Physical enlightenment begins with Xingyi Quan

Chapter 90 Regret (Please subscribe!)

When Mu Tian returned to the Golden Pivot Academy, he walked through the martial arts arena, around the main hall, and stopped in front of the academy master's meditation room, gently knocking on the door.

"Come in."

Shen Hao was bent over his long desk, writing and reviewing official documents without raising his head.

Mu Tian bowed: "Master, I have already conveyed the message to Lingmu Academy."

"What did he say?"

Mu Tian paused for a moment, then repeated Chen Jianghe's original words: "Junior Brother Chen said that he is currently focused on his cultivation and needs to consolidate his realm, so he has no time to come. He asked me to convey his gratitude to the academy master for his kindness."

The pen tip paused slightly.

Shen Hao raised his eyes, his gaze falling curiously on Mu Tian's face: "You refused?"

"Yes." Mu Tian lowered his head. "This disciple also specifically mentioned the academy master's past friendship with Uncle Li, but he—still did not change his tune."

A brief silence fell over the quiet room.

Shen Hao put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and looked at the old locust tree outside the window, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.

"He'd rather miss an opportunity than take risks. This boy—so cautious? Senior brother, if only you had been this way back then..."

'

He muttered to himself, his voice carrying a hint of surprise, a hint of confusion, and a touch of admiration that he himself was unaware of.

The insights of a True Essence Realm expert are an opportunity that countless Transformation Realm disciples dream of.

The true essence of the spear technique of the Golden Pivot Academy is a closely guarded secret that is never revealed to outsiders.

Shen Hao personally extended the invitation, offering a way out, demonstrating his sincerity, and giving others an opportunity they would kill for.

But that junior from Lingmu Academy remained unmoved.

"It does have some merit," Shen Hao murmured.

He recalled a line from the secret report: "One man, one gun, wiped out the Caoshui Gang. Three at the peak of the Transformation Realm and three at the Great Completion of the Transformation Realm, all were killed."

Then I recalled that earlier file—"Battle of Black Wind Cave: He escaped unscathed from the pursuit of the Gang Jin bandit leader and returned with crucial intelligence."

cautious.

Decisive.

Do not be greedy for credit, do not act rashly, and do not let personal gain cloud your judgment.

Such temperament, coupled with such a talent for marksmanship—

Shen Hao suddenly felt a little dazed.

Senior brother, what kind of disciple have you taught?

"Headmaster?" Mu Tian asked cautiously.

Shen Hao snapped out of his daze and waved his hand, "I know, you can go now."

Mu Tian bowed and withdrew.

A complex emotion suddenly welled up in Shen Hao's heart.

Of course he knew why Chen Jianghe refused. Sun Hongyao died in Black Wind Cave, and Sun Yuhai was still resentful. The attitude of everyone in the Golden Pivot Academy towards Chen Jianghe was very subtle. Shen Hao knew all of this, but after all, he was still the head of the academy.

If he were to speak up to protect someone, Sun Yuhai would have to swallow his resentment, no matter how great it was.

But so what?

Chen Jianghe didn't believe him.

Or rather, this young man, who came from a small martial arts school in Yilin County, simply didn't dare to stake his life on the idea that "he might not have bad intentions."

Shen Hao closed his eyes.

He recalled twenty years ago, when his senior brother Li Chengyue was still alive.

Back then, the Golden Pivot Academy wasn't so complicated, and there weren't so many people who were untrustworthy.

Between fellow disciples, faith is faith, and disbelief is disbelief.

Shen Hao opened his eyes.

He took out a secret report from his sleeve.

This was just delivered this afternoon; it contains clues about the activities of remnants of the Sun Moon Cult around Changxi Prefecture.

The fact that Black Wolf used the Sun and Moon Demon Art in Black Wind Cave has been confirmed by several elders of the Punishment Hall.

The appearance of demonic powers in the world is certainly not an isolated case.

As one of the five schools of Changxi, Xingyi School has a responsibility to thoroughly investigate this matter to prevent a repeat of the catastrophe of a century ago.

