It all started with one person becoming a shaman, but the Stand user...

Chapter 21 Eight Gates Formation

When Guan Shihua heard Qing Hemiao mention the goal of "ascending to immortality," she couldn't help but feel that it was a kind of naivety and arrogance typical of young people, which made her both laugh and cry.

But seeing the genuine determination in his eyes, a determination that also belonged to a young man, she smiled, her tone tinged with emotion:

"If that day ever comes and you can do what you said... then your Master Chai will probably be incredibly glorious and leave his mark on the history of shamanic practitioners."

"Your family's 'White Immortal' has managed to train a disciple like you; the benefits he'll likely receive from your entry into the main hall are immeasurable."

One of the original sources of the shamanic lineage.

Aren't they just spirits who have reached a certain bottleneck in their cultivation, choosing to cooperate with humans and accumulate merit by helping their disciples to do good deeds, thus aiding their own cultivation?

If a disciple can truly be cultivated to "ascend to immortality," it would be an unimaginable blessing and opportunity for the immortals associated with them!

From this perspective, Qinghe Miao's persistence was a welcome development for the Bai family of that small temple.

She changed the subject, no longer insisting:

"Alright, let's leave it at that for now. The relationship between the deities and the shamans also depends on fate; it's a matter of mutual selection."

You two, master and disciple, should stay here for now and familiarize yourselves with the environment. During this time, you should also think carefully and see if you'll change your mind. Even if you don't take on a new teacher, it's still good to listen and observe more in the main hall.”

"Thank you for your kindness, Grand Master!"

Master Chai and Qinghe Miao thanked him again, this time with a more relaxed tone in their voices.

Once these important matters were finally settled, Guan Shihua pulled Qing Hemiao back over, her face regaining its previous elder-like kindness and curiosity.

She asked with a smile:

"Alright, that's enough about business. Little one, I'm not trying to pry into your secrets, but could you tell Grandma what happened when you suddenly unleashed such power and speed when you knocked Youcai down? That doesn't seem like the kind of effect that ordinary Qi cultivation can achieve."

They're here!

Qinghe Miao was already prepared, and with a slightly embarrassed smile on her face, she began to fabricate the excuse she had already thought of:

"Grandma Guan, that's just a little trick I figured out myself. It's a bit like... well, like the 'Heavenly Demon Disintegration Technique' in storybooks, but it's not that evil and it doesn't harm the root of the problem."

He tried his best to make his description sound reasonable:

"The universe is a macrocosm, and the human body is a microcosm. I figured this out myself by using 'Qi' to precisely stimulate several important acupoints and meridian nodes in the body, allowing the body to be overloaded in a short period of time, releasing potential far beyond the ordinary, thereby gaining explosive power and speed. However, there will be some exhaustion afterward, and time is needed to recover. I call it 'Eight Gates Formation'."

The Eight Gates Formation is a mysterious system of divination in ancient China, commonly used in military affairs, feng shui, and fortune telling.

This theory is very mysterious and seems to be self-consistent.

The most crucial point is that in a world where supernatural powers exist, this argument can neither be proven true nor disproven.

But who exactly was Guan Shihua?

He possesses profound knowledge in medicine and divination, especially in the field of human health, where he is considered a master.

After hearing this, she clearly didn't believe it entirely:

"Oh? Using Qi to stimulate acupoints to unleash potential? That theory makes sense. But which acupoints specifically? What are the rules regarding the intensity, order, and properties of the Qi? How did you figure it out? If your medical skills can reach that level, my wife and I can exchange ideas from time to time."

This is not something that can be achieved by simply trying it; it requires profound medical knowledge and an understanding of "qi".

If you are not careful, you may suffer minor damage to your meridians, or even serious injuries or sudden death.

Guan Shihua's questions were still tactful.

These are just some structural ideas and do not involve specific content.

If what Qinghe Miao said is true, she might even be able to help improve it.

Faced with these professional questions, Qing Hemiao could only put on a bewildered and innocent expression, shaking his head as he explained:

"Grandma Guan, this... I really can't explain it in detail. I seem to have a natural sense of control and intuition over the 'qi' in my body. I don't need to deliberately memorize any routes. When I put my mind to it, the qi seems to find its own way."

