Under One Person: Sincerity Moves the Gods

Chapter 102 Years

翌日清晨，天光微亮.

Li Cunzhen got up early.

The stinging pain in his lower abdomen from last night had completely subsided. He stretched his muscles and bones and felt that his blood and qi were flowing smoothly, and he was fine.

After a quick wash, he left the courtyard and headed straight for the side courtyard where Dou Hong lived.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, Dou Hong was standing in the center of the courtyard doing his morning exercise.

He stood with his legs apart, feet firmly planted on the ground, knees slightly bent, back straight, hands clasped in front of his chest, and breathing long and deep.

Hearing footsteps, he opened his eyes, saw it was Li Cunzhen, and grinned.

"Master Li, you're here early."

"Master Dou was even earlier."

Li Cunzhen cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

"Yesterday I pondered the Nine Apertures Closure and the Vajra Stance, and today I would like to ask Master Dou to continue to provide guidance."

Dou Hong looked him up and down, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Not only is he a genius, but he is also a hardworking genius.

He didn't say much, but simply nodded, gesturing for Li Cunzhen to stand next to him.

"Now that you have mastered closing the nine orifices, let's continue practicing the second level of the Vajra Stance today."

Li Cunzhen nodded upon hearing this and began practicing standing meditation.

Dou Hong walked behind him, put one hand on his lower back and the other hand on his lower abdomen, and slightly adjusted his posture.

"Straighten your back a little more, and tilt your tailbone up slightly, as if you are sitting on an invisible stool."

"Tuck your lower abdomen in, but don't force it. Find the feeling, and it will come in on its own."

Li Cunzhen adjusted his posture according to his instructions.

Sure enough, a warm sensation rose from the lower dantian and spread upwards along the spine.

"The first level of Vajra Stance is standing meditation to cultivate Qi, allowing true Qi to flow naturally within the body. The second level is guiding Qi into the bones. You already have a certain foundation, so you can start directly."

Dou Hong returned to the person opposite him and continued.

Li Cunzhen closed his eyes and focused his mind on his body.

"Start from the feet."

Dou Hong's voice rang in my ears.

"The true qi enters from the Yongquan acupoint, ascends along the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, passes the inner ankle, enters the lower leg, and reaches the knee. When it reaches the knee, do not rush to go up; let the true qi circulate at the knee to cleanse the impurities in the joint spaces."

Li Cunzhen did as he was told.

The vital energy surged in from the Yongquan acupoint, ascending along the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, and indeed encountered some resistance at the inner ankle.

But he quickly broke through the blockages, moving upwards to his knees and clearing away the impurities.

Then come the thigh, hip, lumbar vertebrae, thoracic vertebrae, and cervical vertebrae.

Li Cunzhen stood in the courtyard from dawn to noon, and then from noon to sunset.

Dou Hong stood by and watched, neither urging nor giving instructions, only occasionally adjusting his posture.

The next day, it continued.

The third day was the same.

By the fourth day, Li Cunzhen was able to channel his true energy from the soles of his feet all the way to his skull, the entire process flowing smoothly without any stagnation.

Dou Hong shook his head at the sight.

"Master Li, we can proceed to the next step."

Li Cunzhen finished his practice and stood still, then smiled slightly upon hearing this.

"Thank you very much, Master Dou, for your generous guidance!"

Dou Hong waved his hand without replying, and instead turned around and took out a large wooden bucket from the house.

The bucket contained a dark brown liquid that emitted a strong herbal smell.

"You have mastered the bone-strengthening technique of the Vajra Stance; the next step is skin-strengthening."

Dou Hong patted the wooden bucket.

"This is my Wulou Vajra's medicinal bath recipe, specially used to temper the skin and flesh. Soak for half an hour every day, and with the mental cultivation method, the skin and flesh will gradually become tough."

Li Cunzhen looked at the bucket of medicinal liquid, and without hesitation, took off his outer robe and stepped into the wooden bucket.

The medicinal liquid soaked my whole body, warm and slightly hot, with a spicy smell.

Li Cunzhen closed his eyes, channeling his inner energy into his skin and flesh, and with the help of the medicinal liquid, allowed the inner energy to slowly circulate on the surface of his skin.

On the first day, my skin was slightly red and a little stinging.

The next day, the stinging pain lessened, and the skin felt firmer.

Day 3, Day 4, Day 5...

On the ninth day, Li Cunzhen stepped out of the wooden tub and touched his arm.

The skin is smooth and resilient, as if covered by an invisible membrane.

He casually picked up a wooden sword and slashed it hard, leaving only a faint white mark that disappeared in an instant.

Dou Hong stood to the side watching and nodded.

"It's done."

Li Cunzhen nodded, but he did not relax his practice afterward, and continued to practice standing meditation every morning.

Three more days passed.

Early that morning, Li Cunzhen was practicing his martial arts in the courtyard when there was a sudden knock on the gate.

Upon opening the door, they found a disciple from Longhu Mountain holding an envelope.

"Master Li, a letter from the Left Master of the Sanyi Sect."

Li Cunzhen took the letter, thanked him, closed the door, and opened it.

