Chapter 10. Meeting the Sect Leader (5)

“Master.”

“...”

“Master?”

“...”

“Um... M, Master?”

Yinghua was at a loss.

Four days ago, after Master returned from an audience with the Sect Leader, he had changed a lot.

Usually, he practiced his martial arts techniques, ate well, and went to the toilet several times a day. He also slept for at least three hours.

In short, he ate well, went to the toilet, and slept well. It was an ideal schedule for a healthy life.

But what about Master now?

He sat on the bed, staring blankly out the window, his mouth hanging open, drool dripping down.

Without permission, she couldn't wipe it away, but if left alone, it seemed like a flood might start.

He didn't eat much, and it was unclear whether he slept. He only went to the toilet two or three times a day, which was understandable given his poor appetite.

At least he never skipped his martial arts practice, which was a relief.

But after practicing, he would again sit blankly, drooling. It was worrying to the point where one might think he had a serious mental illness.

While Yinghua was at a loss, pacing back and forth, Tian Xiazhen's mind was working furiously.

‘What? What is it? What could it be? What? What?’

He didn't know. Really, he didn't.

What did the Sect Leader's words mean?

First, the order to return to his quarters and rest was straightforward and understandable.

But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't understand the meaning of the statement that someone would be sent in four days.

Or, rather, leaving that aside.

‘Is he going to send me away or not?’

If he was going to let me go, why not give a clear answer? Why make my head ache so much?

Tian Xiazhen rolled his eyes endlessly.

Will he send me? Will he send me? He will send me, right?

‘Of course he will. I saw it, didn't I? The disappointed face of that bear-like Sect Leader.’

I can guarantee it wasn't an act.

Martial arts cultivation doesn't improve acting skills. On the contrary, the weak are better at acting because they have to survive by reading the room.

In the end, the Sect Leader is not someone who can act well, nor does he need to.

Tian Xiazhen clenched his fist.

‘I can leave.’

Who knows if anyone will even bother to give me decent clothes for my long journey, even though I was once beloved.

It's unlikely that a high-quality silk outfit will be made in four days, but it might be a comparable gift.

After all, I'm a person with so much money, what can't I do?

Yes, that's what I'll do. The Sect Leader is human too, and he must have some feelings.

Tian Xiazhen forced a smile, trying to rationalize.

“I'm right. Yes, that's it.”

But why am I so anxious?

While Tian Xiazhen was gnawing his nails with his front teeth, Yinghua suddenly shouted.

“Master!”

Startled, Tian Xiazhen turned his head toward the source of the sound.

Yinghua's face, which had mustered the courage to shout, was slightly pale.

“What? What's wrong? Did someone come?”

“No? Ah, no.”

“Then why?”

“Master should eat. You skipped breakfast.”

Tian Xiazhen rubbed his stomach.

Now that he thought about it, he had been so engrossed in his thoughts that he hadn't even considered eating.

“Okay, let's eat.”

“Yes! I'll bring it.”

A short while later, a simple meal was served.

A long, thick pair of chopsticks moved back and forth without pause.

Tian Xiazhen, with his cheeks bulging from the food he had stuffed in, thought deeply with a serious expression.

‘Before I returned, all the surrounding guards were cleared out.’

It was clear that an order had come from above, and that order must have come through the Sect Leader.

Why were the guards cleared out? Even though I'm the Third Master?

‘He's going to send me away.’

Moreover, the doctor who came every two days no longer came. This too must have been due to interference from above.

‘A high-level expert like the Sect Leader can see my condition at a glance.’

Even a decent peak expert could do so.

My body no longer needs further treatment. There is room for improvement, but it can be managed with personal effort.

The guards were removed, and the doctor was stopped. In other words, it's a reduction in manpower waste.

The answer this intention points to is one!

“I'll go...”

“Yes? Master, do you have any orders?”

“Huh? Ah... gulp! No, nothing.”

“Oh, yes!”

He stuffed more rice into his mouth.

Encouraged by the hopeful and positive interpretation, he felt he needed to eat well to face the challenges ahead.

After finishing his meal in a combative manner, Tian Xiazhen sat in a cross-legged position.

“Ah! Let's start.”

A meal is nutrition, and nutrition is the components that a person can obtain from the outside to maintain life.

As soon as food enters the stomach, the internal organs become more active to absorb nutrients.

And what can accelerate this process even further is internal energy and cultivation techniques.

First, let's refine the body. A person can't do anything if they are in poor condition.

Tian Xiazhen closed his eyes.

A short while later.

Sssss.

A gentle mist rose from his shoulders.

Yinghua, standing to one side, bit her lip.

‘It's going to get stuffy.’

Whenever Tian Xiazhen practiced his cultivation technique, the air always became stuffy. It wasn't particularly smelly, but the air became so humid and heavy that it was difficult to breathe.

‘He said it's because he's expelling turbid qi.’

Yinghua's face was filled with awe.

Although she only practiced a basic cultivation technique for self-protection, she knew how difficult it was to expel large amounts of turbid qi with almost no internal energy.

Perhaps Master's condition has improved not because of acupuncture and medicine, but because of his personal efforts.

How much time had passed?

‘Huh?’

Yinghua tilted her head.

