Chapter 5: The Meridian
The first rays of sunlight pierced through the cracks in the crumbling walls of the hut. The once oppressive darkness was now replaced by a golden hue, illuminating the faint dust particles floating in the air. Jul lay on the small cot, his tiny body barely taking up any space, but his mind was alive, brimming with determination. He was no ordinary infant. The soul within this fragile vessel held the knowledge and discipline of a former world, and today marked the beginning of his path to power in this one.
His small chest rose and fell with deliberate breaths, each one measured. The air around him felt alive with energy, an unseen force saturating the environment, ready to be harnessed. For Jul, this wasn’t just a new day; it was the start of rebuilding himself from the ground up.
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The hut was quiet, save for the occasional rustling of leaves outside and the gentle hum of nature awakening to the day. Old Man Grewe had left early to gather herbs, muttering about finding the freshest dew-laden plants before the sun fully rose. His wife remained, tending to the other child who had arrived with Jul, offering food and warmth to the older sibling who still clung tightly to the cradle.
Jul, however, had only one focus. Cultivation.
"As an infant, much of my time will be spent sleeping, which feels like such a waste. I need to find a way to cultivate even while I sleep. The first step is to focus on building a solid foundation. This fragile vessel must adapt to the Small Circulation technique before I can push further." He thought.
He closed his eyes, drawing a deep breath through his tiny lungs. Despite the weakness of his physical form, his mind reached out to the energy around him. The Qi in the air was rich, almost intoxicating. It swirled like a gentle breeze, brushing against his senses, waiting to be invited in.
Jul focused inward, visualizing his dantian as a calm void.
"I need to guide this energy toward my dantian like water flowing to a quiet lake."
With each breath, he drew energy from the surroundings, guiding it toward the datian, slowly and calmly. Any hush could lead to a major internally injury. The energy rippled, steady and controlled, as he began forming a cycle. The Small Circulation begins at the dantian, flowing upward through the Ren Meridian to the crown of the head, then descending along the spine through the Du Meridian, returning to the dantian. With each cycle, the energy gathered in the dantian spirals like a whirlwind, twisting and merging into a seamless, endless flow, resembling an eternal vortex of power.
The process was slow. This body, so new and undeveloped, resisted the surge of Qi, but Jul’s determination was unwavering.
"I have to be careful not to draw in too much Qi at once, or this fragile vessel will break," Jul thought with caution. He carefully breathed in the energy, letting it flow gently as he worked to cleanse each cell of his body.
He cycled the energy through his meridians, carefully avoiding any abrupt movements that might cause harm. It was like threading a delicate needle, but each successful pass brought a sense of accomplishment.
"The twelve main meridians must be cleared step by step," he reminded himself. "Rushing this will only lead to internal chaos."
As Jul breathed in, energy from the outside surged into his tiny body, washing through every cell like a cleansing tide. When he exhaled, a thick white fog drifted out, heavy and dense, like mist on a winter morning. To an outsider, it might have looked like the cold air condensing around him, but in reality, that fog carried away the impurities buried deep within his fragile form. This was no ordinary mist—it was the waste expelled from the very essence of his being.
With each cycle, subtle transformations began to take place. Jul could feel his skin becoming smoother yet tougher, like the first layer of a protective shell forming. His tiny muscles gained a slight firmness, and even his delicate bones seemed to strengthen, as though fortified from within. These micro improvements, though small, filled Jul with a profound sense of progress.
"This body is changing," he thought, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his mind. "Every breath brings me closer to turning this fragile shell into a foundation worthy of my goals." The process not only cleansed his body but also breathed new life into it, preparing him step by step for the challenges of cultivation ahead.
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Days turned into weeks, and the sun continued its cycle, rising and setting over the quiet hut. By now, Jul was a month old, though his physical form still appeared fragile and infantile. Yet within, his body and spirit were undergoing profound transformations. Each day brought steady progress, and Jul's tiny form remained seemingly motionless, but within him, a storm of activity continued to take place.
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"This should be enough for the first Meridian: Lung,"
Jul thought as he examined the energy gathered in his dantian. The dense energy within swirled like a steamy fog, forming a whirlwind that grew stronger with each rotation. It was a stark contrast to the beginning when his dantian had been completely empty, a silent void with no trace of power. Now, it pulsed with life, a growing reservoir of energy. "From nothing to this... and it’s only the start," he reflected with a sense of accomplishment.
"This place is incredible," he mused.
"The energy here is so abundant that I’m building it up faster than I ever expected. It’s like drinking from an endless fountain of power."
"Okay so let’s start with the Lung Meridian, the first of the twelve paths,"
Jul thought as he focused his mind. The Lung Meridian plays a vital role, governing the amount intake of breath and the energy exchange with the air.
