Chapter 41

After eating, Xia Zhi lay down on the bed and fell asleep, resting her head on Lin Xun's pillow, covered with Lin Xun's quilt, and of course, sleeping on Lin Xun's bed.

Xia Zhi's every action was straightforward and sincere; she never spoke polite words. Her personality was calm and quiet, making her seem quite unique.

Only when she slept did she truly resemble a little girl, with her eyelashes curved like a pair of fans, her breathing light and long, and her nearly perfect, fair face filled with innocence.

Lin Xun, looking at the sleeping Xia Zhi, a smile spread across his lips. He could sense that this little girl had a unique kindness and affection for him, even a sense of dependence.

Although he still couldn't determine Xia Zhi's background, Lin Xun no longer cared about these things. To him, Xia Zhi's presence made his life no longer solitary, adding a sense of stability and peace that he had never experienced before.

Perhaps, this was also a form of emotional dependence?

Lin Xun wasn't sure about these things, but he had already noticed that Xia Zhi had become a part of his life.

...

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Lin Xun held his breath and focused his mind, beginning to meditate.

The third level of the True Martial Realm, "Opening the Mansion," emphasizes "guiding the spirit to the five organs, and breathing to solidify the foundation." The next level is "Unblocking the Meridians."

Unblocking the meridians means to clear the acupoints throughout the body. When the meridians are unblocked, the spirit is concentrated, and the spirit's concentration ensures sufficient qi and blood.

After reaching this realm, a cultivator's cultivation will undergo another transformation. Not only will their strength double, but their body will also be further refined, removing impurities from within.

After the fierce battle four days ago, Lin Xun had keenly sensed that his cultivation had been further consolidated and refined. With diligent practice, he might not need much longer to break through again!

This is the benefit of practical combat. Through the trials of blood and fire, not only do a cultivator's combat skills, techniques, and experience improve, but their cultivation is also further solidified.

After a while.

Lin Xun circulated his spiritual energy thirty-six times within his body, then stopped meditating and began to visualize the "Star Circulation" phenomenon.

It must be said that the Lesser Nether Deity Art is indeed wondrous and profound. Although it has only three major realms—Star Circulation, Moon Transformation, and Sun Radiance—each realm is vast and intricate. The deeper one delves, the more mysterious and unfathomable it becomes.

At this moment, in Lin Xun's mind, a vast starry sky was spread out. The starry sky was deep and boundless, dotted with countless stars, but each star was distant and dim.

It was truly embarrassing to admit, but despite practicing the Lesser Nether Deity Art day and night, Lin Xun had yet to successfully enter the "Star Circulation" realm.

However, no matter what, each time he delved into it, his soul was refined and strengthened, and the benefits were clearly visible.

Breath~

Lin Xun's breathing became long and deep. In his mind, all his senses focused, reflecting the countless stars in the starry sky.

When he could perceive the "star tracks" and use them to guide a ray of starlight to descend, he would truly have crossed the threshold into the "Star Circulation" realm.

This step is also called "lighting the stars."

Lin Xun's mind was free from distractions, without desires or demands, and he quietly visualized. In a daze, it felt as if he had flown into the sky, traveling thousands of miles, tireless and without any specific goal, guided by a natural force.

He flew into the azure sky, beyond the nine heavens, into the vast and boundless starry sky...

Countless stars appeared. At this moment, Lin Xun realized that the stars were not fixed but moved along different trajectories.

It was as if an invisible hand controlled everything, and each star's trajectory was like a wild horse galloping, mysterious and indescribable.

Looking around, the starry sky was like a chessboard, and the stars were the pieces on the board. The trajectories of the stars were the paths the pieces moved along.

Lin Xun watched and perceived, and as time passed, a sense of indescribable enlightenment arose in his heart.

If the starry sky were a chessboard and the stars were the pieces, who could play this game?

It's me!

Lin Xun suddenly understood. All his perceptions spread like a fine web, like a ray of light piercing the starry sky, lighting up one of the "stars"!

At that moment, it was as if an invisible hand had placed a piece on the chessboard!

The star was the piece, and once lit, the piece came to life, beginning the true game and journey.

Rustle~

At the same time, in Lin Xun's mind, a dim and distant star suddenly brightened, casting a clear glow that spanned the void, descending into his mind...

Lin Xun also suddenly became clear, feeling a cool and comfortable sensation from the depths of his soul, as if soaking in a hot spring, with all his pores opening, almost making him moan in comfort.

The Star Circulation realm!

Finally, he had crossed the threshold!

Lin Xun was elated. After more than two months, he had unintentionally lit the first star in his mind, which was a pleasant surprise.

At that moment, his perceptions spread like a fine web, instantly enveloping the courtyard where he lived.

Everything in the courtyard, from the leaves rustling in the night wind to the crickets resting under the window, the dew on the well edge, and the willow branches swaying in the moonlight, all appeared vividly in his mind.

Everything was so clear, vivid, and ethereal.

This was perception!

A power that originated from the soul.

This is also called "the spirit emerging from the acupoints, and all things reflecting in my heart."

