Not Speaking Led to Stupidity

"Visualization Diagram... Visualization Diagram..."

As he entered the hall, Chen Qing was still preoccupied with the Visualization Diagram from the Great Mountain Heavenly Art.

That diagram suited his cultivation technique perfectly. The Visualization Diagram in the Sea and Mountain Remnant Scroll had depicted the sea and mountains leaning on each other, with a towering peak rising beside an endless ocean. Unfortunately, half the mountain was missing. As a result, after seventeen years of cultivation, he still lacked a measure of resolute intent, and every time he visualized the image, it felt incomplete.

"That Great Mountain Diagram might be able to complete the meaning of the mountains and sea..."

Click, click—

Just as he was thinking, the sound of chattering teeth suddenly came from beside him.

The short, stout man who had come with him was pale as earth and trembling all over.

His name was Jiang He. Born to a humble family, he had come here solely to seize a chance at cultivation.

Seeing how terrified he was, Chen Qing couldn't help asking, "The assessment only happens once every three years. The worst they can do is send you back to your hometown. You're not like me, having to return to the Mysterious Prison. What are you afraid of?"

"He's afraid of being rated inferior and sent to the Princess's Estate."

A cold voice cut in abruptly. "Look at where you are! And you're thinking of running away? If Lord Chen hadn't stayed instead of running, giving him the courage to come along, he'd have been taken into custody by now."

Chen Qing looked up.

A spirited woman leaned against a corridor pillar. A fitted outfit outlined her athletic figure, and she cradled a sword in her arms, a smile playing at the corner of her lips.

At a glance, Chen Qing found information about her among the fragments of his memories. She was Xu Zhaoying, another candidate being tested. She came from a powerful background and had always received top marks in past assessments, but her cultivation progress was slow.

What caught Chen Qing's attention most this time, however, was the implication behind her words.

"Those rated inferior are sent to the Princess's Estate?"

Chen Qing frowned slightly.

In his memories, "Chen Xu" had met the Tenth Princess a few times before being imprisoned. But after seven years of cultivation here, he had never seen her again. How could those rated inferior be allowed to go instead?

Xu Zhaoying studied him meaningfully and asked, "Since you're from the Chen family, you must know Princess Xiyao's background, don't you?"

The princess's background?

A hint of doubt flashed in Chen Qing's eyes as memory fragments surged in response—

The Immortal Emperor's tenth daughter, peerlessly beautiful, cool-tempered, and possessed of... the bloodlines of the Hundred Races?

Chen Qing's pupils contracted slightly.

Before humanity rose to prominence, the Hundred Races had ruled the world. Now, most of them lay dormant in the Northern Cold Continent.

Xu Zhaoying lightly stroked her sword scabbard and murmured, "Because Princess Xiyao has Qingqiu blood, there's a rumor that those who receive an inferior rating three times are supposedly sent back to their hometowns, but in reality, the princess draws their blood to refine her cultivation."

Chen Qing frowned. "If they've been rated inferior, that means their aptitude is poor. What could there be to refine? It seems this rumor is false."

Xu Zhaoying suddenly leaned half a step closer, her breath fragrant as orchids, and smiled. "Perhaps it's precisely because they can't explain the intricacies of cultivation that the princess has to examine them herself."

Chen Qing was taken aback.

Jiang He's shivering grew even more pronounced.

"Now that you know all this..." Xu Zhaoying suddenly fixed Chen Qing with a piercing stare. "Have you started thinking about running away?"

Chen Qing shook his head.

Since this was an illusion in a dream, what was there to worry about?

Even if it was more than just a rumor, he would still dare to take that chance.

"Looks like you don't have any prejudice against other races. Don't worry, the rumor is false. The princess has no time for that sort of thing. She..." Xu Zhaoying was about to continue, but her ear suddenly twitched. She changed the subject. "Elder Lü is coming."

"Thank you for the trouble, Lord Li. You even brought it here in person."

Two men walked side by side down the corridor.

One had black hair and a white beard, with an aura of pure energy circling him. He held a scroll in his hand and was Elder Lü Han, who oversaw this mountain estate. The other was tall and gaunt, his black robes hanging loosely from his frame. His expression was stern, and he was none other than Li Benji, the warden of the Mysterious Prison's C Division.

