Reversing Nature

The mornings at the foot of the mountain are much more lively than at Sanyi Gate.

As dawn broke, the cries of street vendors filled the windows. Tofu sellers, fried dough stick vendors, and vendors carrying needles and thread on shoulder poles—one voice after another, none giving way to the other. Liu Jin opened his eyes in Master Dongshan's guest room, staring at the ceiling for a while before remembering that he didn't have to do morning lessons today.

The room that Master Dongshan arranged for him was not large, but it was clean and tidy. On the table was a pot of tea and two books, and outside the window was a half-dead jujube tree. After Liu Jin finished washing up, he sat down at the table and spread out his cultivation notes from the past two years.

He had reached the peak of the second level and the end of the third level of the Reverse Rebirth technique. It wasn't that he had reached the limit, but rather that the technique itself could only take him this far. There were no incantations, no mental cultivation methods, and no predecessors' experiences to refer to on the path ahead. Zuo Ruotong himself hadn't crossed that hurdle. The automatic cultivation device was still running, but its efficiency had dropped to a minimum, like a millstone spinning aimlessly, grinding nothing.

He needs to fill in the missing parts himself.

The essence of the Threefold Reversal of Life is to reverse one's innate nature, reversing the transformation from the acquired mortal body to the innate Qi. The first two stages transform the skin, flesh, muscles, and bones, while the third stage transforms something deeper: the spirit, consciousness, or "self." However, the specific methods of operation are only described briefly in the Sanyi School's scriptures, resembling more of a philosophical speculation than a cultivation method.

Liu Jin put down his notebook and began to recall the novels he had read before his transmigration. *Covering the Sky*, *Perfect World*, *Buddha is the Way*, *A World Worthy*… the cultivation systems in those books were diverse, but two paths stood out most vividly in his memory. One was the orthodox Qi Refining to Spirit Transformation, building up layer by layer, steadily and surely. The other was the cultivation method of the ancient gods and demons, based on their origins. All the ancient gods and demons possessed origins, whether as the first extraordinary phenomenon after the creation of the world, as a manifestation of rare and precious materials born after the beginning, or simply as remnants of the three thousand gods and demons slaughtered by Pangu before the creation of the world.

Before the emergence of the Xuanmen (Mysterious Gate), they also discussed cultivation, focusing on their own inherent foundation to bring it closer to the Dao. Although there was an upper limit, later on, they still needed to specialize in the Xuanmen, but that was something to do after becoming a Golden Immortal. After the Dragon-Han Initial Calamity, the first great calamity of creation, the foundations of newly born gods and demons gradually weakened, so a Great Dao Lord transmitted a method, with the same name as the Sanyi Gate method, also called Reverse Rebirth.

The ultimate goal of the Reverse Rebirth Triple Stage is to transform the entire physical body's Qi into a pure mass of innate Qi. This school of thought also pursues the reversal of acquired Qi from innate Qi, but they both reverse the root foundation and then rely on the root foundation to drive cultivation and physical breakthroughs.

Perhaps Zuo Ruotong's words, "You are no longer human," were a lucky coincidence. Liu Jin decided to refine a leg for himself, use it to break through the third level, and then transform into human form to rebuild his physical body. In this way, he could break free from the cultivation system of "Under One Person" and achieve true immortality.

Further nourishment could be provided to the root, allowing for a breakthrough against the innate state, and Liu Jin had already foreseen the source of this root. It wasn't one of the Eight Wonders, but rather, fire. The Samadhi True Fire of the Zhuge family.

According to legends and Taoist records, the Samadhi True Fire is ignited by the combination of essence, energy, and spirit. It is itself a top-level cultivation technique, realm, and supernatural power. The Samadhi True Fire of the Zhuge family in One Person mainly burns the soul and is ignited in the inner realm. No matter how you look at it, it is just the Samadhi Divine Fire, not the True Fire.

