Imperial Heaven Piercing-God One-Origin Qi-Nurturing Method

--Again, Huangtian?

An Jing still remembered that the introductory literacy book at Xuanming Manor was the Huangtian Sutra.

This was not strange, because Huangtian was the Heavens themselves, the representative of the vast sky and all divine will. It was a widespread belief found in both Da Chen and Huaixu, and many of the allusions and scriptural meanings within it were the source of much of Da Chen's current culture and laws.

But the Huangtian Sutra was not the same as this booklet, because the worship of Huangtian was so universal that many martial arts and techniques claimed to be derived from it, yet they all belonged to various sects.

If the martial arts of Xuanming Manor all followed this naming pattern, it suggested that behind it was likely not just a sect, but a religious order.

An Jing opened the booklet and began to read it seriously, flipping through page after page.

Manor Master Yao watched An Jing read the booklet, observing every tiny detail with care.

It was not until An Jing had finished the entire manual that he finally asked, "What are your thoughts?"

"Both ancient and new."

An Jing pondered for a moment before speaking slowly: "The core logic is very ancient, but the specific cultivation methods are very much in step with the times... Manor Master, the Linyuan Qi-Nurturing Stake and the Armor-Piercing True Energy we learned before are parts recorded in this manual, right?"

The old man did not answer, so An Jing continued: "This Imperial Heaven Piercing-God One-Origin Qi-Nurturing Method is roughly divided into one general outline and four major sections."

"The beginning is the general outline."

"The first part is 'Contemplation' of the vast sky, without desire or self, where Huangtian bestows destiny upon the spirit, forging the heart and mind. It should be the fundamental secret method for those with a Fate to nurture their spirit."

"The second part is 'Abyss-Facing', nurturing qi through fearlessness."

"The third part is 'Piercing-God', achieving thorough power through unwavering belief."

"The fourth part is 'Mysterious Steps', walking the path without confusion."

Having said this, An Jing raised his head to meet the gaze of Manor Master Yao, who finally revealed a smile: "Linyuan Qi-Nurturing and Armor-Piercing True Energy are exactly the cultivation parts extracted from 'Abyss-Facing Fearlessness' and 'Piercing-God Unwavering'."

"The fundamental meaning of this Imperial Heaven Piercing-God One-Origin Qi-Nurturing Method is 'unwavering and unconfused, fearless and selfless,' and the two words 'Xuanming' of our Xuanming Manor reflect this—man is born of the earth and hangs his life from the heavens; when heaven and earth combine their qi, this is called a human."

"Those who can respond to the four seasons are those for whom heaven and earth are parents... Unwavering and unconfused, fearless and selfless, secretly responding to the four seasons, using ancient Huangtian legends as metaphors to lead people into the martial path, using the old to explain the new."

Finally, An Jing concluded: "With spirit cultivation, qi nurturing, martial techniques, and footwork, this is a true superior orthodox method that can lead directly to the [Five Scenes of Internal Strengthening] or even the [Hundred-Refinement Martial Meridian]."

"Very good." Manor Master Yao laughed heartily now. This was the first time since An Jing entered the pavilion that he had smiled from the heart, a smile as gentle as a spring breeze: "After reading it once, you can understand the entire method thoroughly, and even have your own insights and ideas."

"You should have already discovered it, right? Linyuan, Piercing-God, and Mysterious Steps can allow you to break through your internal breath until it flows like a tide; that is the technique the instructors practice."

"If you can awaken your Fate, you can use the selfless spirit-condensing method to break through to Internal Strengthening."

Speaking of this, Manor Master Yao was quite curious. He looked An Jing up and down and asked with some surprise: "But why... do you think this is a cultivation method that leads directly to the 'Hundred-Refinement Martial Meridian'?"

The Hundred-Refinement Martial Meridian was the realm after the Five Scenes of Internal Strengthening. Once all the wonders of the body were born, the martial artist would use these wonders as a foundation to recast their own body, opening up martial meridians within that connected to the heavens above and responded to the earth below, corresponding to the three talents of 'Heaven, Earth, and Man.' It was a realm for great martial artists who could dominate several cities.

