Seclusion

After bidding farewell to Uncle Tian, Liu Xiaolou ascended the mountain heading northeast. He didn't take the usual path up Qianzhu Ridge, but instead trekked through the dense forest and jumbles of rocks. Midway, he arrived at a large, old pine tree. Leaping up, he pushed aside the needles and branches, revealing a tree hollow below.

Though the opening was small, he could squeeze inside. Liu Xiaolou entered feet first, then legs. He drew in his breath, contracted his waist, straightened his arms, and wriggled in. After dropping about ten feet, his feet touched the ground. He snapped his fingers, igniting a three-inch flame, and found himself facing a rough, narrow underground passage.

He followed the passage downwards at a slant for about an hour, making six or seven turns and relighting his "fire fingers" several times. Suddenly, the passage opened up into a half-acre-sized cavern.

The cavern had several holes and cracks at both ends, connecting to the outside. A cool breeze blew in, feeling quite refreshing.

In the center was a small but deep pool. The pool's bottom connected to the Wu Chao River, serving as an escape route in emergencies.

This place was the Three Xuan Sect's refuge. According to his master, the refuge was originally a secluded cultivation spot found by the sect's founder while passing through Wulong Mountain. Only later was the Three Xuan Sect established on Qianzhu Ridge, meaning the cave predated the sect.

With a "splash," Big White suddenly emerged from the pool. Paddling with its webbed feet, it hopped out and waddled over to Liu Xiaolou, letting out a couple of squawks.

During times of refuge for the Three Xuan Sect, this creature managed on its own, often swimming up from the Wu Chao River bed and occasionally bringing back plump fish. It was quite a helpful companion during these times.

Liu Xiaolou ignored it, sat cross-legged by the pool, and began his cultivation.

The purpose of Qi Refining is to open the meridians, while the effect of Foundation Establishment lies in opening the eight meridians. Opening the twelve meridians requires diligent cultivation, taking months and years. How can one afford to waste their youth?

For half a year, his cultivation had shown no progress. At this rate, how could he afford to waste more time? Although Qi Refining cultivators could live for a hundred years, if they couldn't break through to Foundation Establishment before the age of sixty, it would become increasingly difficult as they aged. Even if they managed to establish a foundation, where would they find the time for Core Formation? Let alone eternal life?

The twelve meridians are divided into the three hand yang, three hand yin, three foot yang, and three foot yin meridians. Only after opening three meridians can one be considered to have entered the threshold of cultivation and achieved the first layer of Qi Refining. Otherwise, they would only be considered a martial artist. After refining each meridian, it counts as a layer of progress. When all twelve meridians are open and form a complete circulation, it signifies the tenth layer of Qi Refining is complete, and one can begin Foundation Establishment.

All cultivation techniques in the world have their differences. When starting, some techniques connect the three hand yang meridians at once, some connect the three hand yin meridians, or the three foot yang, or the three foot yin meridians. The vast majority begin this way because meridians of the same type have similar pathways and harmonize with the five elements, making cultivation twice as effective. For example, the hand taiyin, hand jueyin, and hand shaoyin meridians are all part of the three hand yin meridians; their qi flows from the chest to the hand, originating from the same source.

The Three Xuan Sect's cultivation technique, the Three Xuan Scripture, is unique. When starting, it cultivates one meridian from the three hand yin, three hand yang, and three foot yin meridians – specifically the hand taiyin, hand yangming, and foot taiyin. In the second layer, it then cultivates the foot yangming from the three foot yang meridians. This method of cultivation is much more difficult. Liu Xiaolou began cultivating at the age of eight and, after ten years, had only just reached the second layer.

According to his master, Mister Sanxuan, the Three Xuan Scripture's unique approach was to ensure a more balanced cultivation path.

"When opening each meridian, one must look ahead and behind, left and right, and exercise extreme caution. It is only proper to consider both yin and yang, and balance the hands and feet, achieving true internal and external harmony. If three meridians are opened consecutively in one hand, one foot, or one yin or yang, it would be like having a heavy head and light feet, or being short on one side and long on the other – how can that be the right way? My disciple, rest assured, though our sect's techniques may be slow, they are extremely stable. There is no worry of disharmony between yin and yang, or imbalance between hands and feet, nor will you suffer qi deviation when breaking through in seclusion. We are very steady!"

