The Northern Song Dynasty returned south, seeking the truth of the Dao.

Wang Zhen rested for a while to warm himself up. Then he went to the pool to fetch some water and used it to extinguish the fire. Although he was exhausted, he did not let his guard down.

He might not be able to see it during the day, but at night it would be tantamount to guiding the enemy. So he couldn't take that risk. By the moonlight, he tied the remaining branches together with vines and made a makeshift door.

After blocking the house, the wind subsided considerably. Having done all that, he felt aches and pains all over his body. He felt as if his entire body had fallen apart.

But lying in this small hut, he felt exceptionally at peace. This little house not only sheltered him from the wind and rain but also kept wild animals away. From then on, this would be his secluded dwelling.

He hadn't even finished eating the half-eaten pancake when he lay down on the spread-out branches and fell into a deep sleep. His efforts proved worthwhile; although the house was simple, it wasn't drafty.

He slept soundly that night, even without lighting a fire. He slept until dawn, and when he woke up again, it was already sunrise the next day. After he woke up...

I washed up in the pool below and also cut some dry grass. Pine needles, though they keep you warm, are always prickly. It's better to lay a layer of dry grass on top.

He planned to stay here for a while, until he broke through to the True Realm or ran out of provisions. Xuan Yangzi's instructions were only one reason for his decision; there were several other considerations as well.

Firstly, the situation is currently tense. Whether Yin Xinghai is dead or seriously injured, it is huge news for the martial arts world of the Song Dynasty. The martial arts world is bound to be in an uproar.

The news that he possesses the true scriptures will surely spread. Here, one can avoid the rumors, and another is that this place is the realm of Heaven and Earth, so even if the Jurchens march south, they will not attack here.

As people gradually forgot about the matter, he had already achieved a certain level of cultivation. He then set off south to the Taiqing Sect to fulfill Xuan Yangzi's request. Although Xuan Yangzi had asked him to deliver the true scriptures to the Taiqing Sect, he had not specified a particular time.

This shows that while the true scriptures were important to the Taiqing Sect, they were not of paramount importance. He had ample time and could leisurely retreat here to cultivate. After returning to his residence, Wang Zhenhuan sat down on the blue stone outside.

Close your eyes and recall the contents of the true scripture. The most important part is the method of gathering qi. Only by learning how to gather qi can one be considered to have truly begun cultivation.

The first step in gathering Qi is to focus on one's own essence and calmly perceive the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Wang Zhenhuan closed his eyes and sensed for a long time, but he did not feel anything. The reason for this was that his mind was not calm.

His state of mind was different today than yesterday. Yesterday, he felt only sadness and uncertainty about the future. Now, his heart was filled with complex emotions. The image of Daoist Xuan Yangzi, with his voice and smile, kept appearing in his mind.

The thought that he had no one to handle the funeral arrangements for Daoist Xuan Yangzi filled him with sorrow. Ultimately, all of this stemmed from his own incompetence. He wasn't even qualified to intervene in this struggle.

Thinking of this, he slapped himself hard. The slap landed on his face, but the pain was deep in his heart. He wasn't heartbroken for himself; he was heartbroken for Daoist Xuan Yangzi, who wasn't worth it for such a good-for-nothing.

The slap, after releasing his emotions, also completely woke him up. He regained his composure and closed his eyes again. This time, he emptied his mind completely.

His breathing gradually slowed until he felt suffocated. Finally, he sensed the wisps of spiritual energy floating between heaven and earth. This spiritual energy entered his body through his mouth and nose.

The energy flowed down from the back of his throat, down to three inches below his navel, which is the location of his dantian (energy center). He felt very comfortable, warm and cozy, and even had a feeling of wanting to sleep.

He remained in this state, neither fully awake nor fully dreaming. When he finally awoke, it was past noon; he had been sitting there for a full four hours.

No wonder people often say that spiritual practice transcends time. After sitting for four hours, he felt no discomfort whatsoever. In fact, he felt quite comfortable.

He felt refreshed and full of energy. He carefully sensed his surroundings and realized that he had somehow broken through a major acupoint, namely the Tanzhong acupoint above the Qihai point.

The Tanzhong acupoint, also known as Yuanjian or Shangqihai, belongs to the Ren meridian and has the effects of regulating Qi and relieving pain, promoting Qi circulation and relieving depression, and suppressing nausea and vomiting. After the Tanzhong acupoint was opened, Wang Zhenhuan felt much lighter.

Wang Zhenhuan never considered himself a fool, just as a complete idiot never thinks he's stupid. In just half a day, he had opened up his second major acupoint, which gave him a mental boost.

After eating his dry rations, he began to ponder the contents of the scriptures in the afternoon. Cultivation is not about working in isolation; one must constantly examine oneself to see if one has gone astray.

This was something that should have been done by the protectors of the path, or by the master. But Wang Zhenhuan was now all alone, and he could only examine and reflect on this matter himself. And so, Wang Zhenhuan settled down in the mountains.

He practiced his spiritual cultivation while studying the scriptures. Days passed, and he couldn't remember exactly how long he stayed in the mountains. When his provisions ran out, he caught fish in the pond to eat.

After finishing the fish, he ate wild fruits and vegetables. Until the food in the mountains ran out and the weather gradually turned cold, he realized that winter had arrived without him noticing.

His hair and beard were disheveled, and he looked like a wild man. After winter arrived, most of the wild fruits on the mountain stopped growing, and animals were rarely seen. Until one day, snow suddenly began to fall.

He stepped out of his humble abode and gazed at the swirling snowflakes. It seemed as if they were reminding him it was time to set off. The autumn moon shone brightly, and standing amidst the mountains, he felt as if he were being invited to a banquet. Wang Huanzhen raised his water pouch, offering a salute to the sky, sharing the autumn's beauty with the mountains.

Early the next morning, he packed his things, took his luggage and the last of the wild fruits, and picked up a dead sapling to use as a walking stick. After closing the door, he prepared to leave.

He took one last look at his lodgings, slung his pack over his shoulder, and set off again in the southwest direction. He had been living near the pond and hadn't dared to venture far.

When we were about to set off, we realized that all the bushes on the mountain had withered, leaving only dry thorns and weeds. Although the path was difficult to walk on, it had one advantage: it didn't obstruct the view.

After standing atop the mountain and surveying the surroundings, he could vaguely see an official road from the western foot of the mountain. He used his dagger to clear a path, and by late afternoon, he finally saw the official road.

There were a few pedestrians on the road, who looked like they were heading south. He wanted to go up and ask what day it was, but as soon as he approached, they all covered their noses and moved away.

He gave a self-deprecating laugh and turned to walk towards the other side of the official road. Since others disliked him, why add to their dislike?

There is only one kind of true clarity: it is recognizing one's own insignificance and still cherishing one's life...