Chapter 0018: Martial Arts, Martial Deity, Cultivation, Condensing Qi

Zhang Xiao took Big Bucktooth with him in a taxi to the Chen family ancestral home in Wolong Lane.

Upon arrival, the Chen siblings immediately noticed the injuries Zhang Xiao bore, and the unremarkable man trailing behind him. They instantly sensed trouble.

Before they could voice their questions, Big Bucktooth eyed the pure-looking Chen Yue and interjected first, "Well, now, this little sister is quite a beauty, much fresher and lovelier than that girl from the Jiang family."

Unfazed, Zhang Xiao gave Bucktooth a swift kick and introduced, "This is a friend of mine. You can just call him Bucktooth."

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Chen Wei welcomed them inside and sent his sister to prepare a meal before turning to Zhang Xiao for an explanation.

Zhang Xiao, of course, did not reveal everything. He merely admitted to some recent trouble and asked Chen Wei if he could stay at the house for a while.

Chen Wei raised no objections.

While Chen Yue was busy in the kitchen, Chen Wei seized the opportunity to consult Zhang Xiao about martial arts. Bucktooth, with nothing better to do, tried to sneak away to “help” Chen Yue cook, only to be stopped by a stern glance from Zhang Xiao.

Though older than Zhang Xiao, Chen Wei knew his own martial prowess fell far short. As they discussed, Zhang Xiao spoke with authority, pointing out numerous flaws in Chen Wei’s techniques, which Chen Wei treasured like precious gems. His respect for Zhang Xiao deepened.

Soon, Chen Yue finished cooking, and the four of them sat down together for dinner.

Zhang Xiao chatted idly, then looked at Chen Wei. "What are your plans here in Tianhe? Will you keep using your skills as a hired hand?"

At this, Chen Yue clearly grew anxious, glancing worriedly at her brother, not wishing for him to continue down that path.

Chen Wei smiled sheepishly. "No need to mock me. I’ve made up my mind. From now on, I won’t do that kind of work anymore. I won’t disappoint my sister, nor bring shame to my grandfather’s name. I’m a grown man with strength—I can always find something honest to do. At the very least, I’ll make sure my sister doesn’t have to live so hard."

He looked at Chen Yue, guilt evident on his face.

Then, turning to Zhang Xiao, he said, "But I do have a rather presumptuous request, if you’re willing to hear it."

Zhang Xiao grinned. "What is it? Want to promise your sister to me?"

Hearing this, Chen Yue blushed, suddenly shy.

Chen Wei laughed off the jest. "If you’re willing, I wouldn’t object. But what I truly wish is to take you as my teacher and study martial arts under you."

Zhang Xiao popped a piece of braised tofu into his mouth, cocked his head, and replied, "Take me as your master? Let’s be honest, I’m only a Fifth Realm martial artist. You were already at the Fourth Realm. Wouldn’t it feel odd to call me ‘Master’?"

Chen Wei put down his chopsticks, solemn. "I can see you’re no ordinary man. It would be my great fortune to learn from you. I have no qualms about it. Besides, you’ve reached the Fifth Realm at such a young age. In time, reaching the Sixth, the peak of martial arts, is only a matter of time. How many Sixth Realm masters do you think there are in the world?"

Big Bucktooth, listening on, choked on his food and pointed at Zhang Xiao in exaggerated shock. "You call him young—"

Before he could finish, Zhang Xiao rapped him on the head with his chopsticks, silencing him.

Zhang Xiao stared at Chen Wei for a long moment before finally breaking into a smile. "For the sake of your grandfather, Chen Xiaoguang, I’ll teach you."

Chen Wei was overjoyed and made to kneel in the formal ceremony, but Zhang Xiao stopped him. "I said I’d teach you, not take you as a disciple."

Chen Wei looked puzzled, but Zhang Xiao paid him no mind and continued, "Since I’m to teach you, let me tell you: the Six Realms are not the true pinnacle of martial arts."

Chen Wei was stupefied. All his life he’d believed the Sixth Realm was the highest attainable level. This revelation left him stunned.

Zhang Xiao smiled at his shock. "It’s not your fault. Martial traditions stretch back ages; over the years, much knowledge has been lost."

Chen Wei stammered, "Then…how many realms are there in total?"

Zhang Xiao raised a hand, gesturing eight with his fingers. "Eight Realms. The Martial God Realm. At that level, you truly become a legend, an army unto yourself."

Chen Wei could hardly believe it. "The Eighth Realm? The Martial God Realm? Has anyone ever reached it?"

Seeming satisfied, Zhang Xiao set down his chopsticks and stretched lazily. "Whether there’s a Martial God today, I can’t say. But in history, there truly were such figures—Xiang Yu, the Hegemon of Western Chu; Lü Bu, the Marquis of Wen; and Li Cunxiao, one of the Thirteen Champions of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. All famed generals, unmatched on the battlefield. Though their ends were tragic, they were legends. Even Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were only at the peak of the Seventh Realm, half a step into Martial Godhood."

