Physical enlightenment begins with Xingyi Quan

Chapter 75 Xingyi (Please subscribe!)

West of Changxi Prefecture lies Qingyan Mountain.

The mountain is not particularly steep, but it possesses a majestic air. A winding stone staircase leads up the mountain, flanked by ancient, gnarled pines, where birds occasionally flit by, their calls clear and melodious.

Chen Jianghe stood at the foot of the mountain and looked up.

At the end of the steps, hidden in the clouds and mist, lies the Xingyi School's mountain gate.

This place truly embodies the grandeur of a major martial arts sect.

He took a deep breath and stepped onto the bluestone steps.

One step, two steps, three steps...

The higher you go, the stronger the mountain wind becomes, making your clothes flutter.

About half an hour later, the view suddenly opened up before us.

A simple and magnificent stone gate stands before you, over three zhang high. The three large characters "Xingyi Men" on the lintel are strong and powerful, faintly revealing a martial arts will.

He took a deep breath and stepped onto the last stone step.

Under the archway, two young disciples dressed in dark blue short jackets stood on the left and right.

"Who goes there?" the disciple on the left asked, his voice calm yet wary.

Chen Jianghe stepped forward three steps and clasped his hands in greeting: "Chen Jianghe, a disciple of the Xingyi Martial Arts School in Yilin County, has come here on my master's orders."

"Yilin County?" The disciple on the right pondered for a moment. "Uncle-Master Li Chengyue?"

"Exactly."

The two disciples exchanged a glance, and the disciple on the left said, "Please wait a moment."

He turned and quickly walked up the stone steps, and soon returned with an elderly man in his fifties with a thin face, wearing a green robe.

The old man walked steadily, his gaze falling on Chen Jianghe, scrutinizing him from head to toe, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "Li Chengyue—after all these years, he's finally willing to recommend someone back?"

"Yes." Chen Jianghe bowed.

"Did you bring Junior Brother Li's keepsake?"

Chen Jianghe took out the dark iron plaque from his pocket and presented it with both hands.

The old man took the token, stroking the two characters "形意" (Xingyi) on it. After a moment of silence, he slowly nodded: "Since you possess this iron token, according to the sect rules, your innate talent and cultivation level should be tested. Do you know the nine forms of innate talent?"

Chen Jianghe shook his head: "This junior does not know."

"In martial arts cultivation, innate talent is the foundation," Elder Shouzhuo said slowly. "The Xingyi School divides innate talent into nine types, with the first type being the lowest and the ninth type being the best. Innate talent is not fixed for life, but it determines the speed of progress and the level of potential in the early stages."

He paused briefly: "Come with me."

After saying that, he turned around and continued up the stone steps. Chen Jianghe followed closely behind.

After passing through the archway, a bright and open view suddenly appeared before me.

A wide, open square, paved with bluestone slabs, was a hundred feet square.

At the end of the square stands a magnificent hall with flying eaves and bracket sets, and the plaque above it bears the three characters "Xingyi Hall".

There were already more than ten people in the square, all waiting.

The old man led Chen Jianghe to a side hall on the west side of the square. The hall door was open, and the interior was simply furnished with only a long table and a few wooden chairs.

"Wait here," the old man said, then turned and entered the side hall.

Chen Jianghe stood outside the hall, his gaze sweeping over the people in the square.

There were about fifteen or sixteen people, mostly between sixteen and twenty years old, both men and women, dressed in different styles, some rich and some simple, but all of them had a strong aura, the lowest being the early stage of the Transformation Realm.

Three of them were particularly eye-catching.

On the far left is a young man in brocade robes, about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a handsome face and an arrogant expression. His aura is so refined and restrained that he is actually at the Transformation Realm.

He was surrounded by several people who were talking in hushed tones, their tone full of flattery.

In the middle was a woman, who looked no more than sixteen or seventeen years old. She was dressed in a light yellow outfit, with a slender figure and a beautiful face. Her eyes, in particular, seemed to sparkle with light.

She stood alone, not talking to anyone, just quietly looking at the distant mountain scenery. Her aura was hidden, but Chen Jianghe could sense that she was also at the Transformation Realm.

On the far right is a thin boy.

He was in his early twenties, pale-faced and thin, wearing a faded coarse cloth shirt, standing alone in the corner, looking down at the tips of his shoes.

His breath was faint, almost imperceptible, but Chen Jianghe, upon closer inspection, could detect a solid and powerful force hidden beneath that faint breath—it was also a transforming force.

"Next, Zhao Mingxuan."

An old man's voice came from inside the side hall.

The young man in brocade straightened his clothes and strode in with his head held high.

About half an incense stick later, he walked out of the side hall, his face filled with undisguised smugness.

"Six-elemental foundation, reaching the Transformation Realm at eighteen, not bad." The old man's voice then followed, "Included in the inner sect candidate list."