So, slowly, I figured out a way to temporarily 'excite' my body. But how exactly I did it is... like how humans are born knowing how to breathe, or fish are born knowing how to swim—if you ask me to be more specific, I can't explain it right now.

His explanation sounded almost absurd.

But in the bizarre and fantastical world of supernatural beings, it's not entirely unreasonable.

Aside from individuals born with superpower-like traits, known as naturally gifted individuals, and those who cultivate orthodox martial arts, there are no other superhumans in this world.

There are indeed some people with unique talents.

Once one receives enlightenment in "Qi", one can develop unique methods on their own without needing any profound secrets.

Even more remarkably, some beings are born with an extraordinary affinity and understanding of the "Tao" and certain rules.

As far as Qinghe Miao knows, Feng Yao, who used the alias "Wugensheng" and stirred up trouble in the world in the original work, is an extreme example of this kind of "naturally close to the Dao".

Thinking about all this, the people in the room, including the well-informed Guan Shihua, the experienced Master Chai, and even Deng Youcai who was listening in, all felt that Qing Hemiao's words were a bit too mysterious.

However, considering his previous unusual behavior, such as "extremely fast entry into Qi perception," it seems... it's not entirely impossible.

After all, the world of supernatural beings is never short of all sorts of bizarre and extraordinary people and events.

Thinking about it carefully, I actually feel quite happy.

Has such a figure finally appeared in their lineage?

"That's enough."

Guan Shihua ultimately waved her hand, no longer pursuing the matter, but based on her own experience, she gave Qing Hemiao a warning:

"Everyone has their own destiny and secrets. As long as it does not harm yourself or others, let it be. However, child, this method of stimulating potential is ultimately a shortcut. Do not rely on it too much, and do not abuse it, lest you damage your foundation and suffer more losses than gains."

"Yes, Grandma Guan, I've got it."

Qinghe Miao quickly nodded in agreement, secretly relieved that he had managed to get through this hurdle for the time being.

And so, Master Chai and his apprentice Qinghe Miao temporarily settled in this courtyard house located deep in the mountains of the scenic area.

……

"call out--!"

The whip flashed like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, tearing through the air without warning and piercing straight at Qing Hemiao's face!

The Wu King Whip is generally over two feet long, and the whip body is woven from several strands of tough animal sinew or specially made soft leather.

Sometimes a coin, bell, or small totem ornament is tied to the top.

It lacks the ferocity of a hard whip when wielded, is very difficult to control, and is not suitable as a weapon for close combat.

Alarm bells rang in Qinghe Miao's heart. Without thinking, he almost instinctively held the same Martial King Whip in front of him and retreated quickly.

An attempt was made to use a special method to block the attack.

Chapter 22 Proficiency Improvement

In the lineage of shamanic practitioners, the Wu King Whip is mostly used as a ritual implement to accompany the Wen King Drum.

Or, in certain rituals, to "encourage" or "guide" the spirit.

Its effect when used directly in physical attacks is not particularly outstanding.

However, this thrust was so fast that it almost exceeded the limits of Qinghe Miao's dynamic vision.

"Snapped!"

A crisp crack of a whip.

As the two whips clashed, he felt a strange force passing through the whips.

It was not a simple impact, but a force with a high-frequency vibration and penetrating power, which instantly made his tiger's mouth numb, and the Qi he had poured into it was almost scattered by the blow!

He staggered backward, almost dropping the Martial King Whip from his hand.

Guan Shihua held a short whip made of antique material with a dark color in her hand. Her steps seemed slow, but they were elusive and unpredictable, and she closed the distance in an instant.

She didn't wield the Martial King Whip in an exaggerated manner; she simply held the handle casually. Yet, the whip itself seemed to come alive, subtly resonating with the profound and boundless Qi surrounding her.

It was no longer an inanimate object, but an extension of her arm.

The whip's shadow was unpredictable, combining both strength and gentleness, blocking all of Qing Hemiao's escape routes.

