The two of them sat down once again.
"Wu Yuan," Sect Elder Huan couldn't resist his curiosity, "Although I've yet to reach the peak of the Rigid Yet Supple stage, I shouldn't have been at a disadvantage during the spar. Is it possible that you have already advanced to the Harmony of Man and Nature?" He had indeed lost the fight miserably.
"The Harmony of Man and Nature?" Wu Yuan feigned confusion, "Perhaps. Essentially, I can perceive the fluctuations in my surroundings, allowing me to seize the initiative in combat. I am unsure if this counts as reaching the Harmony of Man and Nature stage."
"It does," the Rain Hierarch answered slowly, "Sect Elder Huan, Wu Yuan has indeed reached a rudimentary level of the Harmony of Man and Nature stage. He is at the Perception level."
"He reached the Harmony of Man and Nature stage before seventeen?" Sect Elder Huan looked at Wu Yuan as though beholding a monster. He was well aware of what this meant.
Wu Yuan also looked at the Rain Hierarch with a 'startled' expression.
"Wu Yuan, you have read two Grandmaster's Insights. However, they may not have fully answered all your doubts," The Rain Hierarch said."Today I summoned you here primarily to confirm your martial skills."
"Now, I believe the time has come to explain some matters to you," the Rain Hierarch continued.
"Disciple is all ears," Wu Yuan said with a mask of 'seriousness.'
Sect Elder Huan promptly shut his mouth and listened attentively. He knew that receiving a lecture from The Rain Hierarch was an incredibly rare opportunity.
"Fundamentals, Power Surge, Rigid Yet Supple, you've mastered them all. I won't harp on those," said The Rain Hierarch, "You should understand that once Rigid Yet Supple is perfected, you are able to control your whole body, sense the middle dantian lobe, and see the path to the human limit."
Wu Yuan nodded. Once the Rigid Yet Supple stage was fully mastered, he could aspire to reach the human limit and potentially become a Land Ranker.
"In reality, just perfecting Rigid Yet Supple alone scarcely gets you to Grandmaster level," The Rain Hierarch explained quietly, "Many Savant experts, such as those in the top ten of the Human Rankings, have almost all perfected Rigid Yet Supple, Sect Elder Mo is a prime example."
"And why is that?" Wu Yuan asked.
"Life force and age," The Rain Hierarch said succinctly, "If one perfects Rigid Yet Supple before 30, becoming a Grandmaster will be a breeze, like in your case."
"Me?" Wu Yuan gave a slight nod.
"Your skills have reached a highly advanced stage while in your youth. If you continue to develop your body's potential, combined with practicing secret arts, your physical constitution will naturally progress by leaps and bounds," The Rain Hierarch elaborated, "Reaching the human limit will become a natural progression, and by the age of 30, your body could potentially reach the first-grade level.
"A Grandmaster at 30?" Wu Yuan's face lit up with 'anticipation.
Sect Elder Huan was struck dumbfounded. A Grandmaster at 30?
"Someone who perfects Rigid Yet Supple just before 60 still has a chance to become a Grandmaster despite their waning vitality," The Rain Hierarch continued, "But once they surpass 60? Their chances diminish significantly."
Wu Yuan couldn't help but nod. First-rate Adepts and Savant experts were still in their prime at 40. Compared to their 20s or 30s, their physical constitutions had yet to decline noticeably. But once over 60, even though their combat prowess seemed to be at its peak, their vitality rapidly diminished. The most obvious gauge of one's vitality was endurance and recovery time.
"But Hierarch, throughout history, many experts only became Grandmasters in their 70s or 80s," Sect Elder Huan couldn't help but interject from the side.
Wu Yuan was equally 'curious'.
"If they are only able to achieve the Rigid Yet Supple stage of martial skill, it's naturally challenging for them to break through to the next cultivation level," The Rain Hierarch stated, "But what if they are able to reach a higher level of martial skill, achieving harmony with nature? That is, the Harmony of Man and Nature!"
"The term 'Man and Nature' represents all of heaven and earth," The Rain Hierarch continued, "Master your physical body, invigorate your spirit, look within yourself to perceive the world, and dedicate ample time and energy to grasp the indescribable spiritual qi of heaven and earth!"
"Substitute essence for qi to purify the body and restore one's youthfulness, only then can one aspire to become a Grandmaster," The Rain Hierarch explained.
"Spiritual qi of heaven and earth?" Sect Elder Huan fell deep in thought. He had long known about the existence of spiritual qi, but regrettably, his skill level wasn't high enough to sense it.
Yet, Wu Yuan was struck with a revelation. The Grandmaster's Insights mentioned spiritual qi, but only in passing, and not as extensively as The Rain Hierarch's explanation.
"The so-called qi, in essence, is a miraculous free-floating energy in the world, the most fundamental energy of the world," The Rain Hierarch said, "People often say: essence, qi, and soul. The essence, originating from the lower dantian lobe, refers to the essence of the human body. When food is refined, it is transformed into essence!"
"However, when transformed into essence, common substances contain impurities which are harmful to the human body. This makes it challenging to achieve longevity solely through consuming grains and meats. Only when one's martial skill reaches the Harmony of Man and Nature and their soul grows sufficiently robust, can they hope to perceive and consume qi."
