Some Drew Bows to Shoot Celestials from the Sky; Some Offered the Living as Sacrifices to Build Bone Temples

The water pavilion was tranquil, and a gentle breeze stirred ripples across the placid pond.

Madam Hua stroked the celadon teacup in her hand, gently rubbing it.

"The emergence of cultivators can be traced back ten thousand years. At that time, Qi Refiners flourished across the land, known among common folk as immortals. Later, Qi Refiners entered the mortal world to spread their teachings, developing into the Hundred Schools of Thought."

"In that era, the hundred schools contended and the world stood in an age of great strife. But with the emergence of that emperor who swept through the six realms, united the four seas, and ruled all beneath Heaven, martial arts were fused with Qi refining. He standardized writing, unified cart tracks, and established rules for cultivation. From that moment onward, cultivation gained order and direction."

Madam Hua spoke calmly.

She was telling An Le secrets he had never heard before, even tracing cultivation back to its origins.

"Of course, over the thousands of years since, the path of cultivation has continuously developed and proliferated, producing countless astonishing geniuses. Yet in the end, none can escape the tempering of time. Thus, cultivation is also a process of pursuing the continuation of life."

"In today's world, you should know that after the Great Zhao Southern Migration, all lands north of the Canglang River in the Central Land were occupied by foreign tribes. The strongest expert in the world today is undoubtedly The Emperor of the Yuan Meng Empire. Looking northwest, he drew his bow and shot at celestial immortals—a single arrow blasted open Heaven's Gate and stained immortals with blood."

The strongest expert in the world, the Yuan Meng Emperor... A peerless powerhouse whose mere breakthrough had supposedly forced Great Zhao to migrate south.

An Le drew a deep breath, deeply shaken as he listened.

"Besides the Yuan Meng Emperor, the strongest in the world, Dali Kingdom has a Wheelchair National Preceptor who split open the heavens with a single finger, drawing down the starry sea beyond the sky. His bearing is unparalleled. Then there is the father and son of Xiliang Kingdom, who entered demonic cultivation through martial arts and infected an entire kingdom. They offered ten thousand living people as sacrifices to build a Bone Temple, forged a demonic blade, and brought down a rain of blood upon the mortal world, forcing the Yuan Meng Empire's army to retreat three thousand li."

Madam Hua took a sip of tea and slowly recounted the world's greatest powers.

Even through her words alone, An Le could feel that terrifying pressure. Though he had long known this world was anything but ordinary, he was still stunned by its bizarre and wondrous nature.

Madam Hua glanced at An Le and gave a soft laugh. "Of course, our Great Zhao is not weak either. Peerless military generals emerge in droves, while within our borders stand three powers: the Sacred Mountain, the Literature Academy, and the Martial Temple. All possess experts who stand apart from the world. This is also one reason the Yuan Meng Emperor dares not easily cross south."

This was the clearest picture of the world's cultivation power structure that An Le had heard so far.

"Young Master An, you became a Juren scholar at eighteen and came to Lin'an to take part in the Spring Imperial Examination. Now you have stepped onto the path of cultivation. Your goal should be to join the ranks of Jia Bang Jinshi in the imperial examinations, correct?"

Madam Hua lightly sipped her tea.

"I do have such hopes, but this student's cultivation is still far too weak. I can only give it my all."

An Le said.

Madam Hua nodded. "The Sacred Mountain, the Literature Academy, and the Martial Temple stand within Great Zhao like three towering mountains. The Sacred Mountain stands aloof, while the Literature Academy and Martial Temple contend without end. They recruit disciples only from among Jia Bang Jinshi. Only by reaching the Jia Bang list will you have the chance to enter the Literature Academy or Martial Temple and continue your cultivation."

This was the first time An Le had learned of this. Brilliance flashed in his eyes, and ambition indeed began to grow in his heart.

