The Spiritual Pivot of Mortal Cultivation

The back mountain is where the outer disciples reside.

Bai Xuanxin pushed open the door and entered, bolting it shut behind him. The house was low, the earthen walls were mottled, and the paper windows were torn in two places, letting in the dampness of the mountains from time to time. But for him now, this kind of place was the most suitable for calming his mind.

Several rough pottery medicine jars were already laid out on the table, and a slightly worn wooden bucket was placed next to them. Bai Xuanxin spread out the medicinal herbs he had taken from Shenshou Valley one by one, his fingertips gently brushing over a few of the herbs, his expression gradually darkening.

Angelica sinensis, Clematis armandii, and Panax notoginseng.

These three herbs may seem ordinary, but the dosage, order, and timing of their preparation are all important.

Angelica sinensis nourishes and promotes blood circulation, and is warm but not drying, which can clear stagnation in the meridians; Clematis chinensis is good at moving through muscles, bones, skin and flesh, and is most suitable for guiding medicine into the skin; as for Panax notoginseng, it has a strong medicinal property and is the strongest at breaking up blood stasis. If used well, it can clear up deep blockages, but if used too heavily, it will damage the already damaged meridians even more.

Bai Xuanxin was in no hurry to take action, but first reviewed the prescription in her mind.

This medicine isn't for treating superficial wounds, nor is it for ordinary disciples to improve blood circulation and relieve pain. After last night's qi deviation, the most serious injury to his body is actually deep within his meridians and fascia. If one only seeks superficial comfort, soaking in some mild herbs would naturally provide some relief. But that approach is merely scratching the surface, offering no real solution for future problems.

What he wanted was to clean up the hidden wounds left by the clash between fire and water last night as thoroughly as possible.

With that thought in mind, Bai Xuanxin no longer hesitated. According to the order of importance and urgency, she divided the medicinal materials into several portions and put them into the pottery jar one by one.

Soon, the sound of boiling medicine filled the room.

First, Angelica sinensis is added, and the heat is used to bring out its mild medicinal aroma; as the fragrance of the medicine gradually rises, Clematis chinensis is slowly added, and the heat is used to guide its movement; finally, the two qian of Panax notoginseng are added last, and only when the heat has been changed to a gentle decoction are they slowly added.

This is both medical theory and experience.

The medicinal properties of black-backed ginseng are extremely strong. If it is decocted with other herbs at the beginning, most of its medicinal power will dissipate in the boiling steam, and what ends up in the pot is just a lingering taste. However, if you wait until the soup base is ready and then simmer it over a low flame, you can gradually extract its medicinal properties and lock in the most important blood-activating power in the water.

Before long, a bitter and slightly astringent medicinal aroma filled the entire earthen house.

Bai Xuanxin got up and filtered the brewed medicine into a wooden bucket. As the water was soaked in the medicine, its color gradually darkened, as if it had been stained with a layer of dark blood.

He took off his coat and slowly stepped into the tub.

The moment the medicine touched her skin, Bai Xuanxin's brow twitched violently.

It wasn't the usual soothing effect of hot soup; instead, it felt like countless tiny steel needles piercing through my pores, first penetrating the skin and flesh, then the fascia, and finally drilling into the bone. Especially in the chest, abdomen, shoulders, back, and sides of my legs—the areas most severely injured the night before—a surge of soreness, numbness, and heat rushed up, causing cold sweat to bead on my forehead.

Bai Xuanxin remained silent, slowly lowering his back into the water and closing his eyes to focus on his breathing.

At this moment, he was no longer practicing punches and kicks, but rather "gathering" (or "retracting").

Inhale and lower your breath, protecting your dantian;

Exhale slowly and gently, drawing away the stagnation in your chest;

The mind should focus on the spleen and stomach, while the spirit remains in the heart.

Then, using the yin and yang energy that was already circulating in the meridians, and following the meridians that had been barely established the night before, the medicinal power was guided little by little to the injured area.

Outsiders who practice martial arts mostly just know how to endure the pain.

You might think you've made progress by enduring the pain, burning your skin, burning your flesh, burning your bones, until you're numb with pain. But in Bai Xuanxin's view, enduring is only half the battle; nurturing is the other half. If you don't know how to clean up the mess and only know how to deplete your strength, even if you make rapid progress in your youth, you'll inevitably end up with hidden injuries and a lack of staying power later on.

