When Huo Yuanzhen saw the man in the brocade robe, the man saw him as well.
The man's eyes were sharp, and when he noticed Huo Yuanzhen watching him, the corner of his mouth lifted into a slight smile.
Huo Yuanzhen was secretly shocked.
This man is definitely a master!
In the martial world, there is a clear classification of strength, typically divided into post-heaven masters and pre-heaven masters.
Post-heaven is further divided into early stage, mid stage, late stage, and complete stage.
This division does not refer to how well someone has mastered a particular martial art, but rather to their inner strength.
For martial artists, internal energy is crucial. Without it, all martial techniques are just empty forms with no real power.
The early stage of post-heaven refers to someone who has cultivated a certain internal energy and is already able to feel the flow of Qi, thus entering the post-heaven realm.
The mid stage refers to someone who has made significant progress in cultivating internal energy, to the point where the energy can circulate through the meridians and flow throughout the body. At this stage, any part of the body used to attack, supported by internal energy, can cause immense harm.
The late stage refers to someone who has learned to release their internal energy externally, making it clearly perceptible. At this level, internal energy has many subtle uses—such as infusing the eyes to make opponents afraid to make eye contact, causing a wave of air by swinging one's sleeve, or infusing energy into a sword to create sword Qi when wielded.
The complete stage refers to someone whose internal energy cultivation has reached a small completion stage. At this point, internal energy can be retracted and contained, achieving a return to simplicity.
The main difference between post-heaven masters and pre-heaven masters is that the latter have already opened the Ren and Du meridians, allowing their internal energy to flow endlessly. This not only enhances their combat power but also makes their internal energy more durable, creating a fundamental distinction from post-heaven cultivation.
The mid stage of pre-heaven refers to those who have achieved the embryonic breathing realm. Unlike the early stage, where one must rely on external factors to form a circulation of internal energy, in the mid stage, the person can rely entirely on themselves. They can generate internal energy even in harsh environments, as long as there is no continuous, large-scale consumption, their internal energy will not run dry.
The late stage of pre-heaven refers to someone whose internal energy has broken through the realm of life and death, reaching the great completion of internal energy. At this stage, one's lifespan is greatly extended. While anyone who practices internal energy can live longer, only those who have passed the life-and-death threshold truly achieve long life. It is said that some martial elders in the world have lived for two or three hundred years.
The great completion of pre-heaven is the true peak of martial arts. A century ago, the leader of the Demon Sect, Bai Fa Xue Mo Ding Bu Er, achieved this state, single-handedly defeating the top ten heroes of the righteous path. At that time, the Demon Sect was at its peak, and the righteous path was in great danger. However, Ding Bu Er mysteriously disappeared from the martial world. While people knew of this realm, no one has reached it again since.
Those who have not cultivated internal energy are, at best, just small fry in the martial world, usually only skilled in external techniques and cannot become true experts.
However, it's not that someone with higher internal energy will definitely defeat someone with less. The precision of one's techniques also plays a large role. But generally speaking, as cultivating internal energy is a long process, those with higher internal energy usually also have stronger combat skills.
For someone like Huo Yuanzhen, who has only recently developed a sense of Qi, he could be considered a post-heaven early stage cultivator.
But when it comes to actual combat power, he might still be weaker than someone like Yi Jing or Huang Feihong, who have not cultivated internal energy. However, Huo Yuanzhen's situation is an exception and doesn't necessarily reflect the norm.
But the man in the brocade robe standing in front of Huo Yuanzhen right now had eyes like lightning, carrying an almost suffocating aura. Huo Yuanzhen could tell that this man was at least a post-heaven late stage master.
A post-heaven late stage cultivator is indeed considered a master. Pre-heaven experts are not something one can easily encounter. Even the number one expert of Mount Song, Master Ao Miao of the Zhongyue Sect, has only recently reached the post-heaven late stage.
At times, Huo Yuanzhen wonders if he were to receive a manual on internal energy cultivation, could he quickly reach the pinnacle? Could he achieve the pre-heaven late stage or even the great completion of pre-heaven?
While learning external techniques may allow one to immediately master them, Huo Yuanzhen feels that internal energy cultivation may not be so simple. But since it's a manual provided by the system, could there be something different about it? He's been concerned about this.
The man in brocade looked at him. Although his eyes were sharp, Huo Yuanzhen could see kindness in them.
No way!
He had only been in this world for just over a month. How could a stranger show him goodwill?
Could he also be a Buddhist follower?
Could he want to become a monk as well?
Just as Huo Yuanzhen was deep in thought, the man in brocade turned and walked away, escorted by a group of people in green robes, heading toward the small temple.