Manor Master Yao was very curious about the source of An Jing's deduction.

"It's simple." An Jing picked up the booklet and repeated what he had said before: "Those who can respond to the four seasons are those for whom heaven and earth are parents... Those who know all things are called the Son of Heaven."

"Heaven, Earth, and the four seasons. Since there are the four seasons of Huangtian, there must naturally be the four seasons of Houtu. The Imperial Heaven Piercing-God One-Origin Qi-Nurturing Method focuses on condensing the spirit and nurturing qi, as well as force and footwork. Although it is sufficient, a true martial sutra should have other parts."

"So I guess there is a 'Houtu Method,' which most likely focuses on 'body tempering.' It would be divided into aspects like 'spirit nurturing,' 'qi control,' 'fists and kicks,' and 'blades and weapons'."

Under Manor Master Yao's stunned yet pleasantly surprised gaze, An Jing pondered for a moment before stating his true deduction: "All of these added together are actually just laying the foundation. Huangtian bestows destiny to build the foundation of the heart and spirit. Houtu tempers the body to forge the boat that crosses the world."

"Just as 'Heaven and Earth combine qi, and life is called man.' What is conceived by Huangtian and Houtu is man, who is called the Son of Heaven."

"Only after cultivating both the Huangtian and Houtu methods can one shape a special 'divine wonder,' and subsequently open the 'martial meridian' to achieve the status of 'Son of Heaven'."

"That 'Son of Heaven Method' is the beginning of a true superior orthodox path."

Manor Master Yao stood up with a start.

"You, you..."

He raised his hand to point at the youth before him. The wrinkles on the old man's aged face relaxed and then tightened, and his gaze toward An Jing carried flashes of ghostly green fire: "You actually saw it all!"

An Jing met his gaze, and he even felt as if he were staring into a flame, his eyes burning. The invisible toxic heat forced him to close his eyes to avoid injury.

This was one of the many [Divine Wonders] that only appeared after the 'Five Scenes of Internal Strengthening,' [Fire in the Pupils].

This confirmed what An Jing had long suspected: Manor Master Yao's strength was in the 'Internal Strengthening Realm,' and his cultivation was likely quite high. He didn't know what his Fate was or how many wonders he had forged.

"Too good..."

Manor Master Yao took several deep breaths, finally suppressing the joy that had surged in his heart. He sat back in his chair, looking at An Jing with a warm, fiery gaze: "Exceptional comprehension... to see through the essence of the method at a glance. I originally didn't believe such a person existed, but I didn't expect there really to be one!"

"That's right."

The old man nodded directly, confirming An Jing's guess: "Huangtian and Houtu are truly one. In addition to the <Imperial Heaven Piercing-God One-Origin Qi-Nurturing Method>, I also have a <Houtu Spirit-Subduing Primordial Body-Nurturing Method> here."

"Unwavering and unconfused, fearless and selfless, corresponds to Huangtian above; unresentful and unhating, without desire or attachment, corresponds to Houtu below. Only by cultivating both can one possess a complete martial meridian construction method."

"Only those who have awakened their Fate and cultivated both sets of methods can truly enter the true path of my sect..."

Speaking of this, Manor Master Yao raised his eyebrows and looked at An Jing: "With your intelligence, you must have guessed what kind of organization our Xuanming Manor is, right?"

"Don't worry," he said. "With your talent, awakening your Fate will be no difficult task. Once you have truly entered the gate, the Northern Patrol Envoy will personally take you to the main mountain to teach you the Houtu Body-Nurturing Method."

"Thank you, Manor Master!"

Without saying much more, although he was still thinking, 'Who is the Northern Patrol Envoy?' and 'What organization? I didn't guess anything,' An Jing still bowed respectfully to express his thanks. Vice Envoy Yao left his seat and personally handed the manual of the Huangtian Qi-Nurturing Method into An Jing's hands: "There is nothing to thank me for; the rules are as they are. If a talent like you could not be taught the orthodox method, it would be my own failure."