Li Benji replied, "I have an old connection with the princess, so I often help her arrange these cultivation tests. This time, I heard someone was about to be dismissed, so I came to take him back. I happened to bring this painting along as well, though I don't know what it's for. The Hundred Rivers Return to the Sea Diagram is a treasured inheritance of the Naihai Sect. Some of its remnants are still at large. If word gets out..."

Lü Han waved a hand and smiled. "Don't worry. A retainer of the princess has a daughter cultivating the Vast Scripture here. She always felt her Visualization Diagram of the Vast Canglan Sea was lacking something. Apparently, her father wrote to the princess for help, and with the princess's approval, this Hundred Rivers Return to the Sea Diagram was brought out for her to study."

"The princess truly knows how to treat worthy people with respect."

"We're here."

As they spoke, the two had already arrived at the entrance to the main hall.

"Come in with me." Lü Han pointed inside. "There's someone in there who came from the Mysterious Prison. I hear he even has a distinguished background, but his Spiritual Bone was ruined, leaving him with poor aptitude. He's been cultivating for years and is still muddleheaded. If he can't explain himself today, take him back with you."

"I know who you mean." Li Benji narrowed his eyes and nodded. He followed Lü Han inside and indeed spotted "Chen Xu," but said nothing, waiting only to take him back after the assessment.

Chen Qing saw him and was somewhat surprised. He hadn't wanted to make trouble, but seeing the man shoot him mocking looks every now and then left him puzzled.

"This man seems to have it in for me. Did I offend him in the past?"

The cultivation assessment wasn't complicated, and it was conducted in groups. Besides Chen Qing, Jiang He, and Xu Zhaoying, there were seven others present this time.

Lü Han called them up one by one to ask about their cultivation insights. The entire process was open to everyone, with nothing held back. This was a private cultivation assessment set up by the princess. Since everyone practiced different techniques, each gave their own opinions, but the farther along they went, the more their shortcomings showed.

Chen Qing had wanted to listen to everyone's insights, but the first few candidates were so nervous that they either stammered or kept repeating themselves. They couldn't even explain the changes in their qi and blood in the First Realm.

"Disjointed and lacking any focus." Lü Han waved them away in disappointment. "You may all leave."

"It's over!" Jiang He grew even more worried. "We're probably worse than they are..." He turned to look at Chen Qing beside him. Seeing the other man's brows knitted together, he sighed.

Alas!

He was worried too, just like him!

Little did he know, after listening to everyone, Chen Qing was growing more and more confused.

"By rights, the Primordial Immortal Dynasty rules the Central Spirit Continent, and the Tenth Princess is of imperial blood. Even the worst candidates they select shouldn't be this bad. How can they not explain the essentials of even the First Realm? Is it because this is a dream, and it can't go beyond what I know?"

At that thought, he remembered the background of this era, and a flash of inspiration struck him.

"Although the sages of humanity opened the path to immortality in this era, perhaps the common knowledge of cultivation really hasn't spread yet! If I organize some of the cultivation fundamentals from the Sea and Mountain Remnant Scroll..."

At that thought, Chen Qing's eyes brightened.

Although he regarded this place as a dream, it still gave him feedback. The Princess's Estate was rich in resources, and he was determined to obtain the Visualization Diagram from the Great Mountain Heavenly Art. If he was sent back, how could he ever get another chance?

"Next, Chen..."

Just as Lü Han was about to call a name, Xu Zhaoying suddenly spoke up. "I'll go first."

Lü Han smiled amiably. "Very well. The item you need has arrived. Once your assessment is over, you can put it to use."

Xu Zhaoying glanced at the scroll and stepped forward to answer his questions.

"I know what you're capable of, so I'll keep it simple." Lü Han stroked his beard with a smile, his manner completely different from his earlier businesslike attitude. "Let's talk about that bone-hardening, flesh-aching sensation you mentioned last time. Have you found the cause?"

Bone-hardening, flesh-aching?

Chen Qing's thoughts stirred.

Could it be bone developing stone patches?

In the era of the Hidden Star Gate, the First Realm, Yellow Court Initial Opening, had been divided into four stages: early, middle, late, and complete.

