Although Liu Zhijian had skimmed through some ancient texts and gained basic common sense regarding cultivation, at the end of the day, he was still a mortal of flesh and blood.
Let alone gathering qi to enter the Dao, he could not even perform qi absorption or complete a heavenly circuit.
Right now, the most critical step was entering the Embryonic Breathing realm.
Li Chengxuan led Liu Zhijian toward the Scripture Library.
Looking at the overwhelming array of cultivation methods, Liu Zhijian marveled while feeling somewhat puzzled.
“This Scripture Library looks quite imposing at first glance.”
“However, upon closer inspection, there are dim jade slips, severely damaged bamboo scrolls, blurry ancient texts, and even beast hides with marks of smoke and fire. They are clearly all defective items, and I am afraid the writing on them is barely legible.”
Li Chengxuan swept his gaze across the room and let out a soft sigh.
The collection inside the library had been painstakingly gathered by generations of Mount Taixuan's cultivators.
Most of them were remnant fragments of ancient methods.
Those that could actually be cultivated were not even one in a hundred.
However, Embryonic Breathing was merely a precursor realm, not yet true cultivation.
As for methods regarding Embryonic Breathing, there was no shortage of them here.
Li Chengxuan casually brushed his hand over a bookshelf and said, “You are a mortal of flesh and blood who has spent years in the mortal world, so your body's meridians have long been completely clogged.”
“Therefore, the very first step of Embryonic Breathing is opening meridians.”
“If your meridians remain blocked, then even in a blessed spiritual land, you will be unable to absorb spiritual energy and complete a heavenly circuit.”
This principle was simple and easy to understand.
Liu Zhijian nodded repeatedly and asked, “Master, how does one clear the meridians?”
Li Chengxuan paused in his steps and explained, “There are many meridian-opening methods here.”
With that, he picked up a jade slip: “For instance, this one is an orthodox top-tier ancient inheritance named the 【Jade Pool Sacred Cauldron Meridian-Opening Method】.”
Liu Zhijian's eyes lit up.
This one sounded great!
An orthodox top-tier ancient method sounded extraordinary just by its name.
It even had an air of immortal elegance to it.
“However...”
Li Chengxuan shifted the topic with a smile: “This ancient method also sets high requirements. Not only does it require weighing bone structure and fate, but it also consumes a vast amount of spiritual resources.”
“Jade finger, jade truth... pool for clear water... treasure for sacred earth... cauldron for an emperor's fate. Not a single one can be lacking.”
Liu Zhijian laughed awkwardly.
Setting aside the spiritual items of the three great heritages, an emperor's fate alone was something far beyond his reach.
After all, he was just an angler.
“Master...”
Liu Zhijian decisively shook his head and asked, “Is there a slightly lower-end meridian-opening method?”
“Naturally, there is.”
Li Chengxuan picked up a gorgeous manual and said, “This is a meridian-opening method created by a mortal Martial Saint from the mortal martial world.”
“That Martial Saint was an extraordinary genius who opened a grand path to heaven for the mortals of the world.”
“The greatest advantage of this meridian-opening method is that it is easy to master and opens meridians extremely quickly.”
“In terms of speed alone, it can be called the best among all these methods!”
Liu Zhijian was filled with admiration, but upon further thought, doubts arose in his heart.
“If this meridian-opening method is both easy and fast, shouldn't Martial Saints and cultivators be everywhere?”
“Why then is the vast Mount Taixuan so empty?”
“Could there be some drawback?”
Having spent years fishing, Liu Zhijian possessed great composure.
Seeing Liu Zhijian's expression shift without speaking, Li Chengxuan continued, “This meridian-opening method uses Gengjin Sharp Qi to forcibly burst open the clogged meridians.”
“It can only be cultivated by someone of great willpower.”
“If something goes wrong midway, one will be killed or left crippled.”
“As expected!”
Liu Zhijian suddenly realized.
Indeed, a technique created by a mortal Martial Saint was not something a mere mortal like him could recklessly hope for.
“Master...”
Liu Zhijian had always possessed self-awareness, so he said earnestly, “Is there a method suitable for ordinary people? It doesn't matter even if it is slow or tiring.”
