Chapter 47

This stone table is made of extremely hard granite, yet Second Senior Brother's sword managed to pierce it more than a foot deep, demonstrating his profound skills.

Qingyan Daoist gently pulled, and with a whoosh, a bit of stone powder was lifted.

He easily returned the sword to its sheath and smiled, saying, "Your senior brother is now at the seventh level of the 'True Grit Realm'..."

"Hey? What realm was that 'Wanshan Knifeman' Jiao Qingtong, whom Senior Brother killed?"

Qingyan Daoist crossed his arms and thought for a moment, "He was probably at the peak of the 'Earth Essence Realm'—"

"Then isn't Jiao Qingtong about the same level as Master?"

"Tsk—When Master encounters such a formidable opponent, it's like slaughtering a chicken or a dog—Little Junior Brother, you must understand that below the 'Innate Realm,' experts cannot spread their Grit Qi throughout their body, so their defense is not particularly strong. For post-natal experts, the difference in cultivation level does not guarantee that the higher realm will always win. If you stab him with a sword and hit a vital point, he will die no matter what... So, I relied on my exquisite sword technique and his overconfidence to barely kill this expert... This has nothing to do with realm—of course, if he had used his full strength from the beginning, overpowering with brute force, I would not have been confident in defeating him."

Qingxuan understood at this point.

Among the "Nine Ascension Realms," the "Foundation Building Three Realms" of the Body Tempering Realm, Essence Strengthening Realm, and Qi Gathering Realm, basically cultivate and accumulate Inner Qi to nourish the body, lay a solid foundation, and build a base. They are generally cultivated within their respective sects and are not allowed to leave the mountain until they reach the "Post-Natal Three Realms."

Only when one reaches the "Post-Natal Three Realms" can they be considered a master and a capable hand in the martial world, though they are still considered初级高手, at which point the basic characteristic is to compress and refine the Inner Qi within the body into Grit Qi, making it substantial.

When one reaches the "Innate Three Realms," they can freely command Grit Qi, both spreading it throughout the body to form an impenetrable defense and condensing it into shapes to increase its power.

The leap from "Foundation Building" to "Post-Natal" is a qualitative leap; the leap from "Post-Natal" to "Innate" is also a qualitative leap...

Although Jiao Qingtong was at the peak of the "Earth Essence Realm," which is the peak of the "Post-Natal" state, he was still not in the "Innate Realm." When he fought Qingyan, who was also in the "Post-Natal" realm, he could still be beheaded with one sword, dying on the spot.

Seeing his junior brother lost in thought, Qingyan Daoist did not disturb him, allowing Qingxuan to muse freely while he himself "looked up at the bright moon, leisurely thinking of the fragrance of wine"...

Yeqingxuan, having understood, felt he had gained a deeper understanding of the martial arts in this world. Looking back at his second senior brother who was gazing at the moon and sighing, he could not help but smile and say, "Junior Brother thanks Second Senior Brother for your teachings—Second Senior Brother, you didn't come tonight just to accompany Junior Brother in admiring the moon and drinking, right?"

Qingyan Daoist smiled gracefully and said, "Very well, let's get to the point—"

Qingyan Daoist waved his sleeve, clearing the stone table of stone powder, and sat down cross-legged. After a moment's thought, he slowly said, "I came here late at night for two reasons: one, I haven't seen Junior Brother for a long time and was very concerned, so I came to visit; and the second reason... is to fulfill Master's command to assess Junior Brother's progress in the [Yuan Yu Gong]."

Hearing this, Yeqingxuan was greatly surprised. Assess the [Yuan Yu Gong]? But from the time he started learning the [Yuan Yu Gong] to now, it hasn't even been half a year. Why the rush to assess?

Although he had doubts, Yeqingxuan did not raise any objections. Fortunately, after learning the [Kunwu Yuan Yu Gong], he had not been lazy, practicing diligently every day, and his proficiency had reached the second level, "Glimpsing the Doorway," which was already a remarkable achievement compared to ordinary people. Otherwise, such an assessment would have been difficult to justify.

Qingyan lightly extended his right hand and softly said, "Junior Brother, please—"

"Understood." Yeqingxuan confidently extended his right hand.

Qingyan lightly placed his hand on the pulse and input a stream of True Qi. Yeqingxuan felt warmth in his right hand, and a warm current flowed directly into his dantian.

After a brief examination, Qingyan was slightly surprised, "Junior Brother has a very solid and refined foundation in Inner Qi, and your martial arts cultivation has reached the sixth level of the 'Body Tempering Realm.' When I was your age, I did not have such a deep and solid Inner Qi. Truly, this is something to be proud of."

