Chapter 80: The Middle Section of Wudang Heart Method (Part 1)

  Kong Shou's long laughter echoed far away, seemingly reaching several miles outside. Yi Chen also burst into loud laughter, and the two of them looked somewhat crazy.

  I looked at the laughing Kong Shou and Yi Chen, but I was completely unable to understand what had just happened.

  Until they laughed enough, Kong Xiang finally said to me: "Today I saw a true martial arts genius again, it's a day worth remembering." After a pause, he gradually calmed down and smiled: "Jin Cang, you may not know that you are the most incredible martial arts genius I have ever seen in my life. I was about to tell you, when I followed my master to practice Wudang Heart Method back then, it took me three years to get started, nine years to open up all the meridians in my body, and twenty years to achieve small success, until now...I don't dare say that I have fully practiced it, at most I am close to the state of great success. But you, you opened up all the meridians in your body in just over three months, you...you are simply against the heavens."

  Yi Chen also said: "I used to open up all the meridians in my body, but it took me 15 years. I didn't expect you to do it in just three months! This is truly unbelievable. It seems that our Wudang Sect will be prosperous again."

  I said in a daze: "How come I don't feel any meridian being opened?"

  Kong Shou smiled and said, "The stinging sensation you feel is a sign of the meridians being opened. Just now, your master's senior sister and I have already seen it, all the meridians in your body have been opened, from now on you can start cultivating the second stage of Wudang Heart Method, that is, the Small Success Chapter."

  I furrowed my brow and said, "I felt a stinging sensation all over my body, but why didn't I feel myself getting stronger? And my dantian only felt a slight swelling pain, then nothing else was felt again."

  He stared blankly for a moment, then suddenly grabbed my hand with one swift motion, his index finger landed on my wrist, and began to examine my body once again.

  After a long time, Kong Shou let out a sigh and said in a low voice: "It seems that your body really has problems. Just now when I was clearing your meridians, a large amount of true energy, or internal breath, was produced. At this time, your dantian should be filled with those true energies, but...I don't feel even a hint of internal breath in your dantian."

  My face sank, and I frowned, saying: "Just now, in the last moment, I felt my dantian was burning hot, as if it was about to ignite. But then it was like a punctured balloon, and all that true energy suddenly disappeared completely. Could it be that I really can't cultivate this heart method? Then what should I do?"

  Kong Shou furrowed his brow and remained silent, but Yi Chen spoke up: "Don't think too much for now, as long as your meridians are unblocked, you can start cultivating the Small Completion Realm. I think the one absorbing true energy should still be your own body... some part or a certain location, someday it will absorb enough true energy and then stop. So you should focus on cultivation, strive to satisfy that energy-absorbing location as soon as possible, and then you can store internal energy in your dantian."

  I feel that Yidun's words make a lot of sense, so I nodded and said: "I will continue to cultivate as usual, and I will not be defeated by this small setback."

  Yi Chen nodded and said, "Let's go eat first. After we fill our stomachs, we'll start cultivating the Small Accomplishment Realm. The second stage of this technique is very different from the first stage, so you need to study the incantation carefully. If you don't understand anything, ask me or your Shifu."

  I nodded, and I was really starving. So I quickly ran to find some dry food snacks, and together with Kong Shou and Yi Chen, we started eating recklessly.

  After eating something, I eagerly started the research on Xin Fa's oral formula. This second stage of cultivation has an essential difference from the first stage. If the first stage is to cultivate internal energy, regulate oneself with internal energy, and open up the meridians, then the second stage is about the method of using internal energy. Having internal energy is not enough; one must learn how to use it, otherwise, even if one has internal energy, it will not be able to play its role.

  How to store more true energy in one's own dantian, how to mobilize the true energy of the dantian to harm enemies or use it for qinggong and other skills, is the main content and purpose of the second stage of cultivation.

  Kong Shou and Yi Chen explained each sentence of the incantation to me in detail, fearing that I would misunderstand the meaning of the incantation. It took me a whole day and night to memorize all the incantations and grasp their essence.

  Next, I began to cultivate the second stage of mind method under the guidance of Kong Shou and Yi Chen.

  I soon discovered the problem, because my dantian was empty, so I had no idea how to start practicing the second stage of heart method. Originally, there was no internal energy, how could I use it? A good cook can't make a meal without rice, this is the difficulty I encountered.

  So the three of us fell into deep thought, and Yu Yao came up with a solution to this difficult problem. Every time someone proposed a possible solution, I tried it without hesitation, but failed again and again.

