Chapter 7

Having mastered the second step of the Turtle Breath Technique, it was already considered a minor achievement. The third step required consolidating the second step before it could be practiced. Zhao Siyan, at present, was still stuck at the third step.

The third step of the Turtle Breath Technique involved drawing in the breath and concealing the heart in the true abyss, maintaining a steady state of mind, and preventing it from fluctuating. If one gradually forgot both the mind and the breath, leaving only a single spiritual awareness in the hollow of the navel, and remained still for a long time, gradually entering a state of deep meditation, this was considered the advanced level of the Turtle Breath Technique, which was very difficult to cultivate.

While practicing the third step, due to the need to guide the internal energy forward and conceal the heart and breath, Lu Cheng's body could only lie on the bed, with his palms stacked under his forehead, resembling a turtle lying there, which was called the Turtle Lying Posture. Although the posture was easy to learn, guiding the internal energy to the point of forgetting both the self and the object was extremely difficult.

Since Lu Cheng had started practicing the Turtle Breath Technique, he naturally wanted to master the third step. Whenever he had time, he would practice on Datan Mountain. As soon as Lu Zhong left in the evening, he would immediately practice the third step. However, the third step was very difficult to master, and it was extremely challenging to reach the state of deep meditation, where the internal energy in the navel would gradually accumulate.

Lu Cheng didn't know that even Zhao Siyan hadn't reached the third step. Zhao Siyan had been practicing for over twenty years, while Lu Cheng had only been practicing for a few days.

After half a month, Lu Cheng still hadn't made any progress. He suddenly thought about whether the cultivation of the Turtle Breath Technique could be combined with his sensitivity. After all, his first layer of internal energy was achieved due to his sensitivity. When Lu Cheng used his sensitivity to help him practice the Turtle Breath Technique, a miraculous scene unfolded. The most difficult part of the third step was guiding the internal energy forward and concealing the heart and breath, but with the help of his sensitivity, the internal energy quickly began to guide the breath to gather in the navel, and the breath gradually accumulated more and more.

When Lu Cheng opened his eyes, he found that it was already completely dark. He had been sitting in meditation under a tree, practicing the third step of the Turtle Breath Technique, and had become so engrossed that it was already night. The evenings on Datan Mountain were not to be taken lightly; even at the foot of the mountain, there could be fierce beasts. From a young age, he had been taught that he must never leave Song Family Village at night, or his life would be in grave danger.

But before Lu Cheng could panic, he immediately realized that he could now enter the state of deep meditation in the Turtle Breath Technique. Deep meditation essentially meant holding one's breath and regulating the breath. He didn't need to breathe, or rather, he didn't need to breathe externally, to maintain his state. Although he hadn't calculated the time he held his breath, he chopped two loads of firewood, tied them together with a rope, and carried them back to Song Family Village without exhaling or inhaling.

When Lu Cheng returned home, he met Lu Zhong, who was about to go out. Since Lu Cheng hadn't returned by evening, Lu Zhong was naturally worried. Seeing Lu Cheng walking with a light step and a normal expression, he felt relieved. When he asked, Lu Cheng evaded the question.

"Cheng'er, you must return early in the future. It's very dangerous outside at night. Even I and your two godfathers dare not linger outside easily," Lu Zhong warned. He was about to go to the courtyard to look for Lu Cheng; if he hadn't returned before sunset, he might have faced danger.

Lu Cheng humbly agreed, but he didn't think much of it. There were indeed many wild beasts on Datan Mountain at night, but the foot of the mountain was relatively safe. Moreover, with his sensitivity, he could detect any wild beasts in advance.

In the evening, while cultivating his internal energy, Lu Cheng also used the Turtle Breath Technique. His breathing became very slow, and each inhalation and exhalation took at least the time of a stick of incense. Lu Cheng knew that his sensitivity not only allowed him to perceive the surroundings within a ten-foot radius but also enhanced his cultivation. He hadn't broken through the third layer of the Turtle Breath Technique in half a month, but when he used his sensitivity during the day, he immediately reached the advanced level.

Although Lu Cheng's Body Shrinking Technique and Turtle Breath Technique had both reached the advanced level, because his internal energy was only at the first layer, even if he perfected them, he couldn't fully unleash their power. For example, Xie Naxin could transform from an adult to a baby, but Lu Cheng could only shrink his body by a few inches, at most returning to how he looked five years ago. As for the Turtle Breath Technique, Zhao Siyan was still practicing the third step, while Lu Cheng had already reached the advanced level. However, because his internal energy was only at the first layer, his actual breath-holding time was still less than Zhao Siyan's.

Lu Cheng understood that this was because his internal energy was too weak. If he could reach the second layer, the situation might be completely different. It usually took ordinary people five years to advance from the first layer to the second layer, but Lu Cheng was not an ordinary person. He spent ten years cultivating his sensitivity, which proved that sharpening the axe did not hinder the chopping of wood.

Lu Cheng had only been at the first layer of internal energy for a little over a month. For ordinary people, advancing from the early stage to the middle stage was considered a genius. But Lu Cheng advanced from the early stage to the peak stage in just over a month. During this period, he also cultivated two martial arts techniques: the Body Shrinking Technique and the Turtle Breath Technique. If it were anyone else, they would not only fail to make progress in their internal energy but also find it difficult to advance in these two auxiliary martial arts techniques.

The internal energy in his body grew stronger, and Lu Cheng licked the bottom of his palate, sinking the energy to the dantian, causing his lower abdomen to swell. He then sank the energy to the perineum, dividing it into two streams that ran down the inner sides of his thighs and legs to the soles of his feet at the Yongquan points. He then slowly inhaled, causing his lower abdomen to contract, licked the top of his palate, and guided the energy with his mind from the soles of his feet, along the outer sides of his thighs and legs, back to the perineum. He then tightened his anus, guiding the energy up the Governor Vessel through the three gates to the top of his head, and then down the sides of his ears to meet at the tip of his tongue. At this point, the energy connected with the exhalation, forming a continuous cycle from the Baihui point at the top of his head to the Yongquan points at the soles of his feet.

After the entire Grand Circulation ran thirty-six times, Lu Cheng suddenly felt a jolt throughout his body. He knew that his internal energy had reached the second layer. At this moment, Lu Cheng felt that the speed of the internal energy's circulation had increased significantly, and his meridians had become stronger and wider. If his meridians were originally a narrow path, they were now a country road.

The internal energy in his lower dantian had also changed from a light mist to a dense fog. But what he found most changed was his sensitivity. He discovered that his sensitivity range had doubled, and he could simultaneously release two threads of sensitivity. The amount of sensitivity in his body also seemed to have increased. Under the guidance of his sensitivity, the speed of the internal energy's circulation in his body had also increased. In other words, reaching the second layer of internal energy had comprehensively enhanced his abilities.

Lu Cheng was overjoyed and immediately used the Turtle Breath Technique. He found that he could hold his breath for at least an hour. This was a great help for hunting, as some prey would flee once they detected the scent of a human. The Body Shrinking Technique allowed him to instantly transform into a child. Although he was still far from Xie Naxin's ability to transform into a baby, it still delighted Lu Cheng.

PS: The update schedule is generally at midnight, 2 PM, and 8 PM. In case of special circumstances, there might be one less update. If the update hasn't been posted by the specified time, it means there are special circumstances.

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