"The Literature Academy and Martial Temple collect cultivation methods from across the world, all of them extraordinary arts. If Young Master An wishes to learn profound methods, you must enter one of these two."

"The Literature Academy and Martial Temple encompass Great Zhao's current cultivation system. The Literature Academy cultivates the spirit, while the Martial Temple tempers the body."

"The Literature Academy's spirit cultivation is naturally the cultivation of the mind. It commands spiritual power and is divided into the realms of Entering Stillness, Embryonic Breathing, Transcending Worldliness, Primordial Spirit, Sitting in Forgetfulness, and more... Powerful mind cultivators can move mountains with a single thought, overturn rivers with a single thought, and summon shocking heavenly thunder with a single thought."

"Yet the path of cultivation is not limited to spirit cultivation. The physical body is equally important. The Martial Temple tempers the body, cultivating one's physique through Opening Qi and Blood, Forging Spiritual Bones, Condensing Inner Elixir, Understanding Profound Intent, Stepping into Innate, and more. These are the first five realms. There are another five realms beyond them, but knowing them now would do you no good."

Madam Hua spoke neither too quickly nor too slowly, gradually explaining cultivation's realms to An Le and resolving the doubts that had long tangled in his heart.

"On the path of cultivation, one cannot cultivate only one path. Spirit cultivation and body tempering must be practiced together, though you may choose your focus according to your own talent. Spirit cultivation lets you sweep away Inner Demons and remain untouched by filth. Body tempering lets you laugh in the face of thunder tribulations. Both are important."

Hearing this, An Le's eyes shone brightly and his heart surged. He could not help lifting his teacup and gulping down a mouthful.

Madam Hua watched An Le and smiled faintly.

What she had said was not particularly profound, nor were they secret teachings. Had An Le stepped onto the path of cultivation earlier, such knowledge would have been taught in introductory cultivation schools.

Therefore, Madam Hua had no intention of exchanging this information for the painting that had so pleased her.

"Madam Hua, the Literature Academy cultivates the spirit and the Martial Temple tempers the body. What about the Sacred Mountain?" An Le pondered for a moment before asking curiously.

"The Sacred Mountain..." Hearing this, Madam Hua could not help taking a sip of tea to moisten her lips.

"Upon the Central Land Sacred Mountain resides the Sacred Teacher. The Sacred Teacher stands above the world. Besides the Sacred Teacher, the Sacred Mountain also has its mountain lords. Every Sacred Mountain Lord is a peerlessly gifted individual. Entering the Sacred Mountain is the wish of countless Great Zhao cultivators, because those who enter it have had their talent recognized."

"The Sacred Mountain Lords are unmatched whether in spirit cultivation or body tempering."

"Since Great Zhao's founding, however, the number of outstanding figures who have entered the Sacred Mountain can be counted on one hand."

"A saying circulates throughout the world: the Sacred Mountain is not Great Zhao's Sacred Mountain, but the Central Land Sacred Mountain."

Madam Hua's gaze grew somewhat distant. She turned toward Lin'an City's outskirts, as if she could see that hazy mountain: unreachable, soaring into the nine heavens, stretching across eternity.

An Le could not help yearning for it, but he knew his own limits. Those who entered the Sacred Mountain possessed supreme talent. If not for the aid of Time Qi, An Le would struggle even to cultivate.

Thus, he harbored no thoughts of the Sacred Mountain.

But he truly intended to strive for a place among the Jia Bang Jinshi.

Madam Hua withdrew her gaze and looked at An Le. Her eyes were somewhat unfocused, as though she had thought of something, then found it somewhat absurd. She shook her head and did not dwell on it.

"Zhuifeng, Young Master An is curious about martial arts. Show him what a Body Forging Martial Artist is."

Madam Hua looked at Zhuifeng and said.

Hearing this, Lin Zhuifeng grinned. Without the slightest shyness, she took a step forward. Her qi and blood roared beneath her skin, and her slender body seemed like a fierce tiger awakening.

