Chen Han furrowed his brows.
Although he obtained the Nine Heavens Profound Scripture Basic Qi Cultivation Method and was able to skillfully utilize it for cultivation, he unexpectedly did not perceive any Spiritual Qi around him.
Or rather, it wasn't that there was no Spiritual Qi, but those traces of Spiritual Qi were like the hint of moisture in a desert, evaporating as soon as seen.
Trying to lick these traces to quench thirst would truly be less effective than lying down in the desert for longevity, at least in minimizing exertion.
The traces of Spiritual Qi he perceived were the same, dispersing as soon as sensed.
In reality, it's simply a Spiritual Energy Desert, attempting cultivation here is akin to licking moisture from the air in a desert—futile effort and wasting life.
In other words, cultivating in reality is impossible.
Thinking of this, he hurriedly got up, rushed out, and headed toward the special Spiritual Acupoints.
Though reality is a Spiritual Energy Desert, he still has the Sect Base, with special Spiritual Acupoints, and a Spiritual Energy Flush that occurs daily at 5:00 AM.
Upon reaching the pavilion, Chen Han once again settled into a seated position, operating the Nine Heavens Profound Scripture Basic Qi Cultivation Method.
This time, he clearly felt the surrounding Spiritual Qi increase substantially, likely due to the hidden effect of the special Spiritual Acupoint.
Even so, the increased Spiritual Qi was still insufficient to support cultivation, much like more moisture appearing in a desert, yet evaporating before one can respond.
It seems waiting for the Spiritual Energy Flush is the only option.
Finally, 5:00 AM arrived, the sky gradually brightening as the prelude to the sunrise.
With the first ray of sunlight streaming from the mountain tops, Chen Han instantly felt the rush of Spiritual Qi from the special Spiritual Acupoint, promptly operating the Nine Heavens Profound Scripture Basic Qi Refining Method to guide these energies.
In that moment, his pores widened, greedily absorbing the Spiritual Qi.
Unlike the body's instinctive absorption before, this time through the Nine Heavens Profound Scripture Basic Qi Cultivation Method, it was a rhythmic, efficient guidance of the Spiritual Qi into the body, followed by refinement.
He could distinctly sense the absorbed Spiritual Qi entering his body, circulating through the meridians, converging into measurable strands of Spiritual Qi.
Moreover, with the operation of the Nine Heavens Profound Scripture Basic Qi Cultivation Method, he could even control the flow of these measurable strands of Spiritual Qi through specific meridians, coupled with a special perception of his internal self as this energy circulated.
In this perception, the meridians throughout his body transformed into pathways where Spiritual Qi flowed.
This feeling was incredibly mysterious.
Is this the true introspection from Taoist Sect legends?
He had read some of the Taoist Sect's collections from the Chen family, which discussed introspection.
Some ancient versions described introspection as: "Visualizing thoughts to see the five organs as suspended disks, clearly in distinct colors, like hanging cymbals; liver as green, heart as red, spleen as yellow, lungs as white, kidneys as black..."
In early Republican era versions, introspection was detailed as: "Close the eyes and focus the mind internally, feeling the flow of energy and subtle changes within the body."
Retaining the mention of 'thought' therein.
However, in the latest modern Celestial Master annotations, the depiction of introspection became rather abstract, morphing into: "Close your eyes, not to truly see with them, but to sense your inner self with your heart."
Experiencing this introspection, Chen Han was startled to find it surprisingly similar to ancient records in Taoist texts.
Meridians appear as river channels, akin to seeing the five organs as suspended cymbals—isn't that quite similar?
The Nine Heavens Profound Scripture Basic Qi Cultivation Method controls the gathered Spiritual Qi through specified meridians, essentially the process of refining Spiritual Qi into one's own True Qi, enabling its introduction into the Dantian.
This process is exceedingly slow, not accomplishing in one go.
However, Chen Han could clearly see that through gradually refining Spiritual Qi into True Qi, during the operation, the True Qi was incrementally consumed, absorbed by the body, nourishing his flesh.
