From Lou Xingyao’s expression, Wen Hanshan could tell that the other man hadn’t intended to hide anything. Lou Xingyao had probably mentioned the matter of foundation building to lead up to another topic, yet he hadn’t expected Wen Hanshan to take the lead before he could get there.
Realizing this, the look on Wen Hanshan’s face softened considerably, “Then you should also know,” he said in an even tone, “that if you rely solely on your own strength to break through, you can achieve a perfect foundation.”
Lou Xingyao nodded again, but as he did, something seemed to occur to him. “Brother Wen,” he asked, eyes thoughtful, “is that what you’re pursuing?”
“Yes,” Wen Hanshan said, nodding slightly. “I intend to build a perfect foundation. I’ve been refining my meridians and dantian for all these years precisely for that purpose.”
In the cultivation world, once a cultivator opened up the eight extraordinary meridians, they would reach the eighth level of Qi Condensation.
When the eight extraordinary meridians connected and formed a circulation with the dantian, it marked the breakthrough to the ninth level.
Refining the ninth level required not only maintaining that circulation but also continuously tempering and purifying the spiritual power within the body, making it purer and more refined.
The tenth level of Qi Condensation, however, emphasized accumulation, the deepening and expansion of the meridians and dantian.
At this stage, the cultivator’s spiritual power was used to both stimulate and broaden the meridians, while simultaneously being compressed to its utmost limit until it condensed and transformed into liquid.
When every trace of free spiritual power within the dantian was compressed into a liquid state and the dantian transformed into a vast “spiritual sea,” that was the point where one could attempt foundation building.
The entire process was not only arduous but incredibly time consuming.
If Wen Hanshan had truly been tempering himself meticulously for years, then to those who didn’t understand the process, his cultivation would indeed seem to have stagnated.
“What about you now, Brother Wen?” Lou Xingyao finally asked. It was the first time Wen Hanshan had spoken so directly about his cultivation, and his curiosity was piqued.
Unexpectedly, after a brief moment of thought, Wen Hanshan lifted his wrist and extended it toward him. “If you’re still uncertain,” he said calmly, “you can verify it yourself.”
“This…” Lou Xingyao was momentarily taken aback. Such a gesture, allowing someone to examine one’s pulse and spiritual flow directly, was no different from handing over one’s lifeline.
It was an unmistakable sign of absolute trust, free of the slightest suspicion or guard.
Meeting Wen Hanshan’s steady, unflinching gaze, Lou Xingyao’s lips curved into a faint smile. “In that case, I won’t hold back.”
He extended his hand, gently resting his fingers on Wen Hanshan’s wrist. A strand of spiritual power was separated from his core and sent cautiously into the other man’s body.
Yet to his surprise, the moment that strand entered, it was instantly swallowed up and lost without a trace.
Wen Hanshan’s calm and encouraging look urged him onward, and Lou Xingyao boldly increased the strength of his spiritual probe.
Only after two-thirds of his spiritual power was consumed did he finally sense a response from within Wen Hanshan’s meridians and in that instant, he truly understood the meaning of the other man’s years of refinement.
Lou Xingyao’s current meridians were no longer the fragile ones he had possessed when he first transmigrated.
After taking the Meridian Reconnection Pill, his meridians had been completely reshaped, and through years of carefully stimulating the residual medicinal power, they had been reforged and reborn.
His meridians were now broader and tougher than most cultivators of his realm, already considered top-tier.
Furthermore, in the past two years, his daily intake of spiritual spring water had strengthened them even further, raising their quality to an entirely new level.
Lou Xingyao would not claim to possess the best meridians of his stage, but he could confidently count himself among the elite few.
However, at this very moment, as he explored Wen Hanshan’s body, he finally realized the true difference between a mere adept and a grandmaster, between a gentle trickle and a roaring torrent.
Despite exhausting two-thirds of his own spiritual power, he still couldn’t trace the full extent of Wen Hanshan’s meridians.
Even more astonishingly, Wen Hanshan had not only expanded the eight extraordinary meridians to a remarkable breadth but had also strengthened the twelve standard meridians, something few cultivators ever achieved.
