Hidden Meridians

Tang Tian had already fallen into despair, only to be left completely stunned by the sudden power within his dantian.

Fortunately, this power did him no harm. It swiftly healed his severe injuries, reconnecting his broken ribs.

Even more surprising, the power was forcefully opening his meridians.

One had to know that the most fundamental stage of cultivation for cultivators was opening the meridians within the human body, known as "Meridian Tempering."

Meridian Tempering was further divided into opening the body's Twelve Main Meridians and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.

In just a few moments, the twelve meridians—the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, and the rest—had already been opened.

The surging power expelled the impurities within Tang Tian's meridians from his body, as though washing his tendons and cleansing his marrow.

His entire body became sticky, coated in a layer of black grime.

"Hm? This physique?"

Tang Tian was startled. He had originally assumed that, with this body only at the middle stage of Meridian Tempering, its aptitude must be terrible. Yet he had never expected its physique to seem so powerful.

Even with his vast experience, he could not make heads or tails of it.

With the crisis resolved, he could finally calm down and carefully review the many unfamiliar memories within his soul.

"That fatty was Lin Baoquan of the Lin Family in Starfall City?" Lin Baoquan had effectively died by Tang Tian's hand, and the enmity between him and the Lin Family could no longer be resolved.

At the same time, Tang Tian understood that the culprit behind his rebirth into this body with the same name and surname was precisely the Black Treasure Pagoda within his dantian!

"Back then, those people surrounded and attacked me. My body was crushed into dust. Shouldn't my soul have scattered and my body and spirit been utterly destroyed?"

Tang Tian recalled everything that had happened before, and it all felt like a dream.

"You're not dreaming. If not for me, you would have been gone long ago."

The voice was somewhat lewd and carried a trace of exhaustion as it rang out in Tang Tian's mind.

"Hm?"

Tang Tian froze. Thinking of his rebirth and everything happening now, it seemed that some great expert had saved him.

He immediately thanked him sincerely. "Thank you, Senior, for lending a hand. Might I meet you, so this junior may properly repay you?"

"Stop making trouble. What do you have to thank me with right now?"

The voice snorted disdainfully, its mockery completely undisguised.

"Er..."

Tang Tian was helpless. He was no longer who he had once been. After being reborn, any random cultivator could take his life.

What was there to speak of in repaying him?

"Don't be discouraged. Having nothing now doesn't mean you'll have nothing later. After all, you're someone this Emperor chose. Have faith in my taste!" The voice sounded lewd, weary, and weak, yet immensely smug.

Even while floating horizontally in midair, Tang Tian could not help the corner of his mouth twitching...

Why did this senior who spoke sound like such an oddball?

Praising himself so highly—truly... truly shameless!

As for the words "this Emperor," Tang Tian could not understand whether they represented a realm of cultivation or whether this senior was an emperor.

"However, let me tell you this: never look down on the first few realms of cultivation. The Meridian Refining Realm, Blood-Burning Realm, Bone-Forging Realm, Organs-Hiding Realm, and Soul-Emergence Realm all require a solid foundation. Only then can you become unbreakable and possess greater potential. Do you think the Meridian Refining Realm is merely about opening the Twelve Main Meridians and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians?"

Just as Tang Tian was lost in thought, the voice suddenly turned serious and posed a question.

"This..."

Tang Tian was abruptly stunned, as though struck over the head with a stick.

He immediately said with delight, "I understand what you mean, Senior. Just like the great rivers of this continent are few enough to count on one's fingers, yet they have tributaries, underground rivers, and streams!"

"You're right. The meridians in the human body are the same. Apart from the Twelve Main Meridians and Eight Extraordinary Meridians, which are Manifest Meridians, there are also thirty-six Heavenly Stems and seventy-two Earthly Fiends, a total of one hundred and eight Hidden Meridians. The tower's power is enough to open them for you, so hurry and find the Hidden Meridians. I've said too much. I'm a little tired..."

