Chapter 176: Ideal
Hearing the door sound, Xie Bo irritably shouted, “Get out!”
The other party acted as if they heard nothing, closed the door again, and strode in.
Xie Bo suddenly sensed something wrong; this footsteps did not belong to anyone in the household. He abruptly sat up, vigilantly looking towards the newcomer, his entire body’s True Qi ready to erupt at a touch.
He saw it was a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old youth, wearing a lake-blue Scholar’s Robe, with devastatingly handsome looks—it was precisely Lu Yun, who had defeated him yesterday.
Xie Bo furrowed his brows tightly, still not relaxing his vigilance as he said, “What are you here for?”
Lu Yun was also surprised. He looked at Xie Bo, whose face was bruised and swollen, and lightly exclaimed, “You fought with someone again?” In yesterday’s Competition, Lu Yun had only struck Xie Bo once, and it was with the Great Central Supreme Fist, which absolutely would not cause superficial injuries.
“I fell on my own.” Xie Bo huffed ungraciously.
“No, these are injury marks caused by fists and feet. But when I left yesterday, you should have already recovered your True Qi.” Lu Yun stared at Xie Bo’s face, seriously analyzing, “Unless it was an Earth Rank Grandmaster, who could break through your protective True Qi and beat you like this.” He grew even more puzzled, saying, “But an Earth Rank Grandmaster values their status—how could they possibly strike against you?”
“You want to know the truth that badly?” Xie Bo laughed in extreme anger, nodding, “Fine, I’ll tell you. Xie Tian ordered me to withdraw my True Qi, then he and his gang of fair-weather friends beat me into this state!” With that, he pointed at the doorway, seeing off the guest, “Now you’ve seen my joke—can you leave?”
Lu Yun gazed at Xie Bo with clear eyes, softly saying, “Sorry.”
“Hmph! A fair martial Competition—what do you have to apologize for?” Xie Bo turned his head away, sullenly said.
“Actually, Older Brother Xie’s strength far exceeds mine. It was merely because he harbored kind intentions and was unwilling to be Xie Tian’s accomplice that a flaw appeared, allowing me to strike true.” Lu Yun said honestly.
“A loss is a loss. On the battlefield, if I were killed, would I still look for excuses?” Xie Bo sneered, but his expression eventually softened.
“It shouldn’t be like this,” Lu Yun slowly shook his head, his gaze bright as he said, “In this world, people shouldn’t have to aid the tyrant to survive. Following one’s own kind heart should bring good fortune.”
“Hahaha!” Xie Bo laughed loudly as if hearing the biggest joke, but his laughter was filled with grief, indignation, and helplessness. “This world is just like this. We lowly people can only discard our conscience and become lackeys to have a way out.” He paused, then said word by word, “Lackeys shouldn’t have a conscience!”
“Then this world is wrong,” Lu Yun lightly sighed, his gaze growing even more resolute as he said, “Let’s make this world change!”
“…” Xie Bo felt a surge of hot blood upon hearing this, but then only icy sarcasm remained as he said, “Truly young and frivolous, to say such pie-in-the-sky words.” He chuckled wryly, “How could the world possibly change?”
“Elders often say that human hearts are no longer as pure as in ancient times, meaning the world back then was different from today,” Lu Yun said seriously. “This shows the world can be changed.”
“Uh…” Xie Bo was speechless, feeling Lu Yun’s words made perfect sense—he couldn’t even refute them. He never imagined someone could shake his deep-rooted views with a single sentence. After a long while, he sullenly said, “Even if the world can change, it takes generations, over a hundred years. At least we won’t live to see it.”
“If our generation resolves to change it, the next generation might live in a new world. If we resign ourselves, the next generation can only repeat our sufferings today.” Lu Yun slowly said, “Drops of water can pierce stone; accumulated earth can form mountains. As long as we strive, we’ll get closer to the goal.”
