Congenital Meridian Blockage

"Uncle Qingyun, what do I have to do next?" Tian'er tugged at Green Cloud Master's robe, interrupting his reverie.

"Oh, next we'll test your Innate Attribute." Green Cloud Master finally came back to his senses.

After steadying himself, Green Cloud Master took Tian'er's little hand and led him along the sheer cliff.

On the way, the others kept muttering among themselves, mostly about what kind of aptitude Tian'er had and which of their lineages he should join.

Before long, they arrived beneath a sheer cliff. Its surface was smooth as a mirror and gleamed like jade.

On a bluestone beside the cliff were engraved the same seal-script characters as on the "Heavenly Road": "Wordless Jade Wall."

"Tian'er, this is the Wordless Jade Wall. In a moment, place your palm against it. The light it gives off will tell us your Innate Attribute. Go ahead." Green Cloud Master patiently explained.

"Mm." Tian'er answered, then walked over to the jade wall and placed his tender little hand against it.

After a long while, the jade wall showed no reaction at all.

"Eh? Why isn't it reacting?" Wu Yun asked in surprise. Tian'er had thoroughly shaken her confidence today.

"Could the jade wall be broken?" Xiong Xiong asked uncertainly.

"How could that be? In the thousand years since I joined Qingyun Sect, the Wordless Jade Wall has never once made a mistake." Yuan Ming spoke with absolute certainty.

Leng Jian said nothing. He walked straight to the jade wall and placed his palm against it. In an instant, a rich golden light rippled out from its surface. It was easy to see that Leng Jian had a powerful Innate Gold Attribute.

"There's nothing wrong with it," Leng Jian said flatly, but he could no longer look at Tian'er with indifference.

"What's going on? Could Tian'er's talent be very low? No, that can't be right. Even the faintest talent should produce a dim light." Ye Feidie looked puzzled.

"Normally, a chance encounter like this is rare even once in a century. Today's been downright eerie—we've seen it happen twice, and both times to the same person." Huang Se spoke, and the others around him nodded in agreement.

Green Cloud Master said nothing. He hurried over to Tian'er, took his wrist, and began feeling his pulse.

A moment later, Green Cloud Master furrowed his brow. It seemed he hadn't discovered anything. As if unwilling to accept that, he sent a thread of green spiritual energy from his fingertip, probing into Lingyun's body.

"Ah!" Green Cloud Master cried out and snatched his hand away from Tian'er's wrist as fast as lightning. He looked as if he'd seen a ghost. No—seeing a ghost wouldn't normally scare someone that badly. In the Cultivation World, anyone with a decent level of cultivation could easily see ghosts and spirits.

"What's wrong, Sect Master?" Gu Yuan asked hastily.

"He—he can devour my spiritual energy!" Green Cloud Master was aghast. His usual air of immortal grace had been cast to the winds.

"What? He can devour your spiritual energy? Tian'er did that?" Huang Se's expression changed, and he hurriedly asked.

"It probably wasn't Tian'er. He can't control it. It seems his body automatically devours any spiritual energy that comes near him." Green Cloud Master pondered for a moment before answering.

"What kind of physique is this?" Xiong Xiong asked, completely baffled.

"I don't know, but I do know why the Wordless Jade Wall didn't react. Tian'er has Congenital Meridian Blockage, so of course the jade wall wouldn't respond." Green Cloud Master spoke with certainty, a trace of regret in his voice.

"His meridians are blocked from birth? Doesn't that mean he can't cultivate?" Gu Yuan asked.

"Of course. Have you ever seen someone with blocked meridians who could talk?" Huang Se said. For some reason, he looked delighted, as if he'd been hoping to see a peerless genius "fall."

"Sister Wu Yun, I told you I wouldn't fight you for Tian'er. Why not let him join your Qingsong Peak?" Gu Yuan said magnanimously, as if he hadn't just been clamoring to claim Tian'er for himself.

"Well, everyone at Qingsong Peak is female, so I'm afraid it wouldn't be suitable." Wu Yun quickly tried to refuse.

One by one, the others came up with all sorts of "reasons" of their own. They changed their tune faster than someone could turn a page.

Seeing their reaction, Tian'er felt a deep sense of loss. Yet as he watched them shirk responsibility, a faint look of scorn crept into his eyes.

Tian'er couldn't cultivate. Taking in a "good-for-nothing" shouldn't have been a big deal, but this "good-for-nothing" had a peerless expert backing him. If Tian'er's cultivation didn't improve at all after some time, it might be because of his own circumstances, but who knew whether the senior expert would see reason? If he took offense, they wouldn't be able to bear the consequences.

After all, the tempers of senior experts were notoriously strange.

"Enough. A moment ago, every one of you was scrambling to claim him. Why are you all backing out now? What kind of behavior is that?" Green Cloud Master flicked his sleeve, sounding somewhat displeased.

