Chapter 20: The Ingenious Use of Fate (Please add to favorites and follow for updates)

Next.

Scholar Dan explained to Wei Tu the cultivation realms of an Internal Martial Artist following the Qi-Sensing Realm.

"After the Qi-Sensing Realm, there are the three great realms: True Qi, Xiantian, and Grandmaster."

"In the True Qi Realm, an Internal Martial Artist possesses the strength to contend with External Martial Artists. Weapons can be infused with True Qi, allowing one to harm others by flicking flowers or plucking leaves."

"However, to reach such a realm, even for the most gifted individuals, it is impossible without thirty to fifty years of meditation."

"By then, one would already be in their twilight years. Even if they possessed such strength, it would be of no use."

"One must make a name for oneself early!"

"As for the Xiantian Realm..." At this point, a trace of emotion appeared in Scholar Dan's eyes. "The Xiantian Realm is a realm that both External and Internal Martial Artists can reach. An External Martial Artist refines marrow into bone, cultivating a breath of Xiantian... Your Grandmaster left for Qingfeng Prefecture years ago to break through this realm and has since vanished without a trace."

"Later, an old acquaintance delivered his Golden Saber, and only then did I learn that he had died suddenly during secluded cultivation."

"Since ancient times, the Xiantian Realm has been difficult to attain. If achieved, according to your Grandmaster's words, one's lifespan could reach two hundred years."

"Two hundred years?" Standing to the side with hands clasped, Wei Tu was deeply shaken by these words.

He had previously thought that martial artists were prone to violence and rarely died of old age, mostly dying sudden deaths.

But he had not expected that once a martial artist reached the Xiantian Realm, their lifespan could reach two centuries, allowing them to live a "second life."

"If that is the case for Xiantian martial artists, what about the Immortal Path? Long life and eternal youth might not be a mere dream."

"I have the 'Late Bloomer' destiny. Perhaps... I can reach the Xiantian Realm and attain a lifespan of two hundred years..."

Wei Tu subconsciously touched his brow, where his greatest secret lay—the Gold-Purple Destiny: 「Late Bloomer」.

"I have never heard your Grandmaster mention the Grandmaster Realm that follows Xiantian. Later, when he exchanged martial knowledge with his peers, they also did not know what mysteries this realm held."

Scholar Dan sighed.

Although he held the respected status of a Martial Scholar, in terms of martial arts, he was like a toddler, babbling and taking his first stumbling steps.

Life is finite, but knowledge is boundless.

Now, he had reached the age of sixty. His body was gradually declining, internal injuries were surfacing, and the frequency of his sexual activities had gradually dropped from three times per ten days to twice, and now once per ten days.

Given his current physical state, being able to live another ten or twenty years would be a windfall.

Advancing in martial arts...

That was impossible.

...

Returning to his room.

Wei Tu immersed his consciousness into his brow to observe his 「Late Bloomer」 destiny.

Within his sea of consciousness.

The Gold-Purple Destiny shone brilliantly, emitting an aura of vast, distant ages.

On one side of it, the progress of Wei Tu's Life-Nurturing Technique was recorded.

「Turtle Breath Life-Nurturing Technique (83/100): Nine practices a day; mastery achieved in five years.」

"In the past three months, the progress of the Life-Nurturing Technique has only increased by 2%. During this time, although I delayed its practice due to learning archery and horsemanship, I have persisted in doing at least nine practices every single day..."

"It seems my guess was correct. After achieving great success with the Life-Nurturing Technique, reaching perfection and entering the Qi-Sensing Realm from the outside in is no easy task..."

Wei Tu glanced at the progress of the Life-Nurturing Technique and sighed silently.

"Fortunately, in two years at most, the five-year limit will be reached. At that time, I will be able to enter the Qi-Sensing Realm."

At this thought, the sense of frustration in Wei Tu's heart vanished.