The fire poker tucked at her waist slipped into her hand.

Lin Zhuifeng looked at An Le and smiled. "Young Master An, watch closely!"

Her words had barely fallen.

The two ends of the fire poker in Lin Zhuifeng's hand naturally extended, transforming into a two-meter-long staff. With one sweep, it unleashed a shrieking sonic boom, and as it whipped through the air, waves of wind rose one after another!

The spreading might nearly suffocated An Le.

At last, Lin Zhuifeng thrust out her staff and pierced the artificial rockery. That rockery, built from solid stone, was pierced through as easily as soft tofu.

Lin Zhuifeng mischievously flicked the staff afterward, making its body sway up and down.

"Body Forging Martial Artists possess powerful fleshly bodies. Their strength and speed far surpass those of ordinary people, and their killing power is formidable."

Madam Hua smiled lightly. "As for spirit cultivation..."

"It is like this. Like so."

Madam Hua raised one finger, pointing from afar toward the Great Pond within Tianbo Water Pavilion. The pond water was seemingly drawn away by an invisible force, forming a surging column that twisted through midair like a roaring flood dragon.

Such a miraculous sight shattered An Le's understanding of the world!

Madam Hua withdrew her finger, and the flood dragon burst apart with a boom into a torrential rain. Countless droplets splashed down into the Great Pond.

"That is roughly what spirit cultivation and body tempering are like."

"Young Master An, do you have any other doubts?"

An Le's mouth was dry. So this was spirit cultivation?

It was so dazzling it made his scalp tingle!

Martial arts were tyrannical and fierce; spirit cultivation was ethereal and elusive.

Compared to them, his castrated version of the Zhao Ancestor Long Fist was practically child's play. Even using it filled him with shame.

"Thank you, Madam Hua, for clearing up my doubts. This student has truly broadened his horizons."

An Le calmed himself and thanked her.

Madam Hua shook her head. "These are merely simple introductions to cultivation. They are nothing much."

"I see that you are very interested in cultivation. How about this? I shall give you one cultivation manual each for spirit cultivation and body tempering."

An Le's entire body shuddered. He hurriedly rose to his feet. "Madam Hua, one painting from this student is not worth two precious cultivation manuals..."

However, before An Le could finish, Madam Hua raised her hand. Two yellow-bound books appeared upon her snow-white palm. Strands of spiritual aura coiled around them. Clearly, these manuals were extraordinary items, absolutely not common goods like the beginner's Zhao Ancestor Long Fist.

"Young Master An, first, your painting greatly pleased my heart and reminded me of certain events from the past. Though sad, they are fondly remembered. Second, giving you cultivation manuals may also be considered an investment. If you can use the manuals I give you to achieve Jia Bang Jinshi, or even gain the chance to attend the Palace Examination before His Majesty, then I too will share in the glory and gain a fine reputation."

Madam Hua laughed softly and waved her hand, passing the two yellow-bound books to An Le.

An Le understood. This was the meaning of investment.

Still, the investment was likely only incidental. After all, An Le's cultivation was truly too low, and he had begun far too late. More than anything, it was because the painting had moved Madam Hua.

"Then this student thanks Madam Hua."

An Le carefully smoothed his clothes, clasped his hands, and gave a deep bow.

"Spirit cultivation and body tempering are not easy. You cannot rush them. You began late, so cultivate with a calm heart and do not be impatient. Also, when you come to paint for the young masters in the future, you may seek out Zhuifeng or me with questions about cultivation. Having someone to guide you along the path of cultivation can spare you many detours." Madam Hua said slowly.

An Le thanked her again. Filled with excitement, he accepted the two books and lowered his gaze to them.

The first yellow-bound book was a body-tempering manual. Its cover bore the words "Five-Animal Body Tempering Technique"!

The second was a method for cultivating the mind, called "Sword Waterfall Diagram"!

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