If I stay in the Hehuan Sect, I'll live off the pampered daughters of the Heavenly Pride Sect.

It was a mountain peak shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, its spiritual energy so rich that it was almost tangible.

Before a secluded cave, the beautiful woman bowed respectfully.

"Disciple Liu Xinyan, together with disciple Xiao Qinghan, requests an audience with Elder Mei."

The cave's stone door was tightly shut, and there was no response.

A hint of helplessness appeared on Liu Xinyan's face as she whispered to Xiao Qinghan, "Elder Mei has been in seclusion for many years and does not concern herself with worldly affairs. Perhaps... we will have to wait a little longer."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qinghan's heart sank, but her gaze became even more resolute. She stood quietly outside the cave, letting the mountain wind blow through her.

One hour, two hours...

Just when Liu Xinyan thought she was going to return empty-handed, a gentle female voice drifted from the cave.

"Xinyan, your heart is in turmoil. Bring her in."

The cave dwelling is a hidden paradise, elegantly and serenely decorated.

A female elder dressed in a plain white robe sat cross-legged on a cold jade bed. Her aura was harmonious and restrained, making it impossible to discern her specific cultivation level.

She wasn't stunningly beautiful, but her gentle and peaceful demeanor was like a breath of fresh air.

Elder Mei.

Liu Xinyan and Xiao Qinghan bowed in unison.

Elder Mei smiled and nodded, his gaze falling on Xiao Qinghan.

"Xinyan has told me everything about you. Feel free to ask whatever you want to know."

Xiao Qinghan took a deep breath and expressed all her doubts about the ancient cultivation method.

Especially the part about dual cultivation that is difficult to talk about.

After hearing this, Elder Mei showed no embarrassment whatsoever; instead, he smiled calmly.

"What you are worried about is the same doubt that all beginners in this practice have."

"Our sect's ancient methods are the supreme path that directly points to the Great Dao of Yin and Yang."

"Through continuous improvements by predecessors, it has long been perfected. Although there are many versions, they all remain true to the same principle."

She explained patiently.

"This method can be practiced individually or in combination with other practitioners."

"Cultivate on your own, absorb the essence of the sun and moon, and temper your true essence with the pure yang and pure yin energies of heaven and earth."

This makes the true essence even more refined, far surpassing that of cultivators of the same level.

"Dual cultivation, with the human body as the tripod, and yin and yang complementing each other."

"The true energy within their bodies formed a complete Great Circulation."

"By connecting with and catalyzing each other within one's own microcosmic orbit, one can refine even purer true essence."

"However, all ancient methods share a common drawback: they result in slow progress in cultivation. This is one of the reasons why cultivators today are unwilling to practice ancient methods."

As he spoke, Elder Mei flicked his finger, and a jade book with a blue cover flew to Xiao Qinghan's front.

"This is the ancient method I cultivate, the Yin-Yang Harmony Scripture. Take it; it should answer all your questions."

"Remember, the techniques themselves are neither right nor wrong; the key lies in the person using them."

Xiao Qinghan accepted the jade book and bowed solemnly.

"Thank you for your guidance, Elder Mei."

Back to Yingtian Peak.

Xiao Qinghan no longer hesitated.

She bowed deeply to her master.

"Please, Master, protect me!"

Looking at her resolute eyes, Liu Xinyan nodded heavily.

"good!"

Inside the quiet room, Xiao Qinghan sat cross-legged, while her master set up numerous restrictions around them.

"Let's begin."

Xiao Qinghan sat cross-legged in the spirit-gathering array in the center of the quiet room, closed her eyes, and began to reverse the flow of her already limited true essence according to the method of dispersing internal energy.

boom!

In that instant, her Foundation Establishment cultivation collapsed like a dam bursting!

The raging torrent of true energy transformed into countless sharp knives, wreaking havoc through her fragile meridians!

The excruciating pain, like molten iron, instantly filled every part of her body! At that moment, what flashed before Xiao Qinghan's eyes was not darkness.

Rather, it was her past, when she wielded a long sword and unleashed a stunning strike that drew unanimous praise from the entire sect.

The glory that once made her known as the "Azure Phoenix" has now transformed into the most vicious curse, echoing in her mind.