"Well, you can't really blame us. If Senior Lingyun gets angry, that's more than we can handle," Gu Yuan muttered. His voice was low, but everyone heard him just fine.

Green Cloud Master pondered for a moment and decided Gu Yuan had a point. After a sigh, he said, "He's right. This is more than we can handle. I suppose I'll take Tian'er back and explain the situation to our benefactor. Sigh."

With that, he took Tian'er's little hand and left. A moment later, a streak of blue light flashed toward Qingyou Peak. Green Cloud Master had presumably flown Tian'er back on his sword.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, exchanged farewells, and went their separate ways.

Qingyou Peak, Lingyun's residence.

Humei was standing dazed in the courtyard. From time to time, she would gaze at the flowers and touch the grass, as if searching among them for traces of the life Tian'er had once lived there. She looked lost in a dream, sometimes sorrowful, sometimes smiling. Perhaps she was remembering how Tian'er had played and laughed there, his mischief on full display. Her longing was plain to see.

"Sigh, Mei'er, Tian'er hasn't even been gone half a day. You don't have to take it this far, do you? Isn't this a little over the top?" Lingyun said with a helpless smile.

"Yip, yip!" Humei chirped, seeming both bashful and annoyed.

"Hehe, all right, all right. Of course you can miss Tian'er. How about we go see him at Qingyun Peak right now?" Lingyun was clearly teasing her.

Humei rolled her fox eyes and leaped onto Lingyun's shoulder, scratching at him to make him laugh.

"All right, all right, I know I was wrong. Won't you let me off? Hahaha!" Unable to stand it, Lingyun burst out laughing and hurriedly begged for mercy, but Humei still wouldn't stop.

"Enough, stop messing around. Someone's coming." Lingyun's expression turned serious as he suddenly spoke. Humei seemed to sense it too and stopped her "torment" of Lingyun.

Just then, a streak of blue light whistled over and came to a halt nearby. Two figures drifted down gracefully. Who else could they be but Green Cloud Master and Tian'er?

"Greetings, benefactor." Green Cloud Master hurriedly saluted.

"Mm, there's no need for formalities. Why have you brought Tian'er back? Did he get into trouble?" Lingyun asked, somewhat surprised. He glanced at Tian'er, who had immediately run over to Humei.

Tian'er had always been mischievous, so it was only natural that he'd get into trouble. But it hadn't even been an hour. What trouble could he possibly have caused?

"He didn't get into trouble. It's just—" Green Cloud Master started, then stopped.

"Go on. You can speak freely." Lingyun sounded a little impatient.

"Well, we tested Tian'er's talent today..." Green Cloud Master glanced at Tian'er, who was playing with Humei, and struggled to find the right words.

"Oh? Was Tian'er's talent poor? That doesn't seem possible." Lingyun cut Green Cloud Master off, clearly unwilling to believe Tian'er was merely ordinary.

Green Cloud Master steadied himself. Tian'er had given him quite a shock earlier that day. "It was quite the opposite. Tian'er made it to the end of the Heavenly Road."

After saying this, Green Cloud Master cautiously glanced at Lingyun.

"Oh, so he wasn't ordinary after all. Good, good." Lingyun seemed relieved. He didn't believe Tian'er was dull-witted, but one could never be sure. He still hadn't heard the last part of Green Cloud Master's explanation.

"What? What did you say? He made it to the end of the Heavenly Road?" Lingyun suddenly remembered Green Cloud Master's words and sprang to his feet. He looked nothing like a senior expert now.

"Mm, yes. He made it to the end of the Heavenly Road," Green Cloud Master repeated.

"Haha! I thought Tian'er would be at least a top-tier genius, but I still underestimated him. Excellent, excellent! Hardly anyone in all of history has ever made it to the end of the Heavenly Road. I only made it as far as the Purple Steps back in my day." Lingyun laughed triumphantly, talking to himself. Tian'er's talent made him happier than if his own had been greater.

"If his talent is so good, why did you bring him back?" Lingyun's expression turned serious, as if he'd remembered Green Cloud Master was still there. He quickly resumed his lofty air.

Hearing Lingyun's muttering, Green Cloud Master rolled his eyes. "Only made it as far as the Purple Steps"—this father and son were really something. What a pair of monsters. Of course, he only thought it; he didn't dare say it aloud.

"It's just... it's just..." Green Cloud Master stammered.

"What is it?" Lingyun furrowed his brow. Even Humei paused her play with Tian'er and pricked up her lively ears to listen.

"It's just that Tian'er's Innate Attribute is a little strange," Green Cloud Master said carefully. Calling Tian'er's Innate Attribute strange was an understatement. It was downright monstrous.

"Strange? What happened?" Lingyun asked in surprise.

"When Tian'er was tested, the Wordless Jade Wall didn't react at all." After saying this, Green Cloud Master felt as if a heavy stone had been lifted from his heart, and he couldn't help letting out a sigh of relief.

