At Cloud Mist Villa, in the private courtyard Yun Ce had prepared for Qin Yu, Yun Ce set up a Spirit Gathering Array, drawing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to the grounds until it grew so dense it nearly condensed into mist. This was the cultivation site he had specially prepared for Qin Yu. It would accelerate his cultivation and was perfectly suited to the requirements of the Heaven-Reaching Chart.
After taking the Marrow Cleansing Pill, Qin Yu sat quietly for a while, waiting for the medicinal power to dissolve completely within him. Then, his face full of anticipation, he looked at Yun Ce, his little face brimming with curiosity. "Master, will you teach me the Heaven-Reaching Chart technique now? Is the origin of this technique really enough to shake the entire Hidden Dragon Continent?"
Yun Ce sat on a stone stool and gestured for Qin Yu to sit cross-legged opposite him. His voice was gentle, yet carried a hint of solemnity as he slowly began, "Yu'er, before I tell you about the Heaven-Reaching Chart, I must first tell you an ancient legend, a great event from the ancient days of the Hidden Dragon Continent—the Great Immortal War."
"The Great Immortal War?" Qin Yu's round eyes widened with confusion. "Master, what are immortals? Are they powerful experts like you?"
Yun Ce nodded slightly and continued, "More or less. The so-called immortals were the Hidden Dragon Continent's most powerful cultivators. Among them were Loose Immortals, experts in the Emptiness Realm and Tribulation Transcendence Stage, and even powerhouses at the Great Completion Stage. And in that Great Immortal War, dozens of such top experts fought for the sole purpose of killing one person."
"What?!" Qin Yu was utterly stunned, his little mouth gaping wide enough to fit an egg. "They wanted to kill one person? Did so many powerful cultivators have to join forces to kill him? Just how strong was that person?"
"Strong beyond imagination." Yun Ce's gaze turned distant, as if it pierced through the dust of time to glimpse that earth-shaking battle from the ancient past. "First, let me tell you about Loose Immortals. They are cultivators who failed to overcome the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation but managed to preserve their Nascent Souls and souls. They have no physical bodies, yet their Nascent Souls are powerful, and they are generally even stronger than experts at the Tribulation Transcendence Stage."
Qin Yu listened with shining eyes and a hint of awe. "Loose Immortals are already so powerful. Then Great Completion Stage experts must be even stronger, right? But why would so many of them join forces to kill one person?"
"Because that person was too extraordinary, and too powerful." Yun Ce's tone grew more somber. "According to legend, that mysterious person had never followed the path of cultivating immortality, demonic cultivation, or demonic beast cultivation. He did not cultivate a Golden Core or refine a Nascent Soul, yet possessed strength far beyond that of every other cultivator. A Great Completion Stage cultivator led the battle, joined by several Loose Immortals and dozens of experts in the Emptiness Realm and Tribulation Transcendence Stage. Yet even so, they could not easily defeat that mysterious person."
Qin Yu clenched his little fists, his heart beating faster. "Th-then what happened in the end?"
"In the end, the mysterious person was driven into a corner and went completely berserk. He unleashed a force as scorching as the sun, burning the heavens and destroying the earth." Yun Ce's voice carried a note of awe. "Every expert who took part in the siege, including the Great Completion Stage cultivator, was slain by that blazing power. Not a single one survived!"
"E-everyone was killed?" Qin Yu was completely shaken, disbelief written all over his little face. "He hadn't even undergone Tribulation Transcendence, and he could still kill so many powerful cultivators? If he had succeeded, wouldn't he have become even more invincible?"
"You're right." Yun Ce nodded. "The low-level cultivators who watched from afar, too afraid to approach, witnessed it all. They also saw that after the mysterious person had slain every expert, his own heavenly tribulation arrived—the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation!"
"The Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation?" Qin Yu didn't understand what it meant, but he could still sense how terrifying it was.
"Mm. The Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation is the ultimate trial a cultivator must face. It is incomparably perilous," Yun Ce said slowly. "The mysterious person had just fought a deadly battle and expended much of his power. He had no time to rest before he was forced to withstand the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation. He used no spiritual artifacts, relying only on his own cultivation to resist it. But when the ninth bolt of heavenly lightning struck, he finally couldn't endure it. His body shattered, and he lost all his power."
A trace of regret crossed Qin Yu's face. "Then... did he die?"
