This was a solitary island located in the vast sea.
More than ninety percent of the island was covered by primeval jungle. Ancient trees towered into the sky, blotting out the sun, while fierce birds and savage beasts flew, cried, and roared—a scene straight out of a barbaric age.
By the shore, surging waves crashed recklessly against the coast, throwing up sprays of foam. Gusts of damp, salty sea wind swept over the beach, making the emerald coconut leaves rustle in the trees.
"Roar!"
A tremendous roar came from deep within the island. It split clouds and shattered stone, deafening to the ears, as though an incomparably powerful Primordial Mythical Beast were bellowing in rage. Wave after wave of sound spread through the forest, startling flocks of birds into flight.
"Mm..."
Waking from unconsciousness, Bai He opened his eyes and found himself lying on a scorching golden beach. Before him stretched a boundless blue sea, with seagulls circling above the water.
He had no idea how long he had been lying there. Under the blazing sun, Bai He felt parched, weak in his limbs, and wracked by burning pain from head to toe.
He forced himself upright, but before he could look around, a voice suddenly came from behind him.
"You're awake?"
Bai He turned around and saw Xiao Chen slowly emerging from the jungle not far from the beach. In one hand, he carried a bundle wrapped in broad emerald leaves; over his shoulder, he bore four enormous beast legs bound together with a tough, unknown vine.
The patterns in the fur suggested that the legs had come from some feline creature, perhaps a tiger.
Yet the base of each leg was as thick as half an ordinary person's waist. It was clear that they had not come from any ordinary beast.
Xiao Chen walked over to a pile of green coconuts, then tossed the leaf bundle in his left hand and the four beast legs in his right onto the ground.
The green leaf bundle fell open, revealing tropical fruits such as mangoes, lychees, and pineapples.
However, all of them were extraordinarily large and plump, far surpassing any of the same varieties Bai He had seen before. They looked fresh and delicious.
Xiao Chen picked up a jade-green coconut from the ground, cracked it open with a slap, and tossed it to Bai He.
"Quench your thirst first."
Bai He caught the coconut. Since it had already been cracked, he easily widened the opening and began drinking greedily.
Mouthful after mouthful of clear, sweet coconut water flowed down Bai He's throat. His burning throat was soothed, and the exhaustion in his body seemed to vanish in an instant.
He let out a deep breath, wiped the lingering moisture from the corner of his mouth, and tossed the emptied coconut shell aside.
"Thank you, Brother Xiao!"
Looking at Xiao Chen, who was sitting cross-legged beneath a coconut tree not far away with his eyes closed in rest, Bai He cupped his fists in thanks.
"Hm? You're still calling me Brother Xiao?"
Xiao Chen opened his eyes, looked at Bai He, and slightly raised the corner of his mouth.
Suddenly realizing something, Bai He looked at the black-clad young man sitting before him. His face lit up with delight, and he hurriedly cupped his fists and bowed. "Thank you, Master!"
"Mm, good disciple!"
Xiao Chen nodded in satisfaction.
"The situation is unclear right now. Your master is not some rigid old fool who insists on making you perform the three kneelings and nine kowtows of the martial sects, or serve apprenticeship tea. I do not care for such empty formalities."
"Just roast the four beast legs I hunted earlier as a substitute. Once we finish eating, I'll teach you martial arts so that you'll have some ability to protect yourself. Otherwise, this island is still far too dangerous for you!"
Xiao Chen sighed as he looked out over the boundless sea.
"Yes, Master!"
Bai He lowered his head, both moved and excited.
Because the island's climate was hot and dry, Bai He easily gathered a large bundle of dry firewood.
Beneath the shade cast by a grove of tall coconut trees, Bai He arranged the wood and started a fire. He set the beast legs over the flames, and before long, they were roasted through.
However, without salt, the meat was still somewhat bland despite its crispy golden exterior. It was a small imperfection.
But neither of them minded.
After eating, Bai He quickly covered and extinguished the fire. First, he worried that the smoke might attract some savage beast. Second, neither of them intended to spend the night on the beach.
Meanwhile, Xiao Chen sat quietly on the dry sand, leaning against a thick coconut tree as he watched Bai He work.
Once Bai He had finished cleaning up, Xiao Chen slowly turned his head and said leisurely, "Finished? If you are, I'll officially begin teaching you martial arts."
