Ling Huan followed the instructions and brought over a small bench, sitting right beside Jiang Yue’s desk.
Jiang Yue opened the ancient-looking book, , her fingertip pointing to the words and diagrams on the page.
Even through her veil, her voice was as melodious as a nightingale, yet carried a gravity unlike any before.
“Young Master, at the beginning of cultivation, the most important thing is ‘guiding Qi into the body’, transforming it into ‘spirit’. This first step is to sense and direct that faint trace of innate Yuan Qi within your body—we call this ‘Qi sensation’.”
Jiang Yue pointed to the spot marked on the book for the Dantian.
“Here, three cun below the navel, is called the ‘lower Dantian’. It is the source of all the essence and Qi in the body, and in the future, it will be the foundation where spiritual energy is stored.”
Jiang Yue’s explanations were very detailed, and Ling Huan gradually understood everything.
The Minor Circulation was what was known as the Ren and Du meridians cycle.
The Ren meridian ran along the body’s front midline, starting from the Chengjiang Acupoint under the chin, passing through the chest and abdomen, to the Huiyin Acupoint at the perineum.
It governed all the yin meridians of the body, known as the “Sea of Yin Meridians”.
The Du meridian ran along the back midline, starting from the Changqiang Acupoint beneath the tailbone, running up the spine, over the crown of the head, to the Gingjiao Acupoint at the upper palate.
It governed all the yang meridians of the body, known as the “Sea of Yang Meridians”.
Cultivators used their mind to guide the Qi within, starting from the Dantian, moving down through the Huiyin Acupoint, then up along the Du meridian, passing the Baihui Acupoint atop the head, then down along the Ren meridian, finally returning to the Dantian, forming a complete loop.
To put it simply, Ling Huan thought the Minor Circulation was like unblocking the house’s water pipes, allowing the water to flow smoothly in a closed system, achieving self-sufficiency.
The Major Circulation was an expansion and upgrade on the basis of the Minor Circulation.
Its route was far more complex.
In addition to the Ren and Du meridians, it also involved the twelve principal meridians that connected the five viscera and six bowels, and even the other six of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.
Energy would circulate to every bone, limb, and corner of the body.
Ling Huan listened with full attention, his small head nodding like a pecking chick.
Jiang Yue’s explanations were clear and easy to grasp, far better than when he tried to figure things out alone.
“Imagine your mind as a gentle little lamp, slowly sinking into your Dantian.Don’t be impatient. It’s like searching for a little dog or kitten curled up in the dark, timid and afraid of the dark. You need to approach it patiently and gently stroke it.”
“When you feel a slight warmth in your Dantian, or a faint current or pulse, that’s the first sign of Qi sensation.”
Following Jiang Yue’s instructions, Ling Huan sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion, doing his best to calm his mind, focusing all his attention three cun below his navel.
At first, he only felt the dullness of sitting still, his thoughts wandering everywhere, unable to find that sensation at all.
Jiang Yue didn’t rush him.
She simply reminded him softly from the side, “Relax, let your breathing be slow, deep, and steady.”
“When you inhale, imagine clear Qi entering through the tip of your nose and going straight to the Dantian. When you exhale, picture turbid Qi flowing slowly out of your mouth. Each breath is the initial step in circulating your breath.”
Time passed bit by bit, and Ling Huan gradually let go of distractions.
Maybe it was Jiang Yue’s guidance, or perhaps his own yearning for this mysterious power.
At last, after a particularly long and deep breath, he felt a minuscule spark deep in his abdomen—it seemed to jump lightly!
“Teacher! I think… I felt it! My Dantian… it feels a little warm!”
Ling Huan whispered in surprise, not daring to move, for fear he’d scare away this rare sensation.
Jiang Yue was a bit surprised.
How could he reach this stage so quickly?
Ordinary people usually needed at least ten days to half a month just to touch the threshold…
Could it be… her young master really was a genius?
