Danwu Refining Spirit

Chapter Sixteen: The Dangerous Challenge

"That's not right. Although this is the first time I've infused someone with my Yuan energy, I've seen it done before. Shouldn't the other person be breathing heavily and sweating profusely? Why isn't this young man reacting at all?"

The middle-aged cultivator also sensed something was amiss and hurriedly examined Xiao Chong's meridians. Upon investigation, he was immediately shocked.

The opponent's meridians were completely empty; the Yuan energy that had just passed through had long since disappeared.

"What the hell is this? Is it the legendary Star Absorbing Technique?" The middle-aged cultivator cursed inwardly and sent another stream of Yuan energy over.

But after this time, he didn't let go; instead, he carefully felt the changes.

Just like last time, as soon as that Yuan Power entered Xiao Chong's body, it vanished instantly, like a mud ox entering the sea, leaving not a trace.

That's so strange!

The middle-aged cultivator, refusing to believe in superstition, sent another wisp of Yuan energy through.

The effect was the same as before; there was absolutely no trace left.

That's so weird!

The middle-aged cultivator had a strong urge to turn around and run away, but he had just made a boast and, thinking of his son, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and persevere.

After more than ten bursts of energy passed through, one of them finally settled in Xiao Chong's body.

What kind of monster is this? Even if you're going to eat it, you shouldn't eat it like this!

The middle-aged cultivator was drenched in sweat, his back completely soaked. His face turned from flushed to ashen, and he collapsed to the ground, feeling his cultivation level rapidly declining. If he continued, he feared he would be reduced from a martial artist to a mere warrior.

"Alright, you don't need to go to the sect academy this afternoon. Go home and consolidate your strength, and really get into the feeling." The middle-aged cultivator, having recovered, walked with unsteady steps, his eyes filled with a dazed look, and even waving his hand felt particularly strenuous.

"Sir, you are truly kind. I will repay your kindness in the future."

If you've already received a benefit, don't try to act innocent; that's not a good thing.

Xiao Chong bowed deeply to the middle-aged cultivator and left the Martial Fortune Pavilion with the old steward, leaving the middle-aged cultivator alone in the secret room, lost in thought.

The residence in the north city was quite far from the Xiao residence in the south city. Even though Xiao Chong ran fast, it still took him almost half an hour.

Why do my legs feel so strong today? Like... like I've taken ten bottles of calcium supplements? It seems there's still kindness in the world, and there are still many good people!

Xiao Chong realized that he had been too narrow-minded in the past, seeing life as too dark, which was not conducive to the healthy physical and mental development of young people.

When they got home, Qingmeng was holding the remaining half of a pig's head in her arms, happily gnawing on it, her pretty but thin face covered in oil stains.

She really is a foodie; she and the fat man are quite a good match. Xiao Chong was helpless at Qing Meng's eating habits.

"Young Master's back! Why did you leave school so early today? Did you skip class and sell yourself?"

Seeing Xiao Chong put down the book box and a cleaver hanging at his waist, Qing Meng dropped the pig's head and rushed over, her greasy little hands groping around his chest.

"Where are the copper coins? Where are the silver ingots? Where are the gold ingots? Why is there only a knife? Young master, you've lost out big time! According to Granny Wang, you're a handsome young man, you should be worth far more than this!"

Unable to find the silver he expected, Qingmeng was very disappointed. He felt that his young master had been cheated, and even the pig's head didn't taste so good anymore.

"Go do what you're supposed to do!" Xiao Chong's pleasant mood was ruthlessly ruined, and he was filled with black lines on his face. He was determined not to discuss any more issues with Qing Meng.

Before closing the door, he turned back with lingering concern and said, "Remember, you're not allowed to gossip with the old witch next door again."

"I was just showing concern for the young master, was that wrong? Why did he have to get so angry!" Looking at Xiao Chong's back with confusion, Qing Meng grabbed the pig's head and took a big bite, feeling not only disappointed but also very aggrieved.

Inside the room, Xiao Chong sorted through his day's gains one by one. Looking at the cultivation techniques for Mind Masters laid out before him, his mood, which had just been ruined by Qing Meng, immediately improved.

Whether or not communication with the furnace can be successful depends on the effectiveness of this Mindfulness Master's cultivation method. But couldn't the name of this method be a little less vulgar? "A Guide to Mindfulness Master Cultivation"? Why not call it "A Mindfulness Master's Journey of the Heart"? Wouldn't that sound more literary?

Skipping over the introduction section, which was almost as long as an old woman's foot binding cloth, Xiao Chong flipped directly to the first level of the cultivation technique: First-Rank Mind Master.

This is what I urgently need; everything else can be put aside for now. A transmigrator who loses their cheat-like abilities is not a qualified transmigrator, and their fate is destined to be tragic.

The ability of a first-grade mind master is to communicate with spirits, which sounds a bit like a charlatan, but that's not the point. The point is how to cultivate this ability.

Following the instructions in the cultivation method, Xiao Chong closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing, and focused his mind to carefully sense the Yuan energy left in his body by the middle-aged cultivator.

Perhaps because it was my first time practicing and I had no one to guide me, I was filled with thoughts at the beginning and couldn't concentrate at all.

"Isn't this similar to Taoist meditation? Shouldn't the two have something in common?"

After several failures, Xiao Chong suddenly recalled his wonderful college days.

At that time, I was studying Taoist culture. Out of youthful curiosity, I put a lot of effort into Taoist practices such as meditation and entering a state of tranquility. Although I never reached the wondrous state of spiritual wandering in the vast emptiness described in the Taoist canon, I could still manage to barely manage the most basic tasks of calming my mind and not being attached to external things.

"The stones from other mountains can be used to polish jade; the ancients were truly right!"

After trying a different method, it worked wonders. Xiao Chong quickly entered a state of mental clarity.

The primordial energy within the body first wanders around the meridians. When it gradually becomes under one's control, one can then imagine it flowing along the meridians according to certain rules.

With each cycle of energy circulation, a trace of vital energy condenses in the brain and then gradually gathers towards the center of the forehead.

At first, the flow of Yuan energy was somewhat slow, but as the movements became more and more skillful, the Yuan energy condensed faster and faster, and in the end, it involuntarily turned into beams of light, shooting straight towards the center of the forehead like electric drills.

Driven by the fine light, the essence and blood in his body boiled like boiling water, as if attracted by some force, and he was about to leave his body at any moment.

A stinging pain began between my eyebrows, my eyes became bloodshot, my head swelled up and turned bright red, and my brain throbbed with excruciating pain, as if a saw was tearing it back and forth inside.

"Damn, my head's going to explode if this goes on!" A resolute glint flashed in Xiao Chong's eyes. "Whatever, I'll just die. Rather than be bullied and live a miserable life, I'd rather die!"

Xiao Chong recklessly mobilized that Yuan energy, launching repeated attacks on the space between his eyebrows.

"Quick! Quick!"

Five laps to go!

"Four!"

"three!"

"two!"

"one!"

"Open it!!!"

"boom!"

It felt as if a loud bang exploded in my head, like a chick pecking open its eggshell to see a brand new world; or like a thin membrane being ruthlessly pierced, with a tearing pain emanating from a point in my brain and quickly spreading throughout my body.

"Is this... a breakthrough...?"

This was Xiao Chong's last question before his consciousness began to fade.