Chapter 79: Turning the Heavens and Shocking the Birds

  Zhong Yao, Xing Yue Dan Mi, in the imperial city, within a high-walled courtyard, a well, a dark room with lacquered doors, a faint red glow of incense, reflected on Song Jie's face just inches away.

  The windows all around the room were sealed, and not a single ray of light could penetrate in or out.

  A twig of fragrance, a point of light, wafting sandalwood incense rises into the sky, filling the entire banquet with scent.

  Song Jie stood quietly on the ground, his eyes fixed intently on the incense stick in front of him. His entire being seemed to have merged with the darkness of the room. In front of him stood an ancient, dark-colored sword rack, upon which lay a long sword with a green shark skin scabbard and a yellow copper mouth.

  The incense is faint, the ancient sword is cold. Although it has not been unsheathed, this long sword placed in front of me seems to emanate a chill from within its scabbard, as if it were a deep cave that had not seen sunlight for years, and the underground pool was frozen. As soon as someone stands in front of it, they can feel a cool breeze rising up their cheeks, making their hair stand on end.

  After a while, Song Jie's breathing gradually became longer and more subtle, like the silk threads of a silkworm spreading throughout his internal organs. The air was drawn in slowly, thread by thread, wrapping around him, until he swallowed it into his abdomen. Suddenly, his entire body puffed up like an inflated balloon, with all four limbs and hundred joints swelling up.

  Then he spat again, with a force like an arrow, and made a hissing sound, as if the sharp tip of the arrow had broken through the thick air. Even in the dark, you could vaguely see that more than two feet away from his mouth and nose, there were ripples, like water waves, accompanied by a series of gurgling sounds from his lower abdomen, similar to the croaking of frogs on a summer day.

  This was Song Jie practicing his sword and internal energy, a mouthful of true energy entering his body, stirring up the five viscera and six bowels, shaking the blood vessels, surging through the large and small intestines, and resonating with the inner family's internal energy mechanism within his own dantian. The strange effect produced was that he was young and had already achieved success in practicing swordplay, and his breathing and swallowing could subtly connect with the sword instrument on his body, an unshowable connection.

  Thus, with nine repeated breaths in his mouth, Song Jie's Qi burst forth onto the long sword in front of him, and instantly, a clear dragon hum echoed through the air. The green shark skin and yellow copper hilted treasure sword suddenly sprang out of its scabbard by itself, protruding three inches from the scabbard, with a "brush" sound, cold air swirling around it, pressing against people's eyebrows.

  Song Jie grasped the hilt of his sword and pulled it out with a swift motion, making a cold "ka" sound. The sword hummed as if a bolt of lightning had flashed through the darkness, illuminated by the faint light of the incense burner. In that moment, the long, sharp blade in his hand shone brightly, like a spring water mirror, and with just a slight quiver, the blade vibrated the air, producing a sound that seemed to be the cry of a crane echoing through the nine heavens, clear and melodious.

  "The silver vase suddenly breaks and water splashes out; iron cavalry rushes out with swords and guns ringing."

  Song Jie stood still for a long time, accumulating his strength. At this moment, the air was tense and the long sword responded to his will, automatically leaving its scabbard and falling into his hand. With a quick turn of his wrist, it made a soft whooshing sound. His entire body remained still, with only his wrist exerting force, while his shoulders didn't move. The sword fell, and in front of him, the incense stick was split from top to bottom into two halves. As the sword's light retracted, the incense stick, now divided into two parts, remained standing upright in its original position without falling over.

  Whoa! Don't look at this light and easy sword move, it actually took a lot of effort from Song Jie. The sword was hidden behind his elbow, and he exhaled heavily, the air rushing out like boiling water, if there was light, you could even see white steam rising from his head, just like a steamer.

  Next, Song Jie suddenly plunged downwards, holding his sword and dashing around the room in a flurry of movements. His body was like a swimming dragon, with his person following the sword and the sword changing with his person. After three or two rounds of this, all that could be seen in the darkness was a circle of silver light flying up and down, only seeing the sword's glow without seeing his shadow.

  The wind whistled, Song Jie's feet stepped on the Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams step, swiftly moving and dashing forward. The sword in his hand connected into a series of silver threads, one after another. In an instant, he pounced forward, slapping a palm on a desk, with a loud "bang". Suddenly, a handful of soybeans flew out from the desktop, soaring into the air.

  "The essence of sword practice is to have a body like a roaming dragon, avoiding stagnation, and practicing for a long time. The body unites with the sword, the sword unites with the spirit, and in every place without a sword, there is still a sword everywhere."

