Gou Refining Essence into Qi in the Dharma-ending Age

Chapter 4 Fetal Breathing Level 1

Once all three states of stillness are achieved and one successfully enters a meditative state, the body will instinctively absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to strengthen itself.

The moment Lin Yuan entered meditation, it was as if he had returned to his mother's womb. All the spiritual apertures in his body opened, generating a mysterious power that drew the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into his body.

Instantly, an indescribable feeling of comfort spread throughout my body. It felt like being in a hot spring with just the right temperature, dispelling all fatigue and elevating my spirit.

At the same time, every inch of flesh and blood was overjoyed, greedily absorbing the spiritual energy entering the body to fill itself.

His blood, bones, and skin are all undergoing transformation, constantly strengthening, and being reborn. The whole process is not rushed, but slow and gentle.

And so, time passed little by little, and what was originally daytime turned into night.

As night deepened, Lin Yuan slowly opened his eyes.

In an instant, a sharp glint appeared, much sharper than before.

This is the confidence that comes with increased strength.

Before he could even assess his own condition, Lin Yuan smelled a foul stench.

He looked at his body, which was filthy, as if he had just crawled out of a mud pit.

And this was entirely expected.

After entering a meditative state, one begins to absorb spiritual energy, which is essentially a process of reversing one's innate nature. Impurities absorbed later in life will naturally be expelled from the body.

It is said that once one reaches the seventh level of embryonic breathing, one must abstain from all worldly food and can only consume items rich in spiritual energy, or eat dew and drink celestial venom; otherwise, it will be difficult to achieve perfect embryonic breathing.

After absorbing spiritual energy, his body was strengthened and his senses were enhanced. The stench was extremely noticeable, and Lin Yuan could hardly bear it, so he quickly went to the washing area in the courtyard.

The washing area was a spacious room with a huge pool measuring one zhang in length and width.

The pool is equipped with a family formation that ensures a constant supply of hot water with adjustable temperature, which can be added and stopped at will, making it very convenient.

Practitioners, except for those ascetics, do not deprive themselves of enjoyment.

As the ancients said: "Cultivation is only for suffering, so why bother with cultivation?"

The Lin family deeply agreed.

After undressing, Lin Yuan entered the pool, adjusted the temperature to his liking, and began cleaning his entire body by draining water while refilling it.

The grime after the marrow and tendon cleansing process is difficult to remove, but fortunately the Lin family had anticipated this and prepared special cleaning products, such as scented soap.

The soap produced lather, and the greasy grime was instantly washed away by the water and flowed into the sewage ditch.

Before long, Lin Yuan looked completely refreshed.

After all the sewage had drained away, he closed the drain valve. Once the hot water had accumulated again, he found a suitable angle and lay down in the pool.

Cool!

"This place alone makes me not want to leave the Lin family!"

"I'm definitely going to make my own set someday."

Clearing his mind of distractions, Lin Yuan began to examine himself.

However, after carefully sensing it, he was stunned. "Qi rushing to the dantian and circulating through the Great Heavenly Circuit... isn't this the state of the first level of embryonic breathing?"

Immediately afterwards, he felt his own power, which was stronger than ever before.

At the same time, the membrane is incredibly tough and shiny, probably impervious to knives and spears.

These two characteristics are hallmarks of the first layer of embryonic respiration.

And this is precisely the most unusual aspect.

Theoretically speaking, it is virtually impossible to directly reach the first level of embryonic breathing after absorbing spiritual energy for the first time.

Because of different physical constitutions, the amount of spiritual energy absorbed varies, and the state after the first absorption of spiritual energy also differs.

Under the condition that no resources are used and the spiritual energy environment is the same, it is said that only those with heavenly-grade innate talent can directly reach the first level of fetal breathing on their first absorption of spiritual energy.

With superior physical constitution, one can advance to about 50% to 70% of the progress before reaching the first level of fetal breathing, resulting in an improved body, but not a complete strengthening.

With medium-grade root bone, the progress can be advanced to 30% to 40%.

The lowest grade of innate talent is one to two percent, and the worst grade is even less than one percent.

