He held up one finger:
"The first level is Body Refining.
Temper the flesh and hone the sinews and bones, making the body strong enough to bear the power of heaven and earth.
The Witch Clan's bodies are naturally powerful, so this step is no difficult matter for us."
He held up another finger. "The second level is Qi Refining.
Cultivate blood and qi and condense qi force, making blood and qi abundant enough to connect with the power of heaven and earth.
Blood and qi are the foundation of the Witch Clan, so this step is also our strength."
He held up a third finger:
"The third level is Will Refining. Condense and hone the will until it can influence reality and connect with the laws.
This is the most crucial step in the Martial Dao.
Once the will becomes powerful enough, it can condense into 'Martial Dao Will,' serving a function similar to a primordial spirit."
He held up a fourth finger:
"The fourth level is Dao Refining.
Use Martial Dao Will to connect with the laws of heaven and earth, taking a certain power you cultivate.
For instance, Brother Zhu Rong's fire or Brother Gong Gong's water, and merging it with the laws of heaven and earth to reach a state where body and Dao become one.
This step corresponds to a Dao cultivator's realm of Primordial Origin Golden Immortal."
He lowered his fingers, his voice growing more solemn:
"Beyond that lies the complete fusion of Martial Dao Will with the Great Dao of heaven and earth, bearing the Great Dao with the flesh and commanding the laws with the will, reaching a realm that transcends heaven and earth.
That step is too distant. We shall leave it aside for now."
After listening, the eyes of all Twelve Ancestral Witches gleamed.
Zhu Rong was the first to speak, his voice brimming with excitement:
"Brother Pan Xuan, this framework of yours is excellent! Body Refining, Qi Refining, Will Refining, and Dao Refining-these four levels are perfectly clear and distinct.
In the past, I cultivated entirely by instinct. I never knew there could be divisions like these.
With this framework, I know which direction to take!"
Gong Gong nodded as well. "Indeed. Body Refining and Qi Refining are our Witch Clan's strengths.
Will Refining means honing the will until it can connect with the laws. Though this step is difficult, with the help of Heavenly Enlightenment Wisdom Light and our insights into the World-Creation Diagram, it may not be impossible to accomplish.
As for Dao Refining, that means merging our own laws with heaven and earth. That is precisely what we are doing now."
Xuan Ming said coldly, "This framework has indeed pointed the way for us.
Before, we only knew to cultivate our bodies and absorb baleful qi, without knowing what we were cultivating toward.
Now we know. Ultimately, it is to bear the Great Dao with the flesh and command the laws with the will."
Di Jiang said gravely, "The Martial Dao framework Brother Pan Xuan has proposed is indeed brilliant.
But this framework is still only a rough outline. We must work together to deduce the specific cultivation methods and methods of breaking through."
He looked at the Ancestral Witches, his voice decisive. "From this day onward, we shall work together to deduce the Martial Dao.
Each of us shall deduce a Martial Dao cultivation method suited to ourselves, based on our own innate law.
Then we shall exchange our findings, test them against one another, and perfect them together."
Zhu Jiuyin nodded. "Brother Di Jiang is right.
The path of the Martial Dao is unprecedented. We must create it from nothing, one step at a time.
This will take time and patience, but if this path proves viable, the Witch Clan's future will be boundless."
Houtu said softly, "Brothers, the effects of Heavenly Enlightenment Wisdom Light remain, and our insights into the World-Creation Diagram are still fresh.
This is the best time to deduce the Martial Dao. Let us begin today and work together, striving to create a Martial Dao belonging to the Witch Clan as soon as possible."
Zhu Rong laughed heartily. "Good! Then we begin today! I want to see just how far this Martial Dao path can go!"
Even Gong Gong showed a rare smile. "How far it goes is not important. What matters is whether the path is viable.
I believe that with our strength and Brother Pan Xuan's wisdom, this path will certainly prove viable."
Xuan Ming said coldly, "Enough idle talk. Let us begin."
The Ancestral Witches exchanged smiles and settled into their seats in Pangu Hall.
Di Jiang sat in the principal seat, his gaze passing over each Ancestral Witch before finally resting on Pan Xuan:
"Brother Pan Xuan, you proposed the Martial Dao and built its framework. You should guide the first step of this deduction."
Pan Xuan nodded and walked to the center of the hall, standing with his hands behind his back.
The effects of Heavenly Enlightenment Wisdom Light remained, and their insights into the World-Creation Diagram were still fresh.