Huo Yuanzhen's heart skipped a beat. He understood the man's intention—it seemed the man wanted to talk with him in private.
Glancing around at the noisy crowd, Huo Yuanzhen told Yi Kong and the others to stay put and made his way back into the temple.
Approaching the temple door, two guards in green stood on either side, maintaining a neutral expression.
Huo Yuanzhen didn't mind them and walked directly to his room.
The man in brocade was sitting alone on a chair. When Huo Yuanzhen entered, he stood and smiled. "I came uninvited, disturbing the abbot."
Huo Yuanzhen bowed deeply and said, "A distinguished guest arrives, and I failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive my rudeness."
The man in brocade blinked. "Distinguished guest? I am just an ordinary merchant, with some wealth, but not worthy of being called a distinguished guest."
Huo Yuanzhen smiled. "Gold, silver, and power are all things the mundane world values. To me, they are the same. Since you have come to Shaolin, it seems you have business with me. If you hide your identity, does it not lack a certain openness?"
The man in brocade's eyes showed a hint of surprise. After thinking for a moment, he said, "What did the abbot notice?"
Huo Yuanzhen's eyes scanned the man. "You possess an aura of authority. If I'm not mistaken, you must come from an official background."
"Oh!"
The man in brocade was even more surprised, sitting up straight. "Please, continue."
Huo Yuanzhen continued, "Shaolin is located in Dengfeng County, a remote place. I don't know anyone in official circles. But from your accent, it seems you are not from Dengfeng. You must be from outside the area. Am I right?"
The man in brocade nodded. "Indeed, I am not from Dengfeng."
Huo Yuanzhen pressed on. "If you are not from Dengfeng, you must not be from Zhengzhou either, but I believe you are from Henan."
"You are correct. My accent is indeed from Henan. But I'm curious, how could you tell I am from an official background?"
"Officials differ from common folk. It's not difficult to discern, even for someone like me."
"Well then, may I ask, which government office do you hail from?"
The man in brocade's eyes glinted with a trace of cunning.
Huo Yuanzhen inwardly smiled but kept his expression neutral. After a brief pause, he said, "If I were to guess, I would say you come from the military."
At this moment, the man in brocade was truly shocked. A murderous intent flickered in his eyes as he stared intently at Huo Yuanzhen.
But Huo Yuanzhen was unperturbed. He calmly met the man's gaze, his face serene and full of compassion.
The man in brocade continued staring at him for a long while before finally retracting his gaze. He sighed, "Had I not confirmed that I had never seen you before, I might have suspected you of being someone from the government."
Huo Yuanzhen smiled without speaking, his gaze lowered.
After a while, the man in brocade finally calmed down. He looked at Huo Yuanzhen and said, "Since you've figured out my identity, I won't hide it any longer. I do indeed come from the military, but my specific identity cannot be revealed for now. I've come to you because I have a request."
Huo Yuanzhen didn't respond immediately. The man in brocade continued, "I have a friend whose father has been a devout Buddhist his entire life. He believes in the existence of Buddha to the point of obsession. His wish is to own something with the essence of Buddha. However, despite traveling all over the country and spending large sums of money, he has never been able to find anything with true Buddhist essence. He even visited the Law King Temple here but found nothing."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "Coincidentally, my friend is very filial and has always wanted to fulfill his father's wish. When he heard that your temple had encountered a Buddhist miracle, he asked me to come and check if it's true."
"Have you seen it?" Huo Yuanzhen asked.
"I have. That is why I am here with this request. I hope to obtain something with the essence of Buddha to fulfill this old man's wish."
The man in brocade stood up and bowed to Huo Yuanzhen.
Huo Yuanzhen quickly joined his palms together and returned the bow, then invited the man to sit again. "This matter is not difficult. However, if you truly believe in the Buddha, you should come to the temple yourself to show your sincerity."
Hearing this, the man in brocade appeared somewhat reluctant. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I have a request. I hope you can let me see something with the essence of Buddha first. That way, I will be sure and can invite the old man here."
"This is not difficult."
Huo Yuanzhen took out the wooden fish he had obtained.
"Sit down," Huo Yuanzhen instructed. "You are restless, so listen to the sound of the wooden fish and calm your mind."
With that, Huo Yuanzhen gently struck the wooden fish.
The man in brocade, who had been somewhat agitated, gradually calmed down as he listened to the sound. Before he knew it, his eyes closed.
Huo Yuanzhen glanced at him, noticing the edge of a pair of boots under his brocade robe.
Official boots—military boots.