Ink-Point? Gacha!

Ink-Point opportunities?

Above Core Formation lay the Ink-Point Realm. She had heard him mention that long ago.

Jiang Yuechu raised her eyes, a trace of confusion flashing through them. "Does this Ink-Point have some deeper meaning?"

"Of course."

Wei He smiled. "Do you know why String-Hearing, Bone-Resonance, and Core Formation are called the Three Mortal Realms?"

Seeing Jiang Yuechu remain silent, he continued on his own.

"Because in those three realms, what martial artists temper is ultimately the flesh. But beginning with Ink-Point, everything is entirely different."

He extended a finger, dipped it in some tea on the table, and slowly drew a horizontal line.

"This line is the heavenly chasm between the mortal world and Hall-Entering."

"Ink-Point is the first step across that chasm. Use intent to command qi, tint all things with ink; divine intent is the brush, true qi the ink. Amid all spirits under heaven, seek a single trace of an imprint."

Jiang Yuechu's pupils contracted slightly.

Divine intent as the brush, true qi as the ink...

Hiss~

"What does that mean? I don't get it..."

She admitted it honestly, without the slightest blush.

If you didn't understand, you asked!

There was no shame in that!

"..."

"Forget it."

He sighed and put it in plainer terms.

"Think of a Core Formation Realm martial artist as a sheet of blank paper."

"And Ink-Point is making the first stroke upon that blank sheet."

He raised a finger and traced through the air. "Only, this ink does not belong to you. It is borrowed from all spirits of heaven and earth."

"All spirits of heaven and earth?"

"Mountains, rivers, plants, trees, fish, insects—even the ancient beasts and deities recorded in old texts—all possess spirit."

Wei He's voice grew somewhat distant. "They exist between heaven and earth—some eternal, some