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

Li Chang'an naturally knew that Lu Jin wanted to teach him the Triple Rebirth Technique.

He also wanted to learn, so he was pursuing two different paths simultaneously.

But he also knew it wouldn't be that easy.

He had read the plot and knew that the selection of disciples by the San Yi Sect was very strict, with a rather complicated set of tests.

And the most important aspect of these assessments is honesty, so he didn't lie and stated frankly:

"Was it the Grandmaster's doing?"

Lu Jin hadn't expected the little guy to be so honest, speaking so directly. He laughed and said:

"Your great-grandfather's methods are not so easy to learn. A tall building starts from the ground up. No matter what methods you learn in the future, you must lay a solid foundation. So for the next month, I will not teach you methods. What I will teach you are things that are more important and more fundamental than methods!"

"I will definitely study hard!" Li Chang'an quickly promised.

"I believe you!" Lu Jin said, "When I watched you practice swordsmanship just now, your lower body was very stable. After you attained Qi, did your grandfather teach you specific methods of circulating Qi?"

"He taught me; my grandfather taught me the standing meditation method."

"Then let me test you. Which meridian does Zhan Zhuang (standing meditation) begin with?" Lu Jin asked.

Li Chang'an assumed a standing meditation posture and pointed to an acupoint on his foot, saying:

"Standing meditation emphasizes that the power originates from the ground, starting from the Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang."

Lu Jin nodded approvingly:

"You're standing very steadily, and your position is correct. But do you know that different schools of thought have different methods of circulating qi, and therefore produce different effects?"

"I'm not quite sure about that, could you tell me, sir?" Li Chang'an said.

Lu Jin said, "Standing meditation mostly focuses on strengthening the body, which is a typical martial arts practice."

"Furthermore, because standing meditation begins with the feet, many of the meridians that circulate Qi are located in the feet, such as the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian and the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, etc."

As he spoke, Lu Jin assumed a stance opposite to Li Chang'an's and said:

"The stance I'm in now is the one that starts from the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian."

"The Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian and the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian are among the twelve regular meridians."

"Besides starting with the twelve regular meridians, some schools of thought have internal cultivation methods that begin with the Triple Burner and Six Meridians or the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. Are you familiar with this knowledge?"

Li Chang'an shook his head: "I've heard some of it, but I don't know much about it."

Lu Jin said, "You've only been doing this for a month, so it's normal that you don't understand these things, but they are all very important."

"We who cultivate ourselves must have a thorough understanding of our own bodies; otherwise, we'll be like blind men touching an elephant, and we won't even know what we'll end up with."

"So next, I will teach you what the twelve regular meridians are, what the eight extraordinary meridians are, and what the acupoints throughout the body are."

"Grandpa, I will definitely study hard," Li Chang'an said earnestly.

"Good child! I believe in the sincerity in your words right now."

Children's promises are often taken seriously.

However, in most cases, this is not valid.

Lu Jin is already a great-grandfather, with a bunch of grandchildren under his wing, how could he not know these things?!

"Let's go somewhere else, let's start the lesson!"

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For the next period of time, Li Chang'an lived an exceptionally fulfilling life.

Every morning, I would first practice standing meditation, then eat breakfast, and then listen to Lu Jin's lectures.

Lu Jin's teachings on spiritual practice are extensive and complex.

To avoid forgetting what you've heard and having no idea when you actually need it.

Li Chang'an decided to start keeping a diary, writing down every word Lu Jin said each day in his notebook so that he could review and learn from it later.

[Li Chang'an's Diary]: Today is April 1st. This morning I practiced standing meditation for a while, and then my great-grandfather came to give a lesson, talking about the knowledge related to the twelve meridians of the human body.

My grandfather said that the twelve meridians correspond to the twelve two-hour periods of the day. The flow of qi and blood in the meridians is different in each two-hour period. He also gave me a book called "Midnight-Noon Flow Chart", which contains related knowledge.

He also said that cultivation requires combining the changes of heaven and earth and the time of day with the operation of one's own internal meridians, only in this way can one have the opportunity to step into a higher realm.