And as for his dantian…
If Lou Xingyao’s could be likened to a tranquil lake, then Wen Hanshan’s was nothing short of a boundless ocean.
The sheer depth of his accumulation was staggering. With this foundation, even facing Foundation Building cultivators head-on, Wen Hanshan would have no reason to retreat.
Only now did Lou Xingyao understand why, during their training in the Endless Forest, Wen Hanshan always carried an air of effortless composure. That serene confidence was not arrogance, it was the calm born of absolute strength.
He also understood that such power was not something that could be achieved overnight. Realizing this, a quiet sense of admiration welled up from deep within his chest.
But just as he was about to withdraw his spiritual probe, Lou Xingyao suddenly sensed something unusual.
There was almost no free spiritual power left within Wen Hanshan’s dantian. Instead, every drop had condensed into a liquid form, rippling faintly like a sea of tiny waves.
That wasn’t the dantian of someone who had regressed to the eighth level of Qi Condensation.
This… this was clearly the great perfection, the tenth level of Qi Condensation… just one step away from Foundation Building!
Lou Xingyao’s eyes widened, disbelief flashing across them as he looked up sharply.
“You noticed?” Wen Hanshan raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with quiet amusement. “Are you still worried about my cultivation now?”
At that moment, Lou Xingyao needed no further explanation.
It was clear, the injury had long since healed, and Wen Hanshan had merely been teasing him all along.
He didn’t know exactly when or how the other man’s wounds had recovered, but that hardly mattered. It was, without question, a good thing.
At least now, even if they had to face Ye Hantian, the so-called protagonist, in the future, Wen Hanshan would have the strength to stand against him.
“I’m relieved,” Lou Xingyao finally said, his entire body relaxing as a faint smile crossed his lips.
“Then how long are you planning to hold my wrist?” Wen Hanshan asked, voice tinged with lazy amusement. “What’s wrong, haven’t taken enough advantage of me yet?”
“Yes,” Lou Xingyao replied smoothly, without the slightest hint of embarrassment. “I haven’t taken enough advantage.”
As he spoke, he tightened his grip slightly, his fingers pressing against the wrist in his palm.
Perhaps due to years of sword practice, Wen Hanshan’s wrist, though slender, carried a firm strength beneath the skin. Lou Xingyao could even feel the steady, powerful pulse throbbing beneath his fingertips.
Hmm… very healthy.
After quickly arriving at that conclusion, Lou Xingyao let go, pretending to be completely nonchalant.
To outsiders, Wen Hanshan might appear cold and aloof, like an untouchable iceberg. But Lou Xingyao knew better, when it came to teasing others, this man could be downright shameless.
And when it came to exchanging banter, Lou Xingyao wasn’t entirely sure he could win.
After quickly reaching that conclusion, Lou Xingyao didn’t linger on the thought. He released Wen Hanshan’s wrist without hesitation.
Don’t be fooled by Wen Hanshan’s icy demeanor before others, Lou Xingyao knew perfectly well how insufferably glib this man could be in private. When it came to talking nonsense, Lou Xingyao might not even hold a candle to him.
Taking advantage while he could, and retreating before things grew awkward that was the smart move.
Just as Wen Hanshan looked as if he wanted to continue the conversation, Lou Xingyao decided he’d heard enough. Without missing a beat, he switched topics with practiced ease.
“How did Brother Wen come to know about the tenth level of Qi Condensation?” he asked casually.
Wen Hanshan was momentarily caught off guard by the abrupt question. Even so, his expression softened into one tinged with memory,
“When my mother passed away, she left behind a few relics,” he replied slowly. “Among them was a cultivation manual. The matter of the tenth level was recorded there.”
Lou Xingyao hadn’t expected such an answer.
According to the plot of The Path Equal to Heaven, the existence of the tenth level of Qi Condensation was a closely guarded secret, one known only to a handful of the great sects in the Middle Realm. Only after entering the Greater World did it become common knowledge.
In the novel, Wen Miaoyin had been portrayed merely as a helpless orphan girl rescued by the father of the Zhou family’s head.
