I was a mineral prospector in Chengdu, who transmigrated into the body of a mortal sword immortal.

A milky white light enveloped his body, like a layer of warm, moist water. Li Bai squeezed sideways into the narrow crevice, his shoulders and back pressed against the cool, smooth stone wall. The stone wall had a strange feel to it; it wasn't the roughness of natural rock, but rather more like some kind of polished material with subtle textures. It was cool to the touch, but not bone-chilling.

The passage was narrower and longer than he had imagined.

Beneath his feet were downward-facing stone steps, each polished smooth with rounded edges, as if trodden countless times. The walls on either side of the steps were inlaid with oval stones, each the size of a pigeon's egg, radiating a soft, milky-white light. These stones weren't evenly distributed, but rather scattered in a staggered pattern, their interplay of light illuminating the entire passage as if it were daytime, yet without being glaring. The fragrance of herbs in the air grew stronger, mixed with a faint, bitter scent reminiscent of sandalwood or some kind of herb. Taking a deep breath, he felt a slight stirring in the faint energy within his chest and abdomen, even alleviating some of the stinging pain in his ankles.

He leaned on the broken Qingming sword and walked down step by step.

A soft hum continued to emanate from the sword, no longer the sharp vibration of before, but a deep, steady resonance, as if echoing the passage and something deep within the light. The hilt still felt cool to the touch, but no longer piercing; instead, it felt like a piece of warm jade, warm to the touch.

The passage wasn't straight, but rather curved slightly, extending gently downwards. After walking about twenty or thirty steps, the path suddenly opened up ahead.

The milky white light reached its peak here, then suddenly softened and dispersed. Li Bai squinted, adjusting to the change in light, and then froze at the exit of the passage. The broken sword in his hand clanged softly, its tip touching the ground.

Before him lay a world he had never imagined.

At the end of the passage was not another cave, but a... valley.

A completely secluded valley hidden deep in the mountains.

The valley wasn't large, roughly the size of two or three football fields, shaped like an inverted bowl. The most breathtaking part was overhead—there was no sky, no clouds, but instead, a vast, seamless, translucent, pale golden dome. The dome seemed to be made of the purest crystal or some special jade. Sunlight (or some similar light source) refracted through this dome from its immense height, the light being dispersed, softened, and evenly distributed throughout the valley, creating a warm, bright, yet not glaring, "skylight." Within this light, one could even see subtle, iridescent halos slowly swirling.

The valley is teeming with life.

Beneath his feet lay soft, damp soil, fragrant with the scent of fresh grass. Everywhere his eyes fell, exotic flowers and rare herbs bloomed. There were short grasses with leaves as translucent as jade, dotted with tiny blue flowers; there were straight stems topped with bowl-sized, crimson blossoms, their petals layered like burning flames, emitting a sweet fragrance; there were vines twining around jagged rocks, bearing fist-sized, translucent purple berries; and many more plants he had never seen before, each unique in shape and color, together creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

The air was unbelievably fresh; with each breath, it felt like his lungs were being cleansed. Even more strangely, the air was permeated with a kind of… “texture.” It wasn’t a smell, but something more fundamental. Li Bai closed his eyes, trying to activate the vague perception brought about by the fragmented information in his mind. He “felt” that countless extremely fine “particles,” faintly glowing, seemed to float in the surrounding air. As he breathed in and out in the same unconscious way as before, these light particles would seep into his body, thread by thread, along with the airflow, merging into the weak airflow circulation in his chest and abdomen, making that circulation slightly stronger and smoother.

This is... spiritual energy?

The spiritual energy here is many times more concentrated than that outside!

In the center of the valley, there is a spring. The water is crystal clear, and the bottom is covered with smooth white pebbles. Several small, almost transparent, silvery-white fish swim leisurely. At the edge of the pool, on the side closer to Li Bai, stands a black stone tablet about the height of a person, its surface polished smooth as a mirror.

