Chapter 116: Qi Refining, The Atlas of the Strongmen

The old Taoist was, in truth, quite reluctant to visit Zirong Peak, having lived there for a period in his youth.

Back then, he was in the prime of his cultivation; at the age of twenty, he had already reached the second stage of Qi Refining. Truly, he was a gifted youth, brimming with spirit and ambition. Because he believed himself no less capable than those who dwelled on the mountain, he had, through that very arrogance, forged friendships with many who now stood at heights far beyond his reach.

Returning to this old haunt today, he felt not a shred of nostalgia. His only sensation was a flutter of panic in his heart and a slight flush upon his face. The grand declarations he had once made on this peak still echoed in his ears, yet how many had he fulfilled? Looking back, he realized, with a start, that not one had come to fruition. This was the reason he always came in haste and left in equal hurry.

"Master!"

Ji Ming lowered his winged arms, resting his claws between his crossed crane legs. A subtle, formless energy surged from his claws like rising smoke, cradling the Year-Ring Pill.

Feihu the Taoist possessed a deep cultivation; his naked eyes could pierce through ghosts and spectral forms, so he naturally saw this intangible energy. In his vision, the energy emanating from the claws resembled the shimmering haze of heat waves, with fine, thread-like strands of power darting and flowing within.

"You have entered the realm of refinement."

The old Taoist understood that this mastery of energy was the result of reverse cultivation. During this process, the energy honed by the Crane Control Technique would continuously intensify until it formally sublimated into the spell, "Great One-Qi Capturing Hand."

Feihu nodded and said, "Begin."

With a gulp, Ji Ming swallowed the Year-Ring Pill. It slid down his throat and gradually dissolved in his belly. He gathered his Three Flowers at the crown, sank them into his Dantian, and, nourished by the pill's potency, channeled strands of True Qi that flowed out from the Dantian into his Ren and Du meridians.

"What is the essential mantra of the Qi Refining stage?" the old Taoist asked.

"The Five Qi Towards the Origin," Ji Ming replied, his eyes closed.

"Be more specific."

"The three stages: Vibrations of the Six Senses, Rotation of the Five Qi, and Manifestation of the Divine Origin."

"Correct. Wandering practitioners often refer to these as the early, middle, and late phases. You have just broken through and refined True Qi, placing you in the early phase, where you must cultivate the 'Vibrations of the Six Senses' and practice the Great Heavenly Cycle."

Before the old Taoist could examine him further, Ji Ming spoke up, "I understand. The Small Heavenly Cycle focuses on the Ren and Du meridians, while the Great Heavenly Cycle involves the twelve major meridians."

The old Taoist nodded and formed a mudra for preaching, holding it before his chest. "In the Nourishing Qi stage, the Small Heavenly Cycle is the cause, and the Three Flowers of Essence, Qi, and Spirit we achieve are the fruit. In the second stage of Qi Refining, the Great Heavenly Cycle is the cause. The fruits we seek now are the accomplishments of the early, middle, and late phases: the Vibrations of the Six Senses, the Rotation of the Five Qi, and the Manifestation of the Divine Origin."

Inside Ji Ming’s Dantian, the True Qi had grown from a few strands into several streams. They flowed into the Ren and Du meridians, completing the Small Heavenly Cycle, and spontaneously dispersed into the remaining meridians. These meridians, which connected to the Ren and Du, ran through the limbs; they were the twelve major meridians, also known as the "Three Yang and Three Yin Meridians of the Hands and Feet."

"Open your eyes!"

The old Taoist spoke softly, yet his voice struck Ji Ming’s ears like the tolling of a great temple bell. Ji Ming obeyed instinctively, snapping his eyes open.

Shadowy figures leaped forth from the old Taoist’s body. Ji Ming stared intently, though he could not quite see them clearly; he knew these were the "Strongmen" summoned after mastering the *Sutra of the Mountain-Sitting Strongman*.