But Jiang Yue didn’t make a fuss, only said calmly, “Very good, Young Master is exceptionally talented.”
Yet there was an unmistakable trace of praise in her tone.
“Remember this feeling. Use your mind to nurture it, help it grow stronger. This is your Qi, your foundation.”
Next came the key step of “running the Minor Circulation”.
Jiang Yue once again carefully explained the route of the Ren and Du meridians: the mind guided the faint heat in the Dantian down through the Huiyin Acupoint, then up along the spine through the Changqiang Acupoint, Jiajiguan, Yuzhenguan, all the way to the Baihui Acupoint at the top of the head.
Then, guide this stream of Qi from Baihui Acupoint downward, along the forehead, nose tip, philtrum, throat, center of the chest and abdomen, and finally back to the lower Dantian, forming a complete cycle.
“This process is called ‘unblocking Ren and Du’. It is the true beginning of the path of cultivation. The first time is always difficult and slow, like a small creek breaking through a blocked riverbed—you must patiently guide it, never rush, or you may cause internal injuries.”
Jiang Yue’s warning was very serious.
Ling Huan once again closed his eyes and focused, carefully wrapping the faint but clear heat in his Dantian with his mind.
He tried to guide it downward… and further down… imagining a stream flowing up the riverbed of the Du meridian.
The process was extremely arduous.
Everywhere his mind reached, it felt like there were countless invisible obstacles.
Whenever the heat reached a critical point in the Du meridian, it was as if it had fallen into a swamp, unable to advance.
Sweat slid down Ling Huan’s forehead, his little face turning pale from total concentration, his body trembling slightly from the mental exertion.
Jiang Yue watched quietly, not disturbing him, only reminding in the gentlest of whispers when Ling Huan’s breath faltered, “Steady your mind… focus on the Dantian… take it slow…”
No one knew how much time passed, when Ling Huan was almost exhausted, that heat, stalled at Yuzhenguan, was suddenly pushed through by a faint yet unwavering force—“pop!”—it broke through the barrier!
In that instant, a faint yet cool current seemed to pour in through the crown of his head, merging with the heat rising from his Dantian!
Immediately, the mingled Qi grew much gentler, naturally flowing down the path of the Ren meridian, smooth as a trickling stream, finally returning warmly to the Dantian.
Buzz!
The moment the flow returned to the Dantian, Ling Huan’s body gave a light shudder.
Something intangible inside him seemed to unlock quietly.
The spark of Qi, weak as it was before, grew noticeably stronger after completing this cycle, turning into a clear and steady warmth, slowly swirling within the Dantian.
At the same time, he felt his five senses sharpen a little, the world’s colors seemed brighter, and from deep within, a never-before-felt sense of lightness and vitality welled up.
The exhaustion from trying to run the Minor Circulation was swept away; instead, he felt more energized than ever.
He opened his eyes with a start, his eyes shining with disbelief and excitement as he looked at Jiang Yue.
“Teacher! I… I think I did it! That Qi… it’s moving! And it feels wonderful!”
Jiang Yue, gazing at Ling Huan through her veil, couldn’t be seen clearly, but her voice was full of satisfaction and approval.
“Congratulations, Young Master! Qi has entered your body, the Ren and Du meridians have been unblocked, and Qi returns to the Dantian, circulating endlessly. This is the mark of achieving the first level of Qi Refinement!Young Master, you have truly stepped onto the path of cultivation, becoming a first level Qi Refinement cultivator!”
Ling Huan nearly leapt from his cushion in excitement, feeling that unmistakable warm current inside.
What he didn’t know was that Jiang Yue was even more exhilarated!
How long had it been?
Four hours!
Four hours to go from an ordinary child to the first level of Qi Refinement!
No!
Calling him a genius would be belittling…
He was nothing less than a prodigy!
In all her one thousand three hundred and twenty-six years, she had never seen such talent!