Circulating the Celestial Circuit

At first, Lin Chan was somewhat nervous, but with the calming, focus-centering effects of the meditation cushion, he quickly settled into the rhythm.

Lin Chan first guided the faint spiritual energy throughout his body into his dantian, then carefully led it upward from the dantian, through the Huiyin Point, and up along the Tailbone Pass, Spine Pass, and Jade Pillow Pass of his spine to the Baihui Point. Then, with his tongue pressed to his upper palate to connect the "Magpie Bridge," he guided the qi down the Ren Meridian along the centerline of his chest and abdomen. Just as it was about to return to the dantian, that wisp of spiritual energy completely dispersed. All his efforts had gone to waste.

This time, Lin Chan had been in good condition, yet he had still fallen one step short.

As for why he had to circulate the Lesser Celestial Circuit—

The reason was that after Qi Introduction, this spiritual energy was not entirely under Lin Chan's control. It did not belong to him.

No matter how much of someone else's property one had, it was useless to oneself and could not be used to cast spells.

Only after circulating the celestial circuit and imprinting it with Lin Chan's mark would this spiritual energy truly belong to him, allowing it to be used for spellcasting, refining Dharma Artifacts, and all manner of wondrous purposes.

My talent is still somewhat lacking.

True Person Xuan Chen secretly frowned.

While Lin Chan circulated his cultivation technique, he had been carefully observing him with his divine sense.

Whether it was his breathing and qi absorption or his guidance of spiritual energy, Lin Chan had done reasonably well. There were minor flaws, but none that truly mattered.

The greatest problem was still his poor aptitude. His body could not retain much of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, nor could it sustain the circulation of the Lesser Celestial Circuit, causing the spiritual energy to disperse completely.

True Person Xuan Chen pointed out Lin Chan's minor mistakes, then said,

"For the next few days, remain here and cultivate first. I will guide you for several days. The spiritual energy here is also denser, which will aid your cultivation."

"Thank you, Master!"

Lin Chan knew that True Person Xuan Chen intended to give him guidance, and he spoke with gratitude.

True Person Xuan Chen had just pointed out several small issues to Lin Chan. Though those details had not mattered much, they had still left him enlightened as though struck by a thunderclap.

Over the following days, True Person Xuan Chen guided him constantly. Lin Chan's methods of breathing, qi absorption, and Qi Introduction became highly polished, infinitely close to perfection.

The only reason they were not perfect was because his body and divine sense had reached their limits. There was no further room for improvement.

That day, Lin Chan closed his eyes and focused all his mind on circulating his spiritual energy.

At last, after that wisp of spiritual energy traveled through Lin Chan's meridians, it stumbled and lurched its way back into his dantian.

He had successfully circulated the Lesser Celestial Circuit!

"Master! I did it! I successfully circulated the celestial circuit and broke through to Qi Cultivation Layer 1."

Lin Chan spoke with immense excitement.

After painstaking effort for more than three months, he had finally succeeded.

"Excellent!"

True Person Xuan Chen nodded.

Although Lin Chan had been slower than expected, it was not truly a problem.

"Master, I have made a fool of myself before you."

Only then did Lin Chan recall that the person before him was a Core Formation True Person. He had merely broken through Qi Cultivation Layer 1, and it had taken him so long. It truly was shameful, unworthy of his status as an Inner Sect Disciple.

"You are my disciple. I am happy for you. You may return now; I must also begin forging your Flying Sword. Once it is finished, I will notify you through the Jade Jue."

True Person Xuan Chen said with a smile.

He would not go so far as to disdain Lin Chan. Though Lin Chan had started slowly, his Foundation Establishment was practically set in stone.

Moreover, judging from the current situation, he was quite likely to achieve Foundation Establishment before the age of thirty. His future Dao Path was exceedingly broad.

"Master, you have helped me so much that I do not even know how to thank you."

Since coming to Shu Mountain, Lin Chan had received considerable preferential treatment and felt somewhat overwhelmed by the favor.

"Cultivate diligently and achieve Foundation Establishment as soon as possible. That will be the greatest repayment you can give Shu Mountain."

True Person Xuan Chen said with a smile.

"Yes, Master! This disciple shall take his leave."

Lin Chan cupped his hands in farewell.

Lin Chan understood this principle as well.

A Qi Cultivation disciple was of limited use to Shu Mountain. He could only run errands, carry messages, and handle miscellaneous tasks, just like those Registered Disciples.

