Running the Heavenly Cycle

At first, Lin Chan was a bit tense, but with the calming and focus-enhancing effect of the meditation cushion, he quickly settled into the state.

Lin Chan first drew the faint spiritual power throughout his body into his Dantian, then carefully guided it upward from the Dantian, through the Huiyin Point, along the spine past the Tailbone Pass, Spine Pass, and Jade Pillow Pass, up to the Baihui Point. After that, he pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth to bridge the "Magpie Bridge," leading the energy down the Ren Meridian along the midline of the chest and abdomen. Just as it was about to return to the Dantian, that wisp of faint spiritual power completely dissipated, falling short at the final step.

This time, Lin Chan was in good shape, but he still missed the mark by one step.

As for why he had to complete the Minor Heavenly Cycle—

The reason was that after Qi Introduction, this spiritual power wasn't fully under Lin Chan's control; it didn't belong to him.

Such borrowed goods, no matter how abundant, were useless to him and couldn't be used to cast spells.

Only after running the cycle and stamping it with Lin Chan's mark did the spiritual power truly become his, usable for spellcasting, refining artifacts, and all sorts of wondrous applications.

'Still, my talent's a bit lacking.'

True Person Xuan Chen frowned inwardly.

While Lin Chan was circulating his energy, he had been closely observing him with his divine sense.

Whether it was breathing and exhaling or guiding the spiritual power, Lin Chan did everything decently. There were minor issues, but nothing serious.

The main problem was still his poor aptitude—his body couldn't retain much of the world's spiritual energy, couldn't sustain the Minor Heavenly Cycle's operation, and the spiritual power simply dissipated entirely.

True Person Xuan Chen pointed out Lin Chan's small flaws, then said:

"For the next few days, stay here with me to cultivate. I'll guide you for a while. The spiritual energy concentration here is also higher, which will aid your practice."

"Thank you, Master!"

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

Just now, True Person Xuan Chen had pointed out some minor issues in Lin Chan's technique. Though these details weren't major, they still enlightened Lin Chan like a sudden awakening.

Over the following days, True Person Xuan Chen offered constant guidance. Lin Chan's breathing, exhalation, and method of Qi Introduction became thoroughly refined, approaching perfection.

The reason it wasn't perfect was simply the limitations of his body and divine sense—there was no room for further improvement.

That day, Lin Chan closed his eyes, focusing all his mind on circulating the spiritual power.

Finally, that wisp of spiritual energy traveled along Lin Chan's meridians and, stumbling and halting, returned to his Dantian.

The Minor Heavenly Cycle was complete!

"Master! I did it! I successfully ran the cycle and broke through to the first layer of Qi Cultivation!"

Lin Chan said, extremely excited.

After three months of painstaking effort, he had finally succeeded.

"Excellent!"

True Person Xuan Chen nodded.

Though Lin Chan had been slow, it wasn't a major problem in the end.

"Master! Please forgive my embarrassment."

Lin Chan then realized that before him was a Core Formation True Person, and he had only broken through to the first layer of Qi Cultivation, taking this long to do so. It was truly shameful and unworthy of his inner sect status.

"You are my disciple. I am happy for you. You may return now; I must begin forging a flying sword for you. Once the sword is completed, I will notify you via the jade pendant."

True Person Xuan Chen said with a smile.

He wasn't about to look down on Lin Chan. Though Lin Chan's start was slow, reaching Foundation Establishment was practically a sure thing.

Moreover, judging by the current situation, he would likely reach Foundation Establishment before the age of thirty, leaving him a broad path ahead.

"Master! You've helped me so much; I don't know how to thank you."

Lin Chan had been treated quite favorably since arriving at Shu Mountain, and he felt a bit overwhelmed by the kindness.

"Cultivate diligently and reach Foundation Establishment as soon as possible—that will be the greatest repayment to Shu Mountain."

True Person Xuan Chen said with a laugh.

"Yes, Master! This disciple takes his leave."

Lin Chan cupped his hands in farewell.

He understood this reasoning well.

A Qi Cultivation disciple had limited use to Shu Mountain—only running errands, delivering messages, and doing odd jobs, much like those Registered Disciples.