In cultivation, only by strengthening the flesh can the meridians grow more robust, capable of bearing increasingly powerful forces, avoiding death by energy eruption.
Like in certain TV dramas, where Immortals with Immortal bodies can be killed by mortals with cold weapons due to injuries—that's impossible.
This nourishing to the flesh was felt clearly, as if the cells were rejoicing.
Very wondrous.
Suddenly, when Spiritual Qi flowed into the Hand Taiyin Meridian, the consumption of refined True Qi accelerated.
This discovery made his eyes shine brightly.
The Hand Taiyin Meridian pertains to the lungs.
The Nine Heavens Profound Scripture Basic Qi Cultivation Method was repairing damage to his lungs with the refined True Qi, and the damage to his lungs was self-evident.
Indeed, he soon felt a cool, soothing sensation within his lungs.
This made the joy on his face impossible to suppress.
With the Spiritual Energy Flush concluded, Chen Han still remained seated, continuing to refine the Spiritual Qi absorbed into his body.
…
As the sun rose, people in Shangyuan Village gradually awoke, and from many homes, cooking smoke drifted.
Within the Chen Clan Ancient Building Complex visitor accommodations, Zhao Kang also awoke from slumber.
This sleep was especially restful, a morning awakening in excellent condition unlike any before.
Those suffering insomnia know that waking the next day is assuredly groggy and mentally unwell.
It's usual for him.
Working hard in youth towards career success, though achieving some now, came at the cost of health.
It had been long since he slept this soundly and woke in such good condition.
The effect of the Chen family's Thunder Bamboo Spirit Tea was indeed marvelous, having drunk some yesterday, no insomnia last night, and had a reliably stable sleep; waking today with a clear mind and very good condition.
He stretched, washed up, planning to go for a small run.
A regular habit formed post insomnia.
A brief morning jog can promote blood circulation, increase oxygen supply to the brain, allow swift recovery from fatigue and grogginess due to insomnia, thereby enhancing mental state.
The medical director at the provincial affiliated hospital advised it, proving very effective.
Exiting the visitor center, he entered the Martial Arts Arena, heading outside the ancient building complex to jog, feeling more energized due to good sleep quality.
It was indeed the right decision to suddenly decide to visit the Chen Clan Ancient Building Complex.
Zhao Kang had been running continuously for 30 minutes, already sweating quite a bit. As he reached the area with the three old elm trees to take a break and enjoy the refreshing and smooth sensation, he saw Patriarch Chen sitting cross-legged in the pavilion, motionless.
This surprised him.
Although he knew that the Chen Family inherited from a Taoist sect, and the entire ancient building complex was related to the Daoist Eight Trigrams, he had never actually witnessed any Taoist cultivation practices.
Aside from Patriarch Chen's display of Ancient Techniques, and Miss Xiaoyu practicing swordsmanship and martial arts, the people of the Chen Family didn't seem any different from ordinary people.
Now, suddenly seeing Patriarch Chen sitting there motionless, he couldn't help but watch curiously.
Is he cultivating?
Time passed, half an hour went by, but he found that Patriarch Chen remained still, as if in meditation.
Simply this level of concentration was impressive.
Try having an ordinary person sit cross-legged for half an hour and see who can hold out.
Moreover, who knows how long Patriarch Chen had been sitting there before he arrived.
Finally, Chen Han slowly opened his eyes.
He now understood why some big shots in the Swordsmen of Shushan world could remain in seclusion for decades or even centuries.
Because the process of refining spiritual energy really isn't something that happens overnight; it requires time.
Just the spiritual energy absorbed during that brief Spiritual Energy Flush took him until now to completely refine. Otherwise, by now, he'd already be provoking a fight among Dog Demons and acquiring some Dog Demon Meat.
Also, during this round of cultivation, none of the True Qi refined from the spiritual energy was guided into the Dantian; it was almost entirely used to repair the damage to his lungs, effectively treating the cancer.
Chen Han subconsciously looked at the character panel in his mind:
Name: Chen Han
Age: 24
Life Span: 36 days and 7 hours.