The stone tablet gleamed with a warm luster under the soft sunlight.

Li Bai's heart began to pound.

He almost staggered, leaning on his sword, and hurried (given the condition of his ankle) to the stone tablet. Closer now, he could see the tablet's material more clearly—neither gold nor stone, cool to the touch, yet faintly warm. The surface was covered with densely packed ancient hieroglyphs, the same type as those on the cave altar. These characters were no longer fragmented pieces, but complete, logically arranged chapters.

What excited Li Bai even more was that next to the text were simple yet precise line drawings.

That was a set of movements.

A set of nine consecutive stances, depicting a basic sword-wielding movement. Beside the illustration are smaller text annotations, and... a matching set of breathing exercises diagrams illustrating the flow and rhythm of energy!

"Basic Sword Style - Nine Forms", "Basic Breathing Technique - Circulation of Qi".

Although written language is ancient, at this moment, in Li Bai's eyes, those lines, pictures, and arrows of flowing breath resonated strangely with the fragmented information flooding his mind and with his modern understanding of bodily structure, blood circulation, and the respiratory system. Many previously vague concepts instantly became clear.

It turns out that "qi induction" is not just about sensing, but also requires a specific breathing rhythm and mental guidance to draw in external spiritual energy through the mouth, nose, and pores, and to circulate it along a specific route (which seems to mainly follow the main channels between the spine and the chest and abdomen), eventually converging into a certain position below the lower abdomen (marked as a blurry dot in the picture), where it is nurtured and strengthened.

"Concentration" refers to maintaining a pure mind and focused spirit during the process of inducing qi, using intention to "visualize" the flow of qi, to "feel" the changes inside the body, and to "communicate" with the spirituality of the sword (or other object) in one's hand.

The nine sword techniques are simple and direct: thrust, chop, parry, hook, point, strike, intercept, wipe, and flick. Each technique is accompanied by detailed power generation techniques, footwork coordination, and most importantly... how to channel one's vital energy (spiritual power) into the sword at the moment of strike to enhance its power.

This stone tablet is a complete beginner's guide to cultivation!

Li Bai was overjoyed, his breathing quickening. He suppressed the urge to start practicing immediately and first carefully "read" the contents of the stone tablet three times from beginning to end. He didn't use his eyes to recognize the words, but rather used that strange "understanding" ability he gained after resonating with the Green Destiny Sword, combined with the pictures, to imprint every detail in his mind.

Then, he put down his baggage (although there was almost nothing left inside) and held the Qingming Broken Sword in his hand.

He did not practice swordsmanship immediately.

He first sat cross-legged in front of the stone tablet, facing the clear pool water, and adjusted his breathing according to the description of the "Zhou Tian Yin Qi Jue".

Inhale deeply and slowly, imagining the rich light particles (spiritual energy) in the valley flowing into your nasal cavity with the airflow, sinking down your throat, passing through your chest, and slowly guiding you to the vague area below your lower abdomen, known as the "sea of ​​qi" or "dantian".

Hold your breath, concentrate your mind, and visualize those light particles swirling and condensing in your dantian.

Exhale gently and slowly, imagining the turbid air in your body being expelled, while the light particles gathered in your dantian slowly rise along a faint channel behind your spine (Du Meridian?), pass behind your head, and then descend from your forehead along your face, throat, and the center of your chest and abdomen (Ren Meridian?), returning to your dantian.

A cycle.

At first, he was very awkward, his breathing often went astray, and his thoughts easily wandered. But he had patience, and even more so, a powerful motivation—Yang Yuhuan's face, the countdown to Chengdu, lashed at him like a whip.

Once, twice, ten times...

Gradually, he found his rhythm. His breathing became long and steady, and the guidance of his mind became clearer and clearer. He could "feel" that with each breath, there were indeed wisps of cool and warm energy seeping into his body from the outside, flowing slowly along the path he was visualizing. The weak, spontaneous flow of energy in his chest and abdomen began to be guided and assimilated by this newly added, purer energy, and its circulation gradually moved closer to the "small circulation" described on the stone tablet.