Chen Wei listened, astonished. That ancient generals were so powerful now made perfect sense. After all, history recorded their exploits: slaying enemy commanders amidst thousands as if picking something from their own pockets. How could such feats be accomplished without extraordinary power?

The two chatted on for a while. Though Zhang Xiao didn’t formally accept Chen Wei as a disciple, his willingness to teach was cause enough for Chen Wei’s joy.

No matter what Zhang Xiao said, Chen Wei already regarded him as a mentor in his heart.

After dinner, Chen Wei arranged for Zhang Xiao and Bucktooth to sleep in his late grandfather’s room.

Over the next several days, Zhang Xiao remained at the Chen house to recuperate, instructing Chen Wei in martial practice.

With Zhang Xiao’s guidance, Chen Wei suddenly saw the light. Having already recovered his Second Realm cultivation thanks to Zhang Xiao’s Vitality Pill, he now felt the barrier to the Third Realm yielding—breakthrough seemed imminent.

As for Big Bucktooth, the rat spirit, he was out at dawn and back late, carrying his treasure pouch, wandering who knows where.

Zhang Xiao paid him no mind. Bucktooth, being a treasure-seeking rat, was greedy by nature and attuned to rare herbs and treasures. No doubt he was out hunting for valuables.

But in the small city of Tianhe, how many treasures could there really be? After a few days, Bucktooth had little luck and spent more time trailing after Chen Yue, pestering her to let him read her palm and predict her fortune.

A week later, Zhang Xiao’s injuries had mostly healed. Though the wound on his arm wasn’t fully closed, he could move freely. This was thanks to his knowledge of medicine and alchemy; on his second day at the Chen house, he’d had Chen Wei buy him an array of medicinal herbs, with which he concocted a potent salve. Thus his recovery was swift.

With his body mostly restored, Zhang Xiao began to plan his next step: refining the Goddess’s Tear.

He’d come to Tianhe primarily to acquire the Goddess’s Tear. Now that it was in his hands, he could finally resolve the turmoil of the Five Qi within him.

But refining the Goddess’s Tear required time and privacy. Though he’d grown close to the Chen siblings, Zhang Xiao preferred to keep such matters secret.

That day, having obtained the Goddess’s Tear from Bucktooth, Zhang Xiao left the Chen ancestral home in search of a quiet place to work.

He wandered the city, but as expected, it was difficult to find a secluded spot. After hours of wandering, he’d already left the Tiexi District and still found no suitable place.

Just as he was debating heading for the countryside, he found himself in front of a park.

It was late in the afternoon. Few people visited parks at this hour, and this one was especially large and lush—a peaceful place. Hoping for luck, Zhang Xiao entered.

Sure enough, the park was nearly deserted. In a secluded grove, he decided to begin the refinement.

He sat cross-legged, producing the Goddess’s Tear—a gem no larger than a fingernail. To the ordinary eye, it was merely a blue sapphire, but to a cultivator, it brimmed with potent spiritual energy.

Legend held that after Nüwa repaired the heavens with the Five-Colored Stone, the stone shattered, scattering fragments across the world. The Goddess’s Tear was said to be one such fragment.

Whether or not this was true, Zhang Xiao couldn’t say, but he knew the Tear’s chilling yin energy could help him suppress the raging Five Qi within.

He pressed the Goddess’s Tear between his palms, closed his eyes, and began the refinement with focused intent.

Like a starving infant, he hungrily absorbed the Tear’s pure, icy energy. As the spiritual power entered his body, it collided and grappled with the searing, turbulent Qi within him.

At that moment, Zhang Xiao was like a boiling cauldron suddenly doused with cold water—an intense chemical reaction erupted within. His face alternated between flushed and pale, teeth chattering, white steam rising from his head, sweat pouring down his brow.

He was in agony, but gritted his teeth and endured. This was a critical step in his cultivation.

Bit by bit, time slipped away. After three hours, Zhang Xiao finally opened his eyes. In that instant, his gaze seemed to hold the sun, moon, and stars. He exhaled, and a visible white mist drifted from his lips, as though he were an immortal who drank the wind and dew.

Joy filled his eyes—it was done.

He glanced down at the Goddess’s Tear in his hand. Its once brilliant, oceanic blue had faded; it was now nothing but an ordinary colorless crystal.

The spiritual energy within had been completely absorbed.

Zhang Xiao stood, pocketed the Tear, stretched his limbs, then, with a thought, looked at a fallen leaf on the ground. He extended his palm, and the leaf slowly rose into the air.

"Qi Condensation Realm—how I’ve missed this feeling," Zhang Xiao murmured, twirling the leaf between his fingers with a soft chuckle.