True Qi (Seeking Recommendation!)

"Don't cry! Don't cry! Am I not perfectly fine?"

Wu Ming looked at the beauty with red-rimmed eyes, speaking with gentle comfort, yet his heart felt icy cold. That was too close, he thought.

In this world, Daoist arts and supernatural powers could open the Heavenly Eye, and there were demons and spirits capable of possessing human bodies to steal a life and return from the dead. Although the local country squires were short-sighted, his sister Wu Qing, a practitioner of the Dao, would certainly be aware of such things.

Even if she lacked the ability herself, seeing Wu Ming in such danger this time, she would have inevitably sought someone out to intervene!

That old Daoist from just a moment ago was clearly a master of the Dao who had come to investigate using his arts.

Had he arrived a few days earlier, Wu Ming's soul—that of a transmigrator—would have been impossible to hide and would surely have been suppressed as an evil spirit, never to be reincarnated.

'Fortunately... fortunately I still have the Main God Hall!'

Wu Ming immediately recalled the healing provided by the Main God Hall.

He hadn't noticed it before, but after waking up this time, he felt an incredible harmony between his physical body and his soul; it was likely the lingering effect of that treatment.

Otherwise, had any telltale signs been revealed, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

The current outcome was excellent. With the endorsement of that old Daoist, even if Wu Ming did something shocking in the future, others would never suspect the truth.

"Why are you spacing out?"

Clearly having reached a conclusion, Wu Qing's tone had become much more casual.

"I... I was thinking about that thumb ring of mine!"

Wu Ming casually fabricated an excuse.

"It was already broken!"

Wu Qing rolled her eyes at her younger brother, her face blooming like a spring breeze, radiating an indescribable charm.

Wu Ming's heart stirred. He finally understood why this convenient sister of his usually pretended to be an ice queen; otherwise, with looks like these, she would be a total Femme Fatale wherever she went.

"That was just a piece of trash. Another day, Sister will give you a real magical artifact!"

Wu Qing continued, but Wu Ming was thinking about that jade pendant, which he suspected was a component of the Main God Hall.

Everything had been so chaotic at the time that few people should have noticed it, perhaps none at all.

Besides, that jade pendant had already been swallowed by the Main God Hall. Even if someone were suspicious, Wu Ming could easily feign complete ignorance.

"Also... who was that Daoist..."

Wu Qing replied softly, "He is the Supervisor of my Dao Academy, Daoist Master Shou Xuan. He has always possessed profound Daoist arts and is skilled in medicine. I specifically invited him to examine your condition..."

'To be able to invite even a Supervisor—it seems this convenient sister of mine is doing quite well at the Dao Academy!'

As Wu Ming thought this, he suddenly saw Wu Qing's willow-leaf eyebrows arch, a flash of decisive ruthlessness appearing on her face: "I already know that the reason you ended up in this state is entirely because of that Femme Fatale, Li Xiuyun. She should be beaten to death to serve as a warning to others!"

"Don't!"

Wu Ming blurted out.

This Li Xiuyun was naturally the young maid he had seen the moment he transmigrated; she was a pitiful soul.

Not only had her childhood sweetheart, Lin Qi, been possessed by an Outer-world Demon, but her entire family had been slaughtered. Now, she was being bullied by a wicked young master and was hated by Wu Qing—her life was hanging by a thread.

He had never known how to face her, and for the past few days, he had avoided her as much as possible, hiding in the study.

Now that Wu Qing had returned, this was naturally a problem that needed urgent resolution.

"This..."

Wu Ming looked at the murderous Wu Qing and finally recalled that while this sister might be doting toward her brother, toward outsiders, she was a person of extreme coldness and ruthlessness!

If not for this, as a mere woman, she would never have been able to protect such a large family estate, let alone enter the Dao Academy and rise to prominence.

"This girl..."

Wu Ming thought for a moment, unable to find the right words. Should he say he liked her? That would be brain-dead.

After a moment of silence, he said, "This girl is also quite pitiful. Why not just let her go home..."

"Heh..."

Who would have thought that Wu Qing would burst into a giggle: "Sister was just teasing you. How could I bear to touch your precious darling?"

She then clicked her tongue in wonder: "It's just... unexpected. You haven't changed much in a while, yet your temperament has shifted, and you've even learned to cherish the fair and protect the fragile..."

"Heh..."

Wu Ming gave a dry laugh, knowing that if not for the old Daoist's guarantee, the flaws he had shown would have been enough to make Wu Qing suspicious.

Seeing the bright, charming smile on Wu Qing's face, while only a fleeting cold light remained in the depths of her eyes, a guess struck Wu Ming's mind like a bolt of lightning: "Could it be..."

Time flew by.

Wu Ming's injuries hadn't been severe to begin with, and he didn't know what medicinal herbs Wu Qing had applied, but three days later, his Right Hand was nearly healed.

Daoist Master Shou Xuan had naturally only made one appearance before returning to the Dao Academy. Instead, Wu Qing seemed to have taken a few days of leave, intending to spend time with her brother, which made Wu Ming's scalp tingle.

On the training grounds.

Wu Ming wore a short jacket, his chest bared to reveal faintly defined muscles. He suddenly exhaled and shouted, his breath long and steady, carrying the sound of wind.

Crack!

In an instant, a crisp sound echoed from within his Dantian. His essence and blood had gathered to their peak, surging with vitality to give birth to the first wisp of True Qi!

The fifth stage of the Body Refinement Realm: the True Qi Realm!

"Hoo..."

Wu Ming took a deep breath, and the pores across his entire body opened, as if wisps of steam were emerging from them.