The *Sutra of the Mountain-Sitting Strongman* originated from the Taiyi A-Department True Dharma of Taiping Mountain. Only by truly touching upon it was one qualified to be called a member of Taiping Mountain. During the Taoist disciple assessment, there was a task called the "Five Qi Subtle Dharma Talisman Chart," and the interpretation of this chart led to the *Sutra of the Mountain-Sitting Strongman*. The old Taoist’s ability to pass it on early was a privilege of his status as a branch altar master of Taiping Mountain—an unspoken convention among the middle and upper echelons.

In a past life, during a duel with the monk Huijin on Six-Fang Peak, dark golden shadows had leaped from the monk’s body and pinned him down. Thinking back, he realized those were the Strongmen cultivated from this very sutra.

Around the old Taoist stood a dense throng of these shadows. Each possessed a pair of wings and guarded him in the center, making the old man appear as if he were a deity traveling with his retinue. The sight made Ji Ming’s heart swell with envy.

"Go!"

The old Taoist pointed at Ji Ming. The winged shadows swarmed around him, and in the next instant, they merged into his body, diving into his Dantian before drilling into his Ren and Du meridians.

"This—"

"The *Yellow Court Inner Landscape Method*, written by the Lady of Fire Virtue of Nanhua, is the root of all scriptures and the gateway to all mysteries. Our sect’s Taiyi A-Department True Dharma is influenced by it; it also takes the 'refinement of the body's spirits' as its central tenet. These Strongmen are among the foundational body spirits."

Just as Ji Ming was about to ask a question, he felt a tingling, itchy sensation in his hands and legs, as if insects were burrowing within. He knew nothing was truly crawling inside, but rather the shadows of the Strongmen were taking root.

They passed through the Ren and Du meridians and drilled into the twelve major meridians. These twelve meridians were still in a state where their acupoints remained blocked; the number of points within them far exceeded the fifty-two found in the Ren and Du meridians.

"Disciple, keep your intent focused on the Dantian."

More shadows leaped from the old Taoist, pouncing upon Ji Ming. Like moles digging tunnels, they drilled through the blocked meridians, opening acupoints one by one to allow the True Qi to flow in.

"Can you feel it?"

Ji Ming nodded repeatedly, wishing his master could clear all twelve meridians in one go.

"The *Sutra of the Mountain-Sitting Strongman* requires one to view the body as a mountain; only then can you lock in your essence and blood, preventing the leakage of essence and the dissipation of Qi. Then, view the True Qi as a Strongman, cultivated within the Dantian. Afterward, guide them along the Ren, Du, and twelve regular meridians to station themselves in every acupoint.

"As the saying goes: one Qi transforms into one strength, and one strength stations itself in one acupoint. By filling just the Ren and Du meridians, you can command fifty-two Strongmen. Internally, you can command them to circulate True Qi through the meridians and grind away at blocked acupoints. In the practice of the Great Heavenly Cycle, especially during the early 'Vibrations of the Six Senses' and the middle 'Rotation of the Five Qi,' this acts with twice the result for half the effort. In time, your cultivation will progress far faster than others. Externally, as each Strongman manifests, they possess infinite utility—whether for carrying, traveling, setting up altars, or even in combat."

Ji Ming hurriedly stood and bowed, pleading, "Master, please teach me this method."

The old Taoist produced a volume of Taoist scripture and thrust it into Ji Ming’s arms, appearing somewhat hurried.

"This is a copy of the Great Heavenly Cycle commentary written by successive temple masters. It is exhaustive. It contains twelve visualization diagrams for the *Sutra of the Mountain-Sitting Strongman*. There are Flying Crane Strongmen like the one I use, as well as Mountain-Moving, Water-Fire, Diamond, and Void Strongmen. You may choose one to visualize and cultivate within your Dantian."

"Master, are you leaving again?"

"Haha!" The old Taoist tugged at his wide sleeves, stepping outward, and laughed. "Things are busy at the square; I should not linger on this peak."

"Does this scroll contain any hidden keys that have not yet been manifested?"

"The scroll on the Crane Control Technique was a test from the sect, intended to teach you that the Dharma is not lightly transmitted. This scroll, however, contains no such restrictions. You may read it with peace of mind, but burn it afterward. You must never let others glimpse it."