Chapter 204 : Glimpse of Flawlessness
Chapter 204: Glimpse of Flawlessness
“Of course. Being able to learn alchemy under Senior Sister’s guidance is Iron Egg’s honor.”
At this point, Chen Beiwu paused slightly. His gaze turned toward Senior Sister Wan’er, and he asked seriously, “Is Iron Egg’s congenital disability very difficult to cure?”
“That’s not the case.” Li Wan’er shook her head. “There are many ways to cure this kind of congenital disability. Whether Iron Egg breaks through to Foundation Establishment or takes spiritual pills, both can resolve the issue.
It’s just that the latter requires breaking the bones and repairing them again, which will be a bit painful.”
“But Junior Brother, don’t you want to reconsider?”
“After curing the hind legs, Iron Egg’s talent in alchemy might worsen.” Senior Sister Wan’er reminded him.
Chen Beiwu looked at Iron Egg, seeking its opinion.
“Woof!” Iron Egg shook its head, indicating that it had limped for so many years already, so waiting another year or two would not matter.
Besides, it was now very interested in alchemy, able to concoct the pills it wanted to eat at any time, and occasionally even sneaked spiritual herbs from the sect.
Otherwise, its cultivation years would not have surged so quickly.
“Next, I will be in seclusion for some time. I’ll trouble Senior Sister to guide Iron Egg.”
Understanding Iron Egg’s thoughts, Chen Beiwu entrusted Senior Sister Wan’er before rushing back to the Moon-in-Water Dwelling.
Then he immediately activated the Gate of Ten Directions, transmitting himself to the Immortal Alliance. He told his parents that he had gained an insight and would be entering seclusion for some time, and they must not disturb him.
After finishing these matters, Chen Beiwu returned to the Moon-in-Water Dwelling. Holding his breath and focusing his mind, he activated his spiritual sense to carefully comprehend the cultivation jade slip before him.
The Heavenly Evolution Cycle Art, also known as the Three-Pass Reverse Fate Manual.
As the name suggested, this was a supreme Qi Refining method that used one’s body as a hook, seizing a thread of life when heavenly secrets emerged.
Such a Qi Refining secret art was considered extremely precious even in the Immortal Alliance. Ordinary cultivators from humble origins could not even hope to encounter it, let alone hear of it.
“Before the Mysterious Gate is opened, first knock on the Yin Gate. When the Earth Gate is closed, immediately open and shut it.”
“When the heavenly fire is extinguished, draw out the sun’s kindling. When the Ninefold Springs dry up, draw upon the marrow.”
“Exchange the stars, cool the Mud Pill Palace. Reverse the Milky Way, warm the Yellow Court.”
“……”
This thirteen-layer secret Qi Refining method was obscure and profound. It required taking the hidden meridians of the body’s Twelve Earthly Branches as the foundation, reversing the Great Cycle, and using the eternal principles of heaven and earth to make up for what cultivators themselves lacked—sealing the Yongquan acupoint to draw celestial essence, closing the Baihui to receive heavenly secrets. Only then could one defy the heavens and steal a thread of fate.
In other words, a Qi Refining cultivator who had not perfected the Seven Revolutions of the Great Cycle technique would not even have the chance to cultivate the Heavenly Evolution Cycle Art.
Thinking of this, Chen Beiwu instinctively began to circulate the spiritual power within his dantian’s sea of qi according to the general outline described in the Heavenly Evolution Cycle Art.
“Puh!”
The attempt immediately caused a sharp pain in his heart, and he vomited blood.
No wonder even Senior Sister Yun had given up on cultivating the Heavenly Evolution Cycle Art.
Every failed attempt at this method damaged the foundation forged by the Seven Revolutions of Great Cycle Qi Refining.
If it was only once or twice, it was not a big issue.
But failing dozens or hundreds of times would cause the hidden meridians of the Twelve Earthly Branches, painstakingly condensed within his body, to collapse completely. His foundation would be gravely damaged, and his cultivation would fall back to the Eleventh Level of Qi Refining.
‘No wonder this method’s other name is the Three-Pass Reverse Fate—it values comprehension above all.’ Chen Beiwu thought to himself.
This thirteen-layer secret Qi Refining method could either allow a cultivator to defy fate or take the life of a prodigy with limitless potential.
“Hoo.”
Chen Beiwu exhaled a turbid breath, carefully putting away the jade slip of the Heavenly Evolution Cycle Art.
In cultivation, the greatest taboo was overreaching.
Without the proper entry point, forcing himself to cultivate the Heavenly Evolution Cycle Art in a short time would only waste effort.
Chen Beiwu sat cross-legged, circulating the All Laws Converge, Heaven Book of the Divine Tree together with Gold Egg. Only when all the surging spiritual power within his dantian’s sea of qi had been restored did he take out the Tai Xuan Reflecting-Heart Lotus from his storage ring.
