Chapter Eight, Small Zhou Tian

Worrying excessively is of no benefit, so let's start as soon as possible! Jiang Cen thought to himself

Jiang Cen nodded quietly, understanding that the tongue is the seed of the heart. The changes in the tongue reflect the changes in the body. Therefore, since ancient times, renowned physicians have diagnosed illnesses not only by taking pulses but also by observing the tongue. It is not surprising that cultivation begins with the tongue pulse.

Next is a more detailed set of breathing mantras. The elder first imparted the most fundamental six-character mantra: "Xu, Hu, He, Xi, Chui, Xi." Although it is complex, it is not difficult to understand; one simply needs to follow along.

After several attempts, he indeed felt as if a gentle and warm stream was entering his meridians through his breath and exhalation

The so-called Qi Dan actually refers to the true energy of the Dantian. The primary objective of cultivators at this stage is to breathe in and exhale the primordial energy of the heavens, circulating and refining it through the meridians into the Dantian, thereby transforming it into their own true energy and magical power

It is unclear what method he used, but suddenly a diagram of human meridians appeared vividly in Jiang Cen's mind, clearly indicating the names and locations of the twelve acupoints that the tongue meridian needs to connect.

Despite repeated failures, Jiang Cen remained undaunted. Through the lessons learned from numerous setbacks, he became extremely familiar with the twelve acupoints. Finally, after hundreds of failures, he achieved his first success in one go, connecting the twelve acupoints and completing the first small circulation of the tongue pulse.

Otherwise, even if he obtains the formula, he will likely need to study for a long time before understanding its specific meaning

To excel in one's work, one must first sharpen one's tools. Cultivating posture and breathing techniques is the foundation of practice, much like the axe used by a woodcutter

After memorizing the positions and order of the twelve acupuncture points on the tongue, Jiang Cen began his cultivation

However, the vitality of heaven and earth is extremely weak and difficult to control. The vitality intermittently interrupts and disappears, making it challenging to continuously connect all twelve acupoints in one go. If even one acupoint is not connected, the cultivation is considered a failure, and one cannot complete a small circulation.

"Look closely! This is the cultivation mantra for the tongue pulse and the meridian chart!" said Elder Hun

The old man smiled and said: "I have not finished speaking! Each completion is one small cycle. Cultivating eighty-one small cycles constitutes one large cycle! Upon completing thirty-six large cycles, when one feels a slight warmth in the lower abdomen, as if true energy is surging, only then can it be considered that the most rudimentary tongue meridian has been fully cultivated, and one may begin to cultivate the second meridian."

This is an introduction to a cultivation posture, which Jiang Cen seems to understand only partially. The Soul Elder explains it in detail.

After successfully cultivating several small cycles, Jiang Cen gradually began to feel some abnormalities

"Huh!" Jiang Cen let out a long breath, and he said with great frustration: "It took me more than an hour to complete a small circulation, this is just too slow!"

Perhaps due to exhaustion, after mastering this minor circulation, Jiang Cen did not experience any special sensations

The old master tirelessly corrected Jiang Cen's posture, having him repeatedly practice the breathing techniques.

At first, Jiang Cen planned to take a break after cultivating for ten small circulations, but upon experiencing that indescribable sensation, he had no desire to stop and instead continued his cultivation

"Not only is it not slow! Your cultivation aptitude is already among the best of the best!" The old soul praised endlessly, feeling quite envious

"Would you like to take a break?" asked the old soul

I shall now impart to you the techniques for circulating energy through the meridians. There are a total of 18 meridians, which include the five sensory organs and their corresponding five meridians, as well as the eight meridians associated with the hands and feet: the lesser yang, lesser yin, greater yang, and greater yin.