I think that makes a lot of sense. Circulating Qi through the meridians is like driving on the road. You have to understand all the traffic rules, otherwise you'll easily get points deducted and fined.

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Lu Jin chose to teach Li Chang'an theoretical knowledge.

First, these are indeed crucial.

Secondly, it was to test his character and comprehension, to see if he was suitable for practicing the Reverse Rebirth Triple Realm.

If you can't even tolerate the tedium of learning theoretical knowledge, then you're not suited for practicing rebirth through cultivation.

Lu Jin also took out a diary and recorded Li Chang'an's words and actions every day, intending to score Li Chang'an based on these records and determine the assessment results.

[Lu Jin's Diary]: Today is April 1st. Xiao Chang'an didn't stay in bed. After getting up, he went to the courtyard to practice standing meditation. In terms of diligence in cultivation, he's no less than Lu Lin. He's also very serious when studying. He has absolutely no childishness.

I couldn't find anything wrong with his performance that day.

Speaking of this assessment, I actually wanted to do what my master did back then, set up a lower courtyard, and let the children chop wood and carry water there to see their character, but I failed several times before.

I thought about it carefully. Back then, my master was famous all over the world. All the sects and schools were willing to send their children to him, and the children were also willing to work hard to become disciples of the Trinity.

Now, the Sanyi Sect has declined. Not to mention the younger generation, even many people in their forties and fifties don't know the name Sanyi. They have no yearning for the methods of cultivating Sanyi, so naturally they have no motivation to chop wood and carry water. The methods of the lower academy assessment have been greatly reduced.

I heard that companies now require exams and interviews for hiring, which I think is a sign of keeping up with the times. I want to do the same.

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[Li Chang'an's Cultivation Diary]: April 2nd, continued standing meditation in the morning. After finishing, I listened to my great-grandfather explain the knowledge and precautions related to the twelve meridians. My great-grandfather taught very seriously and would ask about my experience during standing meditation, the feeling of Qi circulation, and test me on what he had taught yesterday.

To be honest, what Grandpa said yesterday was very obscure and literary. Let alone fully understanding it, just memorizing those names and positions was a headache.

However, perhaps for reasons that are inconvenient to write in a diary, my memory has become very good.

I memorized these incredibly complex things after just one listen, but I didn't fully understand their meaning. It seems I need to consult some ancient texts to broaden my knowledge.

[Lu Jin's Assessment Diary]: Xiao Chang'an is meticulous in his cultivation, listens attentively to lectures, and even takes notes, which is quite remarkable.

What's even more remarkable is his exceptional memory; he can almost never forget anything he's seen, and he can memorize a lot of knowledge after hearing it only once.

Having a photographic memory is a good thing, but it inexplicably reminds me of that old bastard Zhang Zhiwei, who also has a photographic memory.

He still remembers some trivial matters from seventy or eighty years ago very clearly. The key is that he has no sense of restraint when it comes to talking. He can talk about things that everyone has forgotten about in his adult life, just like pouring out beans. He can talk about them all the time and they always seem fresh.

At the last gathering, he brought up the time when I was a child and he slapped me so hard I cried. It's infuriating! He's made a fuss about such a trivial thing his whole life. I wish I could get my revenge.

There's no chance of making this old man cry in public, but if we can make his apprentice cry once, that would be good too, at least we can save some face.

But this guy is incredibly skilled at teaching his disciples. None of my descendants can beat his disciples. But I still have a chance. Didn't he just take on a new disciple?

I wonder if Lu Lin can help me get revenge?

Hmm... I doubt it will work. Lu Lin isn't the type to do something like that!

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[Li Chang'an's Cultivation Diary]: April 3rd, I practiced standing meditation as usual in the morning. Today, my father and grandfather had furrowed brows, as if they had encountered some troubles. Even my great-grandfather was the same. Perhaps something big has happened in the world of supernatural beings. I wanted to ask him, but after thinking for a moment, I didn't.

I must focus all my energy on spiritual practice. That vibrant, flourishing state of being is right before my eyes, and I cannot let external troubles distract me.

Today, Grandpa will continue to talk about the knowledge and precautions related to the twelve meridians.

