Chapter 5

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This question of the Dao, if understood from the perspective of the martial arts world, is asking: with the Heavenly Dao ahead and the Human Dao behind, how can martial artists align with the Heavenly Dao and grasp greater power?

After the opening question of the Dao, the first line of the *Mind Control Great Technique* reads: "Humans have souls and spirits, which scatter upon death. There is a way to forge the soul, leading to longevity."

"What a grand claim!"

Su Qinnian couldn't help but exclaim softly. From ancient times to the present, since the nine great demon sages were banished into the void over 5,400 years ago, human martial arts had reached their peak. Even so, whether in the great Han martial arts world or the surrounding nations, there had never been a martial technique that could directly lead to immortality. Even those who cultivated the primordial spirit and became the pinnacle martial arts masters could not live beyond 300 years.

The longest-lived person in recorded history was the Wu Dang Three Mad Daoists, who were once known as the greatest masters in the world. They achieved nirvana at 149 years old, grasping their destiny, and lived to 500 years.

Thinking about this, Su Qinnian quickly shook his head and mocked himself: "The first Han emperor created such a magnificent era and blazed a trail toward immortality, never being content with the status quo, always striving for progress. What reason do I have to mock the creations of my predecessors?"

With this attitude, Su Qinnian read the *Mind Control Great Technique* with less contempt and more solemnity and reverence.

The *Mind Control Great Technique* is profound, and its explanation of cultivation methods is extraordinary. It posits that to control the mind, one must first stabilize the spirit. Only with a strong spirit can one control and enslave external spirits.

"The spirit is nurtured in the mind palace, conceived in the ancestral aperture, like the North Star in the sky, with the Milky Way and countless stars shining brightly..."

Su Qinnian's eyelids twitched. The grandeur and power conveyed in these words were truly astonishing. The text explains that the human spirit is pure, like the North Star in the sky, conceived in the mind palace at the center of the forehead, similar to a woman's ten-month pregnancy, but even more arduous. The spirit grows and strengthens with great difficulty. Around the mind palace, there are 28 star positions, each corresponding to a different number of acupoints. These 28 star positions correspond to celestial phenomena. Opening these star positions and lighting up the stars, when all the stars gather and the North Star appears, one can directly point to immortality, shining brightly in the world.

"Nurturing the spirit allows for soul-controlling, soul-moving, and soul-destroying techniques. The soul-controlling technique is called *Soul Control Technique*, the soul-moving technique is called *Spirit Confusion Technique*, and the soul-destroying technique is called *Green Soul Arrow*. However, if one's power is insufficient, using these techniques can result in mental fatigue at best, and soul disintegration at worst..."

"In the *Mind Control Great Technique*, only 15 of the 28 star positions have been determined."

Su Qinnian frowned. It seemed that the 28 star positions were only theoretical, and even the founder of the *Mind Control Great Technique* had not found all of them. Such a technique, under normal circumstances, Su Qinnian would never risk lightly. However, now it was the only way to break the deadlock.

The steps to practice the *Mind Control Great Technique* are not complicated. As long as one knows the location of the star positions and has sufficient qi and blood, one can break through the acupoints corresponding to the star positions, thus harmonizing with heaven and earth, nurturing and strengthening the spirit.

"Hmm? Nourishing Grass?"

At the end of the *Mind Control Great Technique*, Su Qinnian saw a warning that when practicing for the first time, one must use Nourishing Grass to protect the body. Otherwise, the qi and blood rushing through the acupoints could weaken the body, and the newly born spirit could oppress the physical shell, damaging the organs.

"Where can I find Nourishing Grass now? I read the 49 volumes of the *Demon Classic* compiled and published by the royal academy's great scholars, but only skimmed the eighth volume, the *Medicinal Herbs* section, which mentioned Nourishing Grass."

Su Qinnian picked up the *Medicinal Herbs* section of the *Demon Classic* from the bed and, after half an incense stick, found it.

"Found it! This Nourishing Grass, though unassuming in name, is actually a great medicine for nurturing the body!"

He couldn't help but draw in a breath. Su Qinnian closed the *Demon Classic*. Nourishing Grass, imbued with the essence of heaven and earth, grows only in the vicinity of ginseng or lingzhi mushrooms that are over 50 years old, absorbing the medicinal properties of the surrounding plants. It is the best for strengthening the body and has a mild nature. In the martial arts world, many major sects and families consider it a precious treasure, and ordinary disciples and descendants cannot obtain it. Only the royal family and some of the most prestigious sects and families have great herbalists who cultivate it, but the supply is very limited.

Wu Dang definitely has Nourishing Grass, but it is not something a person like Su Qinnian, who is in disgrace, can obtain.

"Without Nourishing Grass, it's not impossible to practice the *Mind Control Great Technique*. Even if there is some damage, once I get through this crisis, I can make other plans. There will always be a way when the time comes. Now is not the time to hesitate."

Su Qinnian thought to himself, got up, and went to a worn, corner-missing wooden table in the room. There were several yellowed hemp papers, a cracked inkstone, a half-used, smelly ink stick, and a rabbit hair brush that had become a clump.

At this moment, Su Qinnian couldn't help but miss his time in the capital Chang'an. Even though his family was not wealthy, he could still afford the high-quality old paper from the Qingzhu轩 on Wenchang Street in the city, and the ink stick was over ten years old. He also had a precious white fox brush that he had bought for ten taels of silver, but unfortunately, they were all confiscated during the recent raid on his home.

