After dropping off Fang Yingxue, Fang Han returned to the No. 35 Annex with Redfire.
The courtyard gate was ajar. Qui Lan came out to greet them upon hearing the noise. When she saw the giant, crimson lion following behind Fang Han, she couldn't help but smile.
"Senior brother, you brought the Redfire to the sect."
"Yes, make sure someone feeds it well."
Fang Han gave the instructions.
"Don't worry, senior brother."
Qui Lan smiled.
The next morning, in Quiet Room.
Fang Han sat cross-legged on the futon, pondering his next cultivation path.
I've Beginner stage the basics of Soul-Chasing Art and the Proficiency Realm techniques of Shadowveil Technique. My knowledge of secret arts is sufficient for now, so there's no need to invest a lot of time in them.
The focus should now be on improving our strength.
"Which specific aspects will be prioritized for improvement?"
Fang Han lowered his eyes and mentally reviewed the various aspects that could improve his strength.
The three aspects of Horizontal Training, Sword Technique, Body Movement are currently sufficient.
On the contrary, there is a lack of Internal Qi.
In his battle with Fan Yuan, after more than a hundred moves, he already felt his Internal Qi becoming somewhat strained. If the fight continued, he might not be able to maintain the rhythm of going all out.
"Next, we will focus all our efforts on breaking through the Qi Pass."
Fang Han muttered to himself, tapping his knee lightly with his fingertips.
Of the three barriers of essence, energy, and spirit, he has already broken through the barrier of "essence," which is the barrier of the physical body. The Qi Pass and Spirit Pass the ones he has not yet broken through.
Among those that affect Internal Qi, the Qi Pass.
If one can break through the Qi Pass, the quality and quantity of Internal Qi will undergo a qualitative transformation. At that time, even if one engages in a fierce battle with a veteran master for hundreds of moves, there will be no need to worry about insufficient Internal Qi.
The subsequent training will focus on cultivating Internal Qi and breaking through the Qi Pass, with Horizontal Training, Sword Technique, and Body Movement as secondary skills.
"The method to break through the Qi Pass..."
Fang Han recalled the records about breaking through the Qi Pass in the < Greenwood Poison-Avoidance Scripture >.
To break through the Qi Pass, one must first completely fill the newly opened Shenque Acupoint with Internal Qi Internal Qi, making it abundant and reaching the limit of the First Grade Late Stage.
Then, amidst the abundant circulation of Internal Qi, sense and search for the invisible barrier deep within the energy channels, find it, and break through it.
There are two particularly difficult parts.
The first step is to sense and locate the Qi Pass.
The Qi Pass is different from the physical barrier. Even if First Grade Late Stage, it may not appear immediately. Most martial artists at the limit of the First Grade Late Stage may not even be able to sense where the Qi Pass is and may be stuck at this step for their entire lives.
Second, break through the Qi Pass.
Even if you find that barrier, you'll discover it's incredibly stubborn and cannot be shaken by ordinary attacks.
It requires repeated refinement and daily practice; those with less natural talent may struggle for decades or even a lifetime.
However, Fang Han was not worried.
With his current 512-fold increase in Root Bone Talent, it would be no difficult task for him to sense and find the Qi Pass or to break through Qi Pass.
His talent far surpasses that of ordinary martial artists, and he is confident of that.
Having clarified his thoughts, Fang Han no longer hesitated.
He took out a jade bottle containing Earth Spirit Pill from his Storage Ring, uncorked it, poured out two Danyao, and put them into his mouth.
The Danyao melted instantly upon entering the mouth, its gentle medicinal power spreading throughout the abdomen and reaching every part of the body.
"Splash--"
Fang Han closed his eyes, and the incantation of the < Greenwood Poison-Avoidance Scripture > appeared in his mind. Dark Green Internal Qi slowly surged through his meridians.
He focused his mind on his body, guiding the medicinal power to refine it bit by bit, transforming it into pure Internal Qi, which flowed into his Shenque Acupoint.
Half a month passed like snow in the courtyard, melting away silently.
Inside the Quiet Room of the No. 35 Annex, a wisp of smoke rose straight from the newly added Sandalwood Incense Sandalwood Incense burner, slowly dissipating in the morning light filtering in from the window.
Fang Han sat cross-legged on the futon, his eyes slightly closed. The head-sized piece of Starry Ink Jade in front of him gleamed with a deep, faint light, and the starlight slowly swirled around him.
As another cycle of internal energy completes, a new stream of Dark Green Internal Qi flows into the Shenque Acupoint.
"Buzz..."
A barely audible hum came from deep within the acupoint.
The Dark Green Internal Qi in the Shenque Acupoint had expanded to a critical point, and could no longer accommodate any new Internal Qi.
The Internal Qi was as viscous as mercury, but it no longer flowed. Instead, it was strangely full, like a container filled to the brim with water, the water level was level with the edge, and one more drop would overflow.
Fang Han opened his eyes, a glint of Dark Green light flashing in them for a moment before slowly receding.
" The Shenque Acupoint is completely filled, and the Internal Qi has reached the limit of the First Grade Late Stage."
Fang Han murmured to himself, his voice echoing softly in the Quiet Room.
He closed his eyes and focused his mind on his body, carefully sensing the changes at that moment.
The flow of Internal Qi is more refined than it was half a month ago, and each cycle is smooth and natural.
It felt as if a slow, deep river was flowing through my meridians, profound and long.
This is an unprecedented state of the Perfection Realm.
Fang Han slowly opened his eyes, a hint of satisfaction flashing in them.
"Next, we need to find the Qi Pass."
Fang Han focused his mind on his body, using his senses to probe deep into his meridians.
