During the sub-hour, night is deep and people are quiet.
All sounds have ceased, only the whistling of the wind.
Chen Yun lit a lamp, cooked the sliced ginseng in advance into a broth, and then lit three sticks of incense.
Soon, the quiet room was filled with light smoke, and the pure fragrance diffused.
Chen Yun gradually entered a serene state of mind.
He hung the jade beads around his neck.
Shortly after, Chen Yun cross-legged and closed his eyes to meditate.
After a moment of stillness, as his breaths became even, he flipped his tongue backwards and sealed the two orifices at the root of his tongue, then stopped breathing.
Chen Yun gradually entered a mysterious realm, as if half asleep and half awake.
But in the subtle moment, fire erupted.
A warmth spontaneously arises.
Chen Yun knew that the fire was not yet sufficient, so he continued to stir the heart fire, making the heart fire burn even more vigorously.
After a moment, it was hot but not dry.
He understood that the heat was just right, precisely the perfect moment for refining kidney yin with heart fire.
However, Chen Yun still did not feel the slight bitterness in his mouth, and therefore had not yet produced the golden and jade essence, indicating that true qi had not yet been transformed.
If it were in the past, he would certainly continue to practice his qi, until he felt a slight bitterness in his mouth.
But at this moment, the white jade bead hanging around his neck released a cool aura, which directly enveloped his limbs and bones.
In the next moment, Chen Yun still did not feel the slight bitterness in his mouth.
However, the essence in his body was absorbed by the cool qi of the white jade bead into "true qi".
Now he knows how to gather the medicine, but there is a fixed path.
The true qi generated earlier, except for a small part absorbed by the body, was all discharged through the pores.
"Not right!"
"Wrong!" Chen Yun stopped practicing and pondered carefully, "The white jade bead can indeed transform essence into true qi, but as soon as I started practicing, it was all assimilated. There is no generation of true qi to make the medicine."
He doesn't know any other methods for gathering medicine, and it seems he is temporarily trapped in a dead end.
According to the qi refining method, essence needs to undergo a cycle, and then it will automatically gather at the lower dan tian under the regulation of Huangpo.
The problem is that when he practices, the white jade bead immediately assimilates the essence into true qi, without going through the regulation by Huangpo, so it cannot be automatically gathered.
He was at a loss for a moment.
However, Chen Yun was certain of one thing, the white jade bead was effective.
That means, as long as the problem of gathering the medicine is solved, it's mostly resolved.
Chen Yun pondered for a moment, "How can I send the true qi to the lower dan tian?"
Suddenly, he remembered a piece of advice from Master Yin Xi: If one can control qi with the mind, it means the breath is not lost. The Master regards the mind as a chariot and qi as a horse. He travels all day without losing his way, up to Tuo Dan and down to Ming Men, with two realms interconnected, to save the old and the decrepit.
"To use the mind as a chariot, and qi as a horse?"
Chen Yun had a slight understanding.
Since he cannot control when the white jade bead generates true qi, why not just directly use the mind to control the true qi? Letting the true qi follow the qi refining method, all the way to middle palace, where it can be automatically gathered by oneself?
During the hundred-day foundation-building period, he had used his mind to control the true qi before.
Too bad he didn't know how to store it at that time, so he couldn't refine the essence into qi.
Now that he knows the true qi can be automatically gathered, he only needs to guide it.
After realizing this, Chen Yun tried again.
He adjusted his breath and once again entered a state of meditation.
Although the golden and jade essence did not emerge from his mouth, Chen Yun felt the cool qi of the white jade bead assimilating essence into true qi. He used his mind to control it.
The true qi arrived at the left and right meridians of the Sun and split into two.
Chen Yun controlled the true qi to directly pass through the lower jaw root, upwards to the position at the temple, entering the top door, and reaching the Dan Tian Palace.
Then, he used his mind to control the true qi flowing into his brain, downward towards the twelve rings of Chong Lou, through his spine and tail bone up to the top, entering the heart and running through the gallbladder.
