Ascending to the Clouds Alone

Previously, the old spirit that the mother had transferred into the Qifengqin was unintentionally drawn out, breaking the female deacon's shield.

Judging from the state of the arm blade and the spirit-locking talisman, it is not difficult to deduce that some of the spiritual power in the zither has been consumed.

As for how much was spent, Lin Su had no idea, but he knew that the zither was the last trump card and should not be used lightly.

The arm blade is useless, the spirit-locking talisman remains unbroken, and the journey to the Central Region is unknown, spanning countless miles.

Thinking of this, Lin Su immediately sat cross-legged on the bed and mentally opened the "Tongtian Baolu: Qi Guiding Scroll".

However, the five words "There is a gentle breeze in the Central Region" lingered in his mind like a shadow, preventing him from entering a state of tranquility for a long time.

The old doctor's words after receiving the letter at lunchtime demonstrate his excellent information network and extensive knowledge.

Lin Su's heart stirred slightly. Why not consult the old doctor? Perhaps he could gain some insights.

But then he remembered Han Xiangyu's advice, "Don't easily trust people," and hesitated for a moment.

Fearing to fail Han Xiangyu's dying words of warning, yet unwilling to miss the opportunity to unravel the mystery of these five words.

Two conflicting thoughts were pulling at him, turning over and over, making his chest feel tight.

Lin Su pondered to himself, if he were to close off the way forward, wouldn't he be betraying Uncle Han's painstaking efforts to protect him at the cost of his life?

Upon closer reflection, the old doctor and Ye Qingqing did not exude any sinister or eerie aura during their time together over the past two days; instead, they seemed quite gentle and open-minded.

After much deliberation, Lin Su finally got up and headed towards the herb garden.

Upon reaching the edge of the garden, they saw the old man bending down to tend to the medicinal herbs.

Lin Su stepped forward a few paces, cupped his hands in a respectful manner, and said:

"Venerable Physician, I have a question that I do not understand. Would you be so kind as to take a moment to enlighten me?"

Lin Su's actions seemed to be entirely within the old man's expectations. He continued pruning the branches with scissors, saying:

"I've only lived a few more years, so I dare not accept your guidance. Young man, since you have a knot in your heart, why don't you tell me about it?"

Lin Su dared not reveal the whole story. After thinking for a moment, he said:

"Thank you, old doctor. Those were the words left by an old friend of mine on his deathbed."

The old man didn't even raise his head before replying:

"Oh? Tell me, young man."

Lin Su took a deep breath and said:

"A refreshing breeze blows through the Central Region."

These five words, as they came out of his mouth, seemed to carry a heavy weight, causing even the air to pause.

The old man put away the scissors, put his hands behind his back, and then looked at the distant mountains hidden in the clouds.

After a few breaths, he turned to look at Lin Su and then spoke:

"Those who can leave behind these words have mostly risked their lives to uncover some truth."

Lin Su's back stiffened slightly, and he swallowed hard.

"Then... what exactly does it mean?"

"Qingfeng can refer to a person's name, be used as a code, metaphorically represent a region, or perhaps... an unfinished entrustment."

He paused, then continued:

"Did this old friend leave these words hoping the young man would bravely face danger, or to find a safe haven?"

The old man's words were as light as the ethereal mist before our eyes.

Instead of resolving the doubts, it filled Lin Su's mind with a variety of possibilities.

The choice between seeking and avoiding is a matter of a single thought.

A gentle breeze brushed against the old man's sleeves, as if trying to dispel his aura, but it couldn't reveal his unfathomable depths in the slightest.

The old man turned away and continued pruning the branches, leaving the choice to Lin Su:

"Wait until the young man recovers before you go see for yourself. The true meaning of this world can only be found by seeing it with your own eyes."

Lin Su stood there, staring at the slender figure in front of him, and remained silent for a long time.

A clear understanding gradually formed in his mind: avoidance? Impossible!

