Alchemy Notes! Second Life Complete!

"Everyone is an independent individual."

"No one is subservient to anyone else."

"The path of cultivation allows for no such thing."

Meng Nan watched Zhao Xiaoshuang leave, a peculiar feeling stirring within him—a mix of worry and melancholy.

But ultimately, he adjusted his mindset.

In the first twelve years of this life, he had meticulously planned every step, not just for himself but for Zhao Xiaoshuang as well, always aiming to sculpt a perfect life. While it seemed to be for her own good, he had gradually begun to treat her as a subordinate, manipulating and arranging her life at will.

This subtle shift over twelve years had gone unnoticed by him.

It wasn't until Meng Nan arrived in this life that he noticed something amiss during their two years together, identifying the root of the problem. Then, with this latest breakthrough and Zhao Xiaoshuang's changes and reactions, Meng Nan finally put all the pieces together and awakened.

There was no perfect way to cultivate.

When it was time to let go, he had to let go.

With this experience, he would slowly change his mindset. When he returned to the current timeline, Meng Nan's approach and outlook would surely be much improved.

As he thought, the immortal path was indeed difficult. While having a benefactor's guidance was good, self-effort and independent thought were absolutely essential.

"Everyone should be the protagonist of their own life."

For the next three to four years, Meng Nan remained at home.

He cultivated diligently.

He took care of his child.

He taught his disciples.

He recorded the changes.

His eldest disciple, Wang An, cultivated extremely quickly. He began cultivating in February of the 31st year of the Immortal Calendar and reached the Inner Qi Stage by the end of the 32nd year, a few months faster than in his previous life.

In March of the 36th year of the Immortal Calendar.

Wang An broke through to the True Qi Stage. At this time, he was only 21 years old.

His future was boundless.

That same month.

Wang An was personally sent to Tianlin Cave by the Village Chief. From then on, he could cultivate in Tianlin Cave, returning to Yinlian Village at most once a year.

Some years, he might not return at all.

Having nurtured Wang An, Meng Nan no longer concerned himself with other matters. Whether this disciple would be filial or remember his kindness later depended on what followed.

But he wouldn't be able to observe for too long.

He only had two years left in this timeline.

One day.

Meng Nan was cultivating again.

He sat with his legs crossed, eyes slightly closed, peacefully entering a state of stillness. He didn't think, didn't look, didn't listen, didn't move. His tongue touched the roof of his mouth, and he slowly swallowed the saliva that filled his mouth.

He mobilized the Inner Qi in his dantian, guiding it downwards from the dantian, circulating through the lower abdomen, reaching the Zhongji acupoint four inches below the navel, passing through the perineum, over the coccyx to the tailbone, ascending along the spine between the vertebrae, reaching the Baihui acupoint at the crown of the head, and then down the face.

After that.

The Inner Qi should pass through the throat and enter the dantian through the center line of the chest and abdomen.

This completed one Lesser Heavenly Cycle.

However, Meng Nan could only guide the Inner Qi to his face so far. He would then run out of energy, his mind often filled with distracting thoughts that flickered in and out, disrupting his cultivation and making it impossible to sustain.

"Thirty-five breaths!"

"Just one breath short!"

In these past few years, building upon his cultivation from the previous twelve years, he had improved from 'Twenty-four Breaths' to 'Thirty-five Breaths', surpassing even his 'Thirty-three Breaths' before his death in this life.

This was progress.

He had now surpassed the peak of this life's original self.

Yet, he was still one step away from the 'Lesser Heavenly Cycle Realm'.

But fortunately—

"I have already grasped the essence of this realm."

"If I can take one more step and sustain a single cultivation session for 'Thirty-six Breaths', I will have hope of fully connecting the Lesser Heavenly Cycle and entering the 'Lesser Heavenly Cycle Realm'."

Meng Nan now understood completely, seeing the path forward.

Once the Lesser Heavenly Cycle was fully connected, his long-stagnant Inner Qi might continue to grow, and his strength could be further enhanced.

With two years remaining, taking this step was only a matter of time.

At the earliest, it would take a few months; at the latest, a year or two, and he would surely break through.

"But since I understand the principles, there's no need to force myself through it anymore."

Meng Nan had his own plans.

He stood up, pushed the door open, and walked out.

The morning sun rose.

A cool breeze met him.

In the bamboo grove, shouts could be faintly heard.

It was Meng Xingzhe, Meng Jian, and Meng Santan, the three siblings, practicing their swordplay.

