Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Translator: Penny
Chapter 22
The Elixir's True Owner (5)
"I had a feeling you'd find the money, and you actually did."
The Black Market Elder was astonished that his prediction had come true.
"Perhaps your parents will finally be blessed with good fortune in their later years," he chuckled, recalling the young man's earlier answer about buying the Elixir for filial piety.
"Hahaha, that's wonderful! Truly wonderful!"
"Here's the money."
He handed over forty-four thousand taels.
Though he still had a few thousand taels left, forty-four thousand taels was an absolutely staggering sum.
This was enough money for an ordinary person to live a life of luxury and extravagance, not just for themselves, but for their children as well.
Someone who wasn't a Martial Artist would never understand spending such a fortune to gain fifteen years of internal energy.
But for a Martial Artist, acquiring fifteen years of internal energy was equivalent to buying fifteen years of time and effort.
For some, fifteen years of effort might be worth four thousand taels, while for others, it could be worth four hundred million taels. Ultimately, the value of an Elixir couldn't be quantified in monetary terms.
The Black Market Elder took the money.
Without paying first, no one could even see the item. Taking the Elder hostage or killing him would be futile.
Only after the payment is transferred internally does the item emerge, having navigated a perilous labyrinth of traps and mechanisms. This is why Black Market transactions are now far safer than they used to be.
About fifteen minutes later, the Black Market Elder returned with a small box.
Inside lay a Thousand-Year Sun Banana Herb, in remarkably pristine condition.
The Elder chuckled. "Didn't I tell you? You're incredibly lucky."
I closed the box, tucked it into my robe, and rose to leave.
"Thank you for your consideration. I'm truly grateful."
As I walked away, the Elder's voice drifted after me, soft but clear:
"Elixirs always find their rightful owner."
This was followed by a contented hum, as if his worldview had just been confirmed.
Two hours later, I sat in a cave in the nearby mountains.
Before me lay the Thousand-Year Sun Banana Herb I had just purchased from the Black Market.
Thousand-Year Sun Banana Herb.
A legendary herb said to grant ordinary people a long and healthy life, and to increase a Martial Artist's internal energy by at least ten years, and up to fifteen years.
While most skilled practitioners could gain ten years of internal energy from the Thousand-Year Sun Banana Herb, I expected to gain fifteen years. This was due to the exceptional capabilities of the Cheonmu Hoshim Gyeol, which allowed me to absorb the maximum potential of elixirs.
This was the first elixir I had consumed in Byeok Ridan's body.
As one's internal energy increases, the effectiveness of elixirs diminishes. No matter how many elixirs one consumes, internal energy cannot be increased infinitely.
For example, if the first Elixir granted fifteen years of internal energy, the second would yield ten years, the third three years, and so on, with the effects diminishing sharply each time. The exact numbers varied depending on the Elixir and the user's mastery of their Cultivation Method.
What was clear was that the more internal energy accumulated in the dantian, the weaker the effects became. This was also true when consuming large quantities of the same type of Elixir.
This explained why wealth alone couldn't infinitely increase one's internal energy. Eventually, one would have to spend hundreds of thousands of taels just to gain a few months' worth of internal energy.
In any case, the reason I went to such lengths to acquire the Thousand-Year Sun Banana Herb wasn't solely to increase my internal energy. My primary goal was to unblock the Ren and Du Meridians.
Only when the Ren and Du Meridians are unblocked can True Qi circulate perfectly through the body's meridians, allowing internal energy to reach its full potential.
Not only does the dantian expand, but complex and intricate Forms like the final three Forms of the Soul-Chasing Asura Sword Art can be executed with far greater fluidity and naturalness. Simply put, five years of internal energy becomes five years of far more potent internal energy.
The Thousand-Year Sun Banana Herb's potency was sufficient to attempt unblocking the Ren and Du Meridians.
The only concern was whether Byeok Ridan's body could withstand the process, but fortunately, he had been born with a sturdy physique.
Of course, even attempting such a feat was only possible because of me.
Unblocking the Ren and Du Meridians sounds simple enough, but in reality, it typically requires assistance from family elders or seasoned masters. Even with such support, countless Martial Artists have died or been crippled during the process.
"Alright, I'm counting on you."
I carefully consumed the Thousand-Year Sun Banana Herb.
I chewed it thoroughly, grinding it into the smallest possible pieces before swallowing. As the herb passed down my throat, it rapidly dissolved and began to be absorbed throughout my body.
Sssssssss.
Seizing the moment, I immediately activated the Cheonmu Hoshim Gyeol to draw the herb's energy into my meridians.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
The sensation of the elixir's energy being absorbed into my meridians was as exhilarating and electrifying as making love to a woman.
