Entry: I Secretly Cultivate Immortality in the Martial Arts World

11: Chapter 11 Elder Qingyuan’s Lecture!Gu Yan scanned the three lecture halls—Baicao Hall, Cangfeng Hall, and Taiyi Hall—and recalling what the Senior Sister had said earlier, he discovered a problem.

Lectures begin at the Si hour daily; once the Elder enters the hall, it begins, and no one can enter after the doors are closed.

But since no one informs them in advance which lineage’s Elder is lecturing today, how do the Disciples know which hall to enter?

This rule had a somewhat ”Schrödinger’s Classroom” feel to it.

At this moment, many Disciples were already hurrying to and fro.

Gu Yan was not in a hurry to follow the crowd; he just stood quietly to the side to observe.

He saw some walk into Baicao Hall without hesitation, while others headed straight for Cangfeng Hall.

There were also those who wandered for a while before entering Taiyi Hall.

It seemed that among the Inner Sect Disciples, there was some kind of unstated method of judgment, or perhaps they were simply gambling on luck.

After a moment of thought, Gu Yan stepped into Baicao Hall.

The hall was spacious enough to hold a hundred people, but at this moment, only a dozen or so were seated, making it appear exceptionally empty.

He found a seat by the window, recalling that there were no fewer than five hundred Outer Sect Disciples.

And the Inner Sect... he supposed it must be much more streamlined.

Not long after, an old man wearing a Daoist robe embroidered with green clouds walked slowly into Baicao Hall.

Almost at the same time, several more Disciples came rushing over from the direction of the other two halls.

But just as they reached the entrance, they heard a creaking sound from inside the hall; the wooden doors had already closed from within.

The footsteps of the few froze in place.

”Elder Qingyuan has already entered...”

”Sigh, another wasted trip.”

”Forget it, let’s go back.”

The few looked at each other, their faces filled with the helplessness of having gambled wrong again.

No one dared to knock on the door; the rule that the Elder’s entry marked the start and the doors should not be disturbed was one that no one in the Inner Sect dared to break.

It was even less possible to eavesdrop from outside; aside from being rude, under the Elder’s subtle, pervasive presence of Qi, one simply couldn’t hear clearly outside the door.

Gu Yan took all of this in, and his heart was clear.

It seemed that the random classes in these three halls were intentional by the Taiyi Dao Sect.

It was likely to teach Disciples to observe, infer, and even Cultivate a sense of following fate amidst uncertainty.

The Daoist religion speaks of the Dao following nature; this lecture rule indeed had a flavor of nature.

The old man stood on the podium, his beard and hair white, but his complexion ruddy, and his voice was as clear as a spring hitting stones:

”This old Daoist is an officiating Elder of the Baicao lineage of Danxia Peak, my Daoist name is Qingyuan.

Today, I will lecture to you all on the distribution of human Acupoints, the principles of blood and Qi circulation, and the identification and usage of several basic medicinal herbs.”

Gu Yan perked up upon hearing this.

When he was in the Outer Sect, all this knowledge relied on his own groping through the brief descriptions in the ’The First Transformation Chapter of the Taiyi Dao De True Scripture’, which often had obscure and difficult parts.

Now that there was an Elder explaining it systematically, it was the perfect opportunity to check for gaps.

At the same time, some Disciples already had expressions of joy.

Gu Yan heard someone nearby whispering: ”It’s actually Elder Qingyuan!”

”This Elder usually spends his time refining Medicinal Pills at Danxia Peak; it’s rare for him to come out to lecture.”

”What good luck today!”

Elder Qingyuan ignored these whispers and began to lecture directly:

”The human body has three hundred and sixty-five Acupoints, corresponding to the number of the celestial cycle.

Among them, there are one hundred and eight major Acupoints, seventy-two medium Acupoints, and one hundred and eighty-five minor Acupoints.

In the first transformation of martial arts, open nine Acupoints; in the second transformation, open another eighteen...”

Gu Yan listened quietly.

Although these were recorded in the ’The Second Transformation Chapter of the Grand Unity of Morality Sutra’, the scriptures were arduous and relied entirely on self-comprehension.

Having an Elder explain it was naturally different.

Every time Elder Qingyuan explained an acupoint, he would describe its location, characteristics, and its relationship with the surrounding meridians clearly.

”The Baihui acupoint is located at the very top of the head and is the meeting point of all Yang Qi.

If this acupoint is opened, the mind will be clear, and Internal Energy will flow upward without obstruction.

However, if one forcibly impacts the acupoint, the best case is a splitting headache, and the worst case is damage to one’s consciousness.”

