The disciple blinked rapidly. "This is no magical weapon, just a simple bamboo slip. Can't you sense the words inscribed through spiritual energy?"
An Jia's cheeks grew warm. Spiritual energy? All he knew of bamboo slips came from legends and plays.
"I'm afraid I don't know how," he admitted. "Could you teach me?"
The disciple winced, rubbing the back of his neck. "Guiding development of divine consciousness is quite rare. I lack the skills to instruct you. But I can share a basic method."
He clasped An Jia's shoulder. "Place your hands upon the slip and concentrate, breathing steady. Still your mind. If calm enough, you may discern the contents." With an encouraging nod, the disciple took his leave.
Alone now, An Jia scrutinized the bare slips. Tricked! Tales described jade slips bearing cryptic patterns, not plain bamboo. And hadn't everyone claimed words would be etched inside? These were blank.
He scoffed. "Calm and feel, really? This isn't Braille. I could use it as a mirror!" He waved a slip in the air. "If there were words, I'd eat—"
A prickle shocked his fingertip, making him yelp. The slip remained smooth as polished stone, impossible to cut or scrape. So what had...?
An Jia settled his nerves and tried again, brushing his fingers slowly across the bamboo. This time, a tingle skittered up his arm.
He took a deep breath and calmed his restless spirit. Curiosity had always churned within him, that insatiable need to know more, do more, be more. But over ten years of toil had taught patience. Now, with this second chance, he embraced stillness.
As An Jia's fingers swept the bamboo, the world faded away. His racing thoughts stilled, mind as tranquil as a forest pool. It was as though his body transformed into a stream, flowing into a ravine carved into the slip.
The grooves began to glow, illuminating each character. First came the title, "Naqi Zhan," followed by principles for the slashing technique. Inhale while drawing back, exhale while cutting down. Back and forth, breath and blade as one.
The first lesson etched itself into his mind as the slip yielded its secrets to his focused consciousness.
An Jia focused intently as the words described the next phase—once adept at the Naqi Zhan, qi orifices would open within his body. Inhaled qi could then enter these channels, flowing through his veins to transform into blood qi. Holding his breath, he would slash while expelling the energy, increasing his speed and power.
The principles seemed straightforward, yet some passages remained obscured to his undeveloped spiritual sense. Only two vague lines were visible at the end, offering no wisdom. Still, leaving any part unread perturbed An Jia. He had to see it all.
Over and over, he directed his consciousness into the grooves, like water filling a streambed. The characters only appeared when flooded with his energy. Realizing he could not read ahead, An Jia concentrated wholly on the final lines. As his focus oscillated between beginning and end, more words shone clear! This churning exercise was strengthening his consciousness.
After an unknown time, the entire passage shone clear before his mind's eye.
The ending was merely shallow and lacking in depth. But after countless cycles from an understanding level of novice, to medium, and finally insight, An Jia had gained a deeper mastery of the Naqi Zhan.
Eagerly, he inspected the second slip, the Mo Yun Jue. As the words lit up, he realized this was no mundane technique—the mysteries contained were profound indeed!
...