NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Guidance
After Zhou Buping left, Li Qian began to prepare lunch.
The meal he made was very simple, just congee... but the congee contained a variety of ingredients, various medicinal herbs used in medicinal diets... and Exotic Beast Meat Jerky.
In the end, a large pot of thick medicinal congee with meat was ready.
As for the taste, it's hard to say.
Anyway, he ate it at least once a day, and after eating it often, he got used to it.
The main thing was that it was nutritionally rich and could provide the body with the nutrients and energy needed for cultivation.
A full large pot was all consumed by Li Qian.
Not long after finishing his meal, Li Qian heard a series of footsteps outside.
"Brother Qian."
Following that, the door was pushed open, and Chen Yong, with a simple and honest face, walked in.
However, there was a large bruise on his face.
"What happened to your face?"
Li Qian asked in surprise.
"I was sparring with someone and got hit by a punch by accident."
Chen Yong scratched his head and said, "Brother Qian, I tried to use a sword-blocking move, but I was hit by the opponent's hooking sword technique, and couldn't avoid it. The opponent's Sword Stabbing Fist wasn't much better than mine..."
He began to demonstrate in the room.
Li Qian spotted the problem at a glance, "Your issue seems to be that the Inner Strength got stuck and didn't flow smoothly between the Zhongfu and Tianzong acupoints, which reduced the speed of your punch, slowing it down just a bit. The opponent's hooking sword technique just happened to exploit your weakness. I guess it's related to the extended period of time you previously spent on resistance training with horizontal logs, affecting these two acupoints."
Half a year ago, Li Qian had casually given Chen Yong guidance on his fist technique.
Since then, Chen Yong often came up the mountain to seek advice.
Chen Yong's expertise in the Sword Stabbing Fist was just that, expertise; he hadn't even reached a minor level of mastery, otherwise, he wouldn't have such a weak point.
Li Qian's Perfect Level Sword Stabbing Fist was more than enough to give guidance to Chen Yong.
"It does feel a little like that. So, how do I fix it?"
Chen Yong said, frowning.
"It's easy to fix. Over at the Chores Hall, isn't there a specialized masseur? Go find one with good technique and get a full-body massage, especially focusing on these two acupoints."
Li Qian said.
"But the price over there is too high, one session... would cost half a year of my salary."
Chen Yong shook his head like a rattle drum.
His salary was all sent back home to help out.
After all, his family was very poor. Where would he get the money?
Li Qian smiled, walked over, and had Chen Yong assume a position from the Sword Stabbing Fist, then pressed on several of Chen Yong's acupoints. With the circulation of Inner Qi, it passed through Zhongfu and entered Tianzong, massaging back and forth.
Hiss!
Chen Yong grimaced in pain, unable to move as if he had lost control of his body.
A while later, Li Qian released Chen Yong.
Chen Yong sat down on the ground.
But when he moved his arms, he found that the previously painful spots were now warm and very comfortable.
"I've made some adjustments for you. However... you need to rest for a few days now and not practice your fist technique."
Li Qian said.
"Brother Qian... did you just use Inner Qi?"
Chen Yong looked incredulous.
Only Inner Qi... could be transmitted into his body.
Inner Strength couldn't accomplish that.
"Is it that strange?"
Li Qian said indifferently.
"Brother Qian, you've actually become a martial artist of the Innate Realm."
Chen Yong's voice trembled slightly.
Although among the servant disciples, it was not uncommon to become martial artists of the Innate Realm, they were typically older.
Disciples like him would probably need several more years to unlock the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, and it was even possible... that he might never open the governor and conception vessels.
Li Qian had become a martial artist of the Innate Realm in just over four years. The speed was astonishing.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind—perhaps Brother Qian had already become an Inner Sect Disciple?
For someone who became an Innate Realm martial artist in just over four years, it should be a breeze to pass the Inner Sect re-examination.
Li Qian, seeing Chen Yong's reaction, sighed inwardly. After knowing about his advancement to the Innate Realm, it was unlikely that their relationship would remain as carefree as before.
Sure enough, Chen Yong became much more reserved afterwards.
