Chapter 322: Chapter 68: The Seven Emotions and Six Desires Induce Dao Patterns

Breaking through to Qi Refining Perfection due to an emotional surge was no accident—it was an inevitability.

Why could one guide Spiritual Qi simply by calming the mind and focusing the spirit during a Meditation Method?

It was because human emotions and thoughts could, in and of themselves, guide Spiritual Qi and influence Dao Patterns.

In other words, the seven emotions and six desires, the ebbs and flows of the mind—their internal, microscopic changes naturally resonated with certain Dao Patterns that formed the operating Laws of this world.

It was just like how emotions could affect a person’s health.

The Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor - Su Wen clearly states: "Anger damages the liver, joy damages the heart, contemplation damages the spleen, grief damages the lungs, and fear damages the kidneys."

It also says: "All illnesses arise from Qi. Anger causes Qi to rise, joy causes Qi to slow, sorrow causes Qi to dissipate, and fear causes Qi to descend."

According to the modern medical theories from Murphy’s previous life,

intense "anger" would overstimulate the sympathetic-adrenal medullary system, causing a massive secretion of catecholamines. This led to vasoconstriction, a sudden spike in blood pressure, and a drastically increased metabolic load on the liver.

Excessive "joy" or excitement would similarly trigger an imbalance of neurotransmitters and abnormal myocardial oxygen consumption.

Prolonged "contemplation" and anxiety would disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, keeping cortisol levels high for extended periods, suppressing immune function, and affecting the digestive system’s operation.

"Grief" and "sorrow" were often accompanied by a decrease in neurotransmitter levels, like serotonin, and a chronic stress response, weakening lung function and the body’s ability to repair itself.

The acute stress response triggered by "fear" involved the rapid release of adrenal corticosteroids and a disruption of the autonomic nervous system, directly impacting the physiological balance related to the kidneys.

What, then, of a person with a Spirit Root, someone capable of interacting with Spiritual Qi? When their emotions fluctuated, at a scale even more microscopic than the molecular level, the very thought-particles that comprised those emotions would cause changes in the body’s own microscopic particles.

In essence, a biological quantum effect.

Perhaps this would, inadvertently, create positive or negative interference with the Dao Patterns in the environment, or even with those of the "Path" carried by one’s own Spirit Root.

When this interference fed back, it would either accelerate or hinder the Cultivation process.

Although Murphy didn’t fully comprehend all the complex principles involved,

he knew for certain that it was the subtle interference from his recent emotional turmoil that had prompted the torrent of Mana, already at its tipping point, to surge forward. It had saved him about five days of effort, breaking through the final barrier in one fell swoop to reach the flawless and unobstructed Realm of Perfection.

"Father," Eleanor’s voice sounded softly, tinged with clear confusion. "Your... your face?"

Murphy did indeed look rather unusual at that moment.

He was walking ramrod straight, but the muscles in his face seemed to be struggling to maintain a delicate state.

His brow was trying to furrow while the corners of his mouth were forced into a downward turn, as if simulating a look of "faint melancholy." Meanwhile, his gaze was deliberately unfocused, staring into the void to cultivate an atmosphere of "reminiscing about the past."

But the combination, far from conveying "faint melancholy" or "reminiscing about the past," was so forced and stiff that it ended up looking rigid, even a little ridiculous.

Why was Murphy making such a face?

The reason was simple.

After realizing the connection between his breakthrough and his emotional state, a thought had immediately flashed through his mind.

’If a specific emotional fluctuation can unexpectedly cause Dao Pattern interference and accelerate Cultivation, can I proactively replicate and maintain that emotional state to see if it continues to have an observable effect on my body or Cultivation?’

And so, almost subconsciously, he began trying to act out and maintain the complex feelings he had experienced while seeing Allen off just now.

However, emotions—especially the complex kind that flow naturally and are mixed with countless subtle feelings—were not something one could reproduce through deliberate imitation.

The result of forcibly piecing together this expression and posture was the strange sight now before Eleanor’s eyes: her father looking as if his face were twitching.

Aurora had noticed Murphy’s expression long ago, and her azure eyes were filled with amusement.

She cleared her throat, trying to make her voice sound normal as she said gently, "Eleanor, your father... probably just thought of some difficult Cultivation problem and is... hmm, trying a special way of thinking about it."

She put it diplomatically, but she couldn’t hide the smile in her eyes.

Eleanor blinked her dark eyes, looking from her mother to her father, who was still struggling with his expression. Although she didn’t quite understand what a "special way" meant, since her mother had said so, she nodded obediently. "Oh."

After holding the expression for another half a minute, Murphy himself couldn’t keep it up any longer.

The forced look on his face instantly collapsed, returning to his usual calm and placid demeanor.

’It’s no use.’

The way emotions influenced Dao Patterns, the interaction between the microscopic level of thought, Spiritual Qi, and the Laws, was far too subtle and complex.

It was far beyond what he could hope to replicate or control at his current stage with clumsy facial mimicry.

To put it simply, the precision with which Murphy’s consciousness could currently perceive and control the material particles of his own body was insufficient. He couldn’t reach the subatomic level, grasp the arbitrary changes of his own thought-particles, and become a "True Master."

His actions were all in vain, and frankly, they made him look foolish.

’Oh well. This isn’t a Path I need to urgently study right now.’

Murphy composed himself and looked at his daughter, his tone returning to its usual composure. "It’s nothing, Eleanor. My Cultivation just improved a little, and it made me think of some principles of Cultivation. I was trying to test a theory, but it seems I was on the wrong track."

Eleanor tilted her head up and asked earnestly, "Is it the opposite of the principle of calming the mind during Meditation? You didn’t seem calm just now, Father."

Hearing this, Murphy felt a slight stir in his heart, surprised that Eleanor could make such a connection.

A hint of faint appreciation flashed in his eyes, and he shook his head slightly.

"Not entirely the opposite. The goal of calm in Meditation is to reduce the interference of stray thoughts on Spiritual Qi, allowing for better sensing and guidance. What I was just thinking about... well, you could say I was exploring whether emotion itself could also be a form of ’guidance.’"

"However, trying it blindly is not beneficial when one’s Spiritual Power is insufficient. When you cultivate, you should still follow the Basic Meditation Technique and build a solid foundation first."

"I understand, Father," Eleanor nodded.

Watching from the side, Aurora saw her husband’s rare, slightly embarrassed expression quickly morph back into one of authority. Then she looked at her daughter’s earnest little nod, and she finally couldn’t help but let out a light laugh, as crisp and pleasant as the wind rustling through lily of the valley.

She chuckled and said, "Alright, our great scholar, stop standing in the hallway researching your ’emotion-guidance theory.’ Kaiden and the others must be getting impatient."

Murphy gave his wife a helpless look and nodded.

’That’s right,’ he thought. ’Since I’ve reached a flawless state of Perfection in the Qi Refining Realm, and the next step is a matter of course, it’s time to prepare for breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. The principles of how emotions affect Dao Patterns can wait. Perhaps I can study them slowly later, when I reach a higher realm.’

With his mind made up, he no longer dwelled on his little experiment. He took Eleanor’s other hand, and the family of three walked together deeper into the castle corridor.