As the medicine gradually took effect, the originally warm medicinal soup in the bucket slowly cooled down.

When Bai Xuanxin opened her eyes again, two hours had passed.

He slowly stood up from the tub. The faint stiffness in his shoulders, back, chest and abdomen had mostly dissipated. Although there was still a slight numbness from the medicine, his meridians were flowing more smoothly than yesterday.

Bai Xuanxin raised her hand and moved her shoulders and neck. Her shoulder blades shrugged slightly, and a few low, crisp sounds came from her joints.

Last night's calamity ultimately shattered the original owner's foundation. But it was precisely because of this that he had the opportunity to take advantage of the chaos to reorganize this body. Now, his foundation at the peak of the third rank is completely solidified.

He dried himself off, put his gray clothes back on, and went out the door. It was almost dusk.

As the setting sun slanted across the mountain ridge, a gentle evening breeze carried the sounds of several outer disciples discussing among themselves in the disciples' quarters behind the mountain.

"Have you heard? The notice for the inner sect exam has been posted today."

"Of course I've heard about it, it'll be in three months. Our batch has been in the sect for almost three years now. If we can't get into the inner sect this time, we'll either be sent to guard the mines or to escort goods at the border. The Wild Wolf Gang has been keeping a close eye on us lately, and those jobs are no joke."

"Inner sect..." another person sighed, "Easier said than done. Among us, how many are truly valued by the sect elders?"

Bai Xuanxin stood by the door, listening quietly, her face remaining expressionless.

The inner gate's grand exam.

The original owner endured nearly three years of hardship, all for this one moment.

Given the original owner's aptitude, if he had only sought a stable position as an inner disciple, he would have had the opportunity half a year ago. However, this person was too ambitious and unwilling to be just an ordinary inner disciple. He wanted to make a name for himself in the triennial grand examination, which would be personally reviewed by the sect leader and elders. That's why he focused all his attention on that dangerous situation of combining Yin and Yang internal energy.

Ultimately, the approach itself may not be wrong; the mistake lies in being too hasty and too reckless.

Bai Xuanxin understood things even better than the original owner of the body.

He absolutely had to pass this crucial test.

It wasn't about vying for attention; it was because the very word "inner sect" represented a threshold. Only by entering the inner sect could one access higher-level techniques, resources, and the sect's perspective. Only by being truly noticed by Wang Juechu and his senior uncles would he be qualified to get involved in many things later on.

To put it more clearly—

If you can't even get into the inner sect, then forget about the schemes of Shenshou Valley and Mo Juren, you'll still be just one step away from gaining a foothold in the Seven Mysteries Sect.

"Three more months..." Bai Xuanxin silently calculated in her mind, her expression becoming more determined.

For others, these three months were a life-or-death test.

For him, however, this is the perfect time to rebuild his foundation.

From that day on, Bai Xuanxin's life became completely quiet.

During the day, he appeared as usual in the training ground and the forest behind the mountain. However, compared to others, he practiced more meticulously and steadily. The training ground was for show; the steps couldn't be too fast, and the force couldn't be too heavy. At most, one could only display a few slightly more unpredictable movements and less appealing grappling techniques. But the truly important things were all left for him to hone in the secluded places behind the mountain.

The steps of "Luoyan Step" are walked over and over again.

The connection between the ankle, knee, and hip should be smoothed out little by little.

He also disassembled and refined the techniques in "The Great Capturing Hand" such as wrist control, elbow locking, shoulder shifting, and acupoint sealing, repeatedly polishing them from the most basic footwork, hand positions, and angles of force application.

At first, it was just something that "could be understood".

After practicing ten or a hundred times, those things that were originally only clear in the mind gradually begin to penetrate into the muscles and bones.

Where should you use your waist strength, and where should you sink your elbows?

Which movements should be performed along the meridians, and which movements should be performed by targeting the joints?

How to achieve three times the effect with one unit of effort, and how to leave yourself some leeway in seemingly dangerous situations—

These things, little by little, have gradually transformed from "knowing" to "being able to".

Bai Xuanxin didn't mind sparring with others occasionally in the martial arts arena.

Firstly, it allows others to test the moves;

Secondly, it also allows one to gradually establish a reputation within the outer sect.

However, he was very measured in his moves when sparring, often winning by only half a move and not revealing his full strength.