As the airflow completed a full cycle and returned to the dantian, Li Bai felt a slight tremor throughout his body.

An indescribable sense of comfort spread from his dantian, instantly coursing through his limbs and bones. The fatigue accumulated from the long trek, injuries, and tension dissipated as if washed away by warm water. The tingling and itching sensation in his left arm wound became more pronounced, indicating that the flesh was healing more rapidly. What surprised him most was that the excruciating pain in his swollen and painful right ankle had also lessened by at least 30%! Although he still couldn't exert force normally, at least when standing and walking slowly, he no longer needed to rely entirely on his sword and staff.

This is only the effect of the first complete execution of the "Circulation of Qi" technique!

Li Bai opened his eyes, a glint of excitement flashing within them. He looked at the broken Azure Nether sword in his hand.

The hum of the sword seemed to resonate more harmoniously with the flow of energy within his body. The dull, dark gold at the broken edge even seemed to brighten slightly.

He stood up, stretched his arms and legs, and felt much lighter. Although he was still far from being "cured," this real, positive change gave him tremendous confidence.

Next, we'll move on to swordsmanship.

He gripped the broken sword, recalling the illustration and key points of the first move, "Thrust," on the stone tablet: stand with feet shoulder-width apart, one in front of the other, lower your center of gravity; hold the sword in your right hand, with the tip pointing straight ahead; inhale, guiding the energy from your dantian along the meridians of your arm to the sword; exhale and exert force, unifying your waist and stance, letting the sword move with your body, channeling power to the tip, and thrusting straight out!

"laugh--"

The air was parted by a barely perceptible thin line.

His movements were stiff, his power scattered, and he couldn't even channel the energy into the sword—when he tried to guide it, the energy stagnated at his arm and couldn't leave his body. But this thrust felt incredibly smooth to Li Bai. Not in terms of technique, but in the natural harmony between his body's instincts and this basic move. It was as if his body was meant to move this way.

He practiced the "stabbing" over and over again.

Ten times, fifty times, one hundred times...

Sweat quickly soaked through his tattered dark blue robe. A throbbing pain shot through his ankles, but he gritted his teeth and persevered. With each thrust, he tried to regulate his breathing and guide his airflow. Failure, another attempt, another failure…

After practicing for an unknown amount of time, when he thrust out for the 300th time, a sudden inspiration struck him.

He inhaled, focused his mind, and felt the energy surging in his dantian. This time, he did not force the energy to leave his body, but simply guided it to accelerate its flow through the main meridians of his arm.

Exhale, thrust your sword!

"Buzz—"

The Azure Nether Broken Sword emitted a tremor that was much clearer than before! At the tip of the sword, on the remaining blade less than three inches long, a faint, almost imperceptible dark golden light flashed!

Although the light flashed and disappeared in an instant, and although the airflow still failed to leave the body and flow into it, the speed, power, and unstoppable momentum of this sword thrust were completely different from before! The sound of the sword cutting through the air also changed from a "hiss" to a short "whoosh"!

Li Bai sheathed his sword, panting, and looked at the tip of the sword, his eyes bursting with wild joy.

It works! It really works!

He no longer confined himself to "thrusting" and began practicing "slashing," "sweeping," and "hanging" according to the order of the stone tablet... He devoted his entire mind to each move, coordinating it with the breathing rhythm of the "Circulation of Qi Technique." Although he still couldn't project sword energy outwards, each swing subtly accelerated the flow of qi within his body, making his sword techniques more stable, faster, and more ferocious. The hum of the Azure Nether Broken Sword also rose and fell with his practice, sometimes high-pitched, sometimes low, as if echoing and guiding him.

