Song' would be invaluable, perhaps allowing our Immortal Sect to gain a few more Soul Transformation Ancestors."

If Chen Mobai could think of it, how could the Immortal Sect's higher echelons not?

"The Immortal Art: Mending Heaven can only be performed by Soul Transformation Ancestors, and the two Ancestors have been in seclusion for over three hundred years."

As soon as Chen Baolan finished speaking, Chen Mobai understood. Grandmaster Bian was an auditory cultivation genius who emerged only in the last fifty years. Compared to Soul Transformation Ancestors, whose lifespans are measured in millennia, he was truly insignificant. The Immortal Sect's Three Great Halls and Four Great Daoist Academies would not disturb two Ancestors in seclusion for such a minor matter.

"However, it is said that Meng Huang'er and Jiang Yuyuan both possess exceptional spiritual root qualifications and talents in auditory cultivation, not inferior to Grandmaster Bian. They are considered true Dao seeds, discovered by the Immortal Sect after searching through the thirty-six Grotto-heavens and seventy-two Blessed Lands."

"If both of them can achieve the Nascent Soul stage, the Immortal Sect's inherited 'Spirit Awakening Song' can be played once more."

"The Venerables of the Immortal Sect are likely waiting for them to grow. That's why Grandmaster Bian himself is leading the Jade Phoenix Troupe on a national tour. While enlightening cultivators across the country, they are also accumulating blessings and merits, all so that one of them can achieve the Nascent Soul stage in the future." Chen Baolan, who frequently accompanied the Lingshu Academy's research teams, had a leading professor who was also a member of the Immortal Sect's Three Great Halls. He knew far more than Chen Xinglan and his peers.

"Enlightening cultivators nationwide?" Chen Mobai asked, catching the key point and looking at Chen Baolan in confusion.

"Why do you think the Jade Phoenix Troupe works so hard, touring the entire country and performing twenty consecutive shows in each Grotto-heaven and Blessed Land? You don't actually think they're just doing it to earn some merit points, do you?" Chen Baolan retorted, and Chen Mobai instinctively nodded. 'Isn't that the case?' he wondered.

"The Immortal Sect's higher echelons operate on a much grander scale. Don't you see? Since Grandmaster Bian's 'Awakening Dream Song' can enable you to grasp spiritual sense—a skill typically only attainable in the late Qi Refining stage—how could they possibly hoard such a blessing? With such a profound source of fortune, it's only natural to benefit the masses and all living beings."

"After Grandmaster Bian gained fame thirty years ago, the Immortal Sect arranged for him to tour the entire country. He single-handedly worked tirelessly to enlighten most of the talented Qi Refining seeds in the Immortal Sect, helping them comprehend spiritual sense."

"Otherwise, why do you think Grandmaster Bian, merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator, could become an instructor at the Dance-Weapon Daoist Academy and be respected by everyone? It's precisely because most of the current generation of mid-level Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Immortal Sect were enlightened by his 'Awakening Dream Song' during his eight-year national tour."

"If you successfully reach Foundation Establishment in the future, you must pay your respects to Grandmaster Bian as your teacher."

After listening to Chen Baolan's explanation, Chen Mobai felt profound respect for Grandmaster Bian Yiqing, the vocal arts grandmaster. Although it was partly due to the Immortal Sect's initiatives, Bian Yiqing's ability to persist for eight years, traveling through all thirty-six Grotto-heavens and seventy-two Blessed Lands solely to enlighten the Qi Refining seeds of the Immortal Sect—the generation of his parents—was an act of immense merit and virtue, making him worthy of being called a living saint.

"So, Meng Huang'er and Jiang Yuyuan are also following the path Grandmaster Bian once took, enlightening our generation of Immortal Sect cultivators." Chen Mobai thought of this, which made him realize his own limited perspective. He had initially been somewhat puzzled by his younger sister Wang Xinying's fervent celebrity worship.

"Their cultivation is still somewhat shallow, but with Grandmaster Bian guiding them, they will eventually master it. Last year, both were admitted to the Dance-Weapon Daoist Academy without examination. They are now essentially working and studying part-time, cultivating while touring, with the hope that one of them will eventually master the 'Spirit Awakening Song.'" As he said this, Chen Baolan's voice lacked conviction. The Nascent Soul realm was simply too difficult. Even with a Heavenly Spiritual Root, there was only a one percent chance.

Although Meng Huang'er and Jiang Yuyuan possessed excellent spiritual roots, enjoyed the Immortal Sect's backing, received personal guidance from a grandmaster like Bian Yiqing, and were admitted to the Dance-Weapon Daoist Academy, the possibility of them achieving the Nascent Soul stage was, according to the Venerables of the Star-Gazing Academy, extremely slim. If not for the profound desire of several Nascent Soul Venerables for the 'Spirit Awakening Song,' the Immortal Sect might not have invested such immense resources in them.

Of course, Chen Baolan did not mention these details to Chen Mobai, as he didn't want to dampen his grand-nephew's enthusiasm for cultivation. If Chen Mobai knew that even the two members of the Jade Phoenix Troupe had only a slim chance of achieving Nascent Soul, then for him, with his ordinary True Spiritual Root, the path ahead would seem utterly cut off in comparison.

'If only I could listen to Meng Huang'er sing for me every day,' Chen Mobai thought. Chen Baolan, however, had no idea of his grand-nephew's current thoughts. If he knew Chen Mobai's wish, he would surely roll his eyes. Not even the three Hall Masters of the Immortal Sect might receive such treatment.

Chen Mobai knew he was dreaming big, but he was still a youth. While his resolve for cultivation was firm, some worldly desires had not yet dissipated with the passage of time and the increase in his cultivation realm. Perhaps when he reached his seventies or eighties, he would scoff at his youthful fantasies upon recalling his thoughts from today.

"Let's go. It's a rare chance we heard Grandmaster Bian's 'Awakening Dream Song' today. Let's go back and celebrate." Just then, Chen Xinglan called out to Chen Baolan and Wang Jianyuan for a few more drinks. Chen Baolan readily agreed. Wang Jianyuan, however, shook his head, gesturing to his daughter, who was already asleep on his back.

"You two go ahead and drink. I'll take Xinying back to rest first." Wang Xinying's cultivation was only at the fourth layer of Qi Refining. Although she also experienced a taste of it through the 'Awakening Dream Song,' she certainly hadn't grasped spiritual sense. Nevertheless, the benefits were considerable; after a good night's sleep, her realm, which she had forcibly broken through with elixirs, might just stabilize.

Chen Mobai helped call a taxi and saw Wang Jianyuan and his daughter off. Before leaving, Chen Baolan gave the prepared gift to Chen Xinglan.

"Big Brother, you've broken through to the ninth layer of Qi Refining. This is a small token of appreciation from Jianyuan and me. Don't mind his usual bluntness; he's actually very happy for you."

"Let's go, why talk so much!" Wang Jianyuan said, feeling a bit awkward. He closed the front passenger door while holding his daughter.