C18 Circulation of the Wakan

The agony surged through Ning Que's consciousness like relentless waves, but he clung to a tenacious will, determined to endure.

With a resounding crash, the meridian that had been on the verge of giving way finally yielded to Ning Que's steadfast efforts. He breathed a sigh of relief, his wakan nearly depleted. Had he failed to open this meridian, all his previous efforts would have been for naught.

The last of his wakan eagerly flowed into the second meridian. Ning Que focused his mind, cautiously refraining from overexertion. His recent ordeal had taught him the critical importance of ample wakan for clearing the meridians, so he paused to replenish his energy.

"You're doing quite well," Ling Jing remarked.

He had already crafted a portion of the Spirit Gathering Pills, and impressively, he could still converse with Ning Que while continuing his alchemical work, a testament to his mastery.

"I was close to my limit," Ning Que admitted, exhaling deeply. Absorbing wakan offered a much-needed respite for his spirit. With a wry smile, he added softly, "The first meridian is pivotal. Many falter under the pain and give up. But breaking through that barrier makes the subsequent meridians much easier."

Ling Jing offered an encouraging smile. "It looks like your breakthrough to Etherealize is just a matter of time. With your current pace, a single day might suffice."

"That's only because of your excellent guidance. Left to my own devices, who knows how long it would have taken," Ning Que responded with a mix of flattery and genuine gratitude. Without Ling Jing's direction, his progress would have been far less certain.

Ling Jing nodded, pleased by the acknowledgment. "Continue with your cultivation, but be mindful of your limits. A lapse in concentration could harm your spirit, and that's no laughing matter."

Ning Que nodded in agreement and closed his eyes once more.

As each focused on their tasks, tranquility settled over the room once again. Time ticked away, and Ning Que's expression alternated between pain and peace, while Ling Jing's production of pills steadily increased.

"Xian'er, where's Que'er?"

Ning Chaoping was pacing back and forth in his study, hands clasped behind his back. Facing him stood Ning Xian'er.

"Brother Ning Que seems to be in deep cultivation. I didn't want to interrupt him, but I did go to Skyreach Tower yesterday to discuss the relocation. They've agreed to assist the Ning family."

Ning Xian'er had visited Ning Que's courtyard early that morning. Seeing his state of deep concentration, she chose not to disturb him. She also intercepted the servant Ning Chaoping had sent to find him before heading to the study.

"In that case, let's not bother him for now. If Skyreach Tower is on board, we'll proceed as planned. The younger members of our family will leave first. You and Elder Wu Cong will lead the way. Take a group through the marketplace to Skyreach Tower discreetly, while Elder Wu Cong will transport a shipment of goods openly, under the guise of trade. You'll regroup at Skyreach Tower, and the Hai family's spies will be none the wiser."

After a moment of contemplation, Ning Chaoping added, "Once you've regrouped, depart immediately. Even if the Hai family's spies grow suspicious and decide to report back, they'll be too late."

"I'd rather not leave just yet. I want to wait for Brother Ning Que."

Ning Xian'er's lips were pressed together in a determined line.

"As you wish."

Ning Chaoping, recognizing her resolute demeanor, knew further persuasion was futile and resignedly waved his hand.

Within Ning Mansion, the younger generation split into two groups. One followed Ning Xian'er, slipping away quietly under the guise of inspecting the marketplace. The other group took their time at the main gate, ostentatiously checking the goods before slowly making their way to Skyreach Tower.

This was a familiar sight, a routine that had never raised eyebrows before.

At Skyreach Tower, Ning Xian'er's contingent had already arrived. Jiang Qingyan had prepared Jiang Lu for their arrival. Upon seeing Ning Xian'er arrive alone with her group, she approached and inquired, "Where's Brother Ning Que?"

"Brother Ning Que is in the midst of his cultivation practice."

Thanks to Jiang Lu's arrangements, Ning Xian'er found herself with some free time. She offered Jiang Qingyan a smile and said, "I'll wait to leave with him."

Jiang Qingyan chuckled and playfully raised her eyebrows at Ning Xian'er, "You're quite special to Brother Ning Que, aren't you? But let me give you a piece of advice: if a woman wants to keep a man close, she should actually keep a bit of distance. Clinging to him all day can make him grow weary of her."

At those words, Ning Xian'er's cheeks turned a deep shade of red. Twisting the hem of her garment, she murmured, "Brother Ning Que and I are just siblings, not what you're implying."

"Oh, come on, there's no need to deny it. Everyone's calling you his little bride. The whole of Oceanwatch is talking about it, yet you're still playing coy."

Jiang Qingyan had grown quite close to Ning Xian'er, which made her more bold in her teasing.

