CHAPTER 89: TRI-CORE CONSTITUTION

In three full days, Liu Wei did not rush ascending in the Foundation Establishment Stage and steadily completed the first stage of the Verdant Cauldron Sutra on the Earth rank stage on the third day.

At present, Liu Wei exhaled a breath filled with medicinal scent, intoxicating everyone who inhaled it.

Liu Wei slowly opened his eyes and smiled.

He mumbled.

"My bones and marrow have fully transformed into the Verdant Cauldron’s framework, anchoring elemental stability throughout the body."

He asked the System, "System, can you show me the effects of the Earthen Pillar Foundation."

[Understood. Here are the effects of attaining the Earthen Pillar Foundation:

Marrow Jade Tempering: Marrow constantly refines impure blood into pure Verdant Qi.

Endless Circulation: Qi continues flowing during sleep or unconsciousness.

Five-Element Core Stability: Elemental Qi backlash reduced by 70%.

Cauldron Frame Body: Bones gain jade-like density; physical durability and defense increase 50%.]

After comprehending all the effects, Liu Wei suddenly grew worried.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled.

"I really have to elevate the Dual Thought Breathing: The Lotus of Two Minds."

If he would still refuse and pushed through the second stage in both the cultivation techniques, the spirit rank Dual Thought Breathing might be unable to control them, jeopardizing his life.

He already had an idea it would happen, so he brought the Earth rank version of the Dual Thought Breathing.

However, what he did not expect of how dangerous indeed to cultivate both techniques without a medium that would control them.

Even if he had, if the medium failed to control them for it was overpowered by the two cultivation techniques...

Liu Wei could only shiver in terror just by imagining the result of the two cultivation techniques creating a violent conflict inside his body.

Without hesitation, he put aside the Verdant Cauldron Sutra’s cultivation technique and opened the Dual Thought Breathing: The Lotus of Two Minds scripture.

He skimmed read after sometime until he finally memorized all the contents in five minutes.

He closed his eyes and tested if he really had all–every word, every sentence, every image depicted on the scriptures—in his mind.

He was satisfied that he had indeed memorized them all and put the scriptures in his lap, entering the meditative state.

Liu Wei then proceeded to attempt making a breakthrough in the Foundation Establishment Stage to completely solidify his cultivation rank...

...

Liu Wei meditated before above the calm ink-lotus pond.

Through his breathing cycles, he perceived not only his reflection but the intent behind his reflection.

His reflection was actually the usual ordinary–looking Liu Wei, staring at him with soulless eyes.

However, soon it moved on its own accord, tending the reflected library and reading some books.

His reflected mind was awakened.

Then, his Qi flow was divided into Yin and Yang loops, circulating along the Mirror Vein and Echo Vein.

The Mirror Vein was the subtle meridian network connected to introspection and memory, while the Echo Vein was tied to active will and external projection.

Liu Wei succeeded in synchronizing them, humming them at the same frequency.

So, when he sensed the dantian quivers with dual resonance... his face grew serious.

After all, it was the sign of an approaching breakthrough.

At the moment of his breakthrough, both of his minds inhaled as one and exhaled in mirrored rhythm.

His Qi collapsed inward, then bursted outward in a flash of cold light, forming a two-petaled lotus of crystallized energy in the dantian.

His consciousness briefly duplicated, allowing two streams of awareness to coexist within a single core.

Liu Wei then had to spend seven full days in maintaining the serenity while both minds exchanged roles and insights.

It was like there was the manifestation of Blood Demonheart Sutra and Verdant Cauldron Sutra conversing with his minds—their roles, how they would exist in harmony inside his body, and then compromising for his sake—and the Lotus of Two Minds acting as an arbiter of their agreement.

It took them seven days, so Liu Wei did not have a choice but to let them do as they pleased since they had a massive role in his cultivation.

When they finally reached an agreement, with the Lotus of Two Minds sealing it, he finally exhaled and opened his eyes as soon as their manifestations in his mind vanished.

He finally stabilized his Dual Lotus Foundation, granting him the title of Mirror Initiate within the Mirror Dao Sect.

"Mirror Initiate... Sage of Mirror Heart did not explain what it was but he was the one who created such a title in his sect.

However, I don’t know where I can find his sect though..."

Liu Wei pondered for some time, but was eventually distracted by the idea of having three dantian.

According to Sage of Mirror Heart, his Dual Thought Breathing, mind cultivation technique, helped a cultivator who cultivated his cultivation technique attain a Tri-Core Constitution, where each sutra’s foundation governed a different domain of existence.

In other words, his inner world has evolved into three distinct energetic systems that act as autonomous cores.

They formed a single integrated organism that happened to have three "hearts" beating in different aspects of existence.

Liu Wei mumbled, "A Tri-Core constitution is the stage where a cultivator simultaneously sustains the Qi Core – the foundation of body and meridians, the Blood Core – the essence and vitality engine nested within the Qi Core, and the Mind Core – the conscious or spiritual anchor governing both."

Liu Wei was still in awe of how mysterious it worked.

Despite it appearing it would endanger his body once a single mistake in their circulation and harmonious interaction occurred, he was awestruck that it seemed it would be impossible to happen, even if one of them ascended to another minor stage or even a major stage in cultivation rank for some time.

They were clearly united.

Liu Wei mumbled, "After all, the Tri-Core Constitution isn’t three separate dantian chambers, but rather it’s the functional integration of the Verdant Cauldron, the outer Qi layer, the Blood Demonheart Furnace, the inner Blood layer, and the Dual Lotus Core, the mental layer, forming three autonomous yet interlinked cores across body, essence, and mind."