Chapter 1688: Altering the Meridians

Zhang Xuan's current true qi cultivation was at the Great Sage First Layer Invulnerability Perfection stage. He had read all the insights and books on breakthroughs from the Jiang and Luo clans, but since everyone's method of breakthrough differed, these could only serve as references, not be copied directly.

Thus, although he had read many books, he had never found a method for breakthrough.

Now, having killed dozens of Immortality Realm experts, many of whom carried cultivation techniques and breakthrough insights. Although these were completely different from human cultivation methods... at the Great Sage level, one's life form and meridian pathways had changed. Could their techniques also be of great help for his breakthrough?

After all, no matter how one looked at it, the racial rank of the alien spirit race seemed far superior to that of humans.

He searched through all the rings and indeed found several thousand books. His gaze swept over them, and they were absorbed into his mind.

"Correct!"

He merged all the books he had read from the Jiang and Luo clans and elsewhere.

Hum!

A new book appeared.

He tapped it with his finger, and knowledge surged into his mind. Zhang Xuan closed his eyes.

The method for alien spirit race experts to break through to the Golden Body Realm was more complicated than that of humans. It required killing intent to impact the barrier, leveraging the power of the blood moon—completely different from humans. Although he had collected many books, none showed any sign of merging.

In other words, his previous idea was not feasible.

However, although no Heaven's Path technique was formed, their cultivation system gave him new inspiration.

"For sacred beasts, purifying their bloodline enhances their strength. After humans break through to Great Sage, the distribution of meridians becomes somewhat similar to that of the alien spirit race... Self-improvement is actually a step toward a higher life form!"

"My body, tempered by the Supreme Heavenly Fire Tribulation, has already undergone a transformation into a golden body, even... stronger than an ordinary Golden Body Realm expert! That said, I only need to further optimize the meridians in my body, and I should be able to break through..."

A flash of inspiration struck.

At this moment, Zhang Xuan, having been tempered by the Supreme Heavenly Fire Tribulation, possessed a physical body and soul far superior to those of ordinary Golden Body Realm experts. Given that... the cultivation barrier before him actually did not exist!

In other words, he only needed to change the positions of his meridians and alter his life essence, and he should be able to break through easily, advancing to a higher level!

He didn't need any cultivation technique at all!

"Let me try!"

He sat down again, and with the help of spiritual energy treasures, he cycled his true qi through three major cycles, restoring his state to its peak.

Back when he helped Zhao Ya reshape her meridians, he had memorized the meridian diagram clearly. Now, he let it flow through his mind and gradually altered the positions of his own meridians.

Meridians were the foundation of human cultivation. He dared not alter those connected to the dantian and internal organs, so he first modified the meridians in his limbs.

Ordinary people, even if they knew that altering meridians could enhance power, could not do so because meridians were innate and irreversible. But Zhang Xuan was different. Having cultivated Confucius's method for breaking through to Great Sage and being tempered by the Supreme Heavenly Fire Tribulation, his life had already undergone a transformation.

This time, using a similar method, he transformed into heaven and earth and indeed sensed that his previously immovable meridians were slowly shifting.

Boom!

A dense killing intent surged from within his body, making him feel as if he had become an alien spirit race member.

This feeling was somewhat similar to when he had reshaped Zhao Ya's meridians. He did not deliberately change the attribute of his true qi, yet it emitted an aura identical to that of the alien spirit race.

At this moment, even without disguise, Wu Mu and others would probably be unable to distinguish truth from falsehood.

"It really works..."

If meridians were compared to rivers, he was now transforming ordinary channels into great rivers. Not only did he need to deepen the riverbed, raise and widen the banks, but also reduce bends and clear blockages.

As more and more meridians were altered, the power within his body accumulated, becoming more and more formidable, and his aura grew stronger.

The Golden Body Realm, which had seemed unattainable before, now appeared within reach at any moment.

Soon, he finished altering the meridians in his limbs.

After completing this, Zhang Xuan did not rush. Instead, he rested for a while, replenished the true qi lost after altering the meridians to perfection, adjusted his state back to its peak, and then continued.

At this point, the meridians in his limbs had become much broader. True qi flowed through them unimpeded, moving as swiftly as ten thousand horses galloping or rivers surging.

The limbs had fewer miscellaneous meridians, making alteration relatively simple. But the meridians connected to the dantian and internal organs were different—various meridians crisscrossed, small collateral meridians intertwined intricately. A single mistake could cause true qi turbulence, leading at best to paralysis, at worst to qi deviation and death.

Not daring to be reckless, Zhang Xuan strictly followed the steps, moving the meridians bit by bit.

While he was trying to break through to the Golden Body Realm, the headquarters of the Master Teacher Pavilion received a group of guests.

They were Luo Qianzhen, Jiang Fangyou, and others.

Entering the main hall, they took their seats according to rank.

"Have you all come this time because of the underground caverns?"

Ren Qingyuan looked over.

"Indeed. It seems the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters has also encountered changes. May I ask, Master Ren, if you could share the details with us? I would like to confirm whether the information is consistent."

Jiang Fangyou clasped his fist.

"Mm!" Ren Qingyuan nodded. "All the alien spirit race members in the Master Teacher Pavilion's underground cavern were ferocious yesterday, as if determined to break through the barrier. But... at noon today, they suddenly retreated, leaving only a few to guard, while the main force vanished without a trace. Initially, we thought it was a feint, but... it's been a whole day with no movement. We sent scouts to investigate and found... they had retreated into the seal! Could it be... that the underground caverns you all guard have experienced the same?"

"Yes, our caverns have also seen the same situation. Those alien spirit race members suddenly returned to the seal. The specific reason is still unclear."

Luo Qianzhen nodded as well, then turned to look at Jiang Fangyou beside him. "However, Brother Fangyou urgently summoned us here. Do you know something?"

The reason everyone had gathered at the Master Teacher Pavilion was because Jiang Fangyou had sent word.

"I do know something, which is why I hurried here to discuss important matters with everyone."

Jiang Fangyou glanced around, and seeing that the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters was sealed on all sides, ensuring no information could leak out, he felt relieved.

Seeing his caution, Master Ren and the others also grew serious.

"The Master Teacher Pavilion should know that since the fall of that emperor who could rival Confucius, the alien spirit race has been jointly managed by three peak experts." Jiang Fangyou said.

"Yes, I've heard that Yong Emperor is the leader, with Star Emperor and Spirit Emperor as assistants. However... they have always checked and balanced each other, wary of one another, which gave us a chance to catch our breath. Otherwise, the Master Teacher Pavilion could never have held out for so long." Master Ren nodded.

This information was highly secret to others, but it was nothing to the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters.

"Correct. These three indeed check and balance each other... but this morning, I received news... Star Emperor and Spirit Emperor suddenly announced an alliance!"

Jiang Fangyou's face darkened.