Manor Master Yao even patted An Jing on the shoulder. He looked at the youth's calm, resolute face, which showed not a hint of joy, and sighed with emotion: "So calm, so composed."

"Were you born this way?"

An Jing did not answer; he merely offered a smile. Manor Master Yao shook his head slightly, signaling for An Jing to leave, though it was unclear whether he was amused or simply feeling sentimental.

Holding the Orthodox Law Manual, An Jing walked out of the Medicine Pavilion. It was already dusk; he had spent quite a bit of time flipping through the secret manual, and the fact that Manor Master Yao was willing to wait for him so long was proof enough of the high regard in which he was held.

This manual was not thin, but it could not be called thick either. It contained many cultivation diagrams, with human body illustrations that were extremely detailed, including anatomical drawings of muscles and internal organs. It explained the nuances of channeling force in great detail, making it very smooth to read through, with no issues that were impossible to understand.

An Jing's true doubts, however, still lay with Xuanming Manor.

Northern Patrol Envoy, this mountain... this is the mountain gate of a major sect. Within the borders of Da Chen, there shouldn't be many such major sects, right?

Shangxuan Shangqing, Star Sovereign Sacred Dragon, Heavenly Will True Demon...

An Jing pondered these various details, trying to recall which major sects existed within Da Chen, but he was not very familiar with this aspect, so in the end, he did not reach a definitive conclusion.

Could it be...

Suddenly, An Jing frowned. He thought of an incredible possibility, his eyes widening involuntarily: "That's impossible, right? Could it be a demon..."

"Yo, little An, not going to have dinner?"

Just then, a voice came from behind An Jing. It was a familiar pharmacist, pushing a small cart filled with medicinal liquid out of the Medicine Pavilion. Those liquids seemed to be the same kind they drank when eating the meat of fierce beasts.

He saw the manual in An Jing's hand and greeted him enthusiastically: "If you go now, you'll definitely still be able to eat something hot!"

"Thank you, Master Wu."

An Jing snapped back to reality. Standing in a daze in front of the Medicine Pavilion was not the right thing to do, so he walked out of the pavilion alongside this pharmacist named Wu.

However, as An Jing headed toward the cafeteria, he noticed that Pharmacist Wu did not accompany him but instead took a turn and headed in a different direction.

If it were an ordinary person, they wouldn't think much of it, but An Jing felt a bit suspicious.

Once the medicinal liquid was prepared, it was naturally meant to be consumed. While medicine wasn't necessarily better the fresher it was, the liquid they usually drank was always very fresh.

If Pharmacist Wu was pushing a cart of medicine and not delivering it to the cafeteria, where was he taking it?

After pondering for a moment, An Jing suppressed his aura and followed at a distance behind Pharmacist Wu.

Pharmacist Wu was not at the Internal Breath realm; he could only be described as an ordinary person with some martial arts training. He did not notice An Jing following him at all. According to what he had said, he was also a failure of the trials back in the day and had no talent for martial arts, but because he had a gift for pharmacology, he became a pharmacist for the manor.

This was also why An Jing was always unwilling to doubt the true nature of Xuanming Manor, because there were simply too many examples proving that the fate of the failures was not miserable, and that they always had a way out.

In any case, Pharmacist Wu hummed a little tune all the way, pushing the medicine toward Dongshan Manor, located on the east side of Xuanming Manor.

So it was that place... Dongshan Manor. Indeed, I have never been over there to take a look.

An Jing watched from behind as Pharmacist Wu stepped onto that secluded path, then turned around and headed toward the cafeteria.

In the cafeteria, An Jing once again received cheers and congratulations from everyone. He was truly a competent senior brother, and no one was unconvinced.

An Jing responded to everyone's praise with a smile, showing no signs of anything unusual, and ate his portion of fierce beast meat and medicinal liquid just as he always did.

Those impulses, that coldness—he could already suppress them well, without a single trace leaking out.

Night fell.

After everyone had fallen asleep, An Jing opened his eyes once again.