Ouyang Lan's expression changed in an instant.
Seeing her junior brother, who had only just learned [Dripping Water Force], cultivate the sect's foundational internal art in the blink of an eye—and even open his acupoints and gather qi to clear his meridians with convincing proficiency—
For a moment, she almost thought Lu Wu-bing had studied Celestial Star techniques before and was putting on an act for her.
That was clearly impossible.
There's no need to doubt it. Junior Brother is a genius at cultivating internal energy, even more talented than Eldest Senior Brother. It isn't impossible for his comprehension to be extraordinary... Cultivating internal energy must not be disturbed, especially during one's first circulation. It is exceedingly important.
With that thought, Ouyang Lan steadied herself. Without making a sound, she stood guard nearby.
When she saw servants approaching, she hurriedly gestured for them to leave.
I wonder how long Junior Brother can hold on during his first circulation?
Thinking of when she had first entered the sect, when she had only lasted an hour and a half before her qi channels ached faintly and her mind grew exhausted, forcing her to stop, Ouyang Lan could not help counting the time in her heart.
How long one could persist in cultivating internal energy, in a sense, also meant how fast one could cultivate.
She was very curious whether Junior Brother could surpass her.
She had heard that he had lived in silks and finery since childhood, spending his days eating, drinking, and making merry without enduring much hardship. His willpower should be rather weak; lasting a quarter of an hour would already be remarkable.
She waited quietly like this until the sun slanted westward, and Ouyang Lan's face had gone blank.
Not only did she not see Lu Wu-bing finish his cultivation, she instead sensed the aura around him growing ever stronger. The faint distorted ripples above his head had vaguely taken on the form of rosy clouds.
"An hour."
Sect Master Ouyang Zheng sat upright in the main hall, tugging at his beard while his ears trembled slightly as he listened to the activity in the rear garden.
"Could it be that this old man misjudged him? His bones and innate talent may not be outstanding, and he did not lay a foundation with superior methods during childhood, yet he possesses such gifts in comprehension and strength of will."
"Did this old man accidentally pick up a treasure?"
Ouyang Zheng's expression was exceedingly strange.
He naturally understood what extraordinary comprehension combined with powerful will could achieve.
When the Celestial River Ancestor, founder of the Celestial Star lineage, had entered Ancestor Hunyuan's school, he had been a middle-aged fisherman. Let alone martial arts, he barely knew how to read, and his life had been terribly harsh.
By all reason, beginning martial arts and the Dao at forty was no longer a matter of whether one's ceiling was high—it was a question of whether one could cultivate at all.
And what happened later?
Tianhe Zhenren not only overtook those ahead of him, cultivating a body of vast true qi capable of looking down upon the world, but also contemplated the starry sky to comprehend the Dao and create arts, producing a peerless method like "Myriad Phenomena Sky Net," which fused all martial techniques under heaven into one.
"Of Hunyuan's three disciples, Tianhe was the most worthy"—this was the saying from over two hundred years ago that described the astonishing brilliance of that Celestial Star ancestor.
Over the following century or so—
The Celestial Star Sect became the foremost of the Three Divine Peaks. The sect flourished greatly, and it possessed the greatest number of supreme arts, boasting seven techniques and fifteen sword arts. Any one of them, placed in the martial world, would be a renowned and formidable martial art.
From this, one could see just how great a role comprehension played upon the path of cultivation.
At this thought, Ouyang Zheng lost control for a moment and plucked out two hairs from his beard. He could not help sucking in a cold breath.
He took a sip of cold tea. Amid his delight, a shadow surfaced in his heart.
"The greater the genius, the prouder and more self-regarding he tends to be. He will always think that nothing in this world can stump him. I only hope this boy is not that sort of person."
Thinking of how Lu Wu-bing had handed the Yuanling Swordplay Manual to him—
He could not help sighing softly again.
There was no need to ask.