It was now the 4th month of the 36th year of the Immortal Calendar.

Meng Xingzhe had just turned seventeen.

Meng Jian was fifteen.

Meng Santan was thirteen.

The eldest was already of age for cultivation.

In this life, with Meng Nan's guidance and the help of the 'Suoluo Seed', Meng Xingzhe's cultivation progress was much faster. He had long since passed the Entering Stillness Realm and Qi Sensing Realm, stepping into the Visualization Realm.

It shouldn't be difficult to advance to the Inner Qi Stage within the next year.

Meng Nan's efforts were not in vain.

He followed the sounds, went over, and guided the three in their swordplay and movement techniques. After a flurry of activity, he returned to his own cultivation—

Spirit Wandering Steps.

Pine Wind Swordplay.

When his Inner Qi was significantly depleted and his stamina gradually declined, he returned to the small courtyard for lunch, basked in the sun, and pondered the 'Blood Arrow Secret Technique'.

This secret technique harmed the user before the target, making it difficult to practice. He could only chew it slowly and ponder it bit by bit.

Six years of research.

Meng Nan felt he had gained some mastery and insight.

Noon passed.

In the afternoon, Meng Nan was busy with woodworking in the small courtyard again. He no longer made ordinary furniture; he crafted more exquisite and novel items. Then, a merchant caravan formed by True Qi Stage cultivators from the village would come to pick up the goods and sell them everywhere.

Half an afternoon of work was enough to support the entire family's life and cultivation, with even some surplus.

When evening arrived.

Meng Nan was cultivating again.

This time, he took out a stalk of 'Yingxiang Grass' that he and Zhao Xiaoshuang had obtained six years ago. The grass had dried out, its leaves like long swords, stiff and straight.

Meng Nan plucked a leaf from it, placed it in an incense burner, and lit it from the tip, like the point of a sword.

Soon, the fragrance filled the air.

In this aroma, Meng Nan undressed, sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion, straightened his body, keeping his spine unbent and his posture upright.

While circulating his energy.

He used the Six-Character Qi Formula, inhaling through his nose and exhaling through his mouth with the sounds 'He', 'Xu', 'Hu', 'Si', 'Chui', 'Xi' in sequence, silently reciting each sound six times, for a total of thirty-six times.

The Inner Qi still flowed down from the Dantian, circulating through the lower abdomen, reaching the Zhongji acupoint four inches below the navel, passing through the perineum, over the tailbone to the tailbone, ascending along the spine between the vertebrae to the Baihui acupoint at the crown of the head, and then down the face.

This was where he had stopped in the morning.

But this time, it only paused briefly.

Then, it smoothly passed through the throat and entered the Dantian through the midline of the chest and abdomen.

At this point, Meng Nan's body trembled slightly, and immense joy surged in his heart.

But the circulation did not stop.

He then switched to the 'Minor Heavenly Cycle' circulation method. The general process still followed the previous method, cycling repeatedly, in a continuous loop.

One cycle took thirty-six breaths!

Another cycle took another thirty-six!

After three cycles, he finally reached his limit.

Inner Qi Minor Heavenly Cycle!

It was now complete!

Name: Meng Nan

Lifespan: 6/8

Affiliation: Chashan · Tianlin Cave

Cultivation: Inner Qi Minor Heavenly Cycle

[Inner Qi: 101]

[Bone Structure: 1]

[Cultivation Technique: Thunder Illumination Scripture - Level 5]

[Sorcery: Spirit Wandering Steps (Proficient), Pine Wind Swordplay (Proficient), Blood Arrow Secret Technique (Skilled)] [Not Entered, Entered, Skilled, Proficient, Minor Accomplishment, Major Accomplishment, Perfect]

[Craftsmanship: None]

[Death Log: Viewable]

April breakthrough.

May arrived.

Zhao Xiaoshuang returned once more.

"That trip was too dangerous!"

"We actually ran into a Silver Armored Horned Python. Its hide was tough, and it took a lot of effort for Sister Ying and me to kill it!"

"The snake gall and scales of this Silver Armored Horned Python are both very valuable."

"Sister Ying used some of the scales to craft a suit of inner armor, which is difficult for ordinary blades and spears to penetrate."

"I sold all of my share!"

"You know that market I told you about last time? When I first went there last year, there were only a little over ten people. This time, the number exceeded twenty, reaching twenty-two. I traded those scales for this. You'll definitely like it!"

Zhao Xiaoshuang recounted her experiences from the past few months.

