Chapter 11: Celestial Qi Gathering

Chapter 11: Celestial Qi Gathering

In front of a skyscraper in the city center.

Zhang Yu looked up at the towering building that seemed to pierce the sky, its top faintly resembling a celestial palace.

This was the headquarters of Xianyun Corporation in Songyang Central District.

In the distance, he could see an even taller skyscraper that seemed to reach the very edge of the sky. He knew it was the Central Spire, the tallest building in Songyang City, rumored to have 999 floors. It was a landmark he often saw on his way to and from school.

He turned his gaze back to the office building before him.

"Xianyun Corporation, huh?"

On his way here, Zhang Yu had already searched online for information about Xianyun Corporation.

It was a massive company under the Ten Thousand Laws Sect, involved in developing cultivation techniques, selling techniques, Immortal Dao education, and cultural and creative products.

The Ten Thousand Laws Sect was one of the Ten Great Sects, which, in this Kun Xu world, influenced every aspect of human life, from clothing and food to aging and death. Cultivation of the Immortal Dao was no exception.

So, it was no surprise to Zhang Yu that Xianyun Corporation, a giant enterprise, belonged to the Ten Thousand Laws Sect.

He lowered his head and walked into the building. After explaining his purpose at the reception, he went through a series of procedures: registration, signing a contract, and a simple medical check-up. Finally, he was led to a room that looked like a classroom.

Inside, a few students were already seated.

After waiting for a while, when the number of students in the classroom reached fifteen, a middle-aged man in a suit walked in and began explaining the day's trial.

"Hello everyone, I am your instructor for today."

"Everyone here has already signed the contract, but I must remind you that everything discussed here today is strictly confidential. If we discover that any of you have leaked information, we will find you no matter where you are."

The students felt a chill, knowing that with Xianyun Corporation's power and the backing of the Ten Thousand Laws Sect, it would not be difficult to enforce this rule.

"Today, you will be attempting to learn a cultivation technique we call Trial Cultivation Method 113. Please watch the instructional video first..."

The video introduced the technique as a Qi Refinement Stage Breathing Technique. Unlike the Basic Apnea Method, this technique was much more complex, as if it involved establishing a complex mana circulation throughout the body.

After watching the video, most of the students were still confused.

Only after the instructor's detailed explanation did they begin to grasp the basics, but the complexity of the technique left them feeling uneasy.

"Wait... we have to practice this technique? Are we even capable?"

The movement route of the technique was incredibly complex and difficult, like drawing the Qingming Shang He Tu on an A4 paper.

If Zhang Yu had to describe it, it was like trying to carve flowers on a piece of shit.

Forget following the movement route; most of the students couldn't even remember it. They had forgotten most of it as soon as it was explained.

Forget spreading it; they had no confidence that they could even complete the trial.

Noticing the students' changing moods, the instructor said, "Don't worry, this trial doesn't require you to master the technique."

"In fact, it's impossible for beginners to master this technique on their own."

"Today, we will also be testing the auxiliary equipment that works with Method 113..."

The students were then led to a Testing Chamber, where mana detection patches were attached to their hands, feet, chests, and backs.

Mechanical arms then brought silver needles, which were connected to wires, to the students.

The instructor continued, "When you start practicing, the detection patches will monitor the flow of mana in your body."

"The Primordial Magnetic Needles will stimulate your mana pathways under the control of the mechanical arms, helping you identify and correct the movement routes..."

Zhang Yu quickly understood that it was an automatic guidance system... or rather, not entirely automatic.

Because the mana routes of Method 113 were so complex, the system needed to monitor the practitioners' movement routes and use the Primordial Magnetic Needles to stimulate and guide them.

However, this process was not without danger. The complexity of the movement routes meant that any slight error in the flow of mana could cause it to become uncontrollable, spreading chaos within the body, causing itching, pain, and alternating sensations of cold and heat. If left unchecked, it could lead to more severe issues.

If prolonged, it could result in internal injuries. The longer it persisted, the more severe the injuries would be. One could either go to the hospital and pay a high price for a powerful cultivator to suppress the out-of-control mana, rely on physical strength to endure until the mana dissipated, or master the technique to control the out-of-control mana.

The instructor added, "As per the contract, the compensation for this trial will be based on the percentage of the movement route you complete. Only if you complete 100% will you receive the full ten thousand yuan."

"If you only complete half, you will receive five thousand yuan."

