*Crunch*

*BAM*

Hao Xuan's body flew several meters into the air from the impact, landing on the concrete ring with a bang.

*Huff*Huff*

Instead of getting up this time he stayed down, cursing himself for bringing up his cultivation status in front of First.

"Captain, now isn't the time to rest!

"

A voice came from the front. He tilted his head sideways and met the speaker's gaze.

"Yu Bo, just because First brother said so, doesn't mean you have to follow his orders so passionately.

"

Yu Bo looked to be about 30 years of age. He was completely bald and was holding a normal wooden stick in his hand. Beside him were two other people, smiling sheepishly and waiting for their turns.

"Hahaha, but isn't it fun? Can you not feel the blood pumping through your veins?

" Yu Bo replied while twirling the wooden stick between his fingers like a pro.

"How about I take over? You guys have been going at it for hours and it's getting pretty boring!

" the person to Yu Bo's left moved forward.

It was a young girl of about the same age as Hao Xuan. She had long blue hair and a very lean build, making her look quite intimidating.

She didn't have a weapon in her hand but her wrists were wrapped up with a thin silver sheet of some kind.

"Oi Oi, wait your turn! I'm up next!

"

The person to his right walked forward as well. It was a young man of about 25 years of age. He had short white hair and a somewhat muscular build. He looked like a bodybuilder that had started working out a few months ago.

In his right hand was a wooden longsword while in his left was a wooden spear.

Yu Bo sighed and shook his head dejectedly.

"My oh my, seems like I have to take a break now. It's your choice captain, Xing Zhi or Tao Hu? Who do you want to 'spar' against next?

"

Hao Xuan used his hands to get back up, wincing from the constant pain.

"You as*holes...fine! Tao Hu, come!

" he pointed at the white-haired man.

"Ah, you have chosen wisely!

" Tao Hu walked into the middle of the ring with a toothy grin.

"AHH!

"

Hao Xuan got into an attacking stance and leaped at him with his clenched fists.

These three individuals were First's direct subordinates. They had mastered the basics of hand-to-hand combat, weapon handling and counterattacking.

All of them were at the 9th Level of the Spirit realm, getting ready to break through to the Profound realm.

First had ordered them to train Hao Xuan in how to use his Qi and energy efficiently and effectively, especially when he was at a disadvantage.

That's why he wasn't allowed to use any weapons. The objective of this somewhat unfair training regime was to force Hao Xuan to use Qi how it was meant to be used.

For the last 6 days he had been fighting against these people from sunrise to sundown without a single break. At night he would sleep in a tank full of different herbs and ingredients that healed his body and restored his Qi for the next day's fight.

The process, although strict, was successful. At the end of every day he would fall unconscious into herb bath and wake up full of energy.

Because of the physique, his muscles quickly healed and every time they became bigger and stronger. His reflexes got faster and faster to keep up with trio's attacks.

What were like shadows to his eyes before were now discernable attacks that could be countered properly. He learned rather quickly, well, he had to for his own sake.

The trio didn't hold back at all, breaking several of his bones on the first day. And when they found out that his healing ability was off the charts, that he was able to heal in a single night, they lashed out even more. At first all he could do was run around or use his own arms and body to block the attacks, but eventually, he got the hang of it.

**

A cultivator's meridians were like any other part. Every time they were emptied and refilled or damaged and restored, they would become bigger and sturdier.

After what seemed like ages, Hao Xuan went back to read the Glaive Manual once again. It had mentioned a Sixth meridian located below the belly button, but Hao Xuan wasn't able to feel its presence at all.

Perhaps he still hadn't fulfilled all the requirements needed to open it.

At the end of the eighth day Hao Xuan was sitting in the bath when he remembered something. The most obvious of things. He almost wanted to punch himself for being so stupid.

"Baracus!

"

*Beep*

"Yes?

"

"Search your database, give me all the information you have regarding the cultivation systems of humans and the most efficient way for me to break through.

"

*Beep*

A green light flashed across the screen as Baracus started gathering all the information.

Hao Xuan had been so busy with the training these past few days that he forgot that Baracus even existed. His schedule was pretty packed so this was normal.

"This is everything I have. There should be much more information in your head, if you would be kind enough to look there,

" a couple of pages popped up. Baracus's sarcastic tone left Hao Xuan feeling somewhat dispirited but after he read the first page, he cheered up instantly.

"Humans have five basic meridians located along the four limbs and the brain. A sixth meridian can also be opened if the soul is powerful enough and if the Dantian has already been created.

"

"This sixth meridian can be used to an nurture an extra soul.

"

"A dantian is exactly how it sounds, a 'Sea of Qi'. Many superior human species are born with this, but it can also be opened independently. It should be located in the middle of the body, in the chest. Its function is to expand inwardly in a way that it is able to store a massive amount of energy.

"

"It doesn't exist on its own in beings that aren't born with it and has to be manually created by the cultivator. This can be done in several ways including grafting, artificial augments, or the most difficult one, by gaining complete control over one's body and forcing the nerves, the blood vessels, and other tissues to create it.

"

This was the gist of it. Hao Xuan was sure that his soul was powerful enough so all he needed to do was create the dantian somehow and then he could open the sixth meridian as well.

Which would mean that he would be able to control six different types of energies.

*Clang*

"Take him inside!

"

Someone shouted from outside the tent, waking Hao Xuan up from his daydreams.

He got up and put on a robe to peak outside. It was First, Du Xun and two other people, dragging a strange creature inside a tent.

"What's that....

" Hao Xuan mumbled curiously and walked out.