Third-rate Ninth Rank

Ouyang Lan's expression shifted rapidly.

Seeing her junior disciple, who had just learned Dripping Water Force, had in the blink of an eye cultivated the sect's foundational internal energy technique and, with apparent skill, opened acupoints and circulated energy through his meridians.

For a moment, she almost thought Lu Wu-bing had practiced Celestial Star techniques before and was just messing with her.

This was clearly impossible.

No need to doubt it, Junior Disciple is truly a genius at cultivating internal energy, even more so than Senior Brother. It's not impossible for him to have exceptional comprehension... Cultivating internal energy requires peace and quiet, especially the first time, which is crucial.

With this thought, Ouyang Lan perked up. Without making a sound, she stood guard nearby.

Seeing a servant approaching, she quickly gestured for them to leave.

I wonder how long Junior Disciple will last during his first circulation?

Thinking back to when she first joined the sect, she had only managed a minute and a half before her meridians began to ache and she felt mentally exhausted, forcing her to stop. Ouyang Lan couldn't help but curiously count the time in her mind.

How long one could persist in cultivating internal energy also, in a way, indicated their cultivation speed.

She was curious if Junior Disciple could surpass her.

She had heard that he grew up in luxury, enjoying all sorts of pleasures without hardship. His mental fortitude should be relatively weak; lasting even fifteen minutes would be impressive.

She waited quietly until the sun began to set, her expression blank.

Not only did she not see Lu Wu-bing cease his cultivation, but she could sense the energy around him growing stronger. The faint distortion above his head was subtly taking the form of swirling clouds.

"It's been an hour."

The sect leader, Ouyang Zheng, sitting in the main hall, stroked his beard, his ears twitching slightly as he paid attention to the commotion in the back garden.

"Could it be that I misjudged him? His bone structure and aptitude might not be exceptional, and he didn't lay a foundation with superior methods in his childhood, but he possesses great talent in comprehension and mental fortitude."

"Have I accidentally stumbled upon a treasure?"

Ouyang Zheng's expression was quite peculiar.

He understood perfectly the implications of extraordinary comprehension combined with unyielding mental fortitude.

The founder of the Celestial Star lineage, Patriarch Hunyuan's disciple Tianhe, was once a middle-aged fisherman. Let alone martial arts, he could barely read and lived a life of great hardship.

Logically speaking, starting martial arts and cultivation at the age of forty wasn't a question of reaching a high ceiling, but whether one could cultivate at all.

And then?

Tianhe Zhenren not only surpassed others later on, cultivating a formidable true qi that could awe the world, but he also observed the stars, gained enlightenment, and created the "Myriad Phenomena Sky Net," a peerless technique that integrated all martial arts under heaven.

"Among Hunyuan's three disciples, Tianhe was the most brilliant," this was the legend from over two hundred years ago describing the Celestial Star Patriarch's astonishing talent.

For the next hundred years or so.

The Celestial Star Sect became the foremost among the Three Divine Peaks, flourishing greatly. Its unique skills were also the most numerous, boasting "Seven Techniques and Fifteen Swords." Any single one of these, if released into the martial world, would be a renowned and powerful martial art.

From this, one could see the immense role comprehension played on the path of cultivation.

With this thought, Ouyang Zheng lost control and pulled out two strands of his beard, involuntarily gasping.

He took a sip of cold tea, and while joy filled his heart, a shadow also emerged.

"The more prodigious the talent, the more arrogant and self-important they tend to be, always believing that nothing in this world can stump them. I only hope this young man isn't that kind of person."

Thinking of how Lu Wu-bing had handed him the "Yuanling Swordplay Manual."

He couldn't help but sigh again.

There was no need to ask.

Lu Wu-bing had definitely seen that unorthodox sword manual. The question was whether he had been tempted.

If he wasn't tempted now, would he be unable to resist delving into its cultivation if he encountered even the slightest setback in the future? That was a question.

"Senior Sister, Dripping Water Force is indeed incredibly potent. After refining a meridian, not only does the internal energy increase greatly, but it also strengthens the body and calms the mind like ice."

Lu Wu-bing concluded his cultivation and stood up, his heart filled with joy.

Yet, this joy did not affect his emotions at all; it was a peaceful happiness, a tranquility that awaited the blooming of flowers.

It was as if, in that instant, nothing in the world could easily disturb his heart.

When still, the qi in his dantian was as calm as a mirror. With a flicker of his mind, the internal qi would condense like lightning, transforming into sharp energy.

It was both formidable and sharp, with hidden power.

He drew his sword, lightly channeling his internal energy, and felt a surge, like a tide, from his waist to his arms, and then to his palms and fingers.

The vast internal energy transformed into needle-like qi, driving the long sword.

He lightly thrust the sword forward.

It made a soft "shing" sound, like tearing paper.

One could faintly see the air currents being cut apart, with subtle ripples appearing.

Ouyang Lan was still somewhat stunned. She forced a smile and said, "Junior Disciple, your refining one acupoint is like this. The strength of our Celestial Star Sect's Dripping Water Force compared to other techniques lies in the fact that every acupoint can be refined, unlocking the body's treasures... Wait, you said one, one meridian?"

By the end, Senior Sister Xiaolan's voice had changed.

These are two different things.

After one acupoint is refined and opened, the vital energy within the meridians greatly increases, and internal energy surges. This allows the meridians to be nourished and vital energy to accumulate, preparing for the opening of the next acupoint.

In other words, the more acupoints refined and opened, the more divine repositories within the body are activated, leading to more powerful internal energy, and a rapid increase in both attack and defense capabilities.

As for refining and opening a meridian, it refers to completely opening the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, activating all nine acupoints along this meridian, from "Shao Chong" to "Ji Quan."

Furthermore, it also means refining this vital energy channel until it is both strong and flexible, stepping into the Ninth Rank realm.

If Lu Wu-bing's cultivation before could be considered unranked.

Now, venturing into the jianghu, he could already be called a third-rate martial artist.

Don't think that calling someone a third-rate martial artist is an insult.

In fact, in martial arts cultivation, Ninth Rank and third-rate are already considered minor experts among ordinary jianghu people, as long as they have entered the ranks.

With this level of skill, one could open a martial arts school in any city without worrying about not finding disciples. If they joined the imperial army, they could at least be appointed as a deputy centurion.

Even Ouyang Lan herself, who sensed qi at the age of eight and had been practicing internal energy and sword techniques for ten years, had only reached Seventh Rank, considered an outstanding figure among third-rate martial artists.

Lu Wu-bing asked curiously, "Senior Sister, have I been too impatient?

I originally only wanted to open one acupoint, but then I discovered that the Six Yang Vitality I had cultivated could actually be converted into Dripping Water Force.

So, I seized the opportunity and opened the entire meridian. After opening it, there's one issue, this state of mind..."

"Cough... state of mind, it's very normal for there to be changes. The Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian is related to the mind, regulating emotions, and nourishing the spirit. After it's opened, the mind becomes calm, free from worries and fears."

Ouyang Lan clasped her hands behind her back, coughed lightly, and began to pace.

"Junior Brother, although your cultivation speed is acceptable, remember to avoid arrogance and impatience...

There are many who cultivate faster than you. Not to mention our eldest senior brother, who opened three meridians in a single day.

Even I, this senior sister, have opened two meridians on my first attempt."

"Truly impressive."

Lu Wu-bing was filled with sincere admiration.