Physique: None
Realm: None
Passive Skill: None
Active Skill: "Nine Heavens Profound Scripture Basic Qi Cultivation Method"
Chen Han could hardly contain his inner excitement.
Although cancer, as a terminal illness, is indeed tricky and a bit of spiritual energy can't work miracles instantly, today's single cultivation session increased his lifespan by 10 days.
This truly provided a way to treat his lung cancer.
Moreover, with 10 additional days now, as the cancer is gradually treated, the results from cultivation and healing will certainly become more effective.
Thinking of this, Chen Han finally breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the surrounding fence walls, he was again surprised; the flower plants there had become even more lush and vibrant due to the Spiritual Energy Flush.
Even the sparse flowers had grown more abundant and lush, appearing very attractive.
It felt like the wildflowers had mutated.
Afterward, as he got up, he saw Mr. Zhao watching him from the side, smiling and greeted him, "Good morning, Mr. Zhao."
"Good morning, Patriarch Chen." Zhao Kang replied with a smile, then curiously asked, "Patriarch Chen, were you meditating and cultivating just now?"
"You could say that!" Chen Han replied ambiguously. He couldn't exactly tell him that he had started cultivating immortality, could he?
After exchanging a few words with Mr. Zhao, he also checked the information about the sect's base:
Level: Level 2 Sect Base
Effects: Ancient +2, Aesthetics +2.
Special Daoist Sect's Residence Effect: Calm Heart +2 (Not yet remodeled)
Upgrade Requirements: 1. 400,000 Wealth (89,500/400,000). 2. Reputation 2000 (20/2000).
Special Features: 1. The sect base effect can be retracted into a Sect Base Construction Token. 2. Special Spiritual Acupoint (This is a featured function of a Cultivation Sect, with the special effect: Fresh and Pleasant near the Spiritual Acupoint +2, Clean Air near the Spiritual Acupoint +2, generates a Spiritual Energy Flush once daily at 5:00 AM!).
After upgrading to a Level 2 Sect Base, the upgrade requirements have significantly increased, with wealth rising to 400,000 and reputation to 2000.
What surprised him more was the Calm Heart +2 effect.
It wasn't listed together with Ancient +2 and Aesthetics +2, but rather appeared in a special Daoist Sect's Residence effect column.
It seemed this Calm Heart +2 attribute would differ from Ancient +2 and Aesthetics +2 once remodeled.
The remodelling had not been completed, though, so he wasn't sure how this attribute actually worked.
However, the reputation increased by 20 points, which was all thanks to the video of the Thunder Bamboo Spirit Tea during his time refining spiritual energy.
Woof Woof Woof!~
The barking of a Dog Demon echoed.
He saw a little mongrel running from outside the ancient building complex and checked that there was still some Dog Demon Meat in the warehouse. Today, he'd be merciful and let those Dog Demons off the hook.
Returning to the small courtyard, he saw his junior sister, beaming, bringing in a bamboo box: "Senior Brother, what do you think of this packaging for the Thunder Bamboo Spirit Tea? Once we wrap it in an express delivery box, we can mail it to customers who purchase through Tiao Yin's showcase."
"Hmm, it looks good!" Chen Han nodded.
His junior sister then bragged a bit: "Senior Brother, I have more good news. Remember how I met many girls when I attended the National Style event? One of them, an older sister, and I got along well."
"Recently, she got dumped by a jerk and even got blocked. She's been quite upset, so I invited her to the Chen Clan Ancient Building Complex to unwind. She has over 3 million followers and quite an influence in the national style genre. If she could help promote our Chen Clan, it would certainly attract many visitors."
"Who is it?" Chen Han asked curiously.
As a Level 2 Sect Base now requires over 2000 reputation for further upgrades, and likely more in the future, attracting tourists to the Chen Clan Ancient Building Complex to gain reputation points would be most welcome.
His junior sister continued to brag: "Senior Brother, you've probably heard of her, the National Goddess Su Miaoyao, stage name Guanhai, but we all call her Sister Xiaomi."
"What????" Chen Han was suddenly a bit stunned.