  Song Jie's eyes were fixed intently, his voice loud and clear as he shouted, the sword light flashing continuously, whooshing sounds filling the air. Behind him, a flying yellow bean fell back onto the table, this time however, all of them had been split in half by Song Jie's aerial slash.

  "The heavens are overturned, the birds take flight. The earth is rolled up, not a speck of dust remains. In one strike, it's as if a gentle breeze, the sword unseen. Amidst countless changes, only the glint of the blade is seen, the person unseen." With a light movement, Song Jie sheathed his sharp sword, clasped his hands together in front of his chest, and raised an eyebrow, "In the Republic era, the Central Martial Arts Academy taught the external Wudang Thirteen Postures' paired sword technique. I wonder if anyone today can still attain the realm of Sword Immortal Li Jinglin."

  "Others may not know, but I do know that Shao Nanhua's true identity is 'Beidou', one of the top ten killers in the world rankings. His seven-star needle gun can penetrate a steel plate an inch thick at close range, yet it couldn't kill Wang Chan. I wonder if he can withstand this ancient sword with a pine grain pattern in my hand."

  At the same time, in a room inside the National Security Bureau building.

  "Lei Feng, unexpectedly this Wang Chan is young in years but already has a mind that is unbridled and unrestrained. Just look at how he dares to take action against you and Lin Yuanfang without any reservations, I know that this person cannot be restrained for his entire life. Once he is restrained, his own fist intent and spirit will decline. Therefore, before this match between him and the Hung Gate, you must protect him well and not let him be disturbed. As for the Lin family, with me around, they won't dare to do anything!"

  The speaker was a middle-aged man standing in front of the window, always with his back to Lei Feng, wearing a gray Zhongshan suit. Listening to his voice, it seemed to be the same as when Zhang Xiuer was still undercover at Hongxiu Lin and secretly contacted Director Wang Chan.

  "Ah, Master Uncle, rest assured. This Wang Chan is a good fellow, much stronger than me. Although he once used underhanded means to subdue me, I still feel somewhat uncomfortable about it now. But we are not those unorganized and undisciplined Jianghu people who can't afford to lose big. I understand that. However, this time Wang Chan has gotten Lin Yuanfang into trouble, I've received news. Old Man Lin has already invited over a dozen top martial artists from the capital to treat him, and even personally went to invite Zhou Yinqiao from the Central Guard Bureau. Don't know how it is now! If it doesn't work out again, once Lin Yuanfang dies tomorrow night when the time comes, the Lin family will probably go crazy. That way, I'm afraid it won't be good for us."

  More than two meters tall, Lei Feng stood behind the middle-aged man, honestly like a obedient child, with both hands tightly attached to his pants line, his waist straight as a pen, and when he spoke, he deliberately lowered his voice, not even half of his usual volume.

  "Zhou Yin Qiao? He's not bad, his Shaolin Five Form Fist is quite skilled, but his internal martial arts skills are still far from perfection. Compared to you, he's not much stronger either. Even if he takes action, it won't save the one who's doomed to die. However, on the other hand, Lin Yuan Fang can't die at this time either. If he dies, my troubles will also come to an end. In the end, I'll still have to take action, give Lin Shu Ren a bit of face, and exchange some things."

  As for Wang Chan, you should also keep a close eye on him. It's best to take him to your master's place in Xishan and have them meet for a while to avoid any trouble. Everything can be reconsidered after the incident has blown over.

  "Also, Song Jie has recently been called back from the UK. You brothers haven't seen each other for over ten years, so be more affectionate and close. You are both future successors to our school, don't have internal conflicts, and yield to him in all matters."

  "Song Jie is back?" Lei Feng's face first showed a hint of joy, but immediately changed: "Oh no, Master Uncle, you must not know that Song Jie and Lin family's Lin Mei have always been on good terms. With the Lin family's big event, I'm afraid Lin Mei has already met with Song Jie by now. Given his personality, if he finds out about Wang Chan's existence, he will definitely go to challenge him without hesitation. But that Wang Chan is ruthless and merciless, how can he be a match for him? If something really happens and I think back on the events since meeting Wang Chan, my face turns pale in just a few short days."

  "That's nothing, Song Jie has been practicing my swordsmanship for years, and after ten years of hard work, he has made some progress. Although he is still not your match in a bare-handed fight, if he uses his weapons, that iron shirt of yours won't be able to withstand him. As for Wang Chan, although his internal skills are already quite accomplished and not inferior to mine, it's unlikely that you can beat him to death like you did with Tang Niu and Shao Nanhua. However, in the end, it's inevitable that you'll suffer some losses, which will also serve as a kind of training for him. At that time, just take care of things from the side and we'll be done."

  The next day, Lei Feng rushed to knock on the door and finally woke up Wang Chan, who had entered a state of meditation. Only then did he realize that it had been two days since that night when his luck changed and he entered the realm of changing blood and marrow.

