Opening Progress: 0%![Thanks to Lin Yuan Dk for the 6000 reward!]

"Mmm~"

Meng Nan's movements woke Zhao Xiaoshuang. The young girl opened her eyes and met Meng Nan's gaze. She was stunned at first, then immediately lowered her head in embarrassment, her ears instantly turning red all the way to the roots.

Meng Nan found it amusing.

Come to think of it, he had spent eight years with Zhao Xiaoshuang from twelve years in the future, and he had never seen, nor imagined, that the usually dignified and generous Zhao Xiaoshuang would ever be so shy.

She was clearly the same person.

Yet, twelve years ago and twelve years later, they were vastly different. Experiencing these contrasts in such a short time had blown away much of the melancholy in his heart.

In his arms.

Zhao Xiaoshuang peeked her head out and saw the smile on Meng Nan's face. Suppressing her shyness, she struggled to get up.

"Sleep a little longer."

Meng Nan knew Zhao Xiaoshuang was usually a heavy sleeper, and she had been tired last night. If she got up now, she'd likely have no energy all day.

So he let her sleep a bit longer.

He himself got up, dressed, found his meditation cushion, and sat down.

Zhao Xiaoshuang secretly watched Meng Nan cultivating in the morning from under the covers, and eventually fell asleep watching him.

In the bridal chamber.

On the cushion.

Meng Nan closed his eyes and opened his status panel--

[Name: Meng Nan]
[Lifespan: 18/80]
[Faction: Chashan · Tianlin Cave]
[Cultivation: Fetal Breath Tranquility]
[Internal Breath: 0]
[Talent: 1]
[Cultivation Technique: Thunder Illumination Scripture Level 3]
[Movement Technique: Spirit Wandering Steps (Level 2)]
[Skills: None]
[Unlock Progress: Viewable]

"Cultivation hasn't moved."

"Cultivation technique and movement technique have both improved!"

"Just as I suspected."

Meng Nan looked at the panel, a faint joy rising in his heart.

He had cultivated diligently for eight years in the future timeline, finally reaching the third level of the Thunder Illumination Scripture before the end of the eighth year.

This was one of the introductory cultivation techniques of Tianlin Cave. Boys and girls from all three hundred villages practiced it.

Its first level corresponded to 'Fetal Breath Tranquility'.

The second level corresponded to 'Fetal Breath Qi Sensing'.

The third level corresponded to 'Fetal Breath Contemplation'.

Reaching the third level meant Meng Nan had cultivated to the 'Visualization Realm' in that future timeline.

"Two years of foundation."

"Eight years of hard work."

"It wasn't easy!"

Meng Nan recalled those eight years. Regardless of the season, regardless of the weather, there wasn't a single day he stopped. A full eight years, ten years in total, to finally reach this level, to reach the final hurdle of the 'Fetal Breath Stage'.

Three and a half years for Fetal Breath Qi Sensing.

Six and a half years for Fetal Breath Contemplation.

So difficult!

So difficult!

During this cultivation process, even with the 'status panel' that allowed him to monitor the increase in 'Internal Breath' and changes in his cultivation in real-time, progress was often only made every three to five months.

Seeing no progress for three to five months, feeling lost and helpless – it wasn't something an ordinary person could endure.

Without Meng Nan's 'status panel', others would likely find it even harder.

"No wonder many people in the village gradually gave up on cultivation."

Meng Nan understood now.

He truly saw no hope. Even for someone like Meng Nan, after spending ten years to cultivate 'Fetal Breath Contemplation', how long would it take to achieve 'Contemplation' perfection and advance to the 'Inner Qi Stage'?

Twenty years?

Thirty years?

What would be the point of advancing to the 'Inner Qi Stage' then?

A single stray thought during this period would lead to abandonment. And once abandoned, one day would become two. Over time, it would become impossible to pick up again.

He, the author, had experienced this same mental state countless times with his past lives' webnovels that were discontinued or left unfinished. He should understand this best.

Once a breath is exhaled, it is difficult to gather it again.

Some manage to continue, but they are ultimately very few.

"I must see it through to the end!"

Meng Nan thought to himself.

However.

Going further.

Advancing from 'Fetal Breath Contemplation' to 'Inner Qi circulation' was another major hurdle, far more difficult than the two minor hurdles before it.