Foundation Establishment disciples began to handle truly important matters for Shu Mountain.

As for Core Formation True Persons and Nascent Soul True Lords, their mere existence was an immeasurable boon to Shu Mountain.

The greater one's ability, the greater one's contribution.

Right now, he was in a critical period of cultivation, and obsessing over giving back would be unwise.

Besides, before long, he would play an important role—going to mediate with Four Eyes.

Returning to his cave dwelling, Lin Chan immediately began to stabilize his cultivation.

After several days of practice, his cultivation base solidified, no longer as unstable as before, and the spiritual power flowed much more smoothly through the Minor Heavenly Cycle.

Every time he finished cultivating, Lin Chan would check his Identity Jade Pendant to see if his master had summoned him to collect the flying sword.

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But a magical tool is not so simple to craft—without months or even years of effort, it cannot be forged.

"I was too impatient."

Lin Chan set down the Identity Jade Pendant and walked out of his cave dwelling.

Still, who could resist the allure of a flying sword?

He had long wanted a flying sword of his own, to soar through the sky on Sword Riding.

Of course, he would need to reach at least the late Qi Cultivation stage for his spiritual energy reserves to support long-distance flight.

That would take who knows how many years.

Heading down the mountain, Lin Chan planned to listen to a few Inner Sect senior brothers lecture on Daoist Runes for the Registered Disciples, and borrow some Daoist texts along the way as leisure reading during his daily cultivation breaks.

On the path, Lin Chan encountered two female Registered Disciples heading to clean his cave.

These two Registered Disciples wore gray Daoist robes, distinguishing them from Inner Sect Disciples.

Following Steward Lu's orders, they came every ten days to sweep Lin Chan's room and clear away dust.

If dust accumulated in the room, it would hinder cultivation efficiency.

"Senior Brother Lin!"

Seeing Lin Chan, the two quickly bowed and greeted him.

"I haven't activated the formations inside—just go straight in."

Lin Chan nodded and said to them.

"Yes, Senior Brother Lin!"

After agreeing, they stepped aside to let him pass.

Just then, a question occurred to Lin Chan, and he turned back to ask:

"What cultivation levels are you two at now?"

"I'm at Qi Cultivation Layer Two."

"I'm still at Layer One."

They answered respectively.

"How long did it take each of you to break through to Qi Cultivation Layer One?"

Lin Chan pressed further.

"One year."

One said with a hint of pride.

"My talent's worse—it took me nearly three years."

The other sounded a bit dejected.

Even by outer sect standards, that pace was somewhat slow.

"Among you Registered Disciples, who broke through to Qi Cultivation Layer One the fastest?"

"In our compound, who has the fastest cultivation speed?"

The taller female disciple looked at her companion.

"I think it's Chen Xiumei—she's at Qi Cultivation Layer Three now, and it only took her five months to complete the Minor Heavenly Cycle."

The other replied.

"Alright, go on with your work!"

Lin Chan waved his hand at them.

After hearing their answers, Lin Chan had a sense of his own talent.

His current talent should rank among the top of the Registered Disciples.

'Even if I become the best among the outer sect, I'd still be at the bottom of the inner sect.'

Lin Chan recalled True Person Xuan Chen's earlier assessment and laughed bitterly to himself.

Comparing talent and aptitude was not a good thing.

Overconfidence, taking pride in being above outer sect disciples, would affect one's state of mind and cultivation.

But moderate comparison—using others as mirrors to see oneself—helped Lin Chan refine his self-awareness and understand his own level, which wasn't wrong either.

If he overly belittled himself or was excessively humble, that too would have consequences.

In short, nothing should go to extremes; excessive comparison became vanity.

Lin Chan realized he was neither the best nor the worst. Understanding his true situation, he neither gloated nor wallowed in discouragement.

Moreover, in the future, Lin Chan might select better talent and aptitude, and his cultivation speed could skyrocket.

Having sorted this out, Lin Chan continued downward. The further he went, the closer he got to the outer sect, where more people gathered and the air grew heavier with the mundane world's bustle.