This matter needs to be discussed with Lingmuyuan.

Han Shuitian is over seventy years old and has the highest seniority and the deepest experience in the Xingyi school.

As for Chen Jianghe—

His trip was on official business, not because of Li Chengyue, nor because of the young disciple who refused his invitation.

He just wanted to see.

Let's see just how capable that disciple, personally taught by Li Chengyue, really is.

Shen Hao remained silent for a moment, then stepped towards the door.

"I'm going to Lingmu Courtyard," he said to the disciple guarding the door. "No need for me to follow."

He paused, then added, as if trying to convince himself: "My trip here is on official business, not because of Li Chengyue. If this boy's talent for spear fighting is buried in Lingmu Academy, it would be a loss for Xingyi Sect."

After saying that, he strode away.

On the west side of Dizi Peak, in the main courtyard.

Shen Hao stopped at the edge of the bamboo forest.

His gaze pierced through the sparse bamboo leaves and landed on the figure practicing shooting in the courtyard.

In the center of the courtyard, Chen Jianghe stood with his eyes slightly closed, his aura deep and composed. His grip on the gun was extremely steady, the tip pointing diagonally to the ground, the butt resting against his waist. He looked like a clay or wooden sculpture.

Suddenly, the gun moved.

Without warning or preparation, the spear tip suddenly sprang up, like a venomous snake that had been lying in wait suddenly raising its head!

One stab!

The spear's edge pierced the air, emitting an extremely faint whistling sound.

Three zhang away, a leaf blown down by the wind was precisely pierced by the tip of a spear and nailed to the blue brick of the courtyard wall.

The veins are intact, the leaf tissue is undamaged, and there is only a small hole in the center.

Shen Hao's pupils suddenly contracted.

Having immersed himself in marksmanship for forty years, how could he not see the weight of this shot?

Accurate, fast, and steady.

The three words are simple to say, but to master them is as difficult as climbing to heaven.

What shocked him even more was Chen Jianghe's posture when he drew his gun. There were no superfluous movements, no fancy starting stances, no deliberate exertion of force. He simply raised his hand, drew the gun, and retracted it, all perfectly natural, as if that shot was an integral part of his body.

Shen Hao involuntarily took half a step forward, his eyes fixed on the figure in green.

Chen Jianghe was unaware that someone was secretly observing him, after all, it was the observation of a True Yuan Realm expert, and he was completely immersed in practicing his spear technique.

That last shot was the third move of the "Heavenly Pivot Breaking Formation Spear"—"Meteor Chasing the Moon".

This technique emphasizes the combination of speed, accuracy, and ruthlessness. The spear strikes like a shooting star chasing the moon, advancing relentlessly with no retreat.

He has practiced it three thousand times.

After practicing it three thousand times, he finally grasped a bit of the trick.

Not enough, still not enough.

He lowered his waist again, gripped his gun, and drew it!

"laugh"

Another shot, another leaf pinned to the wall.

Shen Hao's eyelids twitched as he watched.

He realized that this shot was faster than the previous one.

Although it was only by a hair's breadth, that hair's breadth was a matter of life and death in the eyes of a true master. What was even more terrifying was that Chen Jianghe was not "practicing" but "cultivating".

He adjusted with every shot.

The angle of the wrist, the range of waist and hip rotation, the timing of the force gathering, the trajectory of the spear tip thrusting out —

He repeated the same action over and over again, each time more precise, smoother, and more lethal than the last.

Shen Hao suddenly recalled the scene of practicing shooting when he was young.

The master said, "The Heavenly Pivot Formation-Breaking Spear has nine killing moves. Each move must be practiced ten thousand times before one can truly master it."

He practiced.

It takes three years to get started, five years to achieve some success, and ten years to truly grasp the "unyielding" spirit of the spear.

But this young man in front of me—

Three months.

With only a copy of a secret manual from the armory, and through his own exploration, he has mastered the Heavenly Pivot Formation-Breaking Spear to such a high level.

