Chinese Superman

Master Guo did not delve into the matter, but merely offered a symbolic word of comfort: "It's alright, you've done exceptionally well. Martial arts cultivation is all about gradual progress, letting things take their natural course."

In fact, Guo Lao naturally guessed that Xia Xinghan was probably hiding something.

But instead of being angry, he admired Xia Xinghan even more. He stroked his long, silvery-white beard with one hand, his gaze falling on Xia Xinghan's tender and adorable face, and he nodded to himself.

"Well hidden!"

As the author of "The Art of War," Guo was not a pedantic person. He silently commented in his heart: "His extraordinary talent is already rare, but what is even rarer is his wisdom. When he should show his sharpness, he is unstoppable. When he should conceal his brilliance, he knows how to keep a low profile and prepare for his own future... He is almost like a demon."

"If I were to pass away and my teachings were to vanish one day, the Art of War would need to find a new master... This young man may be the chosen one."

Xia Xinghan had no idea what Elder Guo was thinking at that moment. He nodded obediently, then turned around and turned his gaze to the area with the even larger number of Grade A relics.

If you can't tackle the national-level relics, then go for the Class A relics.

Creating another martial art means having more capital to exchange for spirit stones; this is the most practical goal right now.

As for Class B relics...

Let's leave it to someone else.

Observation, deduction, simulation, innovation...

Xia Xinghan became engrossed in it once again.

Bronze chariots, translucent mirrors, celadon porcelain... each of these top-grade relics became a source of inspiration for martial arts in his eyes.

Time flies by in our focused concentration, and another ten days or so have passed.

During this time, the very busy Mr. Qian took the time to come twice. Seeing that Xia Xinghan was busy, he would chat with Mr. Guo for a few words and then leave without disturbing him.

"Ugh~~~~"

The vast national treasure trove echoed with the sound of Xia Xinghan stretching.

"It's finally over!"

"That's a wrap-up day, time to settle the 'wages'~"

Xia Xinghan patted his bottom, stood up, and prepared to leave. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Old Guo, who hadn't left, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Grandpa Guo, you've been here the whole time, without eating or drinking. Aren't you hungry?"

Master Guo smiled calmly: "My cultivation has reached the 'half-step innate' stage. My body is free of dust and grime, and I can sustain my life by eating wind and drinking dew. I have long since abstained from grains."

"Grain fasting?" Xia Xinghan blinked, his childlike innocence evident as he chuckled and teased, "Then... you don't even need to poop anymore?"

Old Master Guo's fingers, which were stroking his beard, stiffened slightly, and three black lines appeared on his forehead, but he still maintained the demeanor of a senior master and calmly said, "...No need."

"Oh~" Xia Xinghan nodded and muttered softly, "So convenient."

"etc!?"

Xia Xinghan's casual question struck Guo Lao sharply, revealing something unusual.

Old Guo then suddenly realized that the little child in front of him had been in the treasure vault for almost a month without eating or drinking!

Previously, all attention was focused on his creation of the method, and this point was overlooked.

Looking at Xia Xinghan, who was full of energy and vitality, there was not a trace of hunger or fatigue.

"Could it be... that this child has also stepped into the Innate Realm, or at least is at the Half-Step Innate Realm!"

Old Guo was startled by his own deduction, and his gaze toward Xia Xinghan became increasingly strange.

A one-year-old at the Innate Realm?

Do you even want people to live?!

When facing talented individuals, you might be inclined to compete.

When faced with a genius, you might feel envy or jealousy;

But when faced with a true monster—you can only look up in awe!

As the guardian of the nation, Elder Guo is among the strongest, already belonging to the small group of people standing at the pinnacle of the Xia Kingdom.

But at this moment, looking at the small figure in front of him, he felt a sense of helplessness, like an ant looking up at the blue sky.

It was as if the other party was not an infant, but the sun, moon and stars hanging in the sky, distant and untouchable.

