Heart Of A Cultivator [III]

Zhang Wang Jing took out a mug of goat milk and two cups out of her spatial sac. The mug was inscribed with preserving runes to prevent the milk from getting spoilt. She filled the two cups and gave one to her grandson who smiling widely.

"Thank you grandma, that's why I love you so much."

Ju Feng said with eyes and nose crinkling as the cup met his lips. His grandmother really knew what he needed at that point in time. What a grandmother.

"Aha."

Zhang Wang Jing grinned softly, her eyes set on her grandson. Looking at him, Zhang Wang Jing couldn't help but wonder why the Asuran bloodline bypassed her grandson. True, the heritage had overlooked her too, but it would have made it a lot easier for her grandson. And to look at it, he had every traits to be a demigod, yet he wasn't made to manifest the traits.

There were no hidden ways about it. If the traits were not manifested by birth, there would be no way of being an Asura in the future. Nonetheless, her grandson was growing up well.

"I have a gift for you, Ju Feng. I bought it for you before you were born."

She took out the small crystal pagoda and gave it to her grandson. The beauty of the pagoda would really catch the attention of a young child.

"This is beautiful grandma, what is it called?"

Ju Feng asked curiously.

"A meditation pagoda. They calm the mind and frame it for meditation. But this one is different or so I was told anyway. It's said to be a gate to seven realms. They are filled with different amazing treasures. All you need to do, is to continue meditating in the presence of the pagoda, anywhere you are. And the gate to the seven realms with treasures will open to you."

Ju Feng was totally jawed by that revelation. He was staring at the pagoda with wide eyes and raised eyebrows. He just couldn't believe what his ears were hearing. Seven realms! Treasures! He was only five years old, yet his grandma already placed a huge responsibility on his shoulders.

Ju Feng set his jaws in a grip-like vice, and with a grimly determined face, he gleamed at his grandmother before falling to his knees with his head bowed.

"Thank you grandma, I promise not to disappoint you."

"I know. A step at a time. I'm already very happy with you."

From that moment on, time flew by fast. Before they knew it, they had spent two hours on the knoll top and decided It was time to go back. They left the hilltop and arrived at the cave entrance in a blink of an eye.

Ju Feng quickly went to his room and sat down in a lotus position. He brought out one needle-edge-sized blue crystalline from his loin sac and placed it in his mouth. The tiny crystal was one of his smaller share of the crystallines. His family had kept a few for him until he reached the age of five.

Ju Feng quickly prepared himself for the impending raging energy that was about to implode inside his dantian. Unlike before, he clenched his teeth as he strived hard to hold the energy inside his dantian while staring the crystal pagoda placed in front of him. From the roiling state of his dantian, Ju Feng knew it would take him several months to fully process the energy like before.

After a brief moment of him striving to stay conscious under the dominant power of the energy, he collapsed in a sprawl as the energy continued to rage in his dantian.

***

Meanwhile, Zhang Wang Jing went to look for the others to discuss the recent developments of Ju Feng. They had laid a foundation — a receiving heart — they hoped would help him to wisely discern for himself in the future. When a child was growing up, many other things would snake their ways into the young heart. Only a good foundation could probably help. From now on, they could only hope his mind stayed unyielding to the dangers of a cultivation's world.

Seconds later, she found the others in the cultivation chamber. Zhang Wang Jing sat down in a cross-legged position before sending her mind-voice into the minds of the his husband and daughter.

"He's now ready."

Zhang Wang Jing nodded her head in confirmation as she looked at their opened eyes.

"I agreed, Wang Jing."

Zhang Li Qiang smilingly voiced. He recalled the frame of mind his grandson had shown to them recently. It was the same with his daughter who had now grown up to become a powerful demigod.

"He has a very patient and receiving heart. It reminds me of your growing up too, little flames. I believe it's the perfect time now to commence his training. What do you say, Xiu Ying?"

"His body is so full of energy and the Chi energy in his dantian is already more than his peers' average. Yes, we should commence his training."

They all agreed to start his training the following day.

That night, Ju Feng dreamt of a world of ethereal lights of many colours. The following morning, he woke up to the sight of his hand holding the crystal pagoda firmly to his chest. He couldn't remember when he fell asleep and how he was still holding the pagoda in his hands. He quickly cleaned his mouth with a willow twig soaked in salt water and washed his face before dressing up.

"Good morning ma, grandma, grandpa."

"Good morning son."

"Good morning to our grandson."

His grandparents responded in unison.

"Did you sleep well?"

Asked Zhang Xiu Ying with a raised brow and amused look. The happiness on the face of his son aroused a curiosity in her.

"I slept well, ma. And I dreamt of beautiful lights."

"Oh, I see. That was a peaceful mind, son. A clear mind. That's the more reason for you to meditate more. More beautiful lights."

"Yes. Meditation unlocks the mind, Ju Feng. It's truly like beautiful lights. Very peaceful indeed."

"We have something important to tell you, Ju Feng."

Zhang Li Qiang uttered slowly with a bright smile to the anxiousness of his grandson.

"Your training will start from today."

"For now, we'll be taking turns to train you in Chi cultivation, martial arts and mystical arts. Eventually, all the three must combine to form a nascent soul."

Zhang Wang Jing quipped in. With a slight flick of her head, she smiled at her daughter who swiftly followed suit. Zhang Xiu Ying moved closer to her son, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"After eating your breakfast, you will follow your grandpa for your martial arts training. After your martial arts training, you will follow your grandma for your mystical arts training. And when you are through with your grandma, you will come with me for your Chi cultivation."

Ju Feng felt as if his heart would explode into a million fragments. He looked at his mother and grandparents with teary eyes before tilting his head backward with a yell.

"Yes!"

Then he fell to his knees as his mind began to work furiously. So, he too would one day fly on a giant white sword like his grandpa, walk on air like his grandma and make flaming flowers of feathers like his mother.

"I will work very hard. I won't let you down."