When he was hungry, he would pick the glistening purple berries. The berries were sweet and juicy, and just two were enough to fill him up. A warm current would flow into his dantian, seemingly providing a slight aid to his cultivation. When he was thirsty, he would scoop up a handful of water from the pool. The spring water was refreshingly sweet and also contained a faint trace of spiritual energy.

He was completely immersed in his cultivation, forgetting the time, his fatigue, and even temporarily forgetting the imminent crisis outside. There was no alternation of day and night in the valley, only the ever-present, gentle light from the dome, but based on his body's fatigue cycle and the number of times he had eaten, he estimated that at least a whole day had passed.

His progress is visible to the naked eye.

The "Circulation of Qi" technique was becoming increasingly proficient. The wisp of Qi (or spiritual energy) in his dantian had grown from the thickness of a hair to the size of a little finger, and the speed of its circulation had also increased significantly. His injuries were healing remarkably well. The wound on his left arm had scabbed over, leaving only faint red marks. The swelling in his right ankle had largely subsided. Although there was still some lingering pain, he could walk normally and even jump slightly without any problems.

He had mastered the nine sword techniques, and while they weren't yet refined, he could execute each move seamlessly and in unison. Coordinating his breathing and spiritual energy, the movements were accompanied by faint sounds of wind and thunder (though mostly the unusual noises of the sword cutting through the air and the energy stirring the air). In his hands, the Azure Nether Broken Sword was no longer an inanimate object, but rather an extension of his arm. The rust on the sword seemed to have faded somewhat, and the dark golden material at the break had a warmer, more lustrous sheen.

Li Bai decided to stay here temporarily and devote himself to cultivation.

At the very least, he needed to fully master the fundamentals inscribed on this stone tablet, further strengthen his spiritual energy, and refine his swordsmanship. Then… he would try to find a way to leave this secret realm and return to Chengdu. He had observed the valley; apart from the passage he had entered through, the surrounding walls were steep, smooth, and towering stone walls reaching into the dome of the sky, seemingly offering no other exit. Perhaps the secret lay beneath the pool? Or perhaps the stone tablet itself held a hidden mystery? Or perhaps it required reaching a certain level of attainment to trigger its power?

He walked to the edge of the pool and scooped up some water to wash his face. The cool spring water invigorated him. He looked up into the depths of the valley. There, the flowers and plants were more lush, and the light seemed dimmer, revealing the vague outlines of some jagged rocks.

Should we go and explore it?

The thought had barely crossed his mind when he suppressed it. His immediate priority was cultivation and increasing his strength. Exploring unknown territories might offer opportunities, but it was far more likely to pose dangers. He shouldn't venture too far before he possessed sufficient power to protect himself.

He returned to the stone tablet, preparing to begin a new round of breathing exercises.

However, just as he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, focused his mind on his dantian, and began to guide his spiritual energy through the body—

"Thump."

A very faint, muffled vibration, as if from a very distant place deep within the earth, or rather, the sound of the heartbeat of some enormous creature, faintly reached his senses.

It wasn't something I heard with my ears.

It is the resonance between spiritual energy and the surrounding environment that one indirectly "senses".

The sound only lasted for a moment before disappearing.

Li Bai suddenly opened his eyes and looked warily into the depths of the valley, towards the dimly lit area with its strangely shaped rocks.

There was nothing there.

Silence reigned. The only sounds were the rustling of the wind through the flowers and grass, the gentle flow of the water in the pool, and the slightly rapid beating of his own heart.

Is it an illusion? Or an auditory hallucination caused by excessive cultivation?

He focused his attention for a moment and found nothing else unusual.

But a nameless unease, like tiny ice spikes, quietly pierced his heart, which had just been invigorated by his progress in cultivation.

He closed his eyes again, but could no longer immerse himself in the same way as before. A part of his mind remained suspended, watching the movements around him and the boundless darkness deep within the valley.

Is there... something there?