“What?” Even Xuan Bei, with his usual composure, was shocked into silence, his face filled with disbelief.
Clang!
He had initially planned to return the ringed saber to the weapon rack and offer some words of comfort to Meng Qi, but his hand trembled unexpectedly. The blade struck the rack directly, rebounded, and clattered to the ground—failing to slot back into place as intended. Such a lapse was utterly unthinkable for an Outer Scenery realm cultivator!
(Note: “戒刀” is translated as “ringed saber,” a term commonly used in wuxia contexts for this type of weapon. The phrase “前所未有” is rendered as “utterly unthinkable” to convey the gravity of the mistake in this martial context.)
Meng Qi fully activated the fourth stage of the Golden Bell Shield, his skin faintly showing a dark golden hue, as he repeated his earlier words, “Master, I’ve successfully cultivated the fourth stage of the Golden Bell Shield.”
“What did you experience?” Xuan Bei regained his composure, though his expression still betrayed astonishment and doubt.
Yesterday, his disciple had only just broken through to the third stage, yet today he had already mastered the fourth. Such speed was akin to hearing a myth!
Meng Qi had prepared his explanation before entering the room. Without raising his head, he muttered, “Yesterday, while watching my master practice the saber technique, I vaguely sensed a worldly atmosphere like a furnace, severing my tranquility.”
“Today, while cultivating the fourth stage technique, I was simultaneously assaulted by hot and cold sensations, and beside me, a noisy little bird kept chattering incessantly. These threefold trials were extremely tormenting, almost unbearable. At that moment, I suddenly recalled that sensation—the world is like a furnace, the heavens like a furnace. Isn’t this current torment the fire of the furnace searing my body, polluting my soul, and destroying my peace?”
“Then, well, I somehow ended up cultivating the fourth stage successfully.”
All of Meng Qi’s described feelings and insights were genuine, except for the source of that blade intent—nine parts true, one part false—making it difficult to suspect.
However, he knew his master was a high-level Outer Scenery cultivator, and changes in his body and expressions would be hard to hide. Thus, he controlled his heartbeat and kept his head lowered, avoiding his master’s gaze.
After listening to Meng Qi’s explanation, Xuan Bei’s suspicion eased somewhat, as such insights, if not authentic, would inevitably contain inconsistencies.
After a moment of contemplation, he smiled with a blend of satisfaction and nostalgia: “You truly have a connection with this blade technique. To grasp its essence just from watching once and then achieving sudden enlightenment—remarkable.”
Understanding the essence wasn’t hard; anyone with some wit who watched the swordplay for a while could sense something. The true difficulty lay in grasping its deeper meaning and truly capturing the essence of the sword technique.
“Thank you, Master, for demonstrating the blade technique,” Meng Qi promptly redirected the focus to his master’s practice of the “Ananda’s Breaking the Precepts Blade Technique.”
Xuan Bei slightly furrowed his brows and said gravely, “This matter must not be revealed. You’re still at the Orifice Opening stage; according to the precepts, you’re not allowed to witness me practicing another supreme technique. Even if I allow it, it’s still impermissible.”
“Although you’ve only grasped the essence and haven’t mastered the variations and true meaning of the blade technique, achieving sudden enlightenment from this is a significant gain. The Disciplinary Monks might not believe you merely observed it once by accident.”
Normally, one would need to intentionally observe many times to lay the foundation for such enlightenment.
“I understand, Master,” Meng Qi replied, currently in a phase of cautious concealment while seeking an opportunity to escape. Naturally, he had no desire to interact with those overly meticulous disciplinary monks. “However, when I cultivated the fourth stage today, I was seen by Master Xuan Ku and Senior Brother Zhen Chang…”
Xuan Bei nodded gently, “No problem. There have been precedents of monks cultivating the first four stages of the Golden Bell Shield within three months, albeit among those with solid foundations. As long as Master Xuan Ku and Senior Brother Zhen Chang don’t know you only broke through to the third stage yesterday, they’ll merely praise you for being suited to cultivate the Golden Bell Shield.”
