Myriad Immortals

"Lord Zhong?"

When Cui Yi was invited to the academy gate by several junior brothers, she saw Zhong Xuan standing outside the gate.

"Miss Cui, we meet again."

Zhong Xuan cupped his hands in greeting.

He had met this Cui girl several times, and they could even be considered to be the same age. If they were in the capital, they could even be considered to be from the same hometown.

However, Cui Yi did not choose to enter the court as an official, but continued to prepare for the imperial examination, so the two naturally addressed each other differently.

Cui Yi looked Zhong Xuan up and down, her eyes filled with even more surprise.

Compared to their first meeting, Zhong Xuan had undergone a complete transformation.

"He actually possesses two forms, which shows that my ability to observe bones is still not up to par."

Cui Yi felt somewhat ashamed when she thought about how she had mistakenly regarded Zhong Xuan as having the lowest-grade grass-like bone structure when she first examined his bones.

Zhong Xuanzhi's physical constitution is no weaker than hers, and may even be stronger.

Grandpa Cui Bai also valued it highly and would often mention it.

"Is Lord Zhong here to see my grandfather?"

"Exactly."

Zhong Xuan confirmed the purpose of the visit: "I have just taken up my post in Yongning Prefecture. Senior Cui has been kind to me by imparting his knowledge and skills to me, so I brought some Baisha tea to pay my respects."

"Thank you for your kindness. Grandpa happens to be at the academy. He has already told me that if Lord Zhong comes, I should take him to see him."

Zhong Xuan heard this.

This old man, Mr. Cui, was certain that he would come.

Fifteen minutes later.

Zhong Xuan was led by Cui Yi to a small courtyard surrounded by a fence. Although it was in the academy, it had a sense of being isolated from the world.

With a creak.

The wooden gate was pushed open.

Just then, they saw Cui Bai tending to the cabbages in the yard like an old farmer.

"Mr. Cui."

Zhong Xuan bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.

When Cui Bai saw that it was Zhong Xuan, he narrowed his eyes and sized him up for several breaths.

Zhong Xuan's heartstrings tightened.

She felt that Cui Bai had seen through all her secrets.

"Not bad, you haven't slacked off at all. You've actually made a name for yourself with that Crane Leap in the Void technique."

Zhong Xuan replied obediently, "It's all thanks to your excellent teaching, senior."

Cui Bai laughed angrily: "Don't flatter me. It's your own good fortune. I only gave you a book."

Then, he looked at Zhong Xuan with a smile:

"As I said before, you can come back to me when you have mastered the skill."

"You've mastered it?"

Hearing her grandfather's words, Cui Yi's eyes lit up with surprise. She had also practiced Crane Flight in the Void, but after several years, she still couldn't even get to the basics.

His gaze involuntarily fixed on Zhong Xuan.

"You can't train it."

These words were spoken.

Cui Yi was stunned.

But to Cui Bai's ears, it sounded extremely pleasant.

It's not that they didn't learn it, it's that they couldn't learn it; there's a huge difference between the two.

"He's a bright young man."

Zhong Xuan was speechless.

It's true that Yongning Prefecture is full of hidden talents; since arriving, my seniority has been getting lower and lower.

Cui Bai chuckled: "Indeed, I have hidden the most crucial part."

"Our Cui family's secret techniques are not something we can just give away casually!"

"..."

Zhong Xuan inwardly grumbled.

"To be old and not die is to become a demon."

He had suspected it before, and now Cui Bai himself has confirmed it.

Even the poem "The Crane Soars Through the Void" is incomplete.

However, as Cui Bai said, the martial arts of all races in the world are all secret, and there is no reason to give them away casually. Giving away a fragment is already very generous.

Cui Bai said leisurely, "Do you know why Baisha County hasn't produced any of the Three Great Masters?"

Zhong Xuan was startled.

Cui Bai was going to teach him the art of martial arts.

As the saying goes, a single word from a master teacher can be worth ten years of hard work. Cui Bai was already a master-level expert and had served as a Grand Secretary in the capital. In terms of knowledge alone, no one in the entire Yongning Prefecture could match him.

Why?

