Chapter 11: The Enlightenment Pill, Innate Triple Layer

To open the acupuncture points as quickly as possible, Lin Heng sought out Xiao Rang and said, “Master, I have cultivated my internal energy to the stage of endless vitality.”

This declaration was meant to show Master Xiao Rang his progress, to prove that the numerous cultivation resources the sect had invested in him were not in vain, and to apply for more resources suitable for cultivation at the innate realm, thereby accelerating his training.

In this world, no one knows whether accidents or tomorrow will come first.

Therefore, to live well, live longer, live better, and earn a higher simulation rating, one must improve their strength as quickly as possible.

As expected, Xiao Rang was delighted upon hearing this and received the emotional affirmation Lin Heng offered.

He probed Lin Heng’s meridians. Although he had long anticipated that Lin Heng would soon reach the innate realm, he still couldn’t help but feel amazed and smiled, saying, “Heng’er truly is a prodigy. Surpassing your master will be but a trivial matter in the days to come.”

“Wait for me. I will fetch some Acupuncture Opening Pills for you. There are still five months until the Apprenticeship Ceremony. When that time arrives, the heroes of the martial world will surely be astonished because of you, Heng’er.”

The Acupuncture Opening Pill, as its name suggests, is a medicinal pill designed to aid in opening acupuncture points, suitable for cultivation in the innate realm.

The cost of a single pill is twelve hundred taels of silver.

With the help of such a pill, a martial artist’s cultivation speed can increase severalfold out of thin air.

Though the pill was expensive, Xiao Rang showed no hesitation. The prevailing attitude throughout the Cloud Sword Palace was that as long as Lin Heng could handle it, all cultivation resources would be provided to him.

In fact, at the postnatal realm, there was another pill called the Meridian Connecting Pill that helped martial artists connect and nurture all meridians to speed up cultivation. But since Lin Heng was born with all meridians thoroughly connected, he had no use for it.

Thus, previously, Xiao Rang had not prepared any Meridian Connecting Pills for him, only various spirit herbs that nourished qi and blood and solidified the foundation.

Soon, Xiao Rang returned and handed Lin Heng a jade bottle, reminding him, “Taking too many of these pills will burden your liver, so only one pill a day is allowed. There are three Acupuncture Opening Pills in this bottle. Once you finish them, I will give you more.”

As Lin Heng took the bottle and was about to leave for cultivation, Xiao Rang called him back: “The way of cultivation lies in balancing tension and relaxation. Since you have reached the stage of endless vitality in internal energy today, rest for a day and resume cultivation tomorrow.”

Having spent more than a year together, Xiao Rang knew Lin Heng well. He understood that this was a precocious, intelligent, and optimistic child who treated cultivation as a pleasure rather than a burden, finding joy in it.

It was precisely this good temperament combined with strong comprehension that allowed Lin Heng to unleash his talent as a cultivation prodigy, accomplishing the remarkable feat of reaching the innate realm in seven months from nothing.

However, he was still young. A life of such monotonous cultivation every day, without even a single friend to ease his psychological pressure, was not conducive to his growth.

Xiao Rang held great expectations for Lin Heng and did not want him to be crushed by the pressure of excessive attention from the sect.

“Rest after the Apprenticeship Ceremony. There is no rush now.”

“Master, I’m going to cultivate now,” Lin Heng said with a smile.

Although his strenuous cultivation was ultimately to achieve a higher simulation rating, Xiao Rang truly cared for him, and Lin Heng did not want to disappoint his master.

Just as the life simulator’s instructions said, a simulated life is both a fleeting dream and a genuine life that must be taken seriously.

Achieving higher cultivation before the Apprenticeship Ceremony and impressing the martial world’s heroes attending the event was certainly a fine way to repay their expectations.

“That child,” Xiao Rang understood Lin Heng’s meaning and shook his head with a smile.

Then, beaming, he stepped out to boast about his disciple’s progress to the other elders.

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The primary cultivation project in the innate realm was to open all the body’s acupuncture points. The second level of the “Cloud Sword True Manual,” an internal energy cultivation technique, recorded the precise locations of 1,296 acupuncture points in the human body, along with corresponding methods to open them.

After taking one Acupuncture Opening Pill, Lin Heng circulated his internal energy according to the cultivation manual and began genuine cultivation at the innate realm.

The medicinal power dissolved inside his body and was guided by Lin Heng to the Qingming acupuncture point near his eyes, where it nurtured and opened the point.

Since the Cloud Sword Palace primarily relied on sword techniques in combat, the sequence of opening acupuncture points followed a practical order: first, the points near the eyes to enhance vision; next, the arm points to increase arm strength; then, the leg points to boost speed, all to maximize combat power.

As for the subsequent points, their order was less important, since eventually all acupuncture points would be opened, marking the completion of cultivation at the innate realm.

In the following period, Lin Heng entered focused cultivation.

Every day, he either practiced external exercises to strengthen his body or meditated to refine qi and open acupuncture points.

Because of the Acupuncture Opening Pills’ assistance, combined with continuously absorbing the world’s primal energy to nourish himself and daily spirit-enhancing medicinal baths, Lin Heng was able to open one or two acupuncture points almost every day.

As the points opened, his body’s potential was continuously unlocked. Lin Heng clearly felt his internal energy growing deeper and more substantial.

Moreover, his qi and blood, constitution, senses, and mental strength all improved rapidly, further enhancing his combat power and cultivation speed.

By the day before the Apprenticeship Ceremony, Lin Heng had opened 182 acupuncture points.

According to the standard that every 72 points opened marks a qualitative leap in combat strength—a “realm”—Lin Heng had already reached the third realm of the innate cultivation stage.

At this pace, it was estimated that within two and a half years at most, Lin Heng could cultivate to the eighteenth realm of innate cultivation, achieving the innate grand completion and stepping into the master realm.

“Disciple, the Apprenticeship Ceremony will be held tomorrow at noon. The heroes of the martial world have already arrived. Are you ready?”

Just as Lin Heng ended his cultivation for the day, Xiao Rang entered with a smile.

Because tomorrow was the Apprenticeship Ceremony, the usually quiet Cloud Sword Palace gate had already begun to bustle with activity.

The royal families of five affiliated states around the Cloud Sword Palace, as well as two other martial sanctuaries on Lan Continent renowned alongside the Cloud Sword Palace, had all sent representatives to attend.

In addition, many Cloud Sword Palace masters who had been dispatched across the lands for years had returned.

Everyone had heard that the sect leader, Xiao Rang, was about to take a new disciple—an innate realm prodigy only seven years old.

Such a peerless talent was destined to become a major figure who would dominate the ever-changing martial world in the future. It was certainly no disadvantage to become acquainted with him early on.

If one could leave a good impression and gain his favor, the future might well be bright.