Foundation Establishment disciples would begin coming into contact with the truly important affairs of Shu Mountain.

As for Core Formation True Persons and Nascent Soul True Lords, so long as they lived, their value to Shu Mountain would be beyond measure.

The greater one's ability, the greater one's usefulness could be.

He was currently at a critical stage of cultivation. Constantly thinking about dedicating himself would instead be unwise.

Besides, before long, he would have an important role to play: going to speak with Four Eyes and mediate.

After returning to his Cave Dwelling, Lin Chan immediately began consolidating his cultivation.

After cultivating for several days, Lin Chan's cultivation became stable. It was no longer as hollow and unsteady as before, and the circulation of spiritual energy through the Lesser Celestial Circuit also became much smoother.

Every time he finished cultivating, Lin Chan would check his Identity Jade Pendant to see whether his master had summoned him to collect his Flying Sword.

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But how could a magical implement possibly be made so easily? Without several months, or even several years, it could not be forged successfully.

"I am being too impatient."

Lin Chan put down his Identity Jade Pendant and walked out of his Cave Dwelling.

Still, who could resist the temptation of a Flying Sword?

He had long wanted a Flying Sword of his own so that he could ride it through the skies.

Of course, he would have to reach the late stage of Qi Cultivation before his total spiritual energy could sustain long-distance flight.

And who knew how many years that would take?

Walking down the mountain, Lin Chan planned to listen to several Inner Sect senior brothers lecture Registered Disciples on Daoist Runes, then borrow a few Daoist books along the way as entertainment for his daily breaks from cultivation.

On the way, Lin Chan encountered two female Registered Disciples heading to his Cave Dwelling to clean it.

The two Registered Disciples wore gray Daoist robes, setting them apart from Inner Sect Disciples.

Following Steward Lu's instructions, they came every ten days to clean Lin Chan's rooms and clear away the dust.

If dust accumulated in the rooms, it would affect cultivation efficiency.

"Senior Brother Lin!"

Upon seeing Lin Chan, the two hurriedly saluted him in greeting.

"I have not activated the formations inside. You may enter directly."

Lin Chan nodded and spoke to them.

"Yes, Senior Brother Lin!"

After agreeing, the two stepped aside to let him pass.

At that moment, Lin Chan suddenly thought of a question. He turned back and asked,

"What cultivation are the two of you at now?"

"I am at Qi Cultivation Layer 2."

"I am still at the first layer."

The two answered respectively.

"Then how long did it take each of you to break through Qi Cultivation Layer 1?"

Lin Chan pressed further.

"One year."

One of them said with a hint of pride.

"My talent is somewhat worse. It took me nearly three years."

The other sounded somewhat dejected.

That pace would have seemed rather slow even among the Outer Sect.

"Among you Registered Disciples, how long did the fastest person take to break through Qi Cultivation Layer 1?"

"Who cultivates the fastest in our little courtyard?"

The taller female disciple looked toward her companion.

"It seems to be Chen Xiumei. She is already at Qi Cultivation Layer 3 now, and she only took five months to circulate the Lesser Celestial Circuit with her spiritual energy."

The other replied.

"Alright, go on with your work."

Lin Chan waved at the two of them.

After hearing their answers, Lin Chan gained a clearer judgment of his own talent.

With his current talent, he should rank among the better Registered Disciples.

So what if I became the best in the Outer Sect? I would still be at the bottom of the Inner Sect.

Recalling True Person Xuan Chen's earlier assessment, Lin Chan mocked himself inwardly.

Comparing talents and aptitudes was not a good thing.

If one became excessively arrogant, believing oneself superior to Outer Sect disciples and taking great delight in it, it would affect one's state of mind and cultivation.

Yet making appropriate comparisons with others and using others as mirrors to see oneself could help Lin Chan improve his understanding of himself, realize what level he stood at, and was not necessarily a bad thing.

If he belittled himself too much or was overly humble, that too would have an impact.

In short, nothing should be taken to excess. Once comparisons went too far, they became rivalry.

Lin Chan realized that though he was not the best, neither was he the worst. He understood his true circumstances and would neither become smug over them nor grow overly discouraged.

Besides, perhaps one day Lin Chan would be able to choose better talent and aptitude, and his cultivation speed would advance by leaps and bounds.

Having thought everything through, Lin Chan continued down the mountain. The farther down he went, the closer he drew to the Outer Sect, where there were more people and a stronger air of everyday life.