Chapter 2: Condensing an Immortal Vein in a Single Day
"I am Yun He. I come from the Central Continent Empire. Do you also happen to be touring through this place with your soul, fellow Daoist?"
“Central Continent Empire!?” Fang Chen’s heart skipped a beat.
The name “Central Continent” was something he was familiar with. For as long as he could remember, he had always heard legends singing of a land where experts were as abundant as clouds in the sky; a territory that spanned far and wide; a genuine first-tier empire!
However, those were just legends in the end. He had never seen anyone from the Central Continent Empire. Moreover, some people even claimed that such a place did not exist in the first place.
“Wait a minute, your divine soul seems a little odd. You–Huh? You left your body with your true soul, not your nascent soul?” A gasp escaped Daoist Yun's mouth, his shock palpable.
He quickly struck out with his palm.
Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Fang Chen tried to dodge instinctively but was unable to react in time, and when he opened his eyes again, he had already re-entered his body.
“He’s actually an ordinary mortal?! That’s…strange. How can a mere mortal possess such a strong soul? Furthermore, he has the ability to control it to the degree where it can leave his body at will....' Daoist Yun's thoughts raced.
Fang Chen clasped his fist and, as he was unable to locate the daoist, bowed in a random direction. "Sorry to disappoint you, senior, but I’m only a cripple with a shattered qi sea."
Daoist Yun He roared with laughter. “Disappointed? Hahaha! How could I be disappointed? I was originally planning to head back after traveling the world for a hundred years. But who would have thought that I would stumble upon a diamond in the rough like yourself? I guess this is what you call fate. Your divine soul is strong and sturdy. You’re a good seedling for cultivation.”
Since Yun He was in his nascent soul state, other than Fang Chen, no one else in the General’s Manor could hear his hearty laughter.
“Cultivation? As in Immortal Cultivation?! Are there really immortals in this world, senior…?” Daoist Yun's words sent Fang Chen's heart into turmoil, and the image of that immortal fairy, eclipsing the dazzling sun, came to mind.
“You come from a ninth-tier empire, so it’s not surprising that you haven’t met a cultivator.” A faint smile rose on Daoist Yun’s face. “I don’t know if there are immortals in this world or not, but to you, I might as well be one.”
He eyed Fang Chen closely and continued, "I plan to take you as my closed-door disciple. Are you willing to accept me as your master?"
Hearing his offer, Fang Chen didn't answer immediately.
A few seconds later, he broke the silence. "My qi sea is shattered. I am afraid I will never be able to cultivate again."
"Qi sea? That's the path of martial artists. We cultivators do not cultivate the qi sea. From what I know, martial artists such as yourself, cultivate through three different realms: The Human Profound Stage, Earth Profound Stage, Heaven Profound Stage; each split into four minor stages," he said, a trace of pride starting to paint his face, "but things aren’t so complicated for cultivators. There are the Qi Refining, Foundation Building, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul Realms, respectively. And martial artists at the Heaven Profound Realm can barely exchange a few blows with cultivators at the Qi Refining Realm, at best."
Hearing his explanation, Fang Chen’s heart skipped a beat.
“I will be rushing back to the empire to deal with some matters. If you are willing to take me as your master, I can bring you along,” Daoist Yun He urged.
'Go to the Central Continent Empire?' Fang Chen's thoughts stirred, but he suddenly recalled something, causing him to smile bitterly; if he were to leave now, who would clean up the mess in the Grand Xia Empire?
He clasped his fist once again and bowed. "Unfortunately, senior, I am unable to leave...."
His father was old, and his grandfather was in his life-and-death closed door seclusion. Even his second uncle suffered from hidden injuries that couldn’t be healed after working tirelessly for the family and the empire in the past five years. His second uncle couldn’t even move around without a wheelchair.
“You’re actually unwilling to leave with me?! Is there anything worth holding on to in this tiny place? As long as you come with me, I promise you a swift breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm within a hundred years. When the time comes, you can come and go as you please!” Daoist Yun tried to convince him, his astonishment clear on his face.
Sighing, Fang Chen replied, “My parents are here. I can’t possibly leave them behind. I also need to stay and clean up some mess left behind. I am sorry to disappoint you, senior, but I really can’t leave.”
“Tsk tsk.” He looked at Fang Chen and clicked his tongue. “Everyone in the world envies those who can cultivate. If anyone else heard that they could become my closed-door disciple, they would crawl their way to the Central Continent Empire even if their legs were broken. But you, here you are, refusing my offer.