She had no background, no backing, and her cultivation talent was mediocre at best. Had it not been for the Zhou family’s abundant medicinal resources, she might never have survived long enough to marry into the family.
But if that were truly the case… could such a woman have left behind something as rare and precious as a cultivation manual containing knowledge of the tenth level?
Lou Xingyao was just about to ask this very question when Wen Hanshan spoke again.
“The formation discs and storage bags I use,” Wen Hanshan continued in a calm tone, “they were also left behind by my mother.”
At that moment, Lou Xingyao’s earlier suspicions solidified into conviction, Wen Miaoyin’s origins were far from ordinary.
Back when his cultivation base was shallow, Lou Xingyao couldn’t sense such details. But now, with his perception sharpened after entering the Dao, he could tell clearly, the formation discs Wen Hanshan used weren’t common goods that could be bought anywhere.
Their craftsmanship, their spiritual energy, everything about them exuded refinement far beyond the so-called “sky-high” treasures traded on the black market.
And that was just the beginning.
The storage bag in Wen Hanshan’s possession was equally extraordinary.
On the Tianming Continent, an ordinary storage bag had a capacity of a mere cubic meter. Even an expensive, enhanced one could only hold ten cubic meters at most.
Yet the bag Wen Hanshan used could easily hold hundreds of cubic meters and the one he’d gifted to Lou Xingyao earlier already had twenty!
What’s more, Wen Hanshan possessed more than one of such bags.
How could a mere “orphan” have access to such wealth and heritage?
Clearly, the rumors surrounding Wen Miaoyin’s lack of background were nothing but surface-level gossip. Outsiders like him had no way of knowing the truth behind her identity.
Wen Hanshan’s expression at the moment betrayed nothing but calm reverence, a sign of how deep his bond with his mother must have been. Seeing this, Lou Xingyao swallowed back his curiosity. He didn’t wish to pry into old wounds.
Lou Xingyao didn’t ask further, yet Wen Hanshan still chose to offer more.
“I don’t know my mother’s true identity,” Wen Hanshan said softly. “But I’m certain she came from a greater world, one far beyond the Tianming Continent.”
Though his tone was serene, Lou Xingyao could feel a faint thread of melancholy beneath the words. Fifteen years had passed since Wen Miaoyin’s death. Time had weathered away the sharp edges of grief, leaving only gentle remembrance.
For today’s Wen Hanshan, his mother’s name was no longer a scar to avoid, but a story he could tell.
Lou Xingyao’s gaze flickered with understanding. So that’s why all his items are of such fine quality. If they came from a higher world, there was nothing strange about their extraordinary nature.
“You’re aware of such things as well?” Wen Hanshan asked suddenly, surprise flashing in his eyes. He hadn’t expected Lou Xingyao to remain so calm upon hearing of realms beyond the Tianming Continent. But soon realization dawned. “Ah, I see. Your inheritance must be quite remarkable.”
Lou Xingyao didn’t even need to explain, Wen Hanshan had already filled in the blanks himself.
What could Lou Xingyao say to that?
He could only nod repeatedly, agreeing without reservation.
“Do you still have doubts in your heart?” Wen Hanshan asked again, echoing the same question he’d posed when they had first entered the tent.
“No.” Lou Xingyao shook his head. He truly had none left. In fact, he even felt a twinge of guilt.
After all, Wen Hanshan had openly shared such a personal and secret matter about his mother’s origins. Meanwhile, he was still hiding several truths of his own.
“Then let us meditate and cultivate,” Wen Hanshan said simply. He waved his sleeve and moved to a corner of the tent, his posture straight and composed. Within moments, his aura settled, he had already entered a meditative state.
Lou Xingyao glanced at him, then quietly followed suit. He found a nearby spot and sat down cross-legged, his movements practiced and unhurried.
These past few days, he had gained much more than he had in months of ordinary training.
Soon after initiating his cultivation method, Lou Xingyao felt the last acupoint of his sixth meridian open effortlessly. Spiritual energy surged through him like a river breaking free of a dam, rushing toward the seventh meridian.
The momentum was unstoppable.
