Chapter 242: Chapter 242: Overnight Initiation

Xu Yunfan understood perfectly what this so-called "prerequisite Martial Art" entailed. The Triple Jiao Sword Nurturing Technique operated through the Triple Jiao Meridians, with the upper, middle, and lower Jiao corresponding to the heart and lungs, the Spleen and Stomach, and the Kidney Meridian.

It was an exquisite Martial Art that allowed for the early tempering of the internal organs. As long as one could generate Strength, they could use the Triple Jiao Sword Nurturing Technique’s special method of circulating Strength to delve deep into the Triple Jiao Meridians and temper their organs ahead of schedule.

If the secrets of such an exquisite technique were ever revealed in the Mortal World, it would undoubtedly unleash a storm of blood.

’These six great families have quite a lot of good stuff...’

Xu Yunfan’s mind raced, but he quickly reined in his stray thoughts and focused on cultivating the Triple Jiao Sword Nurturing Technique.

The twilight was blood-red as the setting sun began to fall.

Xu Yunfan sat cross-legged on a green stone in the Secret Realm. As the core muscles of his spine writhed, threads of Strength burst forth, coursing through his flesh and blood.

When the Blood Qi throughout his body grew active and pulsed with his blood, he closed his eyes and began Concentrating Spirit. Using his Red Flood Dragon Mountain Coiling Strength as a foundation, he transformed his Blood Qi into Floating Threads that seeped into his Triple Jiao Meridians. The upper Jiao was like a Sword Scabbard hanging between his heart and lungs. The middle Jiao became a Sword Furnace churning in his Spleen and Stomach. The lower Jiao was like a Quenching Pool submerged deep within his Kidney Meridian.

The meridian system was said to be part of the vascular system. The Triple Jiao Sword Nurturing Technique was designed to use the Five Elements correspondence of the five organs to forge a wisp of Sword Qi unique to oneself.

He formed a sword seal with his hand, and the veins on his temples throbbed as the Strength burrowed deeper.

’You are cultivating the Triple Jiao Sword Nurturing Technique. Due to your abundant Blood Qi, your Strength has entered your blood, and you have quickly located the Triple Jiao Meridians. You have gained a preliminary understanding of the Triple Jiao Sword Nurturing Technique.’

’You are continuously channeling threads of Strength into the smaller meridians to condense the first wisp of Sword Qi for the Triple Jiao Sword Nurturing Technique.’

Although his Strength had entered his blood, penetrating the fine meridians of his organs required the Triple Jiao Sword Nurturing Technique. The crude methods of the Red Flood Dragon Mountain Coiling Strength could never enter such delicate vascular meridians.

An unknown amount of time passed before a clear hum suddenly erupted from his upper Jiao meridian. A wisp of incredibly sharp Sword Qi slowly condensed and began to flow. As it roamed, however, it continuously poked his meridians, riddling them with holes.

In the middle Jiao, crimson Strength surged like molten iron. It repeatedly hammered and forged the condensed Strength circulating within his Blood Qi, eventually breaking it down and scattering it into the meridians as threads as fine as hair.

As energy flowed through his lower Jiao’s Kidney Meridian, dark ripples emanated, and each tremor of his Blood Qi made his body tremble slightly.

Pain. Excruciating pain.

Xu Yunfan reacted in an instant. The pain inside him sent his muscles into spasms, but he held his body firm, steadily transforming his Red Flood Dragon Force into silken threads and seeping them into his meridians.

’It seems Pei Yan dug a pit for me!’

’To master this Triple Jiao Sword Nurturing Technique, I probably need to use the Sword Pavilion’s special Secret Medicine to strengthen my meridians beforehand. Then they wouldn’t be getting riddled with holes like this.’

Suddenly, his throat trembled and a trickle of blood escaped the corner of his mouth. The Sword Furnace condensing in his middle Jiao flared out of control, and its searing Strength nearly burned through his spleen.

In that moment of crisis, a Dragon Scale Armor Leaf hummed and vibrated, forcibly suppressing his rampaging Blood Qi.

Xu Yunfan slapped the Mechanical Box that was always hanging on his chest. A small hole opened, and the Ginseng Child’s head popped out, eager to desperately absorb Spiritual Qi. But it found the place barren and desolate. While it was still dazed, Xu Yunfan took two huge gulps of the Qi of Ginseng and quickly pushed it back inside.

A great, searing current like molten lava swiftly circulated through his flesh. Carried by the Red Flood Dragon Mountain Coiling Strength, it transformed into eight spirals that plunged into his meridians. The current began to rapidly repair the riddled pathways, forcibly connecting the three Jiao meridians to form a Sword Dao Circulation.

