Breaking Through Inner Qi

In the training room at the school.

Jiang Ding wielded his sword, with two bottles of pills placed before him.

One was the Essence Qi Marrow Refining Pill, suitable for the Bone Refining Realm. It was mild in nature, easy to absorb, and had a high success rate. The other was the Hundred Essence Qi Transforming Pill, for the Inner Qi Realm.

Both were classic pills whose patents had expired in the Immortal Sect. The former came in bottles of 6 pills, and the latter in bottles of 12.

They were produced by Hehe Great Pharmacy, with the production date and the alchemist's name engraved at the bottom of the bottle.

The Essence Qi Marrow Refining Pill had been mostly used, one pill per day. Each dose converted into a large amount of vital energy to nourish the body, so much so that one might even be unable to withstand the replenishment if not careful.

Jiang Ding naturally had no such problem.

He circulated the Fledgling Eagle Takes Flight Art at the Minor Accomplishment level. As sword light flashed, he greedily absorbed the vital energy erupting from his stomach, frantically strengthening his body and bone marrow.

Under the light blue screen, the small figure showed only one or two areas that were not 100%. The spine visibly jumped from 90%.

98%

99%

100%!

After completing a set of sword moves, he sheathed his sword. Jiang Ding felt his joints creak, and a warm current flowed from his limbs and bones, like a hundred rivers converging into the sea. It transformed into a stream of Inner Qi, the thickness of a fishing line, and surged into his dantian. From there, it began to circulate along the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian.

Jiang Ding drew his sword. His dantian and meridians instinctively began to operate, moving along the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian before finally flowing into the longsword, emitting a faint, somewhat scattered white light.

Whoosh!

He swung it gently, and the sword blade cut through the air with a sound. Its destructive power was several times greater than before!

He looked at the panel projected by the formation spirit.

[Name: Jiang Ding]
[Student ID: 1246215]
[Realm: Inner Qi Realm, Initial Accomplishment]
[Last Training Subject: Sixty-eighth Set of Eagle's Takeoff Sword Art (Minor Accomplishment 5%)]

Below the panel was still a small, light blue figure. However, this time, it no longer showed muscles, bones, or skin. Instead, it displayed meridians.

They ran through the entire body, based on the Twelve Main Meridians and extending in the directions of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, branching out in all directions, totaling 108,222 meridians!

This was the foundation of the Immortal Sect, the terrifying power of a cultivation technique that could form a Dao Body Prototype after birth!

Ordinary martial arts manuals, like those cultivated by Gong Caiyu and the so-called 'Heaven-Overturning Divine Monkey' of the Dragon Tiger Martial Hall, would be considered top-tier if they had even a thousand meridians.

This exceeded the limits of a martial artist's understanding of the human body's meridians!

It also exceeded the limits of what a martial artist could achieve alone, without auxiliary means to temper and nourish the meridians!

Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, 1st Branch (1%)

Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, 9th Branch (2%)

Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, 3654th Branch (0%)

The faint meridians on the light blue figure were labeled, intertwined like dragons and snakes, so densely packed that it made one dizzy.

Below the figure, rows of characters were displayed, labeling the information of the minute meridians, totaling 108,222.

The number of fine meridians for most people fluctuated around 108,000.

At the same time, under the guidance of the formation spirit, the figure began to dance with the sword.

Exhibiting Sword Style!

The sword was drawn from its sheath and formed an arc in the air. Jiang Ding clearly saw that, based on the previous sword moves, the circulation of meridians and the manipulation of Inner Qi had been added. While the power of the sword moves increased dramatically, they also nourished the surrounding fine meridian clusters with Inner Qi, allowing them to refine essence and transform Qi more efficiently through the circulation of Inner Qi.

"The technique of circulating Inner Qi to nourish the meridians seems to have a hint of formation array principles... the meridians and cultivation principles from Chinese class..."

Jiang Ding's eyes lit up. He finally understood the true meaning of the teachers' constant emphasis on 'Cultivation is a subject that closely combines learning and practice.'

Recalling the knowledge from subjects like Chinese, Math, Geography, and Biology, which he had previously memorized and forced himself to understand, he now felt a sense of sudden enlightenment.

Clang!

Sword light flashed. Jiang Ding couldn't help but draw his sword and follow the movements of the light blue figure, channeling the Internal Force in his dantian to slash diagonally and horizontally. The sword moved like lightning, and he felt utterly exhilarated.

