Li Yuchun sat astride a chair next to the bathtub, nodding: “You can read about this knowledge in the library when you have time.
“But since I have to watch you here anyway, I might as well tell you about it. In your understanding, is First Realm the limit of the system?”
Xu Qi An nodded.
“The realms of the major cultivation systems were originally vague, without such clear standards. It wasn’t until Sage’s later years that he divided the world’s cultivation systems into nine realms, which have been used ever since.
“However, the Sage didn’t include himself in the realm system.”
“Why is that?” Xu Qi An asked.
“Let me finish,” Li Yuchun continued: “Besides the Sage, there are four others outside the realm system: the Gu God, the Shaman God, the Taoist Sovereign, and the Buddha.
“They are praised as indestructible through countless kalpas, immortal and deathless.”
Now Xu Qi An understood: “Gods and Buddhas are not within the realm system… Wait, are there immortals in this world?!”
Li Yuchun shook his head: “It’s unclear.”
Xu Qi An thought for a moment and offered a guess: “I heard the Sage only lived to 82. According to what you’re saying, Chief, he should have been immortal. So, there must be some exaggeration in this.”
Li Yuchun couldn’t answer this question because there was no answer.
Since ancient times, legends of immortals have been passed down, and eternal life has been the lifelong wish of every emperor.
But who dares to say they’ve seen an immortal?
“Other systems have existences beyond the realms, but the Martial Way doesn’t. A First Realm martial artist is the pinnacle of the current world,” Li Yuchun brought the topic back.
So everyone thinks the Martial Way is a crude system… Xu Qi An suddenly noticed a problem: “Wait, the diviners of the Celestial Supervisor Bureau don’t have that either.”
Li Yuchun nodded: “But undeniably, diviners contribute the most among all systems.”
Xu Qi An knew this point of knowledge. Ninth Realm diviners are healers, miraculously saving lives and helping the injured.
Seventh Realm diviners are feng shui masters, surveying terrain to select burial sites for commoners and nobles alike; they make outstanding contributions in arranging homes.
Sixth Realm diviners are alchemists, greatly promoting social development and satisfying people’s material needs. They make enormous contributions to the industry and handicrafts of this era.
Classmate Song Qing is an outstanding example, pouring his heart and soul into the “human-beast” industry. Xu Qi An felt he had transmigrated too early; if he had waited a few more decades, he might have been able to write a “Guide to Evaluating Otherworldly Customs.”
Moreover, Xu Qi An knew that the diviners of the Celestial Supervisor Bureau were responsible for updating and formulating the almanac.
For an agricultural civilization, the almanac was extremely important, directly affecting crop yields.
Compared to other systems, diviners were practically role models for serving the country and the people, adding bricks and tiles to the progress of civilization.
“Chief, I’m starting to hurt,” Xu Qi An frowned.
The medicinal water seeped into his pores, feeling like countless fine needles, making his whole body sting.
“It’s supposed to hurt, it’s washing your marrow and tempering your sinews,” Li Yuchun said. “In about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, you’ll feel like you’re being cut by a thousand knives. That’s when I’ll open your Heavenly Gate for you.
“You can talk to distract yourself.”
Xu Qi An nodded: “So, our Emperor has been devoted to cultivating the Dao for over twenty years to achieve immortality?”
It was common knowledge throughout the country that the current Emperor had appointed a beautiful Taoist priestess as the Imperial Preceptor and had been earnestly seeking the Dao for over twenty years.
Some down-and-out scholars had even written erotic histories about the Emperor’s dual cultivation with the beautiful Taoist priestess… Of course, the result was censorship by the river crab spirit beast.
“But even though martial artists don’t have existences beyond the realms, they should be able to extend their lifespan, right? Why not just focus on cultivating martial arts instead of chasing after illusory immortality?”
To Xu Qi An’s view, Li Yuchun asked in return: “How long did it take you to reach the peak of Qi Refinement?”
“Seventeen years,” Xu Qi An said. He had been stuck at the peak of Qi Refinement for a full two years.
“That’s a bit slow. Children from wealthy families with abundant resources usually reach the peak of Qi Refinement around sixteen, considering physical development issues, fifteen is the limit,” Li Yuchun said:
“However, even those children from wealthy families may not smoothly enter the Qi Condensation realm, because besides the daily willpower to temper their bodies, they also face the hurdle of sensual pleasures. The more privileged their upbringing, the easier it is to fall into sensual indulgence.
“And the Qi Refinement realm is just the beginning of the martial artist system. You can imagine how difficult it is to reach higher realms and extend one’s lifespan.”
I understand, I understand… That Miss Fuxiang will curse me as no better than a beast sooner or later! Tonight I’ll show her what it means to be a ‘One Whip Technique’ master!
Xu Qi An deeply empathized.
The original owner was a martial arts fanatic, stubborn in character, and liked to dwell on things. It was precisely this kind of personality that could hone the body day after day, laying a solid foundation for the path of a martial artist.
