Initial Glimpse

Chen Yi swept a glance at the illusory panel, then stopped paying it any mind, focusing entirely on following Wang Lixing in practicing the Great Spear Stance Cultivation.

With every exhale and inhale, he could feel strands of heat surging from his limbs and bones, hammering against his flesh and skeleton.

Only a wisp of heat lingered in his sinews and meridians—so faint that without careful attention, it was utterly imperceptible.

Wang Lixing, standing by, kept his eyes locked on Chen Yi. When he saw sweat beading on his forehead and his body trembling slightly, he breathed a silent sigh of relief.

It worked.

In truth, aside from the basics of martial dao and the content of the Great Spear Stance Cultivation he had just explained, there were a few things he had left unsaid.

First, not everyone could cultivate martial dao.

Even the simplest stance cultivation was impossible for those with poor physical aptitude or certain special constitutions.

Fortunately, Chen Yi's current performance matched the characteristics of practicing the "Great Spear Stance Cultivation."

Second, the older a person was, the lower their achievements in martial dao cultivation.

Chen Yi had only started at twenty. Even if he trained diligently every day without rest, breaking through to the Eighth Rank Realm would be his limit.

"From now on, wake him at half past the Yin hour every day and take him to practice the stance."

At that moment, Xiao Xuanshuo also saw that Chen Yi's stance had taken shape. After giving his instruction, he pushed his wheelchair and left Chunhe Garden.

To him, coming to teach Chen Yi the Great Spear Stance Cultivation was merely a side task. His main purpose was to observe Chen Yi's performance.

"Yes, Second Master."

Wang Lixing saw him off respectfully, then turned back to keep watching Chen Yi.

Only after a full hour had passed did Wang Lixing speak: "That's enough, Son-in-law. We'll stop here for today."

At the words, Chen Yi's breathing faltered, and his body slipped out of that state of rolling heat. A wave of soreness, weakness, and numbness washed over him, as if he had been hollowed out, making his legs buckle.

Seeing this, Wang Lixing stepped forward, grabbed him by the back of his collar, and steadied him, explaining:

"Son-in-law, practicing the Great Spear Stance Cultivation is extremely taxing. From now on, have Miss Xiao Die prepare more meat for you, so you don't drain your body's essence and blood."

Chen Yi stood swaying, lifted his hand wearily, and nodded weakly.

The drain was indeed severe—like he had pulled an all-nighter fifty or sixty times over, with not a shred of strength left in his body.

Wang Lixing's dark face broke into a smile as he said:

"The Great Spear Stance Cultivation is a secret martial technique of the Xiao Family, of a very high grade. Even compared to the techniques of the great sects and schools in the martial world, it's no less effective."

"So it's only natural that the consumption during practice is a bit greater."

Chen Yi nodded, only wanting to sit down and rest for a moment, then eat a huge meal to properly fill his empty stomach.

Wang Lixing knew he was exhausted and didn't linger. Before leaving, he reminded him:

"You must have heard what Second Master said just now, Son-in-law. From now on, at half past the Yin hour each day, I'll come wake you to practice the stance."

Four in the morning?

"Alright, alright..."

Chen Yi didn't even have the strength to argue. Whatever he said, so be it.

These past days, though his schedule had been fairly regular, he still slept until the Mao hour before getting up.

Pushing it back a whole hour—he had no idea what that would feel like.

Probably not great.

After Wang Lixing left, Xiao Die, who had been waiting outside the west gate of Chunhe Garden, hurried over with a few plates of pastries in her hands.

"Son, Son-in-law, the Eldest Miss told me to bring these to you."

Chen Yi didn't waste words. He sat down in the pavilion and began wolfing them down.

Only after all the pastries were in his stomach and he had drunk some water did the fatigue in his body ease a little.

"Xiao Die, go get some more food. This isn't enough. Oh, and meat—Brother Wang just said I need to eat meat."