"My father's family has a history of three generations of scholars, a clean and upright lineage. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been transferred to the armory as a low-ranking official to become a compiler. When the three top figures of the Demon Sect infiltrated the capital, the armory was robbed, and out of 36 officials, only my father was sentenced to death. I can only hate the injustice and the hidden machinations. He was made a scapegoat!"

Su Qinnian closed his eyes. He carried the memories of his past life and was reborn in this world. In this life, his body had grown, and he read books day and night before practicing martial arts. The wisdom of the sages was deeply ingrained in his heart, and he could see through the warmth and coldness of human relationships. However, he didn't have the time to grow, which left him helpless in the face of disaster.

He filled the water, ground the ink, and soaked the clumped rabbit hair brush in warm water from the icicles under the eaves. Su Qinnian began to write, not anything else, but the *Tai Chi Song* that Wu Dang had spread throughout the world.

Before practicing martial arts, especially a technique like the *Mind Control Great Technique* that involves the mental level and is at least a top-tier martial art, it is crucial to stabilize the mind. By focusing the mind, one can concentrate fully. This was a habit Su Qinnian had developed over the years. Just like reading books, one must be calm to read well and grasp the details of martial arts techniques.

"Movement and stillness are the mother of yin and yang. Yin does not leave yang, and yang does not leave yin. Yin and yang complement each other, nourishing the spirit. The mind is calm, the body is upright, the intention and qi flow, opening and closing, inside and outside are one. Tai Chi yin and yang, soft and hard, harmonize, and the power flows freely!"

Su Qinnian wrote it over and over again, each word carefully. After writing the *Tai Chi Song* nine times, he felt his mind become clear, free of any distractions.

"Truly worthy of the founder of Wu Dang, the first great master of the world, the first Three Mad Daoists, who created the *Tai Chi Fist and Sword* to enhance the martial prowess of the common people and resist the demon race. He even transformed the principles of Tai Chi into a song, spreading it throughout the world. For over 5,000 years, it has produced countless top-tier human warriors. The *Tai Chi Song* embodies the master's noble and selfless spirit, making it the best for martial artists to recite, dispelling distractions and driving away mental demons."

The setting sun was like blood.

Su Qinnian brought his evening meal, a piece of golden-roasted demon tiger meat and a bowl of tiger bone soup, and placed them by the dark red charcoal basin to keep them warm. He had considered practicing the *Mind Control Great Technique*. Without Nourishing Grass, the body would be weak when the spirit was first born. If he could consume the demon tiger meat and tiger bone soup in time, the replenishment of blood and qi might help him withstand the initial damage.

Hmm?

Suddenly, Su Qinnian sensed something. He looked up and saw the air ripple before him. A graceful woman's figure slowly materialized, eventually forming a solid shape.

It was a young girl, dressed in a pure white silk dress, with eyes as dark as ink, a nose like jade, and a green phoenix hairpin in her hair. She exuded a faint aura of elegance and coldness.

"Liu Qingchan! You have the nerve to use one-third of the Time Heart to teleport here. As a princess, without a formal document from the Ministry of Rites and proper ceremony, you should not rashly descend upon a major sect. The Wu Dang Daoists are not to be trifled with!"

Su Qinnian exclaimed, surprised by the audacity of the Han Yang Princess.

Liu Qingchan glanced at Su Qinnian with a faint look, her delicate hands behind her back. She scanned the distant Tianzhu Peak, hidden in the mist, and her eyes flashed with a sharp light before she spoke: "We three were born in this world, each with one-third of the Time Heart. Unfortunately, you have not yet awakened, and you cannot understand the power of this ability. Moreover, martial artists seek to act on their will, to be free and unrestrained, without fear or hesitation. When you reach the seventh level of your foundation-building technique, you will gradually understand."

Su Qinnian was startled and said, "The royal family's *Chi Dragon Technique* has already reached the seventh level, allowing you to attempt foundation-building, opening the dantian, and cultivating true qi!"

"There is still some way to go." Liu Qingchan did not elaborate and quickly changed the subject. "What do you need? I have not yet successfully built my foundation, and the power I have accumulated over the past year can only support one more teleportation."

"That's enough."

Su Qinnian shook his head, decisive and without hesitation.

Liu Qingchan's eyebrows furrowed and then relaxed. Her clear, bright eyes looked deeply at Su Qinnian. "The Wu Dang *Turtle Snake Technique* is one of the purest Daoist foundation-building techniques. Unless necessary, do not rush to attempt foundation-building at the seventh level. It might help you awaken one-third of the Time Heart."

She paused and turned to look at the rising moon outside the window. Her figure was graceful and slender. In the moonlight, her skin was like jade, and her dress fluttered in the night breeze, giving her an ethereal and transcendent aura, as if she were about to ascend to the heavens.

"I can feel the presence of one-third of the Time Heart becoming stronger. He is still alive and has also been reborn, but my perception is vague, and he is likely far away."

What!

Su Qinnian was suddenly shocked. The world-renowned mercenary king who had stormed the UN experimental base and seized the Time Heart was still alive! (Please give daily recommendations to boost the new book rankings, and add to your bookshelf for collection, thank you all!)