Chapter 9: The True Art of the Azure Heaven

When Wang Lin arrived at the Sutra Pavilion, the clouds at the horizon had just begun to part with the dawn, a slant of morning light casting upon the pavilion that resembled a colossal beast. The sunlight made the pavilion’s eaves shimmer like the scales of a giant creature.

It was still early; most disciples were still lost in dreams, and the entrance of the pavilion was deserted, scarcely a figure in sight.

A breeze stirred, lifting his spirits. He quickened his steps into the pavilion, only to find the white-browed elder, who usually sat cross-legged on the floor, absent. Anxiously, he scanned the surroundings.

Suddenly, a ripple of energy passed by, and a door slowly creaked open. The white-browed elder emerged and immediately led him into a secret chamber.

The room was simple and ancient in style, sparsely furnished except for a meditation cushion at its center, emitting faint currents of Daoist energy.

At a glance, it was clear this was no ordinary treasure. Wang Lin bowed respectfully to the elder and inquired, “Elder, have your recent studies yielded any insights?”

The elder’s expression turned grave as he nodded, avoiding the topic, his gaze burning as he asked, “Have you truly resolved to reverse your meridians and rebuild them anew?”

“I won’t hide it, Elder. My fire spiritual root has caused my meridians to be severed, rendering me nearly useless,” Wang Lin replied with a bitter smile.

“Good. Even if it’s forbidden, you should know that reversing meridians is no trivial matter. One misstep can cause the meridians to rupture, ending in death. It demands great resilience of both spirit and willpower.”

“I understand, Elder. That is why I have not acted rashly, but sought an opportunity.”

“Then I ask you again, do you truly wish to sever ties with Master Xuanshui?”

The white-browed elder had long been acquainted with Master Xuanshui. He remembered when their relationship had been harmonious and close as family. Now, Wang Lin’s decision to betray the sect and reverse his meridians without approval came as a shock.

The elder’s initial intention to help Wang Lin stemmed from his talent and the backing of Master Xuanshui, but now it seemed this might evolve into strengthening his own power base and loyalists.

“Yes. The sect has wronged me for too long. I have had enough! I hope you, Elder, will kindly instruct me!”

Wang Lin bowed deeply and then knelt without rising.

He knew the elder would not teach him without reason, much less shelter a traitor. This almost guaranteed a rift with Master Xuanshui. He had to demonstrate loyalty to secure the elder’s support.

“Hahaha! Good disciple, rise. I have heard much gossip these days. The sect has indeed treated you unjustly.”

Rumors about Wang Lin had long spread wildly throughout the sect, portraying him as mad, scheming to trample over junior brothers, defile senior sisters, deceive the master, and committing acts of treachery against the sect’s ancestors.

Many had fanned the flames, twisting the facts.

Having served in the law enforcement hall for years, the elder was no stranger to political scheming and rumor campaigns. Undoubtedly, there were hidden instigators—those who could not bear to see someone prosper.

It was quite obvious: the Ye family.

At the mention of the Ye family, the elder’s face darkened with deep sorrow. This was also the reason he accepted Wang Lin.

“Elder Bai?”

Seeing the elder motionless as if lost in thought, Wang Lin gently called out.

The elder quickly gathered his thoughts and smiled kindly. “I have been upright and inflexible in the enforcement hall, knowing no compromise, which has left me lonely in my later years, with no outstanding disciples so far.”

“Are you willing to accept me as your disciple?”

Hearing the elder’s formal proposal, Wang Lin hesitated.

“Of course, Master and disciple is merely a title. As it stands, you and Master Xuanshui are masters and disciples in name only, without the true bond. With me, it is the opposite. Officially, you remain a disciple of Xuanshui.”

Hearing this, Wang Lin’s doubts eased. To sever ties now would pit him against the entire sect, and the elder could not protect him then.

“Thank you, Master!” Wang Lin kowtowed twice solemnly.

The elder laughed heartily, nodding in approval.

“Then today, I will assist you in reversing your meridians. Regarding your future study of scriptures, I have recently been studying the Turtle Shell Diagram and comprehended a new, supremely domineering technique, perfectly suited to your newly refined Divine Meridian.”

The elder produced an ancient book seemingly from thin air. Despite flipping through its pages, the content was incomprehensible.

“This can only be cultivated by those with the new Divine Meridian. Until you reach the Transformation Spirit stage, you won’t fathom its contents. The book is incomplete, containing only the first three levels; the Nascent Soul stage is unrecorded.”

Wang Lin nodded thoughtfully.

Seeing his approval, the elder continued, “This book’s power comes from its path of absolute supremacy! Its author was the Celestial True Immortal, whose famous saying was, ‘Heaven is ruthless, suppressing all things.’”

Just from these few words, Wang Lin was captivated. This was a supremely domineering technique, one of unparalleled supremacy—the exact strength he craved.

“Hahaha, boy, don’t rush. First, let me help you reverse your meridians. Once your new Divine Meridian awakens, you can study it yourself.”