At first, his sword moves were somewhat scattered, and he couldn't fully grasp the newfound strength. After a few moves, the sword light condensed and unified once more.

Three minutes.

He completed one and a half sets of sword moves. His Internal Force was depleted and retreated into his dantian, shrinking back to the size of a broad bean. Jiang Ding sheathed his sword, breathing slightly heavily.

"My Inner Qi is too weak; it can only last for three minutes..."

Jiang Ding recalled the Inner Qi chapter of the Fledgling Eagle Takes Flight Art.

Meridians do not exist in isolation. Starting from the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, once ten major and minor meridians of the Hand Taiyang Sanjiao Meridian and other Twelve Main Meridians are tempered, forming a 'Micro Heavenly Cycle' circulation, the Inner Qi Realm will be initially stabilized.

Afterward, tempering and nourishing a thousand fine meridians of the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, Hand Taiyang Sanjiao Meridian, and other Twelve Main Meridians will allow one to enter the Small Heavenly Cycle circulation. The speed and quality of Inner Qi will increase significantly, achieving Minor Accomplishment.

On this basis, by tempering and nourishing a thousand major and minor meridians of the Ren, Du, and other Eight Extraordinary Meridians, one achieves the Great Heavenly Cycle, where Inner Qi circulates endlessly. This is Great Accomplishment.

The final perfection is to temper and nourish the eighty-eight thousand meridians!

After swallowing the last Essence Qi Marrow Refining Pill, Jiang Ding continued practicing his sword, no longer channeling his Inner Qi. He merely used his fully tempered skin, flesh, and bones to hone his body.

Refining essence into qi.

The vast essence within his limbs and bones had nowhere to go, automatically transforming into Inner Qi, slowly replenishing the Inner Qi in his meridians and dantian.

Using the Essence Qi Marrow Refining Pills in this manner for three full cycles, he then practiced the Inner Qi Sword Art one more time, tempering and nourishing the still-fragile Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian.

When the Essence Qi Marrow Refining Pills ran out, he switched to Hundred Essence Qi Transforming Pills. Their efficacy was ten times greater than the Essence Qi Marrow Refining Pills, generating a massive influx of essence from his stomach, comparable to swallowing an entire ox, with few impurities and easy digestion.

He repeated this cycle endlessly, his sword light never ceasing.

Two hours later, as the dismissal bell rang, Jiang Ding was completely drenched. Sweat dripped down, and he took each step deliberately. His face was pale, and his meridians throbbed with pain.

"My body is truly fragile. It's already reached its limit..."

Jiang Ding's eyes were bright, showing no fatigue. He sheathed his sword, went to the bathroom to shower, changed, and walked back to the classroom.

In two hours of training, six major Hand Taiyin Lung Meridians had reached 20% tempering progress.

"It will take about two weeks to achieve microcirculation. This is assuming I don't stop taking vital-replenishing pills like ginseng, otherwise, it could take a month."

Jiang Ding calculated silently.

Along the way, he unconsciously channeled a sliver of Inner Qi into his eyes and ears. The world seemed washed clean, clearer than ever before. He could even hear the conversations of classmates returning from drills at the school entrance.

Entering the classroom, the class monitor Hua Bing, Wu Tianli, and a few others glanced at Jiang Ding with slight surprise.

The others remained oblivious.

Even at his current level, the degree of his control over Inner Qi was not easily discerned by others.

After a routine session of gun maintenance and chanting slogans, the class monitor Hua Bing reminded them, "Midterm exams are tomorrow. Don't forget, everyone."

"Understood."

The students' expressions turned serious, a sense of nervousness settling in.

Many who were still in the Body Refining Realm, and whose academic performance was far from stellar, showed glimmers of despair. The gap was simply too vast, leaving them with no hope of entering the Cultivation Department.

They could only consider which university's general department to aim for. Most of them would still be able to get into a key institution.

"Class dismissed!"

On the bus, he was fortunate enough to snag a seat.

Jiang Ding rested his long sword diagonally on his knees, closed his eyes to rest, and channeled the Inner Qi that had partially recovered in his dantian into the ten major Hand Taiyin Lung Meridians. Amidst a slight stinging sensation, he used Inner Qi to soothe them, promoting healing.

For a healthy human, meridians are not blocked but are too fragile and small to accommodate the entry of Inner Qi.

What martial artists must do is continuously temper and nourish them until they are clear throughout the body, forming a complete circulation.

