49: "The Method of Nourishing the Spirit", the first attempt at dual cultivation!

The Jade Slip that Luo Qingyi gave to Chen Fan was not put away after he brought it back to Qingshui Town.

Out of curiosity about the “profound guiding technique,” and with a hint of wanting to understand that embarrassing misunderstanding, he calmed his mind in the dead of night and began to study it carefully.

At first glance, the Qi Circulation routes and the principles of Yin and Yang harmony described in the book, while exceptionally subtle, were still within Chen Fan’s understanding of “profound Martial Dao nourishment techniques.”

However, as he used the analytical ability of the Encyclopedia of All Things for deeper deduction, combined with his own subtle perception of Heaven and Earth energy, a sense of unease gradually emerged.

The “Fusion and mutual nourishment of Yin and Yang Qi” described in the Cultivation Technique did not ultimately lead to the strengthening of muscles, bones, Qi, and blood, but rather pointed to the condensation of a more subtle “spiritual essence,” closer to the Origin of life!

This was definitely not a level that Martial Dao internal Qi could achieve.

Moreover, Chen Fan searched through all the Martial Dao classics he had read, and found no record of several obscure meridians mentioned in it!

Their positions were profound, as if they connected to some deeper existence.

The core essence of the Dual Cultivation Cultivation Technique subtly required Cultivators to possess a hint of ability to draw upon external free-floating energy to achieve twice the result with half the effort.

How similar this was to the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi he had felt in the Zhengyang Lake Secret Realm but couldn’t truly control!

Then, recalling Luo Qingyi’s insights, which seemed effortless yet often pointed directly to the Origin of the Dao, and her familiarity with ancient legends and strange energies...

All of this pointed to a startling fact—Luo Qingyi, and the Luo Family behind her, were very likely not ordinary Mortal Families, but rather the legendary… Cultivators!

What she had given him was not some nourishing guiding technique at all, but a genuine, high-grade Immortal Cultivation Dual Cultivation method!

This conclusion exploded in Chen Fan’s mind like a clap of thunder!

Cultivators! Living long lives, moving mountains and filling seas! He had actually intersected with such beings and even received their “gift”!

After the shock came immense vigilance and deeper doubts.

Why did she approach him? Was it because she saw Hongyuan’s Aptitude? Or did she have other motives? Was giving him the Dual Cultivation Cultivation Technique a show of goodwill? Or a test?

Chen Fan’s mind raced, but his expression remained calm.

He did not immediately go to Luo Qingyi for confirmation, nor did he reveal anything to his Family.

The Immortal Realm was unpredictable, and the other party’s strength and background were unfathomable; rashly exposing it could lead to unpredictable consequences.

He chose to bury this shocking secret deep in his heart, and on the surface, he remained the “Martial Dao Theory Grandmaster” who felt grateful and apologetic towards Luo Qingyi.

However, secretly, his behavior pattern quietly changed!

In subsequent “academic discussions” with Luo Qingyi, Chen Fan began to consciously steer the conversation towards those “ethereal” topics.

He would ask with great interest:

“Miss Luo, I once read an Incomplete Manual that mentioned ‘Heaven and Earth have Spirit, and breathing exercises can prolong life.’ I wonder what insights Miss has on this? Is it true, or merely an ancient person’s fantasy?”

“I heard that in ancient times there were Qi Cultivators who subsisted on wind and dew, not eating grains. I wonder what the essential difference is between the Qi circulating within their bodies and Martial Dao internal Qi?”

He asked cleverly, as if merely curious about ancient texts and strange tales, his words full of inquisitiveness, revealing no flaws.

Although Luo Qingyi’s Cultivation was profound, firstly, she believed Chen Fan was a pure “Mortal Martial Artist,” and secondly, she was immersed in the growing affection she felt for Chen Fan, making her thoughts somewhat muddled.

Facing Chen Fan’s seemingly “naive” questions, although she cautiously avoided core Cultivation knowledge, the occasional casual remarks she let slip, such as “Spiritual Root is needed to draw Qi into the body,” and “Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi is impure and needs to be refined,” etc.

