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Outside Star Luo City
Zhu Fan steered the carriage, driving slowly until the city behind them was no longer in sight.
Inside the carriage
A yellow soul ring suddenly emerged beneath Dai Chengfeng's feet.
At the same time, wisps of golden energy began to swirl around his hands.
This was the first soul skill he had obtained after absorbing the Geng Metal Beast's soul ring—Geng Metal Qi.
The effect allowed Dai Chengfeng to imbue any object, including his own body, with Geng Metal Qi.
Once imbued, the sharpness of the object would increase exponentially, and it could unleash Geng Metal Sword Qi.
"It's a bit like the Golden Light Incantation from that anime Hitori no Shita from my previous life, isn't it?"
Dai Chengfeng looked down at his glowing golden hands. "But while the Golden Light Incantation gave the Elder invincible defense, my Geng Metal Qi grants me unparalleled sharpness!"
"But! This is far from the limit of Geng Metal Qi!"
Muttering softly, Dai Chengfeng's eyes clouded over as fragments of his past life resurfaced in his mind.
In his previous life, Dai Chengfeng had been a student at a Taoist academy.
On boring days, he would often pore over ancient texts and classics.
However—
His previous world, Earth, was just an ordinary place devoid of mystery.
Thus, the Taoist knowledge he studied could only make him physically stronger.
But this world—the Douluo Continent—was different.
Here, soul power truly existed.
Those seemingly useless ancient texts from his past life had found fertile new ground here.
"And now, the most important task is to return Geng Metal Qi from acquired to innate, compensating for the lack of innate Geng Metal essence in the White Tiger martial soul."
But how to return the acquired to the innate?
Instantly—
A title from one of the ancient texts came to Dai Chengfeng's mind: The Yellow Emperor's Outer Canon—Chapter on the Ascent and Descent of the Three Passes.
Ordinary people might think that innate energy referred solely to the vital breath present before birth.
And once a baby was born, that innate energy would dissipate.
But that wasn't true!
Regardless of whether a person was young, old, or ill, innate energy always remained within the body.
In the chapter on the Three Passes, Minister Wu Xian of the Yellow Emperor once asked: "Where are the three passes located in the human body?"
Qi Bo, who co-authored the Yellow Emperor's Inner and Outer Canons, replied: "The three passes are the checkpoints of the Heavenly River Cart! The upper pass is at the Jade Pillow, the middle at the Kidney Spine, and the lower at the Tailbone… they are tied to the Gate of Life and Death, hence they are called 'passes.'"
Wu Xian then asked: "What does life and death mean?"
Qi Bo answered: "The Gate of Life and Death is fire within water."
"Within water and fire lies the hidden innate energy."
"The spleen and stomach's energy is acquired energy."
"If innate energy does not interact with acquired energy, innate energy will not grow."
"And if acquired energy does not interact with innate energy, acquired energy will not transform."
"The two energies must circulate day and night for life to continue unceasingly."
"However, acquired energy must receive innate energy first before it can flourish."
"And innate energy must rise upward from below."
"It descends into the spleen and stomach, spreading to all the organs."
"The three passes are the pathways through which innate energy flows."
"When energy is strong, it moves freely; when it weakens, it becomes blocked—and blockages cause illness."
Finally, Wu Xian asked: "If energy weakens, how can it become strong again?"
Qi Bo answered: "Strengthen the fire of the Gate of Life and nourish the water of the kidneys, and energy will flourish once more."
Similarly—
Since humans inherently possess innate energy, and innate energy can be nurtured through acquired means to flourish…
Could Geng Metal Qi, which is acquired energy, also return to its innate state and flourish?
Even more so!
A wild idea suddenly flashed through Dai Chengfeng's mind.
"What if I combine Geng Metal Qi with soul power, allowing both to return from acquired to innate?"
"If I succeed…"
"Will all the soul power I cultivate in the future be converted into innate soul power?"
Thinking about the insane possibility of reaching level 99 with innate soul power, Dai Chengfeng instinctively swallowed and his breathing quickened.
After all, on the Douluo Continent, innate soul power provided an immense boost to cultivation.
Its importance went without saying!
At that moment, Dai Chengfeng couldn't wait any longer. He crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and began meditating.
"The upper Jade Pillow, the middle Kidney Spine, the lower Tailbone…"
"These three passes are the pathways of innate energy. I'll use them as the breakthrough point."
With this thought in mind, Dai Chengfeng adjusted his breathing slightly and slowly channeled his soul power and Geng Metal Qi, starting from the lower Tailbone pass.
The lower Tailbone was the starting point of the three passes and the foundation of the Gate of Life.
It contained the primal force of innate energy, the fiercest flame.
Thus, Dai Chengfeng proceeded with extreme caution, carefully guiding the combined force of soul power and Geng Metal Qi to ascend along his spine.
This process was slow and arduous. Every inch of progress required Dai Chengfeng to concentrate all his mental strength to guide the flow.
After all, the slightest mistake could cause the energy to veer off course—or worse, injure him severely.
Despite having a solid theoretical basis…
Yet, Dai Chengfeng still couldn't find the proper method.
For four hours straight, he was stuck at the middle Kidney Spine pass.
The middle Kidney Spine connected the lower Tailbone and the upper Jade Pillow, serving as a crucial node for the flow of innate energy.
But every time Dai Chengfeng guided the energy to this point, it encountered immense resistance, as if an invisible, impenetrable "wall" were blocking its advance.
"Why isn't it working?"
After a long while, Dai Chengfeng opened his eyes, gritting his teeth in frustration. "What am I doing wrong?"
"Chengfeng, have you finally finished cultivating?"
"It's almost midnight. Should we find a place to rest?"
At that moment—
Zhu Fan outside the carriage seemed to hear movement inside and spoke up.
"Midnight?!"
In that instant, a thunderous realization struck Dai Chengfeng. "I understand now—I finally get it…"
"The timing is wrong!"
"Qi Bo said that the two energies must circulate day and night to sustain life endlessly!"
"But the soul power and Geng Metal Qi I'm cultivating now are both acquired energies."
"If I want them to merge with innate energy and return to their innate state, it must happen during the transition between day and night!"
Dai Chengfeng's eyes lit up with excitement. The problem that had troubled him for four hours was suddenly resolved.
"It's true what they say—those in the thick of it can't see clearly!"
With that, he told Zhu Fan, "Uncle, you should rest. I still need to cultivate!"
With that, Dai Chengfeng closed his eyes and sat cross-legged once more.
This time, however, he didn't rush to break through. Instead, he patiently waited for the subtle moment when day and night transitioned.
Finally, the time arrived.
The yin and yang energies of heaven and earth began to shift subtly.
"This is it—all or nothing!"
Taking a deep breath, Dai Chengfeng once again channeled his soul power and Geng Metal Qi, starting from the lower Tailbone pass.
This time, he could clearly feel the surrounding natural energy converging toward him, aiding his breakthrough.
When the two energies reached the middle Kidney Spine again—
"Now!"
Dai Chengfeng mentally shouted, intensifying his control and guidance of the energy.
Boom!
Everything surged forward like a flood, breaking through the resistance at the middle Kidney Spine and rushing toward the upper Jade Pillow.
The upper Jade Pillow, located in the head, was the highest point for innate energy to ascend.
As the soul power and Geng Metal Qi reached this point, Dai Chengfeng felt his consciousness expand infinitely. Everything around him became crystal clear.
The faint fluctuations of soul power in the air, the distant chirping of insects…
Nothing escaped his perception.
It was incredible!
In the words of martial artists versed in national arts, this state was known as—Microcosmic Awareness!
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