Chapter 4: Xu Yan's Self-Reflection

The sky had not yet brightened when Xu Yan had already assumed a horse stance to practice.

"Master said, focus on comprehension and intention, not on form. Sense the qi and blood, mobilize the qi and blood, and temper the skin and membranes..."

"The ancient prodigies completed the tempering of the skin in just five days, but I still haven't sensed the qi and blood. The gap is too great. Master said not to be impatient, the more impatient I am, the harder it is to sense the qi and blood..."

Xu Yan gathered his thoughts, concentrating on his body, carefully sensing the qi and blood.

A hint of light appeared on the horizon.

As the sun was about to rise, Xu Yan, immersed in sensing the qi and blood, suddenly felt a warm current rise in his chest and abdomen, fine and warm, flowing with his breath.

"Qi and blood!"

"I've sensed the qi and blood!"

At this moment, Xu Yan was extremely excited.

"Calm down, calm down, stay composed, don't let your mind wander..."

"Mobilize the qi and blood to temper the skin and membranes... How do I mobilize the qi and blood? Master didn't give specific instructions, should I ask Master?"

"No! Master said it's about comprehension and intention. I must grasp this moment's feeling. If I slack off, it will be hard to sense the qi and blood again..."

"Moreover, if I have to ask Master in detail how to mobilize the qi and blood, wouldn't that disappoint him? He might think I lack insight."

Thinking this, Xu Yan immediately dismissed the idea of consulting Li Xuan.

He continued to hold the horse stance, over and over, trying to mobilize the qi and blood, recalling the explanations Li Xuan had given about mobilizing the qi and blood.

His mind was entirely focused on his body, immersed in mobilizing the qi and blood. His breathing changed unconsciously as he mobilized the qi and blood. Gradually, a thread of qi and blood spread throughout his body, his skin slightly reddened, as if a warm current was tempering his skin and membranes.

"Am I considered to have entered the tempering of the skin stage?"

Xu Yan was elated, finally sensing the qi and blood and successfully mobilizing it to temper the skin and membranes.

...

Li Xuan yawned, got up, washed up, and went out to prepare breakfast.

The village was left with only him, and self-sufficiency had long become a habit.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw Xu Yan practicing in a horse stance. The corner of his mouth twitched; this disciple was diligent, but no matter how diligent, it wouldn't do much good.

The cultivation method he had made up couldn't possibly work.

"I'll just make up some more nonsense when he can't take it anymore and comes to ask me."

Li Xuan shook his head and turned to leave.

Seeing his master, Xu Yan was excited and was about to tell him that he had sensed the qi and blood and entered the tempering of the skin stage.

However, seeing his master shake his head, his heart sank.

"Is Master dissatisfied with me?"

"Of course, with Master's realm, how could he not see that I've sensed the qi and blood and entered the tempering of the skin stage?"

"Master must think I'm hasty, proud, and can't stay composed..."

After this self-reflection, Xu Yan immediately dismissed the idea of telling Li Xuan that he had sensed the qi and blood and entered the tempering of the skin stage.

He took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and continued to mobilize the qi and blood to temper the skin and membranes.

"Master is unfathomable, he can see through me at a glance. I can't be arrogant or complacent... Master can see my progress with one look, no need for me to say anything."

Xu Yan realized that his master could see his progress at a glance, so there was no need to tell him.

Li Xuan caught a chicken from the coop, preparing to stew it with the Nine-Leaf Yuanzhi, a rare treasure. After eating the Nine-Leaf Yuanzhi chicken soup yesterday, he felt his body had become stronger.

He took out a knife, ready to kill the chicken.

Suddenly, he paused: "Wait, I have a disciple. It's not right for me, the master, to serve the disciple; the disciple should serve the master!"

"Since I've already deceived him once, and he's now my disciple, it's reasonable for him to serve me, the master."

With this thought, he held the chicken in one hand and the knife in the other, walking towards Xu Yan.

"Disciple, come, kill the chicken, add some Nine-Leaf Yuanzhi, and cook it."

Xu Yan finished his practice, took the chicken and knife from Li Xuan, a bit dazed.

"What, can't cook?"

Li Xuan frowned when he saw Xu Yan staring blankly.

"Right, Xu Yan is a rich kid, how could he know how to cook?"

Even so, since he had taken him as a disciple, he couldn't let the opportunity pass.

"Disciple, every action, sitting, sleeping, and eating, is part of cultivation. Although you haven't yet entered the door, being far from my realm, it will be beneficial for you to familiarize yourself with these things."

Li Xuan said solemnly.

"Master, I'll do it right away!"

Xu Yan straightened his expression and respectfully replied.

"Master's realm is too high. What seems like mundane tasks is actually the way of a great person, the way of a hermit!"

The more he thought about it, the more he felt his master was unfathomable. He seemed ordinary, not showing any signs of strength, but this was truly the way of a hermit!

Xu Yan went to cook.

Li Xuan, not entirely trusting him, watched for a while. He saw that although Xu Yan was a bit clumsy in killing the chicken and cooking, with his guidance, the food should be edible.

Satisfied, he moved a chair to the big tree in front of the house, lay down, and waited for the meal leisurely.

"Having a disciple to serve me, this kind of life is really nice."

"Given Xu Yan's brain, he won't figure it out in the short term, but I should prepare a backup plan..."

After the meal.

Xu Yan continued his practice.

"This... the speed of tempering the skin has increased, the qi and blood have strengthened by at least fifty percent..."

"At this rate, although I can't complete the tempering of the skin in five days, completing it within a month should be no problem."

Xu Yan, sensing the significant increase in the speed of tempering the skin, was extremely excited.

"Why has the speed of tempering the skin suddenly increased? Could it be..."

He thought of the Nine-Leaf Yuanzhi chicken soup!

The Nine-Leaf Yuanzhi was a rare treasure, and the Xu family only had this one. If he weren't the only heir, deeply loved by his parents, he wouldn't have been able to get the Nine-Leaf Yuanzhi as a gift to his master.

"Master!"

At this moment, Xu Yan was deeply moved.

"Master knew the Nine-Leaf Yuanzhi could help me cultivate, so he took it out and had me stew it!"

"I must not辜负 (disappoint) Master's efforts. I must practice diligently and strive to enter the door as soon as possible!"

Xu Yan, in his self-reflection, held a deep reverence for his master, moved to tears.

He mobilized the qi and blood, continuously tempering the skin and membranes.

As he continued to temper, Xu Yan felt his body becoming stronger, the qi and blood growing more vigorous, and the skin and membranes becoming tougher, as if he had already entered the tempering of the skin stage.

"I feel my strength has increased by more than a hundred percent, and this is just the beginning of the tempering of the skin. How strong will I be when I complete it?"

"I must enter the martial path within a year!"

Xu Yan's gaze was resolute.

"The effect of the Nine-Leaf Yuanzhi is too good. Why do I feel my strength has increased?"

"Should I keep it all to myself? No, it was originally a gift from Xu Yan, so we should share it. One shouldn't be too greedy!"

Li Xuan, feeling the changes in his body, had a fleeting thought of keeping the Nine-Leaf Yuanzhi to himself.

But ultimately, he wasn't that greedy and dismissed the idea.