Chapter Nineteen: The Tenth Realm of Martial Arts

Chen Fan was even more astonished. He did indeed know Li Linliu, but what Bao Tianyou said was clearly not the same as what he believed. Seeing Chen Fan’s face full of curiosity, Bao Tianyou cleared his throat and began, “Li Linliu is the acting master of our Baiyun Martial Hall in Feiling County. He’s the junior brother of the chief master. Though only twenty-five or twenty-six, he’s considered the foremost among the younger generation in Feiling County, has already stepped into the sixth stage of martial cultivation, and is hailed as one of the top ten young masters in Qinghe Prefecture!”

Bao Tianyou’s words were laden with information.

Li Linliu’s youth and his status as the top talent of Feiling County’s younger generation was impressive, but to be counted among the top ten in the entire prefecture was truly remarkable. In the Great Qian Empire, a prefecture was akin to a province in Chen Fan’s previous life, a vast administrative region. Qinghe Prefecture contained nearly a hundred counties and a dozen great cities. To be acknowledged as one of the top ten young talents over such a wide area was a feat indeed.

But hearing Bao Tianyou say Li Linliu was the chief master’s junior brother, Chen Fan felt a strange sense of disquiet. He remembered Li Linliu’s appearance clearly—rosy lips and white teeth, unmistakably a man disguised as a woman. Could these people really not see it? Or was Li Linliu simply so handsome that he was like the pretty boys of Chen Fan’s previous world? Now, even Chen Fan couldn’t be sure.

Suppressing his curiosity, he asked, “What is the sixth stage of martial cultivation…?”

He recalled the day he encountered that man named Yuan Kuanglin, who, even after suffering grave wounds, slaughtered dozens effortlessly, leaving his enemies no chance to escape. It turned out Li Linliu was on the same level of strength as Yuan Kuanglin!

Bao Tianyou pondered a moment before continuing, “According to the rules of our Baiyun Martial Hall, we’re not supposed to disclose advanced martial knowledge to students still in the foundational stage. But Chen Fan, you’re exceptionally gifted, so I’ll explain it to you.”

Chen Fan nodded, finally understanding why Feng Cong never explained the distinctions of martial cultivation in detail to him and his fellow students. Clearly, they wanted to prevent them from being overly ambitious.

Bao Tianyou began to explain, “Once you master basic martial arts and comprehend internal energy, you truly enter the realm of martial cultivation. The better the foundational training manual you use, the stronger your base becomes. Therefore, truly gifted disciples will often suppress their progress, sometimes spending extra years refining their foundation.”

Chen Fan nodded; these details were already familiar to him. “And after that?”

“Once you comprehend internal energy, you can pass the martial hall’s test and become an official disciple. This stage is called the Internal Energy Martialist. It’s the greatest dividing line—some master first-grade manuals, others second or third, and the gap in strength is enormous.”

Bao Tianyou sipped his tea unhurriedly, continuing his explanation. “After mastering internal energy, you can choose a true cultivation technique corresponding to your internal energy, begin true internal cultivation, gradually strengthen your true essence, and start tempering your body. This is the path of martial cultivation…”

True cultivation?

Internal training?

“So that’s how it is.” Chen Fan’s face lit up with understanding.

Bao Tianyou continued, “There are ten stages in martial cultivation, each one a breakthrough. First stage: internal energy transforms to true essence, with no real increase in strength. Second stage: tempering flesh; true essence grows, permeates the body. Third stage: tempering organs, refining the five viscera and six bowels. Fourth stage: muscle transformation. Fifth stage: bone strengthening. Sixth stage: the body is forged as one, completing the internal microcycle.”

As he spoke, Bao Tianyou sighed, his face full of longing. “Li Linliu is barely in his twenties, yet he’s already at the sixth stage, his body fully tempered! Only one step away from the seventh stage, the Grandmaster realm. You must know, the heads of Feiling County’s prominent clans rarely reach the sixth stage, and most are already over forty with little hope for further breakthroughs…”

Chen Fan was amazed; the difference between people was truly vast. Normally, one would lay the foundation and temper the body before eighteen. Did this mean Li Linliu broke through stage after stage in a few short years, reaching the sixth stage?

