The Three Mountains One Qi Bridge (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Three Mountains One Qi Bridge (Please Follow)

After bidding Earth King farewell.

Xu Xing returned to his quarters, preparing to cultivate the <Three Mountains One Qi Divine Conduit Vein-Condensing Art>.

By now, he had straightened out the stronghold's internal affairs and established a measure of authority.

All that remained was for his subordinates to handle those affairs step by step.

For the time being, he was not needed.

He had ample time to cultivate this secret art.

"Building bridges through the meridians... is far too dangerous."

"Even though this Vein-Condensing Art contains a prescription for repairing internal injuries, the meridians are so exquisitely intricate. If they are damaged through carelessness, restoring them with medicinal decoctions alone will be no easy matter."

"There will surely be hidden injuries left behind."

Xu Xing pondered the essentials of the Vein-Condensing Art.

With the knowledge of a postnatal martial artist, he could scarcely glimpse even a fraction of the mysteries of the human body's meridians. If he carelessly cultivated a technique and damaged his meridians, mending and repairing them would not be something that could be resolved in a short time.

It was like jumper wires on a circuit board—one small mistake, and the board would burn out.

"Even with Great Snow Mountain possessing this secret art, producing an innate martial artist is no easy task."

"That shows just how dangerous this technique is."

"However, I am different. I have... this treasure."

Xu Xing fixed his gaze on the Ancient Bronze Mirror.

The next moment.

He arrived at the Far Embrace Inn in the instance world.

The academy examination was also called the Dao examination. It was held twice every three years, with two sessions, most often in the eighth month of each year. He had taken the prefectural examination in the fourth month; nearly more than four months remained until the academy examination.

Though Jingyang County was not far from Chang'an, only half a day's journey away.

Most scholars preparing for the examination still intended to stay in the provincial capital.

For one thing, the provincial capital's prosperity was beyond comparison with an ordinary county town. For another, staying there made it easier for scholars to exchange learning with one another.

Four months would pass in the blink of an eye.

Xu Xing had placed first in the prefectural examination, so by convention, Far Embrace Inn waived his room and board fees.

Thus, Xu Xing was more than happy to stay there temporarily.

His stay at Far Embrace Inn also brought the inn considerable business; it was a mutually beneficial arrangement. Scholars from the provincial capital would occasionally bring the eight-legged essays they had written to the inn and seek his guidance on examination composition. With people constantly coming and going, Far Embrace Inn was making a fortune.

"Brother Jian'an..."

"Have you ever heard of these medicinal herbs?"

Xu Xing sought out Chen Jian'an, told him the entire prescription for repairing meridians, and drew illustrations of the herbs.

"Hanyuan Ginseng? Ghost's Dread..."

"I've worked in the medicinal trade for more than ten years, yet I've never heard of these herbs."

Chen Jian'an shook his head.

"Where did you find these herbs?"

He was astonished and asked in return.

Given his experience, it should not have been possible for him to recognize none of these medicinal herbs. He had indeed heard of some of their names, but after comparing them with the herb illustrations Xu Xing had drawn, he found that they were not the herbs he remembered.

"I happened upon them in a miscellaneous book."

"Perhaps they are ancient herbs, rarely seen nowadays."

After hearing this, Xu Xing abandoned any interest in looking for the medicine and answered perfunctorily.

Of course. The two worlds differed, and the herbs they produced were likewise worlds apart. Forget different worlds—even neighboring regions could differ. Oranges grown south of the Huai were oranges; grown north of the Huai, they became trifoliate oranges. Some medicinal ingredients could only be gathered in the places recorded in ancient texts. Once transplanted elsewhere, their medicinal properties would change.

He could certainly ask a renowned physician to reformulate the decoction according to its medicinal properties.

But such a matter would take time and effort, and even after all that work, it might still prove ineffective...

"Either way... the meridians being damaged are only those of this body."

"If they are ruined, then they are ruined."

