The evening wind drifted quietly through the inner courtyard of the Wu Pavilion.
The courtyard itself was peaceful, separated from the noisy mortal streets outside by high stone walls covered in creeping vines. A small pond rested at the center, reflecting the orange glow of the setting sun. Beside it stood an old locust tree whose branches stretched over half the courtyard like a giant umbrella.
Old Liang sat calmly beneath the tree.
The black and white stones on the Go board before him formed a chaotic battlefield.
Lin Sheng sat opposite him silently.
At this moment, the atmosphere no longer felt like that of a library keeper and a junior member of the clan.
Instead—
it felt like a teacher guiding a student.
The more Lin Sheng listened to Old Liang's explanations, the more shocked he became internally.
The martial path of this world…
was far deeper than he had initially imagined.
Old Liang picked up a black piece and placed it onto the board with a crisp sound.
"Acupoints and meridians are not fixed entities."
Lin Sheng's eyes narrowed slightly.
Old Liang continued calmly.
"A martial artist's acupoints and meridians are manifested and formed through the mutual influence of the mind and physical body during growth and breakthrough into the Innate Realm."
"Therefore, the quantity, quality, and even internal structure of each person's meridians and acupoints are often different."
"The same martial technique can produce entirely different results in different people."
Lin Sheng listened carefully.
This information…
was extremely important.
In his previous life, the Federation's ancient reconstruction theories had only partially recovered information regarding energy channels and consciousness systems.
Most theories assumed that meridians were fixed biological structures.
But now—
Old Liang was saying they were partially shaped after birth.
That meant—
human consciousness itself influenced bodily evolution.
The implications were terrifying.
Old Liang slowly placed another Go stone down.
"Not only that…"
"Even the three dantians may differ between individuals."
Lin Sheng's expression finally changed slightly.
The Three Dantians.
This concept also existed within the Federation's reconstructed records.
But no one had truly understood them.
Old Liang calmly explained.
"The Upper Dantian, also called the Niwan Palace, lies between the eyebrows. It is where the spirit resides."
"The Middle Dantian is the Qi Sea. It is where Innate Qi gathers."
"The Lower Dantian lies three inches below the navel. It stores essence."
Lin Sheng unconsciously touched the area between his brows.
Upper Dantian.
Sea of Consciousness.
Shen.
The concepts overlapped almost perfectly with the Starry Sky Visualization Method.
Old Liang glanced at him briefly before continuing.
"The Innate Realm is called 'Innate' because one grasps the strand of Innate Qi left behind from birth."
"The final trace of pure vitality inherited from the mother's womb."
Lin Sheng's pupils shrank slightly.
Innate Qi.
Fetal Qi.
In ancient Federation studies, there had once been records suggesting newborn infants possessed unusually pure biological energy signatures before exposure to external contaminants.
Most scientists dismissed it as meaningless.
But perhaps—
the ancients had not been speaking metaphorically at all.
Old Liang's voice remained calm.
"When a martial artist completes the Grand Heavenly Circulation, the internal energy accumulated within the lower dantian naturally rises toward the middle dantian."
"At the same time, the Baihui Acupoint is opened."
"Once the Baihui opens, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi descends into the body."
Lin Sheng immediately pictured the process in his mind.
Internal energy below.
External spiritual qi above.
The human body acting as a bridge.
Old Liang continued.
"The problem…"
"…is that Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi is violent."
"The influx of spiritual qi into the meridians during breakthrough causes unimaginable pain."
"If concentration breaks…"
"The meridians rupture."
"The body collapses."
"One either becomes crippled…"
"…or dies."
The courtyard became quiet.
Even the wind seemed to pause momentarily.
Lin Sheng finally understood why martial artists were considered dangerous.
Immortal cultivators possessed spiritual roots.
Their bodies naturally resonated with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
But martial artists…
forcefully connected themselves to Heaven and Earth.
It was a brutal path.
A path of struggle.
A path of defiance.
Old Liang suddenly smiled faintly.
"But if one succeeds…"
"The invading spiritual qi strengthens the meridians."
"The internal energy transforms."
"And once a mouthful of True Qi is formed…"
"…the Innate breakthrough is complete."
Lin Sheng nodded slowly.
His mind rapidly analyzed everything.
Internal Energy.
True Qi.
True Essence.
Acupoints.
Meridians.
This cultivation system was astonishingly logical.
Almost scientific in structure.
Old Liang tapped the table lightly.
"The Innate Realm is divided into three stages."
"Innate True Qi."
"Innate Inner Strength."
"And Innate Outer Strength."
"Each stage involves three processes."
"Qi permeating the meridians."
"Qi sinking into the dantian."
"And Qi filling the acupoints."
Lin Sheng silently memorized every word.
"The True Qi gradually replaces internal energy within the body."
"Each circulation strengthens the meridians further."
"Then…"
"True Qi strikes open the Qi Sea acupoint."
"Once opened…"
"The middle dantian begins storing True Qi."
Old Liang's gaze deepened.
"Afterward, the True Qi passes through nine major acupoints repeatedly."
"Each passage amplifies the True Qi."
"And every acupoint retains a portion of that energy to nourish itself."
"The human body gradually transforms."
Lin Sheng inhaled slowly.
The more he listened—
the more he realized how incomplete humanity's ancient reconstruction efforts had been.
Their Visualization Method and Force-Will Method had merely touched the surface.
Without Qi—
they lacked the true key.
Old Liang calmly added,
"After all nine acupoints are nourished…"
"The force generated by seven of them compresses the True Qi into liquid."
