In the past three years, Wei has endured the hardships of damaged meridians. Each time he needed to recover from injuries, it took a considerable amount of time. As an ordinary person without spiritual roots, it's challenging for him to keep up with the pace of his fellow disciples. Time is a luxury he cannot afford.

  Wei meticulously controls the speed of spiritual energy flow, having gained a clear understanding of the endurance capacity of his meridians through continuous experimentation. An hour later, after completing a cycle, spiritual energy returns to the dantian.

  However, despite his relentless efforts, Wei's cultivation level hasn't progressed. Considering the circumstances, he decides to take the challenging path of the "Path of Heart Cultivation." This special location within the Cloud Drifting Valley was discovered by the sect's founder three thousand years ago, believed to be the remains of ancient cultivators.

  The "Path of Heart Cultivation" is a dreadful place filled with illusions—sometimes engulfed in raging fires, other times descending into eighteen layers of hell. Although these illusions don't cause actual harm, they inflict unbearable mental torment. Yet, the benefits are evident. Despite the terror, the spiritual energy inside is abundant, providing a shortcut for cultivation.

  Wei, being left with no other options, chooses to venture into the "Path of Heart Cultivation." Opening the heavy stone door, he steps into the deep, dark passage on the back mountain of the Cloud Drifting Valley. The initial hundred meters show no illusions, and the density of spiritual energy is similar to the outside. However, Wei remains cautious, well aware of the terrors that may unfold.

  After a few more steps, the surroundings change abruptly. The spiritual energy becomes denser, making it an ideal place for cultivation. Wei's expression turns solemn as he carefully surveys the area before cautiously sitting down to meditate.

  Boom! Flames suddenly surge from the ground, raising the temperature dramatically. Terrifying scenes unfold, but Wei remains unfazed, concentrating on absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy. Despite knowing it's an illusion, the sensations feel real. The flames quickly raise the temperature to an intolerable level, causing large drops of sweat to fall from Wei's face.

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  The tales heard before and the firsthand experience are vastly different. Wei, enduring the agony of being burned, realizes that the "Path of Heart Cultivation" is more terrifying than the legends. Nevertheless, the abundance and purity of spiritual energy here make the suffering worthwhile.

  "Indeed, just like the legends," Wei observed himself, finding no injuries, yet the memory of the searing pain from the flames remained fresh in his mind.

  Although it was agonizing, the experience was worth it. The spiritual energy here was not only dense but also exceptionally pure. Cultivating in such an environment meant progress could be made twice as fast, greatly increasing the chances of breaking through his current bottleneck.

  After a brief rest, Wei resumed his journey. Flames appeared once again, and he continued to endure the burning pain while absorbing the spiritual energy.

  When his endurance reached its limit, he would step out to rest. Once recovered, he would re-enter the fiery illusion.

  In this way, through a cycle of persistence and endurance, Wei diligently practiced on the Path of Heart Refinement.

  ...

  Days passed, and his spiritual power finally began to grow. Though the progress was minimal compared to his efforts, it was much faster than outside cultivation.

  At this rate, he should be able to reach the second level of the Lingdong period.

  Silently calculating his progress, Wei stood up. Having spent four days on the Path of Heart Refinement, it was time to leave. Firstly, days of relentless cultivation in the flames had pushed his body to its limits, and secondly, today was the day the teachings were imparted.

  According to the rules of Piaoyun Valley, every four days, a foundation-building master would teach the Lingdong disciples. Wei would not miss the chance to receive guidance that could save him years of misdirected effort.

  Following the passage, Wei emerged outside, unexpectedly encountering a foundation-building cultivator.

  "Senior Uncle!"

  "You..." The cultivator looked at Wei in surprise, "You've been to the Path of Heart Refinement?"

  "Yes, Senior Uncle."

  After parting ways, the foundation-building monk remained somewhat stunned. While the illusions caused no real harm, the sensations were as real as life. That a disciple in the early stages of Lingdong could endure such trials was remarkable.

  In the path of cultivation, not only the spiritual root matters but also a resilient mind. This disciple named Wei had truly earned a new level of respect.