“…” Xie Bo furrowed his brows tightly. He examined the youth before him as if seeing him for the first time. In those clear black-and-white eyes, Xie Bo clearly saw the word ‘ideal.’ But moments later, Xie Bo cooled down, dejectedly shaking his head, “It can’t be changed. Those Noble Clans’ direct lineage hold all the resources and Cultivation Methods. We collateral lineage disciples can never compete with them.”
“I don’t see it that way.” Lu Yun said resolutely.
“Of course you don’t believe in omens, because you’ve already stood out.” Xie Bo looked at Lu Yun, his tone laced with sarcasm, “But how many years does it take for a lucky one like you to appear?”
“Am I lucky?” Lu Yun gave a self-mocking smile, shaking his head with a world-weariness beyond his years, “I could be called the most unfortunate. Everything I have today wasn’t granted by anyone—it was all obtained through my own efforts!”
“All successful people think that way,” Xie Bo said dismissively. “But have you thought that your achievements today are all because you have a good father!” He gave a desolate smile, “Am I not hardworking enough, not desperate enough? But because my father never studied much or practiced much Martial Arts, no matter how diligently I study, I can’t get proper guidance and can’t write articles as stunning as yours! No matter how hard I train in Martial Arts, I can’t get complete Cultivation Methods and can never become a Grandmaster!”
“If you don’t have such a father, become such a father yourself.” Lu Yun said calmly.
“You think I don’t want to?!” Xie Bo’s old wound was touched, his emotions exploding as he couldn’t suppress his voice and roared, “I’ve already said—no complete Cultivation Method means I can never become a Grandmaster!”
“Complete Cultivation Method?” Lu Yun slightly furrowed his brows; clearly, the Cultivation Method had become Xie Bo’s Inner Demon. He softly said, “If others won’t give it to you, can’t you find a way yourself?”
“Should I steal or rob?” Xie Bo angrily said, “If the clan finds out, they’ll immediately cripple my Martial Arts and expel me from the Xie Family!” With that, he slumped onto the couch like a deflated ball, “My current state—what difference is there from being expelled from the Xie Family?”
“Must the Five Virtues Five Elements Technique be obtained through the Xie Clan?” Lu Yun softly asked.
“Of course!” Xie Bo huffed, “The Xie Clan’s unique Cultivation Method—how could it be learned elsewhere?”
“Then let me ask, from whom did the ancestor who created this Cultivation Method learn it?” Lu Yun asked again.
“This…” Xie Bo hesitated, then quietly answered, “Imitate nature, I suppose.”
“Why can’t you do the same and complete this Cultivation Method yourself?” Lu Yun softly asked.
“Me?” Xie Bo laughed as if hearing a funny joke, “You’re thinking too highly of me. How can I compare to the brilliant ancestor?”
“Alright, even if you’re not as good as the ancestor, now you already have the Four Virtues Four Elements. The Five Virtues complement each other, the Five Elements generate and overcome—deriving the final Virtue and Element from the existing Cultivation Method should be far simpler than the ancestor creating it from nothing, right?” Lu Yun smiled faintly.
“Five Virtues complement each other, Five Elements generate and overcome?” Xie Bo’s eyes lit up. He had bitterly practiced the Five Virtues Five Elements Technique for years, so his understanding of this far exceeded ordinary people, but he had never thought of, nor dared to, deduce the remaining part himself.
“I have some immature thoughts—Older Brother Xie might Study them.” Lu Yun smiled and said, “Five Elements generation: Metal generates Water, Water generates Wood, Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal. So among the Four Elements Older Brother Xie has mastered, there must be the mystery of generation contained. Conversely, the mystery of overcoming is already in Older Brother Xie’s grasp.”
“Mm…” Xie Bo slowly nodded, his expression unprecedentedly solemn. He had cultivated the Five Virtues Five Elements Technique for over a decade, especially in recent years without a complete Cultivation Method, so he could only repeatedly temper the Four Virtues Four Elements he knew. Whenever he cultivated the Faith Virtue Earth Element Technique to the limit, the Righteous Virtue Metal Element Technique would emerge naturally—no need to think about the Cultivation Method, purely by Instinct, he could execute it to perfection.
.
