Chapter 169: Nether Candle

Lu Bai stepped outside just as the morning sun was rising.

Innate Essence Qi comes in many forms, contained within the Essence of Sun and Moon, Mountains, Rivers, Grass, and Trees, the Dewy Morning Glow—within All Things in Heaven and Earth.

According to the Fiery Sun Technique, this Innate Technique involved absorbing Sun Essence Qi, integrating it into one’s body to generate the scorching and powerful Fiery Sun True Qi.

When cultivated to its peak, one’s Blood Qi would overflow with Yang energy, warding off all evil!

In other words, this Innate Technique could only be practiced during the day, especially on sunny days.

At night, or when the sky was overcast, the cultivation of this technique would be severely hindered, slowing to a crawl.

This was precisely why the Fiery Sun Technique was classified as an Earth Tier Technique.

Throughout the day, the most effective time for cultivation was at noon, when the Yang Qi was at its most abundant.

Lu Bai faced the blazing sun, sat cross-legged, and assumed the five-centers-to-heaven posture. He relaxed his body and closed his eyes.

Do not look directly at the sun. Recite the Heart Method Mantra silently. Use your mind to perceive the sun, your five senses and five centers to feel the Sun Essence Qi contained within the sunlight.

In the blink of an eye, an hour passed.

There was still no sign of Innate True Qi inside him.

Lu Bai only felt the warmth of the sun bathing his body. He still couldn’t capture the Sun Essence Qi and convert it into Innate True Qi.

Lu Bai didn’t panic. He calmed his mind, focused his spirit, and continued his cultivation, trying to perceive and feel the blazing sun.

Another hour passed.

By now, the sun hung high in the sky. It was noon, when the sunlight was strongest and the Yang Qi was at its peak!

Lu Bai cultivated for a while longer but still couldn’t get the hang of it.

"Brother Lu, have something to eat."

Just then, He Liangzhi returned, bringing some food for Lu Bai.

"I just went with the brothers from the department to the County Government Office to deliver those four bodies."

He Liangzhi said, "The Lord Governor is furious. He immediately issued a sea arrest warrant for that True Master Martial Dao from the Mo Country. They’ve also started searching and questioning the other Mo Country people in the city, hoping to find a clue."

Lu Bai nodded, ate a simple meal, then took out his copy of the Fiery Sun Technique to ask He Liangzhi for advice.

He Liangzhi answered each of his questions and offered some comfort, "Brother Lu, there’s no need to rush. This is an Earth Tier Technique, after all. Mastering it isn’t something that can be done overnight.

Back then, it took me over three months of cultivating the Fiery Sun Technique just to sense a single wisp of Sun Essence Qi. And Lord Mo, I heard it took him a full month to cultivate his first strand of Fiery Sun True Qi."

"I see."

Lu Bai replied, but he still felt a sense of urgency in his heart.

’Whether it takes three months or one, that’s far too long.’

If things were safe and stable, with no looming crises, then cultivating slowly wouldn’t be a problem.

But Lu Bai couldn’t shake the feeling that staying in Jingzhou City wasn’t safe.

After he finished eating, Lu Bai’s gaze swept past the Cyan Cloud Sword, and a sudden idea struck him.

’The Red Ming Celestial Patrol originated from a ball of True Sun Fire, one of the Thirty-Six Wondrous Treasures.’

’That stuff is far more powerful than Sun Essence Qi.’

’But the power of both things comes from the same source. They’re both scorching and full of Yang energy.’

’Maybe I can use the Red Ming Celestial Patrol to perceive the Sun Essence Qi!’

Lu Bai drew his Cyan Cloud Sword and began practicing the eight Sword Moves of the Red Ming Celestial Patrol in the courtyard. He moved from Dawn, to Golden Crow Incarnation, to Burning the Eight Desolates, to White Rainbow Piercing the Sun... all the way to the final move, Endless Day.

When he finished practicing the eight forms, Lu Bai felt his Blood Qi turn wild and scorching hot. Wisps of searing energy flowed through the Cyan Cloud Sword and into his body.

’I’m starting to get a feel for it.’

Lu Bai practiced the eight forms of Red Ming Celestial Patrol over and over. After a few moments, his entire body was steaming. His sweat evaporated as it formed, and plumes of white mist rose from the top of his head.

