Chapter 258: Would You Mind Taking a Look for Me?

The air within the canyon became distorted due to the heat from multiple alchemy furnaces, and the curling scent of alchemy mixed with the aroma of medicinal herbs drifted through the air. Tang Miaoxing and Xu Xin stood before Lin Xuan, both of their faces carrying a hint of doubt. The previous discourse regarding the Nine Dragons Awakening World Map had already left them shocked, but they remained vigilant regarding the most core part of the Dan Shi.

"Lin Daozhang," Tang Miaoxing weighed his words, tentatively asking, "I wonder if you could... regarding our practice of the Dan Shi..." Before he could finish his sentence, he saw a trace of an elusive smile flash in Lin Xuan's eyes.

"Let me see your meridians." Lin Xuan extended his right hand, a wisp of faint Qi circulating in his palm, shimmering with a pale blue light under the moonlight. That Qi condensed without dissipating, dancing at his fingertips like a living creature; this technique alone left the surrounding Tang Sect disciples staring in astonishment.

Tang Miaoxing and Xu Xin exchanged a glance, a hint of hesitation flashing in their eyes. Allowing an outsider to examine one's meridians had always been a great taboo in the cultivation world. However, the otherworldly temperament Lin Xuan possessed made them involuntarily lower their guard.

Lin Xuan's palm lifted gently, and that wisp of Qi, like a tamed swimming dragon, split into two strands and submerged into their bodies respectively. At this moment, Tang Miaoxing and Xu Xin both felt a gentle yet irresistible force wandering through their meridians.

"Hmm?" Lin Xuan frowned slightly. "Sect Leader Tang, your heart meridian is deviated by three parts; every time you circulate the Dan Shi, at least twenty percent of the power is flowing in the opposite direction. Furthermore, the meridians in your left shoulder have already begun to stiffen. If not treated in time, it will certainly affect the operation of the entire upper burner within three months."

Tang Miaoxing shuddered upon hearing this, his face turning pale instantly. He had always carefully hidden these problems, and even the most trusted Elder did not know. He had only discovered some clues while checking his meridians alone a few nights ago; he had not expected Lin Xuan to state it so thoroughly after just a simple examination.

"As for Xu Xin," Lin Xuan's gaze turned to the other side, his eyes carrying a trace of pity, "your problem is more serious. When the Dan Shi is in operation, the Heart Fire is too intense, leading to damage in the meridians. Especially the meridian of the right little finger, which is already more than seventy percent blocked. If this continues, your cultivation will suffer a significant regression within three months. By then..." He did not finish, but everyone present felt the sense of warning.

These words were like a bolt from the blue, making Xu Xin tremble all over. He had indeed felt some discomfort while practicing recently and often felt his right hand going numb, but he had always thought it was just a minor issue; he had not expected it to be this serious.

The surrounding Tang Sect disciples were all too shocked to speak. They all knew that the meridian changes during the operation of the Dan Shi were extremely subtle; even experts who had practiced for decades might not be able to see them so clearly. Yet, Lin Xuan had pointed out so many details with just a casual glance, and every point struck at the vital issue.

"Lin Daozhang!" Xu Xin suddenly knelt on the ground, his forehead hitting the bluestone floor heavily with a "thud." "I beg for your guidance! This disciple is willing to pay any price!" His voice carried unprecedented earnestness.

The torches on the mountain wall swayed in the wind, casting Xu Xin's shadow onto the stone wall, appearing exceptionally lonely. Lin Xuan shook his head: "Get up. The path of cultivation values self-realization. If I were to tell you directly, it would instead hinder your progress."

"Lin Daozhang!" Xu Xin remained unmoved and continued to kowtow, each time hitting the ground heavily. "I beg for your mercy! This disciple has practiced painstakingly for all these years just to achieve something in the Dao of Alchemy. Now that I have finally met a master like you, if I miss this, I fear I will never have another chance in this life!"

Seeing that Xu Xin's forehead was already bleeding, with the bright red liquid sliding down his cheeks, he seemed not to feel the pain and continued to kowtow. This scene moved the surrounding Tang Sect disciples as well. They knelt down one after another; although they did not speak, the longing in their eyes was so obvious.

For a time, the sound of kneeling and kowtowing echoed throughout the canyon, appearing exceptionally solemn in the night. Even some disciples who were usually dissatisfied with Xu Xin were moved by his sincerity at this moment and knelt down as well.

Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai stood behind Lin Xuan, watching this scene with a trace of disdain in their eyes. In their view, the aptitude of these people was far too mediocre and they were simply unworthy of the benefactor's guidance. However, they also knew that such matters should be decided by the benefactor himself.

Lin Xuan looked at the scene before him, his expression remaining calm: "Very well, let me first see your Dan Shi Secret Technique. Perhaps I can find the source of the problem."

Tang Miaoxing was overjoyed upon hearing this, but then revealed a look of difficulty: "This... the Dan Shi is a secret of our Tang Sect that is not passed on; every generation of Sect Leaders has taken a solemn oath never to pass it on to outsiders..."

"It is of no consequence." Lin Xuan's voice remained calm, "I only need to take one look."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xin could not help but laugh inwardly. Even for a heaven-sent genius like Zhuge Qing, it would be impossible to penetrate the mysteries of the Dan Shi without three to five years of study. Letting him take one look—what could he possibly understand?

But Tang Miaoxing heard a hint of something special in Lin Xuan's tone. He pondered for a moment and finally took a primitive bamboo slip from his bosom, respectfully handing it to Lin Xuan. Since things had reached this point, it was better to burn his bridges. In any case, even if he let him take a look, it was impossible for him to grasp the mysteries within so quickly.

Lin Xuan took the bamboo slip and his gaze swept over it lightly. Those profound Runes seemed to come alive in his eyes, every character telling its secret. In less than a single breath, he returned the bamboo slip.

"I understand."

The simple three words left everyone present stunned. Under the moonlight, their expressions froze at that moment, as if time had stopped flowing.

"Lin Daozhang," Tang Miaoxing asked tentatively, his voice carrying unconcealable shock, "you said... you understand?"

"Indeed." Lin Xuan nodded, his expression remaining calm, "Your Dan Shi actually evolved from the ancient Fire Refining Method. Through a special breathing method, combined with a unique Qi circulation route, it ultimately achieves the goal of tempering essence and energy. It is just that during the process of evolution, some key areas deviated."

These words made Tang Miaoxing shudder. As the Tang Sect Sect Leader, he had studied the Dan Shi for decades and knew the origins in great detail. But with Lin Xuan saying this, he suddenly realized that it was indeed so. This discovery made him both excited and terrified—excited that he had finally found the source of the Dan Shi, and terrified that Lin Xuan had actually seen through so much with just one glance.

"Not only that," Lin Xuan continued, his tone carrying a trace of faint regret, "there are three places in the Qi circulation route you are currently using that are not reasonable."