Opening the Meridians

Although Liu Zhijian had skimmed a few texts and gained some basic knowledge of cultivation,

he was, when all was said and done, still a mere mortal.

Forget reaching Qi Gathering and entering the Dao; he could not even breathe in Spiritual Qi or circulate it through a full cycle.

The most important thing now was to enter the Embryonic Breathing Realm.

Li Chengxuan took Liu Zhijian to the library.

Liu Zhijian gazed at the dazzling array of cultivation methods. Amid his admiration, he was also a little puzzled.

"This library looks terribly impressive at first glance.

"But look closely, and there are dull, lusterless Jade Slips, badly damaged bamboo slips, illegible ancient books, and even animal hides bearing scorch and smoke marks. They're clearly all defective. I doubt the writing can even be made out."

Li Chengxuan swept his gaze across the room and sighed softly.

The books in the building had been painstakingly collected by generations of Supreme Mystery Mountain cultivators.

Most were fragments of ancient methods.

Not one in a hundred could actually be cultivated.

However, embryonic breathing was a preliminary realm and did not yet count as true cultivation.

There was no shortage of methods related to embryonic breathing here.

Li Chengxuan casually brushed a hand over a bookshelf and said, "You're a mere mortal, and you've spent many years in the mundane world. The meridians throughout your body have long since become blocked.

"So the first step in embryonic breathing is to achieve Meridian Opening.

"If your meridians are blocked, you won't be able to breathe in Spiritual Qi or circulate it through a full cycle, even in a blessed land on a spiritual mountain."

The principle was easy enough to understand.

Liu Zhijian nodded repeatedly and asked, "Master, how do I open my meridians?"

Li Chengxuan stopped and explained, "There are many Meridian Opening Methods here."

With that, he picked up a Jade Slip. "This one, for example, is an orthodox inheritance of a top-tier ancient method, called the Jade Pool Treasure Cauldron Meridian-Opening Method."

Liu Zhijian's eyes lit up.

This one's good!

An orthodox, top-tier ancient method-just hearing that told him it was extraordinary.

Even its name had an immortal air to it.

"However..."

Li Chengxuan changed tack and said with a smile, "This ancient method also has demanding requirements. Not only must one's Root Bone and fate be assessed, but it also consumes a great deal of spiritual resources.

"Jade refers to jade essence... pool means clear water... treasure is treasure earth... and the cauldron represents the fate of an emperor. None can be missing."

Liu Zhijian gave an awkward, sheepish laugh.

Leaving aside the spiritual items of the three great Dao lineages, the fate of an emperor alone was beyond his reach.

After all, he was just a fishing enthusiast.

"Master..."

Liu Zhijian shook his head decisively and asked, "Is there a somewhat more low-end Meridian Opening Method?"

"Naturally."

Li Chengxuan picked up an ornate book and said, "This is a Meridian Opening Method created by a mortal Martial Saint from the mundane martial world.

"That Martial Saint was a heaven-sent genius who opened a great road to the heavens for the mortals of the world.

"The greatest advantage of this Meridian Opening Method is that it's easy to learn and opens the meridians extremely quickly.

"In terms of speed alone, it could be called the best of all these methods!"

Liu Zhijian's face was full of admiration, but on second thought, doubts arose in his heart. "If this Meridian Opening Method is both easy and fast, wouldn't Martial Saints and even cultivators be everywhere?

"Then how could the whole of Supreme Mystery Mountain be so empty?

"Could there be some drawback?"

After years of fishing, Liu Zhijian was especially patient.

Seeing Liu Zhijian's expression change without him saying a word, Li Chengxuan continued, "This Meridian Opening Method uses the sharp Qi of Geng Metal to forcibly break through blocked meridians.

"Only someone with great perseverance can cultivate it.

"If anything goes wrong along the way, the result will be death or crippling injury."

"Just as I thought!"

Liu Zhijian immediately understood.

As expected, a cultivation method created by a mortal Martial Saint was not something an ordinary person like him could hope to use.

"Master..."

Liu Zhijian had always known his own limits. He said sincerely, "Is there a cultivation method suitable for ordinary people? I don't mind if it's slower or more tiring."