To break through, one had to visualize a complete 'Qi Circulation Diagram', guide the inner breath into it, and allow it to naturally transform. The 'inner breath' would become 'inner qi', spreading throughout the body and covering it entirely. Only then could one advance to 'Inner Qi circulation'.

Diligence!

Comprehension!

Memory!

Imagination!

It involved all aspects and was not easily achieved.

"Cultivation is truly difficult!"

Meng Nan sighed.

Without this fortuitous encounter, he would have been twenty-six before reaching the 'Visualization Realm', and who knew when he could have broken through after that. There was even a possibility of 'Qi Deviation' and losing his life.

The path to immortality in this life was ultimately out of reach.

But now.

Even now!

"It's still not enough!"

Meng Nan didn't rush to cultivate. He followed the panel down, landing on the last item, '[Activation Progress]', and clicked it directly.

[Activation Progress--]

[Basic Progress: 0%][Mandatory]

[Spirit Sand: 0%][Choose One]

[Sacrifice: 0/1][Choose One]

"Basic Progress."

"Spirit Sand."

"Sacrifice."

Meng Nan looked at them one by one and quickly understood.

Through this 'Information Panel', he could indeed reactivate future timelines and enter them.

But there was 'progress' and 'prerequisites'.

There were three items in total, one mandatory and two that were a choice between one. In other words, Meng Nan needed to complete two of them to reactivate a future timeline.

He examined them one by one.

"Basic Progress."

This was the simplest.

"Consume the upper limit of inner breath."

"That's equivalent to cultivation."

"Devour a certain amount of cultivation to complete the basic progress."

Meng Nan understood the requirements for the first item and the information flooded his mind, instantly clarifying everything.

This item was difficult in one sense and simple in another.

'Fetal Breath Stage' cultivated inner breath. Meng Nan had the cultivation experience from his future timeline, so cultivating it again now should be much easier. If he could also successfully find a 'Suoluo Seed' to aid his cultivation, the speed of inner breath growth should be even faster.

"Cultivating the 'Thunder Illumination Scripture', the upper limit for the Qi Sensing Realm is 10 points of inner breath. The Visualization Realm's limit is currently unclear."

"How much Inner Qi capacity is needed to fill 'Basic Progress'?"

Meng Nan had cultivation experience and had a general idea of the Inner Qi capacity for the Qi Sensing Realm. If 'Basic Progress' required too much, it would be a problem.

If it was only seven or eight, or ten-something points, then it would be simple.

He didn't know now.

But he wasn't in a hurry.

He could wait until he cultivated Inner Qi later and try it out with one or two points to find out.

He continued reading.

Spirit Sand.

What was this?

He hadn't heard of it.

But since it had the word 'Spirit' in front, he guessed it was related to cultivation.

He couldn't get this for now. He didn't even know its origin; he'd never heard of it, so where could he get it?

"Skip this."

Meng Nan shook his head.

He looked at the last item—

"Sacrifice."

"You must personally kill a cultivator one level higher than yourself to be counted as a 'sacrifice'."

"I'm in the Fetal Breath Stage now, so I need to kill someone in the Inner Qi Stage."

"If I reach the Inner Qi Stage, I'll need to kill someone in the True Qi Stage."

"This item gets harder and harder as you go further."

Meng Nan frowned.

Killing someone above his level was still relatively simple for him at this stage.

Poison.

Traps.

Ambush.

Using unconventional methods like these, it shouldn't be difficult to kill a slightly weaker quasi-cultivator in the Inner Qi Stage.

The difficulty lay in choosing the target and the aftermath.

"Killing innocent people is definitely out of the question."

"And targeting someone with strong backing is also not feasible."

"It's hard to choose."

Meng Nan recalled the past twenty years, thinking about which Inner Qi Stage cultivator in Yinlian Village deserved to die. As he thought about it, more than ten names and appearances came to mind.

As the saying goes: A sharp weapon in hand, a murderous intent arises.

Inner Qi Stage cultivators were mid-level figures in Yinlian Village. With their martial prowess, if they harbored ill intentions, it would be a grave matter deserving death.

Meng Nan couldn't foresee the future. He hadn't deliberately remembered such individuals in the future timeline, but since they were all from the same village, Meng Nan also worried that these villains might accidentally harm him if they weren't careful. Therefore, he had a general understanding of some of them.

Every single one of them deserved to die.

But the timeline spanned twenty years. Many of them were currently only in the Fetal Breath Stage, or were still running around as children.

Putting aside whether he could bring himself to do it, the key was that killing them wouldn't be useful.

