Physical enlightenment begins with Xingyi Quan

Chapter 170 Making Friends (Please subscribe, godfathers!)

The banquet resumed, but the atmosphere in the main hall was completely different from before.

The candlelight shone brightly, illuminating the entire hall.

The leaders of the five sects and the guests from the Cangyue Sect sat on either side. Amidst the clinking of glasses, the eight-move sparring match that had determined the winner was tacitly forgotten, replaced by polite greetings and various discussions about the selection process for the Shenxing Sect.

Yue Yunzheng did not return to his seat in the Cangyue Sect.

He held his wine glass and walked straight to Chen Jianghe's side, sitting down in the empty chair.

This action stunned everyone present. The chief disciple of the Yue Sect had just been defeated in eight moves, yet he was now sitting down next to his opponent. What was this all about?

Liu Shuling stood behind Chen Jianghe, arms crossed, looking at Yue Yunzheng's open and honest face, the hostility in her eyes lessening somewhat.

Although she was sharp-tongued, she could tell that this person genuinely wanted to make friends and wasn't trying to play any tricks.

"Brother Chen," Yue Yunzheng raised his cup, his gaze sincere, "that punch just now still lingers in my mind. The punch struck like a spear thrust, and landed like a spear sweep, seamlessly integrating spear techniques into fist fighting. Such mastery is unheard of. May I ask, Brother Chen, where you learned your fist techniques?"

Chen Jianghe raised his wine glass and clinked it against his, saying calmly, "It's just a coincidence, as the sect says."

He didn't elaborate.

The realization of transforming the spear into a fist came suddenly during the life-or-death battle with Zhao Tian. It involved perfecting the Heavenly Pivot Formation-Breaking Spear, utilizing the Spirit-Attaching Technique, and the instincts etched into his bones after countless near-death experiences.

These things are not to be told to outsiders.

Seeing that he didn't want to say more, Yue Yunzheng didn't press him for details. He simply nodded and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.

After a few drinks, he gradually became more talkative.

"Although Qingtian Prefecture and Changxi Prefecture are only separated by the Qingyan Mountain Range, their layouts are quite different." Yue Yunzheng put down his wine cup and lightly traced the outline of the map on the table with his finger. "The Cangyue Sect has been established for hundreds of years and has gradually risen from a fifth-grade sect to where it is today. It has relied not only on its strong fists, but also on one other thing: the ability to assess the situation and act accordingly."

He turned to Chen Jianghe and said, "The reason why my Cangyue Sect can dominate Qingtian Prefecture is because we chose the right side in the sect war three hundred years ago. At that time, the Tianjian Sect of the upper three prefectures was fighting with the Wanxiang Pavilion for the mineral veins in northern Yuzhou, and dozens of lower prefectures in the surrounding area were also involved. My ancestors of the Cangyue Sect staked the entire sect's resources to help the Tianjian Sect win that battle. After the war, the Tianjian Sect designated Qingtian Prefecture as the territory of the Cangyue Sect, and other sects either merged into it or moved out. It is only after three hundred years of management that we have the current situation."

Chen Jianghe listened quietly, then picked up his wine glass and took a sip.

He had heard snippets of these things from Han Shuitian, but not as detailed as Yue Yunzheng had described.

Yue Yunzheng continued, "But it's not uncommon in lower-ranking prefectures to have five factions governing the same area as Changxi Prefecture. Some prefectures even have two powerful factions."

"Establishment and mutual checks and balances: Some prefectures are in even worse shape, unable to even muster a decent fourth-rank sect. They have been thoroughly infiltrated by the power of mid-tier prefectures, leaving them riddled with holes. Their mines, medicinal fields, and even disciples have been taken away, leaving only empty shells."

He paused, then lowered his voice slightly, "Brother Chen, the Divine Form Sect selection is imminent, at which time the geniuses of the seventy-two prefectures of Yuzhou will gather. In the eyes of those people, the name of Changxi Prefecture is probably not even worth mentioning."