She could "see" that her meridians, which once flowed with the true essence of a prodigy, were crumbling inch by inch like fragile glass.

Each collapse felt like a mocking explosion of praise from memory: "the pride of heaven!"

This isn't dissipating one's power; it's personally smashing one's own idol to pieces!

A towering wave surged in his dantian spiritual sea, then suddenly collapsed and dried up, turning into a desolate desert.

That was the foundation of her more than twenty years of hard work, which vanished in an instant!

The pain of falling from the clouds to the mortal world and destroying everything you have with your own hands is far more piercing than physical torture!

"Ugh—!" She could no longer suppress it and let out a fierce and unyielding roar, a lament before the phoenix's rebirth and a battle song before its rebirth!

His cultivation level is plummeting!

Early stage of Foundation Building!

Peak of Qi Refining!

Mid-stage Qi Refining!

……

Until finally, the last trace of true essence within his dantian dissipated.

She became a mortal.

"puff!"

Xiao Qinghan suddenly spat out a mouthful of black, stagnant blood, and collapsed to the ground, her delicate body trembling uncontrollably.

The meridians are all severed, and the dantian is empty and desolate.

Her body was oozing a large amount of black, viscous impurities, which emitted a foul odor.

This is the erysipelas and impurities that have accumulated in the body over the years after the spiritual root was destroyed.

This is a complete cleansing of the body and bones, a desperate struggle for survival!

"Qing'er, guard your mind!"

The Master's voice rang in my ears.

Liu Xinyan made her move.

She transformed the "Nine-Turn Rejuvenating Pill," "Blood-Coagulating Grass," and "Muscle-Regenerating Jade Dew" that she had prepared beforehand into the purest medicinal power and transferred them into Xiao Qinghan's body.

The gentle yet powerful medicinal force, like sweet rain, began to repair her damaged meridians and rebuild her foundation.

This is a long and painful process.

Xiao Qinghan was in so much pain that she fainted several times, only to be forcibly awakened by Liu Xinyan.

She could only grit her teeth and persevere with the unwavering belief that she would rather die than be a broken piece of jade.

I don't know how much time passed.

When the last bit of excruciating pain subsided.

Xiao Qinghan collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted, her body soaked in sweat and filth, looking utterly disheveled.

But her eyes were surprisingly bright.

He lost all his cultivation and became a mortal.

But her meridians, through destruction and reconstruction, were repaired and became even stronger and wider than before.

For the first three days after her powers were dispelled, Xiao Qinghan truly became a mortal.

She didn't even have the strength to lift a bowl of medicine soup, so her master, Liu Xinyan, had to feed her spoonful by spoonful.

The arm that could once sever a waterfall with a single sword strike now requires all its strength to even turn over.

Every tiny movement affects the remodeled meridians throughout the body, causing a pricking pain.

She didn't cry out or complain; she just lay quietly in bed.

With those incredibly bright phoenix eyes, she felt her body go from complete emptiness to the first trace of blood and energy flowing again.

This was an unprecedented experience; for the first time, she was so clearly aware of the fragility and vitality of her mortal body.

It wasn't until the seventh day that she was able to barely stand up, supporting herself against the wall.

When she changed into a clean blue dress and sat down cross-legged again, her state of mind was different.

She was no longer the aloof "Azure Phoenix," but a seeker of the Way who rose again from the dust, humble yet resolute.

This time, she began to formally practice the "Yin Yang Harmony Scripture".

Introduce Qi into the body.

This time, what entered her body was no longer the mixed spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Rather, it is the purest essence of the sun and moon.

A thread, a strand.

The essence of the sun and moon flowed slowly through her revitalized meridians.

Ultimately, it flows into the dantian, transforming into a drop of pure and clean liquid true essence.

Even though it was only one drop.

But the moment Xiao Qinghan saw this drop of liquid true essence within her inner vision, she was struck as if by lightning!

She could clearly sense the quality of spiritual energy contained in this drop of moonlight essence.

It was several times purer and more substantial than the true essence she cultivated when her spiritual root was intact and at its peak!

The difference in quality is like the difference between clouds and mud!

"This..." She suddenly opened her eyes and looked at the cold, bright moon outside the window.

What they saw was no longer a spark of hope, but a raging inferno big enough to set the sky ablaze!

So this is the true path to immortality!