[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-cluster-artillery-shattering-the-immortals":3,"chapter-cluster-artillery-shattering-the-immortals-cluster-artillery-shattering-the-immortals-chapter-21":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Cluster Artillery: Shattering the Immortals",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2342032,4578,"Chapter 21: Breakthrough: Inner Qi","cluster-artillery-shattering-the-immortals-chapter-21",21,"\u003Cp>At the school, in the cultivation room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding wielded his sword in motion, two vials of pills placed before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was Jingqi Liansui Dan, suitable for Bone Refining realm—gentle in nature, easily absorbed, high success rate in formation; the other was Baijing Huaqi Dan, suitable for Inner Qi realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both were classic pills whose patents had expired at Yu Xianmen—six pills per vial for the former, twelve per vial for the latter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Produced by Hehe Pharmacy, with production date and alchemist’s name engraved on the bottom of each vial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jingqi Liansui Dan had been mostly consumed—one pill daily, each swallowed converting into abundant primordial qi to nourish the body; a slight misstep could lead to overstimulation and collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding naturally had no such problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He activated the Small Success-level “Chuying Qifei Sword Art,” and as swordlight flickered, it greedily absorbed the primordial qi exploding from his stomach, violently strengthening his body and bone marrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding silently watched him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This%novel{first;publish,>Please!Visit{to:read!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Student ID: 1246215】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In healthy humans, meridians are not blocked—they are simply too fragile and narrow to accommodate inner qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling past rote memorization and forced understanding of Chinese, math, geography, biology, and other subjects, he now felt a sudden clarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding rested his long sword diagonally across his knees, closed his eyes to rest, and directed the recovered inner qi from his dantian to circulate through the ten largest meridians of the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian. With faint stinging, he soothed the pain with inner qi, promoting healing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Chaoyang frowned slightly but said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many others still stuck in Body Refining realm, with mediocre academic performance, wore expressions of despair—the gap was too vast, there was not the slightest hope of entering the Daoist Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, using Jingqi Liansui Dan to train three rounds, then practicing the Inner Qi Sword Art once more, he refined and nourished the still-fragile Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, 9th branch (2%)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was simply no response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was simply too difficult; a moment’s inattention could damage the meridians, not worth the risk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over one meter eighty tall, skin faintly bronzed, face sharply chiseled, ruggedly handsome—no peer of his age, not even young girls, could easily withstand his presence; a rare specimen of a handsome uncle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others remained completely unaware. Even as a beginner, his control over inner qi was beyond what they could perceive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Name: Jiang Ding】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dingdong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could only consider entering a general department of some university—most people still managed to get into key institutions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This exceeded the limits of martial artists’ understanding of human meridians! It exceeded the limits of what a martial artist could achieve alone, without auxiliary refinement and nourishment of meridians! Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, 1st branch (1%)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The method of directing inner qi to nourish meridians… seems to carry traces of array art. The meridian and cultivation principles from Chinese class…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many innate martial artists could not achieve this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unconsciously, he reached the bottom of his residential complex, about to step into the elevator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This “stillness practice” was a secret technique from the Zhenling Sect’s “Chuying Qifei Sword Art”—its efficiency was one-tenth of active practice, but it consumed far less energy, excelling in continuity and accumulation over time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing?!