Zeng Anmin's Bewilderment

"I know that much." Zeng Anmin nodded.

"Once the seven hundred major acupoints are filled with Literary Qi, you wait for the right moment. If you achieve sudden enlightenment, you can use that abundant Literary Qi to open the Purple Mansion. When the Purple Mansion opens, the seven hundred strands of Literary Qi are drawn into it and condensed into one—that is called Vast Righteous Qi."

"At that point, you can be said to be in the Purple Mansion Realm."

"This is the realm of the first three ranks for us Confucian scholars."

"Beyond that are the Middle Three Ranks and the Upper Three Ranks, but my learning is shallow and I cannot enlighten you on those."

Zhang Lun said this, his expression frank, and added: "If you wish to know, I will ask the Master tomorrow and explain it to you then."

"No need, no need."

Zeng Anmin bowed seriously to Zhang Lun and said: "Thank you, Brother Tongyu!"

For the first time, he felt a warmth from a stranger.

Zhang Lun smiled and helped Zeng Anmin up, saying: "Brother Quanfu, there's no need to sell yourself short. The fact that you comprehended Literary Qi in a quarter of an hour already marks you for the realm of Great Scholar in the future. Let us encourage each other on the path ahead."

"When I, your Elder Brother, first comprehended Literary Qi, it took me an entire day."

"Heh heh."

Zeng Anmin looked up, feigning confusion, and asked:

"Today, while browsing books in the library, I came across a book called On Confucian Martial Arts. Its content said that the Confucian Path and the Martial Path cannot be cultivated together. My learning is shallow, and I didn't quite understand..."

This was the probing phase.

A knowing smile flickered in Zhang Lun's eyes, and he said lightly:

"Brother Quanfu, I, your foolish elder brother, once had the same thought."

"But after I learned more, I abandoned the idea."

"Oh?" Zeng Anmin put on a blank look.

But in his heart, he stirred slightly, waiting for Zhang Lun's words.

"In fact, the opening of On Confucian Martial Arts already tells us the answer."

"The Confucian Path requires cultivating Literary Qi, and Literary Qi and Martial Arts Aura are two extremely incompatible types of energy."

"I, your foolish elder brother, even once considered opening the Purple Mansion, gathering Literary Qi into Vast Righteous Qi, and then starting to cultivate the Martial Path..."

At this point, Zhang Lun smiled and shook his head:

"But that method was far too naive."

Zeng Anmin's heart sank slightly.

Yet he kept his expression unchanged and asked: "Why?"

"Because even though Literary Qi is gathered into the Purple Mansion, the body's acupoints have already been scoured by Literary Qi. If you rashly introduce Martial Arts Aura into the body, what awaits you is certain death by explosion..."

"The reverse is also true. The Martial Path must infuse acupoints with Martial Essence; switching to the Confucian Path leads to the same end."

"Although I, your foolish elder brother, am not sure whether Vast Righteous Qi, condensed from Literary Qi, can coexist with Martial Arts True Qi."

"But from ancient times to the present, everyone has cultivated step by step, one stage at a time. Who could possibly start directly from the Purple Mansion Realm?"

Having said this, Zhang Lun laughed to himself. He looked at Zeng Anmin and asked:

"Don't you think so?"

"Ah?! Ah, yes, yes..."

Zeng Anmin's smile was a little uneasy.

Zhang Lun was an excellent teacher. He was quite patient when explaining, and even when encountering something difficult, he would speak slowly, break it down, and feed it to you bit by bit.

After their conversation, Zeng Anmin developed a great fondness for Zhang Lun.

Broad and profound in knowledge.

Extremely patient.

A child from a poor family.

Diligent, prudent, respectful, and courteous.

In short, he was refreshing and made one unconsciously develop a liking for him.

"Young Master, it's getting late. Time to go."

Dachun stood cautiously outside the door, bending over to peer inside.

His height was even taller than the door...

So, without realizing it, he had been talking with Zhang Lun for this long.

Zeng Anmin snapped back to the present, stood up, and smiled at Zhang Lun: "Brother Tongyu, shall we stop here for today?"

