Entering the Hall and Entering the Inner Chamber

After practicing last time, I entered the state easily this time, as if I had done it many times before.

However, the feeling this time was a bit different from last time. Compared to before.

The speed at which Spiritual Energy gathered this time was significantly faster than last time.

I tried to send the gathered Spiritual Energy into my Dantian.

But it was always unsuccessful. Either it was too fast, causing the Spiritual Energy to run rampant within my body.

Or it was too slow, and the Spiritual Energy connection would break. Just as I managed to gather a ball of it.

And then tried to send it to my Dantian, it would dissipate halfway.

Slowly, I found the knack. This process of gathering Spiritual Energy.

It couldn't be too fast, nor too slow. It had to be done gradually.

Like a river that never dries up, the water should flow slowly.

Continuously, and then accumulating from small to large, it could break down a dam.

After finding the problem, I devoted all my mental energy to controlling the speed of the Spiritual Energy.

I don't know how long passed like this...

Finally, with the continuous influx of Spiritual Energy, I felt my Dantian was starting to get full.

I slowly adjusted my position, guiding the Spiritual Energy towards my Spine.

I steadied my mind, then suddenly released my control over the Spiritual Energy.

I only felt as if a large firecracker had been placed inside my Lumbar Vertebrae, and then it exploded.

Then I felt that the resistance in my Lumbar Vertebrae suddenly disappeared, and the Spiritual Energy could directly reach it.

To be honest, it felt quite uncomfortable, as if my waist was about to explode.

I was greatly encouraged by succeeding on the first try, and then prepared to break through the next acupoint.

It was no different from before, and the result was naturally successful.

This continued until I was attacking the last acupoint, which was the meridian in my chest cavity.

Every time I channeled Spiritual Energy into it, I felt a burning sensation in my chest.

It was accompanied by a feeling of chest tightness and difficulty breathing. Despite this, my attempts to break through failed one after another.

I tried all sorts of methods, whether it was the speed of the Spiritual Energy or its power.

Just as I was racking my brain, I suddenly thought of a rather unconventional method.

'Gather the Spiritual Energy within the already opened meridians.'

Since I couldn't break through all at once, I would compress a ball of Spiritual Energy in each of the opened meridians. Then, I would use them to attack the last unopened meridian one after another.

I decided to do it right away, as I had no other options. A long time passed like this.

After finally gathering and compressing the Spiritual Energy within the meridians.

I took a slight breath, thinking I'd give it one last try.

If this attempt failed, I would decisively end my cultivation and ask Martial Uncle what the reason was.

Then I released the Spiritual Energy that was controlled within each meridian, starting from the Dantian to the Lumbar Vertebrae, then to the Spine, and finally to the Cervical Vertebrae.

Amidst a series of rumbling sounds, I felt a sudden release in my chest cavity.

There was a feeling of sudden clarity, as if everything had become smooth and unobstructed.

After adjusting to my body, I felt the Spiritual Energy absorbed from the outside first circulate in my Dantian.

Then it traveled from my waist to my spine, then along my torso into my chest, and then from my chest back to my Dantian.

It cycled like this, over and over, like a river that never dries up, flowing endlessly, ceaselessly.

I emerged from my cultivation state, and as I opened my eyes, a golden light flashed within them.

I felt the Spiritual Energy constantly circulating within my body again. This feeling was too wonderful.

I looked at Martial Uncle and asked, "Did I succeed?"

"Yes, you succeeded."

I clenched my fists, feeling a power I had never experienced before.

Martial Uncle looked at a nearby stone and said to me, "Channel your Spiritual Energy into your fist, then punch that stone next to you and see the effect."

I glanced at it. It was a very smooth river stone.

It looked as large as a millstone, not small at all. I thought my hand would break if I punched it.

But the unprecedented power within my body made me restless.

I gritted my teeth, channeled Spiritual Energy into my right hand, and clenched it into a fist.

I smashed my fist directly at the river stone. The expected pain of a broken bone did not come.

I saw that where my fist had struck the stone, there was a pit the size of my fist.

There were some cracks around it, but the entire stone hadn't split or shattered.

Even so, I felt it was incredible and looked up at Martial Uncle.

Martial Uncle's eyes held a look of approval, but I could also vaguely see a hint of worry deep within them.

Then Martial Uncle said sternly, "From today on, you have officially stepped onto the path of cultivation, and at the same time, you have stepped into the 'Yin Xing,' this man-eating place.

From now on, you must cultivate diligently. No matter where you go or what you do, you must think three steps ahead.

The last sentence, though short, is something most people can't achieve in a lifetime.

There are many reasons for this. Cultivating well is so you won't disgrace your grandfather when you go out later.

Don't disgrace Maoshan. Uh... even though you're not from Maoshan.

But you are learning Maoshan's cultivation techniques, so in a sense.

You are also a part of Maoshan, so you cannot bring shame to this technique.

I want you to think three steps ahead so you can live longer in the Yin Xing. Remember this, and be vigilant at all times.

Don't die before you've even achieved anything, or it will be a huge joke."

I smiled and replied, "I won't, Martial Uncle. Don't worry.

I will cultivate diligently from now on and will think three steps ahead when facing any situation."

Martial Uncle stroked his beard and nodded at me.

"By the way, Martial Uncle, you said I'm not entirely a Maoshan person, so am I your disciple? Or your apprentice?"

Martial Uncle's body twitched. Perhaps the movement was too large, as several strands of his beard were pulled out.

Grimacing in pain, he said, "No, no, no... I am not your master. Teaching you cultivation is also at the request of an old friend.

Oh, right. If you cause trouble when you go out later, you can't say that I taught you cultivation. I like peace and quiet and dislike trouble."

"Then if people ask me how I cultivated, what should I say?"

Martial Uncle blurted out without thinking, "Just say you're self-taught, a rare cultivation prodigy."

Me: "Uh... okay."

"Alright, go make some food, eat, and get some good rest. I'll teach you more tomorrow."

Hearing this, I asked Martial Uncle with confusion, "More? What more?"

Martial Uncle suddenly said with a serious expression, "Do you know what our Maoshan's signature ultimate skill is?"

I said I didn't know.

Martial Uncle said with arrogance, "It's Talismans."

I asked Martial Uncle, "Are they those things stuck on the jars and bottles in your courtyard?"

Martial Uncle nodded and said, "Yes. That's all for today! I'm a bit tired. I'll teach you tomorrow morning."

The next morning, I got up very early. Martial Uncle asked me to make a large wooden platform.

I found a few wooden boards, joined them together, and secured them with nails. A simple wooden platform was made.

Then Martial Uncle took out a cloth bundle from the room and took out several brushes from it.

There were also some small jars and bottles containing various colored powders.

He then took out a stack of yellow paper from the bottom of the bag and introduced them one by one:

"This red powder is Cinnabar. You need to add a little water to dissolve it when you use it.

These are the brushes and yellow paper. Use your cultivation, that is, Spiritual Energy, along with Cinnabar.

Maoshan's Talismans are all made using this method."