Chen Jianghe looked up at him, his expression unchanged.

Yue Yunzheng met his gaze and said, word by word, "Do you know that the true disciples of the first-grade sects in the upper three prefectures are already half-step True Yuan realm at the age of sixteen or seventeen, and there are many who break through to the True Yuan realm in their early twenties? Most of the geniuses in the middle twelve prefectures are also at the True Yuan realm as a foundation. In their eyes, we who come from the lower prefectures are just here to make up the numbers."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of several Changxi disciples at the table changed.

Fei Wenli's hand holding the wine glass tightened slightly, Liu Shuling frowned, and even the elders from the Lieyang Sect had solemn expressions.

Although they were unwilling to admit it, they knew that what Yue Yunzheng said was true.

In the past decade, how many young disciples at the True Yuan Realm have emerged from the five sects of Changxi Prefecture?

not a single one.

The peak of Gang Jin is already the limit, and half-step Zhen Yuan is even rarer.

Chen Jianghe is the only one who, with his half-step True Essence cultivation, can exchange a few blows with someone at the True Essence realm, even if they are at a higher level.

Even so, where would he rank among the geniuses of the seventy-two prefectures of Yuzhou?

Chen Jianghe remained completely unmoved.

He put down his wine glass, looked at Yue Yunzheng, and said calmly, "Brother Yue, since you know all this, why did you still go?"

Yue Yunzheng was stunned for a moment, then laughed.

That smile contained self-deprecation, as well as an inexplicable persistence.

"Because if you don't go, you'll be stuck in this small corner of Qingtian Prefecture forever." He pointed to the sky outside the hall. "The Cangyue Sect has been established for hundreds of years, how many True Yuan Realm cultivators have they produced? Dozens. But what about above the True Yuan Realm?"

He withdrew his hand, his gaze becoming profound. "My master once said that the martial artists of lower-ranking prefectures are not lacking in talent, but in vision. They spend their entire lives trapped in fourth-rank sects, never having seen how high the sky truly is, yet they think they have already reached the summit."

Even if they only get knocked down by a prodigy from one of the three upper prefectures during the selection process, at least they'll know how that strike was delivered, where the power came from, and how to catch up to that level of skill.

He looked at Chen Jianghe with a hint of admiration and mutual respect in his eyes. "Brother Chen, you were able to defeat a half-step True Essence cultivator when you were at the peak of your Qi Refining stage, and you were able to defeat me in eight moves when you were at the half-step True Essence stage. This is not just due to your talent. I can sense that you have blood on your hands and have faced life and death. Such a person is unique in Changxi Prefecture, but in Yuzhou, they are everywhere."

Chen Jianghe held his wine glass, his expression remaining calm.

But in his heart, he had engraved every word Yue Yunzheng said.

The prodigy of the three upper prefectures, he was half a step into the True Essence Realm at sixteen or seventeen, and broke through to the True Essence Realm in his early twenties.

The disciples of the twelve central prefectures are all at least at the True Essence Realm. But he, with his Five Elements aptitude and half-step True Essence Realm, will find it ten times harder to break through to the True Essence Realm than others.

The gap was larger than he had imagined.

But he showed no fear whatsoever.

He raised his glass and clinked it with Yue Yunzheng's: "That's precisely why we must go. If we don't go, we'll never know how high the sky is."

Yue Yunzheng's eyes lit up, and he tilted his head back to drink the wine in his cup in one gulp: "Excellent! Brother Chen's words have struck a chord with Yunzheng!"

After several rounds of drinks, the banquet was about to end.

Yue Yunzheng stood up, took a pale blue jade pendant from his waist, and presented it to Chen Jianghe with both hands.

The jade pendant was about the size of a palm, with a smooth and warm surface. The front was engraved with the character "岳" (Yue), and the back bore the emblem of the Cangyue Sect.