Only when he reached the eighth acupoint on the seventh meridian did the flow gradually slow, until it finally stabilized after the tenth acupoint opened completely.
The entire process was smooth, astonishingly so.
When he finally opened his eyes again, three days had passed.
In those three short days, he had not only broken through to the sixth level of Qi Condensation but had even stabilized his new realm. His cultivation base was now solid, and the seventh level was already within sight.
A rich harvest indeed.
As expected, nothing spurred growth faster than real combat.
It was no wonder so many cultivators risked their lives venturing into the Endless Forest. It truly was a crucible for rapid advancement.
Lou Xingyao sighed inwardly, his gaze drifting toward the familiar figure seated nearby.
Wen Hanshan’s posture hadn’t shifted at all since entering meditation three days ago. Whether he was still cultivating or had simply fallen into deep concentration, Lou Xingyao couldn’t tell.
Just as he was about to direct his consciousness toward his portable space, Wen Hanshan suddenly opened his eyes.
Their gazes met at once.
“You broke through?” Wen Hanshan asked calmly, though there was unmistakable satisfaction in his tone.
“Yes,” Lou Xingyao replied with a faint, proud smile.
“Good.” Wen Hanshan nodded approvingly. His expression didn’t change much, but the faint warmth in his eyes was unmistakable. Lou Xingyao’s progress had exceeded even his expectations.
Judging from the stable aura surrounding him, this was no forced breakthrough, it was a genuine, natural one.
After a brief silence, Wen Hanshan’s gaze sharpened. “Do you have an answer to what I asked you a few days ago?”
Lou Xingyao blinked, then recalled what he meant.
It was before they had encountered that second-level giant wolf. Wen Hanshan had criticized him then, saying that his combat style was too disorganized. His attacks were scattered and opportunistic, lacking any real system or focus.
Against low-level beasts, that wasn’t a problem. But if he kept fighting like that, one day he’d meet an opponent stronger than himself and suffer the consequences.
Back then, Wen Hanshan had asked him if he had a weapon he truly liked, one that suited his temperament and style. Even if he hadn’t found it yet, he should at least choose a direction and develop his techniques around it.
At the time, Lou Xingyao couldn’t give an answer.
He had used a dagger most often, yes but that was only because, during his first real battle with the blue rock python, the dagger had been the only weapon at hand.
It wasn’t a matter of preference.
If he were honest, after more than thirty years of peaceful modern education, Lou Xingyao preferred long-range attacks. The idea of fighting up close, covered in blood, didn’t appeal to him.
To take an enemy’s life from afar, that was ideal.
In his mind, the perfect weapon had always been a longbow, or perhaps a crossbow.
Unfortunately, such weapons were exceedingly rare on the Tianming Continent. Forget a complete archery inheritance, finding even a single fragment of an ancient bow technique was nearly impossible.
He had been forced to abandon the idea.
As for hidden weapons, they could only serve as support once his main attack system was established.
If he relied solely on them, he’d be doomed when forced into direct confrontation.
Lou Xingyao had turned the matter over in his mind countless times, but no clear answer ever came.
Wen Hanshan, seeing that he was still at a loss, finally offered a suggestion. “In that case,” he said evenly, “why not practice the sword with me from now on?”
“Huh?” Lou Xingyao froze, momentarily speechless.
Of all weapons, the sword was the one he had avoided considering.
Perhaps it was because Wen Hanshan’s swordsmanship was so terrifyingly precise, watching him fight had left a psychological shadow. He had subconsciously convinced himself that he could never reach that level, so he hadn’t even tried.
But now, with the offer placed before him, Lou Xingyao began to truly think it through.
The long sword wasn’t like a dagger, it didn’t require him to stay dangerously close to his opponent. Its reach, while not as distant as a bow’s, was sufficient to allow a measure of safety. It suited his temperament more than he’d thought.
Moreover, in Lou Xingyao’s mind, swordsmen occupied a special place.
In every martial or cultivation novel he had ever read, the one who reached the pinnacle of strength, the one who stood alone against the heavens was almost always a sword cultivator.
With such a filter, he couldn’t help feeling a certain fondness for the long sword.
