Free Web NovelChapter 22: Chapter 20: The Marvelous Uses of the Destiny Chart
Next, Shan Wuju explained to Wei Tu the Cultivation Realms that followed the Qi Sensing Realm for an Inner Cultivation Martial Master.
"After the Qi Sensing Realm are the three Great Realms of True Qi, Innate, and Grandmaster."
"In the True Qi Realm, an Inner Cultivation Martial Master has the strength to contend with an External Martial Master. By imbuing their weapons with True Qi, even a thrown flower or leaf can injure someone."
"However, to reach such a Realm, even a prodigiously talented individual would need thirty to fifty years of meditation. It’s simply impossible otherwise."
"By then, one would already be in their twilight years. Even with that kind of power, it would be useless."
"Fame must be seized while you’re young!"
"As for the Innate Realm..." At this point, a hint of emotion crept into Shan Wuju’s eyes. "The Innate Realm is a state that both External and Inner Cultivation Martial Masters can achieve. External Cultivators refine their marrow to the bone, cultivating a breath of Innate Qi... Your grandmaster... he left for Qingfeng Prefecture all those years ago to break through to this very Realm, and was never heard from again."
"Later, an Old Friend delivered his golden saber to me. Only then did I learn that he had died violently during his Seclusion."
"Since ancient times, the Innate Realm has been difficult to attain. But if one succeeds, according to your grandmaster, they can live to be two hundred years old."
"Two hundred years?" Wei Tu, who stood respectfully to the side, was deeply shaken when he heard this.
He had always believed that Martial Artists were prone to violence and fighting. Few died of old age; most met a violent end.
But he never imagined that after reaching the Innate Realm, a Martial Artist’s lifespan could reach two hundred years, allowing them to live a "second life."
’If an Innate Realm Martial Artist can live this long, what about the Immortal Dao? A long life of eternal youth is probably not just a dream.’
’I have the Late Bloomer Destiny Chart. Perhaps... I can reach the Innate Realm and live for two hundred years...’
Wei Tu subconsciously touched the spot between his eyebrows. His greatest secret was hidden there—the Golden Purple Destiny Chart, "Late Bloomer."
"As for the Grandmaster Realm after the Innate Realm, I never heard your grandmaster mention it. Later, when I discussed Martial Arts with my peers, none of them knew what mysteries this Realm held either."
Shan Wuju sighed.
Although he held the respected status of a Military Examination Master, in the world of Martial Arts, he was like a toddler, babbling and stumbling as he learned to walk.
Life is finite, but knowledge is infinite.
Now, he had reached the age of sixty. His body was gradually deteriorating, and Hidden Injuries were cropping up one after another. Even his sexual activity had decreased from three times every ten days to twice, and then only once.
In his current physical condition, living for another ten or twenty years would be a bonus.
Advancing further in Martial Arts...
That was no longer possible.
...
「Back in his room.」
Wei Tu focused his consciousness between his eyebrows, observing his "Late Bloomer" Destiny Chart.
「Within his Sea of Consciousness.」
The Golden Purple Destiny Chart shone brilliantly, exuding an ancient and distant aura of time itself.
To its side, the progress of his Health Cultivation Technique was recorded.
[Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique (83/100): Nine practices a day, completion in five years.]
’In the last three months, my progress with the Health Cultivation Technique has only increased by 2%. During this time, although I was delayed by learning archery and Equestrian Skill, I still persisted with at least nine practice sessions every single day...’
’It seems my guess was correct. After achieving Great Success in the Health Cultivation Technique, it’s no easy task to reach perfection, transition from External to Inner, and enter the Qi Sensing Realm...’
Wei Tu glanced at the progress of his Health Cultivation Technique and sighed silently.
’But the good news is, in two years at most, the five-year deadline will be reached. At that time, I’ll be able to enter the Qi Sensing Realm.’
At this thought, the frustration in Wei Tu’s heart vanished completely.
With the "Late Bloomer" Destiny Chart on his side, as long as he persevered, he was bound to succeed.
His master, Shan Wuju, had practiced Martial Arts for so many years, yet he had never transitioned from External to Inner and entered the Qi Sensing Realm of Inner Cultivation.