A majestic mountain peak, shrouded in mist, with a soaring eagle faintly visible atop its summit.

"This is a token of my Cangyue Sect discipleship," Yue Yunzheng said solemnly. "Brother Chen, if you don't mind, please accept it. If you ever come to Qingtian Prefecture in the future, you can use this jade to enter the Cangyue Sect's mountain gate, and I will certainly welcome you with open arms."

Chen Jianghe took the jade pendant. It felt warm and smooth to the touch, and he could sense a faint aura contained within it. This aura was deliberately left by Yue Yunzheng to verify the authenticity of the token.

He took out a Xingyi Sect token from his pocket and handed it to Yue Yunzheng.

The token is palm-sized, entirely blue-green, with the words "Form and Meaning" engraved on the front and the Lingmu Academy's mark on the back.

"If Brother Yue doesn't mind, this token will serve as a return gift."

Yue Yunzheng took it with both hands, examined it for a moment, and then solemnly put it into his pocket.

He raised his head, looked at Chen Jianghe, clasped his hands in a fist and smiled, "If we are fortunate enough to meet again in Yuzhou in the future, we will definitely drink and have a good time. I hope Brother Chen will take good care of me then."

Chen Jianghe returned the greeting with clasped hands: "Brother Yue, have a safe journey."

The two exchanged a smile, everything understood without a word.

Zhou Yan stood aside, watching this scene, a complex light flashing in his eyes.

Before he came to Changxi Prefecture, he thought he would surely win this trip, that the five factions in Changxi Prefecture were just a disorganized mess, and that the chief of Xingyi School was nothing but a clay chicken and a tile dog.

But seeing it with my own eyes today, I realize that there are always people more capable than you.

This Chen Jianghe is not only tough in fists, but also has an excellent character.

He defeated Yue Yunzheng in eight moves, yet remained humble and composed.

During the meal, when Yue Yunzheng mentioned the differences between the seventy-two prefectures of Yuzhou, he remained neither humble nor arrogant.

The parting gift was neither too intimate nor too distant, striking the perfect balance.

If this child doesn't die, he will surely become a great man in the future.

He straightened his robes, walked up to Cen Qianfan, clasped his hands in farewell, and said, "Sect Leader Cen, I'm sorry to have troubled you today. Within three days, double the amount of spiritual materials will be delivered to Xingyi Sect. Cangyue Sect always keeps its word, so please rest assured, Sect Leader Cen."

Cen Qianfan stood up, clasped his hands in return, and said, "Elder Zhou, please take care. If you have free time in the future, please feel free to visit Xingyi Sect."

Zhou Yan nodded and led the Cangyue Sect members out of the hall.

Yue Yunzheng walked last, glancing back at Chen Jianghe before leaving, nodding slightly, and then striding into the night.

Late at night, in a quiet room.

Chen Jianghe sat cross-legged on the couch, took out the azure jade pendant given to him by Yue Yunzheng, and examined it carefully in his palm.

The flickering candlelight made the cloud-like patterns on the jade pendant seem to come alive, and the eagle on the mountaintop seemed to be about to take flight.

He closed his eyes, replaying every detail of his fight with Yue Yunzheng that day in his mind.

The profound and weighty nature of the Cangyue Zhenyue Jue, and the unshakeable, mountain-like intent in Yue Yunzheng's palm techniques.

Each strike carried an overwhelming weight, like an entire mountain pressing down.

But precisely because it is too "heavy", it lacks variety.

With the Azure Dragon extending its claws, the Azure Mountain pressing down, and the Earth sinking, after three moves, he had grasped the essence of this palm technique.

On his eighth move, he found the weakness.

The punch is like a spear thrust, aiming directly at the weakest point of the palm strike.

Yue Yunzheng's protective aura shattered like paper, as evidenced by the two purplish-blue fist marks on his arms.

But Yue Yunzheng was not angry, not resentful, and not even a little bit unwilling.