As the morning light pierced the mist of the Secret Realm, Xu Yunfan’s eyes snapped open. He pointed two fingers like a sword at a green stone ten yards away.

A blast of Sword Qi, mixed with Red Flood Dragon Evil Qi, shot through the air. It left a spiral sword mark an inch deep on the green stone, with fine, scale-like patterns along the edges. This was the sign that the Red Flood Dragon Mountain Coiling Strength had not yet been fully refined into the Triple Jiao Sword Nurturing Technique.

’Your Triple Jiao Sword Nurturing Technique has been initiated.’

Xu Yunfan slowly rose. At the same time, warm currents surged within him, transforming into gentle, hair-thin streams that flowed into his meridians, continuously repairing the pathways that had been savaged beyond recognition.

Feeling his internal organs and meridians begin to repair and strengthen, Xu Yunfan finally let out a long breath and carefully processed the memories flowing into his mind.

According to the orthodox heritage of the Sword Pavilion, those who practiced the Triple Jiao Sword Nurturing Technique were required to use the Sword Pavilion’s exclusive Secret Medicines, the Triple Jiao Clearing Pill and the Jade Marrow Cleansing Powder. They had to refine their meridians daily at 7:00 AM in a medicinal bath within a Cold Pool.

The upper Jiao, governing the heart and lungs, needed to be suffused with Mist-Formed Elixir Qi at the Danzhong point, its gentle medicinal power cleansing the nascent Sword Scabbard. The middle Jiao, for the Spleen and Stomach, was to be irrigated with a dissolved red Jade Marrow solution, letting the meridians gradually adapt to the searing Strength, like a Sword Furnace melting iron. As for the lower Jiao and the Kidney Meridian, one had to use the Mountain Shocking Force technique to drive the Secret Medicine deep into the Qi Sea, thereby doubling the resilience of the Quenching Pool-like meridians.

Only when one could initially withstand their Strength turning into silken threads did they qualify to begin the actual cultivation.

This process often took three years. Once the Triple Jiao Meridians could endure the pain of Strength turning to silk without breaking, the cultivator then had to draw out their Dantian Qi strength into three thousand Floating Threads and pierce the three Jiao as if with Silver Needles.

Only two or three out of ten could endure the agony of their meridians burning. Those who succeeded often found blood seeping from their fingertips and cold sweat beading on their foreheads. Only then were they considered to have truly touched the threshold of this Ultimate Skill.

"Interesting..."

Looking at the Triple Jiao Sword Nurturing Technique skill that had appeared in the "Techniques" section of his Attribute Panel, Xu Yunfan’s expression held a trace of unconcealable joy.

This Sword Nurturing Technique was, in reality, about nurturing a wisp of Sword Qi formed from Strength.

It was a far cry from real True Qi. ’To transform Strength into a genuine wisp of Sword Qi...’ Xu Yunfan silently glanced at Pei Yan in the distant cave.

His eyesight was excellent, and he could clearly see the Sword Scabbard hanging from Pei Yan’s waist.

’The lost Divine Weapon Cyan Bamboo Sword must be the best catalyst for transforming Strength into Sword Qi. A pity...’

For now, it could only be called Sword Force.

Xu Yunfan shook his head slightly. It wasn’t necessarily a good thing to nurture a wisp of true Sword Qi ahead of schedule. If his body couldn’t withstand it, using it frequently would certainly lead to major problems.

Otherwise, Pei Yan wouldn’t be in such a miserable state.

When Xu Yunfan entered the cave, Pei Yan lifted his gaze. Seeing Xu Yunfan’s impassive expression, he began, "The Triple Jiao Sword Nurturing Technique is difficult to learn and master. Without the Sword Pavilion’s Secret Medicines, even if you’ve reached the Blood Exchange realm, you still need to clear your meridians with extreme care. Turning Strength into silk threads is not..."

"I’ve already initiated the Triple Jiao Sword Nurturing Technique."

Xu Yunfan stated it plainly. Pei Yan didn’t react at first, frowning as he said, "Initiation isn’t that easy. If you have any questions today, feel free to..."

His words stopped abruptly, his voice turning shrill.

"You’ve initiated it?!"

Pei Yan’s Blood Qi surged, and his pale face flushed red. It looked like a final burst of energy before death. The listless man, who had looked like he was on his last breath and about to kick the bucket, suddenly shot to his feet.

He rushed in front of Xu Yunfan in a few large strides. Xu Yunfan’s eyes shifted slightly as he lowered his gaze to his fingertips. The Sword Force lying dormant in his Triple Jiao Meridians suddenly awakened.