From the Attribute Panel of the Divine Demon Relief on the stone wall, he could see:
To comprehend the Ling Shu Atlas, one must cultivate the Innate Breathing Technique to the twelfth level.
Meng Qingshan naturally intended to record the entire Ling Shu Atlas in the Martial Arts Illustrated Book before leaving this place.
After doing some calculations, he realized that the Innate Breathing Technique was an orange-grade martial art, and cultivating it to the twelfth level would require at least forty thousand points of cultivation.
Subtracting the twenty-five thousand points he already had, he still needed at least fifteen thousand more.
Fortunately, eating the Red Scale Tail in the cold pool inside the stone chamber could increase his cultivation.
To Meng Qingshan, this was undoubtedly an ideal place for secluded cultivation. He immediately closed his eyes and resumed practicing.
Late at night.
Outside Jiaxing City.
Inside an abandoned estate.
One man said in a low, worried voice, "Big Brother, An Ning'er is King Yun Chu's beloved daughter. If we resort to such methods to get what we want, and someone finds out..."
"Enough!"
The man called "Big Brother" cut him off decisively, his tone firm. "The Crimson Void Sword will be forged in a few years. I must obtain the Black Dragon Red Sun Pearl in time!"
"But..."
"Say no more. Don't forget what kind of noble blood flows through our veins!"
Moonlight poured down like water over the abandoned estate, adding a hint of mystery to the tranquil night.
Had Meng Qingshan been there, he would have recognized the man called "Big Brother" as Wang Ruozhi, whom he had met in the city a few days earlier.
His eyes were filled with resolve, as if no obstacle could shake his determination.
"Shao Xuan, the demonic sword Crimson Void will soon be completed. Only the Black Dragon Red Sun Pearl can cleanse the baleful energy clinging to it. This sword is the key to restoring my kingdom. I cannot let this once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity slip by."
Wang Ruozhi spoke evenly, tapping his fingers lightly on the table in a steady rhythm.
A breeze swept through the estate, stirring up a cloud of dust.
A sharp glint flashed in Wang Ruozhi's eyes. He walked to the window and gazed at the bright full moon, saying in a deep voice, "Even if this makes me a shameless wretch despised by all, I will do it."
"Big Brother..."
"Go make the preparations."
He turned to the person beside him and spoke in a low, forceful voice. "Be quick and discreet. Leave no trace..."
At his words, Shao Xuan's eyes flashed with determination. He gritted his teeth and answered, "Yes," then turned and left.
The night deepened. It seemed ordinary, but tonight was destined to be anything but.
The cold pool flowed on, and the stars shifted overhead.
Because Meng Qingshan devoted himself fully to practicing each day, he never felt bored.
In just ten days, his Innate Breathing Technique had made astonishing progress.
By now, he had comprehended all the contents of the first two volumes of the Innate Breathing Technique.
The Innate Breathing Technique was in truth a superior Taoist internal cultivation art with Taiji attributes. It emphasized the subtle cycle in which yin at its extreme gave rise to yang, and yang at its extreme nourished yin.
Thus, cultivating this technique required a clear mind, few desires, and no distracting thoughts. Otherwise, each time internal energy completed one cycle through the body, it would be like walking a tightrope along the edge of a cliff, leaving the practitioner trembling with fear.
The yin, yang, heat, and cold energies cultivated by this art intertwined and flowed through the Hand Three Yin Meridians, Hand Taiyang Meridians, Foot Three Yin Meridians, and Foot Three Yang Meridians. If one's True Qi strayed even slightly, it could lead to Deviated Qi and death.
The sheer difficulty of cultivating this technique was self-evident.
But ever since Meng Qingshan had opened his Du Meridian and obtained the "Internal Cultivation" skill, the True Qi in his body could circulate freely without the guidance of his mind.
For Meng Qingshan, this technique posed little difficulty. He only needed to proceed steadily, step by step, and he could master it with ease.
That said, the Ling Shu Atlas had originated from the legendary Divine Demon Atlas.
Though Guangchengzi had comprehended the essence of the Divine Demon Atlas, grasped its deeper meaning, and transformed it into a technique humans could cultivate, its fundamental nature remained unchanged.
Thus, cultivating this technique demanded extraordinary talent, and breaking through its levels was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
Just then, Meng Qingshan was preparing to break through to the twelfth level of this internal cultivation method.
Within him, two streams of True Qi circulated. One flowed gently like a brook, while the other surged like a mighty river.
He felt the two streams of True Qi winding through his Meridians. One side of his body was gripped by piercing cold, his blood sluggish; the other was unbearably hot, his blood boiling. He could hardly describe the sensation.
He felt acutely how differently the two streams of True Qi moved through his Meridians: one crawled slowly like a tortoise, while the other darted swiftly through his body like a nimble dragon.
One side of his body was shrouded in biting cold, his blood seemingly on the verge of freezing, sluggish and heavy;
The other felt as if it were being scorched by flames, unbearably hot, his blood surging like boiling water.
These two utterly opposite sensations intertwined within him at the same time, leaving him in agony.
At that moment, a faint radiance enveloped Meng Qingshan's body, a clear sign that his internal energy was spilling out.
Before you continue