Under One Person: Starting with the Dual Cultivation of Body and Soul

"Yes, some changes are needed," Lu Jin nodded.

"No need to use the river cart anymore?" Li Chang'an asked.

"It's still necessary," Lu Jin said. "The Small Heavenly Circuit is just the most basic way of circulating Qi in the path of life and death. Many cultivation practices are built upon this foundation."

"You've been practicing Qi circulation for so long, you should know what's around the Jiaji point, right?"

"It refers to the five internal organs," Li Chang'an said.

"That's right!" Lu Jin said, "The five internal organs are located along the spine, so although circulating qi through the body is said to involve three passes, it involves more than just three passes; there are many hidden passes as well."

"Most of these hidden challenges are related to internal organs. If you don't know the proper methods and don't rashly circulate your qi, you may easily go into qi deviation. At best, your meridians will be damaged, ending your cultivation path; at worst, it will lead to death."

Upon hearing this, Li Chang'an nodded. He was in the intermediate state of consciousness, so he could naturally see the meridians in the human body, which had many pathways.

These routes vary in thickness and straightness, forming a complex maze-like network.

Therefore, he never wandered off aimlessly.

We followed the three-stage route that Lu Jin had described.

Lu Jin said, "The Qi circulation path of our school's method starts from the Jiaji point, which is located on the back."

"Carrying it behind the heart symbolizes stillness."

"The Book of Changes says, 'If you keep your back straight, you will not be able to get your body; if you walk in your courtyard, you will not see anyone.' Therefore, the introductory method of our Three Ones Method is also called the 'Keeping Back' Method."

"The Gen back is after the descending palace, and it is also the connection point of the five organs and six viscera. It is more difficult to start circulating Qi from here, so there are not many people in this world who can meet the requirements of reversing life cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Li Chang'an nodded, as he could naturally see the danger level of this area.

"Alright, I've said everything I needed to say, Chang'an. Now I will teach you the secret Qi circulation route of our sect," Lu Jin said.

Li Chang'an sat up straight.

Lu Jin's voice deepened as he spoke, each word distinct and clear:

"The area between the fifth and ninth thoracic vertebrae is called 'Genbei'."

"The character '背' (bèi) is composed of '北' (běi, north) and '肉' (ròu, meat). The north represents water, while the heart represents fire."

"If one can use the fire of the south to nourish the water of the north."

"In short, it's about nourishing your back with your mind."

"When Qi circulates in the Gen back, it will involve the meridians of the five internal organs and six bowels. You must be extremely careful when you cultivate," Lu Jin warned again.

He still remembered that his former senior brother Dongshan had injured his lungs while practicing Qi cultivation in his early years, which left him with a chronic illness and interrupted his path of cultivation. He could only open a school at the foot of Sanyimen Mountain to teach.

"Grandpa, I will be careful," Li Chang'an said in a deep voice.

"Alright. Now sit down, hold your breath, and connect to the Magpie Bridge," Lu Jin said.

Li Chang'an quickly did as instructed. He closed his lips and teeth naturally, and gently pressed the tip of his tongue against the Tianchi acupoint on his upper palate.

The Tianchi acupoint connects to the Niwan Palace. When the tongue touches this point, it's like building a magpie bridge, which can guide and transform into nectar and ambrosia.

Lu Jin continued, "Next, use your mind to guide the Qi, from the Dantian, through the Changqiang acupoint at the coccyx, up the Du meridian to the Niwan Palace. Pause briefly, then continue downwards, across the Magpie Bridge, down the Twelve-Story Tower, into the Ren meridian, and down to the Qi Sea."

"Then proceed to the pubic bone. Here, guide the flow of energy in two directions, one around the anus and the other around the posterior genitals. The two meet at the perineum and then return to the Changqiang acupoint. Finally, the energy ascends along the Du meridian and lands at the Gen back, then..."

Lu Jin instructed, "When you are practicing Qi circulation, remember to carefully experience the subtle sensations in every joint, muscle, and even deeper parts of your body. If you feel uncomfortable, stop immediately and never force yourself."