“That’s the power of innate talent,” Bao Tianyou remarked, smiling at Chen Fan’s reaction. “Do you know, while ‘Baiyun Pine-Crane Palm’ is strong, Feiling County has other manuals just as effective. Yet why is this technique hailed as the best foundational manual in Feiling County?”

Chen Fan shook his head.

Bao Tianyou sighed, his eyes full of regret. “Mastering ‘Baiyun Pine-Crane Palm’ not only builds a solid foundation and greatly strengthens vital energy, but also allows you to cultivate the true core technique of Baiyun Hall, ‘Baiyun True Skill.’ That’s a method aimed directly at the tenth stage of martial cultivation, more powerful than any other clan’s core manuals in Feiling County. But…”

“But the entry technique is too difficult. Out of a hundred people, hardly one achieves results, and those who are too old miss the prime cultivation period; eighteen is the limit. Typically, after three months, progress is assessed, and ninety-nine percent give up.”

From the melancholy in Bao Tianyou’s voice, it was clear he had not mastered ‘Baiyun Pine-Crane Palm’ either.

The Black Cloud Class was meant for elites, with many wealthy students. Only five in the entire class lasted more than half a month without being advised to quit. Except for He Hongshan, most only had a chance to succeed before turning eighteen. When three months passed, Wang Mian, Lin Mo, and the others would likely be dismissed as well.

In ordinary classes, it was possible not a single student had cultivation talent.

Chen Fan couldn’t help but ask, “Li Linliu, is he a member of a prominent Feiling County clan?”

Bao Tianyou’s expression was odd. “Actually, Li Linliu is more properly a native of Yan Capital. Though he’s nominally the acting master of Baiyun Hall in Feiling County, he spends most of his time in Yan Capital, at the Baiyun main hall. He only visits occasionally.”

Yan Capital was the second largest city in Qinghe Prefecture. Feiling County fell under its jurisdiction.

Chen Fan suddenly understood. No wonder, that time in the street, the He family didn’t know Li Linliu and retreated upon hearing his name.

So, strictly speaking, Li Linliu wasn’t really a Feiling County native!

Chen Fan recalled Bao Tianyou’s earlier claim that Li Linliu was the foremost of Feiling County’s younger generation, and he couldn’t help but smile wryly. That was probably a title invented by the people of Feiling County to flatter themselves…

He mused, “I’ve been at the martial hall for so long, but never asked. So Li Linliu is the master here. Pity he seldom visits, and I’m only an outer disciple, unable to connect with him…”

At last, Chen Fan felt the fog over his future path had cleared, and he now understood the true strength of his chosen target, Li Linliu. His resolve grew stronger.

He was determined not only to master ‘Baiyun Pine-Crane Palm’ and cultivate ‘Baiyun True Skill,’ but also to seize the opportunity to study as many foundational manuals as possible, cementing his base beyond compare.

Thus, he didn’t linger in conversation with Bao Tianyou, but bid farewell and left Jiangshan Restaurant.

…

Watching Chen Fan depart, Bao Tianyou relaxed his brow. “This lad really has no special connection with Hongshan…”

“Truly a starving ghost reborn!” The wealthy student beside him watched Chen Fan leave and couldn’t help but remark to Bao Tianyou, “He may have talent for ‘Baiyun Pine-Crane Palm,’ but it doesn’t seem extraordinary. He’ll probably fail to master it. Was it worth you going out of your way to recruit him, and treat him to a meal at Jiangshan Restaurant?”

To them, seven or eight taels of silver was not much, but it wasn’t something to be spent every meal. The food at Jiangshan Restaurant was not only delicious but contained ingredients specially processed to nourish vital energy. Even they wouldn’t come here without special reason.

Bao Tianyou smiled and shook his head. “My abilities are special, my senses keen. When I chanced upon this lad, I noticed his vital energy was exceptionally strong, his body extraordinary… Even if he fails to master ‘Baiyun Pine-Crane Palm,’ it won’t be hard for him to become a martialist.”

“If he succeeds, is taken in by the main hall, then my early favor will pay off handsomely! Even if he doesn’t, a talented martialist is still worth befriending.”

Yawning, Bao Tianyou rose. “From now on, whenever we gather or dine, just invite him along—an extra pair of chopsticks is no trouble…”

A sure profit, why not make it?