The 10th Cultivation Path

  Ximen Qing immediately kowtowed and knocked his head on the ground, calling out: "Disciple Ximen Qing, paying respects to Master!"

  Zhang Tian Shi stroked his beard and burst out laughing, then helped Ximen Qing up, saying: "Good disciple, hurry up and get up. From now on, you'll have to train hard, I'm afraid you'll find it tiring and blame your master!"

  Thinking of Ximen Qing, who is only ten years old, if he starts high-intensity training now, it's indeed a bit too demanding. But martial arts training must start from a young age; if you wait until you're older and your bones have fully developed, it'll be too late to start training.

  However, it was clear that Zhang Tian Shi had underestimated Ximen Qing. In his past life, Ximen Qing was a martial arts master who had participated in training that was close to the limits of human endurance, so he had long since developed superhuman endurance and stamina. If he didn't want to speak, you could torture him and he still wouldn't open his mouth. So when it came to Zhang Tian Shi's high-intensity training, Ximen Qing wasn't afraid at all - would those exercises be more painful than torture? Moreover, Ximen Qing had already begun training. From the age of five until now, Ximen Qing stood in a horse stance for an hour every day, training his lower body and practicing half an hour of Tai Chi to temper his physique and coordinate his muscles. At the same time, he also trained his eyesight, hearing, observation skills, and perception. Don't look at how Ximen Qing is only ten years old now, but his eyesight, hearing, and perception have all recovered to the level of his past life as a martial arts master.

  Ximen Qing smiled and said: "Master, rest assured, as long as you teach me martial arts, I won't be afraid!"

  "Good!" Zhang Tian Shi burst out laughing and said immediately.

  ·····

  The next morning at dawn, when the sky was still a bit bright, Ximen Qing got up early and followed Zhang Tian Shi to a small hill on the east side of Qinghe County.

  At this time, the sun was rising in the east, and the purple energy was coming from the east. The sky was filled with a rosy glow. Ximen Qing sat cross-legged on a huge rock, listening to Zhang Tian Shi's explanation of his future cultivation.

  "Qing'er, when you were born, I gave you a jade pendant that was carved from the crystal of heaven and earth. It has the effect of nourishing Qi and activating blood, and it can also preserve the prenatal heavenly energy within your body. Over the years, you have worn it every day without taking it off, so that thread of prenatal heavenly energy has been preserved in your body. This will be extremely beneficial for your future cultivation!"

  Ximen Qing asked: "Master, what is the Pre-Heaven Mother Energy? What benefits does it have?"

  "First, the Pre-Heaven Mother's Breath is the innate true energy that you naturally possessed when you were in your mother's womb. In simple terms, it refers to the breath of the Pre-Heaven Mother that brought food to nourish you and help you grow while you were inside your mother's body. When you were born, you started breathing, and the external Post-Heaven energy entered your body, causing the Pre-Heaven Mother's Breath in your body to dissipate and disappear completely. This jade pendant is used to preserve that last bit of Pre-Heaven Mother's Breath from being lost.

  When people cultivate internal energy, they absorb the external Post-Heaven energy into their bodies and transform it into Pre-Heaven true energy. The Pre-Heaven true energy here refers to internal energy. The process of transforming Post-Heaven energy into Pre-Heaven energy is very slow and relies not just on hard work, but also largely on innate talent.

  Some people need several years or even decades to transform their true energy, whereas you, Qing Er, already have a bit of Pre-Heaven Mother's Breath in your body. Therefore, there is no need for transformation; you can directly start cultivating internal energy!"

  "It's indeed a case of 'wearing the right clothes to avoid being hanged'. Otherwise, I would have been hanged. Is this the compensation heaven has given me for crossing over?" Ximen Qing thought with a sly smile.

  Then excitedly and hastily said: "Master, I'll start then!"

  Looking at Ximen Qing's urgent expression, Zhang Tian Shi chuckled and stroked his beard, saying: "Qing Er, no need to be so anxious. Your starting point far surpasses others. As I understand it, in the entire Song Dynasty, only the core disciples of those few major powers can match you."

  Ximen Qing's eyebrows immediately rose upon hearing this.

  I thought I was the only one, but it turns out there are others. And not just one or two. From Zhang Tian Shi's tone, it seems like there are several more. This won't do! Xi Men Qing hastily shook his head and said: "Master, what kind of powers are those? They're even more powerful than our Dragon Tiger Mountain? Right, Master, you should hurry up and teach me, or else I'll fall behind and lose face for you!"