Li Chengxuan went on to introduce several more meridian-opening methods, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

Though Liu Zhijian looked torn, he shook his head at each one.

Li Chengxuan picked up an ordinary-looking booklet and said, "This is a Meridian Opening Method that circulates among Rogue Cultivators in the marketplaces. It's called the Dripping Water Pierces Stone Meridian-Opening Method.

"This method draws on the image of dripping water wearing through stone.

"First, you breathe in Spiritual Qi and condense a drop of spiritual water inside your body. Then you use that single drop to wash open your blocked meridians.

"Although there's no real risk, it's extremely slow and tedious.

"Even among Rogue Cultivators, not many use this method for Meridian Opening."

Liu Zhijian lowered his head in thought.

Compared with the many Meridian Opening Methods from before, the Dripping Water Pierces Stone Meridian-Opening Method seemed quite inferior.

Even Li Chengxuan's tone held a hint of disdain.

Liu Zhijian pondered with his head lowered for a moment. When he looked up again, his gaze was resolute. "Master, I'm willing to use this method for Meridian Opening."

Li Chengxuan gave no indication of approval or disapproval. Looking at Liu Zhijian, he asked for confirmation, "Have you thought it through?

"Once you've chosen, it won't be easy to change."

Liu Zhijian took a deep breath and nodded. "My aptitude is mediocre, and I have no particular natural gifts. Only in patience and perseverance do I believe myself no worse than anyone else.

"Flowing water doesn't strive to be first; it strives to flow on without end.

"This Meridian Opening Method may be clumsy, but it suits my temperament.

"I've made my choice, and I won't change it!"

Did I make the wrong choice?!

Did I disappoint Master?!

After returning to the side hall, Liu Zhijian still had some doubts.

But Liu Zhijian soon suppressed his many emotions.

Just as he had chosen fishing as the pursuit of his life back then, now that Liu Zhijian had made his choice, he would not doubt himself, much less regret it.

Even now that he had taken up immortal cultivation, Liu Zhijian had not forgotten his original intention.

Cultivating immortality was also for the sake of better fishing!

Once he cultivated immortality, he could reach fishing spots he had never been able to visit before!

Liu Zhijian had looked through many texts and knew that the immortal cultivation world was unimaginably vast.

There were flood dragons in the rivers and dragons in the seas!

Once he had succeeded in his cultivation, wouldn't it be exhilarating beyond belief to go fishing for great demons and true dragons?!

"No rush, no rush."

"That day will come!"

Liu Zhijian took a deep breath, opened the Meridian Opening Method before him, and began to study it carefully.

Li Chengxuan looked away from Liu Zhijian.

Supreme Mystery Mountain had ancient origins.

Although little of its inheritance remained, some rules had been passed down, after all.

Everyone chose their own Dao Path.

Just as Li Chengxuan had chosen to enter the Dao through Mortal World Turbid Qi back then, Old Daoist Wu had disagreed but had not stopped him.

This moment was just like that one.

Li Chengxuan had not told Liu Zhijian that, although those many Meridian Opening Methods varied in speed, none was truly superior or inferior to the others.

In truth, it did not matter which Meridian Opening Method Liu Zhijian chose.

What truly gave Li Chengxuan a pleasant surprise was that Liu Zhijian lived up to his name. He had not wavered and could even be called resolute and decisive.

Now that ancient methods were difficult to cultivate, Liu Zhijian's steadfast Dao heart might be even more precious than the Kan Water Phenomenon he possessed.

Li Chengxuan returned to the Ancestral Master Hall and was examining the Two Worlds Pearl when the spiritual seal at his waist trembled.

Hua Chunning was sending a message.

Hua Mingcheng of Rejuvenation Valley had arrived.

"Why is this old man here again?!"

Li Chengxuan rose and left the Ancestral Master Hall.

In the Hall of General Affairs, Hua Chunning was gently soothing her grandfather.

Hua Mingcheng's face was full of anxiety. As soon as he saw Li Chengxuan, he dropped to his knees and pleaded in a low voice, "Sect Master, save me!"