"The first step is always the hardest. But since a newborn's body has no impurities in its meridians, I can cleanse and clear them much faster than expected."
As Qi flowed through this channel, Jul felt a slight resistance. It was like encountering a partially blocked river. As Qi attempted to flow through, Jul felt a heavy pressure pressing on his chest, squeezing his lungs tightly. The sensation radiated down his arms and hands, leaving them numb. He gritted his teeth mentally, knowing this was the pathway of the Lung Meridian resisting his effort to clear it. He didn’t push; instead, he coaxed the energy gently, letting it wash over the blockage again and again until it began to loosen. The sensation was subtle but rewarding, like feeling the first cracks in a dam.
"Progress," he thought, a faint smile crossing his lips.
The first cycle was complete, and Jul immediately moved to stabilize the Qi within the Lung Meridian. This time, the flow was smoother, the resistance lessened. He continued, repeating the process until the meridian was clear, leaving behind a pathway that pulsed with vitality.
Jul heard a crack inside his chest as the Lung Meridian cleared. Suddenly, air rushed into his lungs, filling them completely. It was like being deprived of air for an eternity and then breathing in fresh oxygen from an oxygene tank. The whirlwind of energy in his dantian spun faster, growing denser and more concentrated with each passing moment. He felt a rush of vitality surge through him, as if his entire body was awakening for the first time.
As the Lung Meridian cleared, Jul felt a chilling sensation sweep through his entire body. It was as if each cell had transformed into cold metal, reflecting the element of the Lung Meridian itself. With this breakthrough, he felt a new power awakening within him—a unique ability tied to the Lung Meridian. His body seemed to instinctively regulate his breath and Qi flow more efficiently, even drawing energy passively through each breath. This ability extended to his sleep, ensuring the cultivation process never truly stopped, allowing him to grow stronger without interruption. After the Lung Meridian was cleared, Jul noticed the energy coating each of his cells, making them stronger and more resilient. His lungs gained a new ability—they could now detoxify harmful substances to a certain extent. Jul thought to himself,
"If I continue to cultivate and grow stronger, this power might make me immune to toxins entirely."
The day wore on, and Jul’s focus remained unbroken since he had nothing to do beside eat sleep and cultivation. By the time a week had passed, the transformations within his body had become undeniable. After unlocking the ability to passively gather energy, his cultivation had entered a new phase. Even during his sleep, the energy flowed steadily through his meridians, enhancing his progress. By the end of the week, the changes in Jul’s physical form were no longer subtle.
His skin now had a slight glow, appearing smoother and tougher, as if reinforced by the very energy he absorbed. His previously fragile bones carried a newfound strength, and his tiny muscles, though still underdeveloped, seemed denser and more responsive. The once frail and delicate infant now radiated an aura of vitality, as though life itself coursed more vibrantly through his veins.
Old Man Grewe, ever observant, had started to notice these changes. While tending to Jul one evening, he paused, his calloused hand resting lightly on the child’s forehead. “Strange,” he muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing with curiosity. “This boy doesn’t seem like other newborns. His skin feels firmer, warmer... and his breathing—so steady and strong. It’s almost unnatural.”
Mrs. Grewe, a healer by nature, had also remarked on Jul’s rapid growth.
“It’s as if he’s thriving on something more than just milk,”
she had whispered one night, her voice tinged with awe and a hint of unease.
“He doesn’t cry or fuss like other infants. There’s a calmness about him, almost like... he’s aware.”
Jul, though aware of their observations, remained focused inward. “This progress is faster than I expected,” he thought. “The passive gathering is more efficient than I could have hoped for. Each day, I can feel my body adapting, growing stronger.”
By the week’s end, Jul had fully cleared the Large Intestine Meridian and had begun working on the Stomach Meridian. Clearing the Large Intestine Meridian unlocked a unique ability: Jul found that his body now processed impurities and toxins with incredible efficiency, further purifying his flesh and enhancing his stamina. He noticed that his energy reserves replenished faster, and even minor discomforts within his fragile body seemed to heal at an accelerated pace. "This is more than I expected," he mused. "It’s like my body is learning to adapt and thrive on its own." With each passing day, the energy within his dantian grew denser, swirling like a storm contained within a calm lake. The once laborious cycles of Qi circulation now felt almost natural, as though his body was beginning to operate on instinct.
The transformations, while still in their early stages, were setting a solid foundation for what Jul knew would be an extraordinary path. “This is just the beginning,” he thought with a faint smile. “One week in, and I’m already surpassing expectations. Let’s see how far this body can go.”