The frankness of that bow, the sincerity of that toast, the mutual appreciation at parting.

This person is worth befriending.

Chen Jianghe opened his eyes and carefully put the jade pendant away.

He recalled what Yue Yunzheng had said.

The prodigy of the three upper prefectures, he was half a step into the True Essence Realm at sixteen or seventeen, and broke through to the True Essence Realm in his early twenties.

The disciples of the twelve central prefectures are at least at the True Essence Realm.

Those who came from Changxi Prefecture were seen by those people as nothing more than people who came to make up the numbers.

He looked down at his hands.

Half-step True Essence, Minor Completion of Golden Marrow, Five Elements Cycle in Harmony.

This level of strength is unmatched among his peers in Changxi Prefecture, but where would he rank among the geniuses of the seventy-two prefectures of Yuzhou?

he does not know.

But he knew one thing: he couldn't stop.

Half-step True Essence is just the beginning, not the end.

If one can make another breakthrough before the selection and enter the True Essence Realm, then one will have a chance to compete.

However, if all five elements advance simultaneously, the difficulty of breaking through is ten times that of others.

Gu Changqing's life ended here, and countless other brilliant talents in the history of Xingyi School have fallen at this hurdle.

Can he get over it?

Chen Jianghe took a deep breath, suppressing the surging thoughts in his mind.

Yue Yunzheng is right. If you don't go, you'll never know how high the sky is.

Go, even if you get slapped down, at least you'll know how that slap was delivered.

He closed his eyes and focused his mind on his dantian.

The five-colored rays of light rotated in a ring, with gold, blue, red, yellow, and indigo connected end to end, mutually generating and restraining each other, perfectly harmonious and unobstructed.

The foundation for the half-step True Essence has been solidified.

The next step is to take advantage of this time to further advance the Five Elements Cycle, making final preparations for breaking through to the True Essence Realm.

The next morning, at Baicao Peak.

When Chen Jianghe arrived at Han Shuitian's residence, the courtyard was empty. The green lamp had been extinguished, but the ashes were still warm.

He stood in front of the door, about to knock, when he heard footsteps behind him.

Han Shuitian walked over from the medicinal herb field with his hands behind his back. His gray linen clothes were damp with dew, and he was holding a few freshly picked herbs in his hands.

He wasn't surprised to see Chen Jianghe standing at the door, and simply said, "Didn't sleep well last night?"

Chen Jianghe followed behind him and said truthfully, "Master, I'm thinking about how to prepare for the trip to Yuzhou."

Han Shuitian didn't reply, but simply pushed open the fence gate and walked into the hall.

He placed the herbs on the table, sat cross-legged on the futon, and gestured for Chen Jianghe to sit down.

"Come, let me tell you about it."

He took a folded booklet from his sleeve and handed it over.

Chen Jianghe took it and unfolded it.

The folded booklet was densely covered with names, cultivation levels, and sects, ranging from the top three prefectures to the lower prefectures, totaling over a hundred people.

Every line of text is written neatly, with ink marks of both new and old, clearly indicating that this list has been accumulated and revised over many years.

"This is a list of the most outstanding talents of this generation from the seventy-two prefectures of Yuzhou, compiled by the sect leader's secret guards," Han Shuitian said slowly, his voice aged. "Those who can make the list are the top figures from their respective prefectures. Take a close look and get a general idea."

Chen Jianghe turned the pages one by one, his gaze growing increasingly solemn.

On the first page, Lin Qingyuan, a direct descendant of the Heavenly Sword Sect, reached the half-step True Yuan Realm at sixteen, entered the True Yuan Realm at eighteen, and reached the second level of the True Yuan Realm at twenty. He once ventured alone into the desolate mountains with only his sword, slaying the True Yuan Realm demon beast, the Crimson Scaled Flood Dragon, and retreating unscathed. His swordsmanship was divine, earning him the title of "Number One Swordsman of His Generation."

