Deep in the bamboo grove, all was quiet except for the rustle of wind brushing through the leaves.
The deacon stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent but his gaze sharp as he looked straight at Qin Yu. "I noticed what happened yesterday. Now I want you to draw in Spiritual Qi again, right before me. Hide nothing."
Qin Yu's heart tightened. He pressed his lips together but still nodded. There was not a trace of retreat on his young face.
He took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes. Resting his hands gently on the chunk of Spirit Stone ore at his feet, he gradually slowed his breathing.
With his breaths, a faint gray-white gleam emerged from the veins of the Spirit Stone, like the first sparks kindled by the darkness. The points of light were tiny, yet in the next instant, they erupted with a thunderous roar!
Boom-!
The Spirit Stone hummed and trembled. Countless points of light became a torrent like a river of stars, surging wildly into Qin Yu through his arms!
Qin Yu's blood vessels and meridians seemed to become transparent waterways. Streams of light raced through them, shining like a cascading galaxy as they battered his bones and heart meridians. Each passage came with a deep rumble, like the heartbeat of the universe.
The sky abruptly darkened, clouds churning like a scene of doomsday. The next moment, a rift opened in the clouds, and a blazing beam of gold-white light poured down directly onto Qin Yu, illuminating his small figure as though divine fire had set him alight.
The bamboo thrashed wildly, fallen leaves whirling around him to form an enormous vortex of Spiritual Qi! Dust rose and circled like a tornado, the wind howled, and heaven and earth changed color!
Qin Yu's eyes snapped open!
Starlike radiance appeared in his pupils. Spiritual Qi burst from his nostrils, forming two pillars of white light that shot into the clouds! The entire bamboo grove shook as though being torn apart, and even the distant stone wall trembled until fine cracks appeared.
The deacon's eyes widened, horror rising in his heart:
This... this was nothing like what a Gray Spirit Root should be capable of!
His robes snapped in the Spiritual Qi storm, as though he might be swept into it at any moment. Yet he stood motionless, staring fixedly at Qin Yu, a trace of fervor gradually emerging alongside the shock in his eyes.
Qin Yu kept his hands pressed against the Spirit Stone, his breathing steady as a drumbeat as Spiritual Qi flowed endlessly into him. The radiance around him burned like a raging fire, enveloping his entire young body, as though a new star were slowly rising in the dark universe.
At last, with a boom, the Spiritual Qi vortex abruptly burst apart. The streams of light receded like a tide, and heaven and earth fell silent once more.
Qin Yu slowly withdrew his hands, panting slightly, his eyes clear and bright.
The deacon stared at him, his chest heaving, his gaze more complicated than ever before.
A Gray Spirit Root? No, this child's aptitude had long since surpassed ordinary understanding...
The bamboo grove still rustled, but in the deacon's heart, he seemed to hear a thunderous rumble foretelling the future.
At that moment, he silently decided: Qin Yu must receive special nurturing!
The bamboo grove was silent, and the fluctuations of Spiritual Qi within Qin Yu gradually settled.
The deacon stood with his hands behind his back, silent for a long time, his gaze never leaving the boy. Those clear, resolute eyes and the extraordinary Spiritual Qi phenomenon that belied his Gray Spirit Root status kept his heart churning.
In seven days, the competition for outer disciples would begin. If he could be selected, even for the lowest place, he would receive more resources... This child needed a push.
He composed himself and spoke in an indifferent tone. "Qin Yu, though your aptitude is that of a Gray Spirit Root, you can draw in Spiritual Qi. You must not publicize this. Remember, your status is both protection and disguise. Revealing yourself too early will only invite disaster."
Qin Yu nodded earnestly. "Yes. I will remember."
The deacon watched him, his gaze softening a little. With a flick of his sleeve, a scroll of ancient, unadorned bamboo slips flew out and hovered before Qin Yu.
"This is the Mystic Origin Body Tempering Art, an upper-grade mortal-tier cultivation method created specifically for cultivators in the Mortal Fetus Realm. It uses Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to temper the sinews, bones, skin, and flesh, solidify the foundation, and strengthen the physique. Since you can sense Spiritual Qi, you will begin practicing it today."
Qin Yu accepted the bamboo scroll with trembling hands, excitement flashing in his eyes that he could not conceal.
The deacon paced slowly with his back to him, his voice low and powerful. "I will find a way to get you onto the list for the outer disciple competition in seven days. When the time comes, you need only give it your all. Remember, on the path of cultivation, the strong reign supreme. Whether you have a Gray Spirit Root or are a low-ranking disciple, once you rise, no one will dare look down on you again."
He stopped and turned his head slightly, his gaze sharp as a blade. "I have high hopes for you, Qin Yu. Do not disappoint me."
With those words, he swept his broad sleeve, his figure turning into a streak of spiritual light and vanishing into the depths of the bamboo grove.