His master's words still echoed in his ears, and they made perfect sense. Liu Xiaolou naturally adhered to them; he had no choice, having already embarked on this path of cultivation with no turning back.

Liu Xiaolou was currently at the second layer of Qi Refining and had been stuck at the foot yangming meridian for nearly three years. This was due to a lack of cultivation resources and any significant insights. This time, participating in the Hero Assembly, obtaining three spirit stones, a spiritual herb, and drinking several mouthfuls of spiritual wine, especially after experiencing a life-or-death trial, presented a prime opportunity for a breakthrough. This had already shown signs when he escaped from Jinping Mountain Villa.

Opening meridians means unblocking the acupoints along the meridians. Each meridian has left and right sides, with each side being the other's deficiency and solidity. If the left is solid, the right is deficient, and vice versa. One only needs to choose one side to cultivate; the other side can be opened through sensing.

Liu Xiaolou had cultivated both sides, but ultimately chose the right side for each meridian, as he was more accustomed to it. The foot yangming meridian he was currently cultivating had ninety acupoints, with forty-five on each side. He was only cultivating the right side; once every acupoint on the right side was opened, the corresponding acupoints on the left side would open on their own.

The foot yangming meridian starts at the Chengqi acupoint and ends at the Lidui acupoint. Liu Xiaolou still had three acupoints left to open: Xiangu, Neiting, and Lidui. With three spirit stones in hand, he prepared to break through them all in one go.

He took out a spirit stone and swatted away Big White, which had come sniffing around, with a single palm. He clutched the spirit stone tightly in his palm, and fine wisps of spiritual energy entered his body through his palm.

It felt incredibly refreshing!

The spiritual energy was drawn out bit by bit from the spirit stone and converted into true essence usable by cultivators. Spirit stones were the essence of Heaven and Earth's spiritual energy. Not only did they contain dense spiritual energy, but it was also extremely pure, making it more suitable for cultivators to refine. The refinement efficiency usually reached seventy to eighty percent.

After this spiritual energy was extracted, it circulated and was refined within his body under the operation of the Three Xuan Scripture's cultivation technique. A small portion of impurities was expelled by his body, either through sweat from his skin or wisps of smoke rising from his head. The majority was converted into true essence, gathering in the meridians and striking the Xiangu acupoint.

The Xiangu acupoint, when open, is like a valley; when closed, it is like a mountain. It was currently in a half-open, half-closed state. Once opened, it could dispel wind and relieve the exterior, clear heat and open the orifices, and also stabilize the mind. It was a crucial point where spiritual essence would be stored for the foot yangming meridian.

Earlier, at Jinping Mountain Villa, the fog was so thick that visibility was only a few feet. Yet, as he sprinted through the fog, he managed to avoid obstacles at critical moments. While it seemed like a close call, his mind was actually stable, a sign that the Xiangu acupoint was about to open.

This was due to the spiritual wine he had drunk, the calm he had cultivated over more than half a year, and the mindset of fighting for survival when pushed to the brink.

Now, Liu Xiaolou sat in meditation, guiding his true essence to impact the acupoint. The acupoint, which had previously been as solid as a fortress, began to show faint signs of loosening.

Liu Xiaolou suppressed his excitement, doing his best to maintain a calm state. Like an observer, he directed his true essence to repeatedly strike the acupoint, prying at its foundation inch by inch. Each pry sent a sharp pain through the acupoint.

When he was hungry, he ate a rice cake. When he was tired, he calmed his mind and rested. Sometimes, he would roast a plump fish brought by Big White to relax his mind. Days passed like this. The opening of the Xiangu acupoint grew larger, and more and more true essence flowed through the opening, accumulating in the essence pool.

One day, as the true essence stored in the essence pool grew increasingly abundant, the acupoint suddenly opened wide. True essence flowed in effortlessly, without any exertion or obstruction.

At this moment, an extreme sense of comfort surged from the Xiangu acupoint, greatly invigorating Liu Xiaolou. He truly experienced the sensation of "clearing heat and opening the orifices."

The Xiangu acupoint was open!