C17 The Meridians Were Opened

Upon entering Ning Mansion, Ning Que was promptly greeted by someone who conveyed that the Patriarch had instructed him to head to the study as soon as he returned.

Ning Que was puzzled as he scratched his head. It had been some time since Ning Chaoping had sought him out, and the sudden summons today left him wondering about the reason.

Reaching the study, Ning Que gently pushed the door open to find Ning Chaoping seated at the desk, poring over letters with a furrowed brow. The man appeared to have aged since their last encounter, likely due to the Ning family's recent troubles keeping him up at night.

Seeing his father's state, Ning Que felt a pang of sympathy and softly called out, "Father, I've arrived."

"Que'er, come and sit down," Ning Chaoping said, his face breaking into a smile as he snapped out of his reverie. He gestured for Ning Que to join him, tidying the desk and setting the letters aside.

"Father, what did you need to see me for?" Ning Que asked, still feeling a touch awkward in the solitary company of Ning Chaoping, and decided to get straight to the point.

Ning Chaoping gave a slight smile. "I've heard about today's incident in the marketplace. You handled yourself well. A man of the Ning family should indeed possess such valor."

Ning Que scratched his head, "I didn't gain any advantage, though. If it hadn't been for the timely arrival of the Skyreach Tower folks, I might have been at a disadvantage."

"I wanted to ask you, when did you establish this connection with the people from Skyreach Tower?" Ning Chaoping was genuinely curious. He had hurried to the marketplace upon learning of the day's events, but by the time he arrived, everything had settled down, and Ning Que had already gone to Skyreach Tower without him following.

Ning Que shrugged, "I wasn't acquainted with Jiang Qingyan from Skyreach Tower before, but we've recently come to an agreement on some matters. I suppose you could say we're somewhat like allies now."

Upon hearing this, Ning Chaoping pondered for a moment before speaking again, "The Ning family's relocation plans are largely in place, but the safe departure from Oceanwatch remains uncertain. The Hai family has planted numerous spies around Ning Mansion. They'll surely notice if we start leaving in large numbers. My concern is that the Hai family might sabotage our move."

"Do they really dare to ambush us along the way?"

Ning Que's eyes blazed with fury. Departing from Oceanwatch was already a significant compromise, and yet the Hai family had the audacity to act so dishonorably.

"I'm well aware of the tensions between the Ning family and the Hai family. I'm also acquainted with Hai Longsheng's character; he's certainly capable of stooping to such lows."

Ning Chaoping sighed deeply, his gaze filled with hopeful expectation as he turned to Ning Que. "If Skyreach Tower agrees to assist us, then we have nothing to fear. Their network spans far and wide. Using their channels for our migration will make it hard for the Hai family to catch on. And even if they do, they wouldn't dare to make a move."

Understanding dawned on Ning Que, and he smiled. This shouldn't pose much of a problem. Jiang Qingyan had entrusted him with the task of crafting the Spirit Gathering Pill, so he was privy to the Ning family's plans to relocate. Surely, she wouldn't turn him down if he asked for her help.

"I'll reach out to them. It should work out. When do we plan to start the migration?"

Ning Que glanced at Ning Chaoping, noticing the toll recent events had taken on him. Easing some of his father's burdens seemed like the right thing to do.

"Really?" Ning Chaoping's eyes sparkled with renewed vigor. Upon seeing Ning Que's confirming nod and smile, he let out a robust laugh and clapped Ning Que on the shoulder. "With Skyreach Tower's support, there's no reason to delay. We'll begin our departure tomorrow."

Ning Que nodded in agreement. "I'll make contact as quickly as possible. There won't be any hold-ups."

Having settled the pressing issues, the father and son exchanged a few more words. Ning Que urged Ning Chaoping to take more rest before taking his leave. He intended to head straight to Skyreach Tower but was stopped in his tracks by Ning Xian'er, who had just returned from the market.

Upon learning that Ning Que was about to leave for Skyreach Tower to discuss the migration, Ning Xian'er's brow furrowed, and she suggested softly, "Let me go instead."

Ning Que, taken aback, replied, "You want to go? That works."

He was relieved at the offer. The prospect of facing Jiang Qingyan alone was something he couldn't decide whether to consider a blessing or a curse. Besides, Ning Xian'er had a deeper understanding of the Ning family's affairs than he did, which would undoubtedly make negotiations smoother.

Watching Ning Xian'er depart, Ning Que, who had managed to avoid the task, darted into his room and called forth Ling Jing. Following Ling Jing's guidance, he laid out all the medicinal herbs he had acquired from Skyreach Tower onto the table before climbing into bed.

"Ling Jing, I'd rather not dwell on today's frustrations, but at what level must I be to fully harness your strength?"

Sitting on the edge of his bed, Ning Que was haunted by the feeling of powerlessness he had experienced in his confrontation with Liu Yunlong, his mood sinking at the memory. The feeling of being outmatched and at someone's mercy was unspeakably demoralizing, all the more so for someone as competitive as he was.

"Young man, you're asking the wrong question," Ling Jing said with a smile, stroking his beard and shaking his head gently. "You should be asking yourself what level you need to reach to roam freely across the Aetheria Continent. While I can offer you assistance, my help has its limits."

