After realizing the benefits of Reading, Zhong Ming immediately decided he would read voraciously to grind this skill to Great Success.
Furthermore, silently reading the Cultivation Insights for his main technique increased its Skill Level. This "kill two birds with one stone" situation filled Zhong Ming with motivation.
So, he quickly picked up another book and began to read it carefully.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Zhong Ming finished reading the book of insights using his Mind Reading ability.
However, the look on his face was not pleasant.
'The Skill Level of a Basic Technique really isn't that easy to increase.'
The reason for his displeasure was that while reading the second set of Cultivation Insights, he discovered that this senior's realizations overlapped significantly with the previous one's.
'In the end, it's the same Cultivation Technique. They come from the same source, so it's natural for the seniors' realizations to be similar.'
Fortunately, no two leaves in the world are exactly alike.
Practicing a Cultivation Technique is also a very personal affair.
This meant that even though the two seniors cultivated the same secret manual, their approaches ultimately had slight differences.
By drawing these analogies, Zhong Ming didn't come away empty-handed.
[You have studied the Cultivation Insights for the Longxi Breathing Method and gained some understanding. Cultivation Technique progress +13]
[You have silently read a complete book and grasped its True Intent. Your Reading Skill Level +1]
'Thirteen points isn't a small amount. But as I read more, the points of overlap will increase, and the experience I gain will keep decreasing... Oh well, I'll just take it one step at a time.'
After rubbing his head and letting his mind relax a bit, Zhong Ming picked up a book and continued reading. This was the second challenge he faced: Mind Reading was incredibly draining on his Heart Spirit, and he could only use it a few times a day.
'An easy way to advance a Cultivation Technique really doesn't exist.'
He didn't complain for long. Soon, he soothed his own internal turmoil.
'No matter what, having the Mind Reading trait gives me an advantage over others. I should be happy about that.'
And so, with a touch of gratitude in his heart, Zhong Ming began to read the third book.
This time, his eyes lit up.
"Ordinary people practicing Qi Cultivation always get stuck on 'breathing in through the nose and mouth, storing Qi in the Dantian.' They practice the great Longxi Method as if they're stuffing a granary... Ridiculous."
"This Cultivation Technique isn't about 'training the lungs' at all. It's about borrowing the 'rhyme' of the stream to draw Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi into the meridians. Only an idiot would focus on the swelling of their chest..."
"First, discern the 'stream.' After midnight, find a flowing stream or creek—don't just squat by some stagnant pond and waste your time. Close your eyes and listen to the sound of water flowing through the cracks in the rocks. Feel the cool, misty creek breeze. Memorize this rhythm, one that is 'gentle yet not scattered, winding yet not stagnant.' This is the root of Longxi."
"From now on, every breath you take must mimic this energy. It's not about imitating the gushing sound of a stream; it's about making the Qi inside your body move like one. When you encounter a blocked meridian, don't force your way through. Go around it, follow the path. This is three times faster than using brute force to break through a bottleneck."
Reading this, Zhong Ming wasn't particularly surprised. He had already realized through personal experience that the essence of the Longxi Breathing Method was its gentleness and its Flowing nature.
His only thought at that moment was that this senior had quite a personality.
However, this part wasn't very helpful to him. It was what came next that made his eyes light up:
"The second step is training the 'form.' You don't have to sit cross-legged like a statue. Find an old pine tree to lean against. Relax your shoulders and back like the banks of a stream—don't be tense as if you're bracing for a lightning strike. Also, ordinary practitioners are always afraid of their Qi leaking out, but the Longxi Method is actually all about 'leaking'—letting out the impure Qi so you can draw in purer Spiritual Qi..."
Zhong Ming thought, 'Don't be afraid of the Qi leaking? I never would have thought of that.'
[You have studied the Cultivation Insights for the Longxi Breathing Method and gained some understanding. Cultivation Technique progress +27]
Having gained this new understanding, Zhong Ming was eager to try it.
He desperately wanted to follow this senior's advice and test it out for himself.
Unfortunately, his meridians were still throbbing with pain, forcing him to abandon the idea for now.
What made him frown even more was that after using Mind Reading three times in a row, his head was already groggy, and he couldn't read anymore.
'Looks like this is all I can do for today...'
...
With his head feeling heavy and groggy, Zhong Ming went to sleep early.
「The next day」
When Zhong Ming awoke, his cultivation method had already changed.
Previously, he would always finish one task completely before moving on to the next.
For instance, even though he could practice the Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique and the Longxi Breathing Method simultaneously, he would first cultivate with the breathing method until his meridians reached their daily limit before he would even touch his sword.
But today, his approach was different.
Leaning against a large tree and overlooking a stream, Zhong Ming held a sword in one hand and a book in the other. Beside him sat a flask of clear wine.