Shen Hao closed his eyes.

A thought flashed through his mind: If this kid had entered the Golden Pivot Academy back then, if someone had guided him, if someone had provided training and sparring partners, what would his life be like now?

When he opened his eyes and looked at the figure in the courtyard again, the complex expression in his eyes contained something he himself couldn't quite explain.

In the courtyard, Chen Jianghe stood with his gun holstered.

He didn't continue practicing, but stood there, closing his eyes and lost in thought.

A moment later, he fired again, and this time it was faster than any of the previous shots!

The spear's light pierced the air, leaving a faint blue trail in its wake!

That was an unusual phenomenon caused by the friction between the concentrated force and the air!

Three zhang away, a fallen leaf was instantly shattered into dust the moment it was touched by the spear's light!

Shen Hao's breath hitched.

"The spear's edge pierced through three feet of the body—"

He murmured the words from the secret report, and only now, seeing it with his own eyes, did he truly understand the weight of those six words.

At the peak of the Transformation Realm, the spear's light pierced through the body three feet.

This means that Chen Jianghe's marksmanship has reached a level that is very close to the threshold of "controlling the spear with intention".

The next step is the Gang Jin (罡劲).

The next step is to use inner energy to power the spear's beam and kill enemies from a distance.

That's a level that many martial artists who practice spear techniques for decades can hardly reach.

He was only eighteen years old. He had only been a student for three months.

Shen Hao suddenly felt a pang of regret.

Looking back now, the decisiveness with which he crossed out the name "Chen Jianghe" on that list of inner sect candidates seems incredibly foolish!

The five elements and their underlying structure are rooted in old grudges inherited from a master.

At the time, he felt these two reasons were sufficient.

But now, looking at the figure in blue standing in the courtyard with a gun, he realized that what he had missed might have been a genius who would make the Golden Pivot Academy stand out among the five academies for decades to come.

"A prodigy—" Shen Hao muttered to himself, his voice bitter, "Truly a marksmanship prodigy."

He stood there, motionless for a long time. It wasn't until a mountain breeze blew by, rustling the bamboo leaves, that he suddenly came to his senses, took a deep breath, and turned to leave.

Deep within Baicaofeng lies Han Shuitian's residence.

This is a very simple courtyard with blue tiles and white walls, surrounded by a bamboo fence. The courtyard is full of various medicinal herbs, and their fragrance is rich and mixed with the wisps of sandalwood, which is very refreshing.

Shen Hao pushed open the half-closed fence gate, walked through the path, and stopped in front of the main hall.

The hall door was open. The room was dimly lit, with only a single lamp on the long table illuminating the aged figure seated cross-legged on a futon.

Han Shuitian wore a moon-white Taoist robe, his beard and hair were all white, his face was thin and refined, his eyes were slightly closed, and his breathing was long and even.

Shen Hao stepped into the hall, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, and said, "Uncle-Master Han."

Han Shuitian slowly opened his eyes, his weathered gaze shining brightly in the dim light: "Dean Shen, what a rare guest you are."

Shen Hao sat down on the prayer mat in front of the desk and got straight to the point: "Uncle-Master Han, I have come here to discuss matters concerning the Sun Moon Divine Sect."

Han Shuitian's eyes narrowed slightly.

"The bandit leader of Black Wind Cave cultivates the Sun and Moon Demonic Art," Shen Hao continued. "The Hall of Punishments has confirmed this. The remnants of the Demonic Cult appearing in the world is likely not an isolated case. This disciple would like to ask my master for guidance."

Han Shuitian remained silent for a moment, then raised his hand and gently adjusted the wick of the lamp on the table. The flickering flame cast shadows on his face.

"Regarding the matter of the Demonic Sect," he spoke slowly, his voice calm, "when you need to take action, just call upon this old man. If you want to kill, these old bones of mine can still do it."

He paused, then his gaze returned to Shen Hao's face: "As for other trivial matters, let's not disturb the peace."