Qin Yu stared blankly at the bamboo scroll in his hands, his chest heaving and his eyes growing slightly hot.
He hugged the Mystic Origin Body Tempering Art tightly and murmured:
"Mother... I'll work hard. I won't disappoint you, and I won't let anyone look down on me."
The bamboo swayed in the wind, and the night deepened, but the bamboo scroll in the boy's hands was like a lamp, lighting the road to his future.
Deep into the night, the bamboo grove lay silent, with only the low chirping of insects remaining.
Qin Yu returned to his bamboo hut, lit a dim yellow oil lamp, and gently placed the ancient bamboo scroll on the table. The moment he unrolled it, spiritual light flickered, as though starlight were slowly emerging from the writing, illuminating the entire little hut.
The boy's eyes widened, and his heartbeat abruptly quickened.
The Mystic Origin Body Tempering Art... bestowed by the deacon himself. This was the true beginning of my cultivation.
He read it word by word. His memory was astonishing, and every mnemonic branded itself into his mind.
The bamboo slips read, "All who study this art must sit cross-legged in a well-ventilated place at dawn or midnight, focus their awareness on the Dantian, and breathe for nine times nine, eighty-one breaths."
Qin Yu took a deep breath and sat cross-legged on the wooden bed, his hands on his knees, palms facing upward. He closed his eyes and concentrated.
Qin Yu breathed slowly and deeply. With each inhalation, faint glimmers invisible to the naked eye were drawn from the air. Like countless tiny meteors, they slowly gathered from around the bamboo hut, forming threads of light that circled his body.
On the first breath, the threads of light were like mist, brushing gently over his skin.
On the second breath, the threads thickened, becoming faint streams of light that slipped into his pores.
On the third breath, the streams surged, flowing slowly through his meridians.
Boom-
By the ninth breath, Qin Yu's body seemed to light up. A low hum rose from his bones, like ancient war drums echoing in secret.
Inside Qin Yu, his meridians and bones became a transparent diagram. Streams of light cascaded like a galaxy, passing between his bones. Each wash sent dazzling sparks flying, as though a hammer were tempering steel.
Qin Yu trembled slightly, sweat beading across his forehead, but he did not stop. Following the mnemonics, he moved on to the guiding technique-the Mystic Origin Five Forms.
"Mountain-Splitting Stance!" He slowly spread his arms. His posture was clumsy, yet it held a strength poised to strike.
As he unfolded the movement, Spiritual Qi circulated with it, seeping into his bones with soft cracking sounds, like iron and stone being ground.
"Flow-Guiding Stance!" He bent his body and guided the Qi. Spiritual light surged thunderously inside him like rushing rivers, fully awakening his Qi and Blood and his bones.
The lamplight was overwhelmed. Rings of rippling spiritual light lit the room, spreading outward from Qin Yu's body like a stone cast into a lake. The light waves glittered, illuminating the bamboo hut as brightly as day.
As he completed the final form, the Origin-Returning Stance, the Spiritual Qi abruptly converged and flowed into his Dantian. Qin Yu forcefully exhaled a breath of turbid air. The white mist he breathed out became a wisp of black vapor in the air and quickly dispersed.
Calm returned to the little hut, with only the boy's steady, powerful breathing remaining.
Qin Yu opened his eyes, an unprecedented radiance shining in them. He felt that his body was stronger than yesterday, his bones like iron and his Qi and Blood burning hot, as though he were filled with boundless strength!
He slowly clenched his fists, a smile blooming on his young face:
"I... really have begun cultivating."
That night, the Mystic Origin Body Tempering Art left its first imprint within him, and Qin Yu's path of cultivation began.
The next day, the morning bell roared like thunder, its peals shaking the mountains and rivers.
The Gray Spirit Root disciples were assigned to carry Spirit Stones from the rear mountain as usual. Across the stone yard, dark blue-green chunks of ore lay piled like little hills, each weighing over a hundred jin. The disciples who had already suffered miserably through yesterday's labor wore bitter expressions, their steps heavy.
"Four pieces each today. Get moving!" the deacon ordered coldly, flicking his sleeve with an imposing air.
The boys complained under their breath. "It was only three yesterday... and now they're increasing the load."
"If this keeps up, they'll be working us like oxen."
Qin Yu silently approached a stone. Yesterday, carrying stones had left his arms aching and his shoulders sore and weak. But this morning, the moment he gripped the stone, a clear hum came from his bones, as though his sinews and bones were resonating. As his breathing steadied, the cluster of Spiritual Qi in his Dantian quivered gently, and strength flooded his entire body like a tide.
Faint threads of light lit up the meridians in Qin Yu's arms, like tiny bolts of lightning passing through his flesh. His bones cracked, as though iron and stone were trembling.
"Up!"