He Liangzhi watched from the side, clicking his tongue in amazement.

Although he didn’t recognize this swordsmanship, he could tell how formidable it was.

Only by stepping into the Innate Realm, condensing one’s Blood Qi, and opening one’s Meridians could one release Blood Qi externally, using it to generate things like Sword Qi.

Lu Bai hadn’t yet cultivated Sword Qi, but the sheer heat radiating from his Sword Moves and Sword Stance caused the temperature in the courtyard to climb rapidly, sending out waves of scorching air!

Lu Bai suddenly stopped, sheathed his sword, and sat down cross-legged in the five-centers-to-heaven posture. He began to circulate the Fiery Sun Technique.

This time, he clearly felt intangible strands of essence from the blazing sun pouring down, entering his body through his palms, the soles of his feet, and the Baihui acupoint on the crown of his head.

As he circulated the Fiery Sun Technique, a wisp of Innate True Qi gradually formed in his Dantian!

Lu Bai controlled this wisp of Innate True Qi, infusing it into his bloodstream and sending it charging toward a Meridian in his right hand.

Meridians were like canals. The process of opening them was like building a new canal, clearing out all the impurities and blockages until it flowed freely.

This wisp of Fiery Sun True Qi was completely exhausted after clearing about half of the Meridian.

Lu Bai continued to circulate the Fiery Sun Technique, accumulating more Innate True Qi, infusing it into his blood, and assaulting the Meridian.

In less time than it takes to burn half a stick of incense, the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian was finally opened!

Lu Bai used his finger as a sword and jabbed gently in front of him.

"TSSST!"

His sword-finger pierced the empty air, and a crisp sound rang out as an inch-long burst of Blood Qi shot from his fingertip.

"Hmm?"

He Liangzhi had been lying back in his chair with his eyes closed, circulating his own Fiery Sun Technique to dissolve the sinister yin energy in his body.

Hearing that sound, his eyes snapped open, and he stared at Lu Bai.

"Brother Lu, you..."

He Liangzhi couldn’t believe his eyes.

Lu Bai pointed his finger again.

TSSST!

Another inch-long burst of Blood Qi shot out!

He Liangzhi’s eyes widened. "You succeeded this quickly?"

How much time has even passed?

"I just got lucky."

Lu Bai smiled and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Without the Great Success stage of Red Ming Celestial Patrol, he never would have been able to learn the Fiery Sun Technique in such a short time.

By cultivating Fiery Sun True Qi and opening a Meridian, he had officially stepped into the Innate Realm.

Lu Bai immersed his consciousness in the Ancient Mirror.

[Mirror Master: Lu Bai]

[Realm: Innate Realm (One Meridian)]

[Cultivation Technique: Bone Supreme Profound Scripture·Ultimate

White Tiger Stance·Ultimate

Dragon Elephant Suppression·Ultimate

Nine Netherworld·Earth (Repairable)

Fiery Sun Technique·Earth]

[Martial Technique: Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist·Ultimate (Perfection)

Red Ming Celestial Patrol·Ultimate (Great Success)]

[Secret Technique: Eye of Illusion; Ghost Commanding Order; Silent Shock; Bone Regeneration; Dragon Elephant Suppression Stele; Nether Candle]

The changes on the mirror’s surface were significant.

The Fiery Sun Technique had been added under Cultivation Techniques.

The original Five-Step Fist and Eight Sword Skills had been replaced by Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist and Red Ming Celestial Patrol.

"Huh?"

Lu Bai’s expression shifted.

At the end of the line for Secret Techniques, two more words had appeared: Nether Candle.

’When did this show up?’

’How could I have not noticed it?’

’No, wait!’

Lu Bai thought back carefully. It must have been when the Ghost Bride stabbed through his chest and her finger touched the Ancient Mirror. He recalled a ripple spreading across the mirror’s surface then, a sign that something had changed.

It was just that, at the time, he had been so terrified by what the Ghost Bride was doing that he hadn’t paid any attention.

’Did this Secret Technique come from the Ghost Bride?’

’What does this Secret Technique do? How do I use it?’

Lu Bai was completely baffled.

Unlike the other Secret Techniques, this one had no Heart Method Mantra. It had simply appeared on the mirror’s list.