After returning to his room, Xu Xing hardened his resolve and began directly cultivating the <Three Mountains One Qi Divine Conduit Vein-Condensing Art>.

Compared with Yao Dang and the others in the real world...

He was already exceptionally blessed by heaven.

One needed sufficient preparation when acting, but there was no need to be overly hesitant and fearful.

Day after day.

Time passed slowly.

Xu Xing announced to the outside that he would receive no visitors, as he needed to prepare for the provincial examination.

Business at Far Embrace Inn immediately grew much more sluggish.

"Just a little money."

"There's no need to take it too much to heart..."

At the Wu residence in the southern district, having heard the old innkeeper's report, Wu Huaiyuan sat in the parlor, shook his head with a smile, and said, "If Top Scholar Xu rises like a dragon and leaps like a phoenix in the future, then this small loss is nothing for the Wu family."

The old innkeeper accepted his orders and understood the proper measure in handling matters.

He clasped his hands and bowed to Wu Huaiyuan, said, "May fortune favor you," then took his leave. He went to the sedan hall, climbed into a soft sedan chair, and departed the Wu residence.

"Top scholar? That's not a bad status either."

"You're becoming more and more capable in handling affairs. Once I retire, I'll be able to rest easy leaving the Wu family in your hands."

Zhou Ying was helped out of the inner hall by several maidservants. Her expression as she looked at Wu Huaiyuan was filled with gratification. She continued, "But in today's world, merely associating with officials does not make for a reliable pillar... I heard that the provincial overseas-study quotas will soon be issued. Our family can donate a little money and send you abroad to study as well..."

"There's no need for an official scholarship. Paying your own way is enough. Make friends with those studying overseas."

"They're the ones who will have the final say in the future."

She instructed him earnestly.

Wu Huaiyuan was not the biological son of Zhou Ying and Wu Pin, but an adopted heir she had taken from the Wu clan. Over the years, Wu Huaiyuan had grown increasingly seasoned in his dealings, and this pleased her greatly.

"I've read the Regulations on Study-Abroad Rewards as well."

"After returning to the country, one can take up a post at the Grand Secretariat. That's far better than scholars who rose through the eight-legged essay."

"Even today's presented scholars have to go abroad to study..."

Wu Huaiyuan rose and helped Zhou Ying into the seat of honor, speaking casually.

"This... Top Scholar Xu... put him aside for now."

"Learn more foreign languages."

Zhou Ying added.

A month and a half later.

Inside a Heaven-grade room at Far Embrace Inn.

Xu Xing sat cross-legged on a soft couch, the five centers of his body facing heaven. True qi in his dantian continuously coursed through his meridians like schools of swimming fish. Stirred by that true qi, lumps of his skin rose and fell from time to time.

It was an exceedingly horrifying sight.

Yet after he had circulated his energy for roughly half an hour.

All the "swimming fish" gathered at his Shanzhong acupoint. Rather than following the meridian paths of the heavenly circuit, they seemed like carp leaping over the Dragon Gate, blazing a new trail as they transformed into a rushing current that shot straight into his dantian.

"Success!"

"I've finally built this Three Mountains One Qi Bridge!"

Xu Xing abruptly opened his bloodshot eyes, overwhelmed with delight.

Over the past month, he had spared no cost, not even caring if his meridians were damaged, all to construct this Three Mountains One Qi Bridge. Or rather, the Three Mountains One Qi Meridian.

Once this bridge was complete, circulating his energy through one major heavenly circuit would take a full third less time.

It would permanently save that third of the time spent channeling qi and circulating his cultivation.

If the meridians throughout the body were compared to winding mountain roads, then this Three Mountains One Qi Bridge was like bypassing those twisting paths and building a bridge directly through the air, shortening the distance traveled.

"Creating something from nothing, condensing a meridian."

"I wonder..."

"My fate..."

Xu Xing turned his gaze toward the golden mirror's surface.

Lines of writing slowly emerged.