hotmtlnovel Chapter 40 Sun and Moon Essence
Chapter 40 Sun and Moon Essence
The unexpected "rising sun purple aura" he encountered that morning opened a brand new window for Xu Mo, allowing him to see a more profound world of cultivation beyond simple hard work. The subtle nourishment that pure energy provided to his blood, qi, and spirit, though not immediately apparent, captivated him with its high quality and the potential long-term benefits to the very essence of life.
Xu Mo was somewhat absent-minded all morning. After completing his daily strength control and melee weapon practice, his thoughts would involuntarily drift to the rooftop, to the sun that had risen high in the sky and was shining ever brighter.
"If the morning sun's energy is so powerful, then the midday sun must have even more immense energy, right? If I could absorb it..." A bold and tempting thought began to grow in Xu Mo's mind.
Driven by this intense curiosity and desire to explore, Xu Mo once again climbed to the rooftop platform just past noon when the sun was at its strongest.
Unlike the crisp, quiet morning, the rooftop at midday presented a completely different scene. The snow reflected a blinding white light, and although the air was still frigid, the perceived temperature seemed to have risen somewhat under the direct sunlight. The sun hung high overhead, like a giant, burning, white-gold fireball, relentlessly pouring endless light and heat onto the earth.
Xu Mo took a deep breath, suppressing his slight unease, and faced the sun again, assuming the stance of the "Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training".
As the mind settles in, the Qi and blood begin to circulate along their predetermined paths, attempting to perceive and draw upon the energy that may exist in the outside world, just as one would in the early morning.
However, almost the instant his cultivation technique began to circulate—
A sudden change has occurred!
A completely different sense of energy, like an invisible tide, suddenly assaulted Xu Mo's senses!
Completely different from the gentle, pure, and vibrant "purple aura" of the morning, what Xu Mo sensed at this moment was a violent, intense, aggressive, and destructive energy. It was not like "qi" at all, but rather countless tiny, burning "needles" or "flames," carrying a cruel meaning of wanting to burn and tear everything apart.
This energy did not gently and proactively merge in; rather, it took a forceful approach, attempting to penetrate his skin and enter his body.
"not good!"
Alarm bells rang in Xu Mo's mind, and a strong sense of crisis stemming from his life instinct instantly seized him. This energy was definitely not benevolent; it was simply beyond his current level of control and absorption.
Xu Mo could even "feel" that his skin, that layer of skin that had already reached the level of cowhide and was exceptionally tough, was experiencing a slight stinging and burning sensation, as if it were being pierced by countless red-hot needles, under the impact of this violent energy.
One can imagine the catastrophic consequences if this energy were to truly invade the body and merge into his relatively "mild" blood and qi. At best, it would cause blood and qi disorders and damage to the meridians; at worst, it would cause the body to be engulfed in flames, with all five internal organs destroyed.
"snort!"
Xu Mo groaned, his face turning pale instantly. He made a decisive move, forcibly severing his perception and connection to external energy, while rapidly gathering his circulating qi and blood, focusing all his attention on stabilizing himself, making himself like a stubborn rock thrown into a raging fire, guarding his defenses and preventing the invasion of external evils.
The violent, blazing energy lost its "channel" for reception. After hovering and impacting Xu Mo's body for a while, it ultimately failed to break through the defense of the Bullhide Realm and the blockade of Xu Mo's will, and gradually dissipated into nothingness.
Xu Mo slowly finished his exercise, staggering back a step. A fine layer of cold sweat had seeped from his forehead, and his back was also covered in a white sweat. He gasped for breath, looking at the still blazing sun overhead with lingering fear.
"That was close... What overwhelming power!"
Xu Mo now fully understood that the ancients' concept of "gathering qi" was not something done casually. The act of absorbing the morning glow and the evening light contained profound truths.
At dawn, as the sun rises, its energy is newly born, containing boundless vitality. It is gentle and pure, easily accepted and absorbed by the human body, and is called "Lesser Yang Energy" or "Purple Energy," which is most nourishing to the body and mind.
At noon, the sun is at its strongest, and its energy reaches its peak, becoming extremely masculine and intense, known as "the energy of old yang" or "the essence of the sun." Although this power is immense, it is too violent. Without a very high level of cultivation and special protective methods, forcibly absorbing it is tantamount to setting oneself on fire.
"It seems that I will have to wait until I reach the Iron Bone Realm or even the Golden Body Realm, and my muscles, bones and internal organs are strong enough, before I can even try to control the 'Sun Essence' at noon..." Xu Mo thought to himself, keeping the lessons of this adventure in mind.
