Next.
Shan Wuju continued to explain to Wei Tu the stages of cultivation for an internal martial artist after reaching the Qi-Sensing Realm.
"After the Qi-Sensing Realm, there are three major realms: True Qi, Xiantian, and Grandmaster."
"In the True Qi Realm, an internal martial artist possesses the strength to contend with external martial artists. By imbuing weapons with True Qi, even flying flowers and plucked leaves can inflict injury."
"However, to reach this realm, even for those with brilliant talent, it is impossible without thirty to fifty years of meditation."
"By then, one is already in their twilight years. Even with such strength, it is of no use."
"Fame should be sought while one is young!"
"As for the Xiantian Realm..." At this point, Shan Wuju’s eyes revealed a hint of emotion. "The Xiantian Realm is a realm that both external and internal martial artists can reach. External martial artists refine their marrow into their bones to nurture a breath of Xiantian Qi... Your grandmaster, back in the day, left for Qingfeng Prefecture to break through to this realm and disappeared without a trace."
"Later, an old acquaintance sent back his golden saber, and only then did I learn that he had died suddenly while in seclusion."
"Since ancient times, the Xiantian realm has been hard to attain. If one succeeds, according to your grandmaster’s claims, one can live to the age of two hundred."
"Two hundred years?" Wei Tu, who had been standing by with his hands at his sides, was deeply shocked upon hearing this.
He had previously believed that martial artists, being prone to violence and strife, rarely died of old age and mostly met sudden, violent ends.
But he had not expected that once a martial artist reached the Xiantian realm, they could live for two hundred years, effectively living a "second life."
"If Xiantian martial artists are like this, then what of the Immortal Dao? Longevity and eternal vision—perhaps that is not just a dream."
"I have the 'Late Bloomer' destiny; perhaps... I can reach the Xiantian realm and live for two hundred years..."
Wei Tu subconsciously touched the center of his brow, where his greatest secret was hidden—the golden-purple destiny: "Late Bloomer."
"As for the Grandmaster Realm after Xiantian, I have never heard your grandmaster mention it. Later, when I exchanged martial arts with my peers, they also did not know what mysteries this realm held."
Shan Wuju sighed.
Although he was a respected Martial Scholar in status, in the path of martial arts, he was still like a toddler, babbling and learning to walk.
Life is finite, but knowledge is infinite.
Now, he had reached the age of sixty. His body was gradually decaying, hidden injuries were surfacing one after another, and the frequency of his marital relations had dropped from three times every ten days to twice, and then to once.
In his current physical state, living another ten or twenty years would be a bonus.
Advancing in martial arts...
That was impossible.
...
Returning to his room.
Wei Tu immersed his consciousness into the center of his brow to observe his "Late Bloomer" destiny.
Within his sea of consciousness.
The golden-purple destiny shone brilliantly, exuding an aura of vast and distant time.
To its side, the progress of Wei Tu’s cultivation of the Health-Preserving Technique was recorded.
「Turtle-Breathing Qi-Nurturing Technique (83/100): Nine practices a day, completion in five years.」
"In the last three months, the progress of the Health-Preserving Technique has only increased by 2%. During this time, although I delayed my practice due to learning archery and horsemanship, I have insisted on at least nine practices every day..."
"It seems my guess was correct. After the Health-Preserving Technique reaches great success, reaching perfection—moving from the outside in to enter the Qi-Sensing Realm—is no easy task..."
Wei Tu glanced at the progress of the Health-Preserving Technique and sighed silently.
"But fortunately, in at most two years, the five-year deadline will arrive. At that time, I will be able to enter the Qi-Sensing Realm."
Thinking of this, the feeling of frustration in Wei Tu’s heart was swept away.
With the "Late Bloomer" destiny by his side, as long as he remained persistent and unyielding, he would surely achieve success.
His master, Shan Wuju, had practiced martial arts for so many years and had never moved from the outside in to enter the internal Qi-Sensing Realm.