If one does not cultivate and improve one's strength as soon as possible, one will have no power to protect oneself, and how can one go to the Central Region to seek that Qingfeng?

After bidding farewell to the old man, Lin Su closed his eyes and concentrated on his cultivation in this secluded room.

Following the fundamental methods of the *Baolu* (Precious Register), relax muscles and tap the meridians...

Counting breaths in succession to calm the mind...

Only after his mind had calmed down did he rub his hands together to warm them, place them on his lower back, and regulate his breathing.

...begin connecting the Ren and Du meridians.

After a moment, his mind sank into the Mingmen point, and his will quietly guarded this point, unmoving and unshakable.

At first, the depths of the Mingmen point were like a still current at the bottom of the sea, seemingly moving but not quite.

Lin Su maintained a state of introspection throughout, not daring to relax even for a moment.

More than half an incense stick's time later, a warm and substantial sensation gradually became apparent from the depths of the Mingmen point.

Just then, his father's words echoed softly in Lin Su's heart:

"The gate of life contains the primordial energy, the foundation of life and the root of cultivation..."

Lin Su continued to observe as instructed, guiding his thoughts to slowly converge and merge with that warm, tangible feeling.

A wisp of pure, innate energy was quietly "summoned" from the depths of the Mingmen point.

In an instant, Lin Su felt a jolt, as if a seed within him had sprouted and begun to germinate.

Previously, in pursuit of faster cultivation, I was completely unaware of its deeper meaning, always thinking that I could sense and guide Qi, and then circulate it.

Looking back now, I realize that the fundamental principle of spiritual practice that my father repeatedly emphasized back then was precisely this!

The moment this wisp of primordial energy appeared, it immediately triggered the cultivation imprints that had been dormant within his body for several days.

A long-lost sense of familiarity rose from the bottom of my heart, and all the acupoints in my body suddenly opened up, becoming several times more sensitive than before.

He slowly unfolded his divine will and immediately sensed the spiritual energy wandering between heaven and earth.

Lin Su felt a slight tremor in his heart. The warm and cool flow of spiritual energy around him was no longer the illusory and hazy feeling of the past, but a clear and real feeling that he could actually touch, as if he could reach out and grasp it.

Suppressing his excitement, he slowly moved his thoughts forward to the lower dantian below his navel, gently and carefully "looking" at that area as if moonlight were reflecting on a deep pool.

For a moment, the side room seemed to fall into silence, leaving only Lin Su's calm and unmoved heart.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Su felt a faint, warm sensation in his dantian.

He kept his eyes slightly closed, rubbed his palms together to warm them, and then placed them on his lower abdomen, letting the warmth of his palms gently penetrate.

After a few breaths, he calmed his mind, focused his thoughts, and slowly guided a wisp of primordial energy into his dantian.

This time, through an extreme retrospective approach, the original connection with heaven and earth was re-established, and the mystery was finally broken!

From this point on, the first level, "Sensing Qi and Concentrating the Spirit," was completely perfected.

Lin Su opened his eyes, his gaze becoming more reserved, and his overall demeanor was somewhat different from before.

He sat quietly and regulated his breathing for a while, and the sensation of qi in his body gradually calmed down.

Then, he stood up, silently circulated his inner energy, and walked lightly towards the outside.

The setting sun hung low over the mountaintop, its warm light bathing the entire courtyard.

Looking at the scenery before him, Lin Su couldn't help but feel a sense of joy.

During this cultivation practice, he not only grasped the essence of cultivation but also thoroughly understood the Spirit-Locking Talisman:

The spirit-locking talisman is like a dam that can hold back the old water in the pool that has already formed a cycle, but it cannot stop the newly falling rainwater, let alone withstand the erosion of time.

Just now, when the primordial energy was introduced into the dantian, it was like a stream flowing over a dam, which could also wear down the power of the spirit-locking talisman.

If both internal and external forces work together, the restrictions should dissipate in a few days.

However, he was unaware that a storm was brewing deep within the clouds over Changqu Town.