Xia Xinghan didn't pay attention to Elder Guo's shock, but instead became interested in the cultivation level.

"Grandpa Guo, what does 'half-step innate' mean?"

Master Guo suppressed his inner turmoil and patiently explained, "This is the realm that Master Zhang defined for the 'path ahead' after he cultivated to the Innate Realm."

"Beginners draw qi into their bodies and condense their spiritual power; this is called the 'Qi Refining Realm'."

"Once the spiritual energy is abundant and circulates throughout the body, the marrow and bones will be cleansed and the body tempered, gradually eliminating acquired impurities from the skin, flesh, tendons, bones, membranes, and blood. This process is long and arduous, and is called the 'Transformation Realm'."

"Once all impurities are removed from the body, and a body that is free from dust and impurities and clear and unobstructed is achieved, it is considered that one foot has stepped into the threshold of the innate realm, hence the term 'half-step innate realm'."

Xia Xinghan exclaimed in surprise: "Is being free from dust and impurities not the true innate state?"

"Of course not." Old Guo shook his head. "A naturally born body not only needs to be free of impurities, but also needs to be 'nurtured'."

"One must nourish oneself with pure spiritual energy for a long time, harmonize yin and yang, practice fasting and meditation, so that the body and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth reach a new level of harmony, and truly return from the acquired to the innate. This process is called 'nourishing the innate'."

"Among them, after forty-nine days of nurturing, one achieves the 'Minor Innate Stage'; if one can persist for eighty-one days, the foundation will be even more solid, and one can achieve the 'Major Innate Stage'!"

"Currently, throughout the entire country, only Master Zhang has clearly entered the Innate Realm."

As Guo Lao slowly recounted the story, even he expressed his admiration for Master Zhang.

Sudden.

Guo Lao subconsciously compared Zhang Zhenren and Xia Xinghan, and then felt...

"I must be crazy!"

Guo Lao was momentarily dazed, but immediately came to his senses, rejected the thought that had just crossed his mind, and continued: "Even if we, the guardians of the state, have the support of national resources and a constant supply of spirit stones, we still need time to hone our skills and are still on the path of 'nurturing our innate nature'."

Xia Xinghan listened with great interest, finding the cultivation system rigorous and fascinating, and exclaimed, "Nurturing one's innate nature with purity and cleanliness..."

"It's great to have different levels of understanding, unlike me, who is just faced with cold numbers."

"Um???"

Mr. Guo was stunned.

Little did he know that Xia Xinghan was not a one-year-old innate realm cultivator, but rather someone who had created his own cultivation method and walked a unique path, far beyond the ordinary.

This path of cultivation has no distinction between realms!

There's no need to break through realms, and there are no bottlenecks!

"The True Explanation of Refining the Apertures of the Universe and the Stars," refining stars through cells—these are terrifying to hear!

"Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Grandpa Guo."

"I should go now."

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible hint of reluctance flashed across Old Guo's eyes.

Having guarded the treasure vault for so long, loneliness has become the norm.

With this little devil by my side these past few days, watching him create miracles has brought a lot of life to the otherwise quiet years.

"Are you leaving already?" Old Guo asked.

"Yes!" Xia Xinghan nodded vigorously, a hopeful smile on his face. "It's time to hand over the martial arts I created and exchange them for spirit stones!"

Spirit stone.

That is the ultimate goal of his "seclusion" to create this method!

The little guy's eyes lit up at the thought of the massive amount of resources he was about to receive.

Watching Xia Xinghan stride briskly towards the door, Old Guo stroked his beard and stood there, filled with emotion.

He glanced down at the bamboo slips of "The Art of War" in his hand, then looked up at the silent relics deep within the treasure vault, and murmured to himself, "The perfect man has no self, the divine man has no merit, the sage has no name. Young friend, what kind of person will you become in the future?"

Unexpectedly, Xia Xinghan's super hearing caught Guo Lao's murmurs, and he chuckled and whispered, "Me, Superman!"