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*****
"The Technique of Immortality, though it also calls itself the Technique of Certain Death, is by no means impossible to cultivate," Su Wen stated plainly.
"Marshal Zhou, you might find it beneficial to continue reading the descriptions that follow."
As Su Wen spoke, Zhou Shuiniu suppressed his urge to cast the scroll aside and continued reading.
Zhou Weiqing was merely a layman in the world of cultivation. Even if he understood some basic common sense regarding Heavenly Energy, his comprehension lacked depth. When he had first discovered the Technique of Immortality, he had only scanned the General Principles. Seeing that it was essentially a death sentence, he had looked no further.
Zhou Shuiniu, however, was a Lower-Level Heavenly Zong. He had cultivated his Heavenly Void Energy to the fourth stage and was on the verge of entering the fifth to become a Middle-Level Heavenly Zong.
In the world of standard Jewel Masters—those who focused solely on Physical or Elemental Jewels—reaching the fourth stage of Heavenly Void Energy would typically correspond to possessing nine jewels. In fact, most standard Jewel Masters reached the peak of the ninth jewel at only the third stage of Heavenly Void Energy. They might occasionally break through to the fourth stage by pushing their limits, but they could never manifest another jewel; it was often a fleeting moment of brilliance before their potential hit a hard ceiling.
By possessing the fourth stage of Heavenly Void Energy, Zhou Shuiniu had already surpassed the peak of any standard Jewel Master. With such a cultivation base, his understanding of energy cultivation methods was naturally profound.
As he suppressed his initial shock and delved into the specifics—the methods for cultivating after successfully charging an acupoint, the circulation of Heavenly Energy, and the intricate pathways for each completed stage—his expression grew increasingly solemn.
Terrifying! Absurd!
It was no wonder such a madness-driven technique had been developed. If one could look past the sheer lethality of charging the Death Acupoints, the power offered by this technique was theoretically staggering.
Specifically, by charging the Death Acupoints in a systematic sequence, the Heavenly Energy would begin to flow through these points and circulate throughout the body. The resulting effect seemed to be a complete reconstruction of one's foundation!
Yes! Even with a cursory glance, Zhou Shuiniu could sense it in the final energy pathways described in each chapter. Charging the thirty-six Death Acupoints was a process of seeking life within death—a literal "breaking and standing" to rebuild the body from the ground up.
After finishing the entire manual, Zhou Shuiniu took a deep breath, the details of the technique etched into his mind. Even a man of his stature felt a flicker of desire for the effects of such a manual. Unfortunately, the difficulty was simply too high. It was too dangerous; it was almost certain death.
"Senior, is your plan to use the effects of the Technique of Immortality to treat Weiqing's meridian issues?"
The Technique of Immortality did not focus on standard energy circulation. Instead, it used the charging of acupoints as its foundation. Daily cultivation was merely the simple accumulation of energy to prepare for the next charge. This accumulated energy was stored with the Death Acupoints as the core; even when distributed through the meridians, the greatest pressure remained concentrated on the acupoints themselves.
This meant that even if one's meridians were brittle, they wouldn't be the primary point of failure.
This was exactly what gave Zhou Weiqing a chance. Currently, the "crude" solution to his problem was to carve a path through his solid meridians. But even if the meridians didn't shatter during the process, they would be far too weak to handle the strain of standard Heavenly Energy cultivation. With the Technique of Immortality, however, that weakness became a non-factor.
Furthermore, as one progressed through the technique, the energy pathways formed by the Death Acupoints acted as a unique "formation" within the body. It was as if a grand array was being constructed inside the human frame, constantly stabilizing the master's meridians.
Not only would it stabilize them, but the constant tempering by Heavenly Energy under the protection of this formation would gradually alleviate the brittleness. Eventually, the strength of the meridians would surpass that of an ordinary person.
Su Wen did not deny this logic. The synergy between the Technique of Immortality and Zhou Weiqing's condition was indeed the point of contact.
However, that wasn't the core of Su Wen's treatment. The true key was the Dark Devouring God Tiger's pearl. By using the pearl to fundamentally change the boy's roots, his meridians would undergo the reconstruction process early, bypassing the issue of fragility altogether.
Combined, if Zhou Weiqing could successfully charge the acupoints, he would soar to unimaginable heights.
"But, Senior... charging the Death Acupoints is no joke. And before he can even begin this technique, his meridians must first be cleared..."
That was the most difficult step.
"And that," Su Wen said, "is where the choice lies for you, Marshal Zhou."
He then turned his gaze to the boy. "Of course, you may choose for yourself, young man. If you choose to trust me, I will personally clear your meridians. But afterward, you must cultivate this Technique of Immortality."
"This..." Zhou Shuiniu was torn.
He desperately wanted to find a ray of hope for his son. But this path was incredibly reckless. Having fought his way up from common origins to his current position, Zhou Shuiniu certainly had courage, but right now, the hope felt too thin to grasp.
Su Wen didn't mind the hesitation. Zhou Shuiniu's etiquette was impeccable, and it was only natural to be wary when a son's life was on the line. From the Marshal's perspective, the success rate of such a plan was infinitesimal—it was practically a fantasy. At the very least, within the borders of the Heavenly Bow Empire, Zhou Shuiniu had never heard of anyone capable of clearing such completely blocked meridians.
"It is precisely because his condition is so ruined that there is hope," Su Wen said calmly. "His meridians are a mess; therefore, he can more thoroughly abandon everything to change his foundation."
"Change his foundation?" Zhou Shuiniu caught the keyword once again. Even in his state of conflict, he remained sharp. He was waiting for Su Wen to provide a guarantee.
Su Wen was finally beginning to reveal his hand.
"That's right. Changing the foundation. Using a heavenly treasure as the cornerstone to sustain his life. Rather than saying I will 'clear' his meridians, it is more accurate to say I will shatter them and then reshape them. With the right treasure, the reshaping process can be completed successfully."
Zhou Shuiniu took a deep breath and stared at Su Wen. He wanted to know: what kind of heavenly treasure?
Furthermore, a nagging question had finally come to the forefront: Why? Why would Su Wen choose to help his son? If a treasure was sufficient to rebuild a person's foundation, it had to be priceless—a rarity across the entire continent. Why would this Master Su be willing to part with it just to solve the cultivation problems of someone like Zhou Weiqing?
"Is this enough?"
Su Wen didn't bother addressing all of Zhou Shuiniu's doubts. There were too many. He was here to complete the trial set by the God of Time. Since he possessed the strength, he would simply display his confidence to secure the opportunity.
Once the task was accomplished, these "doubts" would naturally cease to matter.
(End of Chapter)