But he would be able to reach the Qi Sensing Realm by practicing the Health Cultivation Technique in just five years. What was there to be dissatisfied about?
’Now that I have the Fist Manual for the Tiger Crane Double Form Fist, I can also test some of my theories about the "Late Bloomer" Destiny Chart...’
’For instance, that warm current.’
Lighting an oil lamp, Wei Tu opened the yellowed book and carefully studied every Pile Skill of the Tiger Crane Double Form Fist.
Compared to the Health Cultivation Technique, the Pile Skills of the Tiger Crane Double Form Fist were far more complex. In addition to forty-five basic Pile Skills, there were another one hundred and four minor Pile Skills divided between the Tiger Form Fist and the Crane Form Fist.
’According to Master, I’ve already achieved Great Success in my Pile Skill, and my foundation in Martial Arts is solid. These Pile Skills may seem complicated, but for me, they aren’t difficult.’
Several hours later, after finishing the Fist Manual, Wei Tu began to practice, clumsily following the diagrams.
Once.
Twice.
On the seventeenth repetition.
Just like with the Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique, the characters and progress for the Tiger Crane Double Form Fist appeared on the Golden Purple Destiny Chart.
[Tiger Crane Double Form Fist (1/100): Seven practices a day, completion in three years.]
’Three years? That’s two years shorter than the five years for the Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique?’
Wei Tu was astonished.
The Tiger Crane Double Form Fist was Shan Wuju’s ultimate trump card, a much stronger martial art than the common Health Cultivation Techniques that were a dime a dozen among Martial Artists.
The complexity of its Pile Skills alone was enough to show how difficult and intricate the Tiger Crane Double Form Fist was.
It was impossible that the time he needed to master the Tiger Crane Double Form Fist would be shorter than the Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique, and by two whole years at that.
’The only explanation is that after achieving Great Success in the Health Cultivation Technique, I established a foundation in Martial Arts. Practicing the Tiger Crane Double Form Fist now is twice as effective, which is why the time to master it is two years shorter than for the Health Cultivation Technique.’
Wei Tu mused.
...
For the next several days, aside from practicing archery and Military Strategy, Wei Tu devoted all his remaining time to practicing the Tiger Crane Double Form Fist.
Hard work pays off.
This time, after just over ten days of effort, Wei Tu once again felt the warm current that had appeared in his body when he practiced the Health Cultivation Technique.
’From this, I can see...’
’This warm current isn’t unique to the Health Cultivation Technique. It originates from my body, or rather, from the Golden Purple Destiny Chart, "Late Bloomer"...’
’While the "Late Bloomer" Destiny Chart won’t let me reach Heaven in a single step, as long as I persevere in practicing a Cultivation Technique, the Golden Purple Destiny Chart will release this warm current to transform my body, making it more suitable for that technique’s Cultivation.’
In an instant, Wei Tu understood the function of his "Late Bloomer" Destiny Chart and its wonderful uses.
’In other words...’
’For me, there’s no such thing as innate aptitude, nor are there any corresponding cultivation thresholds. My aptitude isn’t fixed. As long as I have enough lifespan, the Golden Purple Destiny Chart will transform me into the person most suited to practice any given Cultivation Technique.’
A look of joy appeared on Wei Tu’s face.
In the world of Martial Arts, the reason seventy to eighty percent of Martial Artists practiced External Martial Arts was not because External Martial Arts were superior to Inner Family True Skill.
It was because Inner Family True Skill was too difficult, requiring a Martial Artist to have a certain aptitude to even achieve Qi Sensing and circulate Inner Strength through their meridians.
Even if they got lucky with an Opportunity and succeeded in Qi Sensing, it was still difficult to make further progress.
In comparison, the progress of External Martial Arts was visible and tangible. In the eyes of ordinary people, it was naturally far superior to Inner Family True Skill.
However, Wei Tu was different.
With the blessing of the "Late Bloomer" Destiny Chart, as long as he could obtain an Inner Family True Skill and begin its Cultivation, he would be able to advance continuously.
