Chapter 13 Metamorphosis (2)

After successfully performing Meridian Cleansing on Lin Feng, Lin Xing had gained some practical experience, making the subsequent procedures less mentally taxing and significantly smoother.

Having smoothly assisted Lin Yun and Lin Lei in opening their Ren and Du meridians, it turned out both possessed exceptional willpower—only losing consciousness at the very last instant.

However, a minor complication arose during Lin Dian’s Meridian Cleansing—one that nearly nullified all his prior efforts!

Lin Xing lacked experience in this area. His only exposure came from recently cleansing Lin Feng and the other three, but that was insufficient to handle unforeseen complications, as everything had proceeded flawlessly thus far, leaving him unprepared for potential setbacks.

This lack of experience meant Lin Xing had failed to anticipate numerous possible scenarios. For instance, he never imagined the process would deplete his mental energy so severely. He assumed his current cultivation level was more than adequate to cleanse the meridians of these youths.

Who could have foreseen that Meridian Cleansing would be so exhausting—not only mentally but also in terms of Zhen Qi? Underprepared and overconfident, Lin Xing found himself struggling when problems inevitably emerged.

The cleansing of Lin Feng alone had already exacted a heavy mental toll, leaving him moderately fatigued; his Zhen Qi was also significantly depleted. Afterward, Lin Xing merely took a brief moment to regulate his breathing before immediately beginning Lin Yun’s procedure—without properly restoring either his mental energy or Zhen Qi.

Even with some prior experience, the process still demanded substantial mental exertion. One after another, Lin Xing was rapidly approaching his physical and mental limits.

His mental energy and Zhen Qi were being consumed at an alarming rate!

After cleansing three people consecutively, Lin Xing was now nearing total exhaustion.

His Zhen Qi hovered on the brink of depletion, and his mind was utterly spent!!

Yet Lin Xing remained determined to persevere until Lin Dian’s cleansing was complete. He never did anything half-heartedly—once begun, he saw it through to the end! Moreover, he wasn’t yet completely drained. He was well aware of the extraordinary capabilities of the Nine Yang Divine Art!

This wasn’t arrogance—it was confidence. Yet this time, that confidence had tipped into overconfidence.

He had misjudged his current condition. His Nine Yang Divine Art had only reached the peak of its second layer; his Zhen Qi could not yet achieve true perpetual regeneration!

Furthermore, Lin Xing had never before experienced such profound mental depletion. He underestimated the severity of mental exhaustion, mistakenly believing recovery would be as swift as replenishing Nine Yang Zhen Qi—but that was not the case.

Midway through Lin Dian’s cleansing, Lin Xing felt overwhelmingly exhausted—mentally drained and physically spent.

At that moment, Lin Xing also sensed something was wrong. Not only was he mentally fatigued, but he also felt his Zhen Qi nearing exhaustion! The circulation speed of his internal Zhen Qi had slowed dramatically compared to earlier.

If his Zhen Qi’s previous flow resembled a rushing river, its current pace was akin to a placid lake—still moving, yet sluggish, almost stagnant.

Lin Xing was stunned. This was disastrous. Internally cursing his miscalculation, he wished he’d fully recovered earlier—but regret was now impossible!

Yet he couldn’t withdraw midway. Abandoning the process would render all his prior efforts meaningless and waste everything accomplished so far.

Lin Dian’s cleansing was only halfway complete. Stopping now could trigger unpredictable consequences—potentially leaving Lin Dian permanently disabled, or perhaps preserving only half the cleansing effect, which would likely make future progress extremely difficult.

Wouldn’t that mean he had harmed Lin Dian? He wanted a capable talent—a future ally—not someone incapacitated and unable to function. Moreover, if he caused Lin Dian any harm, guilt would haunt him for life, creating a deep-seated mental block. If left unresolved, his own cultivation would stagnate—perhaps forever! No one could accept—or even contemplate—such an outcome.

For his own sake and for Lin Dian’s, he absolutely could not give up.

Lin Xing gritted his teeth. At worst, he’d go all out.

True to his word, Lin Xing began frantically circulating his Zhen Qi, wildly absorbing spiritual energy from heaven and earth. Spiritual energy continuously gathered around him, transformed and refined by his Nine Yang Zhen Qi. Before even returning to his dantian, Lin Xing channeled it directly through his hands into Lin Dian’s body.

Suddenly flooded with several times the normal volume of Zhen Qi, Lin Dian cried out in agony—but clenched his teeth, clinging to the faintest sliver of consciousness!

Intense pain turned his face ashen, veins bulging on his forehead, sweat pouring down incessantly. His expression was ferocious!

Feeling his meridians violently damaged—repeatedly torn apart and hastily repaired—and sensing the massive influx of Zhen Qi, his meridians felt as though they were about to burst. An overwhelming sense of fullness surged through him—even as the Zhen Qi kept increasing, recklessly surging along his meridians straight toward the Ren and Du meridians.

Lin Xing grew increasingly anxious. The Zhen Qi flooding into Lin Dian’s body responded poorly to his control, instead charging autonomously toward Lin Dian’s Ren and Du meridians.

Lin Xing struggled desperately to rein in the Zhen Qi entering Lin Dian’s body, attempting to calm the rampaging energy. A wave of helplessness washed over him as he watched the torrential Zhen Qi surge uncontrollably toward Lin Dian’s Ren and Du meridians—utterly beyond his control.

After all, his cultivation level was still too low.

But Lin Dian had reached a critical juncture! As the Zhen Qi surged forth, it tore through obstructions in the Ren and Du meridians with unstoppable force—successfully opening the “Bridge Between Heaven and Earth” for Lin Dian, thereby facilitating effortless communication with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

The instant the Ren and Du meridians were breached, searing pain assaulted Lin Dian’s brain. As he lost consciousness, Lin Xing sensed the chaotic Zhen Qi within Lin Dian’s body gradually calming—and then he knew nothing more.

After breaking through the Ren and Du meridians, the previously rampaging Zhen Qi instantly settled, becoming serene and stable.

This now-calm Zhen Qi spontaneously circulated throughout Lin Dian’s entire body, repairing his severely damaged meridians and flesh. It flowed ceaselessly through his meridians! With each complete cycle, it grew stronger.

It had effectively become Zhen Qi cultivated by Lin Dian himself. Even without deliberate practice, the Zhen Qi continued circulating endlessly—equivalent to automatic cultivation.

Thus, Lin Dian had transformed misfortune into fortune. With such ideal conditions, his future cultivation path would yield double the results with half the effort! The thought of practicing nonstop every day was daunting—yet while others rested or slept, Lin Dian rested *while* cultivating! His cultivation level steadily increased.