All of them were absorbed by Chen Fan like a sponge, and cross-referenced with his own insights from Pure Yang Lake, gradually piecing together a vague outline of the Immortal Cultivation world.

She was completely unaware that she was being subtly coaxed by this “Mortal” to reveal common knowledge of the Immortal Realm.

Despite understanding the essence of the Cultivation Technique, Chen Fan did not give up on it.

This Dual Cultivation method was indeed exquisitely subtle and greatly beneficial to both parties.

After confirming that the Cultivation Technique itself was harmless and even extremely valuable, he, with complex feelings, taught its core essence, which he had carefully “translated” and “downgraded,” to Su Wan, Su Qing, and Liu Qianqian.

The effect was immediate and surprising.

Dual Cultivation was not a one-sided taking, but a process of Yin and Yang Fusion and mutual benefit.

Under the operation of this method, Chen Fan’s vast, furnace-like Qi and blood and Pure Yang internal Qi were no longer an unbearable burden for his wives; instead, they transformed into a warm current that nourished them.

His wives not only no longer felt tired, but felt refreshed and radiant after Dual Cultivation.

What surprised them even more was that each Dual Cultivation session was like an efficient tempering and nourishing of internal Qi!

Su Wan’s Iron Bone Realm threshold, which had been stagnant for a long time, subtly loosened;

Although Su Qing did not focus on Martial Dao, she felt light-bodied and full of spirit;

Liu Qianqian, moreover, seized this excellent opportunity to break through the Golden Viscera Realm Bottleneck that had troubled her for a long time!

Although the Cultivation improvement brought by Dual Cultivation was slow, it was stable and had no side effects, making them truly feel the benefits.

Dual Cultivation brought not only physical harmony but also a deep spiritual Fusion.

That wonderful experience of close integration of Soul and Physical Body, and internal Qi dancing together, made the emotional bond between husband and wife even closer and deeper.

Within the boudoir, it was no longer Chen Fan’s one-sided “conquest,” but had become an intimate journey of joint exploration and mutual benefit.

The atmosphere in the Family also became increasingly sweet and harmonious, and the wives’ gazes towards their husband were full of tenderness and deep satisfaction from the heart, as if they were newly married every day.

However, unlike the peaceful and warm display in the Chen Family, Luo Qingyi did not feel so good inside.

Luo Qingyi still frequently visited the Chen Family, drinking tea and chatting with Su Wan and others.

She could clearly feel the changes in Chen Fan’s wives:

With the blessing of the Dual Cultivation Cultivation Technique and Chen Fan’s nourishment, her good friends’ skin became more lustrous and radiant, their brows were filled with a vibrant spring essence, their aura became more harmonious and prolonged, and every gesture exuded the happiness of being immersed in love and “nourishment.”

Especially when they occasionally whispered about their Dual Cultivation experiences, their shy yet sweet and satisfied expressions were like fine needles, pricking Luo Qingyi’s heart.

She knew that all these changes stemmed from the Cultivation Technique she had personally given!

An indescribable sourness and loss, like a vine, entangled her heart.

It was she who personally handed the “key” to Chen Fan, which would enhance their marital affection and make them radiant.

This act, which was originally out of good intentions, had now become a sharp blade piercing herself.

She had seen her own feelings clearly, but could only watch helplessly as the man she admired was intimately affectionate with others, and she herself didn’t even have a proper reason to approach.

Beneath that cold and aloof exterior was an unknown torment and envy.

Her identity as a Cultivator, the Luo Family’s rules, the Old Ancestor’s seclusion… like invisible shackles, prevented her from openly expressing her feelings and pursuing her own happiness like Su Wan and the others.

This affection seemed destined to be a hopeless “Inner Demon Tribulation.”

She still maintained that cold and ethereal demeanor, chatting and laughing, but only she knew how the bitterness in her heart churned whenever she saw Chen Fan’s warm interactions with his wives and the happiness radiating from their faces.

