The following morning, Li Xuan awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside the small window of his room. The morning light filtered through the wooden slats, casting a soft glow over the simple surroundings. His body still ached from the previous day's exertion, but the pain was a reminder that he was alive and that he had a second chance.
He sat up slowly, every movement reminding him of the frailty of his current body. The former Li Xuan's memories told him that he had been in this state for years, struggling with his cultivation due to his blocked meridians and damaged dantian. But now, with the power of the Eternal Codex, he had hope—a way to change his fate.
Li Xuan's mind was already buzzing with plans. He knew that rushing into anything without a proper understanding of his current abilities would be foolish. First, he needed to assess the state of his body and determine what he could do to improve it. The Eternal Codex granted him the power to reincarnate, but if he couldn't cultivate properly, even infinite rebirths wouldn't help him progress.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, focusing inward. Slowly, he circulated the weak trickle of Qi within his body, feeling it flow through his meridians. It was a painstaking process, and every movement of energy was met with resistance. His meridians were like blocked pipes, allowing only the smallest amount of Qi to pass through.
But this time, Li Xuan didn't give up. He persisted, guiding the Qi through his body over and over again, even as the effort left him drenched in sweat and gasping for breath. He knew that this was the only way to clear the blockages and strengthen his meridians. It was the most basic form of cultivation, but it was all he could manage in his current state.
Hours passed, and Li Xuan lost track of time as he focused entirely on his cultivation. The pain was constant, but he welcomed it, using it as motivation to push himself further. Eventually, he felt a small but significant change—the Qi was flowing slightly more freely, the blockages in his meridians starting to loosen.
A sense of satisfaction filled him as he finally stopped, allowing his body to rest. It wasn't much, but it was progress. And in his situation, any progress was worth celebrating.
He wiped the sweat from his brow and slowly got to his feet, his legs trembling slightly from the strain. Despite his physical exhaustion, his mind was sharper than ever. He was beginning to understand just how valuable the Eternal Codex was. It wasn't just about reincarnation—it was about growth. Each time he cultivated, he would carry that progress into his next life, allowing him to build upon it with each rebirth.
But to truly benefit from the Codex, he needed to understand it better. The vision he had seen in his dream the night before had been brief, but it had given him a glimpse of the Codex's potential. He needed to explore that further, to unlock more of its secrets.
With that in mind, Li Xuan sat back down on the edge of his bed and closed his eyes again. This time, he didn't focus on his Qi or his meridians. Instead, he focused inward, searching for the presence of the Eternal Codex within his mind.
At first, there was nothing—just the familiar darkness of his inner world. But as he concentrated, he felt a faint pulse, like a heartbeat, deep within his consciousness. He reached out to it, mentally extending his awareness toward the source of the pulse.
And then, just like before, the void around him shifted. The darkness gave way to a swirling mist, and from that mist emerged the same ancient, weathered book he had seen in his dream: the Eternal Codex.
It floated before him, its pages glowing faintly in the dim light. Li Xuan hesitated for only a moment before reaching out to touch the cover. As his fingers brushed the surface, the book opened on its own, revealing the first of its many pages.
The text on the page was written in the same strange, glowing symbols he had seen before. But this time, as he looked at them, the meaning became clear in his mind. It was a cultivation technique—a method for refining Qi and strengthening one's body. It was simple but effective, designed to be used even by those with blocked meridians like himself.
Li Xuan's eyes widened as he absorbed the information. This was exactly what he needed—a way to overcome his current limitations and begin his path to true cultivation. He studied the technique carefully, committing every detail to memory.
As he read further, the page began to change, revealing more information. This time, it was about a specific technique called the Ninefold Ascension Technique.
The Ninefold Ascension Technique was a Profound-grade cultivation method renowned for its ability to help cultivators achieve rapid progress even from a state of severe blockage. It was designed to refine Qi and strengthen the body through nine distinct stages, each more challenging than the last. The technique not only facilitated the clearing of meridian blockages but also significantly enhanced the practitioner's overall cultivation base.
The text explained that this technique was a rare find, even among Profound-grade methods. It required a deep understanding and persistent effort, but it offered immense rewards. Each stage of the Ninefold Ascension Technique was tailored to unlock a new level of power and resilience, transforming its user's potential.
Li Xuan's heart raced with excitement. The potential of the Ninefold Ascension Technique was far beyond anything he had imagined. If he could fully harness its power, there would be no limit to what he could achieve.
But for now, he needed to focus on the basics. He had the technique he needed to begin strengthening his body and clearing his meridians. It was a slow process, but with persistence, he knew he could succeed.
He spent the rest of the day practicing the Ninefold Ascension Technique, carefully following the instructions he had learned from the Codex. The progress was slow, but he could feel the difference. His Qi was flowing more smoothly, and the blockages in his meridians were gradually loosening.
By the time the sun had set, Li Xuan was utterly exhausted, but a small smile played on his lips. He had made real progress today—more progress than the former Li Xuan had made in years. And this was just the beginning.
As he lay down to sleep that night, Li Xuan felt a sense of determination settle over him. He was no longer just a weak, crippled disciple. He was someone with the power to change his fate, someone with the potential to rise above the challenges that lay ahead.
And with the Eternal Codex at his side, he was ready to face whatever the Azure Sky Realm had in store for him.
Little did he know, the journey ahead would test him in ways he could never have imagined. But for now, as he drifted off to sleep, he allowed himself a moment of peace, knowing that he was on the right path—the path of rebirth.