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sword Extension! The blade drew from its scabbard, forming a circular arc in midair. Jiang Ding clearly saw how, building upon his previous sword forms, meridian circulation and inner qi manipulation had been added—the sword technique’s power surged, while simultaneously nourishing the tiny meridian clusters along its path, enabling them to better facilitate the transformation of essence into qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing the nourishment and refinement of the twelve regular meridians—including Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and Hand Taiyang Sanjiao Meridian—thousands of minor branches, he would enter Small Circulation, greatly increasing the speed and quality of inner qi; this was Small Success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding’s cultivation technique was already at Small Success, so the issue was minor—but he only dared to experiment slightly, for sudden stress could still damage the meridians; best to cultivate in a safe, quiet chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Realm: Inner Qi, Initial Success】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, 3654th branch (0%)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Chaoyang was slightly angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding silently calculated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meridians do not exist in isolation; beginning with the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, once all twelve regular meridians—including Hand Taiyang Sanjiao Meridian—are refined and nourished through their ten largest main and branch meridians, a “Micro-Circulation” forms, and the Inner Qi realm stabilizes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, under Zhenling’s guidance, the small figure began dancing with the sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a huge sum of money! And crucially, it was entirely explainable—wasn’t it reasonable to have randomly found a mutated unknown plant by the roadside flowerbed? He stepped out, found an ATM, withdrew thirty crisp hundred-yuan bills, and happily counted them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the cycle repeated endlessly, swordlight never ceasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elevators and residential complexes were public spaces—any citizen could use them; what did it matter to him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Jingqi Liansui Dan ran out, he switched to Baijing Huaqi Dan—ten times more potent, with vast essence continuously generated from his stomach, comparable to swallowing an entire ox, and with minimal impurities easily digested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding tucked the money into his pouch and glanced at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the small figure, rows of stored characters labeled minute meridian information—totaling 108,222.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Class dismissed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dingding, long time no see—how’s your studying lately?” A middle-aged man blocked his path, asking gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, he unconsciously infused slight inner qi into his eyes and ears, and everything around him seemed washed clean by water—unprecedentedly clear; he could even hear classmates chatting near the school gate after their drill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His name was also pleasant: Jiang Chaoyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Chaoyang stiffened, angry: “Is this how your mother raised you? Is this something to play around with? I see you’ve grown wild—you need a good beating!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Last Training Drill: “Sixty-Eighth Set of Chuying Qifei Sword Art” (Small Success 5%)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After two hours of training, six of the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian’s largest meridians reached 20% refinement. After routine weapon maintenance and shouting drills, class monitor Hua Bing reminded: “Tomorrow’s midterm exam—don’t forget.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Further refining and nourishing the eight extraordinary meridians—including Ren and Du—thousands of main and branch meridians would achieve Great Circulation, where inner qi flows endlessly; this was Great Success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jing! Swordlight flashed—Jiang Ding couldn’t help but draw his blade, mimicking the pale blue figure’s movements, directing inner qi from his dantian in diagonal slashes and horizontal cuts, the sword like lightning—every motion felt utterly exhilarating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Chaoyang stepped forward quickly, face filled with shame: “I know you’ve resented me all these years. I fought hard for custody back then, but your mother refused, and the court ultimately awarded her custody.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>98% 99% 100%!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two hours later, as the bell rang, Jiang Ding was drenched in sweat, drops falling steadily, each step leaving a mark, his face pale, meridians faintly aching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vast essence within his limbs and bones had nowhere to go, automatically transforming into inner qi, slowly replenishing the meridians and dantian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final perfection came from refining and nourishing over 88,000 meridians! He swallowed his last Jingqi Liansui Dan, continued practicing sword forms, no longer directing inner qi—only refining his body through hardened skin, flesh, and bone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jing! A chilling flash of light struck—its razor-sharp tip, wrapped in highly condensed inner qi, hovered less than a millimeter from his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The payment from Caiyun Pharmaceuticals for the Ziyu Grass had arrived. This was only preliminary research; once they confirmed any valuable component, they would purchase further patent rights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pale blue screen’s small figure showed only a few segments not at 100%—the spine, visibly, had jumped from 90% upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he was walking while tapping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the bus, he luckily secured a seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding recalled the Inner Qi section of the “Chuying Qifei Sword Art.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To cultivate inner qi naturally during walking, standing, sitting, lying—even while sleeping—required at least Great Success level in the “Chuying Qifei Art.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving at his door, he shielded the keypad with one hand, entered the code, pressed his thumbprint—the door clicked open, and he walked in, backpack on his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most people’s minor meridians numbered around 108,000.