"Alright, I'll go right away. Please wait a moment, Son-in-law."

Seeing him recover, the worry on Xiao Die's face faded. After acknowledging him, she trotted off toward the kitchen in the back courtyard.

After sitting a while longer, Chen Yi let out a long breath. "This stance really packs a punch afterward."

But once he had recovered a bit, he began to notice the benefits of practicing the stance.

The most obvious was that his body now had some force behind it.

It wasn't the kind of brute muscle strength. Rather, when he clenched his fist, he could feel, between the pauses of his breath, a faint strand of energy flowing within him.

"So this is martial dao?"

Chen Yi savored the sensation for a moment, called it miraculous, then summoned the panel:

Name: Chen Yi Cultivation Base: Mortal Body Martial Dao Body: Not Yet Initiated (0/1)

Cultivation Technique: Great Spear Stance Cultivation (Initial Glimpse)

Karma: 1

After reading this, Chen Yi directly added the karma point to "Martial Dao · Body."

Instantly, his mind was filled with some profound and mysterious things.

Just like when he had previously invested points into the Way of Calligraphy, this content did not allow him to instantly master it. Instead, it required him to personally comprehend and realize it through the process of cultivation, until he had fully absorbed it.

Chen Yi did not rush to recall the information. He continued looking at the panel: "There's a new 'Cultivation Base,' and 'Mortal Body'... hmm."

It was quite fitting.

As a frail scholar, calling himself a mere mortal was not far off.

Then Chen Yi's gaze moved downward, looking at the intelligence that had refreshed today:

[Daily Intelligence · Profound Grade Low Rank: Before Zi Shi, inside Jiaxing Garden. Young Marquis Xiao, Xiao Wuge, and Heir Apparent Zhang Heng will come to blows, determined to settle who is superior. A small amount of karma can be obtained.]

Jiaxing Garden?

Chen Yi was stunned. He turned his head to look at the long corridor not far behind him.

So close... Should I give it a try?

After waiting so long, this was the first time he had encountered an opportunity so close at hand.

As thoughts stirred within him, Chen Yi stroked his chin, pondering the feasibility.

Jiaxing Garden was where the Eldest Miss Xiao's private chambers were located. Those armored soldiers probably wouldn't be able to enter.

Moreover, before Zi Shi was precisely the time when people were weary and horses were tired.

If his luck was good enough, he might not even need to leave Chunhe Garden—he could just crouch on the wall and watch the two fight.

"It's worth a try!"

Having made his decision, Chen Yi relaxed.

Taking advantage of Xiao Die's absence, he began to recall the mysteries of the Martial Dao in his mind.

"The Martial Dao covers a vast range—there is the physical body, fist techniques and grappling, body movement and footwork, weapon combat, and so on. Each can be cultivated individually to the point of entering the Dao."

"Take the stance cultivation, for example. Even if one's cultivation base breaks through, it remains a technique that can continue to be practiced to temper the physical body."

"Thus, cultivation base is merely the realm of martial arts. Even at the same realm, there are differences in strength, qi, and physical refinement."

Combining the insights from the past hour of practicing the Great Spear Stance Cultivation and absorbing some of the mysteries of "Martial Dao · Body," Chen Yi gained a certain understanding in his heart.

"The road ahead is long and arduous."

"Without additional karma, relying solely on daily 'laziness,' not to mention improving my martial cultivation, even my progress in the Way of Calligraphy would take a very long time."

This only strengthened Chen Yi's resolve. Tonight, he would find a way to sneak over to Jiaxing Garden.

"Young Marquis Xiao Wuge and Heir Apparent Zhang Heng?"

He had heard Xiao Die mention Xiao Wuge once, saying that he had been studying martial arts and classical texts at the Marquis's mansion.

He wondered how Xiao Wuge's martial cultivation was progressing.

But since even Lady Xiao Jinghong had reached the Fourth Rank Realm, this young marquis was likely no slouch either.