  In this way, we spent a long month of time thinking and trying. At first, I tried many things, everyone would think of some possible ways to make it work, and I had to experiment with each one in order to find a solution. Later on, as more and more possibilities were ruled out by us, the number of experiments I needed to conduct became fewer and fewer. So most of the time, my belly was undergoing the first stage of cultivation, just like Yicheng said, absorbing that "thing" from my dantian would eventually reach a point where it's full, and maybe then I could start storing the true energy I cultivated into my dantian, and proceed to the second stage of cultivation.

  I also don't know what the "thing" in my body that absorbs true energy is, and I don't know how much true energy it needs to absorb before it's fully absorbed. However, all the meridians in my body have been opened up, and the speed of cultivating true energy has increased greatly, so I'm not worried about lacking true energy. As long as I focus on cultivating, one day I will have excess true energy stored in my dantian.

  So I was concentrating on cultivating my true energy, day after day, month after month, and before I knew it, another two months had passed.

  It's been six months since I started cultivating, and the amount of true energy I've absorbed should be more than enough. However, my dantian is still empty, just like the thing in my body that absorbs true energy is a bottomless pit.

  Six months, that's half a year. From the initial anxiety to the current numbness of Kong Shou and Yi Chen, from my initial confidence to now wanting to give up, it is enough to illustrate the confusion and predicament this heart method has brought me.

  So I started getting anxious, Kong Shou and Yi Chen also began to get anxious. At dinner time, even he said something that made me temporarily stop cultivating my heart method.

  But at that moment, I had a very special feeling, I couldn't just stop cultivating my heart method like this, after all, I had already cultivated for half a year, and I couldn't give up halfway.

  I plan to persist for another month. If there is still no improvement or change within this month, I will really give up on cultivating this technique.

  When I told Kong Shou and Yi Chen about my decision, they were all calm. The surprise and shock I gave them was the same, so now they are both numb.

  Back at my residence, I continued to focus on practicing the first stage of Xinxing with peace of mind, in order to absorb more true energy into my body. No matter where the true energy inside my body went, it was all absorbed by my body and shouldn't have any bad effects.

  I also thought so, which is why I was able to hold on.

  Time slowly slipped away, and in this one month, I completely forgot my own situation, also forgot what purpose I was cultivating for, and even more so, forgot that my dantian couldn't hold true qi.

  I insist on practicing every day, except for eating and sleeping, I don't do anything else. Unfortunately, I still haven't stored even a bit of true energy in my dantian.

  Kong Xiang came over while I was cultivating, he quietly waited for me to finish my cultivation before sighing and saying: "Jin Cang, you've already persisted for seven months, it should be impossible for you to cultivate the Wu Dang Heart Method. Listen to Master's words, let's change to a different heart method to cultivate, okay?"

  I furrowed my brow and said, "My dantian can't store internal energy, even if I change my cultivation method it's useless. Master, these past few days while cultivating I've also been thinking, suddenly I had an idea, I don't know if it will work or not."

  Kong Shou let out a sigh and said, "Tell me, I'm listening."

  I thought for a moment and said cautiously: "I know that you and Master Shi are both highly skilled, so I have a very bold idea. Master, you and Master Shi together inject true energy into my dantian, and slowly increase the amount of true energy injected to see if we can satiate the 'thing' that absorbed the true energy in my body. After that, I can confirm whether what Master Yichen said is possible or not."

  Kong Shou furrowed his brow and said: "This is a good method, but if we directly inject true energy into your dantian, it might be very painful for you. Can you endure it?"

  "I gritted my teeth and said: 'I have to try, I don't want to spend my whole life not being able to truly cultivate the Wudang Kung Fu skills, am I even worthy of being a Wudang successor?'"

  Kong Shou said: "Alright then, let's get ready, I and Yi Chen will try out your new method in a bit."

  I said: "I've been ready for a long time, just waiting for you and Master Bo."

  Yi Chen's voice came from outside the house: "I've been ready for a long time, but I don't know if you can really withstand the true energy we're going to infuse into you right now."

  "I gritted my teeth and said: 'How can I know if I don't try? I've decided to give it a shot first. Master, Master's wife, please start right away.'"

  I sat on the bed, still operating the first layer of heart method, then Kong Shou and Yi Chen began to prepare for giving me input of true energy just like last time.

  The three of us cultivate the same ancestral origin, so the true energy is also exactly the same. The two true energies that entered my body quickly merged with the two true energies I had just cultivated, and then began to run through the meridians throughout my body, directly gathering towards my dantian.

  This time the amount of true energy gathered in my dantian was very large, so for a while I felt the fiery heat transmitted from the dantian again. And that "thing" that sucked my true energy almost immediately began to suck the true energy in my dantian. I immediately accelerated the operation of the heart method and directed the true energy that had just entered the dantian to the whole body once again, avoiding being sucked dry at once.

  At this time, Kong Shou and Yi Chen simultaneously increased the amount of true energy they were inputting into my body. They wanted to see just how much true energy I could absorb before stopping.

