Chapter 76

The courtyard of the Green Robe Hall was not large to begin with. This backyard of Zhuang Wudao was naturally narrow, only twenty zhang in diameter. It used to be a small garden, but a month ago, Zhuang Wudao had it leveled, turning it into a blank space.

Previously, he used this place to test powerful techniques, but now it was used for practicing the *Tianxuan Zhaoshi Zhenjing* (Heavenly Pivot Illuminating True Scripture).

After the battle in Dongchuan Alley, Zhuang Wudao followed the scripture's instructions and meticulously drew a spirit array in the small courtyard to borrow the power of the stars. Activating this array daily was extremely costly, suitable only for the descendants of noble families. Ordinary people could only practice with ordinary visualization techniques, which were nearly three times less effective! He had the means to use this spirit array to aid his cultivation because he had plundered the accumulated wealth of several generations of the Zhuang family.

At this moment, following Yun'er's guidance, Zhuang Wudao made some minor adjustments to the array and filled it with sufficient Essence-Storing Stones. The entire small courtyard was now shimmering with starlight. Looking up from here, the 'Tianxuan Star' above was incredibly bright.

However, it was not yet the time when the Tianxuan Star's power was at its peak.

Zhuang Wudao sat in the center of the spirit array, placing the unconscious cultivator in front of him. At midnight, he felt a glow surrounding him, like a red and yellow ribbon wrapping around his body. The star power from above continuously poured down, most of it being channeled by the 'Tianxuan Star-Gathering Array,' trickling into Zhuang Wudao's body.

The Big Dipper has seven stars: the first is the Pivot (Tian), the second is the Pivot (Xuan), the third is the Human (Ji), the fourth is the Measure (Quan), the fifth is the Sound (Heng), the sixth is the Law (Kaiyang), and the seventh is the Star (Yaoguang).

The Tianxuan Star is the star with the densest Earth Qi and carries the natural fire power of the stars.

Zhuang Wudao entered a meditative state according to the visualization method in the *Tianxuan Zhaoshi Zhenjing*. Soon, he felt an intense heat within his body, and his entire body gradually became heavy, as if several mountains were pressing down on him, weighing him down with a thousand jin.

In the past, he only needed to slowly refine the star power. After midnight, he could gradually ease off and switch to practicing the 'Yun Jian Jue' to cultivate his mind and spirit. After several days of practice, he had become quite adept at the process of refining star power.

However, this time, Zhuang Wudao could not help but have distracting thoughts.

"Unable to move my limbs, how can I save this person?"

As soon as this thought arose, the Qingyun Sword behind him infused a scorching force into his body. Then, Zhuang Wudao lost control of his body.

First, he skillfully picked up several ice needles from the side and successively inserted them into the unconscious cultivator's body, covering all the vital points. The ice needles, made from frozen Mu Ye Ling Dew, almost immediately melted upon entering the body, being evaporated by the internal fire poison and dispersing as water vapor.

Yun'er continued to apply the needles without hesitation. When the water vapor had spread ten zhang and no more ice needles were melting, she began to insert the thousand-year-old peach wood needles one by one.

In just a moment, the unconscious cultivator was almost turned into a hedgehog, and she stopped.

"Indeed, it is the Small Revival Needle Technique!"

Zhuang Wudao was deeply moved, recognizing this needle technique, which was identical to the *Thirty-Six Secret Needles of Small Revival* he had seen.

However, in Yun'er's hands, it was elevated to an art form, unlike any ordinary technique. It was like a master calligrapher writing, with a fluid and harmonious process that brought a sense of comfort and joy.

Zhuang Wudao did not understand why Yun'er was applying the needles this way or the significance of each needle point. He could only refer to his previous medical knowledge.

Unfortunately, the entire process was too fast, leaving him no time to think. He could only use his photographic memory to record everything, waiting to study it in detail later.

Since he was using Zhuang Wudao's body to apply the needles, it was as if the Qingyun Sword Spirit was teaching him step by step. The strength and technique used in each needle, the depth of insertion, and even the changes within the unconscious cultivator's body, were all clearly felt through the needles. This was completely different from watching others perform the Small Revival Needle Technique.

After using all thirty-six wood needles, the fire poison raging within the body had diminished significantly. Most of it had been forced into several acupoints. A red-yellow aura also appeared between the eyebrows of the unconscious cultivator.

Yun'er decisively held a magnetic needle and inserted it into the center of the eyebrows. A red-yellow flame then flashed, exploded, and scattered into the air.

It was then drawn by the Tianxuan Star's power and reformed into a small clump, no larger than a fingernail.

Zhuang Wudao's body, controlled by Yun'er, could not resist. He had no choice but to let the red-yellow flame and star power merge and surge into his body. He felt as if his insides were burning, and the weight on his body seemed to increase several times.

Zhuang Wudao dared not be distracted. He immediately focused his mind, fully activating the method in the *Tianxuan Zhaoshi Zhenjing* to refine the star fire power, which was on the verge of exploding.