What's even more terrifying is that being struck by the Qi contained within it will cause Qinghe Miao's mind to feel momentarily disoriented, requiring him to distract himself to resist.

[Level 51 Shaman Guan Shihua used the Martial King Whip (Expert) on you, causing minor damage. Your Soul Resilience will be checked.]

[Check failed, abnormal status: Soul Shock (Very Mild), please recover after battle. Recovery time: 5, 4, 3...]

Qinghe Miao did his best to cope, pushing the "Helping Soldiers Technique" within his body to its limit, and also wielding the Martial King Whip in his hand with all his might, trying to rely on his youth and strength to fight speed with speed and force with skill.

However, his attacks were often easily deflected or misled by his opponent, while Guan Shihua's counterattacks always accurately hit the weaknesses or exhaustion points in his moves.

"Snap!" "Whoosh!"

A whip lashed across Qinghe Miaoge's arm, sending a sharp pain through him, and his arm instantly went numb and sore.

The sharp wind it generated stung his skin, and the mental disturbance made his head spin.

The short and stout Guan Shihua is like a wide-sword landmine that can automatically track you, unstoppable, making you watch helplessly as she approaches, truly despairing.

"Heh heh, kid, write this!"

Guan Shihua gave a soft shout, and the whip, like a nimble snake, swept past Qing Hemiao's hasty horizontal strike, gently touching the soft muscle on the side of his knee.

Qinghe Miao's leg strength gave way, and his body immediately became unsteady.

A hint of a smile flashed in Guan Shihua's eyes. With a clever flick of her wrist, the whip, as if possessing an adhesive quality, gently touched the ankle of Qing Hemiao's other leg, which was trying to steady itself. Immediately, a skillful force was released.

It's not a hard pull, but a flick and a pull.

"Ouch!"

Qinghe Miao felt his feet sink into the ground, and he immediately lost his balance. In a dizzying moment, he was lifted into the air and flipped twice by that clever force.

Then, with a "thud," it crashed solidly to the ground, sending dust flying.

Although the fall wasn't serious, he was perfectly spread out on the ground like a pancake, and he simply didn't bother to move.

He lay down where he fell, and casually opened the system panel:

[Under the guidance of a martial arts expert, your proficiency in the "Martial King Whip" has increased dramatically. Your current proficiency level is "Martial King Whip (Proficient)".]

Qinghe Miao lay on the ground, feeling the uncontrollable numbness in his body caused by the soul tremor, and the persistent buzzing and sluggishness in his mind gradually fading away. He couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

According to Guan Shihua, the headmaster, she herself is not actually skilled in the "Martial King Whip" technique.

Since her skills had deepened, she had learned more sophisticated methods of communication, commanding deities, and performing certain large-scale rituals and spells.

Performers like "King Wen's Drum" and "King Wu's Whip" were considered ordinary shamanic disciples who used to perform on the streets as a way to make a living.

It's not used much anymore.

Even so, he still possesses terrifying expertise at the "expert" level!

This is not just a crushing defeat in strength and skill, but a complete lag in understanding and comprehension.

No wonder that in the world of "Under One Person", most of these top-tier superhumans from the older generation become stronger with age.

Throughout his long training career spanning decades, he relied on his exceptional talent and persistent practice.

This group has more than just a numerical advantage.

Furthermore, he has honed many skills to the highest level, possessing a set of skills that are so luxurious they are astonishing.

If she were facing someone of a lower rank, she could probably handle them with just this skill.

"What? You're not coming?"

Seeing Qinghe Miao starting to act sloppily, Guan Shihua strolled over, gently patted his thigh with the Martial King Whip in her hand, and asked with a smile.

"Okay, that's enough for today."

Qinghe Miao snapped out of her daze, stopped lying down, sat up, and then nimbly got up, dusted herself off, and said politely:

"Thank you for your help, Grandma Guan. You've spent the whole morning keeping the younger generation company."

"It's not troublesome at all. It's quite comfortable for an old man like me to have someone accompany me to do these activities every day."

Guan Shihua chuckled as she put away the whip, stepped forward, and reached out to help Qing Hemiao up.