Only the candle in the passageway of the Sky Prison remained lit.
Xu Xing had hidden himself in the shadowy corner of his cell, beginning to try cultivating the Stony Heart Method.
"Sit with eyes closed and mind focused, hold still and contemplate within..."
"Click your teeth thirty-six times, listen twenty-four times..."
He sat patiently, attempting to sense the Qi Sensation as explained in the technique.
As Chang Ji had explained, the world’s Martial Dao was divided into two cultivation methods: Bodybuilding and Internal Cultivation.
The former aimed to temper the body, strengthen organs, polish the marrow, and cultivate dynamic techniques. The latter focused primarily on internal energy cultivation.
There was no superiority or inferiority between the two methods of Martial Dao cultivation. However, internal energy cultivation methods were rarely passed down in the world. External training warriors who cultivated Bodybuilding, on the other hand, often relied on their vigorous spirit, becoming fond of fighting fiercely. This led them to excessively consume their body’s three treasures—essence, Qi, and spirit—gradually widening the gap between them and Internal Cultivation practitioners.
"Although the Internal Cultivation realm is divided into several major realms—Qi Sensing, Body Cultivation, Storing Truth, Innate, and Grandmaster—once one successfully senses the mysterious Qi Sensation, one can directly enter the Body Cultivation realm..."
Body Cultivation, refining essence and consolidating the foundation... It can supplement the human body’s vitality... This is why Chang Ji hasn’t died in three years; the food he eats allows him to refine at least nine-tenths of its essence and Qi. In contrast, even if I gorge on meat and fish, the essence and Qi I refine is at most three-tenths.
Xu Xing’s mind gradually emptied.
But after about four to six hours, both of his legs had become numb from sitting.
He still hadn’t managed to generate any Qi Sensation within his body.
He opened his eyes and sighed.
Obtaining superhuman power is indeed not easy. Practising martial arts is too hard.
Xu Xing massaged his sore legs and stopped meditating.
"Mr. Xu," Chang Ji came over and whispered, seeing that Wu, the book handler on night watch, had fallen asleep and started to snore. "The Qi Sensation isn’t easy to manifest. For ordinary people to start practising martial arts, it would take at least half a month to generate Qi Sensation. Furthermore, this is with the guidance of a renowned master. You are not young anymore and, based on my observation, your aptitude is merely average; you’re no genius."
He continued, "I won’t beat about the bush with you. I returned your favor of providing meals by transmitting the Stony Heart Method to you, but providing further guidance will come with a price... I am confident that I can help you generate Qi Sensation within seven days."
Chang Ji smiled, his words brimming with confidence.
The Stony Heart Method was just bait to hook Xu Xing. Knowing that the Stony Heart Method could prolong his life and supplement his deficiencies, how could Xu Xing, who desperately wanted to survive, give up this last straw!
"General Chang," Xu Xing said, slightly taken aback before his face turned serious. "Although I, this humble official, have been wrongly accused, my loyalty is as clear as the sun and moon."
As he expected, Chang Ji didn’t have any good intentions when he gave him the Stony Heart Method. If he truly had no other choice, being at someone else’s mercy wouldn’t be out of the question. But he already had a plan. He would try his plan first. If... it didn’t work out, it wouldn’t be too late to form an alliance with Chang Ji then.
Thinking of this, Xu Xing gave a chicken leg he hadn’t finished to Chang Ji and said gently, "General Chang, both lightning and dew are blessings from Heaven. Your Majesty may be deceived by treacherous ministers, but as the True Dragon Emperor, He will one day surely discern right from wrong and restore our innocence..."
"Innocence?" Chang Ji rolled his eyes at Xu Xing. He almost blurted out, "Like hell I believe you!"
However, after receiving the chicken leg, he did not eat it immediately. Instead, he knelt on the ground, loudly proclaimed "His Majesty is wise!" three times, and kowtowed thrice before picking up the chicken leg and munching on it.