The young man in brocade robes smiled and nodded slightly to the group that had gathered around him. When his gaze swept over the woman in yellow, he paused for a moment, a flash of fervor in his eyes, before returning to normal.

"Next, Shen Qingyan."

The woman in yellow stepped inside.

This time, it took a little longer.

About an incense stick later, she walked out of the side hall, her expression still calm, but her eyes had a more lively and spirited look.

"Seven-elemental talent, reaching the Transformation Realm at sixteen." The old man's voice carried a rare hint of admiration. "Included in the inner sect candidate list."

A low gasp of surprise rippled through the square.

"Seven Forms—my god, this talent is top-tier even among the inner disciples, right?"

"At sixteen, he's already at the Transformation Realm, and still possesses the Seven Forms Root Bone—no wonder—"

"It seems this year's inner disciple selection is going to be quite a show."

Shen Qingyan ignored the gossip and walked to the side, still standing alone.

"Next, Lin Yan."

The thin boy trembled, took a deep breath, and walked into the side hall with his head down.

This time, it took the longest.

Two incense sticks later, he came out, his face even paler than when he went in, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead.

The old man's voice paused for a moment before slowly ringing out: "Four elements of constitution, reaching the level of internal strength at twenty."

The square fell silent for a moment, then a few very soft snickers rang out.

"Four Forms? This—can also be used to neutralize internal energy?"

"He probably used some kind of secret medicine to force a breakthrough, right? His foundation must be weak—"

Lin Yan lowered his head, his hands tightly gripping the hem of his clothes.

But the old man's next words stunned everyone: "However, if someone is under twenty years old and has already reached the Transformation Realm, according to the sect rules, they will be exceptionally admitted to the inner sect."

The square fell into a deathly silence.

The expressions on the faces of those who had been scoffing suddenly became quite interesting.

Lin Yan suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief, which then turned into ecstasy, but he quickly suppressed it again.

He bowed deeply towards the side hall, stepped aside, still keeping his head down, but his shoulders trembled slightly.

Chen Jianghe watched quietly, understanding dawning on his mind.

While Xingyi School values ​​innate talent when accepting disciples, its rules also allow for exceptions for those who reach the Transformation Realm before the age of twenty, regardless of their innate talent.

This is an opportunity for martial artists with ordinary talent but who are willing to work hard or have other opportunities to break free from their innate limitations.

But what happens after you enter the inner circle?

The difference in innate talent, the allocation of resources, and the attention from teachers and mentors—the gap between them is probably only just beginning.

"Next up, Chen Jianghe."

Chen Jianghe snapped out of his thoughts and stepped into the side hall.

The hall was dimly lit, and three people sat behind a long table.

In the center sat the old man in the green robe, flanked by two middle-aged men, one with a stern face and the other with a gentle expression.

"Chen Jianghe, Yilin County Xingyi Martial Arts School." Chen Jianghe clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"The disciples of Junior Brother Li Chengyue—" the old man in the center slowly spoke, "I am Zhou Qingyuan, an outer sect steward. These two are Elder Sun Ji and Elder Wu You from the inner sect."

Chen Jianghe bowed again.

Elder Zhou looked him over and suddenly said, "Give me your hand."

Chen Jianghe extended his right arm.

Elder Zhou placed three fingers on his wrist pulse, and a gentle force quietly probed in, carefully examining it.

The entire process lasted approximately one hundred breaths.

Elder Zhou withdrew his hand, his eyes showing even greater surprise: "Solid foundation, abundant qi and blood, solidified internal energy—unlike a beginner."

He paused and looked at the two elders on his left and right.

Elder Sun asked coldly, "What about their physical attributes?"

Elder Zhou pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "The Five Elements."

His physical attributes are above average.

Elder Sun frowned slightly and said nothing more.

Elder Wu smiled gently: "To reach the Transformation Realm at eighteen with the Five Elements aptitude is quite remarkable. Junior Brother Li has indeed taught a good disciple."

Elder Zhou nodded, picked up a register, and wrote down: "Chen Jianghe, eighteen years old, Five Elements Root Bone, Early Stage of Transformation Force."

Enter candidates for inner gate positions.

After writing, he looked at Chen Jianghe: "According to the sect's rules, inner sect candidates must wait at the Anju Inn for three days. After the heads of each academy review the roster, they will be assigned accommodations. Take this token to the inn and find the manager to arrange your lodgings."

As he spoke, he handed over a wooden token, with the character "形意" (Xingyi) engraved on the front and the number "丁九" (Ding Jiu) on the back.

Chen Jianghe accepted it and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Elder."

"Go."

Chen Jianghe withdrew from the side hall.

The eyes of the crowd in the square converged on him, some with curiosity, some with scrutiny, and some with indifference.

His physical attributes were not bad at the age of eighteen, but they were not amazing either.

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