Every day, each member of the entire clan gives me a wisp of spiritual energy.

Chapter 95 The Great Bell and the Harmonious Pitch of Music

"A three-year program, with three progressive stages; the teacher's considerations are thorough."

He looked up at Sun Wenyuan and asked, "How do you plan to handle the student recruitment?"

Sun Wenyuan said, "After discussion, we have decided to follow the method used by Sect Leader Shen last year to recruit students."

"We will set up an enrollment point at the Land God Temple in the north of the city on the 24th of the first lunar month. Last year, most of the children we enrolled were from poor families, but they have made considerable progress in their reading and writing over the past year. Wenyuan wants to continue in this manner this year."

Shen Qing nodded, then turned to Zhong Xiu and the others: "You few are in charge of preparing the Qingyun Academy's enrollment notice. Before the 24th of the first lunar month, post the notice at several street corners in the north and east of the city. On the day of enrollment, you will go to the local temple with Mr. Sun."

Zhong Xiu replied, "Yes."

Shen Qing glanced at Sun Wenyuan and said slowly, "Sir, I have something to add. Now the county magistrate is showing compassion and care for the students of the academy, providing them with food and lodging."

"In this way, it is inevitable that some people with greedy hearts will take the opportunity to curry favor and try to enter the temple to study. When I first established this academy, my intention was to educate all without discrimination and to welcome talented people from humble backgrounds."

"However, the academy currently has limited space and cannot accommodate too many students. Therefore, when selecting students, we hope that you will give more consideration to children from poor families. We will trouble you to make the right choices."

Sun Wenyuan was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Sect Master, please rest assured."

After the matters concerning the academy were settled, everyone dispersed.

Zhong Xiu took Xu Ping and Fang Xue down the mountain to post notices, while Huang An and Huang Ning went to the warehouse to inventory the desks, chairs, pens, and ink used for student recruitment.

Shen Qing walked out of the main hall alone and headed towards the back mountain.

The 20th day of the first lunar month is the day of Lichun (the beginning of spring).

Shen Qing stood on the edge of the cliff behind the mountain and spread out his divine sense, enveloping the entire Qingyun Mountain.

The direction of the mountain's roots and veins gradually became clear in his consciousness. Its veins meandered out from the depths of the main peak of Qingyun Mountain, like the spine of the earth, running through the entire mountain.

The earth's energy flows slowly through the veins of the earth, deep and heavy, carrying the pulse of the earth itself.

He had already mastered the method of opening up the spiritual field. It not only recorded the method of setting up the spirit-guiding array, but also a complete theory of "earth energy sensing".

The reason why spiritual fields can produce spiritual creatures is not due to the fertility of the soil, but to the abundance of spiritual energy.

If we compare mortal soil to stagnant water, then spiritual energy is like a living spring.

Only when a living spring continuously nourishes the soil can ordinary soil be transformed into spiritual soil, capable of supporting the growth of spiritual beings.

Shen Qing opened his eyes, withdrew his consciousness into his body, and circulated the five elements of spiritual energy in his dantian along his meridians. Then, using the Yongquan point on his foot as a guide, he injected a wisp of wood-element spiritual energy into the ground beneath his feet.

The spiritual energy enters the earth like a drop of water falling into a dry riverbed, and is instantly absorbed by the soil.

He waited a moment and used his divine sense to track the direction of that wisp of spiritual energy. It did not dissipate, but instead flowed slowly towards the mountain along with the deep and heavy power in the earth's veins.

This is the earth's energy, the energy of the Tai Cu, the beginning of the Qingyang.

As the first month of the lunar calendar begins, the yang energy rises, and the life force that has been dormant in the earth's veins throughout the winter begins to stir.

But compared to the complete cycle of the twenty-four solar terms, this is just the beginning.

According to the records of the Lingtian Opening Method, the actual opening of Lingtian must begin on the winter solstice.

The Yellow Bell of the Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the cycle of Yin and Yang. Its musical scales originate from the winter solstice and are the first of the twelve musical scales. It governs the initial blossoming of primordial Yang, with a spark of life sprouting from the cold and gloomy depths.

This is the beginning of the cycle of the earth's energy, the root of the origin of yang energy throughout the ages.

In the twelfth lunar month, the earth is shrouded in yin, where yang energy lies dormant beneath the heavy yin, waiting to burst forth in the spring.

In the first month of the lunar calendar, the sun shines brightly, and the three yang energies bring prosperity. The qi (vital energy) spreads freely and gently, signifying the breaking of the earth by the green yang, and the beginning of new life for all things.

The second month, when the yin and yang are in balance and mutually supportive, and the qi flows in harmony and balance, it governs the smooth and even flow of qi throughout the body.