[Lu Jin's Assessment Diary]: Today, Xiao Chang'an's performance was still commendable, but a major event occurred in the world of supernatural beings. Zhang Huaiyi, who had been missing for decades, suddenly reappeared, and the Qi Body Source Flow reappeared in the world.

Many veteran masters went there after smelling the aroma, and the long-calm martial arts world was thrown into turmoil again. The company notified me to attend the Ten Elders Conference.

But what will this be? It's just the aftermath of the Jia Shen Rebellion. Back then, my father told me not to participate in the Jia Shen Rebellion, but I secretly did, which led to my lifelong regret. This time, I'm saying I won't participate no matter what.

I need to focus my energy on taking on apprentices. The vibrant and thriving state of Sany during its heyday is still vivid in my mind. I cannot let some external troubles delay me.

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[Li Chang'an's Cultivation Diary]: April 4th, I did my usual standing meditation in the morning, and my great-grandfather continued to explain cultivation knowledge related to the twelve meridians.

Although there are only twelve meridians, they are extremely complex because they connect internal organs and external limbs, forming a closed loop for the circulation of Qi and blood.

If you don't understand this cycle properly and something goes wrong when circulating your Qi, it won't just be a matter of your face getting swollen; it could burn your internal organs. You have to learn this, you have to learn it well.

[Lu Jin's Assessment Diary]: I've been teaching for several days now, and every day it's all dry knowledge about meridians, but Xiao Chang'an hasn't slacked off at all. He asks questions about many things he doesn't understand, he's a very studious child.

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[Li Chang'an's Cultivation Diary]: April 5th, continued cultivation as usual, still focusing on the twelve meridians.

[Lu Jin's Assessment Diary]: During my teaching period, I noticed that he practiced standing meditation every morning and evening without fail, rain or shine. This kind of persistence is nothing special for adults, but it is quite precious among children.

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[Li Chang'an's Cultivation Diary]: April 12th, I did my usual standing meditation in the morning, and my great-grandfather continued to talk about the twelve meridians.

I've been studying the twelve meridians for over ten days now, but the longer I study and the more I learn, the more profound and difficult it seems. No wonder many traditional Chinese medicine practitioners can't figure it out in their entire lives.

I consulted my great-grandfather, and he said I was too hasty!

What can I say?

All I can say is that I desperately want to improve.

Then, my grandfather said that I was overthinking things and making them too complicated. The greatest truths are the simplest. Some things cannot be understood by thinking alone. Traditional Chinese medicine is developed through practice, as is spiritual cultivation.

Memorize the basic principles. As for the complex ones, once you've practiced enough, you'll naturally understand many things without a teacher. That's what learning by doing is all about.

[Lu Jin's Assessment Diary]: After teaching him for so many days and twelve serious days in a row, the kid is finally getting a little impatient. That's more like it. Otherwise, I would have thought he was an extremely calm and composed adult.

He said he wanted to improve too much, which is a good thing. If you don't want to improve, how can you talk about spiritual practice?

The most important thing in spiritual practice is to move forward. If you don't want to improve, then you'll just stay in the same place.

I've already taught him most of the twelve primary meridians; I've just been reinforcing the explanations and deepening his understanding. Now that he wants to improve, I should indeed teach him some new things.

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[Li Chang'an's Cultivation Diary]: April 13th, I practiced standing meditation as usual today. Yesterday, my great-grandfather's explanation of the twelve meridians finally came to an end.

Then I remembered what I said when I wrote in my diary on the first day: I should read more ancient books in the future to broaden my knowledge.

I was so lazy that I hadn't gone yet. So after breakfast, I went to my grandfather's study. His study was full of all kinds of books, but as far as I can remember, he had never read them.

Old Ma was right. He keeps a lot of books in his office, but they're not for him. They're for others to read, and I am one of those others.

I consulted some books about the twelve primary meridians, many of which were spoken by my great-grandfather. I can't say I gained a lot, but I can't say I gained nothing either; I'd say I gained a moderate amount.

