The Fourth Refinement, Complete!

At that moment.

At the Martial Arts Grounds.

Lin Bei sat cross-legged.

With every breath he took, vast amounts of Heaven-and-Earth Spiritual Power gathered like a whirlpool.

As he breathed, spiritual energy circulated throughout his body, and impure air was expelled.

For Lin Bei, cultivation was an exhilarating experience.

Exhaling the impure, inhaling the pure...

Tempering his Dao Body.

While cultivating, Lin Bei felt not only himself growing stronger, but also a harmony between man and nature.

Tranquility.

Peace.

"The fourth refinement! Complete!"

After the fourth refinement, Lin Bei felt unobstructed throughout his body, his thoughts flowing freely.

He also gained a whole new understanding of his strength.

By his estimate, he was at least at the level of the Dantian Sea Realm.

In a direct comparison, Lin Bei was confident he could defeat Hall Master Cheng even without relying on the power of deduction.

After the fourth refinement, Lin Bei distinctly felt as though his body had undergone a transformation.

Previously, a single day of absorbing Heaven-and-Earth Spiritual Power could fill every cell and complete his body tempering.

Now, things were different.

It would take at least three days.

And that was the time he needed after mastering the Tai Chi Breath-Absorbing Art.

If his Breath-Absorbing Art had not advanced, it might take ten days!

Lin Bei understood that he... was growing stronger and stronger, and his foundation was becoming increasingly terrifying.

At that moment, he even wondered.

After nine refinements...

How strong would I be?

Just then.

Lin Bei's ears twitched slightly.

He could sense someone outside!

"Since you're already here, why not come in?"

Only after Lin Bei spoke did Tieniu push open the door and enter.

Lin Bei looked him up and down.

He noticed that Tieniu held a sheet of paper and a brush.

When Lin Bei's gaze fell on the paper, his eyes narrowed slightly.

The two characters for Tai Chi still stood out on the paper, but upon closer inspection...

There was a dot of ink on the character for "Tai."

Clearly, Tieniu had put it there. He seemed to have wanted to write something, but ultimately had done nothing.

"Master..." Tieniu's voice sounded somewhat hollow.

"I..."

Lin Bei said nothing, only watching Tieniu quietly.

Only then did Tieniu continue, "Do I really have no aptitude for comprehension? I can't grasp the profound meaning of these two characters, Tai Chi."

He hadn't figured it out?

That didn't seem entirely true.

Lin Bei took a long look at the black dot on the character for "Tai."

He could tell that Tieniu had some sort of idea, but seemed unable to make up his mind.

"Tieniu, I once gave Zhang Teng a piece of advice. Now, I'll give it to you as well."

Tieniu looked up at Lin Bei in confusion.

"Please enlighten me, Master."

"Do your thoughts flow freely? We cultivators should have clear consciences and unfettered minds!"

At those words, Tieniu froze, his heart churning like rivers overturning and seas surging.

He realized that Lin Bei seemed to have seen through every thought he had.

Those words were practically pointing the way for him!

At that moment.

Lin Bei smiled faintly, then rose, walked over to Tieniu, and gently patted his shoulder.

"Come find me once you've thought it through!"

However, just as Lin Bei stepped past him to head to the Martial Arts Grounds...

Tieniu suddenly spoke.

"Master, wait!"

Lin Bei stopped.

At that moment, a trace of madness flashed through Tieniu's eyes...

"Master, I know what I'm about to do may be disrespectful! Even if you expel me as your disciple, I must show you my resolve! Let you see my... unfettered mind!"

With that said!

Tieniu picked up the brush in his hand and raised it high.

The next second, right before Lin Bei's eyes, he actually drew a bold cross straight through the character for "Tai" in Tai Chi!

Of the two characters for Tai Chi...

Only "Chi," the ultimate, remained!

After drawing that cross, the brush in Tieniu's hand seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, as though he had exhausted all his strength.

One hand hung at his side, and a hint of madness filled his eyes as he stared at Lin Bei.

Tieniu understood!

What he had just done might determine his future!

Seeing this, Lin Bei's previously stern expression suddenly gave way to a faint smile.

"Now, does your mind feel unfettered?"

"It does!" Tieniu said with a nod.

"As long as your mind is unfettered!"

With that, Lin Bei turned and walked outside.

"Oh, put the paper and brush on my desk, then follow me to the Martial Arts Grounds!"

At those words, Tieniu was overjoyed.

He knew.

His insight had not been wrong. His actions had now earned Lin Bei's approval.

"Yes, Master!"

Tieniu hurriedly set the paper and brush down with great care, then followed in Lin Bei's footsteps.

The two soon arrived at the Martial Arts Grounds.

Lin Bei sat in the armchair in front of the stone table, and Tieniu dutifully served him tea.

Every day, Lin Bei spent some time resting at the Martial Arts Grounds, offering the apprentices a few pointers along the way.

"Tieniu, why did you cross out the character for 'Tai' in Tai Chi?"

Tieniu answered honestly, "The Dao of Tai Chi is extraordinarily profound and encompasses all things, but... I can't comprehend it!"

"Since I can't comprehend it, why force it?" Tieniu seemed to sink into his memories.

"Master, you once said that everything in this world can attain enlightenment in the Dao once it reaches its ultimate extreme! When skill approaches the Dao, one has entered the gates of cultivation!"

Tieniu nodded slightly.

Lin Bei was inwardly quite impressed.

Tieniu usually looked like such a blockheaded oaf. Who would have thought his mind was as fine as a strand of silk, and that he had taken every word Lin Bei said to heart?

At that moment, Tieniu continued, "Master, I was born with extraordinary strength and a powerful physique. I think I might be able to push my natural gifts to their ultimate extreme, and perhaps step through the gates of cultivation."

"That's why I crossed out the character for 'Tai' in Tai Chi!"

"Excellent!" Lin Bei nodded, thoroughly pleased.

"Tieniu, you've truly made me see you in a new light today! Not only have you understood the direction of your own cultivation, you also dared to break with convention... You knew perfectly well that the Immortal Cultivation Method I taught was related to Tai Chi, yet you still dared to cross out 'Tai.' Very good!"

Feeling uneasy, Tieniu said, "Master... I..."

Lin Bei raised a hand. "I'm praising you. Don't be nervous!"

"To cultivate is to defy Heaven. I once told Zhang Teng that we cultivators remain mortal if we submit, and become immortal if we defy! Now, those words suit you even better!"

Tieniu was overjoyed.

At that point.

Lin Bei suddenly changed the subject.

"Don't celebrate too soon. I once said that the Dao cannot be imparted lightly. Do you know what that means?"

Tieniu said, "I didn't understand before, but now I do! It's not that you cherish an old broom as a treasure, Master. It's because the Dao can't be learned simply by being taught. It must be comprehended!"

Lin Bei was thoroughly satisfied... Tieniu's greatest strength was his understanding nature; one little hint, and he caught on.

Now that all the groundwork had been laid, even if the cultivation method he made up proved useless, it would not arouse anyone's suspicions.

Even Tieniu would not suspect anything...

He would only believe that he truly lacked talent.

Just then, as Lin Bei was about to begin teaching him, his expression suddenly shifted slightly.

Immediately afterward, he turned his gaze straight toward the area beyond the Martial Arts Grounds.

There, just outside the Martial Arts Grounds...

A group of people barged into the Martial Arts Grounds, one of them carrying a young girl.

That girl was none other than Zhang Xiaoxiao!