Chapter 37: Beginning of Cultivation

“Forget it if it’s not possible.” Yun Qingxue smiled faintly, perfectly masking her disappointment and helplessness.

If she had transmigrated as an ordinary human, it wouldn’t have mattered if she never encountered these fantastical spells. But fate had made her the Flower King—a coveted identity that left many eyeing her with greed. Without magic to protect herself, she was utterly defenseless. Forget being discovered by the Scarlet Cloud faction; even a minor demon could easily take her life.

Beneath Yun Qingxue’s composed smile lay a profound sense of powerlessness, like a fish on a chopping block.

“It’s not impossible,” Jin Lin replied with an awkward smile. “But we’re not of the same race. What I can teach you are only basic spells anyone can learn. As for the water clan’s magic, even if I wanted to teach you, you’d find it difficult to master.”

“Just teach me some basic spells, then,” Yun Qingxue said, hope reigniting in her eyes.

“Well… alright.” This time, Jin Lin agreed readily.

“Can we start learning now?” Eager to begin, Yun Qingxue couldn’t wait a moment longer.

“Weren’t you going to the Coral Garden?”

“I’m not going anymore. Teach me instead,” Yun Qingxue quickly clarified her stance. Compared to her curiosity about the Dragon Palace, learning spells for self-defense felt far more practical.

“Alright.” Jin Lin flashed a bright smile and took Yun Qingxue’s pale hand in his slender one.

In an instant, the surroundings blurred. When everything stabilized, they stood in an open underwater clearing. Glowing pearls embedded in the surrounding reefs illuminated the area, where rare corals grew in vibrant hues—red, orange-yellow, pink, black, and white—some branching like antlers, others clustered like bushes, some translucent.

Colorful fish darted playfully around the corals, gathering and dispersing. Among the reefs, shells of various sizes opened and closed intermittently, many cradling lustrous pearls inside. White pearls were the most common; as Yun Qingxue looked around, she noticed many shells held pearls in dazzling colors—gold, pink, even black.

“This is the Coral Garden. I’ll teach you magic here. How’s that?” Jin Lin explained with a smile as Yun Qingxue took in the sights.

“Good. Let’s start now.” Yun Qingxue withdrew her gaze. Ever since Jin Lin agreed to teach her, her interest in the Coral Garden had waned. For her, nothing was more important or enticing than learning spells to protect herself.

After all, only by staying alive could one witness and savor the beauty of life—especially since her second chance at life had been bought with Qiandai’s sacrifice.

Yun Qingxue waited expectantly for Jin Lin to begin, but he remained silent. The two simply stared at each other.

“What… spells do you already know?” Jin Lin finally asked after a long pause, as if deciding where to start.

“I don’t know any spells,” Yun Qingxue admitted honestly.

“None at all?” Jin Lin looked incredulous.

“Does shifting between my true form and human form count?” she asked hesitantly after some thought.

She clearly saw Jin Lin’s face twitch. “I… suppose it does.”

Jin Lin pressed on, “How many cultivation methods do you know?”

Cultivation methods? What even were those? And there were multiple kinds? Yun Qingxue frowned and shook her head honestly. “I don’t know any.”

This time, Jin Lin couldn’t help but laugh. “So you’re saying you have absolutely no foundation?”

Yun Qingxue nodded eagerly. “Yes, so please teach me from the very basics.”

Jin Lin took a deep breath. “Then I’ll start with a simple cultivation method. Once you’ve built some foundation, I’ll teach you specific spells.”

With that, he clenched his slender hand into a fist and drew a half-circle in the air. Yun Qingxue watched intently as Jin Lin opened his palm before her. What had been empty a moment ago now held a pearl the size of a baby’s fist, as if conjured by magic.

“Manifest!” Jin Lin uttered a single word, and the pearl began spinning in his palm, faster and faster.

As it rotated, lines of golden text appeared in the air before Yun Qingxue’s eyes. The faster the pearl spun, the more lines materialized.

“Retract.” Just as the pearl reached its peak speed, Jin Lin spoke again, and the spinning came to an abrupt halt. The golden characters in the air slowly faded away.

“Here, this is for you.” Jin Lin placed the lustrous pearl in Yun Qingxue’s hand.

“The text that appeared during the pearl’s rotation contains basic cultivation methods and simple spells. Study them slowly, and ask me if anything is unclear.”

Yun Qingxue took the pearl, unsure if she could replicate Jin Lin’s feat. Seizing the opportunity while he was nearby, she decided to try immediately.

“Manifest!” She mimicked Jin Lin’s posture, extending her palm and chanting.

To her delight, the pearl obediently began spinning, and the golden text reappeared.

“Retract.” At her command, the rapidly spinning pearl stopped abruptly.

“Thank you!” Yun Qingxue beamed like a child, clutching the pearl as if it were a treasure.

“No need for thanks. It’s just the simplest cultivation method,” Jin Lin said, his cheeks tinged pink. His clear eyes discreetly observed Yun Qingxue’s joyful expression, and suddenly, his heart began racing.

“Must be coming down with something,” he thought to himself.

The moment she returned to the room Jin Lin had arranged for her, Yun Qingxue eagerly took out the pearl, making it spin and display the text. She committed the first few lines to memory, then put the pearl away and sat cross-legged, beginning her meditation.

“The Great Dao is formless, yet it births heaven and earth;

The Great Dao is emotionless, yet it moves the sun and moon;

The Great Dao is nameless, yet it nurtures all things.

The Dao: clear and turbid, active and still;

Heaven is clear, earth is turbid;

Heaven moves, earth is still.

From the root flows the branches, giving life to all.

Clarity is the source of turbidity;

Movement is the foundation of stillness.

If one can remain ever serene,

Heaven and earth will return to them.”

Yun Qingxue silently recited the passage. At first, closing her eyes brought no sensation—it felt no different from ordinary rest.

She strove to clear her mind of distractions, focusing solely on the scripture’s profound meaning. Gradually, her body began alternating between chills and warmth, as if tiny particles were attempting to seep through her pores.