Chương 19: Abolishment

Elder Bao explained the procedure to abolish his current cultivation. Of course, his entire cultivation wouldn't be severed, not to the degree where he would fall back to a mortal. This wouldn't just be abolishment, but it would cripple him. No, only his Qi circulation pathways would be dissolved. His Qi Flame would not be touched. Lin Yi currently had three pathways, one for each meridian and one connecting them.

For each circulation he would add, he needed to create connection pathways to each already existing circulation. If he cultivated a third meridian's circulation, he would have to create two additional connection circulations. This would only be extrapolated as it goes higher. Once he reached the twelfth meridian, he would need eleven connection circulations. The next 8 Standard Meridians weren't even included yet.

His Qi would flow through and switch between dozens and later more than one hundred circulations to reach any part of his body, and that just in the Golden Cauldron Stage. Of course, he could not form connection meridians at all, but then his Qi flow would be even weaker and thus his foundation too. The difference between creating one whole circulation for all twenty meridians was not as big as heaven and earth, but still comparable to a hill and a mountain.

While there would be branches and multiple pathways to destinations from different sources, in the end it would be one single, whole Qi circulation, not many different ones. His Qi could flow without obstructions in the smoothest way possible. It would lay the foundation to grow the flow of mere drops into a raging river and later to a boundless ocean.

"As you know, the process will be uncomfortable for you, disciple. You will feel not just physical but also spiritual pain." Elder Bao said in a calming voice.

"I will now use my divine sense to inspect your cultivation base and then, with the help of my magic power, slowly dismantle your existing Qi circulations." Lin Yi nodded. He had felt slightly nervous over the last three days, after Elder Bao decided to help. Today, and in this moment, it grew even bigger. He knew he had nothing to fear. Elder Bao was a Purple Mansion cultivator with nearly a century of experience.

The sect even had medicine that would help him heal any injuries he might sustain, as unlikely as that was. Even knowing this, he was still nervous and even a little fearful. There was always the question of "what if" in his mind. Sigh, in the end, my dao heart is still not strong enough, not steady enough. Lin Yi thought inwardly. Nevertheless, he steeled his heart and mind and focused fully on Elder Bao.

"I will explain every step of mine before I act, don't worry." After a quick exchange of glances to make sure he was ready, it was time.

"Then, Disciple Lin, calm your mind and enter Wu Wei." After the elder finished his words, Elder Bao's magic power left his body, flowed into, and activated the Spirit Calming Cushion below Lin Yi. He noticed several flashes of supernatural energy emanating from the cushion as its effect took hold in reality. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Normally, a magic tool, like the cushion, would not be activated by magic power, but by Spiritual Qi and/or Spirit Stone.

Such a treasure had restrictions imbued within that allowed the absorption of Spiritual Qi without external assistance. One would only need to kickstart the restrictions. This was only natural. A cultivator's first priority was cultivation. If he had to provide the energy requirement for the cushion, it would only hinder him. Spirit Stone, or in this case, external magical power, was often used to boost the treasure's effect to its fullest, and it showed.

Lin Yi's nervousness and slight fear evaporated in a near instant. His mind calmed down, and his thoughts flowed freely. He had experienced the mental state of Wu Wei dozens of times already, and was quite familiar with it. Thus, he could sense the difference between this state and Wu Wei. It was similar, but in a more muted way, as if it was an imitation of the real Wu Wei. The state also did not come freely, but was forced upon his mind by the treasure.

He realized that if his mind and dao heart were strong enough, the cushion would have no effect. This was understandable. A high-grade magic tool would have only a negligible influence on a Dao Master or higher beings. They were intended for Purple Mansion cultivators. But on Lin Yi, someone in the first level of the Qi Condensation Realm, it was even stronger than normal. Without needing Elder Bao's instructions, Lin Yi sank deeper and deeper into meditation, boosted by the Spirit Calming Cushion.

What would take, on average, around two to three hours took only thirty minutes today. Lin Yi's mind fell into the natural way of heaven and earth. He acted without thoughts, and his mind flowed without intent. He knew that in this moment, supported by the magic tool, he could stay longer in the state of Wu Wei than normal, and external stimuli were less able to shake him out of it. He opened his eyes, looked at Elder Bai, and nodded.

The sect elder, higher in cultivation, could naturally sense that Lin Yi had achieved Wu Wei and began his part.

"I will now inspect your body with my divine sense." He did not put his palm on Lin Yi's body or touch him in any other way. There was no need for this. This small distance did not hinder divine sense. In the next moment, Lin Yi felt a wave of energy wash over his body and drill deep into him. This energy was similar to spirituality, but just more. It possessed not only a higher quality but also additional mysterious, almost divine characteristics.

As if, through divine sense, one could see something that mortals or even cultivators with spirituality could not. So this is one of the uniquenesses of the Purple Mansion, huh. The feeling that someone else could see through your entire body and hold your very life in their hands was quite disturbing, even in his Wu Wei state. But Lin Yi trusted the elder. He had no reason to do anything to him, not to mention the sect's strict rules.

Any sign of body possession would see consequences to the harshest degree, let alone that only a few in the Purple Mansion Stage would be able to achieve body possession truly. The Charging Bull Sect was an orthodox sect of the highest degree. It was even said the Charging Bull Perfected One, the sect's founder and ancestor, was once a student of a True Person from an immortal lineage. Demonic arts had no reason to be here. Only a few seconds had passed before Elder Bao was finished with his inspection.

"I have a good enough overview of your cultivation. I will begin now with abolishing your Qi circulation pathways. Ready yourself!" Elder Bao said seldom. Lin Yi's dao heart was as strong as it could be at the moment. Despite this, and despite all of Lin Yi's preparations, he couldn't help but hiss and grit his teeth, as physical and spiritual pain wracked through his body. With his Internal Sight, he could see how his Qi circulation, in which he had put countless efforts, slowly vanished.

They did not crack or burst apart, but, with extreme precision, slowly and steadily dispersed, beginning with the deepest layer. The profound pathways that were forged by the transformative ability of his Qi dissolved back into its original, free-flowing form, and then back into Lin Yi's body. Pain racked his body, and physical and spiritual exhaustion slowly settled in as the backlash started to sweep across his body. Lin Yi centered his dao heart. He had a task to do.

His spirituality reached out towards the dispersing Qi and tried to anchor it in his body. Once it revolved and returned to the Qi's unsystematic flow, it wouldn't be able to escape his body anymore. Around a minute had passed when the last Qi circulation completely vanished, and shortly after, most of his Qi returned to his body.

"Only around twenty percent of your Qi leaked outside. Mhm, that is an average outcome, not bad but also not especially good." Elder Bao's words awakened Lin Yi from his deep meditation. The elder cut off his magic power supply. The Spirit Calming Cushion deactivated, ending its calming effect. Lin Yi was stirred awake from the state of Wu Wei as he sensed his body's condition. His entire body trembled from the ordeal and was soaked in sweat.

The aftermath of pain still lingered, and blood flowed out of his nose, ears, eyes, and other orifices. He was completely exhausted and likely did not even have the strength to stand up, but it was done. His Qi circulation no longer existed. And thus, I am back at the beginning!