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Two young men.
One was short-haired and lean, with a sharp face; the other was broad-shouldered and stout, with a round, honest appearance.
Both were Inner Sect Disciples, smiling happily at Chen Yu.
"Master? May I ask who you both are?"
Chen Yu's heart stirred.
Could it be that a high-level sect member was planning to take him as a disciple?
"I'm Wu Yu, and he is Li Dakui. From now on, we're fellow disciples."
The short-haired young man smiled warmly.
The other large-framed youth grinned broadly, "I'm your second senior brother, Li Dakui!"
"I've met the two senior brothers."
Chen Yu dared not be negligent.
Among the two,
Li Dakui was slightly older, had reached the Mid-stage of Refining, and claimed to be the second senior brother.
The short-haired young man, Wu Yu, was at the Early Stage of Refining Internal Organs and regarded himself as the third senior brother.
"May I ask the two senior brothers, who is the master you mentioned?"
Chen Yu asked.
"You'll know when you meet them later."
Wu Yu smiled mysteriously, selling a bit of suspense.
Chen Yu followed the two forward.
Along the way, the two young men, who regarded themselves as senior brothers, incessantly questioned Chen Yu.
The topics from both focused on the Outer Sect Grand Competition.
"It's truly remarkable for the junior brother to take the first place. Tsk tsk, even those like Nangong Li and Duan Xiaolong, are known among us Inner Sect Disciples."
Wu Yu repeatedly praised.
"It's just a bit of luck," Chen Yu smiled.
"I heard this time the 'first place in the grand competition,' the rewards are extremely rich, including a Qi Storage Pill."
Li Dakui said enviously.
At the mention of "Qi Storage Pill," their eyes brightened.
"That's indeed the case." Chen Yu nodded.
"Junior Brother Chen."
Li Dakui looked on with honest admiration, "Could you let me take a look at that 'Qi Storage Pill'?"
This?
Chen Yu was taken aback, not expecting the request.
However, seeing the straightforward and simple-minded look of the other party, who seemed earnest in wanting to broaden his knowledge, he didn't think much of it.
Chen Yu took out the jade bottle containing the "Qi Storage Pill."
"Tsk tsk."
Li Dakui and Wu Yu leaned in close, the former grabbed the bottle and inspected it carefully.
Inside the jade bottle, a crystal-clear elixir shimmered with pale green ripples, mysteriously alluring.
A trace of greed and longing flashed in the eyes of Li Dakui and Wu Yu.
"Haha! Junior Brother Chen, you're now at the Mid-stage Meridian Passage, right? The Qi Storage Pill holds little significance for you. How about this—your senior brother will offer a thousand Grade Essence Stones plus a Body Nourishing Pill to trade for this elixir?"
Li Dakui clutched the jade bottle, looking reluctant to part with it.
Upon hearing this, Chen Yu's heart sank.
Judging from Li Dakui's demeanor, he seemed unwilling to return the Qi Storage Pill.
One thousand Grade Essence Stones? Plus a Body Nourishing Pill, which might still be a Low Grade Body Nourishing Pill—did they really intend to trade for the precious Qi Storage Pill?
Even if Chen Yu were a fool, he would understand that the other party was trying to force a trade under an implicit threat.
"Well, a thousand Grade Essence Stones seem a bit low. Perhaps if you added a few hundred more, it would be worth considering."
Chen Yu acted troubled.
Hearing this, Li Dakui was overjoyed. He would happily add a few thousand more.
"Hmm! Why does this pill have a bit of a blemish? Could there be a quality issue?"
Chen Yu suddenly focused on the pill inside the bottle.
He acted startled, and amidst Li Dakui's confusion, he retrieved the jade bottle.
"Is there an issue?"
"Oh, it might be the angle, the elixir is fine."
Chen Yu gave it another glance and then put the jade bottle away, no longer bringing up the trade, leaving Li Dakui and Wu Yu full of regret and frustration.
A cup of tea later.
"We've arrived."
Li Dakui and Wu Yu led Chen Yu into a residence.
This estate covered ten to twenty acres, with gardens, a small herb garden, and even a stream running through it.
"Master is inside."
Li Dakui and Wu Yu brought Chen Yu to a side hall.
After entering the estate, the two became meek and unusually honest.
Entering the side hall.
"Hehe, kid, we meet again."
An old man with a red face, wearing a green pine robe, sat on a chair on the opposite side, legs crossed, sipping tea.
Beside him, two young and pretty maids served him with respect.
"It's you..."
Chen Yu instantly recognized him as the sect elder who had recommended the Copper Statue Technique to him.
Yet the scene of indulgence before him left Chen Yu in shock.
"Kid, there's no need to be surprised. Even a 'Qi Transformation Realm' like me has a mere one hundred fifty years of life. If not now, then when to enjoy life?"
The red-faced elder sighed.
He waved his hand, indicating that Chen Yu should not salute but sit freely.
Chen Yu sat down feeling uneasy, unsure of the red-faced elder's agenda.
The elder's lament left Chen Yu speechless. A lifespan of one hundred fifty years, yet still considered short? Even emperors in the mundane world didn't live beyond a century.
At this moment, the two maids bowed and left.
"Let's skip the pleasantries. Chen Yu, this old man plans to take you as an in-name disciple. Are you willing?"
The red-faced elder stated straightforwardly.
An in-name disciple?
Chen Yu was stunned, not quite understanding the implication.
Generally speaking, an in-name disciple wasn't a true heir, perhaps just a title.
"Let me be direct. With your talent in Body Cultivation, not just in the Yunyue Sect, but across the entire Chu Country, it's difficult to find a suitable master for you."
The red-faced elder spoke frankly.
"Body Cultivation?"
Chen Yu caught onto this key point.
