Chapter 38: Advancement to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining
Swallow True is currently in the 8th heavy Du Mai boundary of the Qi practice period. At this checkpoint, all eight meridians in Swallow True's body, Yin Wei Mai, Yang Wei Mai, Yin Qiao Mai, Yang Qiao Mai, Chong Mai, Dai Mai, Ren Mai, and Du Mai, are fully opened, and his magical powers are circulating rapidly within these eight meridians.
But these eight meridians are not connected.
To advance to the 9th level of Qi Gong, one must connect these eight meridians together, just like connecting eight small rivers into a large river.
It's certainly not easy to bring together eight meridians.
There are two difficult passes. Firstly, a considerable amount of spiritual energy is required to accumulate, and this difficulty has been resolved well. Yan Zhencai earned a considerable amount of inferior spirit stones on the Qi-practicing platform in Daji's web. There are still more than thirty left now.
The second hurdle is that when the eight meridians are connected together, there are many techniques and it's quite complicated. However, Yan Zhen has experience from his past life in breaking through this hurdle, so it's not too complicated and can be handled.
So, Yan Zhen sat down cross-legged and began to meditate.
Yan Zhen placed thirty inferior spirit stones there, then suddenly used his spiritual power to shatter them. Thirty strands of spiritual energy burst out and dispersed. Yan Zhen's mouth opened wide, emitting a sucking force that swallowed all thirty strands of pale yellow spiritual energy into his body, which flowed through his throat and into the Dan Tian three inches below his navel.
Suddenly, a burst of hot air exploded.
Then start rushing the customs.
First, the Ren and Chong meridians are connected, which requires a certain level of skill. The endpoint of the Ren meridian and the starting point of the Chong meridian must be rotated inward three times with internal force through a tiny passage to complete the connection between these two meridians.
Then comes the connection between the Rushing Pulse and the Yin Guan Pulse, which also requires considerable skill. It is not easy for non-reborn people to connect these two pulses.
Immediately, it is the connection between Yin Kui Mai and Yang Kui Mai. These two are one yin and one yang, intersecting in the Sea Bottom Hole, so the breakthrough mouth is in the middle of the Sea Bottom Hole.
Next is the connection between Yangqiao and Yintang, the two meridians have a breakthrough at Zhongshen hole here, which needs to be broken through in an extremely clever way.
Then, the Yin Wei and Yang Wei are connected. Both of these meridians are located in the hand, so the breakthrough point is at Tianzhu (Heavenly Pillar) where the energy must be divided into three strands to pass through.
Then, it is the connection between Yangwei and Renmai. The breakthrough point of these two meridians is at Zong Palace Point. In fact, this Zong Palace Point is not on Yangwei Meridian, but only on Renmai Meridian. However, by opening up Zong Palace Point, Yangwei and Renmai can be connected very smoothly. This wonder cannot be described by anyone who has not experienced rebirth.
Finally, it is the connection between Ren Mai and Du Mai. The connection between Du Mai and Ren Mai is the most difficult. Both of their acupoints are very complex, so you need to simultaneously open up three intersecting acupoints on both meridians at the same time. Remember, they must be opened simultaneously, if not, they will immediately close again. These three acupoints are Fengfu, Shangxing and Shenting. They must be opened at the same time without any slight difference or error, this is the biggest difficulty of this stage. First attempt, failed. Second attempt, failed. Third attempt, failed. Tenth attempt, failed.
The fifteenth time, succeeded.
Boom!
Finally connected Ren Mai and Du Mai together.
At this moment, Yan Zhen only felt that his eight meridians were completely connected. In an instant, a huge change also occurred within Yan Zhen's body. To describe it, the eight extraordinary meridians in Yan Zhen's body were like eight small rivers flowing separately before, but now they had been connected and transformed into one extremely large river. This mighty river surged forward, rushing straight ahead, and its capacity to store spiritual power and the speed at which spiritual power flowed through it far exceeded that of the original eight small rivers.
Yan Zhen also understood that at this moment, he had already advanced to the 9th rank of Qi Refining.
The ninth layer of Qi Refining is also the end of the Qi Refining stage!
Yan Zhen has been reborn for fifty days, and in these fifty days, his cultivation has risen from the fourth level of Qi Refining to the ninth level. This speed of progress is absolutely monstrous, as ordinary cultivators would need at least ten years or more to achieve such a leap in the Five Elements Heaven.
If Yan Zhen's speed of improvement were to spread, it would be unknown how many people would be shocked to death.
Yan Zhen let out a long sigh, with this recent breakthrough, he finally had the confidence to defeat Song Ting, that formidable figure known for his mastery of magic, at the Outer Sect Disciple Competition. The Outer Sect Disciple Competition was truly his stage, and it was only two days away.
……
March 30th.
This day was the last day before the Outer Disciples' Grand Competition.
At this time, the atmosphere of the Outer Disciples' Grand Competition had already become quite lively. The entire Wind Cloud Mountain was half-immersed in the atmosphere of the impending Outer Disciples' Grand Competition. On that peak, someone was practicing swordplay, the Yellow Stage Lower Grade Sword Art "Light Wind Sword Art" was being continuously displayed, with a nimble and agile sword light. In that valley, someone was using a whetstone to sharpen their sword, with a cold and stern sword light. Under that tree, someone was meditating to enhance their magical powers, breathing in and out, with a mysterious aura. In that courtyard, someone was holding a several hundred jin heavy stone lock, tempering their strength. Under that tree, someone was jumping back and forth between the trees, this was training in footwork. There were also people chatting and drinking wine in the Wine Pavilion, these people were relaxing before the big battle, no longer practicing.
Yan Zhen was also welcoming the outer door disciples' grand competition.
Yan Zhen's way of welcoming the outer sect disciples' grand competition was naturally different from others.
If it were a life-and-death duel, a one-on-one sword fight to the death, Yan Zhen liked to bathe, change clothes, burn incense, and stroke his sword. For example, before his decisive battle with Ouyang Song, he did just that. This series of actions could bring his spirit to its peak, allowing him to deliver the most lethal blow to his enemy. Yan Zhen basically treated this as a ritual.
But if it's something like a grand gathering, Yan Zhen won't just bathe and change clothes, burn incense and caress the sword. Yan Zhen will eat peanuts.
Yan Zhen usually doesn't eat peanuts, and only eats them when attending a big gathering.
Yan Zhen's action of eating peanuts is very strange, normally people peel open the peanut and put it in their mouth.
Swallow really first peeled peanuts, rubbed away that layer of red skin, tossed up, and then caught with mouth, tossing high, catching accurately.
One by one, peanuts fell into Yan Zhen's mouth. Yan Zhen savored the flavor of the peanuts, which were a bit salty and very delicious.
If someone with a keen eye for observation were to see this scene, they would immediately notice that Yan Zhen's hands are long and slender, white and powerful. This hand is very steady, and Yan Zhen's mouth is also very steady, so the peanuts never fall to the ground, but all land in Yan Zhen's mouth.
While the hand is steady, the sword will also be steady.
The more stable the sword, the better it can exert its strength and kill the enemy.
This is actually very simple logic.