“In that case, I’ll be at ease,” Meng Qi exhaled deeply, genuinely relieved.
“Alright, you may go and meditate to consolidate your gains,” Xuan Bei said kindly.
Upon entering the meditation room, Zhen Hui, who was in a resting phase, asked curiously, “Senior Brother, why are you back so early today?”
“Hehe, Senior Brother has successfully cultivated the fourth stage of the Golden Bell Shield!” In front of his familiar junior brother, Meng Qi dropped his act, speaking with unmistakable pride, his expression flickering rapidly between astonishment, exhilaration, and incredulity.
Zhen Hui simply responded with an “Oh,” appearing to find it quite normal. With a smile, he said, “Senior Brother, you’ve always wanted to cultivate techniques like the Flower-Picking Finger and the Formless Finger, but now it seems the Golden Bell Cover suits you best.”
This clueless guy! Isn’t he implying I’m a hypocrite? Meng Qi secretly cursed Zhen Hui, “Maybe I could cultivate other supreme skills even faster!”
“I don’t know,” Zhen Hui honestly replied, showing no inclination to flatter.
Meng Qi coughed and said, “Of course, achieving the fourth stage of the Golden Bell Shield in just one day—Senior Brother can truly be called unprecedented, with no equals in the future.”
“Senior Brother, you’re so amazing!” Such a description resembled legendary tales of martial heroes, instantly exciting Zhen Hui.
Meng Qi sighed inwardly, covering his face. This guy indeed needed things spelled out clearly; subtleties were beyond his comprehension.
…
More than half a year later, it was deep autumn again, with leaves drifting and the sky clear and high.
On a cold moonlit night, Meng Qi and Zhen Hui carried lanterns, strolling within the temple grounds. Tonight was their turn for patrol duty, assigned to a relatively remote route.
“What a wonderful life this is!” Meng Qi inhaled the crisp air deeply, expressing his satisfaction.
Ten months without a Reincarnation Task had been a pleasant surprise!
After achieving the fourth level of the Golden Bell Shield, Meng Qi resumed his morning and evening cultivation sessions and returned to attending lectures at the Sutra Hall. However, every afternoon, he still visited the pagoda, using its harsh environment to “meditate and accumulate qi.” Since accumulating true qi and refining the acupoints required gradual progress, his advancement had slowed down.
Nevertheless, by rationally scheduling the use of Lingzhi Qi-Replenishing Pills and the elixirs provided by Xuan Bei, he successfully completed qi accumulation within seven months and refined six acupoints related to the eye orifice. Therefore, he particularly hoped the next Reincarnation Task would be postponed for another two months, allowing him to refine all nine acupoints and await the opening of the Heavenly Pill or undergo rigorous training to unblock the orifice.
Of course, if the Reincarnation Tasks resumed now, Meng Qi wouldn’t feel discouraged or fearful. Compared to ten months ago, his strength had advanced dramatically, as if he had become an entirely different person.
Meanwhile, Zhen Hui had long become accustomed to his senior brother’s occasional strange behavior and showed no surprise at his praise. Instead, he chimed in, “Yeah, this life is great—eating, sleeping, and practicing cultivation.”
His slightly childish face beamed with genuine joy.
During these ten months, although Zhen Hui hadn’t yet broken through to the “Qi Accumulation Completion” stage in the Flower-Picking Finger, his progress had been significant, delighting Xuan Bei with pleasant surprise. Xuan Bei believed Zhen Hui might truly break through in another six months.
Moreover, being in a growth phase, with sufficient food, sleep, and exercise, Zhen Hui had grown significantly taller, his features maturing into handsome handsomeness.
Putting eating and sleeping first—you’re such a pig! Meng Qi glanced sideways at Zhen Hui.