Zhang Lun looked at the sky outside, a trace of absentmindedness on his face.

He hadn't expected time to pass so quickly.

"Alright, we'll talk again tomorrow."

Zhang Lun rose, gathered his book basket, and headed out.

Walking along the road, a sharp light flickered in Zeng Anmin's eyes.

They had talked about many things today, but for him, only one point truly mattered!

And Zhang Lun had already given him the answer.

All he needed to do was reverse the logic to reach a conclusion:

"My Literary Qi doesn't cultivate from within my body—it rises from the Sea of Consciousness Space."

"No Literary Qi lingers in my body."

"That means even if I train in martial arts, there's no conflict!"

Once Zeng Anmin had worked this out, he could no longer suppress the impulse surging within him.

"Even if Martial Arts Aura enters the Sea of Consciousness Space, there's no conflict—because by then, my Literary Qi will have already become Vast Righteous Qi!"

"As for whether Vast Righteous Qi and Martial Arts True Qi can coexist... there's no need to worry about that. After all, there are plenty of tales in this world of Great Scholars on the Confucian Path channeling their Vast Righteous Qi into martial artists to heal their wounds..."

Zeng Anmin took a deep breath and buried this thought deep in his heart.

This kind of thing had to be done in secret, never discovered by anyone.

Sharp light flickered in his eyes.

"Next, I need a method to enter the martial path."

Where could he find one?

"Young Master, I'm hungry..."

Qi Dachun's simple voice rang out.

Hearing that voice, Zeng Anmin wanted to slap himself.

Right! Wasn't he sitting on a treasure mountain without even knowing it?

"Hungry? Good! Eat whatever you want!"

Zeng Anmin's mood lifted. With a grand wave of his hand, he led Qi Dachun toward the dining hall.

That night.

Lying in bed, Zeng Anmin savored Dachun's simple words.

"There are two ways into martial arts."

"The first is to find a Qi Guiding Diagram and practice the postures shown on it."

"But the second is my kind—I remember my Dad pressing a few spots on my back, and I'd feel a warm current..."

Where on earth could he find a martial arts expert to press on his back?!

So, the words "Qi Guiding Diagrams" became the next thing Zeng Anmin had to figure out.

Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, Zeng Anmin sank his consciousness into his Sea of Consciousness Space.

The space was still shrouded in purple mist.

At its center hung the phantom of the Dragon Survey Map.

To the right was the cluster of Literary Qi he had condensed.

Zhang Lun had explained today that to condense Literary Qi into Vast Righteous Qi, he would need seven hundred and twenty strands.

So from now on, he just had to read step by step, and he'd soon cultivate Vast Righteous Qi.

As for the left...

"Hum~"

A dazzlingly ornate short blade hovered there.

The blade wasn't long—only about two feet.

But the sharp light radiating from its edge was impossible to look at directly, sending waves of chilling cold.

One glance was enough to feel the terrifying power within it.

(Silver) Martial Arts Spiritual Artifact: Instantly obtain one Martial Arts Spiritual Artifact (will be delivered directly to a safe location)

Zeng Anmin never imagined that the "safe location" the system mentioned would be inside his own Sea of Consciousness Space.

Still, it was fine. As long as no one discovered it, it would be his ultimate hidden card.

Zeng Anmin made a full circuit within the sea of his consciousness.

He was just about to withdraw from the space and go to sleep.

Suddenly, his body froze stiff!

His expression turned utterly dazed!

His gaze locked dead onto the phantom image of the Dragon Survey Map before him.

Where the sea meets the sky, the heavens become the shore; when the mountain is scaled to its peak, I alone am the summit. That line he had written last time was still there, no mistake.

But the line above it—One arm eternally severs the ages; only I shall Unify the Nine Prefectures—had vanished!!!

Replaced by a single sentence:

"Excellent poem! Might you be a Confucian Cultivator of the Northern Saint Kingdom?!"

A chill shot straight down Zeng Anmin's neck.

What... in the world was going on?!!