Story

After Qu Yong left, only Old Qin and Zhou Yi remained in the room.

Zhou Yi then voiced the question that had been on his mind.

"Old Qin, why did my master seem disappointed when I broke through to the Vitality Realm?"

Old Qin smiled at Zhou Yi and said, "Would you like to hear a story?"

Zhou Yi nodded and then sat down on the chair next to Old Qin.

Old Qin picked up the tea on the table and took a sip before slowly speaking to Zhou Yi, "My master and I ventured out when we were young. While your master's talent wasn't as great as yours, he was still considered a genius in our region."

"He reached the peak of the Strength Channeling Realm at nineteen. To break through to the Vitality Realm, we went to another city, a more prosperous one than Luoshi City. After arriving in the big city, your master discovered his talent was insignificant compared to the disciples of those prominent families. Even so, your master didn't give up. After all, his lesser talent was only relative to those prominent family disciples; for ordinary people, your master was already far superior."

"Although there are many Body Refining Techniques to break through to the Vitality Realm, obtaining them isn't easy. Good techniques are held by the imperial court and those prominent families. After discussing it, my master and I decided to join the army. Since I had no talent for martial arts, I could only turn to studying the path of talismans. However, my talent for talismans was also average. The benefit of studying talismans is that you don't have to directly confront Weirdness, unless you're investigating newly appearing Weirdness."

"After joining the army, your master performed exceptionally. In just three years, he obtained a technique that could advance him to the Vitality Realm. Your master was overjoyed upon receiving the technique and couldn't wait to cultivate it. But at that time, he also knew that if his body wasn't honed to a certain extent, it would be very detrimental to his future progress. Your master suppressed the urge to cultivate and merely memorized the technique."

"Subsequently, your master turned his attention to Body Refining Techniques. While Body Refining Techniques seem to have a low barrier to entry, with anyone able to cultivate them through sheer perseverance, reaching perfection without talent could take twenty years. Fortunately, your master's talent for body refining was quite good. He reached perfection in his first Body Refining Technique in five years."

Hearing Old Qin say that his master spent five years cultivating just one Body Refining Technique, and that was considered good talent, Zhou Yi couldn't help but gasp, and at the same time, he felt fortunate to have the modifier.

Old Qin paused here for a moment before continuing, "Just as your master began cultivating his second Body Refining Technique, we and some other brothers received an investigation mission."

As Old Qin spoke, his eyes began to gleam, but he continued, "At first, we all thought it was just an ordinary investigation mission. That time, it was led by a Vitality Realm martial artist, with over ten Strength Channeling Realm martial artists and three Talisman Masters. Your master and I were among them. We never expected that although the Weirdness was only Crimson Grade, its abilities were incredibly bizarre. Before we could react, three Strength Channeling Realm brothers were instantly killed."

"The Vitality Realm martial artist knew the situation was out of control and covered our retreat from the rear. That Weirdness knew the Vitality Realm martial artist was difficult to deal with, so it began to attack the Strength Channeling Realm martial artists. In just the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, five more brothers died before our eyes. That Vitality Realm martial artist began to use forbidden techniques, finally forcing the Weirdness out."

Speaking up to this point, Old Qin turned to Zhou Yi, "Most of the Weirdness you see usually has a physical form, right?"

Zhou Yi nodded at Old Qin.

Old Qin continued, "The Weirdness we encountered that time was a rule-based Weirdness, and it was the only time we encountered such a thing. Even now, I can't recall what that Weirdness looked like."

"Once the rule-based Weirdness was forced out, it continuously attacked that Vitality Realm martial artist. At first, the Vitality Realm martial artist could hold on, but the consequences of using forbidden techniques began to manifest. The martial artist gradually lost strength and died at the hands of the Weirdness."

"The Vitality Realm martial artist bought us a lot of time. The remaining five people, including your master and me, along with another Strength Channeling Realm martial artist and two other Talisman Masters, were about to escape successfully when the Weirdness caught up. Seeing this, your master knew that if he didn't break through to the Vitality Realm, he would definitely be left behind."

"Your master had no choice but to break through on the spot. Even though his physical body wasn't honed to the extreme, your master successfully broke through. He charged towards the Weirdness, telling us to go first, buying us time. Yet, your master, a newly broken-through Vitality Realm cultivator, managed to hold off the Weirdness. Although he was bedridden for a month afterward, we ultimately escaped."

"After returning to the army, we reported the incident and received a large amount of military merit. However, your master's path forward was gone. I wanted to comfort your master, but he instead told me that at least our two lives were saved."

"Because his physical body wasn't honed to the extreme, his progress in the Vitality Realm stalled. Your master and I used military merit to exchange for the right to guard Qingzhu Village. At the same time, the army, as a reward for our discovery of a rule-based Weirdness, granted Qingzhu Village a sacred aura."

"Your master and I settled down, and many years passed in the blink of an eye. As for why your master was disappointed, it was because of your mistress."

"Mistress?" Zhou Yi looked at Old Qin in confusion. He had never heard his master mention her.

Old Qin continued, "Yes, it was because of your mistress. Your mistress died during childbirth, along with your master's unborn son. They are buried in Gualin Mountain."

"Your master wanted you to take his place and continue guarding this village after he left. However, your talent is too high, so high that it's comparable to the family disciples he's seen. He sees you as his own son, and he can't let you continue guarding the village anymore. Your talent will ultimately lead you to a different landscape!"

Having said that, Old Qin seemed to be talking to himself, "Qingzhu Village is too small…"

After listening, Zhou Yi sat quietly on the chair. He didn't know what to say to Old Qin at that moment, nor did he know what to say to his master in the future.

Old Qin suddenly turned to Zhou Yi and said, "Qingzhu Village is too small for you. You must go out. Just, don't forget to come back and visit us in the future."

Zhou Yi looked at Old Qin with determined eyes and said, "I will."

"Alright, go back and get some rest. We still need to discuss how to deal with that Red and White Fiends tomorrow!"

"Okay!" Zhou Yi said, then bid farewell to Old Qin.

On the way home, Zhou Yi felt his mind was in a mess, and his heart was also in turmoil.

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