"His Majesty is wise," Xu Xing echoed, clasping his hands in a salute towards the Imperial City.
"Two adults," Wu, the book handler, who had been asleep on the desk, had woken up at some point. Seeing Chang Ji and Xu Xing showing loyalty to Emperor Chongming, he couldn’t help but give a bitter smile. He walked over to separate the two and said, "It’s getting late. You should go to bed early."
「After falling asleep.」
Xu Xing once again descended into the Instance World. He arrived in Jingyang County, at a farmhouse in the suburbs.
After reading the Widespread News at the Academy, Xu Xing learned that Master Ma and the others’ assassination attempt on Governor Fang Yun had failed. So, he brought the handwritten copy of the Rock Heart Technique and came to this temporary station of the Xiaoyi Hall.
The Widespread News was a newspaper founded by Censor Song Bolu in the 22nd year of Guangxu. Censor Song and Director Liu from Weijing Academy were close friends. Therefore, within Weijing Academy, many students owed favors to Censor Song and subscribed to the Widespread News. Censor Song also occasionally came to Weijing Academy to lecture. Yesterday’s Widespread News had published the news about the rebels’ assassination attempt on Governor Fang Yun.
「Nearly a month had passed.」
Xu Xing’s demeanor had significantly changed. He now resembled more of a scholar who had read numerous books.
As soon as he entered, two Brothers in the courtyard crossed their knives at his neck.
"I am Xu Xing, Xing Wazi..." Xu Xing hurriedly took out his "meeting ticket."
The meeting ticket, also known as a "cloth ticket," was an internal document of the Elder Brother Association, printed on silk. It did not have the words "Elder Brother" written on it but had special patterns and identification methods.
"Xing Wazi?" one of the men guarding the gate exclaimed, looking Xu Xing up and down. "You? How did you... how did you become a real scholar?"
The two men scrutinized Xu Xing, clicking their tongues in wonder.
"A man can change greatly in just three days," Xu Xing said, intentionally putting on a proud demeanor and boasting to the two men. "My ranking in the Academy’s examination this time wasn’t bad, around 120th. Don’t underestimate this ranking; you should know that the Academy has eighty-three talented scholars..."
Etiquette does not extend down to commoners, and punishment does not extend up to gentry. The very foundation of etiquette is to differentiate the noble from the common. Therefore, if he were to truly talk about etiquette and put on the airs of a scholar in front of these two men, he would only isolate himself from the Elder Brother Association... On the contrary, this little boast would actually make it easier for him to blend in with the Brothers.
"Haha..." one of the Brothers laughed. "You kid, perhaps you’ll become a talented scholar or even a Juren in the future. Lord Ma is inside recovering from his injuries. You can go in."
When the Brothers heard Xu Xing speak, they immediately felt he was easy to get along with and not much different from before. However, they also took to heart the "achievement" he had just mentioned. While admiring Xu Xing, they also felt a greater sense of closeness to him.
"I bought some frost sugar and snacks," Xu Xing said, taking out an oil paper package of frost sugar from his robes and handing it to the two Brothers. "It’s for Er Lang and Shuan Gou..."
Giving gifts to the Brothers wasn’t as effective as giving gifts to their children.
"It’s rare that you still remember them," one of the Brothers said, his gaze towards Xu Xing growing warmer. The two Brothers now looked at him as if he were one of their own sons or nephews.
After the pleasantries concluded, Xu Xing walked toward the bedroom beside the main hall.
As soon as he entered the room, he smelled a strong scent of medicinal soup.
Master Ma was half-lying on the kang, his right shoulder wrapped in layers of bandages. Used, bloodstained bandages lay at the edge of the kang. The dried blood was a shocking sight.
"No matter how high one’s martial arts skills are, they can’t beat a bullet," Master Ma said upon seeing Xu Xing, explaining the cause of his injury. "I was getting close to that Mongolian Tartar, but unfortunately—his foreign gun team was too accurate."