"I know that." Zeng Anmin nodded.
"Once the Literary Qi in the seven hundred major acupoints is full, you may wait for an opportunity. If you gain enlightenment, you can fill them with Literary Qi and Open Purple Mansion. Once the Purple Mansion is opened, the seven hundred strands of Literary Qi are drawn into it and gathered together, becoming Vast Righteous Qi."
"At that point, you may be called a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator."
"This is the first three ranks of us practitioners of the Confucian Path."
"Beyond that are the Middle Three Ranks and Upper Three Ranks. But I am shallow in learning and cannot enlighten you further."
As Zhang Lun said this, his expression was open and candid. "If you wish to know more, I will ask the teacher tomorrow and explain it to you afterward."
"No need, no need."
Zeng Anmin solemnly bowed to Zhang Lun. "Many thanks, Brother Tongyu!"
For the first time, he felt a warmth from a stranger.
Zhang Lun smiled and helped Zeng Anmin up. "Brother Quanfu, you need not belittle yourself. To comprehend Literary Qi in a quarter of an hour already foretells the realm of a Great Scholar in your future. We should encourage one another along the road ahead."
"It took your elder brother an entire day to comprehend Literary Qi back then."
"Hehe."
Zeng Anmin raised his head and asked with feigned confusion:
"Today, while browsing the books in the library, I came across one called On Confucian Martial Arts. It said that Confucianism and the Martial Arts Path could not be cultivated together. I am shallow in learning and did not quite understand it..."
This was the part where he fished for information.
Understanding flickered in Zhang Lun's eyes, and he chuckled.
"Brother Quanfu, your thoughts were once the same as mine."
"But after learning more, I gave up that idea."
"Oh?" Zeng Anmin looked lost.
Yet his heart stirred slightly as he waited for Zhang Lun's answer.
"Actually, On Confucian Martial Arts gives us the answer right at the beginning."
"The Confucian Path requires cultivating Literary Qi, while Literary Qi and Martial Arts Aura are two utterly incompatible kinds of aura."
"Your elder brother even considered opening the Purple Mansion first, gathering the Literary Qi into it to form Vast Righteous Qi, and only then beginning to cultivate the Martial Arts Path..."
At this point, Zhang Lun smiled and shook his head.
"But that method is far too naive."
Zeng Anmin's heart sank slightly.
Yet his expression did not change as he asked, "Why?"
"Although Literary Qi is gathered into the Purple Mansion, the acupoints throughout the body have already been washed through by Literary Qi. If I rashly drew Martial Arts Aura into my body, what awaited me would surely be death by explosion..."
"The reverse is the same. Martial Arts cultivation likewise requires Martial Arts Essence to fill the acupoints. The outcome of switching to the Confucian Path would be no different."
"Though your elder brother does not know whether the Vast Righteous Qi condensed from Literary Qi can coexist with Martial Arts True Qi."
"Since ancient times, everyone has cultivated step by step, in proper order. Who could possibly begin straight from the realm of opening the Purple Mansion?"
By the time Zhang Lun finished, he was laughing himself. Looking at Zeng Anmin, he asked:
"Wouldn't you say so?"
"Ah?! Ah! Yes, yes..."
Zeng Anmin's smile was somewhat guilty.
Zhang Lun was an excellent teacher. He was extremely patient when explaining things, and whenever he encountered something Zeng Anmin did not understand, he would explain it slowly, breaking it apart and kneading it down before feeding it to him bit by bit.
After their conversation, Zeng Anmin developed an immense fondness for Zhang Lun.
Broadly learned.
Exceptionally patient.
Born of a poor family.
Diligent, cautious, solemn, and respectful.
In short, he put people at ease and made them develop a favorable impression of him without realizing it.
"Young Master, it is too late. We should leave."
Dachun stood cautiously outside the door, bending at the waist as he peered into the room.
He was even taller than the doorway...
Only then did Zeng Anmin realize that he had spoken with Zhang Lun for so long without noticing.
Zeng Anmin came back to himself in a daze, rose to his feet, and smiled at Zhang Lun. "Brother Tongyu, shall we stop here for today?"