After finishing the Righteous Virtue Metal Element Technique, the Wisdom Virtue Water Element Technique would emerge naturally, cycling like this until completing the Benevolence Virtue Wood Element Technique. Then his heart would burn like raging fire, unable to resist immediately unleashing it. At such times, he would recall the clan elders’ warning—
‘Never act recklessly without the Cultivation Method, or you’ll surely suffer Qi Deviation, your Meridians shattering unto death!’
Xie Bo had always seen the burning sensation in his heart as a precursor to Qi Deviation, never daring to cross that line. But with Lu Yun’s reminder, a thought suddenly sprang up: could this heart fire be born from cultivating the Wood Element Technique to the extreme, rather than a precursor to Qi Deviation?!
While full of doubts, he heard Lu Yun slowly say, “Wood generates Fire: Wood’s nature is Warmth, Fire latent within, drilling out through friction—thus Wood generates Fire. Like spring followed by summer, this is a natural process, not appearing from nowhere, nor imposed by anyone.”
“In terms of Meridians, the Liver belongs to Wood and is the organ storing blood, internally harboring Ministerial Fire as the Liver’s generative Qi. The Heart governs blood production and rules Sovereign Fire. Sovereign Fire is bright, Ministerial Fire positional. Sovereign Fire is sovereign, positioned above and bright; Ministerial Fire is positional, below, serving as minister to aid Heart Fire. Sovereign Fire is Ding Fire of the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian and Gui Water of the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian; Ministerial Fire is the Ministerial Fire of the Hand Shaoyang Triple Burner Meridian and Jia Wood Ministerial Fire of the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian.”
Lu Yun held nothing back, expounding to Xie Bo, then glanced at him and said, “If I’m not wrong, the key to your final Cultivation Method lies in using Ministerial Fire to ignite Sovereign Fire. Specifically in cultivation, it falls on the Hand and Foot Shaoyang and Shaoyin Meridians.” Pausing, Lu Yun unhesitatingly stated the cultivation keys and specific Meridians for the other four Cultivation Methods.
Xie Bo listened dumbfounded. He hadn’t practiced the Righteous Virtue Fire Element Technique, so he couldn’t confirm if Lu Yun’s keys and Meridians were correct. But the other Four Virtues Four Elements—he had practiced them for half his life and knew Lu Yun was spot on!
Xie Bo stared at Lu Yun like he’d seen a ghost, nearly convinced he was a clan elder proficient in the Five Virtues Five Elements Technique. After a long while, Xie Bo closed his gaping mouth and stared fixedly at Lu Yun, “Have you practiced the Five Virtues Five Elements Technique?”
“How could I?” Lu Yun shook his head, “If I had, I’d just tell you the Cultivation Method directly—instead of racking my brains here.”
“Then you’re truly a genius…” Xie Bo exclaimed in disbelief, cautiously asking, “But even if we deduce it, how do we confirm the Cultivation Method is correct?” Eating bad food can kill, let alone practicing a wrong Cultivation Method.
“For other Cultivation Methods, there would indeed be danger.” Lu Yun smiled freely, “But for this Five Virtues Five Elements Technique alone, no need to worry at all.” He smiled, “Since you’ve mastered the Four Elements, you can reference Metal generates Water, Water generates Wood, and use Fire generates Earth to verify your deductions. Worst case, use Five Elements overcoming to disprove. If the deduced Cultivation Method fits both generation and overcoming, only a ghost could cause problems!”
“Right, right.” Xie Bo nodded vigorously in excitement. “This Reason is spot on!”
Lu Yun explained more cultivation keys to Xie Bo, finally saying slowly, “As the saying goes, all changes revolve around the core—especially since the Five Virtues Five Elements Technique is one unified Cultivation Method. Five Elements cultivation must follow the same principles. Older Brother Xie carefully pondering his four mastered Cultivation Methods should easily deduce the final one’s Qi circulation route.”
“Mm mm, not difficult.” Xie Bo nodded subconsciously, then gave a Bitter Smile, “Actually, it’s easy for those who get it, impossible for those who don’t. I’ve practiced this Cultivation Method for over a decade without understanding this Reason—yet you figured it out after seeing me use it just once!”