During these four years, Zhao Xiaoshuang had not been away the entire time. She would return two or three times a year, stay at home for a month or two, and then head out again.

Meng Nan never left his home.

However, through Zhao Xiaoshuang, he gained some understanding of the area around Yinlian Village.

Within the various strongholds and villages under Tianlin Cave, there were many at the Inner Qi Stage.

For example, Yinlian Village had two hundred.

Some of these people, like Meng Nan, stayed in the village year-round, having their own livelihoods and unwilling to venture out into danger.

Others followed those at the True Qi Stage to trade, buying low and selling high, engaging in small businesses.

Then there were those like Zhao Xiaoshuang and Feng Ying, who were unwilling to live ordinary lives. They traveled in the wilderness, tempered themselves, and sought opportunities, hoping to become high and mighty Qi Refining Immortal Masters.

But this was difficult.

Even more so for an individual.

Thus, over time, some individuals at the Inner Qi Stage who had encountered each other in the wilderness, and occasionally a few at the True Qi Stage, maintained contact. They would gather once every few months or years to exchange information and resources.

Sometimes it was news.

Sometimes it was supplies.

Zhao Xiaoshuang and Feng Ying had been adventuring for four years. In their third year, they had encountered a small group. They met twice a year at a fixed location to exchange information and resources.

After two years of contact, it wasn't until last year that the two were truly accepted and the existence of the small market was revealed to them.

However, the two had only gone to join the fun last year.

It was only this year, after luckily hunting a Silver Armored Horned Python, whose scales and gall were treasures, that they had something to trade.

As Zhao Xiaoshuang spoke, she took out a small booklet from her embrace as if presenting a treasure and handed it to Meng Nan--

"Alchemy Notes?"

Meng Nan's interest was immediately piqued.

Upon flipping through it, he saw that it recorded the formulas for seven types of medicinal powders for stopping bleeding and reducing bruising, setting bones and mending tendons, and treating internal organ injuries, as well as two recipes for antidotes.

These were all ordinary.

What made Meng Nan's eyes light up the most was a secret medicine called 'Qi Circulation Powder' at the end of the notes.

"Qi Circulation Powder!"

"This secret medicine is not comparable to true immortal pills, but it is useful for us at the Inner Qi Stage and also for those at the True Qi Stage. However, the medicinal ingredients required for its refinement are too difficult to find."

"This single volume of Alchemy Notes could not be exchanged for half of my scales. I also traded for a pill of 'Qi Circulation Powder'."

"It's this one."

Zhao Xiaoshuang handed the Alchemy Notes to Meng Nan, then carefully took out a small bottle and poured out a pill. It was wrapped in wax, so no scent could be detected, and he didn't know what it looked like.

But--

"A pill!"

"A cultivation pill!"

Meng Nan's eyes shone. This was a good thing.

He had plenty of time and had always wanted to learn a craft besides carpentry, preferably one related to cultivation.

The first thing that came to mind was 'Alchemy'.

However, before his death, and even during the six years he lived again after his death, Meng Nan had never found any related books. He couldn't get close to the famous alchemists in the three hundred villages. He had originally thought he could only gather information in this life and try again in the next.

He hadn't expected Zhao Xiaoshuang to bring back a scroll.

"With these Alchemy Notes, I can spend the last two years diligently studying. I might not need them when I return to reality this time, but when I next come to the future timeline, perhaps I'll have mastered alchemy and be immensely wealthy!"

Meng Nan rejoiced in his heart.

He looked at Zhao Xiaoshuang and saw that her face was still full of excitement. Seeing him happy made her even happier. A breeze lifted her hair, and Meng Nan noticed that the scar on Zhao Xiaoshuang's forehead had not yet faded. Looking at her neck, he saw several sword marks concealed there as well.

Traveling through the wild jungle was not easy.

Poisons!

Miasma!

Yao Beasts!

And people!

Although Zhao Xiaoshuang enjoyed herself, the dangers and hardships were certainly not few.

Meng Nan was touched.

He put away the Alchemy Notes and said to Zhao Xiaoshuang, "I broke through last month. Shall we go out together next time?"

"Ah!"

"Okay!"

Zhao Xiaoshuang's surprise grew, and she beamed with joy.

Zhao Xiaoshuang returned in May and left again in June.

This time, besides Feng Ying, Meng Nan joined them.

They set off in June.

They mingled in July.

They died in August.

In August of Immortal Calendar 36, Meng Nan and his companions encountered a Feathered Peacock. None of the three escaped; they all perished.

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