After all, Li Qian was a martial artist of the Innate Realm, with a very high possibility of becoming an Inner Sect Disciple. It instantly put a distance between him and a servant disciple like Chen Yong, making it seem unattainable.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed.
The day of the True Inheritor selection was drawing ever closer.
The topic of the True Inheritor selection within the Divine Sword Sect became more and more prevalent.
But none of this concerned Li Qian.
He lived on the mountain, seldom in contact with the outside world.
Dong!
The clear ring of the bell broke the silence of the Divine Sword Sect.
Before dawn, amidst the lingering sound of the bell, Li Qian practiced the Heartless Sword Technique. As he waved his long sword, it seemed as though a sword dragon meandered around his body, invisible Sword Intent pervasive in the air, causing a continual hum like the singing of swords.
After one round of swordsmanship practice, Li Qian felt thoroughly refreshed, gaining a deeper understanding of the Heartless Sword Intent.
Hoo!
Li Qian exhaled deeply and summoned the system panel with a thought.
Host: Li Qian.
Cultivation: Acquired (Ninth Layer 99/100).
Sacrificial Artifact: Chen Bell (Artifice 451/10000).
Martial Skills: Sword Stabbing Fist (Perfect), Heartless Sword Technique (Perfect).
Martial Intent: Heartless Sword Intent (Formless 31/100)
Secret Skill: Ten Thousand Transformation Sword Qi.
....
His cultivation had reached the ninth layer of the Acquired level, close to perfection.
Now when he practiced the sword, it was solely for the comprehension of Sword Intent, thus he no longer cultivated his Inner Strength.
In this way, his Cultivation Realm would not break through to the Innate Realm.
"Provided I can comprehend the Leakless Vajra Skill of the Heartless Sword Technique in the Sword Grinding Cave this time, I may have the chance to reach Perfect Innate."
Li Qian pondered silently in his heart.
At dawn.
Li Qian descended the mountain.
He first arrived at Yanmen Valley.
"Let's go."
Zhou Buping spoke and walked towards one of the exits.
That was one of the entrances into the Inner Sect.
...
The Inner Sect, in the plaza outside the Divine Sword Hall.
A large number of Official Disciples from the Inner Sect gathered.
This was the True Inheritor selection, after all.
Even though ninety-nine percent of Official Disciples were not even qualified to participate, this was undoubtedly one of the most important selections within the Divine Sword Sect.
Becoming a True Inheritor was tantamount to stepping onto the threshold of the upper echelons of the Divine Sword Sect.
The Peak Masters of the seven main peaks, the Five Directions Sword Envoys, and even the Divine Sword Sect Master must all have been True Inheritors.
The highest position attainable to an Official Disciple was that of an elder with actual power.
Conversations were rife among the crowd.
"Who do you think will snatch the True Inheritor slot this time?"
"I think it's going to be Senior Brother Chang from Dishui Peak, I heard he's comprehended Sword Intent without even entering the Innate Realm."
"Senior Sister Bai from Lingxu Peak has also comprehended Sword Intent, even earlier than Senior Brother Chang."
"I think Senior Brother Nangong from Guiyi Peak also stands a good chance."
"Senior Brother Nangong's Sword Intent is too new compared to Senior Brother Chang and Senior Sister Bai, there's still a gap."
"Maybe there's a dark horse hidden among the others."
"That's too unlikely, the final contenders for the True Inheritor slot are just those few people."
...
At the front of the Divine Sword Hall, the Divine Sword Sect Master, the Lords of the seven peaks, and many elders had already arrived.
Additionally, more than a dozen Inner Sect Disciples were present, all of whom had the qualifications to participate in this True Inheritor selection.
The requirements for the True Inheritor selection were exceptionally stringent.
One must be under twenty-five years of age.
They must have at least comprehended a Secret Skill.
And they cannot be an Innate Martial Artist.
To meet these requirements, within the Inner Sect Disciples, it was practically selecting one out of a hundred.
Even so, the fact that there were still so many qualified to participate in the True Inheritor selection showed the profound depth and strength of the Divine Sword Sect.
.....