With a low shout, the boy lifted the hundred-jin stone effortlessly. His shoulders were steady as a mountain, and his arms did not tremble at all.
Several disciples nearby froze, instinctively stopping what they were doing. Yesterday, Qin Yu had clearly been panting just like them, yet today he seemed to have become someone else.
Yang Zheng had just shouldered a stone on the other side. Seeing this, his eyes widened, and even his voice changed pitch. "Yuzi! You... when did you get so strong?!"
Qin Yu smiled slightly. Sweat dripped from his chin, yet he carried an indescribable confidence. "I... tried a new method last night."
Yang Zheng paused, then burst out laughing. "Haha! I knew it! There's something strange about you! But good! However you did it, at least we won't have to worry about falling behind when we carry stones anymore!"
As he spoke, he came over and pushed another stone toward Qin Yu. "Come on, brother, give me a hand!"
Qin Yu nodded and reached out with both hands again. Spiritual Qi circulated through him once more, his shoulders jolted, and together with Yang Zheng, he actually lifted an even larger stone.
The surrounding disciples exchanged looks. Some gritted their teeth, while wariness appeared in others' eyes.
In the distance, the deacon narrowed his eyes and silently nodded to himself:
As expected, the Mystic Origin Body Tempering Art suited him. His progress was faster than anticipated...
Amid the flying dust, the two boys carried Spirit Stones on their backs and walked shoulder to shoulder toward the foot of the mountain. Sweat soaked their clothes, but their laughter rang especially clearly beneath the blazing sun.
At that moment, although they were still the lowest-ranking Gray Spirit Root disciples, they had already taken an extraordinary step.
Night deepened, insects chirped throughout the bamboo grove, and the lights in the bamboo huts of the Gray Spirit Root disciples' quarters gradually went out.
Qin Yu lit an oil lamp alone and sat cross-legged on his wooden bed, silently reviewing the breathing mnemonics of the Mystic Origin Body Tempering Art. The faint hum between his sinews and bones still echoed, as though his whole body were being nourished by Spiritual Qi.
Creak-
The wooden door was suddenly pushed open, and Yang Zheng poked his head in, his eyes bright enough to spit fire. "Yuzi, don't think you can fool me! I saw exactly how you carried those stones today. Are you hiding some secret?!"
Qin Yu looked up, paused, then gently shook his head, his tone sincere. "I... just found some methods that suit me."
Yang Zheng pursed his lips, walked in, and plopped down at the edge of the bed, lowering his voice. "Even if you really do have a secret, I won't tell anyone. We're brothers, aren't we?"
Qin Yu's gaze flickered, and a smile gradually appeared on his young face. "Yes. You're my brother."
Yang Zheng grinned broadly and held out his rough palm. "Since we're brothers, it's settled. Whether we have Gray Spirit Roots or people look down on us, we'll grow stronger together! Even if we can't stand at the very top someday, we'll still show people that those with Gray Spirit Roots can live with their heads holding up heaven and their feet planted firmly on the earth!"
Qin Yu looked at the thick calluses on his palm, warmth rising in his heart. Without hesitation, he reached out and clasped his hand tightly.
"Yes, we'll grow stronger together!"
The oil lamp flickered. Their clasped hands overlapped amid light and shadow, casting a silhouette onto the bamboo wall like an oath frozen in place.
The night wind rustled through the bamboo grove, as though bearing witness for them.
From that moment on, these two young brothers of the lowest rank quietly made the sincerest of promises at the bottom of fate's ladder.
The night was quiet, the bamboo grove swaying in the wind as insects chirped softly. Qin Yu was closing the bamboo scroll, preparing to put out the lamp and rest, when he suddenly heard a steady voice outside:
"Qin Yu, are you there?"
The voice was not cold and merciless as it had been during the day. It was low and gentle, yet still carried an unquestionable weight.
Qin Yu's heart jolted. He hurriedly rose and opened the wooden door. Moonlight spilled down over the deacon disciple standing with his hands behind his back. His white robes stirred gently in the night wind. His face was still stern, but held a little less severity and a little more patience.
He spoke slowly, his tone carrying a rare trace of gentleness. "Qin Yu, come. I'll take you out for a walk."
Qin Yu lifted his young face, a trace of puzzlement flashing in his eyes, but still nodded respectfully. "Yes."
Before turning, he called into the hut, "Brother Yang, I'm going out for a bit. I'll be back soon."
Yang Zheng, who had been about to lie down on the wooden bed without undressing, immediately sat up and answered heartily, "Sure, all right! Don't worry, go ahead. I'll wait for you."
Hearing that, Qin Yu felt a surge of warmth, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly. Then he followed the deacon into the depths of the bamboo grove.
The night breeze brushed gently past, and bamboo shadows swayed. The boy's slender figure walked beside the deacon's tall silhouette, and they disappeared along the woodland path beneath the moonlight.