‘That's strange.’

She thought the air would become heavy, but it didn't today.

On the contrary...

‘Ah, it's so refreshing.’

Yinghua involuntarily flared her nostrils. The air was so clear that she felt like taking deep breaths continuously.

Just as she was smiling at the unexpected freshness,

‘What? ’

Tian Xiazhen was inwardly startled.

‘What is this?’

The circulation of Wu'ai Gong was different from usual.

To be precise, his cultivation level had suddenly jumped.

‘Third Level Wu'ai Gong?!’

Wu'ai Gong is divided into levels from First to Fifth.

Reaching the Third Level was not difficult if one practiced consistently, but from the Fourth Level onward, one needed a deeper understanding of Wu'ai Gong to make progress.

In his previous life, when he was at the height of his power as a king of the martial world, he had reached the end of the Fourth Level.

Considering his skills, which earned him a place among the Ten Great Martial Experts, one could understand how difficult Wu'ai Gong was.

But now, he had reached the end of the Third Level. With a few more rounds of circulation, he felt he could easily reach the Fourth Level.

‘How is this possible?’

It was absurd.

Reaching the Third Level was not easy, though not impossible.

He thought it would take at least five years, even with enlightenment.

The reason being, the integration of martial arts and the body was more important than enlightenment.

Even if he had practiced Wu'ai Gong for three months, how could he already be looking to surpass the Fourth Level?

‘Could it be...’

Tian Xiazhen's expression became serious.

‘Am I a genius?’

This isn't the time for jokes, man.

‘I really can't understand this.’

Whirr.

A pleasant vibration spread from his body.

When he inhaled, the fine turbid qi in the room entered his body, and when he exhaled, the purified qi cleansed the air in the room.

Tian Xiazhen's expression brightened.

‘The Purification Technique is being used automatically.’

The Purification Technique of Wu'ai Gong.

The essence of Wu'ai Gong is to expel turbid qi from the body and maximize healing abilities.

However, Wu'ai Gong has a unique technique called the Purification Technique, which literally purifies the surrounding air.

Instead of expelling turbid qi, it attracts it. Naturally, the air, free of impurities, becomes clean.

Wouldn't it be a burden to the body to absorb turbid qi that should be expelled?

‘Not at all!’

The remaining turbid qi in his body, reduced by the function of Wu'ai Gong, is converted into internal energy.

Of course, the amount was extremely small, much less than what he gained from normal Wu'ai Gong practice.

However, the importance of the Purification Technique lies in the positive cycle.

By purifying the air in the area, one can obtain higher-quality energy when accumulating true qi with other cultivation techniques, leading to faster achievement of new skills and a stronger body.

Even if the difference isn't noticeable immediately, after a year or ten years, it would be a significant gap.

‘What a windfall!’

He felt like dancing. After three months of intense practice, such a blessing had come!

‘Now I can do it! I can regain my former strength much faster.’

He estimated it would take about three to five years to regain his former strength, assuming he continued to take elixirs in the inner chamber.

But if he could use the Purification Technique, the time would be even shorter.

‘I'm twenty-three, right?’

If he regains his strength in three years, he will be twenty-six, possessing the skills of one of the Ten Great Martial Experts.

‘Wow... If I achieve this, I might even be called the greatest genius of all time.’

Tian Xiazhen's expression became greedy.

Although he had left the martial world, how could he not have a desire for fame?

Moreover, if he held the skills of a supreme expert in this young body and shook the martial world, it would truly be a life worth living.

The martial world would celebrate the emergence of a new genius, right? Even women who weren't killers might take notice of him.

With fame, money would naturally follow.

‘...gulp.’

Tian Xiazhen, lost in his fantasies, soon shook his head roughly.

‘Stupid kid. Don't you see what's happening? The martial world is not a place to live.’

Celebrating the emergence of a genius?

Sure. They'll celebrate while holding a dagger behind their back.

Women will be happy to have a new parasite, but they won't truly understand me.

Fame? Can you eat it? Money is already plentiful in the inner chamber.

Most importantly, whether it takes three or five years, I'll still be a young man. To be excited about a slightly shorter cultivation period, you're really easy to please.

‘Know your place.’

Don't let a moment of desire ruin your life.

Half a day later.

“Stretch!”

Tian Xiazhen stretched.

Yinghua prostrated herself.

“Congratulations, Master!”

“Huh? For what?”

“No... Just...”

She couldn't say that it felt like he had achieved something.

Tian Xiazhen ruffled Yinghua's hair.

“Ha ha! Why are you so tense? Anyway, thank you.”

Yinghua's body stiffened instantly.

‘...Master ruffled my hair?!’

It was incredibly flattering.

At the same time, she felt a bit disappointed.

‘I put so much effort into my hair today...’

It took more than half an hour to style it.

But it's fine. Master liked it, so it's okay. I can always style it again.

Just as the young man was rejoicing and the young girl was lost in complex emotions,

Bang!

Tian Xiazhen's head snapped toward the window.

The gate of the distant residence.

“A message from the Divine Spirit Palace! Third Master Xulang, open the gate quickly and receive the Sect Leader's command!”

Tian Xiazhen grinned widely.

“Come in! Please come in!!”