No.
He sensed carefully for a moment but found no Qi Pass.
As expected, the invisible and intangible barrier deep within the Qi channels did not appear automatically like the Essence Pass.
The different stages of the three stages of essence, energy, and spirit each have different characteristics due to their inherent differences.
Unlike the Essence Pass, the Qi Pass does not appear automatically. To make the Qi Pass appear, certain methods are obviously required.
"I remember the exercise manual recorded a method for making the Qi Pass visible."
Fang Han remained calm and reviewed the records about Qi Pass in the < Greenwood Poison-Avoidance Scripture > in his mind.
A moment later, he found a way.
He closed his eyes, completely immersing his mind in his body, and slowly channeled his Internal Qi along the special pathways recorded in the cultivation method.
That route is completely different from the usual path of the circulatory cycle. It passes through several subtle meridians that are rarely visited in daily life, like a stream changing course, winding and meandering.
At first, he couldn't feel anything.
The Internal Qi traveled along that special route again and again, as if walking repeatedly on an unfamiliar mountain path, trying to find the entrance to a hidden cave.
But Fang Han was not impatient; he simply maintained a steady pace, running the program over and over again.
Half a day has passed.
"Buzz..."
Fang Han's mind suddenly stirred.
When that special circuit reached a certain point, the Internal Qi seemed to touch something.
The feeling was extremely faint, like a barely perceptible resistance, or like the vague outline of a mountain ridge peeking through a mist, indistinct and difficult to grasp.
"That should be the Qi Pass!"
Fang Han did not stop, and continued to operate that special Internal Qi circuit.
One day.
Two days.
Day three.
Fang Han's heart skipped a beat, and the barrier that had been as blurry as mist finally became completely clear.
It lies deep within the energy channels, formless and intangible, like an unbreakable dam, firmly blocking the channels through which Internal Qi undergoes qualitative change.
Its texture was many times thicker than the previous barrier, like a high wall forged from spiritual metal that had been tempered a thousand times.
Fang Han opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath.
"Found it."
The Qi Pass was now clearly visible in his perception; all he needed to do was break through it to overcome the Qi Pass.
However, this is, after all, a hurdle that can trap an ordinary First Grade martial artist for decades or even a lifetime.
Even with his current 512-fold increase in Root Bone Talent, it's impossible for him to break through realm bottlenecks in one fell swoop as he did in the past.
It takes time and patience.
"Let's rest for a while."
Fang Han slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, stood up, and pushed open the door to the Quiet Room.
A thin layer of white frost clung to the tips of the leaves of several Emerald Bamboo in the courtyard, gleaming with a cool luster in the twilight.
A cold wind brushed against his cheeks, bringing a refreshing coolness that slightly invigorated his spirit, which had become somewhat dull from sitting for so long.
He stood with his hands behind his back under the eaves, gazing at the few clumps of Emerald Bamboo swaying gently in the cold wind in the corner of the courtyard.
Blindly pursuing rigorous training is far less effective than a balance of work and rest.
Now that the Qi Pass has been found, you can simply maintain a steady daily pace and avoid rushing.
He strolled into the courtyard and sat down to rest on a stone bench.
But he had only rested for a short time.
A series of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate, followed by a knock on the door, and then a voice:
"Senior Brother Fang, the Sect Master requests your presence."
Fang Han looked up, gazing in the direction of the courtyard gate, and raised an eyebrow slightly.
He got up, walked to the courtyard gate, and opened it.
Standing outside the door was a young disciple dressed in the robes of the Sect Master's Hall. He had a dignified appearance and a high level of cultivation, clearly a disciple on duty in the Sect Master's Hall.
Upon seeing Fang Han, the disciple immediately bowed respectfully, his voice carrying a hint of solemnity:
"Senior Brother Fang, the Sect Master requests your immediate presence at the Sect Master's Hall."
Fang Han nodded slightly:
"Knew."
He turned and went back into the house, hung the Silver-Gray Longsword at his waist, straightened his robes, and followed the disciple out of the courtyard.
The two walked one after the other along the mountain path towards the summit.
A moment later, the majestic outline of the Sect Master's Hall came into view.
The disciples guarding the palace gate stepped aside to make way for Fang Han.
Fang Han stepped into the hall, where the air was filled with the Sandalwood Incense.
Chen Tianyuan sat upright in a large rosewood chair at the head of the table, with a cup of tea beside him, the tea smoke rising gently.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up, saw Fang Han, and nodded slightly.
"You're here, have a seat."
Fang Han sat down at the lower end of the table, his gaze falling on Chen Tianyuan, waiting for Chen Tianyuan to speak.
Chen Tianyuan put down his teacup, his voice low but carrying a palpable joy:
"We summoned you here because the sect has discovered a Bodhi Blood Tree."
" Bodhi Blood Tree?"
Fang Han's breathing paused slightly at that moment.
Bodhi Blood Tree.
These four words were like a boulder thrown into his heart lake, stirring up ripples.
He had seen records of the Bodhi Blood Tree in the sect's scriptures. This tree was entirely red like blood, and it bore fruit once a year. The fruit it bore was called Blood Bodhi, a kind of Low-Grade Heavenly Treasure.
It has the effect of improving cultivation without side effects, and the effect is extremely strong. Even if a martial artist of the Upper Third Grade takes it, it is enough to easily break through to the next realm.
A single Bodhi Blood Tree is equivalent to a continuously producing source of rare and precious natural treasures.
Its rarity is self-evident.
As far as he knew, Vajra Temple had a similar precious tree called the Vajra Bodhi Tree, which was strictly protected by the Vajra Temple and regarded as its most important heritage.