Chapter 55: Chapter 53 The Path Forward
“`
Indeed, it is the Viscera Realm.
Chen Mu nodded slightly in his heart. Now, he still had quite a few other questions. Seizing this opportunity, he asked them all, “I’ve heard that besides the Body Tempering Method, there is also the Inner Breathing Method?”
Xu Hongyu glanced at Chen Mu and then said, “Yes, that is the method to cultivate Inner Breath True Qi. However, before reaching the Viscera Realm, practicing the Internal Cultivation Method is mostly for regulating the body and doesn’t have much effect. Only after reaching the Viscera Realm, when you have something to rely on, can Inner Breath circulate continuously, converting into invisible Qi Force that can strike objects through the air, and every move you make carries tremendous power.”
“I see.”
Chen Mu nodded slightly, showing a look of sudden realization.
From Xu Hongyu’s explanation, the Inner Breathing Method, before mastery in the Viscera Realm, seems to be merely a method of maintaining health, with far less direct impact on strength enhancement than Skin Toughening and Body Refinement.
Only after entering the Viscera Realm and strengthening the internal organs and the Five Viscera, when the Inner Breath circulates endlessly, can a qualitative change occur, transforming Inner Breath into the so-called Qi Force, thus possessing great power all at once.
It seems that in the journey of Martial Arts, Skin Toughening and Body Refinement is one stage, Tendon Changing and Bone Tempering is another stage, and the Five Viscera and Six Viscera represent an entirely different level, with a vast disparity in strength and status between each.
Skin Toughening and Body Refinement are merely the struggles of the bottom dwellers in Yu City, Tendon Changing and Bone Tempering are the backbone of various families, and stepping into the Viscera Realm allows one to become a mainstay of a great family, maintaining a great family’s prosperity and status in Yu City for decades.
Since it’s something temporarily out of reach, there’s no need to inquire too much about it. Chen Mu thought for a moment then brought up another issue that he had been concerned about:
“I heard that above Blade Momentum, there is Artistic Conception.”
“Yes.”
Xu Hongyu nodded and looked thoughtfully at Chen Mu, “I remember you practice the Blade Technique from the Qian Heaven Kun Earth eight branches, the Xun Wind line. My Yu Family indeed has the Artistic Conception Map of Qian Heaven Kun Earth, but we only have the Kan Water Diagram…”
Upon hearing this answer, Chen Mu couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed.
He thought with the two types of Blade Momentum he currently mastered, as well as the Dripping Rain Sword Momentum he would soon grasp, if the Yu Family had the ‘Xun Wind Diagram’ for him to comprehend, he might be able to directly break through the pathway of Blade Technique Artistic Conception.
Seeing Chen Mu’s reaction, Xu Hongyu said, “At the City Lord’s place, apart from the two diagrams of Qian Heaven and Kun Earth, the other six diagrams should all be there. If you want to comprehend Artistic Conception in the future, it’s not impossible.”
“However, Artistic Conception is very difficult. I suggest that you master at least three or more types of Blade Momentum from the Xun Wind branch before considering Artistic Conception. It’s still quite far off for you.”
Xu Hongyu added another sentence.
She had only mastered the Dripping Rain Sword Momentum in her Swordsmanship practice and had always remained at a Major Achievement level with the second swordsmanship, ‘Long River Sword,’ never comprehending the Long River Sword Momentum. She had also viewed the Artistic Conception Map but didn’t feel anything at all.
Knowing that the City Lord very likely has the Xun Wind Artistic Conception Map was useful information for Chen Mu. If after mastering many Momentums he still couldn’t develop Artistic Conception, it provided a clearer path forward.
For the system panel, he probably just needed one glimpse of the Xun Wind Diagram and he could learn the Artistic Conception with his Experience Points.
“Alright, let’s not talk about this for now. There’s another key issue I called you here for.”