Today, Grandpa changed his teaching content and started teaching the eight extraordinary meridians, which are in addition to the twelve regular meridians. I always thought they were the seven regular meridians and eight extraordinary meridians, but it turns out they are the "extraordinary" ones.

The word "奇" does not mean strange. It is a name in the Book of Changes. It does not belong to the twelve meridians. It corresponds to the directions of the eight trigrams.

This is a bit complicated because the Eight Trigrams involve a series of classics such as the Book of Changes, the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic, and the Coffin.

My great-grandfather said that even at his age, there are still many things he doesn't understand.

I need to take a look after class. Even if I can't understand it, memorizing it will be good. If I encounter it again in the future, I can carefully consider and understand it.

[Lu Jin's Assessment Diary]: Today I noticed that this little guy went to the study to read. He read very carefully, and he wasn't reading the kind of comic books that Linglong likes. Instead, he was reading cultivation classics. Most importantly, this kid knows how to choose his books. He knows which ones he should read and which ones he shouldn't.

Some of his grandfather's cultivation notes were wrong, and I was worried that reading them would have a bad influence on him. But he only glanced at them and tossed them aside, muttering that they were a bit difficult and he would look at them later.

Knowing when to advance and when to retreat, understanding gains and losses, and not being overly ambitious—this kid has a good character!

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[Li Chang'an's Cultivation Diary]: April 15th, practiced standing meditation, read books, and listened to my great-grandfather explain the relationship between the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and the Acquired Bagua.

[Lu Jin's Assessment Diary]: [Whether it's cultivation or study, he hasn't slacked off in the slightest. This kid's character is exactly what I'm looking for!]

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[Li Chang'an's Cultivation Diary]: April 20th, standing meditation, reading. Today the explanation of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians was finished. My great-grandfather directly threw me a diagram of the human body, which was covered with dense black dots. It almost triggered my trypophobia.

Grandpa said that this is the treasure map of the human body. There are 365 acupoints on the entire body, which correspond to the 365 degrees of the celestial sphere and also the 365 days of the year...

These acupoints range from Baihui on the top of the head to Yongquan on the sole of the foot. Each acupoint corresponds to a specific meridian and internal organ. Even the effects of stimulating acupoints vary depending on the time of day; some can immobilize the body, some can stop bleeding, and some may even be fatal...

This is a more complex system than the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, and it is also a very crucial system. I need to understand it carefully, and I should read more related content when I study tomorrow.

[Lu Jin's Assessment Diary]: [Even though it's dry knowledge about acupoints, he studied it very seriously. I like him very much!]

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[Li Chang'an's Cultivation Diary]: April 20th, practiced standing meditation and reading, then listened to my great-grandfather explain knowledge related to acupoints.

Grandpa said that the acupoints on the human body are connected to the solar terms and even the stars in the sky. Touching the acupoints at different times will produce different effects.

This is something to be mindful of in spiritual practice, because when circulating Qi, one must consider the timing and location. If Qi is circulated to acupoints at an inappropriate time, it may cause a disruption in the flow of Qi, leading to serious consequences.

Is spiritual practice really such a dangerous thing? No wonder everyone says that without the true teachings, one cannot practice haphazardly, otherwise one will face a near-death experience.

[Lu Jin's Assessment Diary]: Today I discovered that this kid went to read books about acupoints. I had just taught him some new content, and he knew to find some similar books to study and consolidate his knowledge. He even underlined some parts he didn't understand so he could ask me about them during class.

This child is so pleasing to me; even my master would surely praise him.

I remember my master once told us fellow disciples that success or failure hinges on a fine line. My master can teach you to break through the barrier, but can my master break through it for you? Having a desire to explore, being able to find your own way forward, and being able to learn by analogy are the greatest talents in the path of rebirth.

No wonder when we took the Trinity Assessment, my master said that my behavior of staying in the lower courtyard was a bit rigid and that I was trapping myself in my own web, while he praised the naughty child who ran off to the upper courtyard to play.

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[Li Chang'an's Cultivation Diary]: April 30th, practiced standing meditation, read books, and listened to my great-grandfather explain the connection between meridians and acupoints.

[Lu Jin's Assessment Diary]: I really like him!