"Qi does not contain any impurities. It can cleanse the body, eliminate impurities within, and prolong life, just like Ancient Immortal Dew, which is the liquefied essence of spiritual qi. Many other natural treasures are essentially nurtured by spiritual qi," The Rain Hierarch solemnly stated.
Wu Yuan was stunned by what he heard. Ancient Immortal Dew was actually the liquefied state of spiritual qi? The mysterious power he sensed last night was most probably this spiritual qi. No wonder the two forms of energy were nearly identical.
At this moment, a whole new world revealed itself to him. The so-called transcendental evolution was nothing more than a quantum leap in energy levels. Those who absorbed spiritual qi were inherently superior beings to martial artists who fed on grains and meat.
Wu Yuan couldn't help but ask, "Hierarch, I learned from the Grandmaster's Insights that the Harmony of Man and Nature is divided into Perception, Integration, and Unity. Can one consume qi upon reaching the Perception level?"
Wu Yuan was now certain that Environmental Mastery was termed Harmony of Man and Nature among the martial artists of the Middle Land. The first level of Environmental Mastery was Perception, sensing the surrounding environment. The second level was Integration, harmonizing one's body with the environment. As for Unity? Wu Yuan only gained a vague understanding from Grandmaster Fang Xia's insights.
"One indeed has the potential to consume qi at the Perception stage." The Rain Hierarch stated, "Provided ones soul is strong enough, coupled with advanced martial skill level, and that one learns a specific qi consumption method. Then, there is a sliver of hope."
"Skill, soul, and method all three are critical," The Rain Hierarch said, "Even so, it's fraught with difficulties. Often, only one in six experts over the age of 60 who have reached the Perception stage can step into the realm of the Grandmasters."
Wu Yuan suddenly understood. "Hierarch, is it necessary to learn the qi consumption method?"
"It's not absolutely necessary." The Rain Hierarch shook her head, "If you have a high enough skill level, such as reaching the Unity stage, or if your soul is exceptionally strong, you might be able to directly consume qi through your own power after ten to twenty years."
"Ten to twenty years?" Wu Yuan was taken aback. That long?
"Mm-hmm." The Rain Hierarch chuckled, "Does it seem long? Many martial artists at the Perception level spend at least five to six years practicing the qi consumption method before they are able to achieve it.
Wu Yuan fell silent. Qi consumption was so difficult? If that was the case, why was he able to forgo learning a qi consumption method, and in merely a few months, absorb spiritual qi by himself? Was it because of his strong soul?
"How did the methods of qi consumption come about, Hierarch?" Wu Yuan felt compelled to ask.
"The first qi consumption method was actually created by Heavenly Rankers," The Rain Hierarch answered. "Heavenly Rankers have mostly perfected the Harmony of Man and Nature or even higher stages! Their souls are so powerful that they can even perform telekinesis.
Wu Yuan was taken aback. "Hierarch, can only Heavenly Rankers perform telekinesis?" he inquired.
"Of course." The Rain Hierarch laughed, "Controlling the tangible with the intangible, how unimaginable. It's something almost impossible for Grandmasters to accomplish."
"Take for instance the legends of sword immortals, who are naturally Heavenly Rankers. They can unleash extraordinary power with a single sword strike, slaying enemies hundreds of meters away."
"Telekinesis is one of the three conditions for a Grandmaster to enter the Heavenly Rankings," The Rain Hierarch's eyes were full of longing.
"Three conditions?" Wu Yuan was curious.
"As you will certainly become a Grandmaster, there's no harm in telling you now," The Rain Hierarch said, "Firstly, your physical constitution must reach the limit of the human body, with vitality that shows no signs of decline. The ideal age limit is 100, but the younger, the better."
Wu Yuan nodded slightly.
"Secondly, you must at least reach the Integration level of martial skill."
"Thirdly, you must be able to perform telekinesis. Of course, you don't need to reach the level of sword immortals. As long as you are able to lift an object weighing ten catties with your soul, and clearly sense the middle dantian lobe, that will suffice."
"If these conditions are met, the Heavenly Rankings lie within your grasp," the Rain Hierarch asserted. "But without the trifecta of a strong body, advanced skill level, and a powerful soul, success will forever elude you. The stronger your body, the higher your skill level, and the more powerful your soul, the better your chances of breaking through."
Wu Yuan stood there, his mind reeling from what he had just heard.
Just reach the Integration stage? He had already achieved that.
Control an object weighing ten catties with his soul? He could already manipulate objects weighing hundreds of catties, making them orbit around himself.
Sensing the middle dantian lobe? He could sense all 108 acupoints in his body.
The only thing lacking was his physical constitution. But reaching the limit of the human body was nothing more than a matter of time for him.
"What's wrong, scared?" The Rain Hierarch looked at Wu Yuan and let out a soft sigh. "Becoming a Heavenly Ranker is extremely difficult. Take me for example. In terms of skill, I reached the Integration stage in my 70s, but my soul... I have never been able to achieve a breakthrough."
Despite taking numerous risks to acquire Soul Condensing Pills, their effects were disappointing." The Rain Hierarch shook her head. "Telekinesis is simply too challenging."
Conditions To Enter Heavenly Rankings
1. Physical constitution: Reach the limit of the human body (200,000 catties base strength). The ideal age limit is 100
2. Martial Skill: Reach Integration level of Harmony of Man and Nature/ Environmental Mastery stage
3. Soul: Able to perform telekinesis (lift an object weighing ten catties) + clearly sense the middle dantian lobe