Of course, if resources are plentiful and spiritual energy is abundant, then the outcome will be different.

"According to Lin Qingfeng, I possess superior-grade aptitude; he probably wouldn't lie to me... If that's the case, then why is this?"

Lin Yuan immediately focused his mind on his own body.

He suddenly had a different perspective and could see the general state of his body.

This is the perspective of internal vision, which can only be achieved by reaching the first level of fetal breathing.

As for the method, the Lin family had already taught him, so he entered this perspective very smoothly.

The Lin family may not be decent people in other aspects, but they are quite decent people in this respect. Before they started cultivating, all the eligible members of the Lin family had to go to school.

Learning to read, studying basic knowledge of spiritual practice, and practicing some martial arts moves.

That is why, even without guidance, Lin Yuan's cultivation was not hindered in any way.

In an introspective state, one can see everything about oneself more clearly.

Lin Yuan quickly noticed the anomaly.

"My vital energy and essence seem to be in a less than perfect state; in fact, they've dropped to the critical level. If it weren't for the support of spiritual energy, I probably would have collapsed on the spot."

"There's only one possibility for this anomaly to occur..."

Lin Yuan immediately focused his mind to sense his Dao Seed [Refining Essence into Qi]. Sure enough, there were signs that the Dao Seed had been activated not long ago.

The situation is already quite clear.

When he successfully entered a meditative state and his body actively absorbed the spiritual energy from heaven and earth, the Dao Seed began to operate, refining his own blood and essence into spiritual energy.

If nothing unexpected happens, he will absorb all of this spiritual energy.

Only in this way can he reach the first level of embryonic breathing.

However, this raises new questions.

"Theoretically speaking, I have just started cultivating and I haven't even reached the first level of embryonic breathing. The spiritual energy density in the Lin family is sufficient for my superior-grade root bone to absorb the maximum amount of spiritual energy... Logically speaking, even if there is an extra bit of spiritual energy, I will not be able to absorb it."

unless……

Lin Yuan immediately got up from the pool, put on his clothes, and went to the small kitchen.

"Fortunately, the ling rice that was stored earlier was not recycled."

Since learning of the arrival of the era of spiritual depletion, the Lin family has stopped supplying all spiritual resources, including spiritual rice.

What's left now is all old stock.

Lin Yuan estimated that there were still about ten kilograms left, not much.

But for him now, that's enough.

Without the slightest hesitation, he grabbed a handful of living rice and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing it casually before swallowing it.

Spirit rice contains a faint spiritual energy. Regular consumption can improve physical fitness and is a good way to replenish qi, blood, and essence.

In the past, Lin Yuan could only wait for his body's functions to slowly digest the spiritual rice. But after breaking through the first level of the embryonic breathing stage and entering cultivation, he could refine it on his own.

Before long, he had finished refining the handful of spirit rice.

After examining himself again, he discovered that his vital energy had not yet been fully restored.

Without hesitation, he swallowed another handful of spirit rice, repeating this action five times.

"My own vital energy has increased..."

This doesn't seem surprising; once you reach the first level of embryonic breathing, your physique will be strengthened, and your vital energy will naturally increase.

But for Lin Yuan, the significance of this matter was far more complex than that.

For him, the improvement of Qi, blood, essence, and vital energy means that the Dao Seed can refine more spiritual energy.

This is of paramount importance in the Age of Extinction.

However, Lin Yuan did not care about this matter at the time.

With his Qi, blood, essence, and vital energy restored to their peak, he did not hesitate at all to activate his Dao Seed and refine some of his Qi, blood, essence, and vital energy into spiritual energy.

Feeling the spiritual energy emanating from his body, he entered a meditative state again.

With the experience of the first success, the second time was much easier.

About an hour later, Lin Yuan emerged from his meditative state.

"Sure enough, the spiritual energy refined from blood essence disappeared, and my cultivation level improved."

"Based on my previous experience, even if I do nothing, this spiritual energy cannot dissipate within an hour; it will take at least three hours."

"But if this spiritual energy is used for cultivation, it takes about an hour to absorb it."

The result is obvious.