Unfold the letter, and familiar handwriting comes into view.

"To my true disciple, seeing these words is like seeing you in person."

"I am very pleased to learn that you have overcome your inner demons, mastered the Samadhi True Fire, and defied the odds to reach the seventh level at the Three Demon Sect. This achievement is a testament to your diligent practice. However, I must remind you that supernatural powers and techniques are ultimately just branches and leaves. Cultivating one's life force is the foundation."

"As for your agreement with Master Dou to discuss the Dao, you may decide for yourself which level of the Reverse Life Techniques below the fifth level to teach."

You have already mastered your skills; you don't need to ask me about everything.

"Furthermore, I am relieved to hear that you said in your letter that you are doing well. If cultivating at Longhu Mountain will be more beneficial to you, there is no need to rush back."

"Master, Zuo Ruotong."

After reading the letter, Li Cunzhen felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

Zuo Ruotong is worthy of being called both "Master" and "Teacher".

The next day.

Having received confirmation from Zuo Ruotong, he did not hesitate.

Arriving at Dou Hong's residence, he prepared to impart the first four stages of the Reverse Life Trilogy.

This is precisely the threshold for entering the second stage of reversing the cycle of life.

When Li Cunzhen entered the courtyard.

Dou Hong was sitting in the courtyard drinking tea when he saw Li Cunzhen push the door open and enter. He quickly put down his teacup and stood up.

"Master Li, what's wrong?"

Li Cunzhen nodded and smiled at him.

"Sect Leader Dou, have you forgotten? We made a deal back then: you would pass on the Vajra of No Leakage to me, and I would pass on the Triple Rebirth of Reversal to you."

"I'm here to keep my promise."

Before he could finish speaking...

Dou Hong's eyes suddenly widened, and his hands trembled with excitement. He rubbed his large, fan-like hands together and paced back and forth, as if he didn't know how to express his excitement.

That's a triple rebirth!

The unparalleled triple rebirth!

Although it was expected, and it was only a part of the technique, it was still enough to make Dou Hong extremely excited.

He laughed heartily.

"Thank you so much, Master Zuo! Thank you so much, Master Li! This is an immense favor!"

Li Cunzhen shook his head and smiled in response.

"Sect Leader Dou, you're too kind. This transaction is mutually beneficial. You passed on your Vajra of Perfection to me, and I'll pass on my Reverse Life Triple Transformation to you. It's fair and reasonable."

Dou Hong calmed down a little, but still had a smile on his face.

He sat back on the stone bench, performed the disciple's salute, bowed and cupped his hands to Li Cunzhen, and then said solemnly.

"Master Li, please speak. I am all ears."

Li Cunzhen sat down opposite him, closed his eyes, collected his thoughts, and then spoke.

"The Reverse Rebirth has three levels, divided into nine stages. Each stage has corresponding methods for circulating qi and cultivation techniques. The first four stages belong to the first level of Reverse Rebirth, which focuses on condensing one's own essence and does not yet involve the transformation of qi into a physical body."

Dou Hong listened intently, even forgetting to drink his tea.

"The first stage is called 'Gen Back.' It involves stopping delusions, seeking one's true nature, gathering one's scattered mind into one place, and concentrating one's intention on one's back. This is the foundation of building a solid foundation. If the restless mind is not restrained, everything else is just empty talk."

Dou Hong nodded and silently made a note of it.

"The second stage is the 'Walking the Courtyard.' Use your mind to guide the primordial yang energy, circulating it along the entire body's energy pathways. Circulate the energy as if you were strolling in a courtyard, without haste or impatience, allowing the true energy to flow naturally without forcing it."

"The third stage is opening the gates. Once the Qi is sufficient, it will naturally circulate throughout the body, clearing the meridians and allowing the Qi to flow without obstruction. The key to this stage is the word 'natural'; forcibly opening the gates will actually be harmful."

"The fourth stage is the formation of the Yin Elixir by Atsuhito Azuchi. This involves condensing one's own essence and energy to form the Yin Elixir. This elixir is an internal life energy and is the foundation of one's being. After the elixir is formed, any damage to the skin and flesh can be repaired on its own, but limbs cannot yet regenerate."

As Li Cunzhen explained, he drew a diagram of the flow of Qi on the table with his finger, explaining each key point clearly.

Dou Hong listened intently, nodding occasionally and interjecting with questions about the details.

Li Cunzhen patiently answered the questions, explaining the principles and methods of the Threefold Reversal of Life in a way that the other party could understand.

An hour later, Li Cunzhen stopped talking.

"These are the techniques for the first four stages."

"If there's anything you don't understand, Sect Leader Dou, you can ask me anytime."

Dou Hong let out a long breath, stood up, cupped his hands and bowed to Li Cunzhen, and solemnly paid his respects.

"I, Dou Hong, will never forget Master Li's great kindness!"

Li Cunzhen quickly returned the greeting.

"Sect Leader Dou, you flatter me. There's no need for such polite words."

Dou Hong straightened up, his mind still replaying the Reverse Life Triple Technique from earlier, and he couldn't help but murmur to himself.