  True energy can be regenerated through cultivation, even if it is exhausted, as long as you can still cultivate, nothing will happen.

  So this time, Kong Shou and Yi Chen basically went all out, pouring all their true energy into my body in one go. The majestic true energy surged into my body like a tidal wave, I felt my whole body tremble, and a piercing pain that was like a knife to the heart immediately made me clench my teeth, almost fainting from the intensity of it.

  Fortunately, I was well-prepared and couldn't care about the pain all over my body. I immediately ran the heart method to guide the true energy directly into my dantian. The inputted true energy had been cultivated and was free of impurities, and could be directly absorbed into the dantian.

  As soon as the majestic true energy entered my dantian, I immediately felt an indescribable pain, almost fainting. However, I gritted my teeth and persisted, despite sweating profusely all over my body.

  My dantian was filled with a surge of true energy, and in almost an instant, it swelled up by a full circle. In the next instant, I felt the internal breath that I had never felt before. My dantian was continuously filled with true energy, and although a large amount was absorbed, there was still a hint of residue left behind.

  I was overjoyed to know that my method had finally taken effect. Next, I endured the intense pain and with the help of Kong Wei and Yi Chen, I repeated the same steps again and again. Slowly but surely, a small cluster of true energy appeared in my dantian. This was the first time I had managed to store true energy in my dantian since I started cultivating.

  I was very happy and in an instant, I forgot all the pain on my body, just forgetting to circulate my mind method, hoping to store more true energy in my dantian.

  Time slowly passed, and three hours later, Kong Shou was the first to make a breakthrough, followed by Yi Chen who also closed his eyes in meditation. The two of them now had empty bodies, basically without any true energy existing within. Therefore, they needed to hurry up with their cultivation, replenish their true energy, and regulate their inner breath.

  I sensed it in my body and found that there was a lot of true energy existing. These true energies did not disappear without reason, it seems that I had gambled correctly this time.

  I was overjoyed in my heart and didn't care about the stinky sweat all over me, as well as some black stuff that seemed to be impurities coming out of my body.

  I hastily regulated my breath and found that the true energy in my dantian had not decreased, I couldn't help but feel great joy.

  When I opened my eyes and looked around, I only saw Kong Shou and Yi Chen still in meditation. It seemed that this time they had gone all out.

  I quietly stood guard beside them, worried that some unexpected guest would disturb them. I guarded them for nearly three hours before seeing Kong Yu and Yi Chen wake up one after another.

  Kong Guang took a deep breath, then smiled and said: "It's been a long time since I've worked so hard. I didn't expect to make a breakthrough this time. Next, I'll be in seclusion for a while, the cultivation of Jin Cang will be handed over to you, Shixiong."

  Yi Chen was taken aback, and also smiled: "So coincidental? I've also made a breakthrough, just about to close up for a few days! Why don't you let Jin Cang cultivate on his own during this time, and conveniently cook meals for us two old men? How's that?"

  I nodded immediately: "No problem! I also have a harvest, and there is finally some true energy in my dantian, so I can cultivate myself for a while and stabilize the current true energy."

  Kong Shou and Yi Chen were overjoyed, hastily asking: "Really? That's great! At worst, we'll just exit the pass again and do it a few more times to give you enough true energy to enter the second stage of cultivation."

  I smiled and said: "Thank you, Master and Master's wife. This time I gained something all thanks to the two of you."

  Kong Shou smiled and said, "No need to thank me, we all gained something from this. Alright, since we're about to go into seclusion soon, you can just focus on your own cultivation for now. Bring me two meals a day, at 6 am and 6 pm."

  I nodded and heard Yichen also say: "Me too."

  After I agreed, the two of them went to their respective rooms. I didn't expect that this time would bring gains for all three of us, even Master Shi who is advanced in age was eager to close himself off, seemingly having made a breakthrough.

  Perhaps after this time, their skills will be even more advanced.

  I started cooking with great joy, first boiling water for a big bath, and then really starting to cook rice and stir-fry.

  After I finished my work, I looked at the time and it was almost 6 o'clock in the evening. So, according to Kong Shou and Yi Chen's appetite, I took two insulated lunch boxes and sent them tonight's dinner.

  After finishing all that, I once again checked my dantian and found that the true energy that had been stored with great difficulty was still there. I was slightly excited, hurried back to my room, jumped onto the bed and began to cultivate again.

  Like this, I cooked two meals a day and then focused on practicing. Another month passed in a hurry, and my dantian finally had some more true energy.

  The true energy I cultivated is still absorbed by the "thing" on my body, but it's much less than before. So the true energy stored in my dantian is increasing more and more.