And he, having spent only five years, would be able to practice the Health-Preserving Technique to reach the Qi-Sensing Realm; what more could he be dissatisfied with?
"Now, with the manual for the 'Tiger-Crane Twin-Form Fist' in hand, I can also test some of my guesses about the 'Late Bloomer' destiny..."
"For instance, that warm current."
Lighting an oil lamp, Wei Tu opened the yellowed book and carefully studied every stance of the "Tiger-Crane Twin-Form Fist."
Compared to the Health-Preserving Technique, the stances of the "Tiger-Crane Twin-Form Fist" were more complex. In addition to the forty-five basic stances, it was further divided into one hundred and four minor stances based on the Tiger-Form Fist and the Crane-Form Fist.
"According to Master, my stance work has already reached great success, and my martial foundation is solid. These stances may seem cumbersome, but to me, they are not difficult."
Several hours later, Wei Tu finished reading the manual and began to practice clumsily according to the illustrations.
Once.
Twice.
By the seventeenth time.
Just like with the "Turtle-Breathing Health-Preserving Technique," the golden-purple destiny manifested the characters and progress for the "Tiger-Crane Twin-Form Fist."
「Tiger-Crane Twin-Form Fist (1/100): Seven practices a day, completion in three years.」
"Three years? Two years shorter than the five years for the 'Turtle-Breathing Qi-Nurturing Technique'?"
Wei Tu was surprised.
The "Tiger-Crane Twin-Form Fist" was Shan Wuju’s trump card, far stronger than the common health-preserving techniques found among martial artists.
Judging solely by these complex stances, one could see at a glance how difficult and intricate the "Tiger-Crane Twin-Form Fist" was.
It was impossible that the time spent practicing the "Tiger-Crane Twin-Form Fist" would be shorter than practicing the "Turtle-Breathing Qi-Nurturing Technique," and by two years at that.
"The only explanation is that after my Health-Preserving Technique reached great success, I gained a martial foundation. Practicing the 'Tiger-Crane Twin-Form Fist' now yields twice the result with half the effort, thus the time to reach perfection is two years shorter than the Health-Preserving Technique."
Wei Tu pondered.
...
Over the next few days.
Every day, besides practicing archery and military strategy, Wei Tu devoted all his remaining time to practicing the "Tiger-Crane Twin-Form Fist."
Hard work pays off.
This time, it took Wei Tu only ten-plus days to once again sense the warm current in his body that he had felt when practicing the Health-Preserving Technique.
"From this, it is evident."
"This warm current is not unique to the Health-Preserving Technique, but originates from my body, or rather, from the golden-purple destiny 'Late Bloomer'..."
"Although the 'Late Bloomer' destiny will not let me reach the heavens in a single step, as long as I persistently practice the corresponding technique, the golden-purple destiny will release this warm current to transform my body, making it more suitable for cultivating that technique."
In an instant, Wei Tu understood the function of his "Late Bloomer" destiny and its corresponding marvelous uses.
"In other words."
"For me, there is no such thing as talent, nor are there corresponding cultivation thresholds, because my aptitude is not fixed. As long as there is enough lifespan, the golden-purple destiny will transform me into the person most suited for this technique."
Wei Tu’s face lit up with joy.
In the martial world, the reason why seventy or eighty percent of martial artists practice external arts is not because external arts are superior to internal true techniques.
It is because internal true techniques are too difficult, requiring the martial artist to possess a certain aptitude to sense Qi and circulate internal power through the meridians.
Even if they stumble upon an opportunity and succeed in sensing Qi, it is difficult to continue advancing.
Compared to this, external arts are visible and tangible, so in the eyes of ordinary people, they are naturally far superior to internal true techniques.
However.
Wei Tu was different.
With the blessing of the "Late Bloomer" destiny, as long as he obtained an internal true technique and mastered the basics, he could continue to advance steadily.
(End of chapter)