Li Chengxuan introduced several more meridian-opening methods in succession, each having its own merits and drawbacks.
Although Liu Zhijian had a conflicted expression, he shook his head at each of them.
Li Chengxuan picked up an unassuming small booklet and said, “This is a meridian-opening method circulating among rogue cultivators in market towns, called the 【Dripping Water Pierces Stone Meridian-Opening Method】.”
“This technique takes inspiration from the imagery of dripping water wearing away stone.”
“First, you absorb spiritual energy to condense a drop of 【Spiritual Water】 inside your body, and then you use this single drop of water to wash through the clogged meridians.”
“Although it carries almost no risk, it is extremely slow and tedious.”
“Even among rogue cultivators, few use this method to open their meridians.”
Liu Zhijian lowered his head in thought.
Compared to the previous meridian-opening methods, this 【Dripping Water Pierces Stone Meridian-Opening Method】 seemed exceedingly inferior.
Li Chengxuan's tone even carried a hint of disdain.
Liu Zhijian pondered for a moment, and when he raised his head once more, his gaze was resolute. “Master, your disciple is willing to use this technique to open my meridians.”
Li Chengxuan remained noncommittal, looking at Liu Zhijian to confirm: “Have you thought it through?”
“Once chosen, it will not be easy to change.”
Liu Zhijian took a deep breath and nodded: “Your disciple's natural talent is mediocre, lacking any extraordinary gifts. My only confidence is that my patience and willpower are second to none.”
“Flowing water does not race to be first, but strives to be endless.”
“Although this meridian-opening method is clumsy, it fits my nature.”
“I have made my choice and will not change it!”
...
“Did I choose wrong?!”
“Did I disappoint Master?!”
Returning to the side hall, Liu Zhijian still harbored some doubts in his mind.
However, he quickly suppressed those emotions.
Just like when he originally chose fishing as his lifelong pursuit, once Liu Zhijian made up his mind, he would not second-guess himself, let alone feel regret.
Even though he was now cultivating to become an immortal, Liu Zhijian had not forgotten his original intention.
Cultivating immortals was also for better fishing!
Fishing spots he could not visit before would become accessible after cultivating!
Liu Zhijian had flipped through many ancient texts and knew that the cultivation world was vast beyond measure.
There were flood dragons in the rivers and true dragons in the sea!
Once his cultivation reached success, wouldn't it be immensely satisfying to go fishing for demon monsters and true dragons?!
“No rush, no rush.”
“That day will surely come!”
Liu Zhijian took a deep breath, opened the meridian-opening manual before him, and began studying it meticulously.
...
Li Chengxuan withdrew his gaze from Liu Zhijian.
Mount Taixuan had an ancient origin.
Although little of its legacy remained, some rules were passed down nonetheless.
Everyone chose their own Dao path.
Just as when Li Chengxuan chose 【Mortal Turbid Qi】 to enter the Dao, Daoist Wu disapproved but did not stop him.
That moment then was just like this moment now.
Li Chengxuan did not tell Liu Zhijian that among so many meridian-opening methods, though there were differences in speed, there was no actual distinction of superiority or inferiority.
Which meridian-opening method Liu Zhijian chose did not actually matter.
What truly gave Li Chengxuan a pleasant surprise was that Liu Zhijian lived up to his name; he was far from indecisive and could even be considered firm and resolute.
In an era where ancient methods were difficult, Liu Zhijian's firm Dao Heart might be even more precious than the 【Kan Water】 aura upon his body.
Li Chengxuan returned to the Ancestral Hall and was inspecting the Two-World Bead when the spiritual seal at his waist vibrated.
It was a transmission from Hua Chunning.
Hua Mingcheng of Spring Return Valley had arrived.
“Why has this old man come again?!”
Li Chengxuan rose and stepped out of the Ancestral Hall.
Inside the General Affairs Hall, Hua Chunning was speaking in soft tones, comforting her grandfather.
Hua Mingcheng looked full of anxiety. Seeing Li Chengxuan, he fell straight to his knees and pleaded in a low voice: “Sect Master, save my life!”
Rate on N.U.