  Zhang Tian Shi smiled and said, "The vast expanse of the Song Dynasty contains countless hidden forces. There are naturally many forces that can rival our Dragon Tiger Mountain. Now, I'll tell you something you don't know, but later when you go out to gain experience, you will encounter them yourself. Alright, since you're so eager, I'll start teaching you now. Qing Er, did you thoroughly understand the Seven Stars Mixed Yuan Gong last night?"

  "Look through it! In the beginning of heaven and earth, there were two instruments. The clear and turbid gases, Hong Meng came from the east. Between heaven and earth, it is like a potter's wheel. Empty but not bent, moving and rotating out. Many words are exhausted, it is better to guard the middle. The valley spirit does not die, this is called Xuan Pin. Xuan Pin Gate, the root of heaven and earth. Continuous as if existing, using it without diligence. Seven stars gather, Hunyuan surrounds the circle..."

  A string of nonsense came out of Ximen Qing's mouth, and his face also turned strange and ugly.

  Last night, Ximen Qing spent a whole night reciting the "Seven Stars Mixed Yuan Gong", although he memorized it, but he didn't understand the content at all. This messy thing made Ximen Qing want to vomit.

  "Halt!" Before Ximen Qing could finish, Zhang Tian Shi stopped him and let out a bitter laugh, saying: "I originally planned to teach you the Taoist scriptures first, so you can understand the true essence of the Seven Stars Mixed Yuan Gong. However, yesterday you urged me, and I took it out early. Hehe, I expected as much - you only know how to recite, but don't understand a thing."

  Ximen Qing hastily nodded and said, "Yes, Master, this is too difficult to understand. Even memorizing it took me a whole night! Master, you say that learning the Taoist scriptures will allow me to understand, then teach me the Taoist scriptures first!"

  "He really wants to learn? I can tell you that the Taoist scriptures include the Three Emperors' Inner Texts of Heaven, Earth and Man in three volumes, the Original Texts of the Upper, Middle and Lower Volumes in three volumes, the Mixed Sutra in two volumes, the Mysterious Records in two volumes, the Nine Births Sutra, the Twenty-Four Births Sutra, the Nine Immortals Sutra, the Spiritual Divination Sutra, the Twelve Transformations Sutra, the Nine Changes Sutra, the Old Master's Jade Calendar True Scripture, Mozi's Pillow Five Elements Record in five volumes, the Warm Treasure Scripture, the Resting People Scripture, the Natural Scripture, the Yin and Yang Scripture, the Nourishing Life Book in one hundred and five volumes, the Taiping Scripture in fifty volumes, the Nine Respect Scripture, the Jia-Yi Scripture in one hundred and seventy volumes, the Green Dragon Scripture, the Central Yellow Scripture, the Great Clarity Scripture, the Penetrating Brightness Scripture, the Massage Scripture, the Dao Yin Scripture in ten volumes, the Original Yang Master Scripture, the Mysterious Girl Scripture, the Simple Girl Scripture, the Peng Zu Scripture, the Chen Tuo Scripture, the Zi Du Scripture, the Zhang Xu Scripture, the Heavenly Gate Son Scripture, the Rong Cheng Scripture, the Entering Mountain Scripture, the Inner Treasure Scripture, the Four Rules Scripture, the Bright Mirror Scripture, the Sun and Moon Facing Mirror Scripture, the Five Words Scripture..."

  Ximen Qing was stunned.

  He then swallowed his saliva, hastily pulled Zhang Tian Shi and smiled obsequiously: "Master, Master, I think it's better to forget about this, just teach me how to cultivate instead. As for the Seven Stars Mixed Yuan Gong manual, I don't want it anymore!"

  After finishing speaking, he took out a small notebook and handed it over to Zhang Tian Shi.

  Zhang Tian Shi smiled and handed the secret book back to Ximen Qing's arms, saying: "You still don't know what's good for you. Let me tell you, if this secret book is spread out, it will definitely be snatched away by people, even to the point of killing each other. You can't understand it, but others are eager to see it! You little kid doesn't even know how to cherish it!"

  Ximen Qing smiled and said: "Master, just be kind and pass it on directly!"

  Zhang Tian Shi nodded and said, "Alright, I won't explain the contents of the Qī Xīng Hùn Yuán Gōng method to you word by word. Instead, I'll directly teach you how to cultivate it. However, before teaching you, I need to ask: do you know about the human body's fatal weaknesses?"

  PS: Feeling guilty! Something came up yesterday, so I didn't get to update for the third time. I'll definitely make it up tonight! Please continue to support me!