During the middle stage of the First Realm, cultivators needed high-purity Earth Vein Jade Marrow to temper their bones. The higher its purity, the better the results. Conversely, if they tempered their bones with low-quality Earth Vein Jade Marrow, it could trigger changes in the bones, producing hard, stone-like spurs that pierced the flesh from within. That was what caused bone-hardening and flesh-aching.

"Elder Lü," Xu Zhaoying replied calmly, "the Vast Scripture says: 'The bones are the home of the marrow, and the foundation of qi.' Therefore, I believe this pain is a sign that qi and blood are tempering the bones. The harder the bones grow, the more it shows that one's cultivation is advancing, and that the blood and marrow are gradually becoming full. Only by enduring the pain and tempering oneself can one strengthen one's Dao Heart and make progress."

After a pause, she added, "I also found that drawing the energy of the earth veins into the body can ease the pain. Perhaps that can serve as a reference."

Lü Han stroked his beard and smiled. "I'll make a note of this and pass it to Lord Dingbo and the others for consideration."

Li Benji had watched coldly for a while. Now, he glanced at Chen Qing and suddenly said, "Bone-hardening and flesh-aching in the Initial Opening Realm isn't an isolated case. A highly respected expert I know spent over twenty years without determining the cause. If Miss Xu can uncover the root of it, that would be a great contribution. By the way, Chen Xu, you come from an Aristocratic Clan and fought in the Western Wastes. Your knowledge should be better than most. What do you think of Miss Xu's brilliant insight?"

The hall fell silent in an instant.

Was this an attempt to praise her to death? Or to sow discord?

Chen Qing frowned slightly. Why did this man seem to be targeting him? Could "Chen Xu" really have had a grudge against him in the past?

However, Lü Han couldn't very well reject Li Benji's suggestion, so he went along with it. "Very well. Tell us what you think."

After weighing the pros and cons, Chen Qing said, "What Fellow Daoist Xu said makes sense. But I don't think the marrow is necessarily becoming full. It could also be that 'the bones are like ice, and the marrow like frost'—in other words, cold spurs are growing in the bones. That may not be a sign of progress in cultivation. It could be a hidden danger instead."

"Oh?" Li Benji raised an eyebrow. "The experts in Yujing haven't reached that conclusion, yet you sound so certain. Have you figured something out?"

Lü Han pondered for a moment before saying, "The path of cultivation varies from person to person. There's no experience that holds true everywhere. Being able to figure out a method suited to oneself through cultivation is already rare. I think this could count as an explanation too."

Xu Zhaoying lowered her head and said nothing.

But Li Benji said, "Empty talk is useless. If you really have the ability, you should offer a solution."

Only then did Lü Han reply, "Fellow Daoist Li, you yourself said that even the experts in Yujing have reached no conclusion. How could Chen Qing have a solution? This matter—"

Chen Qing suddenly cut in. "I once saw it in an old book: if stone patches and cold spurs grow in the bones, the sinews and bones can be tempered anew with True Earth Vein Marrow. After resting for a month or so, regularly soaking in ice water that's been left overnight should ease the symptoms. One must especially avoid forcing oneself to cultivate, or the injuries will worsen."

"An old book?" Li Benji's expression darkened. "Even the experts in Yujing have never mentioned this method, yet you dare to make wild claims?"

Lü Han raised a hand to stop him. He had caught the hostility in Li Benji's words, but at that moment, he couldn't afford to spare his feelings.

"An old friend of mine had the same symptoms back then, but he eventually recovered. I asked him how, yet he kept his lips sealed and refused to tell me the remedy. I'll have to ask him again another day and see whether he used True Earth Vein Marrow." After a pause, Lü Han sized Chen Qing up. "So it seems you only look muddleheaded on the surface, while you're actually biding your time."

Jiang He stared in shock, his heart filled with astonishment. "Chen Xu usually keeps such a low profile, but he knows all this? Every time I asked, he said he had no insights. Was he lying to me? So I'm the only one wasting my days?"

Lü Han's eyes shone as he asked again, "Do you have any deeper insights into the Yellow Court Initial Opening Realm? This is an assessment, after all. That's what we should really be discussing."

Everyone's eyes gathered on Chen Qing once more.

Chen Qing thought to himself, "The cultivation system in this dream-era must still be in its exploratory stages. If I offer up some more insights from later generations, perhaps I can draw their attention and push the events in this dream toward another turn..."