Chapter 47 - 20: Thirty-Six Acupoints, the Spirit Core Condenses

Chapter 47: Chapter 20: Thirty-Six Acupoints, the Spirit Core Condenses

While he was still stunned, Dong Hao gently placed a Mutton Fat Jade Bottle into Jiang Xuan’s hand. Before Jiang Xuan could refuse, Dong Hao added in a low voice, "The Elixir Pills inside are related to the formation of your Spirit Core."

At these words, Jiang Xuan froze.

Dong Hao had been watching his expression intently. That one subtle reaction was all he needed to be absolutely certain—Jiang Xuan was truly planning to break through the Thirty-Six Acupoints and form a Spirit Core!

The realization sent endless, crashing waves of shock through him.

’My guess was actually true!’

Though he was reeling with disbelief, Dong Hao’s expression betrayed nothing. His attitude only grew more humble and enthusiastic.

"Ahem, Brother Jiang, you must know why the First Realm of Cultivation is called Spirit Core Awakening, right?"

"I know a little," Jiang Xuan said with a nod, then recounted what he knew. "Qi Opening is the process of opening the body’s mystical acupoints. The human body has a total of 360 acupoints, corresponding to the great Circulation Number. But besides the acupoints, the body also contains Spirit Cores. The Lower Dantian, the Middle Dantian, and the Upper Dantian are the body’s three great Spirit Cores, and they are the secret repositories where a Cultivator stores their Essence, Qi, and Spirit."

"Brother Jiang is truly well-read," Dong Hao praised before explaining the finer details and the purpose of the Elixir Pills. "The Spirit Cores and acupoints are intrinsically linked. Only by opening a certain number of acupoints can you trigger the formation of a Spirit Core."

"Opening thirty-six acupoints is the minimum threshold for forming the first Spirit Core. This is also why Lecturer Song Zhou set the standard for an ’excellent’ evaluation in the first round of the assessment at Thirty-Six Acupoints."

"Subsequently, opening seventy-two acupoints allows you to form the second Spirit Core, and opening one hundred and eight acupoints allows you to form the third. Of course, these are just the minimums. Trying to establish a Dao Foundation with only one hundred and eight acupoints is almost hopeless."

Since the main topic wasn’t the Dao Foundation, Dong Hao didn’t elaborate further, changing the subject instead.

"Spirit Core Awakening is not without its risks. During the initial formation, the qi channels are weak and unstable, so there’s a danger of the Spirit Core dissipating. Even if that happens, it won’t mean all your previous efforts are wasted or that you can never try again. However, it will cause the acupoints all over your body to resonate violently and damage your qi channels. You would need to recuperate for a long time before you could make another attempt."

"The Primordial Spirit Pills in this bottle can help you quickly stabilize your qi channels and secure the Spirit Core’s foundation as it forms."

Hearing this, Jiang Xuan no longer tried to refuse. He accepted the Jade Bottle and bowed with his hands clasped. "Thank you, Brother Dong."

"I should be the one thanking you, Brother Jiang." Dong Hao quickly helped him up, smiling. "For the upcoming assessments, I’ll be relying entirely on you."

"I’ll do everything I can to help."

Since Dong Hao valued him so highly and had even provided resources, Jiang Xuan certainly didn’t mind lending him a hand. Of course, he had no intention of handing over his own spot in the Inner Sect.

Seeing Jiang Xuan’s serious and deliberate reply, the smile on Dong Hao’s face grew brighter.

Always one to take a hint, upon receiving Jiang Xuan’s earnest reply, Dong Hao patted his chest and promised, "Then let me thank you in advance, Brother Jiang. Also, if there’s anything you need, just let me know."

If Jiang Xuan was evaluated as ’excellent’ and was willing to help push Dong Hao into the Inner Sect, then Dong Hao would be the one in his debt.

Therefore, Jiang Xuan had no qualms about accepting benefits from him.

Besides, Jiang Xuan believed that the stronger he became, the more effectively he could help Dong Hao.

"I do have a few things I need your help finding, Brother Dong. But let’s wait until tomorrow to discuss it."

Dong Hao understood the deeper meaning behind this statement in an instant.

Right now, Jiang Xuan was merely a scholar from the Lower Classes, his status worlds apart from Dong Hao’s. To ask for things now would carry the undertone of begging for a handout.

But tomorrow, he would be a prodigy of the Chen Daoist School with an ’excellent’ evaluation, an ally who could stand with him as an equal. To ask then would be a matter of equal cooperation, with each party getting what they need.

Although Dong Hao was already ninety percent certain that Jiang Xuan would receive an ’excellent’ evaluation, he also understood that saying too much could be counterproductive. Thus, he didn’t press the matter, simply smiling in agreement before turning to leave.

’I was just looking for a useful pawn, but I ended up finding a diamond in the rough. Heaven is truly on my side!’

’I, Dong Hao, will definitely have a spot in the top ten of the second assessment!’

’And as for the position of Legitimate Son in the family... I might just have a chance to fight for it!’

Dong Hao’s heart soared with excitement, and Jiang Xuan’s mood was much the same.

’With Dong Hao’s help, memorizing the three hundred scrolls of the Daoist Collection will no longer be such a difficult task.’

’As for building the Scripture Pavilion... if that proves impossible, I’ll just have to secure a position first and then find a way to establish it on my own later.’

’Dong Hao could help me get a position at the Scripture Pavilion, too.’

Unable to achieve everything in one go, Jiang Xuan could only compromise for the time being.

However, becoming a Scripture Profound Daoist was a matter for the future. Right now, the most urgent task for Jiang Xuan was to cultivate his thirty-sixth acupoint and form his first Spirit Core.

He let out a long breath...

Closing his eyes and holding his breath, Jiang Xuan first focused his mind to rest for over an hour. When the time was half past the hour of one, he felt he had mostly recovered and slowly opened his eyes.

At this moment, though a fiery light burned in his eyes and his expression was one of sheer excitement, his movements remained as steady and composed as ever, not a single motion out of place.

He rose to his feet and, following his usual custom, performed the rites of Purification of the Heart, Purification of the Mouth, Purification of the Body, and Purification of the Hands. Once the ritual was complete, he cradled his sword, Cyan Glaze, and closed his eyes once more.

He exhaled slowly.

Entering the state of the Unity of Man and Sword, Jiang Xuan once again began to circulate the One Qi Sword Technique, directing the Primordial Qi within his body to activate the acupoint he had already pinpointed.