Zhong Xuan tactfully took on the role of the straight man.

Cui Bai: "Martial arts schools often teach stance training, martial arts techniques, and breathing methods, which are the foundation of martial arts. While this is true, it is not entirely accurate."

"But if you only practice breathing techniques, you will never be able to enter the three major trainings in this lifetime."

Zhong Xuan focused his mind and held his breath.

He knew that what Cui Bai was about to say was the true core of martial arts in this world.

Cui Bai: "Only through guidance can one transcend."

"Guidance?"

Zhong Xuan was taken aback; he had never heard of this before.

"The Three Minor Practices are merely for strengthening the body, but humans have their limits. What great achievements can one attain by practicing more? Therefore, only by drawing upon the power of heaven and earth can one achieve great transcendence and freedom."

Zhong Xuan recalled something his senior brother Qian Hong had once mentioned to him, and murmured:

"The method of guidance?"

Cui Bai's lips curled up: "A promising young man, not bad, this is indeed the method of guidance."

"To draw upon the power of heaven and earth to undergo a complete transformation, this is called blood refining."

"The term 'blood refining' is too vague and not straightforward enough; it should clearly be called 'blood exchange' to be more accurate."

Zhong Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

He finally understood why his senior brother Qian Hong, despite his exceptional talent and rare top-grade human-level aptitude in the county, had yet to have the opportunity to break through the three major refinements.

It's precisely because one subject is missing.

If the method of guidance mentioned by Master Cui is correct, it should be firmly controlled by the imperial court, aristocratic families, and major clans.

Ordinary people have absolutely no chance of having contact with them.

The three great martial arts masters are indeed rare.

Zhong Xuan also vaguely guessed that the Guiding Technique was one of the methods used by the world's top powers to control vast territories.

"The power of heaven and earth is mixed. If one cannot refine the crude and extract the essence, then even if one learns the method of guiding the qi, what is being guided into the body will be mixed qi. Not to mention being reborn and cultivating true qi, if one is not careful, one will go into qi deviation and become a demon."

"The power of heaven and earth is mixed. If one cannot refine the crude and extract the essence, then even if one learns the method of guiding the qi, what is being guided into the body will be mixed qi. Not to mention being reborn and cultivating true qi, if one is not careful, one will go into qi deviation and become a demon."

"This is why people value physical attributes."

"Only those with superior physical constitution can draw upon form to draw upon form. For example, your crane-like form makes it easy to draw upon the pure energy of heaven and earth. Take Marquis Rong'an, for instance, with his top-tier mountain-like constitution, naturally close to the energy of the earth. Others can cultivate a wisp of true energy, but he can cultivate hundreds or thousands of wisps in the same amount of time. How can you compare?"

"Those who possess dual forms can simultaneously draw upon two kinds of energies from heaven and earth, which gives them a considerable advantage."

"Once you cultivate true qi, a single punch will unleash the power of heaven and earth, capable of splitting rocks, destroying mountains, and overturning seas."

Zhong Xuan felt a slight tingling sensation on his scalp.

If one can accumulate enough true energy, what difference is there between them and an immortal?

His physical attributes can be strengthened, and his physical attributes can be expanded, so it's not impossible for him to reach that stage.

Zhong Xuan's eyes lit up instantly.

He finally understood.

No wonder Cui Bai was willing to teach him Crane Walk in the Void; it was precisely because he possessed dual forms that Cui Bai valued him. Otherwise, at least a Rank 1 Crane Bone would be worthy of Cui Bai's attention.

Cui Bai: "Originally, my method of guiding others had a rule... that it should not be passed on to outsiders."

Zhong Xuan didn't find it strange.

This is true for almost all large families.

However, there are alternative solutions.

For example, if you do not abandon me, I am willing to become your godfather.

However, Cui Bai was a Grand Scholar, not a military man. Generally speaking, scholars do not have the habit of adopting sons, so Zhong Xuan was not in a hurry to bow down and pay homage.

Seeing that Zhong Xuan could remain calm, Cui Bai's smile widened.

"You've been teaching at my Cui family's private school for five years; this introduction method will serve as your tuition fee."