Starting with the creation of the Immortal Clan through the compilation of the family genealogy.

Chapter 84: Passing on the Dharma, Starting with One's Own Brothers!
"What are you planning to do next?" Yun Songzi asked.

“Continue your cultivation!” Meng Xihong’s answer was simple and direct.

"I must cultivate the Body Tempering Chapter to a higher level as soon as possible and thoroughly understand the characteristics and bottlenecks of this technique. At the same time, I must also pave the way for Yan Qing."

For the next month, Meng Xihong began his ascetic training in this secret realm.

Every three days, he would undergo extreme training.

Starting from the second stage of "flesh tempering," the pain increases exponentially.

If "skin tempering" is like deep-frying, then "flesh refining" is like slow slicing. He has to use his qi and blood to tear and rebuild the muscle fibers of his entire body bit by bit. Every time he cultivates, he suffers unbearable pain, as if his body is being crushed and rebuilt.

The third stage, "bone forging," is an even more agonizing ordeal that penetrates deep into the bone marrow.

The qi and blood transform into steel needles, repeatedly drilling into the bones. The soreness, numbness, and swelling pain are enough to break the spirit of even the toughest man.

If it weren't for the "literary spirit and integrity" protecting his soul and stabilizing his mind with righteous energy, he would probably have gone mad from boundless suffering long ago.

From initial fear to eventual acceptance, Yun Songzi even began to help Meng Xihong improve the medicinal bath formula, adding calming herbs to alleviate his pain.

Meng Xihong's strength also increased rapidly through this cruel self-torture.

Half a month later, he successfully broke through to the third level of body tempering, the "bone tempering" realm!
He stood still, without channeling his spiritual power, relying solely on his physical strength to unleash a punch that produced a muffled sonic boom in the air! The power he wielded surpassed that of a "Transformation Realm" master in mortal martial arts, and was approaching that of a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator!
A month later, he made even greater progress, breaking through one after another and reaching the sixth level of Body Tempering, the "Blood Exchange" realm!
Having reached the sixth level of Body Tempering, the "Blood Exchange" realm, Meng Xihong's blood was a faint golden hue, brimming with immense vitality and power. Ordinary wounds healed almost instantly. He even felt that he could directly confront a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator with his physical body alone!

"enough."

After failing to break through to the seventh level and nearly injuring his internal organs, Meng Xihong decisively stopped cultivating.

He discovered that starting from the seventh level, "refining the internal organs," what is needed is not only perseverance and resources, but also subtle control over one's own qi and blood, as well as a vast amount of life essence as support.

His current resources are not enough to support him to continue.

"Senior, the 'Furnace Scripture' is complete." Meng Xihong finished his practice and stood up, his breath steady and his eyes shining brightly.

Yun Songzi stroked his beard and clicked his tongue in amazement: "You've succeeded? You've done more than succeeded! You're a monster! In just one month, you went from nothing to the sixth level of Body Tempering! If word got out, it would shock countless people."

Over the past month, he had personally witnessed how Meng Xihong, with superhuman willpower, repeatedly pushed himself to the limit and was reborn time and time again in the medicinal bath, while also constantly improving his techniques based on his own condition. The sheer amount of perseverance and pain he endured was enough to send chills down his spine.

"I have to thank you for your miraculous medicine and improved prescription, senior," Meng Xihong said sincerely.

"Alright, alright, stop flattering this old Taoist." Yun Songzi waved his hand, but his expression turned serious.

"The technique is complete, and you've even tested it on yourself, proving its feasibility. So, what are you planning to do next? Are you really going to reveal this heaven-defying method to the public?"

Meng Xihong nodded, his gaze lingering intently on the outside of the secret realm, towards the direction of Yunni Township.

“Of course it will be made public, but not all of it.” He said slowly, “I only plan to pass on the first three levels: skin tempering, flesh refining, and bone forging.”

These three levels are enough to transform an ordinary person, making them comparable to a Qi Refining stage cultivator. Furthermore, these levels have a relatively low dependence on medicinal baths, so ordinary families can manage to sustain themselves if they are willing to invest heavily.

"As for what comes after the third level..." Meng Xihong's lips curled into a smile that only Yun Songzi could understand.

"Then we will need even more precious elixirs and more exquisite prescriptions. At that time, the 'Body Refining Hall' of my Tianyan Sect will be able to open its doors to guests."

Yun Songzi was taken aback at first, then realized what was going on and said with a mix of laughter and tears, "You little rascal, I see now. This was a carefully planned trap!"