Lu Wu-bing had certainly read that sinister sword manual. The only question was whether it had tempted him.
It had not tempted him now, but if he encountered even the slightest setback in the future, would he be unable to resist cultivating it in secret? That was the question.
"Senior Sister, Dripping Water Force truly is exceedingly powerful. After clearing one meridian, not only has my internal energy increased greatly, my body has grown stronger, and my mind has become as calm as ice."
Lu Wu-bing finished his cultivation and rose to his feet, his heart filled with joy.
Yet this joy did not affect his emotions in the slightest. It was a peaceful delight, the serenity of quietly waiting for flowers to bloom.
It was as if, at this very instant, all things in the world found it difficult to disturb his heart.
When he remained still, the qi within his Dantian was mirror-smooth. At a thought, his internal qi gathered like lightning, transforming into a sharp aura.
Vast and keen, with hidden force stored deep within.
He drew his sword and lightly stirred his internal qi. He felt a tide surge from his waist to his arm, then into his palm and fingers.
His mighty internal energy transformed into needle-sharp force, driving the longsword.
The sword tip thrust lightly forward.
With a soft "hiss," like paper tearing.
One could vaguely see the air currents being cut apart, ripples faintly appearing.
Ouyang Lan was still somewhat dazed. Forcing a smile, she said, "Junior Brother, opening one acupoint is like this. Our Celestial Star Sect's Dripping Water Force surpasses other techniques because every acupoint can be opened, unlocking the treasures within the human body... Wait, you said one—one meridian?"
By the end, Senior Sister Xiaolan's voice had changed pitch.
Those were two entirely different matters.
After one acupoint was opened, primordial qi within the qi channels increased greatly, and internal energy surged. It could then nourish the qi channels and accumulate primordial qi, preparing to open the next acupoint.
In other words, the more acupoints one opened, the more Divine Treasures within the body were unlocked. Internal energy would grow more powerful, while both offensive and defensive strength would increase by leaps and bounds.
Clearing one meridian meant completely opening the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, opening all nine acupoints along that entire meridian from Shaochong to Jiquan.
Furthermore, he had tempered that qi channel until it was sturdy and supple, stepping into the Ninth Rank in a single stride.
If Lu Wu-bing's cultivation had previously been considered below rank—
Then now, once he roamed the martial world, he could already be called a third-rate martial artist.
Do not think that being a third-rate martial artist was an insult.
In truth, among martial artists, there were nine ranks and three tiers. So long as one entered a tier and attained a rank, one was already considered a minor expert among ordinary people of the martial world.
At this level, one could open a martial arts school in any city without worrying about failing to recruit disciples. Joining the imperial army, one could at least be granted the post of Deputy Centurion.
Even Ouyang Lan herself had sensed qi at the age of eight. Now, after ten years of internal cultivation and swordsmanship, she had only reached the Seventh Rank, making her one of the best among third-rate martial artists.
Lu Wu-bing asked strangely, "Senior Sister, have I been too impatient and reckless?"
"I originally only wanted to open one acupoint, but I discovered that the Six Yang Vitality I had cultivated before could actually be converted into Dripping Water Force.
"So I struck while the iron was hot and cleared the entire qi channel in one go. After clearing it, though, there is one problem—this state of mind..."
"Ahem... A change in one's state of mind is perfectly normal. The Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian is connected to the heart and mind; it harmonizes emotions and nourishes essence and spirit. Once it is cultivated through, the mind becomes peaceful, with fewer worries and no fear."
With her hands behind her back, Ouyang Lan coughed lightly and began pacing in measured strides.
"Junior Brother, although your cultivation speed is passable, remember to guard against arrogance and impatience...
"There are plenty who cultivate faster than you. Not to mention Eldest Senior Brother, who cleared three meridians in a single day.
"Even this young lady—this Senior Sister—cleared two meridians during my very first cultivation session."
"Truly impressive."
Lu Wu-bing regarded her with solemn respect.
Before you continue