At this moment, Yun'er's voice echoed in his mind again, sounding extremely exhausted and weak.

"This is a remnant of the Stone Brightness Essence Flame. Today, it is the first time using the needles, so only the weakest flame could be extracted. However, for you, this is the most difficult part. If you can endure and fully refine it, the *Tianxuan Zhaoshi Zhenjing* can be completed within forty-nine days. If you fail, everything will be over. Your primordial energy will be severely damaged, your lower body will turn to stone, and you won't be able to advance in cultivation for three years. You are a born warrior, don't let me down. I have expended too much energy and need to sleep. I will wake up at midnight. During this time, you should avoid any conflict."

After saying this, the sword spirit's aura completely faded. Zhuang Wudao, however, was so focused on refining the star fire power that he did not even notice Yun'er's words.

His divine consciousness concentrated, defending against the waves of star fire power.

At this moment, he realized the terrifying nature of the Stone Brightness Essence Flame. His limbs felt as if they had turned to stone, and his internal organs seemed to be burning. He wished he could tear open his abdomen and pull out his intestines.

Instinctively, he repeatedly circulated the heart method, using the Tianxuan Star's power to suppress and slowly refine the remnant of the Stone Brightness Essence Flame.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhuang Wudao's consciousness gradually returned. It was early morning, and the first light of dawn was just appearing. The mountain-like pressure on his body had dissipated, and although his internal organs still felt slightly hot, they were mostly fine.

Zhuang Wudao breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he had passed this critical stage and fully refined the remnant of the Stone Brightness Essence Flame.

Strangely, although the stars were now hidden by the sunlight, Zhuang Wudao felt a special connection with the Tianxuan Star. Even as the sunlight grew stronger, he could clearly sense the position of the Tianxuan Star.

He suddenly realized that this must mean his 'Tianxuan Zhaoshi Great Method' had truly entered the initial stage.

Observing his body internally, Zhuang Wudao was once again shocked. The amount of true essence circulating in his meridians was much stronger than it was the day before.

"True essence has greatly increased, reaching the second level of the Qi Cultivation Realm! Not only that, it is already in the middle stage of the second level. Just a remnant of the Stone Brightness Essence Flame—"

Before yesterday, his true essence had already approached the peak of the first level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, ready to advance at any moment.

After refining the remnant of the Stone Brightness Essence Flame, he not only smoothly broke through but also made rapid progress. His true essence had reached the middle stage of the second level.

Zhuang Wudao was momentarily elated. In forty-nine days, which is forty-nine remnants of the Stone Brightness Essence Flame, he could fully refine the fire seed. At that time, breaking through to the fifth level of the Qi Cultivation Realm and entering the middle stage would not be difficult.

After half a day, Zhuang Wudao suppressed these thoughts and continued to observe internally. He then noticed a faint burning sensation near his right rib, close to his spleen and stomach. Upon closer inspection, it seemed like a tiny flame was burning, which was the source of the burning sensation in his internal organs.

"Spleen and stomach? That makes sense. The spleen and stomach belong to Earth. The heart belongs to Fire, and the pseudo spirit acupoint I opened with the Yun Jian Jue and the Dragon Subduing Tiger Fist is near the left heart. The *Tianxuan Zhaoshi Zhenjing* is an Earth-type cultivation method, so the first spirit acupoint opened is near the spleen and stomach. The flame power is not yet sufficient to break through the acupoint. It will only be fully opened after the Stone Brightness Essence Flame is completely refined."

If his guess was correct, after the fire seed of the Stone Brightness Essence Flame was formed, he would also master a second pseudo mystic technique.

His body still felt the residual burning pain from the fire poison, but there were no major issues. He was only slightly fatigued from the intense focus of the previous night.

Satisfied, Zhuang Wudao ended his internal observation and finally remembered the unconscious cultivator in front of him. He smiled wryly and first removed the wood needles, then held the person's wrist.

In just a moment, he determined that the unconscious cultivator's condition had indeed improved. The fire poison had partially dissipated, though not significantly, but it would delay the petrification by three days. The medical skills of Luo Qingyun in the Small Revival Needle Technique were beyond doubt.

At this moment, Zhuang Wudao suddenly felt a warning. He sensed a strand of divine consciousness circling nearby.

"Who is this? Daring to spy on me near the Sword Robe Hall? Could it be Gu Yu?"

If it were yesterday, Zhuang Wudao would not have noticed. However, today, with the help of the remnant of the Stone Brightness Essence Flame, he successfully entered the initial stage of the *Tianxuan Zhaoshi Great Method*, and his divine consciousness had greatly increased, allowing him to sense this.

Carefully tracing the source, the location was indeed the room where Gu Yu lived. Zhuang Wudao could not help but shake his head and retract his divine consciousness.

Gu Yu was likely startled by the commotion in the backyard and decided to spy. He did not know how much the North