Switching to a different cultivation method was no less than starting over from scratch.
Fortunately, there were commonalities between cultivation realms. Only the details of the techniques needed to be studied, the Qi Circulation Diagram reconstructed, and the visualization method changed.
That was all simple.
Meng Nan immersed himself in cultivation.
Aside from his cultivation method, Meng Nan had already mastered the Giant Spirit God Secret Technique and the Blood Arrow Secret Technique. If he continued to devote himself to them and study them in depth, sooner or later he could become truly invincible below the Qi Refining realm.
The rest, such as the Five Thunder Technique, the Gale Thunder Sword Technique, and the Hundred Transformations Cloud and Mist Movement Technique, were only meant to tide him over in the early stages and slightly broaden his combat repertoire.
Once he reached Qi Refining, he could switch to proper techniques. He could discard all of these, so there was no need to spend too much effort and energy on them.
Some things had to be taken up, others let go.
Some things came first, others second.
Only then could he make the most of his time.
Time flew.
In the blink of an eye, more than three months passed.
Meng Nan was well-off, and with Zhao Xiaoshuang guiding him, even though he was starting over with the Lesser Thousand Sword Scripture, his cultivation speed was still good.
After more than three months, he had reached the peak of Internal Qi.
The day he regained his peak True Qi cultivation was not far off.
One day.
As usual, Meng Nan was cultivating.
Suddenly,
he heard a commotion outside.
He rose and walked out of the quiet chamber, only to see Zhao Xiaoshuang leading three people inside.
The one in front had long hair like a waterfall and bright, clever eyes. She bore a five-part resemblance to Zhao Xiaoshuang. It was the third child, Meng Santan.
The one in the middle strode with the air of a dragon and tiger, his build tall and lean, and he looked more like Meng Nan. This was Meng Xingzhe.
The last one had striking features and a fearsome bearing, with a black dog at his feet. This was the second son, Meng Jian.
"Dad!"
The three of them bowed when they saw Meng Nan.
A century had passed.
Even Meng Santan, the youngest, was over ninety. She was already an old maid. Though her face had yet to show her age and she looked like a middle-aged woman, her years still showed in her greater composure.
Still, old habits died hard. Meng Santan remained the most impatient.
As soon as she arrived, she had peppered her mother, Zhao Xiaoshuang, with questions. Now, seeing Meng Nan, she blurted out in surprise, "Dad had a dream, woke up, and wanted to kill someone?"
It was no wonder Meng Santan was surprised.
The reason Zhao Xiaoshuang had summoned the three of them this time was simply too bizarre: Meng Nan had dreamed that someone had tried to take a precious herb from him and killed him.
Then he woke up and wanted to gather people to go kill that person?
"Haha!"
"That poor guy must be so wronged!"
Meng Santan pictured the man's bewildered expression when their family of five showed up at his door. She couldn't help laughing, then leaned close to Zhao Xiaoshuang's ear and whispered, "Mom, you really dote on Dad."
Wasn't that the truth?
Who else would do such a thing?
"You're always talking too much!"
Zhao Xiaoshuang glared at Meng Santan.
Meng Nan didn't mind.
After looking over the three of them, he turned to Zhao Xiaoshuang. "No time to waste. Let's set out now. We'll kill Zhang He first, then go to Candle Platform. Once we've gathered the precious herb and returned, we can catch up."
There was only a month left until the precious herb appeared.
They had to go to Yanxia Ravine, where Zhang He was, and then hurry to Candle Platform. The two places lay to the south and north, so the journey back and forth would take a while. A month was already cutting it close.
"My cultivation has regressed, so I won't go. I'd only hold you back."
"You four, be careful."
Meng Nan knew his limits.
With his Internal Qi cultivation, staying in the cave abode and keeping out of the way was the greatest help he could offer them.
"Huh?"
"Your cultivation regressed?"
Meng Santan had been joking just moments ago, but her expression changed at once. She hurried over to Meng Nan and felt his wrist—
Sure enough!
The Greater Celestial Circuit of Internal Qi!
"This..."
Meng Santan held his wrist, her face first turning grim, then shifting to a strange expression.
She looked at Meng Nan, then at Zhao Xiaoshuang.
She hesitated to speak.
"Santan."
Meng Xingzhe looked at his younger sister.
Meng Santan came to her senses too. She took a few small steps back to Zhao Xiaoshuang, her expression odd. "Has Dad returned to his youth?"
That body.
That pulse.
They were plainly as strong and vigorous as those of a young man in his teens or twenties.
He was nothing like a decrepit old man of a hundred and twenty!
"Something went wrong while he was cultivating, but fortunately it's nothing serious."
In front of their children, Zhao Xiaoshuang still spared Meng Nan's pride. She didn't mention that his memories had also regressed, all the way back to when he was nineteen.
Otherwise—
A nineteen-year-old body.
A nineteen-year-old mind.
Meng Xingzhe and Meng Jian wouldn't dare say much, but Meng Santan would probably make some snide remarks.
Better not mention it.
Worried that Meng Santan would ask too many questions, Zhao Xiaoshuang immediately said, "Let's go."
With that,
she pulled Meng Santan out of the cave abode.
"Dad."
Meng Xingzhe and Meng Jian bowed goodbye and followed them out.
