Before taking the "Pulse Building Perfection Pill" and starting his seclusion in the Spirit Gathering Array at the Alchemy Academy, Xiao Wuchen remembered that he hadn't contacted the Hall Master of the Martial Saint Hall in a long time.
He wrote the Hall Master a letter, briefly explaining his ascension to the Heavenly Ranking and his handing over of affairs to the imperial court. The Hall Master's reply was swift and brief, but it contained a secret that shook Xiao Wuchen to his core.
The Admonition of the Number One on the Heavenly Ranking
The Hall Master of the Martial Saint Hall's reply was written in vigorous handwriting, exuding a majestic aura in harmony with heaven and earth. The letter began with congratulations on Xiao Wuchen's ascension, then abruptly shifted its focus to the ultimate goal of mortal martial arts:
"Nephew Wu Chen, you have ascended to the Heavenly Ranking, proving the pinnacle of mortal martial arts. The 'vitality' within your sword intent is no longer martial arts, but the Dao.
However, the mortal body has its limits. I offer you this advice: Never cease your pursuit of perfect Qi cultivation.
On the Heavenly Ranking, there is only one person whose martial arts have surpassed the limits of true Qi."
Xiao Wu Chen's heart skipped a beat. He immediately thought of the Palace Master himself, the number one on the Heavenly Ranking.
At the end of the letter, the Palace Master revealed a shocking secret.
"Ten years ago, my martial arts reached the pinnacle of mortal skill. Now, I seek to refine my true qi into true essence, enter the Dao through martial arts, and find the method of 'Core Formation.'"
The Palace Master's words confirmed the concept of cultivation that Xiao Wuchen had learned from National Preceptor Miaokong. The Martial Saint, ranked first on the Heavenly Ranking, had martial arts far beyond the reach of ordinary people and had already begun seeking the method of Core Formation!
This resolved Xiao Wuchen's doubts about the Palace Master's strength and foreshadowed the limits of mortal martial arts. After achieving Meridian Building perfection, one must turn to cultivation or the path of martial arts will stagnate.
The Palace Master was not a cultivator. He was merely using the pinnacle of mortal martial arts to simulate and deduce the methods of cultivation. This indicates that the Palace Master of the Martial Saint Palace was already attempting to create a path of martial arts cultivation without any cultivation techniques.
Xiao Wuchen stared at the letter for a long time, unable to calm down.
The Hall Master of the Martial Saint Hall: represented the pinnacle of mortal martial arts and the spirit of seeking the Dao. Through his own practice, he guided Xiao Wuchen onto the correct path of Core Formation.
The National Preceptor of Miaokong: He represents orthodox cultivation power. He has the knowledge and resources to guide Xiao Wuchen into the cultivation system.
Xiao Wuchen now receives guidance simultaneously from the pinnacle of mortal martial arts and the cultivation world. This lays a solid foundation of belief for his upcoming breakthrough to the Perfection of the Meridian Building stage.
"The Perfection of the Meridian Building stage is merely a threshold. My goal must be Core Formation!"
He put away the letter, his eyes filled with a yearning for a higher realm. Caught between the shadow of imperial power and the Xuan Yin Sect's influence on cultivation, he knew that only by reaching Core Formation could he truly possess the strength to protect himself and the world.After taking the "Meridian Establishment Perfection Pill," Xiao Wuchen entered a deep seclusion state in the Spirit Gathering Array of the Alchemy Academy.
This pill was far more potent than he expected. It melted instantly upon entering his mouth, transforming into an intense rush of pure spiritual energy that flowed directly into his dantian. This energy was gentle yet potent, free of the impurities found in ordinary pills.
Catalyzed by the pill, the abundant spiritual energy within the Spirit Gathering Array seemed to find an outlet, converging frantically toward Xiao Wuchen's body.
His Purple Qi cultivation technique circulated at full speed and his Life-Giving Sword Intent was activated to its limit. The harmonious transformative force began refining and fusing the remaining Qi in his body with the incoming spiritual energy with astonishing efficiency.
System Notification: The conversion speed of the Qi within the Foundation Establishment Array into "yin-type spiritual energy" has reached its peak. The host's meridians are approaching their pressure limit!
During this process, Xiao Wuchen experienced yet another immense ordeal. His dantian and meridians continuously expanded and compressed as if being forged repeatedly in a giant furnace. Along with the pain, however, the energy within his body was being purified at an astonishing rate.
Over time, the total amount of true qi in his body didn't increase dramatically, but its quality underwent a fundamental change. All the crude, mortal qi was cleansed and transformed into a condensed, almost tangible energy composed entirely of the nascent form of spiritual yin energy!
Completing the Meridian Building stage marks the end of mortal martial arts and the pinnacle of the Foundation Establishment stage for cultivators.
A muffled sound, audible only to Xiao Wuchen, erupted within his dantian. All the pure spiritual qi instantly converged to form a stable, rounded energy core.
Xiao Wuchen had officially broken through to the completion of the Meridian Building stage!
He opened his eyes, which no longer held a sharp, sword-like light but instead radiated a smooth, profound light. He casually raised his hand and condensed a wisp of true qi. This wisp of energy possessed the yin-like characteristics of his "Life-Giving Sword Intent" as well as the purity and efficiency of spiritual energy.
He knew he was no longer on the same level as the veteran masters on the Heavenly Ranking. He could absorb spiritual energy infinitely, and the energy in his body was nearly identical to a cultivator's "true essence"!
Completing the Meridian Establishment stage meant he was fully prepared for Core Formation.
This stage involves further compressing and condensing the Yin-Yang Spiritual Energy within the body to form a golden core in the dantian. This grants the cultivator a longer lifespan and supernatural powers.
Xiao Wuchen could clearly feel the energy within his body yearning for the next transformation.
"Only with Core Formation can I truly possess the power to confront the cultivation forces behind the Xuan Yin Sect!"
He had reached the pinnacle of martial arts, yet he sensed an impending crisis from a higher dimension. His fate was now inextricably linked to the spiritual veins of this world.