The autumn colors were nowhere to be found, full of the bright light beneath the phoenix trees.
A figure soared into the air like a dragon, lightly leveraging the tips of his toes on the treetops and rocks, darting through a sea of orange and brown like the wind, moving swiftly without disturbing the leaves or stirring up dust.
After finding a secluded spot in the woods, Bai Yichen took a wax-like elixir and began to alternate practicing a set of palm techniques and sword techniques.
Numerous streams of internal energy rose from his dantian, circulating through his meridians.
Bai Yichen did not dare to be negligent. He closed his eyes to adjust his breath, using the Yellow Court Yin Talisman scripture to guide his internal energy along the meridians, finally returning to the dantian.
Only then did he open his eyes and finish his practice, his face showing a trace of joy. After several days of practice, he had managed to unblock a strange meridian today.
Upon reaching the Innate stage, the essence of this level lay in continuously cultivating and transforming internal energy, accumulating it in the dantian to unblock the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, forming a cycle of energy around the body, and even preparing to glimpse the realm of a master.
Thus, unblocking the Eight Extraordinary Meridians was a crucial stage in martial cultivation at the Innate level.
As for the ordinary meridians of the human body, aside from those who are born with obstructed meridians, they are usually normal; otherwise, the blood and energy cannot circulate.
Only the Eight Extraordinary Meridians are hidden within and require sufficient internal energy to unblock after reaching the Innate level to form a complete cycle, achieving Innate Perfection.
The Eight Extraordinary Meridians include the Du Mai, Ren Mai, Chong Mai, Dai Mai, Yin Qiao Mai, Yang Qiao Mai, Yin Wei Mai, and Yang Wei Mai.
For hundreds of years, various martial factions have categorized the difficulty of unblocking these meridians, with the Yin and Yang Qiao Meridians and Yin and Yang Wei Meridians considered the "Four Common Meridians," the Chong Mai and Dai Mai labeled as "Two Risky Meridians," and the most challenging, the Du Mai and Ren Mai, regarded as "Two Dangerous Meridians."
In his previous life, he did not dare to easily attempt those Dangerous Meridians due to his mediocre aptitude and advanced age.
Failing to unblock a Risky Meridian would only result in injury, while failing to unblock a Dangerous Meridian could lead to serious injury or even death.
This also established several distinct stages within the Innate realm: those still at the Four Common Meridians stage are considered ordinary Innates; once they unblock the Two Risky Meridians, they reach the Great Success stage; finally, unblocking the Two Dangerous Meridians to form a cycle makes them Innate Perfection.
As for the master realm beyond that, from what Bai Yichen learned from the Yellow Court Yin Talisman scripture, it is related to tapping into the energy of heaven and earth.
The scripture records: the path of a Grandmaster lies in the union of qi and intent, capturing the mysterious moment, a spark of enlightenment. When the mind and spirit connect all the breaths of the body to the vast qi of heaven and earth, this leads directly to the realm of the Grandmaster.
The first-generation temple master also mentioned in the scripture that if one has methods to preserve and strengthen the spirit, it would greatly benefit the advancement to Grandmaster.
It was after reading this that Bai Yichen became increasingly convinced of the extraordinary nature of the Sitting and Forgetting Heart Refinement method. It not only preserves and strengthens the spirit, but also purifies internal energy, eliminating distractions, which is highly beneficial for breaking through to the Grandmaster realm.
After completing another round of the Sitting and Forgetting Heart Refinement, Bai Yichen finished his morning practice for the day. With a light tap of his feet, he moved with the wind, leaving only a blur of his figure behind.
As he strolled leisurely, he arrived back at the courtyard in the blink of an eye.
At that moment, a knock came from the door. Bai Yichen opened it and saw Shaoyang standing outside, holding a letter.
"Shaochong... Dao Child, this morning while I was guarding the mountain gate, a hunter from the foot of the mountain came by. He said he was entrusted to deliver this letter to you, so I brought it."
He then handed over the letter.
Bai Yichen took it but did not immediately read it. Instead, he looked at Shaoyang, noticing his unease. Understanding flashed through his mind as he said, "Senior Brother Shaoyang, we've known each other for a long time, no need to be so formal."
He gave a slight nod toward Shaoyang, but seeing that Shaoyang hadn't fully relaxed, he refrained from saying more. After expressing his thanks, Bai Yichen returned inside.
Thoughtfully gazing at the sealed letter in his hand for a moment, he finally opened it and began to read.
After deciphering the hidden message, he smiled faintly.
"At the third chime of the night bell, where shadows sway in the forest, the ninth hour awaits the green qilin."
The letter was signed with a dragon pattern.
Bai Yichen lightly crushed the letter and tossed it into the flame, watching it burn.
As expected, just a subtle hint was enough for Chenlong to deduce his identity, and the letter was directly addressed to Bai Yichen.
This was within his expectations. When Bai Yichen left a secret message for Chenlong at the rendezvous, arranging to meet at Qingkong Mountain, he had no intention of hiding anymore.
Chenlong had already suspected his identity. Now that Bai Yichen sought to recruit him as an ally, it was only natural to show sincerity first.
As Bai Yichen pondered how to communicate with Chenlong, another knock came from outside the door.
Who could it be this time?
Curious, Bai Yichen opened the courtyard gate.
The visitor was none other than Guanzhi Fashi.
After the Xuanzhen Temple battle, having lost two chief managers of the hall, the sect needed to promote new candidates to maintain daily operations.
Considering Guanzhi Daoist's strength and contributions, along with his connection to Bai Yichen, he was appointed as the new Master Fashi of the general affairs hall.
Bai Yichen welcomed him into the main hall, and after serving two cups of tea, he looked at Guanzhi Fashi with a questioning gaze.
Taking a sip of tea, Guanzhi Fashi spoke, "Last night, a ragged child came to the temple, claiming you recommended him. He handed over a letter, and I recognized your handwriting. Since you're here, I wanted to confirm with you."
Upon hearing this, Bai Yichen realized Guanzhi Fashi was seeking his opinion. The letter he had written only mentioned offering the little beggar a place to stay, without going into detail.
After a brief pause, Bai Yichen responded, "Indeed, that is the case. That young... Brother Potian once assisted me, and seeing his pitiful state on the streets, I sent him to Xuanzhen Temple for refuge. Now that he's here, treat him as you would any regular disciple."
Guanzhi Fashi nodded in agreement.
The two then casually conversed for a while, giving Bai Yichen some insight into the temple's affairs during his month-long absence.
...
A fledgling crow calls, leaving the jade screen empty; a new pillow of coolness, a breeze through the fan.
As the final days of summer faded, bright lanterns hung high, silver light spilled through the forest, and a mountain breeze brought a refreshing chill.
In the silent forest below Qingkong Mountain, amidst the swaying shadows of the trees, a white figure appeared, dressed in a cloud-patterned Daoist robe with no attempt at concealment—Bai Yichen.
Soon, the sound of a deep, resonant evening bell echoed through the forest.
The moon was obscured by clouds, revealing only a faint halo. A gust of strong wind swept through the trees.
Before Bai Yichen stood a man in a yellow robe wearing a dragon-head mask.
The man seemed startled, looking intently at Bai Yichen's face. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke, "So, the green qilin that day was you."
With that, Chenlong removed his mask, revealing his true appearance.
"You are so straightforward and open about it, it makes me seem less sincere," he remarked.
Under the faint starlight, Bai Yichen saw Chenlong's face clearly, showing no surprise in his eyes.
The man before him was none other than Yanbei, the current head of the Dinong Hall, a renowned hero of the martial world!