However, a lower rank also has its advantages, making it easier to operate. After all, I am developing a new method, and if the flames are too powerful, it would be dangerous. I can supplement it later. Once I advance to Samadhi True Fire, I will probably be able to reverse my innate nature.

At that time, their level of attainment will likely be at least at the level of a human immortal.

Having made his plans, Liu Jin stopped using the automatic cultivation device to advance to the third level of Reverse Rebirth and instead focused on refining his meditation skills. He constantly honed his spirit and soul in preparation for entering the inner realm and igniting his divine fire.

If I remember correctly, among the senior brothers outside, there was one from the Zhuge family who had cultivated the Reverse Life Triple Technique and the Zhuge Qimen School of sorcerers.

Suddenly a head popped in through the window.

"Senior brother, let's go shopping."

Li Muxuan was wearing a newly changed blue cloth shirt, and his hair was tied up again. He looked much more energetic than he had on the mountain. He leaned on the windowsill, tapping his fingers on the window frame, looking impatient.

"You haven't gone shopping in two years?"

"I haven't been to the streets near my home for two years," Li Muxuan corrected him. "The market at the foot of Sanyi Gate doesn't count. There are only three shops in total: one sells incense and candles, one sells rice and noodles, and one sells both."

Liu Jin tucked the notebook into his pocket and stood up: "Isn't your dad going shopping with you?"

"My dad went to the next town to discuss business and won't be back until the day after tomorrow." Li Muxuan grinned. "Senior brother, what do you want to go shopping for? I know this area very well. Even though I haven't been back for two years, I can still find out which shop has the best braised beef and which shop makes the most lifelike sugar figurines with my eyes closed."

Liu Jin followed him out the door.

The street was paved with bluestone slabs, worn smooth and shiny by tire wheels and shoe soles. On both sides were all kinds of shops: cloth shops, pharmacies, blacksmith shops, teahouses, noodle shops, and a shop that specialized in selling kites, with a large eagle-shaped kite hanging at the door, gently spinning in the autumn wind.

Li Muxuan walked ahead, his steps quick and light. At each shop he passed, he would comment, "The owner of this shop has changed; it used to be a skinny guy." "These wontons used to be so delicious; I wonder if they're still good now." He didn't need to respond while he spoke; he could chat happily by himself.

Liu Jin followed behind, not saying much, but not bored. There were vendors selling roasted chestnuts on the street, and Li Muxuan bought a bag, sharing half with Liu Jin. The chestnuts were fresh out of the pan, so hot that he kept fidgeting between his palms, all the while recounting the glorious history of the chestnut stall. The stall owner's grandfather had been roasting chestnuts since the Guangxu era, and the cooking technique was a family heirloom.

After walking the entire main street, Li Muxuan was pulling Liu Jin towards the market. He had heard that there was a temple fair today, and there might be a variety show troupe.

The market was even more crowded than the main street. Stalls selling vegetables, cloth, and porcelain were packed tightly together, leaving only a narrow aisle in between. Li Muxuan weaved through the crowd, with Liu Jin following leisurely behind. Reaching the center of the market, a crowd suddenly gathered. It wasn't just ordinary onlookers; it was a deep, layered mass. Some stood on stone benches, others carried children on their shoulders, all craning their necks to see inside, occasionally bursting into cheers.

Li Muxuan's eyes lit up, and he pulled Liu Jin into the crowd. Being small, he weaved his way to the front. Liu Jin followed behind him, silently parting the crowd. He didn't need to push; the people in front were pushed aside by an extremely light and gentle Qi, creating a gap before they even realized it.

An old man was standing in the center of the venue.

The man was about sixty years old, wearing a faded gray cloth long gown with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing two thin arms. He had a gaunt face, a shaved head with three short tufts of beard, and small eyes, but there was an unsettling quality to them as they moved—not evil, but rather an overwhelming intelligence, so intelligent that you could tell at first glance that he was not someone to be fooled. Dozens of beans were laid out on the ground in front of him.