Xu Hongyu looked at Chen Mu and continued, “Xu Chasi has been poisoned. Although he was promptly treated, his physical condition isn’t great, and therefore, after some time, you may need to take over his position.”
Xu Feng was already in his mid-forties, with declining Qi-Blood. Although he was promptly treated after being poisoned, the impact was significant. Although he wasn’t yet at the point of Zhao Zong with declining Qi-Blood and acting internal injuries, without gradual recuperation, after reaching fifty, he would most likely end up the same.
Thus, Xu Feng proposed to Xu Hongyu the hope of stepping down early for recuperation.
The position of a Head Constable is somewhat important. Currently, Xu Hongyu has only a few trustworthy Head Constables under her command. Previously, when cultivating Chen Mu, the plan was to try to promote him to Head Constable after three to five years, but now they had to consider doing it sooner.
“`
Chen Mu was stable-minded, valued trust and righteousness, and had the merit of eradicating the Black Crow Sect. Coupled with his own considerable strength, having reached the extreme in Skin Toughening and stepping into Body Refinement, his power would be even greater than others at the same level.
“Endowed with your favor, my lord, I shall certainly not fail to meet your expectations.”
Chen Mu naturally would not refuse at this time.
Although serving as a Prefecture Chief compared to being a Head Constable meant stepping into the limelight and dealing with various mixed gangs and forces, he now had strength to his name, and would soon achieve Perfection in Body Refinement, thus naturally bolstering his confidence.
“Very well, you may go.”
Xu Hongyu nodded slightly towards Chen Mu.
Chen Mu then took his leave, carrying the missive from Xu Hongyu with him.
Xu Hongyu gazed thoughtfully at Chen Mu’s retreating figure for a while before turning to Xiao He and asking, “Xiao He, what do you think?”
Xiao He blinked her eyes and said, “No problems at all. I saw him bow down in reverence once you flexed your authority, miss. His loyalty is evident.”
Xu Hongyu gave Xiao He a sideways glance, unamused, and sat down. She picked up a fruit from the table and took a bite, “Speak properly.”
Xiao He smiled faintly, “He must be hiding quite a few concerns, but the loyalty he expressed just now was sincere. However, people’s hearts can change, so it would still be best if we made him a member of the Yu Family.”
Xu Hongyu heard this.
She stared at the fruit in her hand that she had bitten into and pondered for a while before saying, “Yu Ru is almost sixteen too.”
Pfft.
Xiao He couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
Xu Hongyu gave her a puzzled look and said, “What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing.”
Xiao He coughed twice and composed herself.
She just thought it was somewhat comical for the twenty-four-year-old Xu Hongyu to speak about arranging marriage for her cousin Yu Ru, who was nearly sixteen, in a tone suggesting match-making, but she dared not voice this for fear of being scolded.
Her thoughts shifted, and she couldn’t help but think of Chen Mu again. She hadn’t considered it before, but now…
If Chen Mu could reach the Tendon Changing stage before turning twenty-five, there might be hope for him to step into Bone Tempering in the future. Although he lacked a prestigious background, he would just about be worthy of the young miss, but that was still years away.
“If only we could find a young and outstanding man like the old master.”
Xiao He murmured to herself.
To cultivate Dual Sword Momentum at nineteen, Tendon Changing by twenty, Bone Tempering by twenty-five, grasping an Artistic Conception by twenty-seven, and achieving Perfection in Bone Tempering by twenty-nine… What remarkable talent and spirit that would take, but Yu City had not seen another such person in more than a decade since then.
It even seemed like after reaching a peak there had been a decline. At that time, the Yu Family suppressed the other families to the point where they could barely lift their heads. However, since the disappearance of Xu Hongyu’s father more than a decade ago, no other geniuses had emerged within the Yu Family. The martial arts schools, targeted by various other families, failed to recruit any talent. A few years ago, there was one hopeful, but within a year, they met a cruel fate at the hands of one of the families.
In a rage, the Yu Family searched everywhere, but in the end, no results were found, and the matter was dropped.
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