She could only bury this bitterness deep down, and in solitude, under the cold moonlight, let out a soft sigh.

But unlike her hidden resentment.

Chen Fan, in his research of the Dual Cultivation Cultivation Technique, and the scattered concepts about “Qi Circulation,” “Spirit,” and “Soul” he “coaxed” from Luo Qingyi, seemed to have obtained a key that opened a brand new door.

He no longer merely focused on refining his Physical Body and circulating internal Qi, but began to try to sink his consciousness deeper, to perceive the ethereal “Spirit”—the power of spirit, will, and Soul.

Zhengyang Lake Secret Realm became his best testing ground.

He sat cross-legged by the core lake, no longer deliberately operating the Nine Revolutions Pure Yang Guide, but emptying his body and mind, attempting to use the Encyclopedia of All Things within his body as a guide, and his own spiritual will as a bridge, to communicate with, attract, and guide the rich and pure Pure Yang Spiritual Energy in the Secret Realm.

At first, it was like a stone sinking into the sea, with no reaction.

But he was extremely patient, constantly adjusting and trying, combining the subtle descriptions of spiritual guidance of energy in the Dual Cultivation method.

Gradually, he felt an extremely faint warmth, which did not come from his body, but directly acted on the depths of his consciousness!

It was as if an invisible, warm and harmonious Yang Qi was drawn by his spiritual will, slowly merging into his Sea of Consciousness in his glabella!

The Encyclopedia of All Things glowed brightly in his Sea of Consciousness, greedily absorbing this pure Pure Yang Spiritual Energy, and feeding back clearer analysis and guidance paths.

Day after day, month after month.

Chen Fan, like the most devout ascetic, was immersed in the profound experience of the Fusion of spirit and Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

His Martial Dao Cultivation steadily improved under the subtle influence of Pure Yang Lake Spiritual Qi, but the greater change was in his spiritual level.

His perception became sharper, his thinking clearer and more thorough, and inspiration flowed like a spring when deducing Cultivation Techniques.

More importantly, he felt as if his will had been tempered a thousand times, becoming tougher and more condensed, faintly forming an invisible “momentum”!

He could even try to integrate this condensed spiritual “momentum” into his own pressure, and although he could not attack from a distance, he could make those facing him feel a sense of oppression from the depths of their Soul!

Finally, on a clear morning when the first rays of dawn shone on the golden surface of Pure Yang Lake, Chen Fan slowly opened his eyes.

Golden light was contained within his pupils, divine radiance flowed, and they were as deep as an abyss.

He spread out his palm; there was no internal Qi surging in his palm, but an invisible, tangible spiritual will emanated from his body, causing the air within a foot in front of him to subtly distort, and a few falling leaves strangely hovered for a moment!

“Spirit as guide, will asOutline, nourishing the Soul… This Dao can be called the Nourishing Spirit Method!”

Chen Fan whispered, his voice filled with uncontrollable excitement and enlightenment.

This Nourishing Spirit Method was his own unique Dao, created by integrating his Martial Dao Foundation, the essence of the Dual Cultivation method, the Immortal Cultivation common knowledge revealed by Luo Qingyi, and the Spiritual Qi of Zhengyang Lake Secret Realm!

It transcended pure Martial Dao body tempering and meridian opening, touching the threshold of spiritual Cultivation. It was a transitional method between the Peak of Martial Dao and the beginning of the Immortal Dao, laying an incomparably solid spiritual and will Foundation for potentially encountering true Immortal Cultivation Cultivation Techniques in the future!

Chen Fan stood by the lake, feeling the unprecedented clarity and power in his Sea of Consciousness.

His Family business was flourishing, his wives were virtuous and his children filial, his Martial Dao had opened a new path, and the door to Immortality was also faintly discernible in the mist.

Although there were still unknowns and challenges ahead, at this moment, his heart was filled with the ambition and confidence to overcome obstacles and climb to the Peak.

The great ship of the Chen Family, under his helmsmanship, was sailing towards a more magnificent distant shore.