Chen Yun felt warmth in his chest.
He knew in his heart that it was time to gather the medicine.
As expected, with the mind controlling the true qi, a slight movement occurred in his heart. This stream of true qi slowly flowed downwards to the lower dan tian.
Perhaps because it had not been regulated by the "Huangpo," Chen Yun did not experience the wonderful sensation of his body gradually expanding and his spirit soaring this time.
However, he still faintly "saw" a bright spot in his heart, round and like the sun, suddenly falling, dropping down to the lower dan tian before stopping.
The true qi circled for a moment, as if a dewdrop was hiding inside.
It works!
Controlling true qi with the mind is possible!
Chen Yun was very happy in his heart and stopped meditating again.
He reviewed the situation just now, where the true qi, controlled by his mind, traveled along a fixed route and was absorbed by a part of his body, but did not completely reach the lower dan tian.
About half of it was consumed.
Even so, Chen Yun could still feel that the amount of true qi generated by the white jade bead was quite abundant, more than his own cultivation. This was mainly because a large amount had been consumed despite that.
It has to be said that the white jade bead is indeed a fine treasure.
Chen Yun was somewhat doubtful, "Mr. Wu is just a mortal person. How could such a treasure be found in the courtyard?"
He carefully recalled what Mr. Wu had said about the establishment of the courtyard being prior to the abode of an evil god.
Chen Yun guessed that this white jade bead was very likely a relic left behind by a cultivator in the shrine of the evil god.
Suddenly, he remembered visiting Mr. Wu's residence the last time, where Mr. Wu had mentioned that the courtyard had been robbed.
He thought, "Perhaps that cultivator had come to look for the white jade bead?"
After a moment's thought, Chen Yun put that idea aside and continued to consider matters related to his cultivation.
Perhaps because the true qi was absorbed by the body, he felt a sense of pleasure, as if he had taken some miraculous medicine.
"The white jade bead generates true qi, and there will be consumption during qi circulation. The body cannot fully absorb it, and most of it is expelled out of the body. This is quite wasteful."
Chen Yun began to ponder, "Consumption is inevitable, but can I utilize this part of the consumed true qi?"
Chen Yun's mind went to Zhao Gongming's "Accumulating and Refining the Body Technique."
Accumulating and refining the body utilizes a special technique to solidify the body with essence and qi, which can enhance physical strength and strengthen physique. When refined to perfection, it can even achieve invincibility from blades and firearms, as well as resistance to water and fire.
If essence and qi can refine the body, then why not true qi as well?
Chen Yun felt that if it were possible, he could not only solve the problem of lost true qi during qi circulation but also enhance his body's strength.
He decided to try it.
Having decided, Chen Yun began practicing again.
With the help of the white jade bead, he could immediately generate true qi with every practice.
He controlled the true qi with his mind and guided it along the fixed route as before.
Taking advantage of the true qi entering the meridians, Chen Yun tried to divide his mind into two, using one part to continue guiding the true qi, and the other part to attempt to strengthen his physical body using the Accumulating and Refining the Body technique.
At first, he found it difficult to control.
Because he deliberately tried to do it, it prevented him from entering the state of controlling the true qi with his mind.
But as he continued to try, Chen Yun gradually mastered the technique, allowing the true qi to run along the fixed route while also using that consumed true qi to temper his physical body.
Perhaps it's not very smooth, but there is still some loss.
However, after a week of practice, Chen Yun found that the amount of true qi wasted this time was significantly reduced compared to the previous passive absorption, and the strength of his body had increased much more than before.
"Hm, this works. Although there is still some consumption, at least I've utilized a part of it. Perhaps as I get more accustomed to it, I can reduce even more waste."
Chen Yun confirmed his direction of cultivation.
He continued to meditate and cultivate.
Time passed minute by minute.
Gradually, the hour of the child is about to pass.
Chen Yun felt his body weary, and thus he stopped his cultivation.