At that moment, the comprehension of the Twelve Ancestral Witches was at its peak. It was the best time to deduce the Martial Dao.
He drew a deep breath and began slowly, "The path of the Martial Dao takes the flesh as its foundation. The first step is Body Refining..."
Pan Xuan stood with his hands behind his back in the main chamber of Pangu Hall.
The Twelve Ancestral Witches sat around him, all appearing in their Innate Dao Bodies.
Di Jiang's features were resolute, Zhu Jiuyin looked aged and profound, Zhu Rong had red hair and a red beard, and Gong Gong had black hair and a black beard.
Xuan Ming wore white and had white hair, her cold beauty like frost; Houtu wore a yellow dress, dignified and gentle.
Jumang was handsome and elegant in green robes, Rushou was sharp and imposing in golden robes, Qiangliang was sturdy and powerfully built, lightning markings flickered faintly on Xizi, and Shebishi looked sinister and uncanny.
Tianwu's eight-headed form had become that of an ordinary person, with only a faint flow of wind visible around his brows and eyes.
The lingering effects of Heavenly Enlightenment Wisdom Light remained, and their insights into the World-Creation Diagram still lingered in their hearts.
At that moment, everyone's gaze converged on Pan Xuan.
"The path of the Martial Dao takes the flesh as its foundation," Pan Xuan began slowly, his voice clear and steady. "The first step is Body Refining. Its method uses one's own blood and qi to strike at the major acupoints of the heavenly circuit."
"The major acupoints of the heavenly circuit?" Zhu Rong scratched his head. "What are those?"
Pan Xuan smiled slightly and explained, "Within the Innate Dao Body are three hundred and sixty-five major acupoints, corresponding to the stars of the heavenly circuit.
These major acupoints are gateways through which the flesh connects with heaven and earth.
Ordinary Dao cultivators must use magical power to force these acupoints open one by one before they can draw the spiritual qi of heaven and earth into their bodies.
Body Refining in the Martial Dao instead uses one's own blood and qi as a hammer to batter these acupoints open one by one.
Once the acupoints are open, the body can hold more power and connect better with heaven and earth."
Gong Gong looked thoughtful. "The acupoints are like gateways, and only by opening the gates can we take in the power of heaven and earth?"
Pan Xuan nodded. "Exactly. The Body Refining realm is about opening the gates.
Once all three hundred and sixty-five acupoints are open, the body reaches its utmost limit.
Every movement carries the force of ten thousand jun, and ordinary magical treasures can hardly harm it."
Zhu Rong's eyes shone. "Good! Just hearing this Body Refining method, I can tell it suits our Witch Clan!"
Pan Xuan continued, "After Body Refining comes Qi Refining.
Qi Refining means absorbing the various kinds of qi and spiritual qi between heaven and earth.
Baleful qi, turbid qi, clear qi, and even the qi of the five elements and the qi of yin and yang.
Different kinds of qi have different effects after entering the body."
He looked at Zhu Rong. "If Brother Zhu Rong absorbs fire qi, his Southern Illumination Divine Flame will become even more powerful."
Then he looked at Gong Gong. "If Brother Gong Gong absorbs water qi, the power of his Weak Water will grow ever more profound."
Next, he looked at Xuan Ming. "If Sister Xuan Ming absorbs icy qi, her power of ice will become even more piercing."
Houtu asked softly, "What if we absorb several kinds of qi?"
Pan Xuan said, "You can. But they must be balanced. If fire flourishes and water wanes, yin and yang will fall out of balance. At best, you will suffer qi deviation; at worst, your body will burn and you will die.
Qi Refining requires not only absorption, but also harmonization. Once the Qi Sea is formed and source power is inexhaustible, Qi Refining has reached full mastery."
The Twelve Ancestral Witches listened with rapt attention.
Di Jiang said gravely, "Body Refining opens the gates, and Qi Refining forms a sea. Clear and straightforward. What about Will Refining and Dao Refining?"
Pan Xuan shook his head. "Will Refining and Dao Refining have no fixed methods. Everyone has their own 'will' and their own 'Dao.'
Before we begin deducing them, I first need to examine the condition of your bodies, brothers and sisters."
He looked at the Ancestral Witches. "Body Refining and Qi Refining both take the flesh as their foundation.
I need to examine the major acupoints of the heavenly circuit and the circulation of qi within your Innate Dao Bodies."
Before you continue