Lin Sheng's eyes sharpened.
"True Essence?"
Old Liang nodded.
"Correct."
Lin Sheng frowned slightly.
"Why liquid?"
Old Liang smiled faintly.
"Because liquid enters the Mysterious Pass more easily."
Lin Sheng immediately opened his mouth.
"What is the—"
"Enough."
Old Liang interrupted him instantly.
The atmosphere changed.
For the first time—
a faint pressure spread from Old Liang's body.
Not violent.
But absolute.
Lin Sheng's instincts immediately screamed danger.
The chip interface flickered faintly before his eyes.
•[DANGER LEVEL: EXTREMELY HIGH]•
•[Recommendation: Do not provoke target.]•
Lin Sheng's heartbeat quickened slightly.
Old Liang merely glanced at him calmly.
"Matters regarding the Mysterious Pass are not something you should know yet."
Lin Sheng immediately lowered his head.
"This junior spoke carelessly."
Old Liang waved his hand dismissively.
"No harm done."
The pressure vanished.
But Lin Sheng's back had already become slightly damp.
Just now—
Old Liang had only released the faintest trace of aura.
Yet the pressure felt far greater than any elder Lin Sheng had ever encountered.
This old man…
was terrifying.
Old Liang suddenly laughed lightly.
"Anyway…"
"I hope you understood most of what I explained."
Lin Sheng nodded honestly.
"Yes."
"At least… most of it."
Old Liang stroked his grey beard with satisfaction.
"Good."
"The sun is setting."
"That is enough for today."
Lin Sheng stood respectfully.
He bowed deeply.
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior."
Old Liang snorted lightly.
"Stop calling me Senior."
Lin Sheng blinked slightly.
Then—
as he turned toward the courtyard gate—
a thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.
He paused.
Then slowly asked,
"Senior Liang…"
"…why are you willing to explain all this to me?"
"In the cultivation world…"
"Such teachings are usually not given freely."
Old Liang became silent.
The evening wind rustled the leaves overhead softly.
For a moment—
he simply stared quietly at the Go board.
Then—
a grin appeared on his face.
"Of course…"
"…because of your sister."
Lin Sheng blinked slightly.
Old Liang continued casually,
"That girl caused quite a stir in the Chang Branch."
"High-grade dual spiritual roots."
"Wood and Fire."
"She's talented."
Then—
his voice became softer.
"So perhaps…"
"…you simply remind me of someone."
Lin Sheng's eyes flickered slightly.
Someone…
from Old Liang's past?
But he wisely did not ask further.
Instead—
he suddenly took a step back.
Then—
under Old Liang's surprised gaze—
Lin Sheng bowed deeply.
This time—
his forehead touched the ground.
"Lin Sheng requests Senior Liang to accept him as a disciple!"
Silence.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Old Liang's expression froze briefly.
Then he laughed.
Not loudly.
But genuinely.
"You brat…"
"You move rather quickly."
Lin Sheng remained kneeling silently.
Old Liang stared at him for several moments.
Then finally nodded.
"Fine."
"If that is your wish…"
"…then I shall accept you."
Lin Sheng's heartbeat accelerated slightly.
Success.
Old Liang slowly stood up.
His figure looked ordinary.
Yet at this moment—
he seemed incomparably imposing.
"But before that…"
"There are rules."
Lin Sheng immediately straightened his posture.
"This disciple will remember them carefully."
Old Liang raised one finger.
"First."
"You are forbidden from using my name for arrogance, schemes, or bullying."
"If I discover such behavior…"
"I will personally cripple you."
His tone remained calm.
But Lin Sheng knew—
he was absolutely serious.
"This disciple understands."
Old Liang raised a second finger.
"Second."
"You are likely my final disciple."
"If you encounter your senior brothers or sisters in the future…"
"…lend them a helping hand if possible."
Lin Sheng nodded.
"This disciple understands."
Finally—
Old Liang raised a third finger.
"Third."
"You are forbidden from using Meridian Opening Pills."
"You are also forbidden from using Foundation Building Pills."
Lin Sheng froze slightly.
Old Liang's expression became serious.
"Those shortcuts ruin one's foundation."
"A weak foundation…"
"…cuts off the future."
"If you wish to walk far…"
"Then your beginning must be stable."
Lin Sheng immediately understood.
This matched the Federation's theories perfectly.
Forced evolution often produced instability.
Natural growth—
though slower—
created stronger long-term adaptation.
"This disciple accepts."
Old Liang nodded slowly.
"Good."
"Then perform the ceremony."
Without hesitation—
Lin Sheng knelt once more.
He respectfully kowtowed three times.
"Disciple Lin Sheng greets Master."
Old Liang stroked his grey beard and laughed softly.
"Good."
"Good."
"Get up."
Lin Sheng stood.
At this moment—
something subtle had changed.
From today onward, he finally possessed a true backing within the cultivation world.
Someone capable of guiding him on the Martial Dao.
The saying Wealth, Dharma, Dao Companion, and Land could only truly be explained by a genuine master.
The sky outside had already darkened fully.
The stars gradually appeared overhead.
Old Liang waved his hand lazily.
"Enough for today."
"Go home and rest."
Lin Sheng bowed respectfully once more.
"Yes, Master."
Then he turned and left the courtyard.
The evening breeze followed behind him as he descended the mountain path quietly.
Above him—
the stars glittered faintly in the night sky.
And within his Sea of Consciousness—
the tiny white dwarf pulsed softly.