Now, Xie Bo’s gaze towards Lu Yun was no longer the initial cold disdain, but scorching hot with admiration. At this point, if Lu Yun said coal was white and snow black, he’d believe it without doubt…
“Someone deliberately misled you, making you preemptively afraid to think or try.” Lu Yun softly said.
“Exactly!” Xie Bo’s long-pent-up resentment exploded, “Those people, to monopolize the Cultivation Method, deceived us for years! It’s all the same thing, yet they make it sound profoundly mysterious to deter us!”
Xie Bo got too agitated, his voice uncontrolled again. This time his mother couldn’t hold back, peeking in through the door crack and softly asking, “Bo’er, are you alright?”
“Mother, I’m fine! I’m great!” Xie Bo, all his frustrations gone, now found his usually nagging mother utterly lovable.
“Good as long as you’re fine, good…” Xie Bo’s mother grew anxious, thinking, ‘Could this child have gone mad from stimulation?’ She was about to fetch a doctor when she noticed someone else inside the room, startling her, “Oh my, where did this child come from?”
Lu Yun immediately felt extremely awkward. He’d come and seen the courtyard empty, so he followed Xie Bo’s Aura straight into the west room. He’d forgotten that one should always call out at the door first, whether anyone was home or not.
“Mother!” Seeing Lu Yun embarrassed, Xie Bo felt as if he’d committed a grave error and hurriedly introduced, “This is my friend—oh no, benefactor, who came specially to enlighten me!”
“Uh…” Xie Bo’s mother nodded, but her gaze towards Lu Yun grew even more suspicious. She simply couldn’t connect this handsome youth with any ‘benefactor’ or ‘enlightenment.’
“Auntie.” Lu Yun hurriedly and politely greeted the old lady, fumbling on his person before awkwardly dropping his hands, “I came in haste and forgot to prepare a gift—truly rude.”
“No no, coming is enough—no need for things.” The old lady instinctively responded politely. Seeing the youth’s courteous and handsome demeanor, she couldn’t help but feel great fondness.
“Mother, what are you standing there for? Hurry and brew tea, cook rice— I need to entertain my noble guest!” Xie Bo jumped off the couch, pushing his mother out while turning back to Lu Yun, “Let’s continue chatting. I have many things I don’t understand and want to ask!”
Lu Yun nodded helplessly, having no choice but to make himself at home.
Xie Bo struck while the iron was hot and immediately began deducing the Cultivation Method with Lu Yun. By now, he’d completely cast aside the clan motto about not transmitting Cultivation Methods outside. He laid out all he knew of the Four Virtues Four Elements and shared many insights and confusions from years of cultivation. Lu Yun listened attentively. This Cultivation Method pointed more directly at the source than the Lu Clan’s Heaven and Earth Righteous Law. Though Lu Yun couldn’t cultivate it, he still benefited greatly.
During this, Xie Bo’s parents peeked in several times while delivering tea and water. Seeing their son high-spirited and eloquent, a far cry from his previous dead-hearted state, the old couple realized their son not only wasn’t mad but had emerged from his shadows…
The old couple finally relaxed and bustled about killing a chicken and cooking, striving to entertain their son’s noble guest.
The two shut themselves in the room, even having lunch sent in. In just one afternoon, they thoroughly deduced the Righteous Virtue Fire Element Technique that the Xie Clan’s direct lineage had selfishly hidden. Xie Bo, like parched earth meeting sweet rain, couldn’t resist and immediately began circulating Qi right there.
Lu Yun nervously stood guard beside him. Theory was theory—actual Qi circulation mishaps weren’t child’s play.
After the time for one incense stick, Xie Bo slowly opened his eyes. Before speaking, two streams of hot tears rolled down first.
“Did it work?” Lu Yun asked concernedly.
“Yes, this is the Righteous Virtue Fire Element Technique…” Xie Bo nodded heavily, tears streaming as he bowed deeply to Lu Yun.