On one occasion, a fellow disciple who practiced heavy punches was easily shaken by him using the "Luoyan Step," causing his punch to miss its mark. Instead, the disciple grabbed his wrist, causing his entire arm to go numb on the spot. The disciple was so shocked that his face changed color.

Bai Xuanxin simply smiled and tossed a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve.

"You threw that punch too early, you killed the energy in your wrist," he said gently. "Go back and rub it with this blood-stasis-removing powder, and you'll be fine tomorrow. In terms of internal strength, I'm still a step behind you."

The disciple, who was initially somewhat resentful of losing, heard these words and took the medicine bottle. His pent-up anger immediately dissipated, and he felt that although this Senior Brother Bai's methods were a bit strange, he was not a bad person.

After several such incidents, Bai Xuanxin gradually gained some reputation among the outer sect members.

Everyone assumed that after his brush with death, his temperament had become more stable, and his martial arts style had become somewhat unorthodox. In addition, he would occasionally examine people's injuries and give them some cheap medicine, so people did not see him as a threat. Instead, they regarded him as a senior brother with some unorthodox skills who was still easy to get along with.

Bai Xuanxin was naturally pleased with this outcome.

What he wanted was never momentary brilliance, but rather to hide himself in an inconspicuous place and slowly take root.

In the blink of an eye, half a month has passed.

That night, there was no moon outside the window, and the mountain wind was very strong.

Bai Xuanxin sat alone on the kang (a heated brick bed), his knees crossed, his breathing barely perceptible. The true energy within his body, which had been restored after the qi deviation the previous night, was now slowly circulating along a smoother meridian.

The two opposing internal energies, one yin and one yang, no longer clashed under his deliberate guidance. Instead, they flowed like two thin streams, one advancing and one retreating, running parallel to each other along the main meridian. The fire energy no longer surged upwards, and the cold energy no longer sank downwards. Although they were not yet truly integrated, they were able to coexist in a delicate balance.

Bai Xuan focused his mind and remained calm and composed.

After about half a cup of tea's time, he suddenly felt a slight tremor in his dantian. The internal energy that had been scattered and gathered suddenly tightened a bit, like a loose wisp of smoke finally twisting into a more solid line.

The sensation was so subtle that he almost missed it if he hadn't been paying close attention.

Bai Xuanxin slowly opened her eyes, a slight change in her expression.

Second-tier threshold.

Strictly speaking, it wasn't completely stable yet, but it had finally managed to get a foot in.

The original owner had trained diligently for many years, yet only managed to remain a third-rate individual. Now, after this ordeal, coupled with his own relentless training day and night for the past half-month, he had actually managed to break through that threshold. Although he was still a mortal, this change gave him a greater chance of success in both the major examination and the scheme he was plotting against the Divine Hand Valley.

However, Bai Xuanxin did not show much joy on her face.

So what if they're just ordinary mortals? In the eyes of cultivators, they're still nothing more than fish on a chopping block.

What he truly lacked was never a bit of martial arts skill, but rather the ability to secure his own share of immortal destiny through Han Li and Mo Juren's connections.

Thinking of this, Bai Xuanxin got up, got off the kang (a heated brick bed), put on her clothes, and went out.

The following evening, he went to Shenshou Valley again.

This time, he carried two jugs of aged wine bought from the town at the foot of the mountain, and a bag of still-steaming braised meat. The items weren't expensive, but they were the most common social exchanges among outer disciples. Carrying too little would seem deliberate; carrying too much would appear overly thoughtful. This was just right.

In the Valley of Divine Hands, Han Li was squatting beside the medicine grinder in the courtyard, his brows slightly furrowed.

A few clumps of charred medicinal residue lay scattered on the stone table, their color charred black and carrying a strange odor from the clash of medicinal properties. Bai Xuanxin could smell it from afar, and she already had a general idea of ​​what was going on.

At this moment, Han Li is probably worried about the progress of the "Eternal Spring Skill".

Following the original storyline, Han Li's biggest fear at this point was getting stuck in his cultivation progress and falling behind the deadline set by Mo Juren. Given his impatient nature, the more anxious he was, the more he would try to manipulate the medicinal herbs. However, pharmacology cannot be mastered overnight, and without guidance, taking detours was inevitable.

Bai Xuanxin approached carrying wine and meat, her tone calm and composed.

