Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’

Chapter 11: Meridian Opening, “Guidance” from Sister Shang Wu.

A shadowy figure flickered through the mountains.

Xue Jing’s scalp tingled at the thought of his disciple’s son currently opening his meridians under Shang Wu’s guidance. If he arrived late, it wouldn’t just be about poor instruction anymore – his disciple’s son might need emergency treatment.

This wasn’t an exaggeration.

Sister Shang Wu had once considered taking on disciples. Given her young age and Inner Realm status, everyone thought that despite her occasional unreliability, teaching would be easy. They tacitly agreed.

Who knew that on the first day, the unfortunate soul would go mad?

Afterwards, whether Shang Wu found teaching boring or realized she wasn’t cut out for it, she never mentioned taking disciples again.

Unfortunately, Li Mo, despite his great talent, always left people unsure where to start. Other elders didn’t know how to guide him, and Xue Jing’s own lineage was full.

Otherwise, how could a talent who ascended the peak alongside Ying Bing end up in this den of demons?

Xue Jing no longer hoped Li Mo could open his meridians in a day like Ying Bing. If the kid came out safe and sound, he’d be grateful.

Sighing, Xue Jing quickened his pace. Wind gathered under his feet as he seemed to meld into the breeze, moving at a speed difficult for the naked eye to follow.

Within moments, he reached Myriad heavens Peak, carrying his medicine chest.

However, before reaching the summit, the worry on Xue Jing’s face turned to confusion.

“Something’s not right.”

“Is someone drawing on the Source qi of heaven and earth to practice?”

Drawing on the Source qi of heaven and earth, also known as unity of heaven and man, was the dream of all martial artists.

Practitioners usually needed to replenish energy through food or medicinal pills, but neither could be consumed endlessly.

Yet under fortuitous circumstances, martial artists might achieve unity with the natural world – a state somewhat similar to the External Realm, where one’s small universe resonated and circulated with the great universe outside.

The speed of absorbing energy increased hundredfold!

Moreover, there were no side effects, only unexpected benefits.

“Shang Wu should be sleeping. How is she practicing now, and even achieving unity with nature?”

Xue Jing hurried further.

At the peak, Li Mo sat quietly before a wooden hut, his entire being seemingly fused with nature.

Countless pores on his body seemed to open, constantly exchanging qi with the outside world.

It was as if his body had connected with heaven and earth.

To the universe, he was like a small depression, causing the purest source qi to converge from all directions, as if trying to fill this void.

One could vaguely sense that within his small dantian, a lotus seed seemed to have been planted.

It was now frantically absorbing source qi, developing towards sprouting roots and even blossoming.

Hiss—

A light sound broke the silence.

Before Xue Jing could register his astonishment.

Hiss—

Another sound followed.

“After opening the meridians, he’s already cleared another main meridian?”

Xue Jing’s mouth gaped, his long whiskers fluttering in the wind as he stood there, stunned.

Not only had he successfully opened his meridians.

But also!

In just one day, he had not only opened his meridians but also cleared another main meridian with unstoppable momentum.

Without guidance, he’d learned the “Heart Lotus Method” and entered a state of unity with nature!

Xue Jing doubted his own senses, unable to describe his feelings.

“Elder Xue, when did you arrive?”

Li Mo’s ears twitched as he opened his eyes.

“Don’t get distracted by talking! Unity with nature is rare!”

Xue Jing anxiously puffed his whiskers, eyes wide.

“Huh? Unity with nature?”

Li Mo paused, confused.

“But I kind of need to use the bathroom.”

Old Xue’s eyes darkened. Now was not the time for that!

He was in the Inner Realm. Unity with nature was like experiencing the External Realm in advance – precious and hard to come by.

If given this opportunity, he’d have a much better chance of advancing.

This child was completely unaware of its value, wasting heaven’s gifts!

“Oh, alright then.”

Li Mo didn’t understand why Old Xue suddenly seemed upset.

He had just moved to the shade because the sun was too strong.

Then he continued practicing, still progressing rapidly.

Could it be… that others don’t practice like this?

Perhaps it was a benefit of his Mysterious Immortal Physique…

Thinking this, Li Mo felt strange.

“The Heart Lotus Method says opening twelve meridians and planting twelve lotus seeds marks completion of the Blood Qi Realm.”

“But… why do I feel it’s not enough?”

He sensed that the twelve main meridians were far from his limit.

His body seemed like a bottomless pit.

Opening the first and second meridians didn’t even feel like a start.

“Forget it, I’ll take it one step at a time.”

“The foundation is crucial. I’ll try to practice to perfection.”

Li Mo closed his eyes, reentering his cultivation state.