Yeqingxuan smiled without a word, feeling quite proud of Second Senior Brother's praise.

After a moment, Qingyan Daoist released his hand, lightly stroked his small mustache, and said with an envious look, "Junior Brother's Inner Qi is as solid as a pill, gathered and not scattered, showing that your [Yuan Yu Gong] cultivation is not shallow. However, there is still a long way to go to reach the realm of 'solid as jade, glowing faintly'... Hey, it's just that I was too eager. Junior Brother reached the sixth level of the 'Body Tempering Realm' in two years and then spent half a year to cultivate the [Yuan Yu Gong] to this level. In the entire martial world, Junior Brother can be considered a genius."

Yeqingxuan was first surprised, then secretly laughed. It seems Master did not explain clearly to Second Senior Brother. Second Senior Brother, not having seen him for two years, assumed that he had achieved his current martial arts level in two years and cultivated the [Yuan Yu Gong] to this level in half a year, not knowing that he was still a complete novice with no sense of Qi half a year ago.

If Second Senior Brother knew that he had achieved this level in just half a year, from nothing to something, he would be even more surprised.

However, it's better to be low-key. Yeqingxuan did not plan to reveal all his cards at once. Besides making him appear arrogant and overconfident, it would bring no benefits.

"Senior Brother is too kind. Junior Brother's physical condition, as you know, has a vast amount of essence from the 'Yang Restoring Grass' as a foundation. It's normal for Junior Brother to make slightly faster progress. Once the essence of the 'Yang Restoring Grass' is depleted, Junior Brother's martial arts progress will become much more difficult."

Qingyan Daoist nodded silently.

Yeqingxuan's physical condition was known to all his senior brothers, but because of his young age and Master's instructions, they had not discussed it in depth with him. Now that Master had revealed the matter, there was no need to hide it from each other.

Seventh Junior Brother Qingxuan was watched grow up by all his senior brothers. Even the youngest Sixth Senior Brother is now twenty-three years old. They all doted on this youngest junior brother.

Qingyan pondered for a moment and then sighed in relief, saying, "Since your [Yuan Yu Gong] has made such great progress, Master's instructions can proceed."

"Does Master have any other tasks?"

Qingyan smiled mysteriously, took something out of his sleeve, and handed it to Qingxuan.

It was a long, wrist-thick object, carefully wrapped in yellow silk.

Opening it hurriedly, Qingxuan, the little Daoist, was greatly surprised.

"[Kunwu Ning Yu Gong]?" Qingxuan looked up sharply, his eyes wide with shock at his second senior brother.

"Indeed, it is the [Ning Yu Gong]. Even in the Kunwu Sect of old, the [Ning Yu Gong] was a rare and profound cultivation method, and it is the most profound method in the current temple. According to the sect rules, the [Ning Yu Gong] is not to be taught to disciples other than the sect leader, but in these turbulent times, we are not so strict. We, the senior brothers, all use the [Ning Yu Gong] as our Inner Qi foundation. Since you have made progress in the [Yuan Yu Gong], it will be very helpful for you to study the [Ning Yu Gong] early. However, you must not practice the [Ning Yu Gong] until you reach the 'Creation Realm.'"

Yeqingxuan thought to himself: Why do all the slightly better Inner Qi cultivation methods require reaching a certain realm before they can be practiced? And if I'm not supposed to practice it, why teach it to me?

Yeqingxuan, being quick-witted, quickly understood the underlying reason and fell silent.

Master and the senior brothers are entrusting their legacy to me. It seems they have already decided on a strategy against the enemy and are afraid of future mishaps, so they are passing on all the sect's secret techniques to me. The deeper meaning is that they are treating me as the seed for the sect's revival. If they encounter danger, I will be the one to carry on the sect's legacy.

Thinking of the love and care from his senior brothers and Master, Yeqingxuan felt a heavy weight in his heart, almost breaking into tears.

It seems Master and the senior brothers do not plan to involve me in the sect's revenge. But I, a future great hero, cannot stand by and watch everyone fight while I hide for the sake of some trivial legacy.

Yeqingxuan's eyes hardened, and he made a decision: I cannot stand idly by and watch those who care for me get hurt. They are my only family in this life, and I cannot let anyone harm them. Those who become our enemies will face death!

Lingxu Zhenren could foresee the difficulties on the path of revenge, but he could not predict Yeqingxuan's determination. Living a life of hiding, as Lingxu Zhenren did in the past, is something Yeqingxuan cannot do.