Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Account

With the clear aim of examining the Green Cloud Sect in mind and the two-month period hovering like a sword over his head, Gù Ti?nháo knew he needed to optimize every second of his time and every gram of resource he could obtain. The Demon Dragon's Tyrannical Body Refinement Art was effective, albeit brutal, but he instinctively felt that it was only the tip of the iceberg of what the God and Demon Killing Account could offer. He needed to explore that mysterious space deeper. Maybe there was something else, something that could accelerate your progress or help you overcome the barrier of your damaged meridians, even before you got the ingredients for the pill. Again, in the stillness of the night, he locked himself in his room. Holding the cold black bill, he stung his finger with a needle he had quietly achieved with one of the sewing handmaids (swapping for a small future favor based on a vague and intelligent prediction about the servant's romantic interest - a trick learned in the office policy of her past life) and let a drop of blood fall on her. The familiar sensation of his consciousness being pulled enveloped him, and he found himself floating again in the vast foggy space within the Account. The Pavilion of the Primordial Legacy - Deadly Level was still there, emanating a soft light. The parchment with Tyrannical Art and the formula of the pill floated at its center. But this time, Ti?nháo did not focus on him. He looked beyond, at the swirling mist and the indistinct silhouettes of other sealed structures in the depths. He tried to approach one of these distant structures, one that looked like a tall tower wrapped in dark energy streams. As soon as his consciousness moved in that direction, an overwhelming pressure hit him, as if the universe itself were trying to annihilate him. A cold, wordless message echoed in his mind: Insufficient strength. Understanding of the necessary data. He hurriedly retreated, his soul trembling. It became clear that the deeper secrets of the Account were far beyond its current reach. Alchemy, Refinement of Artifacts, Formations, the legacies of Gods and Demons - all of which required levels of cultivation and understanding that he could not even begin to imagine. Frustrated but not surprised, he turned his attention to the Primordial Legacy Pavilion. If this was the mortal level, maybe there were more things here that he could access now, or soon. He examined the alcoves and pedestals that previously looked empty or cloudy. When he focused, he realized that the mist in some of the alcove was not impenetrable, but reactive to his own strength and intention. It was as if they were waiting for him to reach a certain threshold before revealing himself. He approached an alcove that seemed to pulsate with a slightly stronger energy than the others. By focusing his will and the minimum IQ he had been able to refine with Tyrannical Art, the mist in the alcove slowly recededed, revealing another floating parchment, this one of a slightly different color, perhaps a shade of bronze. Expectingly, he touched the parchment with his conscience. Nine Draconian Body Tempering Cycles" was not a complete cultivation technique, but rather a supplementary method of body refinement, designed to be used in conjunction with a basic technique such as Tyrannical Art. He described nine complex body postures and specific breathing patterns that, when performed correctly during cultivation, could increase the efficiency of Qi absorption, strengthen tendons and skin, and crucially use Qi to slowly nourish and repair meridians from the inside out. He was less aggressive than tyrannical art, focusing more on resilience and recovery. It was the perfect complement! Tyrannical Art provided the raw power and ability to break through blockages by force, while Nine Cycles would help mitigate damage, increase efficiency, and begin the healing process of their problematic meridians. His heart beat stronger with the discovery. This could significantly increase their cultivation speed and perhaps even make the process a little less self-destructive. Animated, he moved to another alcove that seemed accessible. Again, he focused his will and IQ. The mist dissipated, this time revealing not a parchment, but a small floating three-dimensional diagram that showed the acupuncture points of the human body. Acupuncture Point Stimulation Guide for Body Refinement (Basic Version) "This was a support technique. He taught how to use Qi to stimulate specific acupuncture points during physical training in order to maximize muscle strength gain, increase reaction speed, and improve blood and Qi circulation in the targeted areas. It was a method to extract more potential from basic physical training. Ti?nháo almost laughed with joy. With Tyrannical Art as the main engine, the Nine Cycles as the support and repair system, and this Stimulation Guide to optimize physical training, he now had a much more complete and synergistic toolkit to meet the challenge of Body Refinement. He examined the other alcoves in the Deadly Pavilion. Most remained shrouded in dense mist, clearly requiring a higher level of cultivation - perhaps the Realm of Meridian Opening or Qi Condensation - to be accessed. But what he had found was already an invaluable treasure. The Account did not give him power directly, but provided him with the knowledge to conquer it. He was a silent teacher, a mysterious guide on his journey. He spent what seemed like a long time memorizing every detail of the Nine Cycles and Stimulation Guide, etching the complex postures and Qi flow patterns in his mind until he was sure he could replicate them. When he finally felt the connection with the Account weaken, he allowed his consciousness to return to his physical body. He was exhausted by mental concentration, but his eyes shone with a new intensity. From that night on, his training regime changed. He still practiced Tyrannical Art to absorb Qi and attack the blockages, but now interspersed with the Nine Draconian Body Tempering Cycles. The postures were difficult and painful to maintain with his weak body, but he could feel a softer and more nutritious energy beginning to circulate, calming the inflammation caused by Tyrannical Art and bringing a subtle feeling of repair to his mistreated meridians. During the day, when he was not pretending to be an invalid, he began to practice basic physical exercises in his isolated patio - simple punches, horse postures, short runs. These were movements that the ancient Tiannháo could barely perform. But now, Ti?nháo (Alex) applied the Acupuncture Point Stimulation Guide, using his still rudimentary Qi control to direct energy to the muscles and relevant points. Progress was slow, but he felt his body responding, gaining strength and endurance at a rate that would be impossible before. His training became more systematic, more focused. Each night was dedicated to brutal but now balanced domestic cultivation. Each day was dedicated to optimized physical training and continuous information gathering, while keeping his profile low. He was still far from Level 3 of Body Refinement. He still desperately needed the Meridian Opening Pill. But now, with the new tools of the Account, the path to examining the Green Cloud Sect seemed a little less impossible. Hope had solidified into a concrete plan of action.