In the third month, the Gu Xi (a traditional Chinese festival) is a time of abundant Yang energy and clear, high-spirited Qi, which is associated with cleansing away impurities and turbidity, and washing away all worldly dust and filth.

In the fourth month, the Yang energy reaches its peak and then recedes into a state of dormancy, while the Yin energy begins to sprout in secret. The Qi of Yin sinks and subsides, concealing the opportunity to transform into Yin.

In May, Ruibin, the yang energy gives rise to yin, and the yang energy covers the universe. Its qi is powerful and vast, and it is responsible for suppressing evil spirits and destroying malevolent forces.

In June, the Yin energy gradually grows while the Yang energy recedes inward, primarily nourishing the primordial spirit and preserving the original spiritual energy.

In the seventh month, the Yi Ze (夷则) is governed by the element of autumn metal. The solemn atmosphere descends, and the musical notes are sharp and contain killing intent. It signifies decisive action and the elimination of falsehoods.

In August, the Southern Lü (a solar term) signifies a balance between Yin and Yang. Autumnal energy is calm and still, and the Qi (vital energy) is concentrated and restrained, primarily guarding the foundation and consolidating the Dao.

In September, the sun sets and fades away, the air is cold and still, a time to sever worldly ties and eliminate distracting thoughts and delusions.

In October, the Yin energy reaches its peak, all things hibernate and cease their activities, and the Qi is sealed and dormant, indicating that the body is in hiding and accumulating vital energy.

The twelve musical pitches are divided into six pitches of yin and yang, and six pitches of lü, which circulate continuously.

Yingzhong marks the end, Huangzhong the beginning; Huangzhong initiates, Dalu carries on the legacy, Taicu turns the tide, and Jiazhong harmonizes.

The twelve musical notes rise and fall, enacting the cycle of yin and yang in the universe.

From the extreme of Yin giving rise to Yang, to the flourishing of Yang nurturing Yin, and then to the dormancy of Yin, the cycle of Yin and Yang flows in a continuous loop, just like the changing of the four seasons and the evolution of the Great Dao, with no part of it missing.

The preceding steps build momentum, and the following steps carry on the momentum; if one link is broken, the whole thing falls into chaos. This is the eternal and unchanging principle of the natural order.

Ordinary soil must begin with the sound of the Yellow Bell and undergo a complete cycle of twenty-four cycles of earth energy before it can truly be transformed into a spiritual field.

But Shen Qing had already missed the winter and twelfth months.

The primordial yang bell of Huangzhong was not heard, and the yang energy of Dalu was not absorbed. Now, more than twenty days have passed since the beginning of the first month, and the yang energy of Taicu is nearing its end.

If we wait until the next winter solstice to start, it will be a whole year's delay.

Qingyun Sect can't wait, and neither can he.

Shen Qing turned and walked into the rift valley behind the mountain, where he sat cross-legged on a blue stone.

He didn't rush to take action, but instead repeatedly pondered every detail of the spiritual field development method in his mind.

Without the beginning of the Yellow Bell, the earth's energy lacks a foundation.

Without the inheritance of the Great Lü, the Yang energy lacks inner strength.

Even if one forcibly draws upon the earth's energy starting with Tai Cuo, the land created can only barely possess a degree of spirituality, far from meeting the standards of a true spiritual field.

However, Shen Qing was not without a way to remedy the situation. He had previously used the spiritual field to draw in the energy from the mountain roots and earth veins into his body, and thus devised a method to make up for the deficiency.

Even if the best opportunity is missed, one can still use spirit stones as a foundation and one's own Dao platform as a medium to forcibly draw in the energy of the mountain roots and earth veins to replenish the missing earth energy cycle.

However, this method requires a great deal of spirit stones and has extremely high requirements for the quality of the Dao foundation. Ordinary Dao platforms simply cannot withstand the impact of the earth's vein energy.

Shen Qing glanced inward at his dantian. The twelfth-grade flawless Dao platform was slowly rotating, each rotation causing a surge of spiritual energy throughout his body.

This perfect Dao foundation, passed down from ancient times, should be able to withstand it.

He opened his eyes; it was almost dusk. Tonight was the 22nd day of the first lunar month, the beginning of spring.

The energy of Tai Cu is at its peak; if we don't act now, we'll miss out on this round of earth energy in the first month of the lunar calendar.

Shen Qing stood up and walked down the cliff behind the mountain, using his divine sense to follow the direction of the earth's veins.

The earth's veins meander like a dragon, coiling deep within the mountains before finally converging in a recessed valley halfway up the back mountain.

The earth's energy is most concentrated there, and it's closest to the surface.

This is a naturally formed terrace, about ten acres in size, surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the sun on the other.

Nourished by the earth's moisture, even in late winter, weeds still grow rampant.