Shen Hao was taken aback.

Shen Hao didn't expect Han Shuitian to refuse so decisively: "Uncle Han—"

"Sect Master Shen," Han Shuitian interrupted him, "I have been in seclusion for many years and have long since withdrawn from worldly affairs. The Demonic Sect's reappearance is a matter for the elders of our sect to handle. You came to see me not just for this matter, but for something else, right?"

Shen Hao remained silent.

Han Shuitian looked at him, and a barely perceptible glint flashed in his cloudy old eyes.

Shen Hao took a deep breath: "When I came here today, I passed by the Lingmu Academy disciples' residence and saw a young man practicing with a spear."

""

Han Shuitian remained silent.

"Chen Jianghe," Shen Hao continued, "Li Chengyue's disciple. He entered Lingmu Academy three months ago, possessing the Five Elements aptitude, and reached the Transformation Realm at eighteen."

He paused, a complex emotion creeping into his voice: "He has mastered the Heavenly Pivot Formation-Breaking Spear technique to a minor level."

A brief silence fell over the room.

Han Shuitian kept his eyes closed, his face expressionless.

"Uncle-Master Han," Shen Hao said, looking at him, "this boy has an exceptional talent for spear techniques. If he stays in Lingmu Academy, it might hinder his development. I am willing to make an exception and accept him into Jinshu Academy to personally teach him the true essence of spear techniques."

Han Shuitian slowly opened his eyes.

He looked at Shen Hao with a gaze so calm it was almost empty, yet it sent a chill down Shen Hao's spine for no apparent reason.

"Dean Shen," Han Shuitian said calmly, "when you crossed out Chen Jianghe's name, did you ever think of this day?"

Shen Hao's expression changed slightly.

"Now that he's achieved success in marksmanship, you're putting on this show of appreciating talent." Han Shuitian looked at him, his voice low but each word sharp as a needle: "When the Golden Pivot Academy was compiling the roster, they disliked his physical attributes and his past grudges with his master. Now that he's made something of himself, what's with this show of appreciating talent?"

Shen Hao opened his mouth as if to say something, but was interrupted by Han Shuitian waving his hand.

Suddenly, a captivating glint flashed in those cloudy old eyes!

"Don't bother explaining." Han Shuitian's aged eyes were now filled with mockery. "I've lived for seventy-three years, what haven't I seen?"

"I know exactly what you, Shen Hao, are thinking."

"Back then, Li Chengyue was seriously injured and left the mountain, and you harbored resentment in your heart. This resentment festered for twenty years, turning into a thorn. It's stuck in your heart, and you can't pull it out."

"That's why you can't stand Li Chengyue's apprentices no matter how you look at them."

He stared at Shen Hao, enunciating each word clearly: "Shen Hao, ask yourself honestly, do you truly dislike his innate talent, or do you dislike that his master is Li Chengyue?"

"Uncle-Master—" Shen Hao began, his voice bitter.

"Shut up," Han Shuitian interrupted him. "I haven't finished speaking yet."

Han Shuitian stared at Shen Hao, his cloudy old eyes now filled with anger: "Now that he's succeeded, what's with this show of appreciating talent?!"

"If you want to spar, then spar; if you want to steal someone, then steal someone. Do you think I'm just a decoration?!"

He never expected that Han Shuitian, who usually stayed away from worldly affairs and lived in seclusion, would be so angry for Chen Jianghe.

"Uncle-Master Han, please calm down," he quickly said. "This disciple had absolutely no intention of offending you—"

"Calm down?" Han Shuitian sneered. "What is there for this old man to be angry about? Lingmu Academy accepted him because he paid the full amount of money, in accordance with our master's rule of 'life'." Everything in this world has a glimmer of hope. Wealth is hope, perseverance is hope, and opportunity is hope. His ability to grasp this glimmer is his good fortune.

"He's currently cultivating at my Lingmu Academy, getting along well with that girl Shuling, and has no conflicts with my disciples. This old man may be useless now, but I still have some ability to protect my own disciples. Shall we give it a try?!"