"Junior Brother Han, still busy?"

Han Li looked up at the sound, his gaze lingering for a moment on the two jugs of wine and the paper package before calmly returning to Bai Xuanxin's face.

"Senior Brother Bai." He stood up, his expression still blank and indifferent. "What's wrong, Senior Brother?"

"I've been feeling a bit bored with practicing these past few days, so I went down the mountain and got a pot of wine." Bai Xuanxin placed the wine on the corner of the stone table, speaking casually. "Remembering how much you helped me when I went to get the medicine last time, I brought some things over along the way. Shenshou Valley is quiet, so I thought I'd sit here for a while and clear my head."

These words, though not particularly warm, were understandable.

Han Li neither refused immediately nor showed any sign of being flattered. He simply glanced at Bai Xuanxin and nodded.

Bai Xuanxin's gaze had already fallen on the few bits of dregs of medicine on the table.

He bent down, picked up a pinch, rubbed it between his fingers, then brought it to his nose and took a gentle sniff. A look of understanding flashed in his eyes.

"Polygonatum, Jade Leaf, and another herb that's rather drying and potent..." Bai Xuanxin said calmly, "Junior Brother, are you planning to concoct a medicinal liquid that gathers Qi, nourishes the spirit, and invigorates the essence of plants?"

Upon hearing this, a deep sense of vigilance flashed across Han Li's eyes.

This was a recipe he had secretly tested over the past few days, and he shouldn't have let others see it. How could Bai Xuanxin, with just a few scraps of trash, not be wary of him?

Bai Xuanxin, however, seemed oblivious to Han Li's change and continued, "The idea behind the prescription isn't bad. Polygonatum protects the center, and Jade Leaf nourishes the Qi. If we add another potent herb, it can indeed bring out the essence of the herbs even more. However, if these three herbs are crushed and boiled together, their medicinal properties will clash, and in the end, only 30 or 40% of the original value will remain."

Han Li remained silent for a moment before asking in a low voice, "Then, in Senior Brother Bai's opinion, how should this be handled?"

Bai Xuanxin put down the dregs of the medicine, glanced at Han Li, and her expression remained calm.

"Strong herbs should first be de-dryed, preferably by soaking them briefly in water to remove surface heat; Polygonatum and Jade Leaf should not be added together, but separately, so that they each follow their own medicinal pathways. If a little honey is added to harmonize them, it will both reduce their dryness and guide their medicinal properties back to the center, preventing them from overpowering each other. In this way, at least half of the medicinal efficacy can be retained."

Upon hearing this, Han Li's guardedness did not disappear; on the contrary, it deepened.

It wasn't because I didn't believe it, but because what Bai Xuanxin said sounded so convincing.

Bai Xuanxin did not press further, but instead withdrew her hand, picked up a pot of wine, and placed it in front of Han Li.

"It's just a few tricks of the recipe passed down from the elders in my family," he said casually. "If you believe it, then give it a try; if you don't, it's just a pile of rubbish, it can't get any worse than this."

Upon hearing this, Han Li was unable to continue his defenses.

He glanced at the wine jug, then at the dregs of medicine on the table, and after a moment, slowly said, "Senior Brother Bai understands more than I did."

"I only have a superficial understanding of herbs and plants," Bai Xuanxin smiled and said nothing more. "But you, junior brother, are very steady in your work, despite your young age. Not everyone can manage all the medicinal herbs in Shenshou Valley so well."

The two men, in the small courtyard of Divine Hand Valley, chatted casually over a few dregs of medicine and two jugs of aged wine. Bai Xuanxin didn't try to ask any secrets, and Han Li didn't reveal a single word. But they both knew very well that this time was different from the last time they went to get the medicine.

This was the first real exchange.

Bai Xuanxin provided the value.

Han Li also remembered this value.

When the sky had completely darkened, Bai Xuanxin got up to say goodbye.

Han Li stood in the courtyard, watching his figure disappear into the valley, without turning around for a long time. Finally, he looked down at the few bits of scraps on the table, remained silent for a moment, and then bent down to carefully collect them.

Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away on an ancient road, a carriage heavily escorted by several skilled knights was slowly making its way towards the Seven Mysteries Sect under the cold moonlight.

Inside the carriage, a hoarse, muffled, and suppressed cough sounded particularly chilling in the empty night wind.