I squeezed, and squeezed again, completely absorbing every last trace of the elixir's energy without missing a single drop.
Now, if I channeled this energy through the First Cycle and into my dantian, it would become fifteen years of internal energy.
But I didn't send the energy directly to my dantian.
I began to accelerate the flow of Qi through my meridians, intending to clear both the Ren and Du Meridians in quick succession.
First, the Ren Meridian.
Sssssssssssst.
The energy from the Thousand-Year Sun Banana Herb surged into meridians that had never been activated before.
Thud!
The Huiyin Acupoint was the first to open.
Pain flooded through me, but it was manageable.
Thud! Thud!
The Qugu (Curved Bone) and Zhongji (Central Extremity) Acupoints followed in rapid succession.
Fortunately, Byeok Ridan's body proved resilient enough to withstand the process.
After seventy years of circulating Qi and regulating my breathing with the Cheonmu Hoshim Gyeol, I was confident that my understanding of meridians surpassed even that of the Divine Physician.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The Xiawan (Lower Stomach), Zhongwan (Middle Stomach), and Yutang (Jade Hall) Acupoints opened in quick succession, culminating in the final, satisfying breakthrough of the Chengjiang (Receiving Fluids) Acupoint.
The Ren Meridian had been fully opened without any major crises.
Yes, as a Martial Artist, I'm someone who can casually say, "This is nothing" about opening the Ren and Du Meridians.
Riding the momentum from opening the Ren Meridian, I immediately began working on the Du Meridian.
Thud!
The Changqiang (長强) acupoint was the first to open, followed by Zhongshu (中樞), Shenzhu (身柱), and finally Baihui (百會).
Each breakthrough brought agonizing pain, but it was bearable. Considering the suffering Martial Artists endure due to their weakness, this pain was almost a welcome challenge.
The Qianding (前頂), Shangxing (上星), and Suliao (素?) acupoints were opened in quick succession.
The moment the final acupoint, Yinjiao (?交), was pierced,
Boom!
A thunderous roar erupted from my head, as if announcing the birth of a new Meridian.
I didn't collapse or scream like ordinary people at the final moment. A small smile of self-congratulation played on my lips.
It was a perfect breakthrough of the Ren and Du Meridians. I'm certain no one in the Martial Arts World could have achieved such a swift and flawless breakthrough.
I slowly rose to my feet and examined my body internally.
With the Ren and Du Meridians unblocked, my physical condition had completely transformed.
The flow of Internal Force through my meridians had become incomparably faster. This sensation of Internal Force coursing freely through my body was exhilarating. My physical form had finally shed its shackles.
Though I couldn't see my reflection to confirm, I suspected my gaze had become far more composed.
I first checked the internal energy in my dantian.
Fifteen years of additional internal energy had been added to my original reserves, bringing my total to twenty years.
This was exactly the same amount of internal energy as Byeok Ridan's age.
But twenty years of internal energy was not the same as another person's twenty years. This was profound internal energy forged through the Cheonmu Hoshim Gyeol, unmatched in its depth.
With this level of internal energy, I could likely kill most opponents.
"Whew. Now I can finally breathe a sigh of relief."
I still couldn't use the Fourth Form, but having unblocked the Ren and Du Meridians, I would likely reach One Cycle of internal energy within the next four or five years.
"Hahaha!"
I laughed heartily as I strode out of the cave.
The moment I emerged, I kicked off the ground and soared into the air. Normally, I could have shot skyward like a rocket, but now my limit was the treetop standing at the cave entrance.
Whoosh!
The Instantaneous Mark erupted from the sword, tearing through the air with a force far surpassing the power used to kill the Blood Hound earlier.
Piiiiiiiiiik!
A True Life Mark shot out in the opposite direction, its power also dwarfing that used against Yang Gicheol. Had either attack struck its target, both would have been reduced to shattered, exploding corpses.
After unleashing these two consecutive strikes, I leaped onto a tree branch.
The branch bent sharply under my weight but held firm. With over sixty years of internal energy, a branch wouldn't even tremble.
Though the increase was only fifteen years of internal force, this growth felt exhilarating and deeply satisfying.
When had I last felt this kind of joy?
I hope to continue experiencing this joy in the future. I want this path of martial arts cultivation to diverge from the path I walked in my previous life.
Therefore, I earnestly hope that what I desire awaits me at the end of this path.
I long to see the sword of my heart.
In the distance, I spotted a squirrel scurrying among the trees. With the opening of my Ren and Du Meridians and the growth of my internal energy, all my senses, including my vision, had sharpened. In my prime, with focused concentration, I could even see ants at this distance.
"Someday..."
I leaped down, my Movement Technique as light as a feather and as soft as down.