In his heart, he felt quite a bit of emotion: I have reached the True Qi Realm once again. I did not expect that after my soul broke through, my physical body would have to break through once more... However, with the experience of two breakthroughs combined, my foundation is now even more profound!

The Main God Hall seemed to only allow the soul to enter when selecting Reincarnators.

Yet, every experience felt incredibly real. Wu Ming had broken through during a bloody, life-or-death battle, and now, it felt like water flowing into a channel—a natural success.

"Good!"

Feng Han, standing to the side, clapped his hands. A hint of a smile appeared on his stiff, rigid face: "Originally, I thought that with Young Master Ming's aptitude, you would need to experience the tempering of actual combat or go to the battlefield to grasp the crisis of life and death before you could unify the strength of your skin, flesh, muscles, bones, and internal organs to generate True Qi... I did not expect you to be able to break through now!"

However, thinking back to the life-or-death moment against Lin Qi, Feng Han immediately felt relieved and said warmly: "By advancing to the True Qi Realm now, Young Master has already left ninety-nine percent of your peers behind. You can truly be called a talent of the age!"

Wu Ming felt a bit ashamed upon hearing this.

The abundance of his martial arts resources was simply incomparable to his peers. Furthermore, having been selected by the Main God Hall and experiencing a dungeon mission where he faced death nine times out of ten, he had only just managed to break through. The price he paid was something Feng Han could never imagine.

Seeming to notice Wu Ming's shame, Feng Han said: "Young Master Ming need not belittle yourself... You must know that the fifth stage of the Body Refinement Realm is rarely seen even within a county. If you were to join the military, regardless of your background, you could be directly appointed as a Squad Leader! With Young Master's status, you could even serve as a Deputy Commander, holding an official position..."

The most basic military system of this world was the "Ten-Five" method: five men made a squad, led by a Squad Leader; two squads made a platoon, and the Squad Leader was the leader of ten men, barely counting as a person of note.

Of course, Wu Ming had a good background as a local wealthy gentleman, and with his sister managing things, once he entered officialdom, he would inevitably hold a Subordinate Ninth Rank status.

The position of Deputy Commander was appointed by the Commandery Governor, titled Garrison Deputy Lieutenant, a Subordinate Ninth Rank! With an official seal and a certificate of appointment, one would truly leave the ranks of commoners and clerks to enter the class of 'officials.'

Do not look down on it; ordinary people of the Great Zhou might struggle their entire lives and never achieve such a thing.

Of course, with Wu Qing supporting him from above and having fertile land, a large mansion, and beautiful concubines below, Wu Ming would have to be a fool to enter officialdom and the military.

"Master Feng is highly skilled in martial arts. If you were to enter the ranks, you would surely be like a tiger returning to the forest or a dragon entering the sea, unstoppable..."

Wu Ming said this with a hint of admiration.

"Young Master is joking..."

Feng Han shook his head: "I come from a humble background with no foundation. Even if I entered the military, I would likely be destined for a deputy role. I might start as a Deputy Commander, but to climb to the rank of Commander, unless by some stroke of luck, it would take at least ten years..."

When he said this, Wu Ming clearly saw a look of unwillingness in Feng Han's eyes.

It was no wonder; if he were doing well, why would he accept Wu Qing's invitation to become a martial arts instructor?

And Feng Han coming here likely had the intention of building ties with the Wu family to borrow their influence.

In short, it was a case of each getting what they needed.

"I will teach you all my martial arts combat techniques and weapon experience without reservation. As for the subsequent mental cultivation methods for the Young Master, you will need to obtain them from the Eldest Miss..."

Feng Han quickly regained his composure and said solemnly: "This is not me holding back, but rather that the Young Master's Qi Circulation Cultivation Method far surpasses my own. Your future prospects are limitless!"

"Limitless?"

Wu Ming pondered these four words and suddenly asked: "Are there other realms after the martial Body Refinement Realm?"

"Of course there are!"

Feng Han answered without hesitation: "...After the Body Refinement Realm, a warrior undergoes a transformation that transcends the saintly and sheds their mortal shell. Legends of single-handedly charging through formations, being a match for a thousand or even ten thousand, are all true!"

"Then how do they compare to those who cultivate the Dao?" Wu Ming asked immediately.

"After we warriors reach the True Qi Realm, our Qi and Blood become masculine and vigorous. In the face of an enemy, a single shout, spitting out essence and blood, can easily break any minor arts. Not to mention that as long as a Dao cultivator has not reached the realm of 'Drawing Talismans in Mid-air, Words Becoming Incantations,' they are extremely reliant on external objects. Once we warriors get close to them, heh heh..."

Feng Han's answer confirmed to Wu Ming that this man held a bias, or rather, was stubborn about the glory of a warrior.

However, a flash of lightning crossed Wu Ming's mind, and he thought of the maiden Xiao Yu, whom he had met during his first reincarnation mission.

The feeling she gave him was extraordinary; it was very likely she was a Dao cultivator.

Alas, her realm was not high, and she relied too heavily on external objects. Yet, she happened to encounter the pitfall that was the Main God Hall, which treated all talismans and magical artifacts as 'external objects'! She had to spend merit points to redeem them just to bring them into the dungeon.

As a result, Xiao Yu was like a fish without gills or a bird without wings. Facing a life-or-death crisis, she had perished in sorrow, and he did not know where her fragrant soul had returned to.

Hmm... We are soul reincarnators, cast into dungeons by the Main God Hall. I wonder if death in the dungeon is a true death, or if it just wipes one's memory?