With the 「Late Bloomer」 destiny protecting him, as long as he remained tenacious, he would surely succeed.

His master, Scholar Dan, had practiced martial arts for many years and had never transitioned from the outside to the inside to enter the Qi-Sensing Realm of internal cultivation.

Yet he, in only five years, could practice the Life-Nurturing Technique to reach the Qi-Sensing Realm. What more could he ask for?

"Now, with the *Tiger and Crane Double Form Fist* manual in hand, I can also test some of my hypotheses regarding the 「Late Bloomer」 destiny..."

"Such as that warm current."

Lighting the oil lamp, Wei Tu opened the yellowed manual and carefully observed every stance of the *Tiger and Crane Double Form Fist*.

Compared to the Life-Nurturing Technique, the stances of the *Tiger and Crane Double 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 and the Crane Form.

"According to Master, my stances have reached great success and my martial foundation is solid. These stances may seem tedious, but they will not be difficult for me."

Several hours later, after finishing the manual, Wei Tu began to practice the movements clumsily according to the illustrations.

One time.

Two times.

On the seventeenth time.

Just like with the 「Turtle Breath Life-Nurturing Technique」, the words and progress of the *Tiger and Crane Double Form Fist* emerged upon the Gold-Purple Destiny.

「Tiger and Crane Double Form Fist (1/100): Seven practices a day; mastery achieved in three years.」

"Three years? Two years shorter than the 「Turtle Breath Life-Nurturing Technique」?"

Wei Tu was surprised.

The *Tiger and Crane Double Form Fist* was Scholar Dan's trump card, far superior to the common Life-Nurturing Techniques used by ordinary martial artists.

One could tell just by looking at these complex stances how difficult and complicated the *Tiger and Crane Double Form Fist* was to learn.

It was impossible for the time required to practice it to be shorter than the Life-Nurturing Technique, let alone by two years.

"The only explanation is that after achieving great success with the Life-Nurturing Technique, I have gained a martial foundation. Practicing the *Tiger and Crane Double Form Fist* will yield twice the result with half the effort, thus the time to reach perfection is two years shorter than the Life-Nurturing Technique."

Wei Tu reasoned.

...

In the following days.

Aside from practicing archery and military strategy, Wei Tu devoted all his remaining time to practicing the *Tiger and Crane Double Form Fist*.

Hard work pays off.

This time, in just over ten days, Wei Tu once again sensed that warm current appearing within his body while practicing the Life-Nurturing Technique.

"From this, it can be seen."

"This warm current is not unique to the Life-Nurturing Technique, but originates from my body, or rather, from that Gold-Purple Destiny, 「Late Bloomer」..."

"Although the 「Late Bloomer」 destiny will not allow me to ascend to heaven in a single step, as long as I practice the corresponding techniques with tenacity, the Gold-Purple Destiny will release this warm current to remodel my body, making it more suitable for cultivating these techniques."

In an instant, Wei Tu understood the function and the profound utility of his 「Late Bloomer」 destiny.

"In other words."

"For me, there is no such thing as 'lack of talent' or 'cultivation thresholds,' because my talent is not fixed. As long as I have sufficient lifespan, the Gold-Purple Destiny will remodel me into the person most suited for any given technique."

A look of joy appeared on Wei Tu's face.

The reason why seventy to eighty percent of martial artists practiced external kung fu was not because external kung fu surpassed internal true arts.

It was because internal true arts were too difficult; they required a martial artist to possess a certain level of talent to sense Qi and move internal strength through the meridians.

Even if one encountered a fortuitous opportunity and succeeded in sensing Qi, it was difficult to continue progressing.

In comparison, external kung fu was visible and tangible, making it naturally far superior to internal true arts in the eyes of ordinary people.

However.

Wei Tu was different.

With the blessing of the 「Late Bloomer」 destiny, as long as he obtained an internal true art and reached the entry level, he could continue to progress steadily all the way.

(End of Chapter)