“Unfortunately, the rules of my sect are strict and state that closed door disciples[1] have to cultivate inside the sect… I am unable to take you as my closed door disciple if you choose not to follow me back. It’s a pity to waste excellent talent like yours… How about this? I will pass you the introductory method of the Three Thousand Dao Sect. That way, you can be considered an outer disciple of the Three Thousand Dao Sect of the Central Continent Empire in the future. You can remain here to cultivate, and the moment you reach the Foundation Building Realm, you can enter the sect at any time.”
He then raised his hand and sent a ray of spiritual light into Fang Chen’s forehead.
In that instant, a wave of memories that didn't belong to Fang Chen appeared in his mind, intertwining together and gathering into a bright golden manual with the title: Introduction to the Three Thousand Daos.
Fang Chen felt his spirit lift as he immersed himself in cultivation. Unknowingly, heaven and earth spiritual qi surged into his body and flowed through his meridians, nourishing his physical body.
It had been several years now since he had last practiced his martial arts, and his physique was severely weakened. However, under the nourishment of the spiritual qi, his blood qi started to recover.
The spiritual qi continued to flow through his body and soon reached his shattered qi sea, but it didn't seem to have any intention in stopping there and continued to circulate through his body.
The moon rose and fell, giving way to the fresh, basking rays of a new day’s sun. However, Fang Chen had remained motionless for an entire day and night.
When the servants woke up to go about their day, they noticed Fang Chen rooted in his place, which caused them to break into a bout of murmurs and whispers. However, when they saw Fang Zhixue and her company walking over, they quickly shut their mouths.
With a gasp, Fang Zhixue exclaimed, “Big Brother, have you been standing here since yesterday?!”
“Ah, perhaps the news of his marriage made him restless. Your older brother is rather prideful by nature, after all. How can he possibly accept the fact that he will marry into the Xiao family?” said a middle-aged man as he sighed. He watched Fang Chen's towering figure with a hint of sorrow in his eyes.
He was the head of the Fang family, Fang Canghai.
While he should have maintained his youthful appearance as an Qi Manipulation expert, the hair at his temples had already turned white, and the wrinkles that formed on his face increased day by day. It was state unbecoming for a forty-year-old expert of his realm.
“Father, can’t you refuse the marriage proposal? If big brother goes to the Qingsong Empire, he will experience a life worse than that of an animal!” Fang Zhixue pleaded with her father, her voice trembling.
Listening to her shaky voice, Fang Canghai's eyes turned red. "The strength of Qingsong has grown stronger over the past five years. On the other hand, our Grand Xia Empire has been declining with each passing day. Furthermore, Marshall Xiao Lang has spoken up for his daughter. Either your brother marries into their family, or he would bring his army over to trample our capital city. He isn't the man to crack a joke. If we were to refuse, the destruction of the empire would be at hand. Our only chances of survival depend on us agreeing." He sighed. "There are some things we just can't control...."
"But what about our aunt?! Isn't there anything she could do?" she probed.
“Your aunt, as the empress, must put the Grand Xia above all else. She understands what needs to be done. She won’t possibly help.” Shaking his head, Fang Canghai continued, "Tomorrow, the daughter of Marshall Xiao Lang will arrive together with her people to meet your brother."
He glanced over at the standing Fang Chen. "Please, advise him to rest for now."
Meanwhile, inside Fang Chen's body, a crystal-clear immortal vein had already taken shape, causing the wild spiritual qi to pour through it like an endless tide; it seemed to have finally found its home.
The twelve stages of the Qi Refining Realm were related to the process of creating one's immortal vein, and with the successful formation of his first immortal vein, Fang Chen had once again stepped onto an extraordinary path.
*
A man stood high above, and the skies echoed with his roaring laughter. "Condensing an immortal vein in a single day? Hahahaha! Your talent is indeed impressive. Remember! Come to my Three Thousand Dao Sect after you reach the Foundation Building Realm."
He then turned around, took a single step, and vanished.
*
Waking up from his trance, Fang Chen didn't forget to bow toward the direction Daoist Yun had disappeared to, his heart brimming with gratitude.
What Daoist Yun He had given him didn't just alter his fate, but the fate of the Grand Xia Empire as a whole!
1. The term refers to a disciple who receives exclusive or specialized teaching and guidance from a master behind closed doors. Typically, it is used in context to show exclusivity of favor a student receives. ☜
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