And then there was the matter of inheritance.
Since Wen Hanshan himself had brought it up, it clearly meant he was willing to teach him personally.
As the foremost sword cultivator in The Path Equal to Heaven, Wen Hanshan’s guidance, no matter how modest, it was worth more than any ordinary inheritance.
As if confirming his thoughts, Wen Hanshan said, “I’ve observed your battles these past days. Though your attacks are unsystematic, you’re quick to learn and adapt. Even if you never reach the summit on the path of the sword, you will surely achieve something. I have some experience in sword cultivation, I can give you a few pointers.”
From his calm yet measured tone, it was clear that this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision, but something Wen Hanshan had considered carefully.
Lou Xingyao’s earlier hesitation dissolved. Determination took its place.
He rose, bowed respectfully, and performed a simple ceremony of apprenticeship.
Then he straightened, smiling faintly. “Then it’s settled. I’ll be in your care from now on, Brother Wen.”
Wen Hanshan’s lips curved in the faintest trace of a smile, so fleeting it was almost imperceptible.
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
You read the chapter. They wrestled with the words. Seems fair, no? (￣▽￣)
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Crossing OverChapter 2 · Lu XioaWuChapter 3 · UncleChapter 4 · Substitute MarriageChapter 5 · Travelling Through BookChapter 6 · SpaceChapter 7 · InheritanceChapter 8 · ExplanationChapter 9 · He familyChapter 10 · CompensateChapter 11 · WeddingChapter 12 · LeavingChapter 13 · SuspicionChapter 14 · Change SurnameChapter 14 · Change SurnameChapter 15 · SummaryChapter 16 · Family BusinessChapter 17 · ResettlementChapter 18 · DeterminationChapter 19 · TreatChapter 20 · Enter the TaoChapter 21 · Private TrainingChapter 22 · BreakthroughChapter 23 · ExperienceChapter 24 Part 1 · Questions and AnswersChapter 24 Part 2 · Questions and answersChapter 25 · GiftChapter 25 Part 1 · GiftChapter 26 Part 1 · Sword IntentChapter 26 Part 2 · Sword IntentChapter 27 Part 1 · SelectChapter 27 Part 2 · SelectChapter 28 Part 1 · PastChapter 28 Part 2 · PastChapter 29 Part 1 · ConfessionChapter 29 Part 2 · ConfessionChapter 30 Part 1 · TradeChapter 30 Part 2 · TradeChapter 31 Part 1 · Male LeadChapter 31 Part 2 · Male LeadChapter 32 Part 1 · LuckChapter 32 Part 2 · LuckChapter 33 Part 1 · GuessingChapter 33 Part 2 · GuessingChapter 34 Part 1 · SystemChapter 34 Part 2 · SystemChapter 35 · OpportunityChapter 36 Part 1 · LingquanChapter 36 Part 2 · LingquanChapter 37 Part 1 · Hundred Flowers PartChapter 37 Part 2 · Hundred Flowers PartChapter 38 · Worth itChapter 39 · SaintessChapter 40 · ExperimentChapter 41 · Vampire SystemChapter 42 · NotesChapter 43 · WarningChapter 44 · PlanChapter 45 · Fellow VillagersChapter 46 · AssimilationChapter 47 · IlliterateChapter 48 · Pak WahChapter 49 · Sudden EnlightenmentChapter 50 · Wen ZhiChapter 51 · CarrierChapter 52 · LeavingChapter 53 · Follow UpChapter 54 · OutrageousChapter 55 · OnceChapter 56 · TeasingChapter 57 · Playing aroundChapter 58 · Beast fireChapter 59 · Watching a PlayChapter 60 · Extermination of the entire clanChapter 61 · ChoiceChapter 62 · PossessionChapter 63 · CalculationChapter 64 · GuaranteedChapter 65 · Grand OpeningChapter 66 · Grand OpeningChapter 67 · Protecting