On the second page, Su Yao, a true disciple of the Myriad Manifestations Pavilion, is proficient in the martial arts of a hundred schools. At seventeen, she reached the half-step True Essence Realm, and at nineteen, she entered the True Essence Realm. Now, she is at the peak of the first level of the True Essence Realm and is known as "invincible among her peers." This person has extremely high talent and once defeated seven chief disciples of the twelve prefectures in succession by her own strength, with no one able to withstand a single blow.

On page three, Yan Wugui, a core disciple of the Xuantian Sect, has cultivated the Xuantian Nine Transformations to the fourth transformation. He reached the half-step True Yuan realm at sixteen, entered the True Yuan realm at eighteen, and is now at the second level of the True Yuan realm. He rarely makes a move, but when he does, his opponents never last more than ten moves. His combat prowess is unfathomable, and his strength is unfathomable.

He flipped through the pages one by one, and found that most of the geniuses in the twelve prefectures were at least at the True Yuan Realm.

The cultivation level, battle record, and sect evaluation listed after those names exuded a suffocating sense of oppression in every line.

He turned to the last few pages and saw his own name.

"Chen Jianghe, chief of Lingmu Academy of Xingyi School, half-step True Yuan. He defeated Lie Fangxu, a half-step True Yuan, with his Gang Jin at its peak, and then defeated Yue Yunzheng, chief of Cangyue School, in eight moves after reaching the half-step True Yuan level. His spear skills are divine, and his fist and foot techniques are also excellent. He is calm and composed and should not be underestimated. His combat strength is assessed as slightly below average."

In just a few lines, his efforts over the past three years have been condensed into a simple description.

Chen Jianghe closed the folding book and looked up at Han Shuitian: "Master, where do I rank?"

Han Shuitian stroked his beard and smiled, "In terms of cultivation, you rank last among these people. In terms of combat strength, you're below average. But in terms of temperament, I believe you're second to none."

He stood up, put his hands behind his back, walked to the window, and looked at the distant, rolling mountains.

"Jiang He, you must remember one thing." He turned around, his gaze sharp as lightning, "On the day of the selection, it's not just about how strong your fists are, but also how steady your heart is."

He walked up to Chen Jianghe, patted him heavily on the shoulder, and said, "You rose from humble beginnings, walking on the edge of life and death every step of the way. Blood Hand Gang, Green Wolf Gang, Chang Family, Blazing Sun Sect, Demonic Sect—every time you fought your way out of dire straits, didn't you? This resilience is your greatest asset."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and softened his voice: "So, you only need to do one thing well, and that is to survive to the end. The selection is not a boxing match, where whoever has the stronger fist will definitely win. It's real combat, a game between life and death."

Chen Jianghe remained silent for a long time before slowly nodding: "This disciple understands."

Han Shuitian looked at him: "It's good that you understand. Go and prepare, the selection day is not far away. I'm waiting to see how you, in Yuzhou, will let those geniuses from the three upper prefectures taste defeat."

Chen Jianghe stood up and solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute: "This disciple will remember the abbot's teachings."

Han Shuitian nodded, turned around and walked back to the prayer mat to sit down again.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and his expression returned to normal: "Go. Before the selection, cultivate diligently and solidify your foundation. As for other matters, the sect will take care of them for you."

Chen Jianghe clasped his hands in farewell and turned to walk out the door.

As he reached the door, Han Shuitian's voice came from behind him: "Jiang He."

He paused, then turned around to look.

Han Shuitian held his teacup, his gaze fixed on the man's face. His old eyes held a deep meaning, and also a hint of expectation.

"Yue Yunzheng is a man worth befriending. Although the Cangyue Sect has a dispute with Changxi Prefecture over mineral veins, he is an open-minded person who knows when to advance and retreat and is tactful. Such a person may become an asset to you in Yuzhou in the future."

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