Weiheng Wus peak rushed up. Descending to the earth at the base of the clearing, Weiheng Wu stepped off his sword and let go of Hui. Hui stumbled, half-expecting his knees to give out again, but aside from a slight light-headedness and a bit of a wobble, he was fine. He turned his hands over, then patted his abdon down. The bleeding had ceased, and as he watched, his wounds closed over. Those pills are effective!
Weiheng Wu reached out for his neck, head tilted. Hui jerked back. Master, what?
Scales shifted against his neck. Weiheng Wu ran a finger over Zhubis head. I see youve chosen a pet.
Ah? Yes, I Zhubi and I t on the peak the other day. Hui snorted at himself. I forgot he was around my neck.
Mm. I also like to keep pets. Take good care of him, his master ordered.
Of course, of course, Hui agreed.
Weiheng Wu cast a glance at the pill furnace to the side. I see you have no talent with pill-making.
Hui blinked. Itits only been a day, Master. I havent had the chance to try yet!
Weiheng Wu paused, then nodded. Then, as you will. He turned toward his sword, which hovered at ankle-height, awaiting him.
Master, wait! Hui called.
One foot on his sword, Weiheng Wu looked back.
Dodo you have any lessons to impart to this small disciple? Any magical techniques, or body cultivation tips, oror sword skills?
Silently, Weiheng Wu shook his head.
Ah. Well, it makes sense. He said he didnt have ti to use the pills in the second stage, right? A genius like him probably hurtled through Foundation Building in a single month, or sothing equally ridiculous. Of course he wouldnt have techniques suited for such a low level of cultivation.
Hui bowed respectfully. This small disciple thanks Master for saving .
Mn. Stay quietly on this peak for a while. Im on the verge of a breakthrough.
He bowed again. This disciple hears and obeys.
Nodding once, Weiheng Wu stepped on his sword and swept away into the sky.
Hui squinted after him, raising a hand to watch him go. I wonder where he vanishes off to. So kind of sacred land? His immortal cave, perhaps?
Shaking his head, he let his eyes drop back to earth. Now that I have a manual, I should stay put and cultivate diligently. I dont need to provoke anyone more than Master already has.
Ah, but Qin Xixings pills
Theyll still be there in a month or a year or so. Theres no rush. So thinking, he settled into a cross-legged position and began to circulate his qi following the instructions in the manual.
Ten or so hours later, Hui released a long-held breath and broke his ditation pose, utterly exhausted. Was it always this hard to kill my qi? I still havent succeeded. Is it because Im not in danger? He shuddered. Dont tell , I can only cultivate when Im near death or in a life-and-death situation?
No! I cant give up yet! Im not a freak. Its only been a few hours! I can figure this out! Stretching, Hui settled back into his pose. He focused inward. This ti, he sat quietly, watching his qi flow.
It circulated through his body, through his two opened ridians and into his dantian. He followed his instincts and clenched down on it, trying to cut it out. Every ti he focused on a section of his dantian or passageways, qi slid past in all the other directions. His ntal energy quavered, unable to hold his qi out.
I dont have enough ntal energy. He focused on his mind instead of his qi. Extending his ntal energy inward, he felt his body, his muscles and organs, the flow of his blood. Slowly, he expanded it beyond his body, into the centiters beyond his skin.
Pain assaulted his mind. Hui flinched back, eyes opening. He rubbed his head. Alright. First, focus on my ntal energy. Then work on circulating my qi.
He drew out the manual and flipped through. Is there anything in here for ntal energy?
No inspiration struck. The densely packed words remained cramped unreadably on the page. No images flew through his mind.
Guess Im back to trying my best. He settled in again and slowly expanded his ntal energy. This ti, he stopped just before it began to hurt and held it there. Sweat broke out on his brow. He regulated his breaths, one in, one out. His focus wavered.
Hui broke his focus and drew a sharp breath. Five breaths. Ill work on it.
Days passed. Weeks. Rain pounded on his shoulders, and sunlight dried it. Darkness and daylight chased each other across the sky. He opened his eyes again as a wave of ntal energy spread from him, chasing out impurities. Again, he projected his ntal energy beyond his body, testing its new boundaries. It only stretched a few centiters, as before, but this ti he could hold it for ten breaths before a stabbing pain forced him from his ditation. I didnt manage a breakthrough, but its better than before.
Turning his ntal energy inward, he clamped down on his dantian once again. This ti, he closed off his passageways in one fell swoop. His qi faded from his passages. He focused on his dantian, where his trapped qi shifted restlessly. Pushing outward with his ntal energy, he bled his qi off into his surroundings, just as he had in the library. Ti passed. Day passed into night, and still he focused on bleeding qi away. For every drop he pushed out, a new drop materialized. I need to do this faster! Its not fast enough.
Zhubi, bite , Hui said.
Zhubi hissed questioningly.
I think I might really be a freak, he sighed, exhausted with himself. You know? Special constitutions are a thing, right? What if I have a special constitution that can cultivate better when Im near death?
Zhubi drew up to his full height and looked at Hui. He tipped his head.
Just bite ? In the neck, please.
Zhubi did a little wiggle that almost looked like a shrug and struck. Pain bit into Huis neck.
Instantly, his qi slowed. Hui clasped a hand against his neck and sunk down. Wait, I forgot. Zhubis venom affects qi flow!
No, no, thats exactly what I need! Turning his focus inward, he clamped down on his dantian again. This ti, he bled his qi away more quickly than it could replenish itself. The qi in his dantian diminished steadily, falling away.
Sweat ran down his back. His head ached. The pain faded as the sensation from his body faded. His muscles lost the strength to hold him upright. He slumped further, drooping toward the ground.
This is it! Further and further he pushed, down to a single spark. The spark began to fade. With it, his life faded. Sensation diminished. His vision dwindled.
Ten. Fifteen. Twenty.
The spark blinked. Huis heart skipped a beat.
Hui released his hold on his dantian. Qi rushed in, filling the void. He circulated it desperately, protecting his passages. The spark strengthened to a fla, no longer flickering. His dantian expanded, but not enough. Too much qi rushed in, so much he couldnt handle it.
I need to open another ridian!
He shoved at his ridian with his qi and ntal energy. The ridian twitched, but no more. More power! Hui stopped circulating the wild qi pouring into him. He gathered it in his dantian, filling it overfull, until it strained to bursting. Swirling his ntal energy, he drew it together, then blasted it at the ridian all at once.
The ridian burst open. Hui circulated his remaining qi through his newly opened three ridians. Regulated by three ridians, his qi quieted once more.
Hui opened his eyes, sucking a deep breath. His breath caught in his throat. He coughed and spat a blob of impurities and Zhubis venom into the grass beside him.
Concerned, Zhubi hovered close by his face, reptilian eyes watching him.
Shaking his head, he broke out into a smile. We did it, Zhubi!
Zhubi hissed a happy hiss.
Hui fell back into the grass, tired. Though he didnt need much sleep at the second stage, Zhubis venom left his qi sluggish, which, in turn, made him sleepy. He yawned. I almost killed myself for real, again. Playing dead is one thing, but dying is another step entirely! Can I really cultivate this thod?
He drew out the manual. Defying Death, Defying the Heavens, it blared back at him. He laughed once, quietly. Still as audacious as I rember.
Sliding the manual back into his robes, he flopped his arms out to either side of him. He closed his eyes. I need a nap. I'll figure all this ss out... tomorrow.
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