  I didn't try to cultivate the second layer of Wudang Heart Method because I was worried that it would consume my limited true energy. In addition to cultivating heart methods, I also practiced those martial arts moves that Kongzheng and Yichen taught me earlier.

  Today is already the thirty-third day that Kong Shou and Yi Chen have been in closed cultivation. If it weren't for seeing them finish all the meals I send in every day, I would really worry if something has gone wrong with them.

  This morning I made food and sent it to them, then practiced some martial arts moves in the yard, which exercised my body and moved my hands and feet.

  Now when I look at the two stone pedestals in the courtyard, I don't take it seriously at all. Because although my Xinxing cultivation is not ideal, my strength has already become big enough. As for what to do with these two stone pedestals, I can completely do as I please.

  But sometimes I still hold these two stone pedestals and run a few steps or lift them high, which is a kind of pastime.

  It's already past eight in the morning. I was originally planning to continue cultivating my heart method, but at this time, I heard a voice coming from the empty room: "Jin Cang, come over here for a moment."

  I hastily responded with a sound, knowing that Kong Shou was about to leave the pass. When I ran into Kong Shou's room, I saw him standing in the house, and his whole person seemed to have changed. He looked younger and more spirited than before. His original slightly hunched back was now completely gone.

  "Ha ha, don't you recognize your master? I owe it to you that I actually broke through. Hehe... Now I can be considered to have fully cultivated the Wudang Heart Method, and I feel like a completely different person."

  I nodded and smiled: "Master is obviously younger, more spirited. Even your originally slightly hunched back has completely recovered..."

  "Ahahahaha, this is the wonder of our Wudang Heart Method. Not only can it increase one's power, but also prolong life and make people more youthful in spirit... Jin Cang, how has your cultivation been for over a month now?"

  I stretched out both hands and let Kong Shou inspect, saying: "My inner energy has clearly increased, but still some of the true energy I cultivate will disappear without reason."

  "Very good, rapid progress. At this rate, you won't need three months to start cultivating the second stage of your mental method."

  I was secretly delighted and smiled: "Master, wait until Master's wife comes out of her meditation, then you two can give me another dose of true energy to fill my dantian, how about it?"

  Kong Shou shook his head: "How can such a method be used repeatedly? Cultivation must rely on one's own efforts, and external help will never allow you to truly make progress. Remember my words, don't take shortcuts, cultivate diligently, and one day you will achieve something."

  I stood up straight and said solemnly: "I remember, disciples will no longer think of taking shortcuts."

  Kong Shou smiled and said: "You understand that's good. Go see your Shibo, I feel he has also broken through, looks like he has gained a lot too."

  I then went out with Kong Shou and arrived at the door of Yi Chen's house, who was already prepared to go out. Kong Shou smiled and said: "Senior brother, congratulations on completing your heart method."

  Yi Chen opened the door and laughed: "Thanks to Jin Cang's method, otherwise, it would be difficult for us to cultivate the third layer of Heart Method."

  I was taken aback, took a closer look at Yidun in front of me, and couldn't help but say: "Master Shibo, how did your hair and beard turn black? And your eyes seem to be much brighter too... This... Is this also the credit of Wudang Heart Method?"

  Yi Chen burst out laughing, one hand rubbing his head, and said: "It's really the effect of the heart method, my hair and beard have turned black again, and my eyes are indeed much better than before. Only my teeth, however, still haven't grown back, it seems I'll really have to go find a dentist to fix my teeth."

  Kong Shou laughed and said: "I've been advising Brother to go see a dentist for a long time, but he wouldn't listen. Now that he wants to go, I'm afraid the dentist will be too lazy to treat him."

  Yi Chen glared and said, "How dare he! I'm still very young now, at least I'll live for another thirty years. If he doesn't give me a tooth to plant, does that mean I have to eat porridge for the next thirty years?"

  I also laughed and said: "Dentists only care about getting money, as long as you give them money, no matter what your requirements are, they will satisfy you."

  Yi Chen nodded: "Yes. I'll go find a dentist tomorrow... Oh, Jin Cang, how's your cultivation going?"

  I smiled and said, "As for Master Shi's words, I can now cultivate true energy on my own and store it in my dantian. However, some of that true energy still disappears without reason, and I don't know if it's being absorbed by my body."

  Yi Chen's eyebrows furrowed slightly: "Can't the true energy of both me and your master fully satisfy... your body?"

  I sighed: "I don't know either, but the true energy that disappeared now is much less than before. I wonder if it's almost full, so it's like this."

  Yi Chen said: "It seems that your hard days are coming to an end. You hold on for a few more days, if it still doesn't work out, we'll help you again."

  Kong Yu said: "The matter of cultivation still depends on Jin Cang himself, we can't be too impatient, come slowly, there will be gains."

  I and Yichen both nodded, and the three of us burst out laughing together.