Sensing Wang Lin’s eager gaze, the elder hurriedly cautioned.

He pointed to the cushion emitting Daoist energy.

“This is the Qingyang Meditation Cushion prepared for you. It best soothes the spirit, stabilizes the meridians, and wards off inner demons.”

Wang Lin cast a grateful glance at the elder, then stepped forward and sat on the cushion. The moment he touched it, his spirit instantly calmed and solidified; the distracting noise in his mind vanished.

He entered a serene, ethereal state.

“Are you ready? Your spirit is firm and your willpower stronger than most. With my assistance, reversing your meridians should pose little problem. You must carefully sense the changes and adapt to the movement of your new meridians.”

The elder’s comforting reminder echoed in his ears.

Wang Lin nodded solemnly, closed his eyes, and began circulating his meridians.

They flowed like unblocked streams, growing robust as countless rivulets converged, swelling until nearly about to burst. More and more meridians stirred restlessly.

Piercing, tearing pain seared through him, as if his internal organs were compressed to the point of rupture, suffocating him. The pain drilled into his mind, accompanied by agonizing mental spasms, the sensation of meridians splitting apart.

“Steady your spirit, circulate your meridians, let them break naturally!”

A surge of pure white spiritual energy from the elder and the glowing light from the cushion instantly cleared his mind. Following the elder’s commands, he actively guided the meridians.

One after another, meridians that had reached their limits burst open. The excruciating pain of near-death explosions spread through his mind repeatedly, as if his brain would split in two.

“Hold on! This is the toughest moment. If you endure, you will succeed!”

The elder’s loud shout jolted Wang Lin; his qi erupted, and he stubbornly endured.

After the final wave passed, Wang Lin’s meridians lay twisted and scattered, no longer emitting any spiritual power.

He knelt, gasping heavily, drenched in cold sweat that soaked his clothes. The lingering agony was sharp as ever, rivaling any torment he had suffered in his past life.

At last, he had persevered. After a moment, the discomfort waned, and his barren, broken sea of consciousness began to sprout a fresh new shoot—small at first but quickly thickening, growing rapidly until it soared towering into the clouds.

Wang Lin’s new Divine Meridian was born!

Feeling the subtle changes within, he sensed all previous injuries vanish and even notable progress. His Foundation Establishment had finally stabilized.

Seeing the joy on Wang Lin’s face, the elder also sighed with relief.

“Well? Now that you have forged the new Divine Meridian, here is the set of techniques for you to study.”

Taking the ancient text the elder handed over, the previously blank book’s characters slowly became clear. It was the biography of the Celestial True Immortal, who had once been a top-tier fire spiritual root cultivator and later noticed and brought into the sect by a great master.

Within the sect, the Celestial True Immortal had flattered and pandered to senior brothers and sisters, but to little effect, facing rejection everywhere. Eventually, his meridians were destroyed, and he was cast out as a cripple.

Yet, as a truly formidable figure, he did not despair after being crippled. Instead, he reflected on his first half of life—his sycophantic efforts to gain favor had only made him a laughingstock.

After fully dedicating himself, he had fallen to ruin. Once he let go of his attachments, he resolutely reversed his meridians, successfully forging a new Divine Meridian, and created the Celestial True Technique, pursuing strength and immortality.

Any who stood in his way were slain.

Thus, he earned his fearsome reputation of “Heaven is ruthless, suppressing all things.”

Wang Lin was enthralled by the magnificent life of the Celestial True Immortal, especially moved by the striking similarity to his own early experiences.

The immortal’s ability to relinquish obsession and seek the Dao wholeheartedly, ultimately achieving unparalleled renown, was exactly what Wang Lin aspired to.

The elder stroked his long beard, smiling warmly.

“This technique is supremely domineering and remarkably versatile. Though it only contains the first three chapters, when cultivated, its Golden Core stage prowess surpasses most. Compared to the Ye family’s Overlord Supreme Technique, it is no less formidable.”

At the mention of Ye Chen, Wang Lin’s fighting spirit blazed even stronger. Without hesitation, he declared, “Elder, I have decided! I will cultivate the Celestial True Technique.”

“Very good, very good. Ha ha…” Seeing Wang Lin’s determination, the elder applauded joyfully. Then he added, “But do not rush. As for your spiritual root, ordinary cultivators cannot detect any abnormalities. With the concealment I have given you, even Master Xuanshui won’t see through it.”

“When you reach a crucial stage, you will further unveil the mysteries of the Celestial True Technique. I myself envy this method. It’s just that now, having reached this level, to reverse and rebuild is almost a death sentence.”

Wang Lin respectfully cupped his fists. “I will devote all my effort, seeking only to master the Dao as soon as possible to repay my master’s grace.”

The elder smiled faintly, a trace of teasing in his tone. “I know your perseverance and talent, but can you truly let go of those beautiful senior sisters of yours?”

Startled, Wang Lin responded without hesitation, “In my life, only immortality and the Dao matter. I seek no earthly pleasures.”