After ten months, Meng Qi had also grown much taller, no longer a child’s stature, now showing signs of adolescence. A fine layer of down had appeared above his lip. His appearance hadn’t deteriorated; when sitting quietly, he looked like a refined and handsome youth. The only thing Meng Qi wasn’t entirely satisfied with was his slightly elongated eyes, giving him a more delicate, less masculine appearance.
As they walked, Zhen Hui suddenly spoke up, “Senior Brother, I think Senior Brother Zhen Yong is acting strangely.”
“What happened?” Meng Qi asked, puzzled.
Surrounded by trees, the night made the surroundings resemble monstrous shapes.
Zhen Hui complained, “Senior Brother Zhen Yong often invites me out and tells me stories, but his stories aren’t interesting at all. He always asks me about my progress in the Flower-Picking Finger, saying he’s very interested in this most difficult supreme skill.”
Initially, Meng Qi thought Zhen Hui was overreacting, but as Zhen Hui continued, his expression turned serious: “He asked you about the Flower-Picking Finger? Was he very detailed?”
“Very detailed. He always asks what obstacles I encountered while circulating the qi, which meridians I used, and why I progressed so quickly…” Zhen Hui chattered on, not realizing the seriousness of the matter, merely confiding in his trusted senior brother.
The master said not to tell outsiders, but Senior Brother Zhen Yong kept asking, which was really annoying, and he kept inviting me out, delaying my cultivation!
Meng Qi suspected that Zhen Yong intended to steal the Flower-Picking Finger technique. As a martial monk who had yet to rise in the ranks of the Martial Arts Academy (Yuan), such motives were understandable. But why would he target the most challenging technique—the Flower-Picking Finger?
Moreover, recalling past interactions with Zhen Yong, some details now seemed suspicious.
“Did you tell him the Flower-Picking Finger’s methods?” Meng Qi needed to confirm this first.
Zhen Hui shook his head, “The master told me not to speak of it.”
“Good. Tomorrow morning, we’ll report this to the master.” Meng Qi had no intention of investigating himself. If this led to enemies he couldn’t handle, it would be troublesome. Worse, others might twist the facts and accuse him of false accusations. Therefore, directly reporting to the master, allowing this elder to investigate, was the wisest choice.
Zhen Hui didn’t doubt his senior brother’s suggestion and happily nodded in agreement. At that moment, he suddenly turned his gaze and pointed at several nearby large trees, “Once, Senior Brother Zhen Yong went behind there.”
“What? How do you know?” Meng Qi was both surprised and doubtful.
Zhen Hui honestly replied, “After we parted ways that time, I suddenly remembered a part of the story I hadn’t explained clearly, so I turned back to chase after Senior Brother Zhen Yong and happened to see him go behind the trees.”
“And then?” Meng Qi’s mouth twitched slightly.
Unaware of Meng Qi’s reaction, Zhen Hui answered, “I thought Senior Brother Zhen Yong might be relieving himself, so I waited a while. When he didn’t come out and it was time for my cultivation, I returned.”
Meng Qi slightly nodded. Curiosity piqued because of their proximity, he lifted the lantern and approached the trees, peering inside.
Inside were many more trees, layered and dense, blocking the view and making it hard to see clearly.
Meng Qi listened carefully for a while but detected no movement. Then, he cautiously moved between several trees, leaving no traces.
Zhen Hui, excitedly, imitated his senior brother’s manner and followed.
After walking about ten steps, Meng Qi’s eyes brightened, as the trees no longer obstructed the view ahead.
It was a protruding cliff, with thick clouds and fog below, obscuring the bottom—Shaolin Temple was built along the mountain, and many areas were cliffs rather than walls.
“A cliff…” Meng Qi looked around in confusion, puzzled about why Zhen Yong would come here.
Just as he glanced around, Meng Qi suddenly froze, his heart stirring. He listened carefully, then abruptly pulled Zhen Hui, extinguished the lantern, and hid behind a large tree.
Soft footsteps approached, and a figure in gray monk robes stealthily crept in.
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