During the time of gathering his spirit, he summarized today's cultivation situation, "I practiced a total of three small circulations today. Each time I practiced, I could generate nine true qi. Tonight, I accumulated a total of twenty-seven true qi. Moreover, my body has become stronger due to the tempering from the consumed true qi through Accumulating and Refining the Body cultivation."
Tonight's cultivation is equivalent to nine times that of last night!
Chen Yun was quite satisfied. He got up to record his cultivation insights and then slightly modified the cultivation method according to his insights.
During this period, he drank ginseng soup.
After finishing writing, Chen Yun blew out the oil lamp and lay down in bed to sleep.
……
About seven or eight days later.
During these days, Chen Yun practiced diligently every night at the sub-hour of the zodiac using the white jade bead, practicing kung fu during the day, reading Daoist scriptures and medical texts, and was quite content.
However, he was still unaware of the level of cultivation he had reached.
Therefore, after waking up this morning, Chen Yun had hot rice for breakfast and paid respect to his teacher before heading to the Formation Hall to look for Cai Ruojin.
He wanted Cai Ruojin to use the method of observing qi to see how his cultivation was progressing.
Additionally, Chen Yun had a hidden intention. A few days ago, Cai Ruojin had said that after one cultivates true qi, they can learn the method of observing qi. He wanted to master this art.
The Formation Hall.
When Chen Yun walked in, only Ren brother was there.
Chen Yun greeted him warmly, "Good morning, Ren brother."
Ren brother, who was reading a book, quickly stood up and bowed respectfully, "Good morning, Chen brother."
Chen Yun asked, "Has Cai apprentice been here?"
Ren brother's personality seemed a bit rigid. He answered seriously, "Cai apprentice usually inspects the surrounding area of the temple every morning before coming to the Formation Hall, ensuring everything is alright. He hasn't come yet."
Most people would probably just say that he hasn't come. Only someone with a serious nature like Ren brother would carefully explain the cause and effect of Cai's absence.
Hearing that Cai Ruojin had not yet arrived, Chen Yun simply moved a chair and sat outside to wait.
It was about twenty minutes later.
The figure of Cai Ruojin appeared at the great hall.
Chen Yun got up and walked to the door, heading towards Cai Ruojin.
The two of them met at a corner.
Cai Ruojin greeted him as usual, "Greetings, Uncle Chen."
Chen Yun said, "Cai apprentice, you may dismiss your bow."
Cai Ruojin stopped his bow gesture and was about to say something.
Suddenly, he looked surprised and stared at Chen Yun for a long time.
Chen Yun blinked and said, "Cai apprentice, can you use the qi observation technique to see what level of cultivation I've reached?"
Upon hearing this, Cai Ruojin, who was still in a daze, snapped out of it and laughed ruefully, "Uncle Chen, I really don't know how you managed to cultivate so quickly. It takes ordinary people three months to become a nine-level master. You've only done it in less than ten days."
Oh?
Am I at the level of a nine-level master?
Upon hearing this, Chen Yun's heart rejoiced.
He was well aware of why he could accumulate so much true qi in less than ten days.
Ordinary people may not even master the temperature control when they first enter the stage of refining essence into qi, so they naturally cannot always generate true qi each time.
Just as Cai Ruojin had said a few days ago, perhaps even working hard all night might not yield any results, and even if there were any, it would only be a couple of true qi.
And I?
For myself, with the help of the white jade bead, I can refine twenty to thirty true qi every night!
One day is equivalent to ten days for others.
That's why I was able to reach the level of a nine-level master in such a short time.
Understanding the specifics is one thing.
Knowing that you have broken through to the level of a nine-level master is another thing.
Chen Yun's mood improved.
Chen Yun smiled as he revealed his purpose for this visit, "By the way, Cai apprentice, since I have reached the level of a nine-level master, I should be able to learn the qi observation technique, right?"
As long as he could learn the qi observation technique, he wouldn't have to rely on others to see how much his cultivation had grown. Chen Yun naturally wanted to learn it.