Then, throughout his cultivation session, he would alternate between reading for a while, practicing his sword, and closing his eyes to practice the Longxi Breathing Method.
Sometimes, he would even take a couple of small sips of wine, enjoying the clear breeze and the flowing stream.
This posture gave him an air of unrestrained joy and transcendent freedom, and it wasn't an act.
He had simply discovered that by reading the Cultivation Insights of his predecessors, it was as if he were holding a Dao Discussion with the senior brothers and elders of Longxi Peak across the barrier of time.
This process of mutual verification gave him countless ideas and sparks of inspiration.
In such a state, if he could immediately put his thoughts into practice, he could internalize far more of the insights.
That was why he was Reading and practicing Qi Cultivation simultaneously.
'Don't be afraid of it leaking... This time, I'll try not to restrain my Spiritual Qi...'
'Exhale, inhale...'
'No, that's not right. Simply not restraining it is absolutely not enough... That senior brother didn't tell the whole story in his insights. While the Qi is leaking, I also have to use my breathing to continuously draw Spiritual Qi into my body...'
'Leaking out while drawing in—with this kind of exchange, I won't have to worry about losing Qi...'
[You have completed one full practice of the Longxi Breathing Method. Skill Level +9]
'The Longxi method is about 'following'... Following the nature of the stream, following the nature of the Qi, and following my own nature... Interesting...'
'Following... is this how you're supposed to cultivate by 'following'?'
[You have completed one full practice of the Longxi Breathing Method. Skill Level +7]
'The Longxi Breathing Method can be practiced while still or in motion... The Longxi Swordsmanship can be practiced together with the Longxi Breathing Method...'
Zhong Ming thought, 'It seems my Sword-Drawing Technique can also be practiced together with the Longxi Breathing Method...'
[You have completed one full practice of the Longxi Breathing Method. Skill Level +3]
[You have completed one full practice of the Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique. Skill Level +1]
'By tuning the frequency of my breath, I can make the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi actively seek me out...'
...
After a period of cultivation and experimentation, Zhong Ming discovered that this method was indeed viable.
By cross-referencing his training with the insights of his predecessors, the rate at which his Cultivation Technique's Skill Level increased was three to five times faster than solitary, arduous practice.
As for drinking wine while practicing his sword, Zhong Ming had discovered that his own disposition was a bit too serious and earnest. It didn't quite align with the quality of 'liveliness' required for the next realm of the Longxi Breathing Method.
Therefore, he used wine to liven up his temperament.
Of course, he knew that drinking too much would be counterproductive, so he would only have a couple of small sips to put himself in a slightly tipsy state.
'It actually works...'
Under the influence of the alcohol, the slightly tipsy Zhong Ming felt a sense of moving as his heart desired and acting as his nature dictated.
This feeling aligned perfectly with the Mental Realm of the Longxi Breathing Method. It also imbued the stream of Spiritual Qi inside his body with a nimble and unrestrained quality, just like a creek flowing through nature.
Even the Dragon Flood Dragon Dao Rhyme, which was usually dormant, quivered in response to his lively state of mind.
'Longxi, Longxi... The core True Intent of this Cultivation Technique is the Dragon, but it's also related to water. And wine is also a form of water... So they are connected, they are indeed connected, haha...'
...
Nourishing his intellect with books, forging his spirit with the sword, and freeing his mind with wine... By mixing all these elements together and letting them collide, cultivating in this manner caused countless sparks of inspiration to flash through Zhong Ming's mind.
His cultivation efficiency and the progress of his Cultivation Technique, by virtue of combining all three, were much faster than normal.
However, although this method of cultivation was excellent, it was also extremely draining on his time and Heart Spirit.
Juggling all these activities—using [Mind Reading] to study his predecessors' Cultivation Insights, comprehending the technique, practicing the Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique, refining Spiritual Qi with the Longxi Breathing Method, and drinking wine—Zhong Ming was busy from morning until dusk with barely a moment to spare.
However, Zhong Ming savored this demanding cultivation method.
The steady progress of his Cultivation Technique and his gradually filling Qi Sea Acupoint gave him immense motivation, making him want to continue cultivating without end.
Unfortunately, having consumed too much of his Heart Spirit, by evening, both his body and his Soul Spirit were exhausted to their limits.
He had also drunk a little too much wine, being unfamiliar with it as it was his first time.
In the end, he had to be dragged to the dining hall by Dong Sea.
And because his attention was entirely focused on cultivation, Zhong Ming failed to notice that while he was absorbed in his unique training, many people were watching him.
People like Liu Wanyu, Jiang Xiaoyu, Jiang Yue, Wei Jie, and Orchid...