Then there was a portion who had entered the Inner Qi Stage for a long time. Their strength would inevitably be formidable, and their experience might be seasoned. Meng Nan worried he might not be able to defeat them and end up falling into a trap.

So.

After much thought.

If he had to choose someone in the near future, there was only one person.

This person hadn't broken through yet and was still in the Fetal Breath Stage. Furthermore, he was a hothead. In the future, he caused trouble due to his carelessness, which showed he wasn't cautious or difficult to deal with.

Coupled with the things he had done—

"He's the tentative choice."

"There are still a few months. I'll cultivate, and meanwhile, I'll ponder how to kill him. No need to rush."

Meng Nan was calm and thought carefully.

With this, both 'Basic Progress' and 'Sacrifice' had requirements that could potentially be met. The next time he could open the 'Future Timeline' wasn't far off.

"Future Timeline."

The thought of having another chance to visit the 'Future Timeline' made Meng Nan feel strange. The various aspects of the first eight years of the future timeline, which he had deliberately avoided thinking about while examining the 'Information Panel' earlier, suddenly flooded his mind, giving him an inexplicable sense of oddness.

Discomfort?

Nostalgia?

Can't quite say.

Always felt like something was missing.

Empty.

"What's past is set."

"But the future holds infinite possibilities."

"The future timeline—"

"Is it real or fake? After I left, did that timeline perish or continue onward?"

"Xiao Shuang."

"Xing Zhe."

"Er Lang."

"San Tan."

"They—"

As Meng Nan pondered everything, he suddenly felt a coolness on his face. He touched it, his fingers damp.

In the new room.

"The future also becomes the past."

"Don't think about it!"

Meng Nan lightly shook his head, dispelling stray thoughts, and began to cultivate.

The wisp of true qi at his navel, which he had desperately sought for two years in reality without success, was now easily sensed with a slight exertion of his cultivation, as effortless as drinking water or tea.

This was the result of Meng Nan's eight years of effort in the future timeline.

His realm was connected.

His experience was connected.

Entering 'tranquility' was not difficult.

'Qi Sensing' was not difficult.

After sensing the wisp of true qi, Meng Nan felt neither joy nor sorrow and continued his cultivation.

He consciously vibrated his nasal cavity and inhaled deeply, taking in eight parts of air. Once the qi entered his abdomen, he guided his mind downward, calmed his heart and spirit, and held his breath.

He silently recited the cultivation method.

Beginners in the 'Qi Sensing Realm' usually found it uncomfortable during the 'breath hold' phase, immediately feeling suffocated, their qi rising, wanting to expel stale air, and experiencing chest and throat tightness.

Although Meng Nan had experience from the future timeline, his body found it extremely difficult to adapt.

He found an opportunity to exhale a breath, then inhaled again as before.

This was a normal state.

As his cultivation time increased, his breath-holding duration would lengthen, and his internal qi would gradually strengthen.

Such an inhale and exhale constituted 'one breath'.

In the future timeline, Meng Nan could achieve 'twenty-four breaths' in a single cultivation session, which was considered average.

It was said that those with superior attainment could cultivate for 'forty-nine breaths' at a time, with each breath being longer and more efficient, thus making their progress extraordinary and beyond the reach of ordinary people.

In reality, upon first entering the 'Qi Sensing Realm', Meng Nan could not yet reach the level of 'twenty-four breaths'. However, this would change quickly; he could catch up within about ten days of familiarization.

First cultivation session.

After seven breaths.

Meng Nan opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath.

He looked at his status panel again—

Name: Meng Nan

Lifespan: 18/80

Faction: Chashan · Tianlin Cave

Cultivation: Fetal Breath Qi Sensing

Internal Qi: 1

Root Bone: 1

Cultivation Method: Thunder Illumination Scripture Level 3

Technique: Spirit Wandering Steps (Level 2)

Skills: None

Progress Unlocked: Viewable

"Qi Sensing Realm!"

"It worked!"

Zhao Xiaoshuang woke up again and saw Meng Nan sitting cross-legged on the futon, smiling as if something good had happened.

Seeing him smile, she was also happy.

She glanced at the sky and quickly got out of bed.

Her first day of married life began just like that.

Thank you to 'Lin Yuan Dk' for the 6000 tip, thank you to 'Feng Yun Houye' for the 500 tip!

PS: Starting tomorrow, two updates per day.