Even so, the original owner still had to fiercely struggle with his own hands every day, not giving his left and right hands a chance to show off.
If it were Xu Qi An himself, he couldn’t guarantee that he could persist for so many years, let alone maintain his original heart in the face of beauty.
After all, although men usually think with the head above, at certain times, the brainless head below is the true self.
Gradually, Xu Qi An’s interest in conversation waned, even though they were discussing cultivation knowledge that interested him.
His brow furrowed deeper and deeper, the pain almost exceeding his tolerance limit.
“It’s about time. The purpose of the medicinal bath is to stimulate your body and awaken the dormant qi,” Li Yuchun stood up, placing one hand on Xu Qi An’s head, and said in a deep voice:
“Opening the Heavenly Gate is a very difficult thing. For those with good aptitude, I only need to circulate qi in your body for three cycles, and you’ll be able to find the sensation of qi yourself, achieving internal and external resonance from then on.”
“What about those with poor aptitude?” Xu Qi An asked worriedly.
“The poorer the aptitude, the more cycles of qi circulation are needed. The limit for normal people is nine cycles. In other words, if you still can’t find the sensation of qi by yourself after the eighth cycle, then you’re not suited for the path of a martial artist.”
Li Yuchun stared at him: “I’m very much looking forward to seeing your aptitude.”
With that, he closed his eyes and stopped talking.
Immediately after, Xu Qi An felt a warm current pouring in from the Baihui acupoint at the top of his head, sinking to his dantian, and circulating through his four limbs and hundred meridians.
His body seemed to immediately remember the circulation route. After completing one cycle, it spontaneously stirred up the qi, breaking free from the accompaniment and taking off on its own.
…Li Yuchun opened his eyes, looking at the young man in the bathtub with a slightly bewildered gaze.
Xu Qi An returned a confused look, “It seems quite simple…”
Li Yuchun: “…”
“Try circulating a few cycles yourself, let me see the situation,” Li Yuchun could only say.
After three cycles of circulation, Xu Qi An opened his eyes. He didn’t have a mirror, so he couldn’t see the subtle changes brought by entering the Qi Condensation realm.
First, his eyes became brighter and more spirited, as if containing stars.
Just the change in his eyes was enough to elevate his charm to another level.
Secondly, his temperament became more steady and reserved, like a deep pool and lofty mountain.
Finally, his skin, soaked in the medicinal water, stimulated the pores and expelled the impurities hidden within, such as blackheads.
His reddened skin had a delicate feel to it.
Feeling the newly born power coursing chaotically through his body, Xu Qi An stretched his limbs, raised his hand, and struck the window with a palm from a distance.
The latticed window cracked with a “bang”.
Externally releasing qi, was the miraculous ability of the early stage of Qi Condensation. If he had been holding a sword or saber just now, Xu Qi An would have been able to unleash blade qi or sword qi.
Of course, the power wouldn’t be very great, after all, he had just entered the Qi Condensation realm.
Like Second Uncle at the peak of Qi Condensation, he could split a wall with one slash. He could also manipulate objects from a distance.
“Very good!” Li Yuchun’s face remained expressionless as he nodded slightly: “Continue circulating your qi. Circulation is the cultivation method for strengthening qi, and at the same time, you shouldn’t neglect to temper your physical body.”
With that, he left the secret room. As he walked out the door, Spring Brother’s mind was full of thoughts of the “impossible”.
Li Yuchun turned his head to look at the cracked window, his mouth twitching.
A peerless genius?!
I’ve encountered one so easily.
Right, his aptitude test is already over. I should go ask Lord Wei what grade he received.
If it’s a B, with his talent of finding qi sensation in just one cycle, it could be raised to a high B.
This way, the corresponding resources would increase.
“If it’s a high B, it might be possible to promote to an A grade. A grade is the aptitude of a Golden Gong, he would become a key training target for the Nightwatchmen…
“Hmm, he hasn’t gone through the ‘combat power’ assessment yet, a high B is impossible. I’m overthinking it.”
Leaving the courtyard, he walked directly towards the towering Righteous Qi Tower in the central courtyard of the Nightwatchmen’s office.
After being announced by the clerk inside the tower, Li Yuchun came to the seventh floor, where he saw his direct superior and his superior’s superior.
Yang Yan nodded slightly to him.
The effeminate man turned his head to gaze at the scenery outside the tower, showing no interest.
“Lord Wei!”
He bowed at a 90-degree angle, his attitude humble.
“We were just talking about you, lucky to have gained a talented person,” Wei Yuan smiled warmly.
Hmm?
Lucky to have gained a talented person… This should be referring to Xu Qi An, Lord Wei praises him so highly. But I haven’t told him about the one-cycle circulation yet… Li Yuchun felt confused, and said respectfully:
“This lowly one wishes to know Xu Qi An’s rating, and also to report a small matter to Lord Wei.”