"To grow stronger, you need not only relentless effort but also the heart to pursue that strength."

Ling Jing's voice resonated with Ning Que, snapping him to attention. He realized that he had come to take Ling Jing's assistance for granted, always relying on it to gauge his strength in any situation. This dependency was not sustainable.

Noticing Ning Que's contemplative state, Ling Jing nodded and added, "Your talent is exceptional; all you're lacking is time. There's no need to rush. The journey of cultivation will reach its fruition in due course. You must be careful not to misstep in your eagerness to increase your power."

Ning Que nodded in agreement, understanding that Ling Jing was cautioning him against losing his way.

"Ling Jing, unless it's absolutely necessary, I won't ask for your intervention," Ning Que declared, taking a deep breath and smiling. He had come to a realization: true strength had to be his own. Depending on others would only place him at a disadvantage.

"That's something I'll consider. Don't fret over it too much," Ling Jing replied with a hearty laugh. "It's been quite some time since your last training session. Your spirit should be well-rested by now. Today, let's begin the next phase: the cultivation of Etherealize."

Ning Que's excitement surged instantly. He had been eagerly awaiting this moment for days, and if it hadn't been for Ling Jing's reluctance, he would have embarked on this step much sooner.

"Etherealize, as the name suggests, involves activating the wakan that entered the Spirit Domain during the Soul Awakening. It's about getting the wakan to flow through the body's meridians, creating a fixed cycle rather than just dispersing into the limbs and body. This process not only strengthens the body more effectively but also enhances the Spirit Domain's capacity to absorb wakan," Ling Jing elaborated, detailing the features and intricacies of the Etherealize state. Ning Que listened intently, nodding in understanding.

"Once you've cleared all the minor meridians in your body without obstruction, you'll have completed the Etherealize cultivation. That's when you'll officially become a Soul Apprentice," Ling Jing explained, observing Ning Que's look of anticipation.

"I can offer some assistance with your Etherealize cultivation," Ling Jing continued, "but I won't intervene. The pain and difficulty of opening the meridians are crucial for tempering your spirit. Overcoming this challenge will significantly benefit your future training."

Ning Que nodded in agreement. "I'll depend on myself. Let's get started."

With that, he settled into a cross-legged position and tuned into his Spirit Domain. The faint blue space within occasionally released a subtle wakan that spread throughout his body.

Inside the Spirit Domain, a considerable amount of wakan had already accumulated. Ning Que focused, gathering the wakan into a fine, resilient strand that began to slowly circulate through his major meridians.

Sharp pains shot through him as the wakan advanced, forcibly expanding the constricted meridians. The sensation was agonizing, akin to being torn apart, yet as the wakan repaired the damaged meridians, a strangely soothing feeling followed.

Following Ling Jing's guidance, Ning Que aimed to first clear the twelve primary meridians before using them as a foundation to methodically open the smaller ones.

At sixteen, Ning Que was past the prime age for cultivation, with most of his meridians already set in place, making the task of opening them more challenging than for the average person. He carefully maneuvered the wakan, gritting his teeth against the pain.

"It's indeed very challenging," Ning Que inwardly sighed. He had yet to open the first major meridian, and the wakan remaining in his Spirit Domain was already running low. With no choice but to pause, he calmly tuned into the ambient wakan drifting through the environment, desperately drawing it into his body.

Ling Jing, observing from the side, gave a slight nod of approval. He chose not to interrupt Ning Que's concentration and instead turned his attention to the medicinal herbs on the table.

As Ning Que immersed himself in cultivation, Ling Jing was far from idle. With a flash of blue light, a copious amount of herbs was enveloped, ready for processing. Skyreach Tower's demand for Spirit Gathering Pills was substantial, necessitating his swift action in their creation.

Neither the elder nor the younger spoke, and the room sank into a deep quietude. Eventually, Ning Que exhaled a long breath, feeling the wakan within him replenished sufficiently to resume his cultivation.

The agony of tearing meridians had become a dull numbness after prolonged endurance. Once contorting in pain, Ning Que now maintained a serene facade as the end of the first meridian came into view.

The twelve meridians, each interconnected by pulse gates, posed the greatest challenge to open. Ning Que inhaled deeply, channeling all the wakan from his Spirit Domain into a pointed shape, and thrust it fiercely at the first gate.

Pain!

A thunderous pain struck Ning Que's mind, bringing with it a wave of dizziness. His consciousness threatened to blur under the torment. He bit down hard, his teeth grinding audibly.

Despite Ling Jing's earlier warnings, experiencing the pain firsthand was an entirely different matter. The wakan's sharp point spun and drilled into the meridian gate, each penetration sending Ning Que's head reeling as if it might burst. Amidst the excruciating pain, his consciousness teetered on the brink of collapse.

"Stay strong. This is just the first hurdle. If you can't withstand this, how can you walk the path of the mighty?" Ling Jing, in the midst of pill refinement, felt Ning Que's distress and bellowed a distraction. His voice boomed like a great bell, snapping Ning Que back to focus. Gathering all his strength, he steadied his mind, preserving the equilibrium of his consciousness. Then, he propelled the wakan in his Spirit Domain to its utmost limit, charging like a desperate gambit at the now-weakening pulse gate.