Volume One: First Steps on the Path Chapter Sixty-Five: Manifesting the Small Cauldron

After Sun Yu departed, Ye Junze held the energy sphere that had reverted to its original form. Remembering Sun Yu's advice, he no longer hesitated and closed his eyes to begin manifesting once more.

This time, intending to conjure a new weapon, Ye Junze did not simply imagine a random armament as before. Instead, he pondered carefully, considering what kind of weapon would truly suit his spirit.

He recalled, in detail, all the weapons he had seen since childhood—swords, spears, staffs, halberds, axes, and more. Ye Junze mentally reviewed every kind of weapon he knew, the full array of eighteen traditional arms, yet none satisfied him.

Seeing this method was getting him nowhere, Ye Junze decided to stop thinking altogether and let his mind empty itself, hoping inspiration might strike from that void.

With his mind cleared, Ye Junze did not rush the process. Instead, he allowed his thoughts to wander aimlessly, drifting from matters of the south to those of the north, flitting from one memory to another without focus or concern for the passing of time. To him, at that moment, time had lost all meaning.

Scenes unfolded endlessly in his mind—childhood recollections, school days, encounters since arriving in Anze—all manner of images surfaced and faded. Yet these musings were known only to Ye Junze; the others in the hall, engrossed in their cultivation, were oblivious to his reverie. Indeed, many still struggled to condense their energy spheres, let alone successfully manifest a weapon.

Those who had not succeeded stood pondering what had gone wrong, or anxiously sought advice from those who had managed it. Some, bolder than the rest, approached Sun Yu, who appeared to be idle, and asked for guidance. Sun Yu, ever patient with students' cultivation troubles, listened to each one's difficulties before gently guiding them toward the solution—not by giving direct answers, but by encouraging them to discover their own errors and hinting at the remedy. His explanations were simple and clear; after brief reflection, each student grasped his meaning and thanked him sincerely: "Thank you, teacher. Now it's clear. I'll return to practice at once."

Sun Yu waved away their thanks, replying, "If you understand, don't waste time—get back to your training." The students nodded, responded, "Yes," and departed, their faces brimming with confidence as if, after Sun Yu's guidance, success was imminent.

Seeing this, some of the girls who had yet to succeed felt compelled to seek help as well. Almost as if by tacit agreement, they rose and walked over to Sun Yu. After explaining their difficulties, Sun Yu treated them with equal care, patiently resolving their doubts.

The girls listened happily, their faces radiant, as Sun Yu answered their questions.

While Sun Yu attended to the students, Ye Junze sat with closed eyes, as if asleep. Yet he knew he was not sleeping; in those brief moments, countless images had drifted through his mind. Still, none inspired him to manifest his desired weapon. As he considered changing his approach, suddenly, one more vision swept through his thoughts.

It was then that a resounding "boom!"—a tangible sound echoing in his mind—announced a breakthrough.

At last, Ye Junze knew he had found what he wished to manifest.

He gazed upon that vision, thinking, "How could I have forgotten this? Had I remembered sooner, I wouldn’t have wasted so much time. Still, it’s not too late."

The scene was the memory he had received when he first acquired the mysterious little cauldron: the cauldron, perfect and unblemished, gleaming in the sky as it followed its master into battle. It shone with brilliance, dazzling and awe-inspiring, radiating a power that shook the soul. At the sight of this cauldron in its prime, the fog in Ye Junze's mind finally lifted.

With sudden clarity, Ye Junze etched every detail of the cauldron—each pattern, every ornament—into his memory, not missing a single feature.

Now that he had fixed the cauldron's image firmly in his mind, Ye Junze ceased his wandering thoughts and prepared to manifest it.

This time, his target was unmistakably the cauldron.

With his resolve set, Ye Junze wasted no time. He began to sculpt the cauldron in his mind, rendering every groove and mark with precision. Compared to the sword he had previously manifested, the difference was striking.

The reason was simple: seeing the cauldron had dispelled all confusion from his heart. This weapon, embodying his entire intent, deserved the utmost care; Ye Junze devoted every ounce of his spirit to the task.

With such diligence, the cauldron he would manifest could hardly be ordinary. One could only wonder what Sun Yu would think when the time came.

As Ye Junze painstakingly shaped the cauldron in his mind, Sun Yu had finished helping the girls and urged them to return to their cultivation. The girls, reluctant but obedient, cast wistful glances back as they returned to their positions and resumed their practice.

Sun Yu noticed their lingering looks, but being accustomed to such expressions since childhood, he could only sigh and move on.

He reached the side of a somewhat chubby boy, and his eyes widened in surprise, then he laughed and said, “Student, I asked you to manifest a weapon, and you’ve given me a rice cooker. Are you planning to cook the stone tablet with it later?”

Sun Yu’s voice was loud enough for many to hear. As they realized what had happened, everyone shifted their gaze toward the student and Sun Yu. Upon seeing the rice cooker in the boy’s hands, laughter erupted: “Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!” “Oh, that’s hilarious, I can’t take it, ha ha ha ha ha ha!” Some were doubled over, holding their stomachs as if they’d laughed themselves sore.

The boy, clutching the rice cooker, blushed deeply at Sun Yu’s question and the laughter around him. Scratching his head, he sheepishly explained, “Teacher, I didn’t mean to. It’s just, after all this time, I got really hungry. While manifesting, I kept thinking how hungry I was, and then about food, and before I knew it, this rice cooker appeared.”

Hearing this, even Sun Yu could only smile wryly and say, “I don’t know what to say to you.”

“Sorry, teacher. But I really can’t stand being hungry. When I’m hungry, all I can think about is food. Maybe you could let me go eat something?” the boy suggested hopefully.

Sun Yu shook his head, laughing, “You wish!” His words carried no real reproach, for he knew cultivation was exhausting, and, given the boy’s physique, he likely consumed more energy than others. Understanding this, Sun Yu could only smile helplessly.

Suddenly, he remembered something and said, “I can’t let you out, but wait a moment.”

The boy looked puzzled but said nothing, nodding obediently.

Then, eyes wide, he watched as Sun Yu, as if performing a magic trick, produced some food from who knows where.

Handing it to the boy, Sun Yu said, “I can’t let you go for a feast, but these are my own provisions. If you don’t mind, they’re yours.”

The boy shook his head, his eyes alight with delight, and replied gratefully, “Of course I don’t mind. Thank you, teacher, you’re wonderful.”

Sun Yu waved it off, telling him, “Eat quickly. When you’re done, get back to training—and this time, don’t manifest another rice cooker!”

“Don’t worry, teacher, it won’t happen again!” the boy promised, patting his chest.

“Good,” said Sun Yu. He then turned to the crowd, who were still enjoying the spectacle, and admonished, “Alright, enough gawking. You’re laughing at him, but at least he managed to manifest something. What about you?”

Sun Yu’s words struck home; the crowd dispersed and returned to their positions to resume training.

Ye Junze, absorbed in his own task, was unaware of the commotion, hearing only faint laughter.

At last, the cauldron he had envisioned in his mind reached completion. With the final stroke, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Surveying the flawless cauldron he had crafted in his mind, Ye Junze thought, “Finally, it’s done. Now, it’s time to bring it into being.”

With that, Ye Junze adjusted his state, ready to begin the new manifestation.