This treasure herb needed to be paired with the Tai Xuan Guarding the One meditation method, using the technique of breaking the proper to return to the strange in order to activate its origin and maximize its medicinal effect.
If refined by the method Senior Brother Gu had mentioned, its effect would only be partial, offering some calming and enlightening influence. That was why cultivators from the Southern Wastes did not value it highly.
Thinking of this, Chen Beiwu visualized the Tai Xuan Guarding the One, banishing stray thoughts, and followed the method he had found on the Immortal Alliance Official Website. He plucked three translucent petals of the Reflecting-Heart Lotus, layering them around the flower core.
Then, with a thought, the Cold-Pool Spirit Sword unsheathed and slashed down, leaving a fine crack along the lotus’s main stalk.
Chen Beiwu pressed gently with his hand, and a few crystalline drops of liquid dripped onto the wrapped petals.
When he saw the petals turn snow-white, Chen Beiwu swallowed them in one gulp.
“Buzz!”
The instant the Reflecting-Heart Lotus entered his stomach, his spiritual platform cleared. Scriptures of [Tai Xuan Guarding the One], which had always been abstruse and difficult to visualize, suddenly became as clear as spring ice breaking.
“Guard the heart without wavering, then all realms are silent.”
“When the spiritual platform births chambers, then ten thousand tribulations cannot shake it.”
“……”
At this moment, the medicinal power of the Reflecting-Heart Lotus transformed into a lotus phantom, illuminating the space of Chen Beiwu’s spiritual platform, plunging him into a state that seemed like enlightenment but was in fact incomparably lucid.
In this state, the Spirit of Clearwood within his dantian’s sea of qi was like lotus seeds about to sprout, releasing unprecedented jade-colored radiance.
Time slipped away bit by bit.
Half a month passed, and Chen Beiwu had successfully entered the introductory stage of the Tai Xuan Guarding the One visualization method, slightly increasing the purity of all five of his spiritual roots.
His five-element spiritual root purity now stood at: Metal 16, Wood 77, Water 80 (+3), Fire 19, Earth 18.
Facing the change in his spiritual root aptitude, Chen Beiwu remained clear-minded, without joy or shock, immersed in his enlightenment.
Soon, another month and a half passed.
A strand of innate primal qi rose from his Yongquan acupoint, condensing within his spiritual platform into a Guarding-One Mirror—a mirror that reflected the heart and shut out all distracting thoughts.
The emergence of this mirror marked the minor completion stage of the Tai Xuan Guarding the One visualization method.
“Boom!”
Illuminating flaws—cutting off obstructions—opening meridians—transforming the quality of spiritual roots.
Under the sweep of the Guarding-One Mirror’s radiance, Chen Beiwu’s spiritual root purity shifted once again.
“Metal 20, Wood 81, Water 84 (+3), Fire 23, Earth 22.” Without relying on external aids, Chen Beiwu could now sense his own spiritual root purity increase with a single thought.
The Tai Xuan Guarding the One visualization method truly lived up to its reputation as the foremost foundation-building method for spiritual roots in the Immortal Alliance!
From introduction to minor completion, this visualization method had increased his spiritual root purity by a total of twenty-five points.
At this moment, Chen Beiwu noticed the medicinal power of the Reflecting-Heart Lotus waning. It would not be possible to comprehend the Tai Xuan Guarding the One visualization method to perfection.
He decisively shifted his approach, taking out the jade slip and focusing on two things at once—comprehending both the All Laws Converge, Heaven Book of the Divine Tree and the Heavenly Evolution Cycle Art.
Unlike before, when he had no entry point, this time Chen Beiwu easily grasped the true essence of the two methods, catching a glimpse of the gateway leading to Flawless Qi Refining.
At that moment, the vast spiritual power in his dantian’s sea of qi also began to circulate automatically in accordance with his insight.
Another half month passed.
Chen Beiwu opened his eyes, a gleam flashing within them. His dantian’s sea of qi now held thirty-six drops of liquid Clearwood Spiritual Power.
Such pure and surging spiritual power was incomparable, even for early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Moreover, his spiritual sense expanded dramatically with the minor completion of Tai Xuan Guarding the One—from sixty zhang to one hundred and twenty zhang—comparable to peak Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Yet, the All Laws Converge, Heaven Book of the Divine Tree required comprehension to advance to the twelfth layer of Flawless Qi Refining.
Even though he was in a state akin to enlightenment, with his strength at the level of the strongest Qi Refining cultivators, he still could not take that crucial step.
Fortunately, though the Heavenly Book had not advanced, Chen Beiwu had successfully comprehended the Heavenly Evolution Cycle Art.
Sadly, activating the Heavenly Evolution Cycle Art to steal a thread of fate required the alignment of Heaven, Earth, and Man. Only then could one forcefully break through the twelfth level of Qi Refining and succeed in Flawless Foundation Establishment.
Otherwise, Chen Beiwu could have established his foundation today.