Generally, only cultivators who have broken through to the True Martial Realm and entered the "Spirit Aura Realm" can possess such a power.

But now, Lin Xun, who was only at the third level of the True Martial Realm, had already achieved this!

All of this, of course, was thanks to the Lesser Nether Deity Art.

Just by crossing the threshold into the "Star Circulation" realm, he had gained such power, which showed how profound and subtle this soul-refining technique was.

This was indeed the introductory stage. According to Lin Xun's knowledge, when one can use their perception to light up all the stars in the night sky in their mind, guiding a vast expanse of starlight to shine, only then would the "Star Circulation" be complete.

Lin Xun carefully reflected and found that he could currently only perceive things within a ten-meter radius. Beyond that, his power was insufficient.

Hmm?

Lin Xun was about to get up to inscribe a spirit pattern and test the changes brought by his strengthened soul, but when he opened his eyes, he found that Xia Zhi had somehow rested her head on his leg, sleeping lazily with a look of affection on her beautiful and serene face.

A faint smile hung on her lips.

Lin Xun thought for a moment and carefully moved Xia Zhi's head, but she frowned and mumbled, "No," then grabbed Lin Xun's leg.

Lin Xun smiled wryly. There was nothing he could do. To avoid disturbing the little girl's good dream, he would have to wait until the next day to test.

Lin Xun lay down and looked at Xia Zhi beside him, quickly thinking about how to prepare for the upcoming second trial of the "Heavenly Secret Realm."

After some time, Lin Xun also fell into a deep sleep.

...

The next morning.

Lin Xun got up and practiced the marching fist in the courtyard until he was drenched in sweat and his blood was boiling. He then stopped, washed with the cold well water, changed into clean clothes, and went into the kitchen to start cooking.

Lin Xun clearly felt that his spirit was vigorous, his body strong, and his senses were refreshed.

Xia Zhi woke up as soon as she smelled the aroma from the kitchen. In her world, sleeping and eating were always the most important things, and she could not afford to be negligent.

While eating, Lin Xun suddenly remembered something and asked, "Xia Zhi, have you practiced any body-refining techniques?"

Xia Zhi shook her head in confusion, "No."

Lin Xun pointed to the giant hammer thrown in the corner of the yard and asked, "Then how did you shape this giant hammer?"

Xia Zhi casually replied, "I shaped it with my hands."

Lin Xun: "..."

Xia Zhi furrowed her brows and looked at Lin Xun for a while before saying, "Are you going to refine your body?"

Lin Xun nodded. He had thought about it for a long time last night. The second trial of the "Heavenly Secret Realm" was called "Body Refinement," which naturally had to do with body refinement.

Moreover, this trial had 108 attempts, indicating a very high difficulty and a high probability of failure.

In such a situation, Lin Xun naturally needed to prepare in advance. If he could further refine and enhance his body, it would be even better.

However, what disappointed Lin Xun was that he only knew how to use the flesh and blood of fierce beasts and various spiritual materials to brew some beneficial medicinal soups. He had no idea how to refine his body.

There were many specialized techniques for body refinement in the world, but Lin Xun did not have them, and it was impossible to find them in the Crimson Cloud Village.

Actually, according to the cultivation realm, the nine levels of the True Martial Realm were all about refining the body.

The first level, "Guiding Qi," refines the internal qi sensation.

The second level, "Internal Strengthening," refines the muscles and tendons of the limbs.

The third level, "Opening the Mansion," refines the five organs.

The fourth level, "Unblocking the Meridians," refines the acupoints throughout the body.

The fifth level, "Washing the Marrow," refines the tendons, membranes, and bone marrow.

The sixth level, "Burning the Blood," refines the internal blood.

The seventh level, "Small Circulation," and the eighth level, "Great Circulation," are comprehensive refinements of the body, muscles, tendons, bones, acupoints, and organs.

The Small Circulation is the initial refinement.

The Great Circulation is a more advanced refinement.

Until the ninth level, "Spiritual Transformation," which refines both the body and the spiritual energy, causing a transformation.

All the refinements of the nine levels of the True Martial Realm are to lay a solid foundation for the cultivator, allowing them to smoothly condense "spiritual aura" from their spiritual energy when they advance to the Spirit Aura Realm!

However, it was clear that Lin Xun was only at the third level of the True Martial Realm. To further refine his body without other means would indeed be very difficult to achieve in a short time.

Xia Zhi thought for a moment and said, "Why don't we fight?"

Lin Xun was taken aback, "Fight?"

Xia Zhi nodded seriously, "Yes, fighting with pure physical strength is also one of the most direct ways to refine the body."

Lin Xun was surprised, "How do you know that?"

Xia Zhi's eyes showed confusion, and after much thought, she shook her head, "I can't remember, but I know it's not wrong."

Lin Xun gritted his teeth and decided to trust Xia Zhi once, "No matter what, let's give it a try."

---

ps: Thank you, Xia Zhi, for the generous reward! You've become the first Supreme supporter since the book's release! Cheers and applause~~~

Also, many friends have been asking about the side story of the Great Mr. Symbolic Emperor. I will write it after the new book period ends.