"No reaction?" Lingyun was dumbfounded. The jade wall's silence meant Tian'er had no Innate Attribute, and having no Innate Attribute meant... Well, Lingyun had never seen anything like it either.

Seeing Lingyun's reaction, Green Cloud Master felt a little better. So even senior experts could be shaken by the oddball Tian'er. Still, he cleared his throat.

"I examined him, and Tian'er seems to have Congenital Meridian Blockage?" He said "seems," but his tone was quite certain. Green Cloud Master had an Innate Wood Attribute, and Wood Attribute was closest to life. His words carried a certain authority.

"Congenital Meridian Blockage? Haha! Old Heaven, are you trying to destroy my Lingxiao Pavilion?" Lingyun looked almost deranged, his voice brimming with hatred as he glared at the heavens.

"But the strange thing is, there's something inside Tian'er that can devour my energy. It's extremely domineering," Green Cloud Master continued, refusing to let the shock subside.

"Oh? That's strange." Lingyun regained a little of his composure.

Without waiting for Green Cloud Master to answer, he hurried over to Tian'er, took his little hand, and carefully probed him. After a moment, Lingyun furrowed his brow, and a thread of spiritual energy seeped from his fingertip and headed into Tian'er's body.

"Eh? There really is something odd about him." Green Cloud Master let go of Tian'er's little hand and fell into thought.

After a long while, Lingyun sent out another thread of spiritual energy, this time toward Tian'er's side. Strangely, the energy darted toward Tian'er, was drawn into his body, and vanished without a trace a moment later.

Lingyun's brow knitted tightly. He clasped his hands behind his back and began pacing around the courtyard, clearly deep in thought.

After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Lingyun's eyes suddenly flashed. He went back to Tian'er.

"What's wrong, Father?" Tian'er was baffled by Lingyun's behavior.

"It's nothing, it's nothing. Tian'er, don't move. Don't think about anything. It'll be over in a moment." Lingyun seemed faintly pleased, and a little excited.

"Oh." Tian'er didn't know what Lingyun was going to do, but he obediently stood completely still.

Seeing Tian'er hold still, Lingyun suddenly closed his eyes. The air around them warped, and a vast surge of energy enveloped Tian'er.

Tian'er felt a tightness in his chest, and his dantian trembled. But Lingyun had warned him beforehand, so he gritted his teeth and endured without moving.

Cold sweat began to seep from Tian'er's forehead. A moment later, it poured down in streams.

Lingyun's face turned pale, and he swayed before steadying himself. His probing had clearly taken a great deal of mental energy. Fortunately, he had finished; otherwise, it was hard to say whether he could have held out.

"Phew—" Lingyun let out a long breath. His eyes brimmed with joy, but in an instant, he hid it without a trace.

"Sigh, this is Heaven's will. It's not your fault, Qingyun. You may go back." Lingyun gave a deliberately heavy sigh.

"Then, benefactor, I'll take my leave." Green Cloud Master saluted and hurried away at a speed that was hard to describe. He was probably afraid Lingyun might be in a bad mood and take it out on him.

"Yip, yip!" As soon as Green Cloud Master had left, Humei hurried over to Lingyun and chirped. Her expression was full of worry and concern.

"Haha, Mei'er, don't worry. Tian'er's fine." Lingyun smiled, though he was clearly forcing himself to keep the smile in check.

Humei had been with Lingyun for so long that she knew he wouldn't lie to her, but she still looked bewildered.

"Tian'er doesn't have Congenital Meridian Blockage. It's..." Lingyun leaned down and whispered something in Humei's ear. The wild joy in his eyes could no longer be suppressed.

Humei looked shocked and overjoyed too. She cried out twice in disbelief.

"At first, I had my doubts too. But just now, I asked the Artifact Spirits of those two strange treasures inside the little fellow with my divine sense, and they reacted the same way." Lingyun's face lit up with joy.

After hearing Lingyun's words, Humei bounced around happily, chirping without pause.

"Shh—" Lingyun motioned for her to be quiet and pointed at the sky with his left hand.

Humei quickly stopped and didn't make another sound, as if afraid Heaven might find out. But the joy in her expression only grew.

"Looks like the little fellow really is our hope, hehe." Lingyun's face was wreathed in smiles.

"Father, what are you talking about? I don't understand." Tian'er scratched his head, looking utterly confused.

"It's nothing, it's nothing. Go play, hehe." Lingyun's eyes were full of smiles.

"Then do I still go to Qingyun Peak tomorrow?" Tian'er asked nervously.

"No need. You'll stay at Qingyou Peak from now on. Your mother and I will teach you how to cultivate ourselves." Lingyun smiled and patted Tian'er's little head.

"Oh, great! I'm going to play!" The little fellow was beside himself with excitement and dashed happily out the door. But a trace of disappointment flashed in his eyes before he quickly hid it.

Lingyun and Humei had seen it, though, and smiled knowingly.