Chapter 39

Regarding ideals or dreams, perseverance—these topics naturally fit well as the content for the first class. However, something that can be explained in just a few brief sentences is clearly not enough to fill an entire class. Chen Changsheng had to teach something truly useful.

He took out from the bookshelf the Meridian Overview approved by the National Teaching Cultural Hall, skipped the introductory sections at the front, and directly turned to the last page with the color illustrations. Pointing to the red and green lines in the human body depicted in the illustration, he began to compare them with Luo Luo's specific situation.

Those lines represented the human meridians, extremely complex, with a rough count of dozens. If one looked at the finer details, the number would double. However, according to Luo Luo's own account, her body did not have so many meridians.

This was two completely different meridian systems: one complex and fragile, the other simple and strong. This led intelligent life to take two entirely different paths. It was impossible to determine which path could go further, at least in the known ages, this competition had no result.

Chen Changsheng did not marvel at the peculiarity of another life form but was amazed by the Creator's ingenious methods. He also understood more clearly that if the two life forms wanted to cross the boundary between them and learn each other's cultivation methods, it would be an extremely difficult task.

If Luo Luo's race could easily learn human cultivation methods, then she would not be learning the Zhongshan Wind and Rain Sword, but rather the Lishan Sword Technique, which she had given to Chen Changsheng the day before. The Lishan Sword Technique is one of the most powerful techniques of humans, and her race would find it as difficult as climbing to the heavens, so they had to settle for a second choice.

Human cultivation techniques consist of both techniques and the circulation of true essence. Taking the Zhongshan Wind and Rain Sword as an example, merely mastering the sword technique is far from enough; one must also master the method of circulating true essence to fully unleash the power of the sword technique.

Luo Luo's body did not have the meridians that humans possess. How could she master this method? The sword technique described the movement of the radial meridian, which she could understand, but the problem was that she did not have a radial meridian. So, even if her spirit was powerful, where could it move?

"Only that night, following the eight words Mr. Chen said, I tried to mobilize my true essence and found that I could indeed wield the Zhongshan Wind and Rain Sword like a human. Is this simulation, or... is this the method of my true essence and the sword technique working together?"

Luo Luo was eager to learn and asked earnestly.

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment, did not immediately answer her question, and turned to walk out of the library. In the woods by the lake, he picked up a branch broken the previous night, drew his short sword, and carefully peeled off the bark, turning it into a white, thin stick. He did not forget to smooth the tip with a stone from the lake.

He returned to the library and said, "If you don't want to, just say so."

Luo Luo looked at the thin stick in his hand, her eyes wide open, thinking that she had just become a disciple, and was she going to be hit with a stick? Did Mr. Chen believe in the stick method of education? But after so much effort to become his disciple, she was not about to say "I don't want to" and nodded vigorously.

Chen Changsheng raised the thin stick and, through her clothes, pointed to a spot on her abdomen, then said, "Direct your true essence to this point."

Humans have a dantian and a qi sea, but he did not know if Luo Luo had them. This was a private matter, and he did not want to ask too much, but from Luo Luo's expression, it seemed there was no problem. After a moment, he asked, "Do you feel anything?"

Luo Luo carefully felt the sensation where the stick touched and said, "It feels a bit warm."

"Yang fire entering the void can also manifest on the surface. Since you feel this, I think it should not be too different from the function of the radial meridian."

Chen Changsheng said this while taking notes.

That night, he only said one sentence, and Luo Luo was able to mobilize her true essence, truly beginning to wield the Zhongshan Wind and Rain Sword Technique for the first time. But that was just one move, and there was an element of luck. Now, what he needed to do was to break through the limitations of human meridians and create a new system, which was naturally extremely difficult.

This was not something that could be accomplished in a day or two.

If he had not read the Daoist scriptures since childhood, become a doctor through long-term illness, and had a unique meridian system in his own body, it would not even be possible.

After taking notes, he looked up, thought for a moment, and lightly poked a spot on Luo Luo's neck with the thin stick, of course, still through her clothes.

"Be careful, go slowly."

"What do you feel?"

"A bit cold."

"Um."

"Here?"

...

...

The thin stick pointed and poked, guiding Luo Luo.

Chen Changsheng received feedback, took notes, and continued.

Time quickly passed as they went through this process of guidance and conversation.

As dusk fell, Chen Changsheng's arm felt slightly sore. He put down the stick and looked out the window, seeing the yellow tiles and red walls, and suddenly smiled.

After half a day, he confirmed a possibility and found a potential path, a path within Luo Luo's body.

"Want to try?"

He withdrew his gaze from the sunset over the capital, looked at Luo Luo, drew his short sword, and handed it to her.

Luo Luo took the short sword, took a deep breath, her eyes becoming abnormally bright, then closed them and remained silent for a long time.

At the moment the sunset was swallowed by the city walls, she opened her eyes and let out a clear shout.

This shout was very clear, without any muddiness, as clear as spring water or a spring breeze.

With this clear shout, the short sword in her hand rose from her waist, like willow catkins, lightly ascending to the ninth heaven.

Countless sword shadows fell like rain, and the sword intent was as strong as the wind.

This was the wind and rain.

This was the Wind and Rain Sword.

...

...

Without human meridians, it was impossible to learn the true essence circulation method of the Zhongshan Wind and Rain Sword, but the sword she finally wielded was the true Zhongshan Wind and Rain Sword. This indicated that the method of true essence circulation used by the wielder could, to a large extent, completely simulate the human true essence circulation method.

As the wind and rain gradually subsided, the setting sun faded, and night fell, the old garden became quiet.

The library was silent.

Luo Luo's hand holding the short sword trembled slightly.

She looked at Chen Changsheng, her voice also trembling slightly, "Mr. Chen, you are truly remarkable."

She was shocked, thinking that Mr. Chen must be a celestial being descended from heaven, otherwise how could he teach her so much in such a short time?

She was amazed by his divine abilities.

Chen Changsheng placed the thin stick on his knee and looked at her, smiling happily.

These days, no, to be precise, these years, he had been thinking about that problem: how to cultivate with severed meridians. Before, he had not cultivated, so all his thoughts were in a state of darkness. Now, although he still had no true essence, he had a female student, and this student was very excellent, able to perfectly realize all his ideas. In half a day, she proved that his hypothesis was correct.

Luo Luo said, "Thank you, Mr. Chen, for your guidance."

Chen Changsheng said, "Mutual, mutual."

The dusk was not like blood but like the fire of a street vendor's stall, extremely warm.