Ling Xiao's return to the inner courtyard caused a huge uproar within the Ling family!
The once-prodigy of Meteorite City, deeming himself useless two years ago and ridiculed by everyone, has now been reborn, rising again in just a month. He first taught Li Guangyin of the Li family a lesson, then defeated Luo Qingshuang, the exceptionally gifted Luo family, with a single powerful move at Weixiangju.
Ling Xiao once again proved his reputation as a genius was well-deserved.
While the Ling family was buzzing about Ling Xiao's return to the inner courtyard, Ling Xiao obtained two thousand-year-old black ginseng kings from his grandfather, Ling Cang, preparing to break through his twelfth meridian and achieve the status of a Xuanzhe warrior. The Black Ginseng King is typically considered a low-grade, second-tier spiritual herb. Besides its meridian-draining and meridian-activating properties, it can also increase profound strength and prolong life. The Black Ginseng King Ling Xiao obtained from Ling Cang is a thousand years old. It's older and more potent than typical Black Ginseng Kings, making it considered a mid-grade, second-tier spiritual herb, worth over ten thousand gold coins. It's incredibly valuable in Meteorite City.
Ling Cang also stumbled upon it during a personal foray into the Desolate Mountains.
Everything is in place, only the east wind is lacking.
Tonight is the time for Ling Xiao to achieve his meridian breakthrough.
After dinner, Ling Xiao returned to his room early and began meditating. Only when his essence, spirit, and energy are at their peak can he achieve his breakthrough!
Two hours later, Ling Xiao retrieved five slices of the already-cut thousand-year-old Black Ginseng King.
As Ling Cang had said, Ling Xiao wasn't yet a profound practitioner, and hadn't yet absorbed the entire medicinal properties of the thousand-year-old Black Ginseng King. Rashly yielding to them would waste a significant amount of their medicinal properties. Therefore, Ling Xiao didn't rush to consume it all at once. Instead, he cut one of the plants in half and divided it into five smaller portions, taking them in smaller doses as needed.
Attacking the final meridian while simultaneously breaking through from the martial arts apprentice stage to the profound realm required considerable energy, and success wasn't guaranteed in one sitting. Ling Xiao had made thorough preparations, confident of success tonight.
Ling Xiao tossed one of the pieces of Black Ginseng King into his mouth, rapidly circulating his Sanfen Guiyuan Qi. Eleven streams of heat surged from his Yongquan acupoint, finally converging and striking the twelfth meridian. Simultaneously, the Black Ginseng King also began to exert its medicinal properties. A continuous stream of energy surged from behind, merging with the eleven streams of heat, forming a massive energy mass that expanded every meridian it passed by by more than two times its original size.
Finally, it impacted the long-blocked meridian.
"Boom."
"Ah!" Ling Xiao screamed, sweat pouring down his face. His veins bulged, blood flashed, and his appearance was utterly hideous. The first attempt was undoubtedly a failure!
Ling Xiao, as always, had no intention of giving up. He gritted his teeth and once again channeled his profound energy, the Black Ginseng King's medicinal properties becoming increasingly potent.
A larger energy ball, even larger than before, condensed and rushed towards the abandoned meridian once again.
"Boom."
"Ah!"
"Boom."
"Ah!"
...
Ling Xiao couldn't remember how many times he had attacked, but the meridian still remained unbroken. Sweat drenched his body, and blood streamed from his pores, making him look like a bloody man, a terrifying sight.
"Damn it! I still don't have enough energy!" Ling Xiao cursed softly, meditating once more, circulating the Three-Part Returning Qi within his body to alleviate the pain of the previous attack.
Another half hour passed, and Ling Xiao's body returned to normal. He opened his eyes, and his eyes were once again filled with confidence. "One more time! If I don't succeed tonight, I'll die!" Ling Xiao growled, picking up two pieces of black ginseng beside him and dropping them into his mouth simultaneously, reenergizing his meridians.
After countless more surges, just as the medicinal properties of the second piece of black ginseng were about to wear off, the abandoned meridians finally began to crack.
Ling Xiao, overjoyed, ignored the pain throughout his body and swallowed the last three pieces of black ginseng. A massive ball of energy, like a rolling fireball, rushed towards its target once again.
"Crack!"
Finally, the energy fireball finally broke through its outlet and charged towards his limbs, internal organs, and viscera.
A sense of comfort rippled through Ling Xiao's body, as if he were soaking in icy seawater on a scorching summer day, or soaking in a four-season hot spring on a bone-chilling winter day. It left him feeling relaxed and reluctant to leave.
Just as Ling Xiao was about to cheer, the profound energy flowing through his twelve meridians slowly converged towards his dantian (Dantian) in his lower abdomen. Ling Xiao quickly gathered his mind again and began to circulate his Three-Part Returning Qi.
At this moment, he was experiencing the phenomenon of achieving the Xuanzhe stage, with Xuanli converging in his Dantian.
