Vast Qi Visualization Invokes Backlash, Master's Smile Reveals Killing Intent

Chen Duan crept to the door, pushed it open a crack, and slipped inside.

He went to Ah Huang's side.

Normally, Ah Huang would have detected his arrival long ago.

But at this moment, Ah Huang showed no reaction to Chen Duan's presence, completely oblivious to the outside world.

Its eyes were focused on the book, its pupils dilated, its breathing long and steady, as if the old monk had entered a state of deep meditation.

Seeing Ah Huang in this state, an inexplicable sense of familiarity washed over Chen Duan.

This feeling was like...

Visualization?

Chen Duan didn't make a sound to disturb it and sat down on a nearby chair.

Time trickled by, the lamp occasionally sputtering.

More than an hour passed.

Ah Huang finally stirred, its body trembling as it returned from that mysterious state to reality.

The book, The Sage Says, slipped from its grasp.

A hand caught the book in mid-air.

Ah Huang finally woke up completely. Looking up, it saw Chen Duan and was startled, scrambling to get up in a panic.

Chen Duan raised his hand in a gesture to stop it.

"It's fine."

Chen Duan looked at The Sage Says in his hand and asked, "What happened to you just now?"

Ah Huang heard the question, looked around, found paper and pen, and wrote down its situation truthfully.

Chen Duan's gaze swept over the words, his brow furrowing slightly.

"A dream?"

Ah Huang nodded vigorously, then described the scene in the dream.

It was roughly as if it were in the deep mountains, sitting on a meditation cushion, with a group of children sitting below. It was like an old scholar, teaching them to read.

"Are you perhaps visualizing?"

Ah Huang tilted its head, its eyes blank, clearly unable to grasp the martial arts concept of "visualization."

It had never systematically learned martial arts.

"Did you feel anything change or become smoother inside your body?" Chen Duan rephrased the question.

Ah Huang appeared to be thinking, and after a while, it pointed to its head.

"Spiritual platform clear, divine sense comfortable?"

Ah Huang immediately nodded.

Chen Duan asked several more detailed questions, and a guess gradually formed in his mind.

He held The Sage Says and tried hard to decipher every word, but still couldn't make anything out.

Although Ah Huang couldn't clearly explain what was happening, Chen Duan, based on these fragmented clues, deduced that this object was likely a 'visualization diagram.'

"If it's a visualization diagram, then there should be a corresponding technique to visualize it..."

He looked at Ah Huang, who still had a confused look on its face.

Ah Huang naturally knew nothing of any techniques, and its entry into that state was completely random.

During its time at Chen Duan's home, it had looked at it every night, but this was the first time it had entered that state tonight.

Suddenly, Chen Duan thought of his own "Educate the Great Sage."

Being a man of action, he immediately circulated his "Vast Qi," directing it straight to his spiritual platform.

Then, he collected his thoughts and began to visualize The Sage Says.

As his consciousness focused.

Soon.

Chen Duan's vision went black.

Immediately, a wave of dizziness struck.

The world spun and tilted.

His body swayed, becoming unsteady. Ah Huang quickly stepped forward to support him.

Chen Duan steadied his mind, immediately withdrew his "Vast Qi," and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

After a long while, the dizzying sensation of the world spinning finally subsided.

However, instead of feeling dejected, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

There's a reaction!

Although it's an adverse reaction.

This proves that there is indeed some connection between the Vast Qi Nourishing Spirit Technique and this "Sage Says."

It's definitely not unrelated!

After Chen Duan asked Ah Huang a few more questions, he began to analyze.

"Meditation techniques usually require a Martial Artist to reach the Fourth Level before they can attempt them. My Vast Qi Nourishing Spirit Technique is only at the First Level, so forcing myself to meditate naturally caused a backlash...

But when I was practicing Fuhu Fist at the Third Level before, I also circulated my internal energy to meditate. Although I couldn't enter the artistic conception, I never experienced such discomfort...

According to Ah Huang, it has no memory of the Vast Qi Nourishing Spirit Art at all, and doesn't even know what a cultivation technique is, yet it can enter a meditative state. How can this be explained..."

After a period of analysis, Chen Duan found many logical loopholes and the clues were very messy, unable to support a stable conclusion.

In the end, he could only attribute it to the complexity and variability of True Skill, and that meditative situations naturally varied.

Without more supporting evidence, any conclusion was just speculation.

He rubbed his forehead. The after-effects of meditation were even more potent than Ah Huang's powder.

He returned the Sage Says to Ah Huang.

"If you enter that 'dream' again in the future, remember to tell me."

Ah Huang carefully took the book and nodded incessantly.

Chen Duan returned to his room and fell asleep immediately.

Yuanxiang Sect.

Water Courtyard.

"Master, I'm afraid there's a problem in Shuilian Village..."

Qiao Fu stood with his head bowed, his voice filled with caution.

Bai Bing's prolonged absence had already made him realize something was wrong.

Although the village had been well-concealed, some traces were ultimately difficult to erase.

Of course, he didn't dare to go to Shuilian Village to investigate himself. If it truly was a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, there would be no return.

"Mm..."

Zhou Shang let out a nasal sound, his smile seemingly unchanging for ten thousand years, making it impossible to discern his emotions.

"No need to investigate further. It's likely exposed."

"Ah? Then, what should we do now?"

"It's fine. We can just deal with the village chief later. By the way, what was it I asked you to get?"

"Oh! Here!"

Qiao Fu quickly took out a sealed letter from his embrace and respectfully presented it.

Zhou Shang took the letter and lightly drew his finger across it, shattering the wax seal.

He unfolded the paper and quickly scanned its contents, nodding slightly.

"How has your Senior Disciple Brother been recently?"

"Senior Disciple Brother... it seems he didn't go into seclusion today. Someone apparently saw him go to the Wood Courtyard."

Zhou Shang's brows flickered with thought upon hearing this, but it was gone in an instant.

"So be it, it's ending soon anyway..."

He then set his gaze on Qiao Fu.

"Qiao Fu, you've been with me for some years now, haven't you?"

"Replying to Master, it has been twenty-one years."

"Twenty-one years, a mere blink of an eye."

Zhou Shang seemed to sigh with emotion, then beckoned.

"Why are you standing so far away? Come closer, sit by my side."

"No need, Master. Disciple is fine standing here."

For some reason, Qiao Fu felt a sense of unease surge in his heart at this moment.

"Hehehe, you've been running around for me all these years. Even if you haven't earned merit, you've certainly put in the effort. Could it be that you're afraid I'll eat you?"

"This... Disciple absolutely has no such intention! It's just that I'm used to it. If I'm too close to Master, I might get nervous. Disciple still has some urgent matters to attend to, so I won't disturb Master's quiet cultivation any longer."

As he spoke, he raised his eyelids to observe Zhou Shang's expression.

The smile was still the same, but it made Qiao Fu even more eager to leave this place.

"If that's the case, then so be it."

Zhou Shang seemed somewhat disappointed and waved his hand gently.

"You may go."

Qiao Fu let out a sigh of relief and quickly bowed deeply.

"This disciple takes his leave!"

He turned around impatiently and pushed open the door.

However.

Just as he stepped over the threshold, a pulling force came from behind him.

Qiao Fu's eyes widened. Almost instinctively, he activated "Water Born Flowing Cloud," his entire body turning to water as he tried to break free from the restraint.

But suddenly, the pulling force surged several times stronger.

At the same time, a voice came from behind him.

"You know your master too well. I cannot let you leave."

"No!"

Accompanied by a scream.

The door closed again.

Silence returned to the quiet room.