"Alright, everyone, if there are no questions, you may begin."

Zhang Yu glanced at the Feather Scroll.

Celestial Circulation Technique 0 (0/1)

He thought to himself, "So, I just need to practice once?"

Zhang Yu closed his eyes and began to circulate the technique, starting from the dantian and moving towards his spine.

He felt a slight pain in his spine, knowing that the Primordial Magnetic Needle was guiding the flow of mana.

Following the guidance, he slowly circulated the mana, step by step.

...

Outside the Testing Chamber, a group of researchers were observing the students.

"It's started."

The lead researcher, with messy short hair, stared intently at the screen, which displayed the mana flow of each student attempting to practice Method 113.

The assistant, equally serious, watched the practice diagrams on the screen, which showed the mana flow routes of the students.

Correct routes were marked in green, while errors were marked in red.

As the minutes passed, the number of red errors on the screens increased, and the assistant's face grew more and more disappointed.

"Teacher, the accuracy of the Primordial Magnetic Needles needs to be improved. Otherwise, it won't meet the precision required for beginners to practice Method 113."

"It's too difficult for beginners to master Method 113. Should we recruit test subjects with higher Dao Heart Ranks?"

The researcher frowned. "Both Method 113 and the Primordial Magnetic Needles were designed for beginners. I won't change that direction."

"Besides, those with higher Dao Heart Ranks have better techniques to practice. The passive meditative respiration effect of Method 113 is not competitive for them. It's the beginners who need it more."

At that moment, one of the students groaned and spat out a mouthful of blood.

The teacher coldly ordered, "Get him out of here. Don't let him disturb the others."

However, as the first student was removed, more and more students began to show signs of discomfort. Some turned pale and struggled to breathe, others screamed in pain and fainted, and some had minor injuries, feeling pain or itching at the points where their mana circulated.

Watching student after student being removed, the teacher's expression grew increasingly grim.

He complained, "The quality of these students is too poor. Can't we recruit better ones?"

The assistant whispered, "Teacher, the previous test subjects were severely injured, and no schools are willing to cooperate with us anymore."

The teacher sneered, "They're just a bunch of poor students. The potential market for beginners with Method 113 and the Primordial Magnetic Needles is huge. What does it matter if a few hundred die?"

Meanwhile, only three students remained in the Testing Chamber, still attempting to complete the technique.

Two of them had fewer errors and were still holding on, while the third, pale-faced student, caught the teacher's attention.

"This one has made many mistakes during the practice, and he must be in excruciating pain. Yet, he's still holding on?"

The assistant asked, "Teacher, should we stop him?"

The teacher shook his head, intrigued. "If he wants the money so badly, let him have it."

"Besides, more complete data on the errors in the movement routes will be beneficial for our research."

...

Inside the Testing Chamber, whenever Zhang Yu felt like giving up, he was reminded of the chilling force of the Contractual Ritual and the countdown in his mind.

"Damn Broken Pathway! Always pushing and pushing. If you're so capable, why don't you do it yourself?"

During the practice, any slight mistake caused mana to escape and spread through his body, causing him to feel a mix of pain, itching, cold, and heat.

Finally, after completing the entire movement route, he glanced at the Feather Scroll. "Celestial Circulation Technique 0 (0/1)" had changed to "Celestial Circulation Technique 1 (0/20)." He breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhang Yu admitted that he had taken a gamble, but fortunately, it paid off.

The memory of practicing this technique hundreds of times flooded his mind, making him feel as if he had been practicing for months.

At that moment, Zhang Yu felt confident that he could use the Celestial Circulation Technique to control the out-of-control mana and establish a complex mana circulation.

However, he didn't act immediately. Instead, he endured the discomfort and slowly stood up.

The instructor quickly approached him, surprised. "Student, are you okay?"

It was the first time he had seen someone with such a high error rate still manage to complete the technique.

Zhang Yu, clutching his stomach, said, "I feel like my insides are burning and freezing at the same time. It's so painful and itchy. I can't take it."

The instructor, concerned, said, "Let me take you to the medical room for a check-up."

"No!" Zhang Yu waved his hand. "What I mean is... I want more money."

The instructor examined him, noting his trembling and pale face. "One thousand yuan more, and you sign another contract. If anything happens to you, it's not our responsibility."

After some negotiation, Xianyun Corporation agreed to pay Zhang Yu an additional three thousand yuan, on the condition that any injuries he sustained would not be their responsibility.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end