Meanwhile, Xue Jing kicked open a nearby door to find Shang Wu still sleeping soundly. His temples throbbed.

Taking out a Revitalizing Incense from his medicine chest, he waved it under her nose.

“Achoo!”

Shang Wu sneezed, her graceful face scrunching up.

Having her sweet dreams disturbed twice, she clenched her fists. Seeing the sect’s respected Xue Jing, she grumbled impatiently:

“Old Xue, you better have a good reason.”

“Your disciple is achieving unity with nature outside, and you’re still sleeping? How can you sleep?”

Xue Jing snapped, exasperated.

“You must be drunk.”

Shang Wu tilted her head, thinking Old Xue was talking nonsense.

“Why don’t you go see for yourself?”

Xue Jing said, not bothering to argue further, and walked out.

Shang Wu’s eyes were blurry for a moment. She scratched her head and looked outside.

With one glance…

Shang Wu straightened up.

…

[Congratulations to the host for demonstrating unity of heaven and man, and enlightening Xu Jing.]

[Congratulations to the host for demonstrating unity of heaven and man, and enlightening Shang Wu.]

[Calculating rewards…]

[Investment return: Three gourds of Ice Lotus Wine.]

[Investment return: Twenty years of martial arts insights.]

[Ice Lotus Wine]: “When consumed, it tempers the body. It’s a holy item for improving physical strength.”

Huh?

Watching me practice can also be an investment?

These rewards are just as amazing as previous ones I’ve received.

“Ice Lotus Wine…”

Li Mo decided not to take it out to try for now.

Based on his brief understanding of his master, if he brought out alcohol, there definitely wouldn’t be any left.

Just right, he still didn’t know how to refine his physical body.

The Ice Lotus Wine was exactly what he needed.

After practicing for about two hours, he really couldn’t sit still anymore.

The muscle soreness described in the martial arts manual didn’t occur.

But his bladder was truly aching and swollen.

Thinking this, Li Mo stopped drawing from heaven and earth, patted his clothes, and stood up.

That strange state disappeared.

The first thing he saw was Xue Jing reluctantly coming back to his senses, then turning with a face full of emotion:

“This old man owes you one.”

At their age, bottlenecks were deeply rooted, and progress was nearly impossible.

Observing unity of heaven and man was immensely beneficial for him.

“Elder Xue, you’re too kind. My father often mentions you at home.”

Li Mo bowed respectfully.

His father, Li Dalong, was once Xue Jing’s disciple.

At that time, Xue Jing had not yet become an elder.

“Hehe, it’s good that he still remembers me.”

Xue Jing stroked his long beard, sighing: “Dalong was truly unfortunate. If not for that accident, he should be an inner sect official by now.”

Xue Jing looked about the same age as Li Mo’s father.

But Li Mo knew that when his father entered the sect, Xue Jing already had this middle-aged appearance.

His true age was likely not much less than ninety-six.

Li Mo spoke up at the right moment:

“Each has their fate. Father says he owes his life to your help.”

“If he hadn’t been injured and returned home, he wouldn’t have met mother, and I wouldn’t exist.”

“Lose here, gain there – that’s exactly how it is.”

This young Li was skilled at comforting elders.

“Dalong is blessed indeed.”

Xue Jing’s gaze towards Li Mo held even more approval.

This child didn’t seem at all like the mischievous one Li Dalong described in his letters.

Perhaps a father’s view of his son is always stricter.

The atmosphere between the old and young was just right.

Suddenly, Li Mo’s nose caught a whiff of alcohol, then his neck tightened, feeling suffocated.

Shang Wu hugged her only beloved disciple’s neck, vigilantly declaring her ownership:

“Hey hey hey, this is my disciple! You old fogey, don’t think about poaching him.”

“I want to poach him, but where would I find a spot in my lineage?”

Xue Jing retorted, irritated.

Looking at the noisy Shang Wu, he felt a headache coming on.

His disciple’s son was a good seedling – he better not let Shang Wu lead him astray.

It would be fine if he just didn’t learn martial arts well, but a good child shouldn’t pick up those bad habits of his master.

“Xiao Mo, if you want to test your martial arts or find someone to spar with, you might as well go to the Martial Arts Hall down the mountain.”

Shang Wu squinted her almond eyes for a while, then nodded:

“Learning some basic moves, the Martial Arts Hall should suffice.”

Li Mo: “……”

Sis, you’re just too lazy to teach, right?

However, now that he had the heart method, he did indeed plan to learn some martial techniques.

Going to the Martial Arts Hall, he could also see if there were any worthy investment targets. It was a good place to visit.

…