The path of cultivation is indeed fraught with danger at every step. Not only is it about personal breakthroughs, but even the seemingly ordinary "qi gathering" contains enormous risks, allowing no room for carelessness or greed.
After the fright at noon, as evening fell and the sun set and darkness descended, Xu Mo stood on the rooftop again, feeling somewhat hesitant and uneasy.
The discomfort brought by the scorching and domineering "sun essence" at noon is still fresh in my mind. What will the "evening glow" be like this evening? Could it also hide unknown dangers?
But Xu Mo recalled the phrase "absorbing the morning glow and embracing the evening light" from the book, and a glimmer of hope rose in his heart. If the "purple aura" of the morning was beneficial, then perhaps the corresponding "evening light" was not harmful either.
"We can't throw the baby out with the bathwater. We should try things cautiously, and stop immediately if it doesn't work out."
Having made up his mind, Xu Mo faced the setting sun in the west, which was about to sink into the distant mountains and dye the clouds on the horizon a brilliant orange-red, and once again assumed his stance.
With his mind at peace, Xu Mo carefully circulated his qi and blood, extending his senses outward.
Unlike the vibrant energy of the morning or the raging heat of midday, this time, the energy Xu Mo sensed carried a tranquil, peaceful, and even slightly cool quality.
A faint, cool energy, like moonlight, quietly permeated the air with the afterglow of the setting sun. It didn't actively merge like "purple qi," nor did it aggressively impact like "sun essence." Instead, it was like a tranquil stream, requiring Xu Mo to focus his mind more intently and subtly guide even a trace of it into his own qi and blood.
After this wisp of energy entered his body, it did not cause Xu Mo's blood and qi to boil or increase, nor did it bring any mental excitement. It was like a drop of water merging into a river, silent and unnoticed.
The flow of Qi and blood seemed to become more stable and restrained as a result. The restlessness was slightly calmed, the surging momentum slowed down, and a sense of calm and weightiness was added.
If the "rising sun and purple aura" represent "generation" and "activation," invigorating the spirit, then the "setting sun and evening glow" represent "contraction" and "settling," bringing peace of mind.
It didn't bring any noticeable increase in strength, but it also seemed... to have no side effects. It was just like that, uneventful, as natural as breathing.
Xu Mo maintained this state for about half an hour, until the last ray of sunlight disappeared on the horizon and night began to fall, at which point the cool, ethereal energy completely vanished. He slowly withdrew from his practice, carefully experiencing the changes in his body.
His strength hadn't increased, his defense hadn't improved, and his total blood and qi seemed unchanged. But a strange sense of peace and tranquility lingered in Xu Mo's heart. The mental tension from the daytime adventures and cultivation seemed to have eased considerably. His entire being, as if washed by the gentle night, had become exceptionally calm.
"It seems that the energy of 'Evening Glow' is mainly for 'nourishing the spirit' and 'calming the mind.' It may have unexpected benefits for balancing daytime cultivation, especially when fighting against the fierce external martial arts like the 'Thirteen Protectors,' which may cause restlessness and anger." Xu Mo seemed to understand.
While it doesn't directly nourish blood and enhance potential like "purple aura," nor does it bring about a surge in power like the imagined "essence of the sun," its subtle and gentle "soothing" and "settling" effects are equally crucial in the long journey of cultivation. It helps maintain a clear mind and a peaceful state of mind, avoiding the risk of going astray in cultivation.
"Since there's no harm and it can even calm the mind, I might as well continue this evening's cultivation." Xu Mo made his decision. "Perhaps with long-term accumulation, this seemingly ordinary energy will play an unexpected role at some point in the future."
Thus, two more fixed and regular items were added to Xu Mo's daily cultivation schedule:
At dawn, as the east turns white, climb to the rooftop, face the rising sun, and gather the "purple aura of the morning sun" to nourish your blood and replenish your vital essence.
In the evening, as the sun sets in the west, climb to the rooftop, face the sunset glow, and absorb the "evening glow of the setting sun" to calm your mind and soothe your restlessness.
Xu Mo called this "collecting and refining the essence of the sun and moon".
"I wonder if I'll turn into a monster if this goes on for too long," Xu Mo thought to himself.
Although Xu Mo has not yet sensed the "Moonlight", this daily cultivation has already allowed him to experience the profound mystery of breathing in sync with heaven and earth.