This 'still cultivation' is a technique from the formation spirit's Fledgling Eagle Takes Flight Art. Its efficiency is only one-tenth that of active cultivation, but it consumes less energy and excels at sustained, gradual accumulation.

It's just incredibly difficult; any slight carelessness can damage the meridians, making it a net loss.

Jiang Ding's technique had reached Minor Accomplishment, so the problem wasn't significant, but he was only trying it out slightly. Otherwise, in an unexpected situation, it could still damage his meridians. It was best to cultivate in a safe, quiet room.

To cultivate Inner Qi naturally while walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, and even to cultivate automatically while sleeping, one would need at least the Great Accomplishment level of the Fledgling Eagle Takes Flight Art.

Many Innate martial artists struggled to achieve this.

Ding!

He opened his eyes and took out his phone.

'Rainbow Cloud Pharmaceutical's finance department has transferred 3000 Mortal Coins to your savings bank card ending in...5247. After deducting a 5% tax, your balance is 3052 Mortal Coins.'

Jiang Ding's heart leaped with joy.

The payment from Rainbow Cloud Pharmaceutical for the Purple Jade Grass had arrived. This was just preliminary research and testing. Once they confirmed that a certain component of the Purple Jade Grass was valuable, they would further purchase its patent license.

This was a significant sum of money!

The key was that it was completely explainable. It was reasonable to find a mutated, unknown plant by chance in a roadside flower bed, wasn't it?

Getting off the bus, Jiang Ding found an ATM and withdrew thirty crisp hundred-yuan bills, happily counting them.

He even counted them while walking.

Unconsciously, he arrived at the entrance of his apartment complex. Just as he was about to enter the elevator, "Ding Ding, long time no see. How's your studying been lately?" a middle-aged uncle blocked his path and asked gently.

Jiang Ding put the money into his wallet and glanced at the man.

He was over 1.8 meters tall, with a slightly bronzed complexion and sharp, defined facial features. He was ruggedly handsome. It wasn't just women his age who would be smitten; even younger girls might not be able to resist him. He was a rare handsome uncle.

His name was also pleasant: Jiang Chaoyang.

Jiang Ding didn't answer. He sidestepped the man and walked into the elevator, pressing the close-door button.

"Ding Ding!"

Jiang Chaoyang quickly stepped in, his face etched with shame. "I know you've resented me all these years. I fought hard for your custody back then, but your mother disagreed, and the court ultimately ruled in her favor."

He then rambled on for a long time, saying he had wanted to see you but didn't have the time, that he had sent money and gifts many times but Lin Wanqiu never accepted them, throwing them straight out, and so on.

There was no response.

Jiang Chaoyang glanced at the other party and realized that he had been silent the entire time, not like someone speaking beside him, but like a mass of air.

"You brat..."

Jiang Chaoyang was a little angry.

Ding dong!

The elevator door opened, and Jiang Ding walked out as if it were his own home.

The elevator and the residential area were public spaces, usable by any citizen. What did it have to do with him?

Arriving at his doorstep, he covered the keypad with one hand, entered the password with the other, and pressed his thumb to the fingerprint scanner. The door clicked open, and he walked in with his backpack.

Jiang Chaoyang frowned slightly but said nothing.

He followed him in, his right foot crossing the boundary between the door and the room—

Clang!

A cold glint that made one's scalp tingle flashed by. The sharp sword tip, enveloped in highly condensed Inner Qi, pressed against his throat, less than a millimeter away.

Jiang Ding looked at him calmly.

He's probably at the Inner Qi Great Accomplishment realm, and it's the Fledgling Eagle Takes Flight Art. He hasn't switched to any other Inner Qi. It seems he still hasn't given up on becoming a cultivator even now, approaching fifty years old.

His combat experience is extremely poor, and his cultivation realm is also very low.

"What are you doing?!"

Jiang Chaoyang stiffened, angered, "Is this how your mother taught you? Is this something you can mess around with? I think you're too wild and need a beating!"

As he spoke, he reached out to slap Jiang Ding's sword.

Sizzle~

As he moved, the Inner Qi shield at his throat was easily sliced through. The sword tip truly touched his skin, feeling cold and slightly stinging.

Jiang Chaoyang's body stiffened again. He looked at the young man in front of him in disbelief, and at his unbelievably steady sword.

Does he really not fear killing me?

"Stranger, do not enter my home without permission," Jiang Ding said slowly.