"At your level, you probably believe 'Martial Arts' is the only cultivation path in this world. But in reality, there are countless cultivation pathways. During the Ancient Era, various schools existed. Besides martial arts, there was the Ghost Path, Witchcraft, the Immortal Path, etc. And the Copper Statue Technique you practice is a remnant of Body Cultivation..."
The elder's narrative carried a sense of longing and reverence.
The Copper Statue Technique was actually on par with Martial Arts, another significant path of cultivation?
Chen Yu's heart was shaken.
"Of course."
The elder switched his tone again. "With the gradual thinning of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi and the shortage of resources, the Immortal Path, Witchcraft, and others that once wielded world-destroying power during the Ancient Era have now declined. Even the Sword Dao is seldom seen. Today, the orthodox path is Martial Arts."
Martial Arts, the orthodox cultivation!
Chen Yu could sense the elder's pride in mentioning it.
"Why did martial arts become the orthodox path, and what is the pathway of Body Cultivation?"
Chen Yu couldn't help but ask.
"Martial Arts thrived because it requires the least qualifications among the various pathways and demands the least from Heaven and Earth Spirit Qi. Its inclusiveness allows it to integrate the strengths of various schools, adapting to the times. Even in the Ancient Era, it held its ground."
The elder paused.
"As for your well-suited Body Cultivation, it wasn't mainstream even in the Ancient Era, having only been brilliant for a short time. Nowadays, it's nearly lost. Finding a truly fitting master for you is extremely difficult."
The elder explained.
After this detailed explanation, Chen Yu gained a new understanding of the world's system.
Martial Arts, during the Ancient Times, was merely one of countless pathways.
Yet now, it became the mainstream and orthodoxy, with other cultivation pathways declining into obscurity.
"Then, elder, why do you wish to take me as a disciple?"
Chen Yu asked earnestly.
He realized that the red-faced elder was patient with him, not assuming the airs of an elder.
How could a sect elder have so much idle time to chat with a disciple?
"There are two reasons. First, within this sect, I'm relatively the most suitable for your understanding in the field of Body Cultivation."
The elder chuckled.
"The second reason is, because of your talent and accomplishments in the Copper Statue Technique, I will require your assistance in the future. The specifics aren't discussed now, at least not until your Copper Statue Technique breaks through to the 'Copper Bone' level."
After the elder spoke, he quietly awaited Chen Yu's response.
An in-name disciple?
Chen Yu fell into a brief contemplation and soon made a decision.
"Disciple is willing."
Chen Yu performed the disciple salutation to the red-faced elder.
"Since you're an in-name disciple, there's no need for a formal apprenticeship ceremony. My surname is Mao, full name Mao Qiuyu."
The red-faced elder raised his hand.
Instantly, an invisible force like a gentle breeze lifted Chen Yu up.
"Greetings, Master."
Chen Yu still bowed respectfully.
His decision was made after careful consideration.
Being under an elder's tutelage had significant advantages.
First, an elder-level master served as a solid backing. Henceforth, anyone in the sect wanting to harm Chen Yu would have to think twice.
Second, Elder Mao's profound knowledge and cultivation prowess would still be beneficial in guiding his cultivation.
Of course,
Elder Mao appeared to have certain expectations of Chen Yu. Just as there were benefits, there would be obligations.
Saying it was taking a disciple was essentially a kind of transaction, mutually beneficial.
"This master gives you an hour. In terms of cultivation, any doubts you have can be raised."
The red-faced elder said.
Chen Yu's eyes brightened, knowing advice from a sect elder was a rare opportunity.
"Disciple wishes to know. The cultivation realm stages. After Meridian Passage and the Body Refining Stage, there is Qi Transformation Realm. What is the existence of Qi Transformation Realm, and is there a higher stage beyond it?"
Chen Yu inquired.
He aspired to ascend to the peak of the sect world, to observe more magnificent vistas, curious about the limits of cultivation.
"The path of cultivation consists of nine realms. The first realm is called the 'Entry Realm,' and in some places, it's called 'Body Refining Realm' or 'Fortification Realm,' divided into three stages: the Body Refining Stage, Meridian Passage Stage, and Organ Refining Stage."
Elder Mao articulated.
Nine great realms?
Chen Yu's eyes brightened, surprised that Body Refining, Meridian Passage, and Organ Refining were merely the entry stages of the first realm.
"The Entry Body Refining Realm mainly focuses on the 'body.' Even the 'internal energy' cultivated during the Meridian Passage Stage is just a low-level power borne of essence and blood."
Low-level power? Chen Yu was stunned.
Woosh!
Elder Mao opened his palm, revealing a faint cyan vortex, full of vitality, emanating an aura that left Chen Yu trembling.
Thud!
From that faint cyan vortex, a trace of azure thread separated, striking the opposite bronze vessel from afar.
Crack!
The bronze vessel shattered into pieces.
Chen Yu's heart was shocked, that just a trace from the vortex could shatter metal and iron.
"This is Innate True Qi, visible to the naked eye, and any thread of it can extinguish all the inner breath in your body!"
Elder Mao stated plainly.
"Innate True Qi! This is the power possessed by the Qi Transformation Realm."
Chen Yu felt his blood boil.
This level of power already surpassed the normal human realm.
With such strength, one could be invincible in the mundane world, even emperors would show respect and courtesy.
"Beyond the entry stage lies the 'Qi Transformation Realm.' As implied by its name, Qi Transformation Realm involves refining essence into qi, and extracting the essence of internal energy. The refined True Qi is divided into Postnatal True Qi and Innate True Qi. Hence, the Qi Transformation Realm is split into the Postnatal and Innate stages."
Elder Mao gave a brief overview.
Without doubt, he was a master at the Qi Transformation Innate level.
"Then, above the Qi Transformation Realm..."
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