"Triple Rebirth... truly ingenious."

Several more days passed.

Li Cunzhen has completely mastered all the methods of the Vajra of No Leakage.

By closing the nine orifices, practicing the Vajra stance, and undergoing medicinal baths to strengthen the skin, all three barriers are overcome.

Seeing that he had completed his studies and that he had obtained what he wanted, Dou Hong decided not to linger any longer and packed his belongings to take his leave.

Before leaving, he stood at the gate of the courtyard and looked back at Li Cunzhen.

"Master Li, if you need anything in the future, please come to Wulou Jingang to find me anytime."

"Although I, Dou Hong, am not a big shot, I still have this much sense of loyalty."

Li Cunzhen cupped his hands in greeting.

"must."

Dou Hong laughed three times and led Dou Tian down the mountain.

After the master and apprentice left, Longhu Mountain returned to its former tranquility.

Despite their carefree and unconventional personalities, Zhang Zhiwei, Lu Jin, and Li Muxuan are all capable of calming down and cultivating when there's nothing else to do.

Li Cunzhen was no different; he continued to live in a secluded courtyard, meditating and practicing martial arts every day, and studying the techniques.

Every two weeks or so, he would keep his promise and serve as Zhang Huaiyi's sparring partner, providing appropriate guidance on his cultivation and combat techniques.

Zhang Huaiyi's thunder magic improved day by day, and his golden energy blades became increasingly refined.

Although he still couldn't touch Li Cunzhen's clothes, he had made great progress.

At other times, it was Li Cunzhen's own time for cultivation.

He continued to try to integrate the Reverse Life Triple and the Leak-Free Vajra.

After dozens of adjustments and attempts, he had resolved most of the conflicts in the flow of Qi. What remained was simply to fine-tune the operation of each acupoint.

At the same time, he also found a way to filter out impurities from natural energy.

That is to use the ability of Wuhou Qimen to control natural energy, to strip away the impurities such as turbidity, evil energy, and death energy from natural energy, leaving only the purest part, and then incorporating it into the body.

Although this process consumes a lot of energy, at least there is no risk of severe pain in the lower abdomen.

As for the speed, it's also much slower than before.

But at least it's usable, and it doesn't have the side effects of the Six Treasuries Immortal Thief from the original work.

Besides.

He constantly nurtured the Samadhi True Fire.

The golden flame burned quietly in his dantian, becoming more and more solid and stable.

He also took out his flying sword and practiced it.

Now, I can send out my flying sword with a thought, traveling several miles in an instant with perfect accuracy.

Time flies, and years pass by.

Several years passed in this way.

The Taoist robes that Li Cunzhen brought from the Sanyi Sect were already somewhat ill-fitting.

Lu Jin could only wear the Taoist robes from Longhu Mountain.

The pine and cypress trees on Longhu Mountain are still the same few trees, and the mountain gate is still the same mountain gate.

The young Taoist priest sweeping the floor has changed. The original one has now become a senior disciple, but the current one is still carrying a broom, sweeping the fallen leaves on the stone steps one stroke at a time.

Li Cunzhen sat in the side courtyard and slowly opened his eyes.

His breathing was long and steady, with a faint white aura circulating around him, yet it did not dissipate at all.

The white mist swirled and condensed around his body, like an invisible armor, yet it showed no sharpness.

His cultivation level has reached the stage of refining the spirit and returning to emptiness.

This state of being integrates the three treasures of the human body—essence, energy, and spirit—into one, leaving only the original spiritual light.

He has also basically completed the fusion of the Reverse Life Triple and the Leak-Free Vajra.

After repeated adjustments, the Qi circulation routes no longer conflict, and the two streams of true Qi flow in parallel within the body without contradiction.

The Qimen method filters natural energy, removing impurities, and then uses the Wulou Vajra method to bring it into the body, replenishing the loss of essence, energy, and spirit.

Although it is not as domineering as the Six Treasuries Immortal Thief in the original work, it is also uncertain whether it can replenish lifespan.

However, this significantly enhances Li Cunzhen's ability to sustain combat.

He can maintain the triple rebirth for a long time without worrying about the depletion of his vital energy.

The flying sword is now as easy to control as an extension of one's own limb; Li Cunzhen can even attach some of his magical techniques to the flying sword.

For example, the Samadhi Fire.

It's unimaginable how terrifying it would be to see a flying sword, imbued with Samadhi Fire and moving at incredible speed, appear on the battlefield.

A direct hit will kill you, a mere brush will injure you.

And there's no way to hide.

That morning, Li Cunzhen was meditating in the courtyard.

There was a knock on the courtyard gate.

He opened his eyes, got up, and opened the door.

A young, unfamiliar Taoist priest stood outside the door, holding an envelope in his hand, and bowed to him.

"Master Li, Elder Wang of Jiyun Society asked us to deliver this letter to you."

Ghost Hand King?

What's wrong with him?

Li Cunzhen was a little puzzled, but he still took the envelope and thanked her.

He closed the door, opened the letter, and looked down at the handwriting on the envelope.

But it wasn't Ghost Hand King's handwriting.