Zhang Lun looked at the sky outside, his face somewhat dazed.
He had not expected time to pass so quickly.
"Very well. We will talk again tomorrow."
Zhang Lun rose, simply gathered up his book case, and headed outside.
As he walked along the road, a sharp gleam flickered in Zeng Anmin's eyes.
They had discussed so much today, but to him, only one thing mattered!
Zhang Lun had practically already given him the answer.
He only needed to reason backward to reach a conclusion:
"I do not cultivate Literary Qi from within my body. It rises from the Sea of Consciousness Space."
"There is no Literary Qi left within my body."
"That means that even if I cultivate Martial Arts, there will be no conflict!"
After understanding this, Zeng Anmin could no longer suppress the impulse in his heart!
"Even if Martial Arts Aura enters the Sea of Consciousness Space, there will be no conflict, because by then, my Literary Qi will already have become Vast Righteous Qi!"
"Whether Vast Righteous Qi and Martial Arts True Qi can coexist... I should not need to worry about that. After all, this world has many such stories. Many Great Scholars of the Confucian Path have transmitted Vast Righteous Qi into the bodies of Martial Arts experts to treat their injuries..."
Zeng Anmin took a deep breath and buried the thought in his heart.
This had to be done in secret. He could not let anyone discover it.
A sharp light flashed in his eyes.
"Then next, I need a beginner's method for Martial Arts."
Where could he find one?
"Young Master, I'm hungry..."
Qi Dachun's simple, guileless voice rang out.
Upon hearing it, Zeng Anmin wanted nothing more than to slap himself.
Right! Wasn't he guarding a treasure mountain without knowing it??
"Hungry? Great! You can eat whatever you want!!"
Zeng Anmin was in high spirits. With a grand wave of his hand, he led Qi Dachun toward the dining hall.
That night.
Lying in bed, Zeng Anmin carefully recalled Dachun's simple words.
"There are two methods for Martial Arts."
"The first is to find Qi Guiding Diagrams and practice according to the postures in the diagrams."
"But the second is like mine. I remember my father reaching out and pressing a few places on my back, and then I could feel a warm current..."
Where was he supposed to find a Martial Arts expert willing to press a few places on his back?!
Thus, the four words "Qi Guiding Diagrams" became what Zeng Anmin needed to consider next.
Unable to sleep as he tossed and turned, Zeng Anmin sank his consciousness into his Sea of Consciousness Space.
The Sea of Consciousness Space was still shrouded in purple mist.
At its very center was the phantom of the Dragon Survey Map.
On the right was the clump of Literary Qi he had condensed.
Zhang Lun had also given him the answer today: seven hundred and twenty strands were needed for Literary Qi to condense into Vast Righteous Qi.
Therefore, he only needed to study step by step from now on, and he would soon cultivate Vast Righteous Qi.
As for the left side...
"Buzz~"
An incomparably ornate short blade floated there.
The blade was not long, only around two feet.
Yet the edge upon its body was so sharp that one dared not look directly at it, and waves of chill radiated from it.
With a single glance, one could sense the terrifying power within.
(Silver) Martial Arts Spiritual Artifact: Immediately obtain a Martial Arts Spiritual Artifact (it will be directly delivered to a safe location)
Zeng Anmin had never imagined that the safe location mentioned by the system would actually be inside his Sea of Consciousness Space.
But that was fine. As long as no one could discover it, it would be his absolute trump card.
Zeng Anmin walked a circle through the Sea of Consciousness Space.
Just as he was about to withdraw from the space and sleep.
His body suddenly stiffened!
His face went utterly blank!
His eyes locked tightly onto the phantom of the Dragon Survey Map before him.
Where the sea ends, the sky becomes the shore; when the mountain is climbed to its peak, I alone become the summit.
That was indeed the line he had written last time.
But the line above it—With one arm I stand eternal through the ages; I alone shall Unify the Nine Prefectures...
Had disappeared!!!
In its place was a line:
Fine poem! Are you a Confucian Cultivator from the Northern Saint Kingdom??!
A chill shot straight up Zeng Anmin's neck.
This...
What exactly was going on?!!
Before you continue