Chapter 6: First Glimpse of the Gates

Chapter 6: A Glimpse into the Threshold

Chen Yi stole a quick glance at the illusory panel before pulling his attention back, focusing entirely on practicing the Great Spear Stance under Wang Lixing’s guidance.

With every breath he drew and released, he could feel faint wisps of heat surging from his limbs and bones, falling upon his flesh and skeletal frame like the striking of a smith's hammer.

Only a solitary trace of warmth lingered within his meridians, completely imperceptible unless one observed with the utmost scrutiny.

Standing to the side, Wang Lixing kept his eyes fixed upon Chen Yi, letting out a quiet sigh of relief only when he saw beads of sweat rise on the youth's brow and his body begin to tremble slightly.

It was a success.

In truth, aside from the fundamentals of martial arts and the details of the Great Spear Stance he had just explained, there were a few things he had left unsaid.

First, the martial path was not a road open to everyone.

Even with the simplest of stances, if a person's physical aptitude was too poor or if they possessed certain anomalous constitutions, cultivation would remain utterly impossible.

Fortunately, Chen Yi’s current reaction aligned perfectly with the signs of mastering the Great Spear Stance.

Second, the older a person was when they began, the lesser their ultimate achievements in martial arts would be.

Someone like Chen Yi, who had only commenced his training at twenty years of age, would find the eighth-rank realm to be his absolute limit, even if he labored diligently without a single day's rest.

"From now on, wake him at the half-hour past the Hour of the Tiger every morning to practice the stance."

By then, Xiao Xuanshuo could also see that Chen Yi’s stance had found its rhythm; after leaving his instructions, he turned his wheelchair and departed from the Spring Lotus Garden.

To him, coming here to teach Chen Yi the Great Spear Stance was merely an incidental matter; his primary purpose was simply to observe how this young man conducted himself.

"Yes, Second Master."

Wang Lixing saw him off respectfully, then turned his attention back to Chen Yi.

It was not until two hours had passed that Wang Lixing finally spoke: "That will do, Young Master-in-law. We shall stop here for today."

Upon hearing those words, Chen Yi’s breathing broke, and his body slipped from that state of churning, fervent heat; a sudden wave of soreness, numbness, and exhaustion washed over him, as though he had been utterly hollowed out, causing his legs to buckle.

Seeing this, Wang Lixing stepped forward in a flash, catching him by the back of his collar to straighten him up before explaining:

"Young Master-in-law, practicing the Great Spear Stance consumes an immense amount of stamina. You must have Miss Xiaodie prepare more meat for you in the future, lest you exhaust your body and deplete your vital essence."

Chen Yi stood swaying on his feet, lifting a weary hand and nodding with what little strength he had left.

The toll was indeed immense, feeling as though he had spent the entire night indulging in excessive self-pleasure fifty or sixty times over, leaving him without a shred of strength.

A smile broke across Wang Lixing’s dark complexion as he said:

"The Great Spear Stance is a secret martial technique passed down through the Xiao family. Its rank is exceedingly high, and its efficacy is not a whit inferior to the arts of the great sects and prominent clans in the martial world."

"Therefore, it is only natural that it demands a greater toll during practice."

Chen Yi nodded his head, wanting nothing more than to sit down and rest for a spell, and then devour a massive feast to properly appease the temple of his five viscera.

Knowing how exhausted he was, Wang Lixing did not disturb him further, offering a final reminder before taking his leave:

"Young Master-in-law, you must have heard what the Second Master said just now. From tomorrow onward, at the half-hour past the Hour of the Tiger, I shall come to call you for your stance training."

Four in the morning?

"Fine, fine..."

Chen Yi lacked even the energy to object; whatever the man said, so it would be.

Though his routine had been fairly regular of late, he usually did not rise until the Hour of the Rabbit.

To suddenly move his waking hour forward by two hours—he could not begin to imagine how miserable that would feel.

It would likely be far from pleasant.

Once Wang Lixing had departed, Xiaodie, who had been waiting just outside the western gate of the Spring Lotus Garden, trotted over with light steps, holding several plates of pastries in her hands.

"Y-Young Master-in-law, the Eldest Miss asked me to bring these to you."

Chen Yi could not afford to waste words; he sat down in the pavilion and began to wolf the food down in great mouthfuls.