Any martial artist can increase their physical strength through practice, but no matter how much strength is increased, those who ultimately fail to gather it in their Dantian can never be called a Xuanzhe.
Only when the twelve meridians in the body are filled with Xuanli, and then this Xuanli is channeled to the Dantian, becoming the central base for storing Xuanli, can one be considered a Xuanzhe. This is also so that when the Xuanli is strong enough, it can be released externally, becoming a respected Xuanshi-level warrior.
The second half of the night passed quietly.
When Ling Xiao opened his eyes again, two blade-like divine rays of light frightened him, and a joyful smile gradually spread across his face.
"Haha... I finally succeeded!" Ling Xiao laughed loudly, leaping from his spot, spinning in mid-air, and finally, with great precision, leaping into the bathing tub. "Puff!" The cold water in the wooden barrel splashed!
Suddenly, a foul odor filled the air.
"What...what's going on? Who's pooping? It's even gotten into my house?" Ling Xiao sniffed.
Then, Ling Xiao looked inside his own wooden barrel and saw that the water was completely black and reeked of a strong stench.
"Oh my god, that's what's going on!" Ling Xiao suddenly realized.
Last night, Ling Xiao activated the twelfth meridian, channeling his profound energy into his dantian and achieving the Xuanzhe stage. This caused a transformation in his body, expelling all impurities and purifying his muscles. The stench was caused by the impurities expelled from his body.
"Young Master, how can I help you?" Bai Yuxi's charming greeting came from outside the door. Ling Xiao knew Bai Yuxi would be there punctually every morning, so he wasn't surprised. He immediately said, "Yuxi, please fetch me two more buckets of water."
"Yes, Master," Bai Yuxi replied softly, and left to fetch the water.
...
After a quick wash and grooming, Ling Xiao donned a tight-fitting robe that accentuated his slightly bulging chest muscles, then draped a black cape over his shoulders. He looked radiant and imposing.
Bai Yuxi, standing by, was stunned.
Why did she find the Master seemed...more charming, and...even taller and stronger?
Thinking of this, Bai Yuxi couldn't help but blush. Ling Xiao glanced sideways and saw Bai Yuxi's face flushed. Thinking she was feeling unwell, he touched her forehead and said thoughtfully, "Yuxi, you don't have a fever. Why is your face so red? Are you feeling unwell?"
Bai Yuxi was stunned for a moment before she groaned and dashed out of her room.
Unexpectedly, someone approached outside.
"Ouch."
"I'm... I'm sorry," Bai Yuxi apologized hastily. Then, looking up, she exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you here?"
The person was Luo Qingshuang from the Luo family.
She was still dressed in her vibrant, fiery red dress, which shone with extraordinary brilliance. Her cold and charming face, like a winter rose, adorned with its own beauty, was in full bloom.
Her cheeks puffed slightly as she glared at Bai Yuxi and whispered, "You... you came out of his room?"
The words clearly smacked of self-deception; wasn't that obvious? Bai Yuxi was baffled by Luo Qingshuang's arrival. She had injured Ling Xiao at the restaurant, so naturally, she had no good feelings towards her. She immediately said bluntly, "Of course I came from the young master's room." Her words were straightforward, with no hidden meaning.
But Luo Qingshuang felt deeply offended by this, and was about to turn and leave when Meng Xiyun approached from behind and said with a smile, "Miss, have you seen my Xiao'er?" Then, she turned to Bai Yuxi, "Yuxi, is Xiao'er still awake?"
Before the two women could reply, Ling Xiao emerged from the room, smiling. "Mom, I've been up for a long time," Ling Xiao said. Then, seeing Luo Qingshuang beside him, he was stunned. "Little Fatty, are you here for revenge?"
"You, you scoundrel, who's here for revenge?" Luo Qingshuang blushed at the mention of "Little Fatty." She stamped her feet and turned away, looking incredibly charming and alluring.
"Xiao'er, who is this young lady? Why don't you introduce her to me?" Meng Xiyun asked Ling Xiao with a knowing smile. She had already decided that this girl might be the daughter-in-law his son had chosen.
Ling Xiao walked over and said, "Mom, if you want to know, just ask her. I don't know her very well."
"You bastard..." Luo Qingshuang shouted angrily. She had come to apologize today, but this guy had provoked her, making her even more furious. If Meng Xiyun hadn't been there, she'd probably come to blows. Meng Xiyun glared at Ling Xiao and was about to speak to Luo Qingshuang, but she stared at him again and said, "Xiao'er... you... you became a Xuanzhe?"
Meng Xiyun's words also made Luo Qingshuang turn her attention to Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao smiled triumphantly, "Haha, I accidentally broke through last night. Mother Xiao'er is no longer useless."
Meng Xiyun approached Ling Xiao, touched his face, and cried excitedly, "Good, good, good son, our genius is back."