Inside the cave abode,
the family had been together for only a moment. In the blink of an eye, Meng Nan was alone again.
Yanxia Ravine.
Like Yaozi Mountain, it contained a small Spirit Land.
Zhang He had taken possession of this place and cultivated here.
Peak True Essence!
A quasi-cultivator!
It might not sound like much.
But in truth, throughout the Blood Lotus Mountain Territory, across hundreds of thousands of miles and countless mountains, there were only perhaps a dozen or twenty Immortal Masters and great demons, whether they showed themselves openly or kept to the shadows.
It was much the same as Cha Mountain.
It might not even compare to Cha Mountain.
In such a vast region, Immortal Masters and great demons were hard to come by.
That was why quasi-cultivators below the Qi Refining realm still formed the majority.
Those like Meng Nan and Zhang He, who were among the strongest at the peak of True Essence, held even higher standing and were entirely entitled to occupy a small Spirit Land.
That day,
Zhang He was cultivating in his cave abode.
He was a Rogue Cultivator native to Blood Lotus Mountain, born into humble circumstances. Only by a stroke of luck had he obtained the Profound Yin Soul Slaying Method and a set of Mysterious Yin Flying Daggers, which let him rise to prominence.
After reaching the peak of True Essence, he relied on his cultivation method and magical weapons to roam the mountains, with few able to stand against him.
Sometimes he shut himself away to cultivate.
Sometimes he went out in search of opportunities.
His Mysterious Yin Flying Daggers excelled at striking from the shadows and catching enemies unawares. They could slay even a peak True Essence cultivator as easily as slaughtering a chicken or a dog.
So when Zhang He claimed he was "searching for opportunities," most of the time he was looking for lone Rogue Cultivators, then ambushing and killing them.
Murder and arson put gold around your waist!
He exchanged everything he gained from killing people for spirit sand and stored it away. Once he had enough, Zhang He could risk everything and attempt Qi Refining.
That day,
he had yet to feel restless from sitting in stillness.
Zhang He was still meditating.
Then,
Boom!
The cave abode shuddered. The Four Symbols Array protecting it sprang into action.
The Four Symbols took shape,
guarding the cave abode.
"Who's there?!"
Zhang He's cultivation had been interrupted, and his mood was foul.
He swept his sleeve and stood, then went outside the cave abode. There, at a distance, stood a person holding a banner. Black winds howled as sinister ghosts and baleful spirits surged forth, constantly battering his Four Symbols Array.
"The Yao Mountain Elders!"
"Granny Sword?!"
Zhang He furrowed his brows.
He recognized her. She was one of the elderly couple cultivating on Yaozi Mountain, a master of sword arts known as Granny Sword. Her strength was among the best at the peak of True Essence, and she was hardly any weaker than him.
The banner in her hand must be the signature magical weapon of the other Yao Mountain Elder, Old Man Five Thunders. It was the Soul Banner, which housed many sinister ghosts and baleful spirits, all of them at least as strong as True Essence cultivators.
Zhang He had been eyeing the couple for a long time and had already been considering ambushing them.
Two old codgers!
They were bound to be loaded!
But that had only been a thought. He had never actually made a move, and had rarely even crossed paths with them.
Why had they come knocking?
Zhang He was baffled, but wary. He called out, "Granny Sword, we've always kept to our own sides. What do you want?"
Zhang He knew he might not be able to beat the Yao Mountain Elders in a head-on fight. So he wisely backed down, searching for Old Man Five Thunders while considering what to do.
But Zhao Xiaoshuang didn't listen.
She held the banner in one hand and commanded ten True Essence-level souls to sweep along the black winds and baleful spirits, attacking the Four Symbols Array.
Zhang He was cautious and didn't dare come out recklessly.
But he wouldn't be able to hold out long if they kept this up.
"Old hag!"
"Lunatic!"
Zhang He was at a loss!
For them to barge in without provocation, then ignore his questions, was maddening and humiliating.
A wise man didn't fight when the odds were against him!
Seeing this, Zhang He decided to seize the moment before the array was breached. He hurriedly gathered his belongings, then slipped away through a secret passage.
The passage led out of the mountain.
Its exit was on a cliff face.
"The Yao Mountain Elders!"
"I'll make you pay for this!"
Zhang He fled, fuming. But when he looked around, he saw a Giant Spirit figure blocking his way. It raised a hand and tossed a golden ring, which swelled in the wind and came crashing down toward his head.
"Giant Spirit!"
"Old Man Five Thunders?"
Zhang He thought he'd run into the other Yao Mountain Elder.
Boom!
The golden ring crashed down.
A golden talisman on Zhang He's body shattered. He looked again, and it wasn't Old Man Five Thunders at all, but a middle-aged woman holding a spear and a ring.
His heart sank.
And then,
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Across heaven and earth, three more Giant Spirits arrived with a thunderous roar.
"Damn!"
Zhang He's vision went black, and his heart sank into despair!
P.S.: Preliminary news: It'll go on sale on the first day of Lunar New Year (February 1).
P.S. 2: I recommend a new book by a big shot. It goes on sale at noon today; if you're interested, go check it out: Hongwu Great Ming: Why Hasn't My Son Started a Rebellion Yet?
P.S.: Is anyone going to be reading on the first day of Lunar New Year? I'm losing it.
P.S.: Please vote for it!
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