The rumor that Ning Chaoping had adopted Ning Xian'er to be his son's bride had been circulating in Oceanwatch for ages, and was well-known to all. Jiang Qingyan was aware it was just hearsay, but Ning Xian'er's demeanor around Ning Que made it clear to her what the young girl's feelings were, prompting her playful ribbing.

"Sister Qingyan, if you keep this up, I'm going to leave," Ning Xian'er protested, her face now as red as her neck, stamping her foot in a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop. Rest assured, with your Ning family joining the Skyreach Tower's caravan, safety is guaranteed. On the Aetheria Continent, no one dares to openly confront Skyreach Tower," Jiang Qingyan said, her laughter shaking like blossoms in the wind, as she swiftly steered the conversation away from teasing.

Before long, Wu Cong and his men also made their way to Skyreach Tower.

The so-called escorted goods were merely a cover; upon arrival at Skyreach Tower, they were casually handled. Then, everyone regrouped, donned the attire of the Skyreach Tower's caravan, and blended in with the traders.

"Wu Cong, I appreciate all the hard work you've put in along the way."

Ning Xian'er conversed quietly with Wu Cong as they organized the members of their clan.

"It's part of my duties, but I must admit, leaving Oceanwatch City does tug at my heartstrings."

Wu Cong's face was a map of wrinkles, which deepened as he smiled. "You're not leaving with Young Master Ning Que?"

"We'll be staying put for the time being."

Ning Xian'er surveyed the clansmen: anticipation on some faces, worry on others, but for most, a sense of reluctance to part.

"We'll return one day."

The thought of Ning Que's carefree smile crossed her mind. Biting her lip, she addressed the clansmen with conviction.

"We will return."

"Yes, and when that day comes, we'll show the Hai family what we're made of."

Her words ignited a spark of excitement among the clan members, who remembered the figure who had once been the butt of their jokes but had now become their beacon of hope, the one most likely to lead them back to Oceanwatch City.

Meanwhile, Ning Que, oblivious to the outside world, was engrossed in his cultivation, losing track of time. Ling Jing watched over him, his expression weary from the effort. The table beside him was littered with empty bottles of pills, all meticulously crafted.

"It should be nearly complete."

Ling Jing's keen Divine Sense probed Ning Que's condition. The twelve major meridians within were open, and the intricate network of minor meridians was being fine-tuned. Once the pathways were fully cleared, a profound transformation would follow.

After a brief wait, Ning Que's eyes snapped open as he exhaled a breath of stale air. His entire being radiated a transformative energy, and the wakan around him surged violently, a far more formidable force of absorption than before, clearing the space of any lingering wakan.

"Finally, all of them have been opened."

A wry smile crept onto Ning Que's face. Only through personal experience could one understand the difficulty; he certainly had no desire to endure it again. The sensation of his consciousness being nearly crushed by agony was simply too excruciating to bear.

"You should have felt the benefits of this training by now."

Ling Jing looked at Ning Que with a beaming smile, expressing his satisfaction at how quickly Ning Que had managed to open all his meridians.

Ning Que nodded, immediately noticing the increased speed at which the Spirit Domain absorbed spiritual energy, much faster than before. This relentless absorption and expenditure of energy seemed to have considerably solidified and stabilized the Spirit Domain.

Moreover, during the process of opening the meridians, his body's channels were repeatedly torn and healed, making them now broader and more resilient than ever.

What surprised him most was the significant growth of his mind, which had become much stronger during the process.

"Next, you need to circulate the wakan within your body, guiding it through the meridians to establish a cycle. This will ensure that your Spirit Domain is constantly absorbing spiritual energy to nourish your body and expand itself."

Ling Jing offered a slight smile, having already taught Ning Que the method of establishing this cycle. Given Ning Que's current condition, it should not pose a challenge.

Upon hearing this, Ning Que took a deep breath, eager to reach the Soul Apprentice Realm. The first two stages were merely introductory, while the Soul Apprentice Realm signified embarking on the true journey of cultivation.

With his significantly empowered mind, Ning Que began to slowly move the wakan through the twelve primary meridians. Each time it flowed through a main channel, he directed the wakan to the finer meridians branching off from it.

Following Ling Jing's instructions, Ning Que smoothly completed a full circuit of wakan through all the meridians, which then returned to the Spirit Domain. At that moment, the wakan, previously directed by his will, formed a self-sustaining loop within his body, pulsing with its own life force and automatically following the established pathways.

The absorption rate of the wakan surged, and as the spiritual energy continuously nourished the meridians, Ning Que was enveloped by an overwhelming sense of relief, eliciting an involuntary groan of contentment.