Only when several pastries had vanished into his stomach and he had washed them down with some water did the overwhelming fatigue in his body ease slightly.

"Xiaodie, go fetch some more food, this little bit isn't enough. Oh, and meat—Brother Wang just said I must eat meat."

"Right, I shall go at once, please wait a moment, Young Master-in-law."

Seeing that he had recovered somewhat, the anxiety on Xiaodie's face dissipated a little; she murmured her assent and ran off toward the rear kitchen.

Sitting for a moment longer, Chen Yi exhaled a long breath, "The aftereffects of this stance are truly formidable." Yet, as his strength returned, he began to perceive the benefits of his cultivation.

The most apparent change was a newfound vigor within his body.

It was not the simple strength of muscle, but rather a sensation when he clenched his fists, where between the rise and fall of his breath, he could faintly feel a thread of vital energy flowing through his form.

"Is this the path of martial arts?"

Chen Yi quietly savored the feeling, marveling at the wonder of it before summoning the panel:

Name: Chen Yi

Cultivation: Mortal Flesh and Blood

Martial Path - Body: Untrained (0/1)

Technique: Great Spear Stance (A Glimpse into the Threshold)

Opportunity: 1

After skimming through it, Chen Yi immediately allocated his Opportunity point into "Martial Path - Body."

Instantly, a deluge of profound and mysterious insights flooded his mind.

Much like when he had assigned points to his calligraphy before, this knowledge did not instantly grant him mastery; rather, it required him to actively practice, comprehending and experiencing it through physical action until it was entirely absorbed.

Chen Yi did not rush to dwell on it, keeping his gaze on the panel: "There is an added entry for 'Cultivation', Mortal Flesh and Blood, hmm..."

It was fitting enough.

For a frail scholar like him, to be deemed a common mortal was accurate indeed.

Then, Chen Yi lowered his gaze to inspect the information that had refreshed today:

[Daily Intelligence - Mysterious Rank, Low Grade: Before the Hour of the Rat, within the Jiaxing Court. The young marquess of the Xiao family, Xiao Wuge, and the Prince Heir, Zhang Heng, will engage in a fierce battle, determined to see who is superior. A small amount of Opportunity can be obtained.]

Jiaxing Court?

Chen Yi froze for a moment, turning his head to look at the long corridor not far behind him.

So close... should I give it a try?

He had waited a long time for an Opportunity to appear this close to him.

With his mind racing, Chen Yi stroked his chin, weighing the feasibility of the endeavor.

The Jiaxing Court was where the Xiao family's Eldest Miss kept her chambers; those armored guards were highly unlikely to venture inside.

Furthermore, the time before the Hour of the Rat was precisely when men grew weary and horses tired.

If his luck held out, he might not even need to leave the Spring Lotus Garden; he could simply peer over the wall to watch the two of them clash.

"It is worth a try!"

Once his mind was made up, Chen Yi relaxed completely.

While Xiao Duo was still away, he began to contemplate the esoteric mysteries of martial arts lingering in his mind.

"Martial arts encompass an immense realm—physical combat, grappling with fists and feet, body techniques and footwork, weapon skills and striking techniques, each of which can be cultivated to the pinnacle of the Way."

"As for pole dexterity, it is merely a breakthrough in cultivation, yet one can still continue to practice and refine methods to strengthen the physical form."

"Thus, cultivation levels merely represent martial arts realms; even within the same realm, there are disparities in force, qi, and physical strength."

Chen Yi, combining his recent hour-long practice of the Great Spear Pole technique, absorbed some of the profound secrets of "Martial Arts—Body," gaining a moment of enlightenment.

"The path ahead is heavy with burden and long in distance. Without additional opportunities or fortune, relying solely on daily 'laziness,' one would not even advance in literary studies, let alone martial arts cultivation."

This realization only strengthened his resolve: he would find a way to sneak out to Jia Xing Yuan tonight.

"Xiao Houge Xiao Wu Ge and the crown prince Zhang Heng?"

Xiao Duo had mentioned Xiao Wu Ge, noting that he had been studying martial arts and classical texts within the marquis's residence.

One wonders how his martial arts cultivation has progressed.

Though even the mistress, Xiao Jing Hong, has reached the fourth level, it's likely this young lord is no exception.

(End of chapter)