Shen Hao was speechless.

Han Shuitian looked at Shen Hao: "Dean Shen, you may leave. I have taken note of the matter concerning the Sun Moon Sect. There is no need to mention anything else."

Shen Hao sat on the futon, remaining silent for a long time.

He knew Han Shuitian was right. He was the one who personally crossed Chen Jianghe off the candidate list. Now, seeing that Chen's marksmanship had improved, he had the audacity to come and demand him back—

Shen Hao smiled wryly, stood up, and bowed to Han Shuitian with clasped hands: "Uncle Han is right. This disciple—takes his leave."

He turned and walked towards the door, pausing slightly as he crossed the threshold.

He turned around and looked at the aged figure illuminated by the green lamp. Han Shuitian was still sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, his face as calm as an ancient well.

Shen Hao opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he didn't say a word. He stepped out of the courtyard and slowly walked back along the bluestone path he had come from.

As he passed the west side of Disciple Peak, he stopped again. In that small courtyard, the shadows of gunfire still lingered.

Chen Jianghe was still practicing. Again and again, shot after shot, each shot faster, more accurate, and more ruthless than the last.

Shen Hao stood at the edge of the bamboo forest, watching quietly.

He saw the long spear transform into afterimages under the moonlight, saw the fallen leaves pierced by the spear's edge fall like snowflakes, and saw the figure in green tirelessly darting and turning in the center of the courtyard.

He stared at it for a long time.

It was long enough for the moon to climb to its zenith, long enough for the man in the courtyard to finally put away his gun and stand still, long enough for him to lose track of how long he had been standing there.

Then he turned and left, his steps slower and heavier than when he came.

In the darkness, he walked alone on the mountain path, surrounded only by the chirping of insects and the sound of the wind.

He suddenly remembered how another young man practiced shooting many years ago.

They practiced like this again and again, tirelessly.

The spear flashed like lightning, precisely piercing through the fallen leaves.

That person later became the most dazzling genius in the Golden Pivot Academy and the senior brother that Shen Hao respected most.

Later, that person was seriously injured and left the mountain, never to return.

Shen Hao closed his eyes.

He seemed to hear a voice echoing in his ears, a voice from twenty years ago asking Li Chengyue: "Senior brother, why are you so strict with junior brother Jiang Tianjun? His aptitude is only at the fifth level; no matter how well he trains, what good will it do?"

He still remembers Li Chengyue's answer clearly: "Innate talent is given by one's parents, but skills are cultivated by oneself. If one is willing to put in the hard work, even the Five Elements can be mastered to the level of the Nine Elements. If one is unwilling to put in the hard work, even the Nine Elements will be useless."

Shen Hao opened his eyes and looked at the dark courtyard. Suddenly, he felt a tightness in his chest.

He recalled the figure practicing spear in the courtyard just now. In three months, relying solely on rubbings, he had mastered the Heavenly Pivot Formation-Breaking Spear technique to a minor level. What kind of talent was that? What kind of temperament was that?

He didn't know. But he did know that such a disciple should have entered the Golden Pivot Academy, should have received the true teachings of spear techniques from him, Shen Hao, and might have been able to carry the banner of the Golden Pivot Academy in the future.

But now—Chen Jianghe is a member of Lingmu Academy.

He paid the money and entered Lingmu Academy.

His only connection with the Golden Prison was Sun Hongyao, who died in the Black Wind Cave; Sun Yuhai, whom he still harbored resentment towards; and Shen Hao, the headmaster who crossed out his name.

Shen Hao suddenly smiled.

That smile carried bitterness, self-deprecation, and an indescribable weariness.

He turned and walked towards the Golden Prison.

After taking three steps, he suddenly stopped and turned back.

The small courtyard remained dark, standing quietly in the moonlight.

Shen Hao took one last look and murmured softly, "Senior brother—you've taken on a good disciple."

He turned and left.

This time, there was no turning back.

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