"I've finished, Master!"
Bai He answered respectfully.
"Then let's begin!"
Xiao Chen rose from the ground and slowly walked over to Bai He. Pointing at the primeval jungle behind them, he said gravely, "This is a Wild Island in the vast sea. Countless fierce birds, savage beasts, and even Prehistoric Mutant Species live here. Even I can barely protect myself, much less protect you."
"So I will now pass this mystical art on to you. You must practice diligently, strengthen yourself as quickly as possible, and improve your ability to protect yourself!"
"Mm, I understand, Master!"
Bai He bowed respectfully in reply.
Xiao Chen nodded, turned around, and slowly took a few steps before raising his head to gaze at the bright blue sky.
"Since I am going to teach you my cultivation method, you must first know its origins. My cultivation method came from a mysterious stone carving in the Yellow River."
"An ancient legend had always circulated along the banks of the Yellow River. When Da Yu controlled the floods, a divine stele descended from the Ninth Heavens and Eternally Suppressed the Yellow River, ensuring that its floods would never return."
"My home was in a small village by the Yellow River. When I was seven years old, the Yellow River was suddenly struck by a great drought. A stretch of water before our village nearly dried up, and in the dried riverbed, an enormous stone stele emerged. Four ancient characters were carved upon it: Eternally Suppress the Yellow River!"
"After the stele was cleaned, many marks appeared on its reverse side. They formed a mysterious and complex diagram, profound and unfathomable."
"Since none of the villagers who came recognized it, they treated it as a heavenly book and worshipped it. But I quietly memorized it."
"After I began studying martial arts, however, I finally understood that it was actually a qi cultivation diagram."
"Though I did not know its name, after mastering it, I found it no less extraordinary than those legendary divine manuals. The only pity was that it was incomplete."
As he spoke, Xiao Chen shook his head regretfully.
"But for you right now, it is more than enough to carry you until you cultivate true qi. I'll demonstrate it for you now!"
With that, Xiao Chen began practicing before Bai He.
"This heaven-bestowed qi cultivation method, I call it the Heavenly Tablet Mystic Skill!"
"All martial paths lead to the same destination! Every cultivation method begins with refining essence. Refine essence into qi, cultivate true qi, and you will have Entered the Rank. You may then be called an expert in the martial world!"
"To cultivate true qi, you must first refine essence. Refine essence into qi, Qi Refining and Spirit Transforming, refine spirit into emptiness, refine emptiness into the Dao—this is the way!"
"Refining essence can also be called strengthening the body. It means strengthening the meridians, bones, blood, muscles, and internal organs within the body. Once these Five Treasures reach perfection, true qi will naturally arise."
"Ordinary exercise can only train the muscles and bones; it cannot produce true qi. Only martial arts cultivation methods can fully attend to every part of the body."
"Martial arts cultivation methods are divided into external and internal components: training form and breathing. They respectively train the sinews, bones, muscles, blood, and internal organs."
"What I am demonstrating now is the martial arts cultivation method of the Heavenly Tablet Mystic Skill. Once you cultivate true qi, practice according to the method I am teaching you now."
"Then carefully remember the path of true qi through your body. In the future, you need only circulate your true qi directly. But for now, you must remember both my movements and my breathing rhythm!"
As Xiao Chen demonstrated, he explained his movements and breathing rhythm to Bai He.
Although Bai He watched without blinking, messages kept popping up in his mind with a constant series of dings, making him feel somewhat guilty.
"Detected that Xiao Chen, protagonist of the Realm of Longevity, is teaching the host a cultivation method: Heavenly Tablet Mystic Skill!"
"The system is beginning to record..."
"Recording..."
"1%, 2%, 3%... 100%."
"Ding! Recording complete!"
With a ding, streams of information began flooding into Bai He's mind. They eventually formed a complete cultivation method, after which a transparent golden panel suddenly appeared in his mind.
Host: Bai He Bloodline: Human Realm: Rank Zero (Unranked) Divine Abilities: None Cultivation Method: Heavenly Tablet Mystic Skill (Incomplete) Source Energy: 90
Feeling the cultivation method in his mind as though he had practiced it countless times, Bai He stared speechlessly at the sky.
"The Heavenly Tablet Mystic Skill... Did I just learn it like that?!"
Before you continue