Li Chang'an finally understood why his grandfather had taught him to spin the river cart.

The Genbei Heart Method is actually a super complicated version of the River Chariot.

The most difficult part of this complex version is not the greatly increased length of the Qi circulation, but rather the need to multitask, circulating Qi in two meridians simultaneously, then returning to the perineum, and then rising to the back.

If one is not careful during this process and misdirects the flow of Qi, the consequences will be quite serious.

However, this was a trivial matter for Li Chang'an, who could see his entire body.

Li Chang'an began to circulate his Qi as Lu Jin had instructed.

While circulating Qi, Lu Jin kept her hand on Li Chang'an's body, feeling the flow of Qi within him.

If anything is done incorrectly, Lu Jin will immediately interrupt and correct it.

This is what is meant by oral transmission and personal instruction.

This is the true value of a personally taught disciple.

Li Chang'an did not disappoint Lu Jin's protection. On his first attempt at Qi circulation, he accurately located the meridians and acupoints and completed the task smoothly.

The moment it was completed, Li Chang'an felt a surge of vitality within his body, and a white light seemed to flow deep within his pupils.

This is……

Li Chang'an could sense that he had entered some kind of strange state.

The vital energy within the body underwent a change, transforming from blue to white.

This white Qi is more domineering than the normal blue Qi.

As it circulated within his body, he could even vaguely sense a whistling sound.

If the blue Qi was water, then this white Qi is like mercury, which is much more substantial.

Moreover, he discovered that this white Qi seemed to have an advantage in refining essence into Qi, and its cultivation effect was much stronger than the previous Qi circulation.

This must be the state of reversal, but why is it that only the Qi in my body has changed, while other parts of my body remain the same... Li Chang'an muttered to himself.

Lu Jin also noticed that Li Chang'an had entered this state, so she withdrew her hand, took a deep breath, suppressed her shock, and said:

"Chang'an, your Qi circulation... is unbelievably stable."

"If I hadn't personally passed it on to you, I would have thought you had already practiced it many times."

"What do you feel when you circulate Qi?" Lu Jin asked.

Li Chang'an thought for a moment and described it as follows: "This Qi is much more domineering than ordinary Qi, which made me feel a little uncomfortable when I was finishing up. I wouldn't say uncomfortable, but there was a reaction, and I felt a bit sore and swollen in my back."

Lu Jin smiled and said, "It's normal to feel a little uncomfortable and have a sore or swollen feeling. It's a normal phenomenon."

"The way of the weak is the opposite of what is said in the Tao Te Ching. In simple terms, it is the darkness before dawn."

"In short, feeling physical discomfort during spiritual practice does not necessarily mean you have gone astray; it may simply be the effect of the practice."

"When you are practicing cultivation, you may feel extremely comfortable, but that may not be true comfort. It may be an illusion caused by going astray in cultivation."

"You have to discern these things yourself. Some people encounter this situation and can't tell the difference, so they get scared and dare not continue their practice, and they start to hesitate."

"This hesitation is described in the Cantongqi as 'drawing evidence to prove its effectiveness and verifying the divine will.'"

Lu Jin reminded him, "When you cultivate reversing your fate alone in the future, you must learn to discern the truth."

"Of course, if you can't figure it out, you can come and ask your grandfather for advice. Just don't rush into cultivation."

Lu Jin reminded him with a serious expression, "If you practice your Qi incorrectly and suffer a qi deviation, it could cost you your life. Remember that!"

"Grandpa, I know what I'm doing."

Li Chang'an noticed that his hair hadn't turned white: "That should have been the basic mental cultivation technique, right?"

"That's right!" Lu Jin nodded: "This is just the most basic method of tempering life. Completing this step is only the beginning of the path of reversal. There is still a long way to go before you can build the first level of reversal."

Li Chang'an thought about it and agreed. If one could enter the first level of Reverse Rebirth as soon as one started cultivating, gaining the ability to regenerate flesh and skin and the strength of a dragon and tiger, that would be too terrifying.