He understood Meng Xihong's meaning perfectly well.

The first three levels of this "Oven-Baker Classic" are the bait!
The subsequent medicinal bath, which requires rare and precious herbs, is what we're actually selling: fishing rods and nets!

This kid not only wants to make all the body cultivators in the world "work" to prolong his son's life, but also wants to empty the pockets of these "workers".

“Senior, you can’t say that,” Meng Xihong explained seriously. “This is called sustainable development.”

"Our Tianyan Sect is newly established; we can't just starve forever, can we? Besides, the path of body refinement is inherently defying the heavens, tempering one's true self through hardship. Those without great perseverance and unwavering determination will find it difficult to achieve the Great Dao. This medicinal bath is also a test of their character."

Yun Songzi blew on his beard, wanting to refute, but found that the kid's twisted logic actually made a lot of sense.

"Fine, fine, you've got plenty of twisted logic," he said irritably. "So, where do you plan to fish for this first batch of 'fish'?"

"Far away, yet right before our eyes," Meng Xihong smiled. "Let's start with our own brothers."

“It’s time to go back,” Meng Xihong said to Yun Songzi.

In this month, he not only made great progress in his own strength, but also sorted out the key points, precautions and accompanying medicinal bath recipes for the first six levels of the "Furnace Scripture" clearly, without any omissions.

This manuscript will become the foundation for the body-refining lineage of the Tianyan Sect!
……

Three days later, in Yunni Township, at the Meng family's courtyard.

When Meng Xihong and Yun Songzi returned together, the entire courtyard was in an uproar.

"Homeowner!"

"Mr. Meng!"

Ji Beichuan, Zhang Xianghua, He Wu, and He Wen hurried forward, their faces filled with excitement and concern. Behind them, Li and Wang, also holding their child, had slightly red eyes.

Meng Xihong strode into the inner room and saw Meng Yan'an sleeping peacefully in Bai Muyun's arms. Although he was still breathing weakly, the black rune between his eyebrows seemed to have dimmed a little, and his complexion was more lively than before.

He felt reassured, knowing that his month of arduous training had not been in vain.

Seeing Bai Muyun's thin face and the weariness in her eyes, Meng Xihong felt a pang of pain and was filled with guilt. He stepped forward and gently embraced her and the child, whispering, "I'm back."

Four words are worth more than a thousand.

After calming his wife down, Meng Xihong returned to the courtyard.

His gaze swept over Ji Beichuan and his three confidants, whom he had personally promoted and whose loyalty was beyond question.

Ji Beichuan and Zhang Xianghua were both masters of the Transformation Realm, with a solid foundation in martial arts; the brothers He Wu and He Wen were even personally identified by Yun Songzi as talented individuals with the aptitude for cultivating immortality.

They will be the cornerstone of the body-refining lineage of the Heavenly Evolution Sect!

"Please sit down," Meng Xihong said solemnly, gesturing for everyone to sit.

"Thank you for your hard work over the past month or so."

"You flatter us, Patriarch. This is all within our duty!" Ji Beichuan replied in a deep voice.

Meng Xihong nodded, no longer bothering with formalities, and went straight to the point: "I have summoned you here today because there is a major matter concerning my Meng family, the future of the Tianyan Sect, and even all the ordinary people in the world who are unwilling to be ordinary. I want to discuss it with you and entrust it to you to carry out."

Upon hearing this, all four men stiffened, sat up straight, and even held their breath.

"You should all know that the path to immortality prioritizes spiritual roots. Those without spiritual roots will never have a chance to attain immortality, their lifespan limited to a hundred years. They are ultimately from a different world than us cultivators." Meng Xihong's voice was steady and powerful.
“In the past, the only way out for mortals was to learn martial arts. However, the path of martial arts, Ming Jin, An Jin, and Hua Jin, may seem glamorous, but even a Hua Jin master's lifespan is only one hundred and twenty or thirty years. In front of Qi Refining cultivators in the middle and late stages, they are still as fragile as ants.”

Upon hearing this, a hint of sadness flashed in Ji Beichuan and Zhang Xianghua's eyes. They had spent half their lives trying to reach the Transformation Realm, and knew that their path had come to an end; this was the ceiling for them as mortals.

"but!"

Meng Xihong abruptly changed the subject, his voice rising sharply.

"If I told you that there is a path that allows mortals without spiritual roots to possess power comparable to cultivators, or even a stronger physique and a longer lifespan!"

"Would you be willing to give it a try?"

(End of this chapter)