one’s ownChapter 68 · Secret RealmChapter 69 · BetrayalChapter 70 · DetailsChapter 71 · FramedChapter 72 · MeetingChapter 73 · KillChapter 74 · MapChapter 75 · FoundationChapter 76 · Strange Phenomenon!Chapter 77 · ExchangeChapter 78 · LetterChapter 79 · ShortcutChapter 80 · God of Slaughter!Chapter 81 · Poison PillChapter 82 · Lou ShuChapter 83 · ProgressChapter 84 · An attemptChapter 85 · Movement and StillnessChapter 86 · Good intentionsChapter 87 · ChangeChapter 88 · Childhood friendChapter 89 · ThoughtsChapter 90 · Old storiesChapter 91 · HeritageChapter 92 · TestChapter 93 · LoverChapter 94 · Heartfelt wishesChapter 95 · MasterChapter 96 · TeachingChapter 97 · IllusionChapter 98 · Mutual RestraintChapter 99 · ObstructionChapter 100 · PalaceChapter 101 · Core TechniqueChapter 102 · OathChapter 103 · Dual cultivationChapter 104 · AccessChapter 105 · VulnerabilityChapter 106 · DensityChapter 107 · WantedChapter 108 · EntrustChapter 109 · RevisitChapter 110 · MonitoringChapter 111 · Secret RealmChapter 112 · NourishChapter 113 · InventoryChapter 114 · Get Rich QuicklyChapter 115 · ElderChapter 116 · Grand FormationChapter 117 · Heaven’s WillChapter 118 · BountyChapter 119 · GainChapter 120 · BlameChapter 121 · ChattingChapter 122 · GuessChapter 123 · Zheng TianChapter 124 · SparringChapter 125 · Sword intentChapter 126 · KenshinChapter 127 · Auditing a classChapter 128 · CoincidenceChapter 129 · ContradictionChapter 130 · RouteChapter 131 · CostChapter 132 · ConfiscatedChapter 133 · Holding a grudgeChapter 134 · SupportChapter 135 · DeteriorationChapter 136 · Unable toChapter 137 · PriceChapter 138 · VariantChapter 139 · Start AnewChapter 140 · ShamelessChapter 141 · Black PotChapter 142 · Benefiting fromChapter 143 · PieChapter 144 · DifferencesChapter 145 · DetoxificationChapter 146 · Current situationChapter 147 · TeasingChapter 148 · IntelligenceChapter 149 · Returned GiftChapter 150 · Old debtChapter 151 · FleshChapter 152 · OpeningChapter 153 · GrudgesChapter 154 · RegretChapter 155 · Gang fightChapter 156 · GentleChapter 157 · ComplaintChapter 158 · ScreamsChapter 159 · GeniusChapter 160 · ConcernChapter 161 · Hidden StoryChapter 162 · StingyChapter 163 · Guilty conscienceChapter 164 Part 1 · StruggleChapter 164 Part 2 · StruggleChapter 165 · Win or LoseChapter 166 · TasteChapter 167 · Shifting The BlameChapter 168 · MoonlightChapter 169 · Past EventChapter 170 · RegretChapter 171 · RetributionChapter 172 · Cause and EffectChapter 173 · BackgroundChapter 174 · FlatteryChapter 175 · HonestChapter 176 · BookkeepingChapter 177 · FarewellChapter 178 · GuidelineChapter 179 · BottleneckChapter 180 · HabitChapter 181 · Casual ChatChapter 182 · Flowing WaterChapter 183 · RumoursChapter 184 · Seeking AdviceChapter 185 · PityChapter 186 · FormationChapter 187 · BasicChapter 188 · Fake TombChapter 189 · BewareChapter 190 · TraceChapter 191 · DiscussChapter 192 · Ancestral preceptsChapter 193 · Loose CultivatorChapter 194 · AllocationChapter 195 · Thank you for your kindnessChapter 196 · ExplanationChapter 197 · ErrorChapter 198 · Culinary skillsChapter 199 · Starry SeaChapter 200 · ComparisonChapter 201 · FrustratedChapter 202 · Don’t watchChapter 203 · LonelinessChapter 204 · NoChapter 205 · Exposing ShortcutsChapter 206 · CraftsmanshipChapter 207 · Bottom LineChapter 208 · StrikeChapter 209 · Ten GoldChapter 210 · Pretentious