"He didn't die immediately." Yun Ce shook his head. "He gathered up the last of his strength and spoke his final words to the entire Hidden Dragon Continent and the cultivators around him."
At this point, Yun Ce's voice softened and turned ethereal, as if he were repeating the mysterious person's words from long ago. "I have roamed the boundless universe, witnessed its transformations. I drifted for thousands of years across countless planets. But today, my soul is about to scatter. Heaven does not favor me. The transformation of the stars—could the blazing sun truly be the end? Alas, alas! All who dwell on this continent, listen! Today, I pass down the three Heaven-Reaching Charts. When someone obtains all three and comprehends their mysteries, they shall inherit my technique. Hahaha... fortune and misfortune..."
Qin Yu listened in bewilderment. There were words he didn't understand, but the phrase "three Heaven-Reaching Charts" was firmly etched in his mind. "Master, is this the Heaven-Reaching Chart you're going to teach me? Was it passed down by that mysterious person?"
"Exactly." Yun Ce nodded solemnly. "With the last of his great power, the mysterious person created three charts before he died. These were the Three Heaven-Reaching Charts. He then scattered them across the Hidden Dragon Continent. For thousands of years, cultivators from the Hidden Dragon Continent and powerful experts from the Overseas Immortal Islands alike have searched for them. Countless people have gathered all three charts, but not one has ever grasped their mysteries or obtained the mysterious person's complete inheritance."
"Then... Master, how did you get this Heaven-Reaching Chart?" Qin Yu asked curiously.
Yun Ce smiled faintly. He didn't explain the system's existence, saying only, "By a stroke of fortune, I obtained the complete Heaven-Reaching Chart—all the mysteries contained in the three charts. You don't need to search for the scattered scrolls. Just cultivate under my guidance, and you'll gradually comprehend its essence and inherit the mysterious person's technique."
Qin Yu's eyes instantly filled with delight and gratitude. He bowed deeply to Yun Ce. "Thank you, Master! This disciple will cultivate diligently. I won't let you down, nor will I let down the mysterious person's legacy!"
"That's the spirit." Yun Ce nodded in satisfaction and reached out to ruffle his hair. "The Heaven-Reaching Chart may appear to be External Martial Arts, but it conceals the great principles of the Dao and is perfectly suited to your path of cultivation. It teaches you to 'carry qi with the body and nourish the body with qi.' Even if you can't store ordinary internal energy, you can still cultivate it to draw the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into your body, temper your physique, strengthen your bones and sinews, and subtly nourish your dantian. That will lay the firmest possible foundation for cultivating more advanced techniques in the future."
He paused, then continued, "I've organized the Heaven-Reaching Chart into nine levels, each corresponding to a realm of External Martial Arts. It begins with mastering the basics, advances to acquired External Martial Arts, then Xiantian External Martial Arts. The ninth level is the ultimate peak of External Martial Arts. By then, your physical strength will be comparable to that of a Golden Core cultivator. Even without cultivating internal energy, you'll be able to roam the Hidden Dragon Continent unchallenged."
Qin Yu listened attentively, committing every word to memory. Determination filled his little face. "Master, I understand! I'll cultivate diligently and reach the peak of the ninth level as soon as possible. Then I'll comprehend all the mysteries of the Heaven-Reaching Chart!"
"Mm." Yun Ce's expression turned serious. "Next, I'll transmit the complete Heaven-Reaching Chart technique into your mind. You must study it carefully and leave nothing out. Every move and every circulation of qi has its purpose. Get even one detail wrong, and you won't improve your cultivation—instead, you could injure your body."
"This disciple will remember your teachings!" Qin Yu immediately composed himself, closed his eyes, relaxed his whole body, and let Yun Ce's spiritual power flow into his mind.
Yun Ce slowly raised his hand. A thread of gentle spiritual power gathered at his fingertip, and he lightly touched Qin Yu between the brows. In an instant, the complete Heaven-Reaching Chart technique poured into Qin Yu's mind like a tidal wave—from the basic body-tempering movements of the first level to the methods for achieving the ultimate physical form at the ninth. Every movement and every circulation of breath was crystal clear, as if Qin Yu had already practiced for years. The complete mysteries of the three charts were woven into it as well.
At times, a puzzled expression crossed Qin Yu's face; at others, he seemed to suddenly understand. The aura around him also began to fluctuate gently as he comprehended the technique.