Jiang Cen filled his hunger with wild pears, which were sour and astringent, but due to his extreme hunger, he ate three in one go

Jiang Cen repeatedly attempted; at first, he was not very skilled. After successfully connecting with one acupoint, he needed to think for a moment to determine the sequence and location of the next acupoint. As a result, this slight pause caused the vital energy he had painstakingly gathered to dissipate, rendering all his previous efforts futile

If the cultivation posture is incorrect, the primordial energy of heaven and earth will struggle to circulate within the body's meridians, which is detrimental to the practice; moreover, if the method of inhalation and exhalation is not mastered, using the character "hu" when one should use "he" will lead to improper breathing. This can result in a mild inability to cultivate magical power, or in severe cases, it may lead to a deviation from the path of cultivation, causing chaos in the meridians and even endangering one's life

Jiang Cen continued his cultivation. With the success of the first experience, the subsequent training became smoother, and he was able to successfully complete the cultivation two or three times out of ten, achieving small circulations one after another

The voice of the Soul Elder echoed in Jiang Cen's mind

Taking the tongue pulse as an example, there are a total of twelve acupoints. You must memorize the location and order of each acupoint, and then inhale and exhale the primordial energy of heaven and earth according to the prescribed method, allowing the primordial energy to flow through these twelve acupoints in sequence, ultimately gathering in the dantian to become a strand of your true qi

At the end of the Year of the Tiger and the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit, the pure energy rises. Facing the east, seated cross-legged. With the chest contained and the back straight, eyes closed and curtains drawn. Both palms stacked and the tongue pressed against the upper palate. With a calm heart and tranquil energy, the body relaxed and the spirit focused. The heart merges with the spirit, and the spirit merges with the energy

Generally, a cultivator cannot possibly achieve the first small circulation in less than ten days to half a month

He assumes the proper posture, following the mnemonic, and employs the Six-Character Secret Breathing method to refine the primordial energy of heaven and earth

Good! I shall impart to you the cultivation mantra! The "Dao Sutra" can be subdivided into three main parts: "Dan Sutra," "Immortal Body," and "Heavenly Dao." What you are to cultivate now is the "Dan Sutra" section. The "Dan Sutra" allows you to progress from the initial Qi Dan stage all the way to the Great Perfection of the Transformation Dan stage

Is it really that simple? Jiang Cen asked, it doesn't seem to take much time either

Jiang Cen smugly said: "It turns out I am not that slow!"

You have only cultivated for one hour, and if I did not know that you possess the Five Elements Heavenly Spiritual Root, I would have been frightened enough to lose half of my soul!

This is what is referred to as the primordial energy of heaven and earth

Time is even more pressing than he had anticipated

The Soul Elder explained the cultivation mantras sentence by sentence, clarifying those difficult and obscure classical texts. Jiang Cen originally had only a partial understanding, but with the Soul Elder's explanations, he finally comprehended.

"Do you still dare to say it's slow?" exclaimed the old soul, seemingly unconcerned.

All beginnings are difficult

With each breath and exhalation, as the vital energy flows through the meridians and acupoints, there is an indescribable feeling of exhilaration. Especially between the mouth and tongue, the aftertaste is endless. This sensation is a hundred times more wonderful than any delicacies he has ever tasted!

Jiang Cen was taken aback; he calculated in his mind that just one tongue meridian required nearly 3,000 small circulations! To complete the first level of the cultivation method, it was necessary to cultivate eighteen meridians, which amounted to over 50,000 small circulations!

Even I, who was once called a prodigy in cultivation, took a full three days to successfully cultivate back then

"No need, continue your cultivation!" Jiang Cen said. The wild pears he brought back would eventually be consumed, and when he stepped out of the cave again, he must possess a certain level of self-defense capability

Do not say it is cultivation; even just folding over fifty thousand paper cranes would require more than a month! The wild pears he has prepared will probably only last for half a month!

The eighteen meridians begin with the tongue meridian and end with the heart meridian, with the eight meridians of the hands and feet interspersed among them. Completing the full cultivation of all these meridians signifies the completion of one level of the practice. The Qi Dan stage consists of a total of nine levels of practice, with three levels each in the early, middle, and late stages.

A whole day has passed without even beginning to practice the true techniques, and I am extremely fatigued and ravenously hungry

Jiang Cen spent half a day establishing a stable meditation posture, and after another half day, he skillfully mastered the Six-Character Breathing Mantra