That lewd voice yawned several times, then fell completely silent.

Tang Tian was not some inexperienced fool fresh out of the gate. How could he fail to understand the meaning behind that senior's words?

One hundred and eight Heavenly Stems and Earthly Fiends Hidden Meridians—he had simply never heard of such a thing!

In truth, the other party had not told Tang Tian that, throughout the world, there were almost no people capable of opening Hidden Meridians.

Because so-called Hidden Meridians were merely a theory. Even if they truly existed, opening them would be extraordinarily difficult.

In his previous life, Tang Tian had stirred the winds and clouds, yet in the end, he had become stuck at a cultivation bottleneck and could advance no further.

After pondering bitterly for a long time, he realized the reason was that he had failed to establish a solid foundation during his early cultivation. He had relied all the way on heavenly treasures and medicinal pills, charging ahead without restraint until his potential had been exhausted.

Now that he knew of Hidden Meridians, whether they were real or not, he had to give them a try! After all, the other party had no reason to harm him. Otherwise, why save him?

"Senior, I still haven't asked how I should address you?"

Tang Tian was completely in the dark, especially regarding what kind of divine object this Black Treasure Pagoda was, that it could actually raise his cultivation?

Seeing that this mysterious senior did not seem willing to say much, he temporarily refrained from asking further, lest he provoke the other party's displeasure.

"My great name is better left unknown to a brat like you. In the future, call this Emperor Master Fan."

The voice suddenly rang out in Tang Tian's mind once more before vanishing strangely again, making Tang Tian's hair stand on end.

At present, the power within his body continued opening his meridians. His cultivation had already reached the peak of the High Meridian Refining Realm and was gradually approaching completion.

If this mysterious powerhouse had not appeared, Tang Tian would surely have naturally used the power pouring from the Black Tower to continuously break through realms and raise his cultivation.

After all, few people could keep their true hearts steady before the immense temptation of such rapid advancement.

Fortunately, Tang Tian had lived another life, and his willpower was far beyond that of ordinary people. He quickly steadied his mind and carefully sensed the Hidden Meridians.

In his previous life, Tang Tian had been an incomparably powerful alchemist, most skilled in medicinal theory and medical principles.

Thus, it did not take long before he sensed the first Hidden Meridian, located directly beneath the heart meridian!

"Pfft!"

When Tang Tian poured power into this first Hidden Meridian, the violent force made his entire body shudder. It felt as if he were being torn apart, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Opening Hidden Meridians was harder than ascending to heaven, but Tang Tian would never retreat so easily. He continuously controlled the power within him to strike against it.

To live another life and become a powerhouse!

Returning to take revenge had become his conviction.

Tang Tian gritted his teeth and persevered. The power struck without pause like crashing tides, finally smashing through the barrier of the first Hidden Meridian.

The power pouring from the Mysterious Black Tower was like floodwaters released from a dam, continuously advancing forward along the first Hidden Meridian.

Tang Tian floated horizontally in the air with his eyes closed, doing his utmost to control the vast power within his body with his consciousness as he attempted to open all one hundred and eight Hidden Meridians.

A full three days passed before Tang Tian opened his eyes. A sharp glint flashed through them, and he felt his entire body brimming with power.

Judging by Tang Tian's experience, his cultivation was now only at the grand completion of the High Meridian Refining Realm. Even if he fought a peak cultivator at the grand completion of the High Blood-Burning Realm, it would absolutely not be a problem!

This was the benefit of opening Hidden Meridians and establishing a solid foundation!

The moment he awoke, the Mysterious Black Tower withdrew its protective power.

Tang Tian stood steadily on the ground, the corner of his lips curving slightly upward.

"It's time to go home!"

[Author's note]: Chapter two is here. If you have any thoughts, feel free to tell me in the book review section. I also created a supporting-character thread, so everyone can tell me what kind of character they want most.