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Inner qi too weak—can only sustain three minutes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the depth of Yu Xianmen’s heritage—the terrifying power of a technique capable of forging a Dao-body prototype through postnatal cultivation! Ordinary martial arts manuals, such as those practiced by Gong Caiyu or the so-called Longhu Martial Arts Hall’s “Heaven-Turning Divine Monkey,” had a thousand meridians and were considered top-tier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding’s eyes gleamed, utterly unweary; he sheathed his sword, bathed, changed clothes, and returned to the classroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Chaoyang glanced at him and realized—he had been utterly silent, as if no one was speaking beside him, only empty air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding drew his sword; his dantian and meridians instinctively activated, channeling inner qi along the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian until it surged into the blade, producing a faint, slightly disordered white glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding felt a surge of joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A martial artist’s task was to continuously refine and nourish until the entire body was connected, achieving the Great Circulation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing one and a half sword forms, his inner qi was exhausted, shrinking to the size of a broad bean and retreating into his dantian; he sheathed his sword, breathing slightly heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You little brat…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the pale blue figure, countless fine meridians were labeled, entwined like dragons and snakes, dense and overwhelming—just looking made one dizzy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stepping in, his right foot crossed the boundary between the doorway and the room—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It will take about two weeks to achieve Micro-Circulation—provided you don’t stop taking ginseng or other potent primordial qi pills; otherwise, it won’t happen in a month.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elevator doors opened; Jiang Ding walked out on his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The classmates’ faces turned grim, some tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dingding!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiu! The blade moved lightly, its edge cutting the air with a sound—its destructive power increased manyfold! He looked at the projection panel from Zhenling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he reached out to slap Jiang Ding’s sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding’s eyes widened—he finally understood the true meaning behind his teachers’ constant emphasis: “The Dao is a discipline where study and practice are inseparable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Essence-to-Qi Transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He went on to ramble endlessly—unavoidably, he wanted to see you but had no time, had repeatedly sent money and gifts, but Lin Wanqiu refused them outright and threw them out, and so on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Extremely poor combat experience, low cultivation level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Likely Inner Qi Great Success, and still practicing “Chuying Qifei Art”—he had not switched to another inner qi method; clearly, even nearing fifty, he had not abandoned hope of becoming a cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the classroom, class monitor Hua Bing, Wu Tianli, and a few others glanced at Jiang Ding with slight surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Body’s so fragile—already reached the limit…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Caiyun Pharmaceuticals Finance Department has transferred 3000 Fanbi to your savings account…5247. After 5% tax deduction, balance: 3052 Fanbi.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding! He opened his eyes, pulled out his phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spanning the entire body, based on the twelve regular meridians and extending in all directions via the eight extraordinary meridians—totaling 108,222 meridians!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below the panel remained a faint blue figure, but this time what flickered within was no longer muscles, bones, or skin—it was a network of meridians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing the sword form, Jiang Ding sheathed his blade and felt his joints crackle; a warm current arose from his limbs and bones, like a hundred rivers converging into the sea, forming a thread-thin internal qi that surged into his dantian, then circled from the dantian along the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ding did not answer, stepped past the man, entered the elevator, and pressed the door-close button.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, the sword form was disordered, unable to fully master the newly gained power, but after a few moves, the swordlight once again coalesced into unity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ziz~ As he moved, the internal qi barrier at his throat was effortlessly severed; the sword tip made direct contact with the skin—cold to the touch, with a faint sting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Chaoyang’s body stiffened again, staring in disbelief at the boy before him—and his unnervingly steady sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does he really not fear killing me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stranger, do not enter my home without permission,” Jiang Ding said slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2048,"2026-06-20T23:34:14.007Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","aa88ed9bebced34620aa1b194ed72c6c8598c62ff1689962e2a26768c25e58a8","cluster-artillery-shattering-the-immortals-chapter-22","cluster-artillery-shattering-the-immortals-chapter-20",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcluster-artillery-shattering-the-immortals-cover.jpg"]