  Time flies, and with a calm mind on the way, I unwittingly lost the concept of time.

  Several decades of hard work just passed by in an instant.

  Having heard Leiting recount the events of the past two days, including how the Lin family was enraged and all that, Wang Chan remained completely nonchalant. He merely refused Leiting's suggestion to transfer him elsewhere, then rinsed his mouth with green salt and came alone to the flower garden behind the courtyard. Walking slowly in measured paces, he reflected on the various sensations he had experienced after entering stillness, feeling a mysterious aura that could only be intuited but not put into words rising up in his heart.

  His feet automatically avoided all obstacles along the way, Wang Chan bathed in the sunlight, his eyes slightly closed, walking freely. From his every breath, Wang Chan clearly felt the strength of his heart and lungs, between his two lungs, the two swirling Taibai energies like dragons and snakes, trembling and responding with each breath, the fine energy nourishing his entire body.

  The Wudang Sect's Big Dipper Qi is a method of swallowing air into the abdomen to train the five organs and six viscera. However, I have combined the essence of the Thirteen Taibai's horizontal refinement and exchange of blood and marrow with the Daoist refining qi technique, and through the legendary Sword Immortal's technique, I have refined and merged it into these two Tai Bai Jing Qi. It can be said to be an unexpected joy. Unfortunately, the Sword Immortal's technique is not a orthodox path, but rather a side branch of the Daoist alchemy method. Although it is also considered one of the branches of the Daoist alchemy method, wanting to re-practice this sword-refining skill back onto the Golden Elixir Great Path is, for me, an unrealistic task that requires twice the effort.

  "Moreover, I'm currently changing my blood and marrow, corresponding to the liver, which belongs to wood in the five elements. It's the place where all things are born, but these two Tai Bai Jing Qi are mutually restrictive. Shouldn't I practice each of the five internal organs according to the Taoist method before actually changing my blood, so that the five elements can be harmonious and mutually supportive?"

  Wang Chan is now at the stage of changing his blood and marrow, but he has only just begun to glimpse the mysteries of the Tao. He hasn't truly changed his blood yet, and when he looks inwardly at his body, among the five organs, only his lungs have been cultivated to be transparent and crystalline like crystal, while the other organs haven't reached this level yet.

  However, he has now obtained the three-volume "Huang Ting Jing" annotated by Wang Chongyang, and has long been clear about the Taoist methods of nourishing life and refining qi. As long as there is enough time, giving him a hundred days, following the Taoist kung fu to build the foundation, step by step, he can also practice the horizontal smelting method to change blood and marrow before practicing, and refine the five organs and six hollows to be meticulous and subtle, refining the qi and blood, meridians, making the fragile internal structure of his body undergo a huge transformation.

  As the human body's kidney is in charge of water, and among the five elements, metal can overcome water. Wang Zhen can now rely on the two Taibai Jingqi in his lungs to nourish the kidney water, and it won't take long for him to further strengthen his kidney energy.

  However, the Taoist stuff is still somewhat different from some theories in martial arts. First of all, it emphasizes the importance of nourishing one's life, and requires a calm and peaceful mind. Therefore, those famous Taoists in ancient times had all gone through a period of living in deep mountains and old forests, eating clouds and drinking dew, and swallowing the sun and moon.

  Ordinary people practicing martial arts and qigong want to reach the level of internal organs, which can only be achieved by relying on the movement of qigong, activating the whole body, and stimulating potential. The Taoist practice of qigong is different, emphasizing daily cultivation of Taiyang, monthly cultivation of Taiyin, fasting and purification of the body, using the pure and quiet inner energy within the body to circulate through the internal organs and meridians, entering stillness and giving birth to wisdom, a spark of spiritual light embracing the divine light, and the spirit leading everything.

  Fist techniques are dynamic movements, while Taoist qigong exercises move in the formless.

  "Unfortunately, my thirteen taobao horizontal exercise is a martial art born on the battlefield, and I am not proficient in the way of nourishing life. I don't quite understand the meaning of those Taoist colloquialisms either. Otherwise, I could have translated some of the content from the second half of the book and carefully verified it with the Taoist school. I always feel that there are some obscure and incomprehensible texts in it, which seem to be inconsistent with the previous horizontal exercise."

  The Taoist classics, in the past, were all passed down orally. Each sect had its own secret language, just like passwords used for confidentiality today. Without being a member of that sect and receiving true transmission, it's impossible to fully understand them. Often, one misunderstood sentence can lead to further mistakes as you practice, at best resulting in nothing accomplished, or worse, descending into madness and untimely death.

  Thank you all for your support, Lao Lu bows to you!!!!!!