A Disciple raised a hand and asked: ”Elder, when is it appropriate to impact the Baihui acupoint?”

”Wait until the Shenque acupoint is stable, then Internal Energy will naturally flow upward, and success will come naturally,” Qingyuan replied.

”In martial arts cultivation, the greatest taboo is rushing. Acupoints are like containers; they need to be nourished by Internal Energy, and only when they are full and break on their own is it the proper path.”

After finishing the Acupoints, Elder Qingyuan turned to the topic of medicinal herbs.

”Our Taiyi Dao Sect was founded on the way of Alchemy. Even if Disciples within the Sect do not specialize in Alchemy, they must recognize basic medicinal herbs.”

He waved his sleeve, and three medicinal herbs were lifted by his Internal Energy, hovering before everyone’s eyes.

”This is Qi Gathering Grass, which grows in places abundant in Yang Qi.

Those with three veins on the leaf are ten years old, those with six veins are fifty years old, and those with nine veins are a hundred years old.

Take the middle section and refine it with morning dew to create Qi Gathering Pills, which help second transformation Martial Artists stabilize their Acupoints.”

Following that were Blood Coagulation Flowers, Meridian Passing Vines, Spirit Nourishing Ganoderma...

In total, twenty-seven types of basic medicinal herbs were explained one by one by Elder Qingyuan, covering their shapes, properties, and uses.

Half an hour passed, and Elder Qingyuan finally reached the most critical method for breaking through the first transformation.

”To enter the second transformation from the first, one needs to condense a Qi vortex on the basis of the nine opened Acupoints.

When Internal Energy can be released externally, one naturally enters the Early Stage of the second transformation.

To reach the Middle Stage, one needs to open another nine Acupoints, totaling eighteen to form an internal circulation of the celestial cycle.

The choice of these nine Acupoints varies from person to person; some Disciples choose the Acupoints on the four extremities, which makes the circulation of Internal Energy swift but lacks stamina.

Some Disciples choose major Acupoints on the chest and abdomen, which makes the Internal Energy powerful but sluggish.”

”I suggest that the newly opened nine Acupoints should take into account all four directions: choose one acupoint each on the hands and feet, three on the chest and abdomen, and four on the spine.

This forms a three-dimensional circulation, allowing Internal Energy to flow without stagnation, making it easier to break through to the Late Stage of the second transformation in the future.”

The Disciples below recorded it one after another.

Gu Yan, however, felt a slight stir in his heart.

The eighteen Acupoints he had opened with Spiritual Qi last night were not in this order!

But it didn’t matter; after all, he had already reached the Late Stage of the second transformation.

”After opening new Acupoints, you must nourish them with Internal Energy for seven days. Only when the Acupoints are stable can you introduce Internal Energy to catalyze the formation of the Qi vortex.”

Qingyuan explained in detail the methods of nourishment, the secrets of guiding Internal Energy, and the essentials of condensing the Qi vortex.

Another Disciple asked: ”Elder, if the condensation of the Qi vortex fails, will it damage the Acupoints?”

”Yes,” Qingyuan said bluntly.

”At best, the Acupoints will be damaged and require several months of nourishment. At worst, the Acupoints will collapse, and the path of martial arts will be cut off.

Therefore, when breaking through, one must have a Master or senior to act as a Protector, or have sufficient Medicinal Pills to protect the meridians.”

Once these words were spoken, many Disciples showed difficult expressions.

Medicinal Pills for protecting meridians are expensive. Although Inner Sect Disciples are wealthier than Outer Sect Disciples, not everyone can afford them.

Seeing this, Qingyuan added: ”If you have no Medicinal Pills, you can choose a place abundant in Yang Qi to break through.

There are three places in the Sect that Disciples can use; you can enter by exchanging Sect contribution points.”

Gu Yan secretly made a note of this.

Although he didn’t need it, knowing more wouldn’t hurt.

Another half an hour passed, and the lecture ended.

Elder Qingyuan finally said: ”On the path of cultivation, the Master leads you to the door, but the cultivation depends on the individual.

What I have said today is merely pointing out the direction; how you walk it depends on your own comprehension.”

After speaking, he flicked his sleeve and left gracefully.

Most Disciples left Baicao Hall with happy expressions, discussing what they had gained today in twos and threes.

Gu Yan, however, was not in a hurry to leave.

He sat alone for a while, pondering his next arrangements.

Cultivation is certainly important, but Sect contribution points are also indispensable.

In the Taiyi Dao Sect, contribution points can be exchanged for Cultivation Techniques, Medicinal Pills, and even qualifications to enter the deeper levels of the Scripture Pavilion.

”Let’s go to the Mission Hall first to take a look.”