Yun Jiao ladled out another bowl of soup and handed it across. The man on the other side, maintaining his proud demeanor, accepted it naturally and drank with elegant composure—though nothing about him suggested he was the type to gulp down three bowls in one go.
The fragrance of the food finally pulled Bai Yu back to his senses. At lightning speed, he returned to the table, thrusting his bowl toward Yun Jiao. “Smells so good, give me some too! Add more mushrooms!” In that instant, all his awe and shock were forgotten—he didn’t even notice the cold, cutting glare cast at him from the side.
Hmph! Useless fool.
╭∩╮（︶︿︶）╭∩╮
Ye Yuan immediately quickened the pace of his soup drinking.
Yun Jiao herself wasn’t particularly interested in the soup. After serving the two of them, she simply picked up her chopsticks. But after a few bites, a thought struck her, and she asked with some doubt, “Ancestral Master, to cultivate Daoist techniques, must one draw spiritual energy into the body first, before being able to use spells?”
“Of course.” Ye Yuan hadn’t spoken yet, but Bai Yu cut in eagerly. “Without drawing spiritual energy into your body, how could you harness it? Every spell requires the support of spiritual energy.”
“Oh.” Yun Jiao’s expression didn’t change, but her brows furrowed slightly. She spoke directly: “Then what if you can’t draw it in?”
“What do you mean, can’t—” Bai Yu’s spoon froze midair. Suddenly the implication dawned on him. His eyes widened as he stared at her. “You… don’t tell me you still haven’t even started cultivating?!”
Drawing in energy was the very first step of cultivation. He himself had struggled for months, needing his master’s help to finally succeed. But with her extraordinary aptitude, there was no way Yun Jiao hadn’t managed it yet—especially with the Ancestral Master freeloading meals at their table for half a month already!“Mm. I can’t draw it in.” Yun Jiao nodded. She had tried the methods written in the manuals many times. At first, she thought she was doing something wrong. But after exhausting every possibility, she realized it wasn’t her method—the moment the glowing points of spiritual energy approached her, they would scatter. As if… “I have a rejection reaction to spiritual energy.”
“That’s impossible!” Bai Yu blurted, eyes wide in disbelief. “You’re not some demon or monster—how could spiritual energy reject you?” Yet even as he said it, he glanced uncertainly at Ye Yuan, who was still calmly drinking soup.
Only then did Ye Yuan set down his bowl, his brows tightening with displeasure. Discussing cultivation at the dining table—this bad habit had to change.
“Give me your hand,” he ordered in a deep voice.
Yun Jiao extended her hand. Ye Yuan held his nearly empty bowl in one hand and placed the other on her wrist. In the next instant, she felt a familiar cool current enter her body—not through her brow this time, but through her arm. The energy raced swiftly through her meridians, circling once through her body.
“Hm?” After a moment, Ye Yuan’s expression turned slightly surprised as he looked at her. “You have no spiritual meridians!”
“What?!” Yun Jiao hadn’t even asked what spiritual meridians were, but Bai Yu shot to his feet in shock. “That’s impossible! How can anyone be born without meridians? Wait—she even activated a purple talisman, how could she not have them?”
Ye Yuan’s brows furrowed deeper. Spiritual meridians were the foundation of cultivation—only through them could one draw spiritual energy into the body. His probe hadn’t been wrong: she truly had none. When he had demonstrated earlier, he had injected a trace of energy into her, which should have made entering the Dao easy. Yet now, he found it completely gone. Just as she described, her body truly repelled spiritual energy.
Both master and disciple stared at Yun Jiao strangely. Poor girl—neither had ever heard of someone without spiritual meridians.
Yun Jiao: “…” What’s with those pitying eyes, like I’m some disabled person?
-_-|||
She sighed. Unlike the two men’s shock, she accepted it calmly. After all, she wasn’t from this world; a different body structure made sense. Besides, she already guessed why she couldn’t draw in spiritual energy—her overpowered immune system must be blocking the “pathogen” (spiritual energy) from entering.
Reviewing the principles of the human immune system in her mind, she exhaled. “So basically, I can’t cultivate, right?”
The two men froze. Logically, yes: without meridians, she couldn’t absorb spiritual energy; without spiritual energy, she couldn’t enter the Dao; without entering the Dao, she couldn’t learn techniques. And without learning techniques, she wouldn’t need to stay at the temple. Without staying at the temple… no more shared meals…
The two exchanged glances, then immediately looked back at the table. In rare unison, they answered firmly:
“You can!” in stereo
They had to make sure she could!
Ye Yuan spoke solemnly, “The Dao has three thousand paths. Lacking meridians does not mean being cut off from cultivation.” At worst, he could find a way to help her forge new ones. He finally had a disciple he liked—he wouldn’t let her slip away.
“Exactly!” Bai Yu nodded vigorously. “With the Ancestral Master here, so what if you have no meridians? Just stay here in the temple. We’ll figure it out.” At worst, she wouldn’t cultivate through spiritual energy at all.
And so the two began a chorus of persuasion, extolling the “benefits” of not having spiritual meridians.
“Meridians are only for drawing energy. They have no other use—they’re not essential.”
“Right! Meridians are useless anyway. Look at me—I have them, but after decades I can only draw talismans. And I still haven’t understood as much as you did in five days!”
“In Daoist studies, there are five main branches: spells, alchemy, artifacts, talismans, and medicine. Except for spells, the others don’t require absorbing energy.”
“Exactly! Look at me, not a trace of energy in my body, yet I can still make talismans!”
“Improving cultivation relies on the mind. When the heart is clear, one’s realm naturally rises.”
“Yes! Just stay. You’re so clever—whether you have meridians or not doesn’t matter.”
“Those with meridians are all fools anyway.”
“The Ancestral Master is right!”
Yun Jiao: “…” When people panic, they even slander themselves? And also—when did I ever say I was leaving?!
“Are there really healers within the Daoist sects?” she asked suddenly, remembering what Ye Yuan had said earlier. Since this touched her field of expertise, her interest was piqued.
“Of course there are.” Bai Yu’s eyes lit up at once. Remembering she used to be a doctor, he nodded quickly. “We cultivators fight demons and monsters. Injuries are inevitable. And when injured by such beings, ordinary doctors are helpless—only spiritual doctors can heal those wounds.”
But Daoist healers were very rare. Unlike others, they needed not only mastery of Daoist arts but also exceptional medical knowledge.
“You’re already a doctor. With your foundation, you’ll learn spiritual medicine quickly.” Seeing her interest, Bai Yu pressed on. “The temple may not have many medical texts, but… but surely the Ancestral Master can teach you.” He hastily looked to Ye Yuan for confirmation.
Ye Yuan graciously nodded. “Yes.” Then, with a flick of his fingers—crash!—a pile of more than a dozen books thudded onto the table.
Enough? If not, I have more.
╭(╯^╰)╮
Yun Jiao: “…” Were you a book salesman in your previous life, Ancestral Master?
Bai Yu: “…” Showing this kind of favoritism right in front of me—is that really necessary? At least leave me one!
(End of Chapter)