Half an hour later, Yun Ce withdrew his finger. Seeing Qin Yu still seated with his eyes closed, immersed in his understanding of the technique, he didn't disturb him. He knew the Heaven-Reaching Chart was vast and profound, carrying the inheritance of an ancient, mysterious figure. Qin Yu needed time to absorb it before he could truly master the technique's essence.
Another hour passed before Qin Yu finally opened his eyes. A glint of light flashed in them, and his aura had grown steadier than before.
"Master!" Qin Yu rose and bowed to Yun Ce, gratitude filling his voice. "This disciple has understood! The Heaven-Reaching Chart is amazing. Its moves and methods of circulating qi are completely different from the body-tempering technique General Zhao is going to teach me! I want to try practicing it now!"
"Don't rush." Yun Ce waved a hand. "You've only just finished comprehending the technique, and your mind hasn't fully settled. The Marrow Cleansing Pill is still circulating through your body as well. If you try to practice now, your qi could become disordered. I'll explain the key moves of the first level first, then you can practice slowly."
As he spoke, Yun Ce stood and demonstrated the movements himself.
His movements seemed slow, but every step was perfectly measured. His punches were gentle, yet held tremendous force. Spiritual energy flowed around him with each motion, perfectly embodying the Heaven-Reaching Chart's essence of "carrying qi with the body." He seemed to carry the air of an ancient powerhouse. The simple-looking movements concealed endless variations; they were the foundational techniques of the Three Heaven-Reaching Charts.
Qin Yu watched Yun Ce intently, committing every detail to memory.
"Watch carefully. The key to the first level is to establish a solid foundation. Keep your footing steady, and use your waist and abdomen to generate force. Draw the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into your limbs and body instead of forcibly accumulating internal energy." As Yun Ce demonstrated, he explained, "Your dantian is unusual, and you can't store internal energy, so don't force it. Focus on tempering your body. Let the spiritual energy nourish your bones and meridians. Over time, your body will grow stronger and stronger. Even without internal energy, you'll possess strength far beyond that of ordinary people."
When he finished demonstrating, Yun Ce stopped and looked at Qin Yu. "Now, try practicing the movements. Don't worry about speed. Just focus on performing them correctly and keeping your breathing smooth."
"Yes, Master!" Qin Yu nodded, took a deep breath, and slowly began practicing the movements Yun Ce had demonstrated.
His movements were still awkward and stiff, and his breathing was somewhat erratic. He couldn't yet properly draw the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into his body, but he tried his best to imitate Yun Ce's every move. His eyes were full of stubborn determination, and he kept reminding himself that this was the inheritance of an ancient, mysterious figure. He didn't dare slack off in the slightest.
Yun Ce stood nearby, watching quietly and offering the occasional pointer. "Keep your footing steadier. Lower your center of gravity. Don't lift your head and puff out your chest; relax your shoulders and let your elbows sink." "When you punch, don't use only your arm. Generate force from your waist and abdomen to drive your arm. That will give you more power." "Keep your breathing steady. Don't deliberately hold your breath. Just let the spiritual energy flow naturally into your body."
Qin Yu adjusted his movements according to Yun Ce's guidance. Once, twice, three times...
The sun gradually sank, and night fell. Qin Yu continued practicing the first-level movements of the Heaven-Reaching Chart in the courtyard, showing no sign of fatigue. The physique transformed by the Marrow Cleansing Pill left him full of energy, while his desire to grow stronger and his reverence for the ancient inheritance kept him going.
Yun Ce sat on the stone stool, watching Qin Yu's figure and silently nodding to himself.
The Child of Destiny's resilience truly lived up to its reputation.
The Heaven-Reaching Chart was Qin Yu's foundation, and it was also the starting point for him to obtain Lei Wei's inheritance. As long as Qin Yu mastered the Heaven-Reaching Chart step by step, he would be able to cultivate Stellar Transformations with ease in the future, break through the shackles of his dantian, and truly embark on the path of cultivation. And Yun Ce, too, could use Qin Yu's growth to steadily improve his own cultivation, leave four thousand years of mediocrity behind, and climb toward an even greater peak.
Night deepened. Cloud Mist Mountain was silent, with only Qin Yu's figure moving beneath the moonlight as he practiced the technique.
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