In Su Mu’s view, the ancient scrolls are not ’Martial Techniques’ but ’Cultivation Techniques’. However, this Confucian Cultivation Method’s "Nurturing Vast Qi" lacks clear grading, and the commentary only uses the Bright Heart Realm as a reference.

The Bright Heart Realm signifies an initial glimpse of the Saintly Dao, the birth of Literary Qi, and the ability to recite Confucian classics to evoke faint righteous energy.

"An initial glimpse of the Saintly Dao, the birth of Literary Qi, faint righteous energy... This Bright Heart Realm should be the entry-level for Confucian cultivation, corresponding to Martial Dao’s Body Tempering Realm. The Martial Dao and the Confucian Sect are indeed vastly different."

Radiance flickered in Su Mu’s eyes; in Martial Dao, there are no so-called cultivation techniques at the beginning. The Lower Three Grades have no martial arts techniques, only pure martial arts, or ’Martial Techniques’.

Only from the Middle Third Grade does Martial Dao begin to have cultivation techniques, such as the Five Elements Technique; however, Confucian cultivation seems to start with cultivation techniques from the beginning.

Moreover, martial artists cultivate Power, while Confucian cultivators cultivate Literary Qi.

"I wonder how Literary Qi confronts an opponent and what specific effects it has?"

Having read the ancient scroll, Su Mu formed a general framework of Confucian cultivation methods in his mind, filled with aspirations. Su Mu, however, forcefully curbed the desire to thoroughly read and comprehend "Nurturing Vast Qi", closing the ancient scroll and putting it away.

Not only pharmacists, but even the Zen Heart of Vajra Temple mentioned that martial artists are solitary, and Martial Dao purely doesn’t allow other paths; if one wishes to reach profound depths, they cannot concurrently cultivate other methods.

Su Mu didn’t fully believe this and planned to personally experiment in the future, but now is not the right time.

In just these two days to comprehend a Confucian Cultivation Method, there wouldn’t be much progress, and it would be of no use in the impending battle.

Simultaneously, Su Mu also worries that cultivating Confucian methods now might cause unforeseen issues, such as conflicting with his Martial Dao practice or even weakening his own strength, which is not what Su Mu hopes to see.

With a shift of mind, Su Mu entered a state of introspection.

In the Dantian, a beautifully crafted, exquisite Gangjin Pill, carved like white jade, slowly rotates, now approaching the size of a baby’s fist, compared to the size of a small green date pit when first formed.

With the power of five times Refining Force, Su Mu’s current strength in all aspects certainly exceeds previous levels outside of sustained combat, but currently, his total Power is still somewhat below his past peak.

Su Mu furrowed his brow, swallowed several Jade Bone Pills, and gulped down several bowls of Three-in-One Body-Strengthening Soup, then started cultivating unrelentingly; the scene reminiscent of years ago when he was an unknown lad in Dongbian Village.

Martial arts techniques, body techniques, cross-training martial arts, weapon techniques were all displayed one by one in Su Mu’s hands.

During this process, subtle threads of Power were born from the limbs and vessels, then merged into the Gangjin Pill in the Dantian. The growth speed seemed slightly slow, but if it were transformed into Pill Force, those threads of Gang Force could equal several times, ten times the Pill Force.

At this stage, Su Mu’s enhancement of Gang Force would experience no bottleneck.

As martial arts were displayed, time passed, Su Mu devoted himself entirely, and with each passing moment, his accumulation and enhancement of Gang Force steadily increased.

...

The rumor of Li Feiyu repelling Wang Xuantian flew into the deep courtyard of the Cyan Cloud Demon Slayer Bureau.

"Indeed, a desolate place is a mere rabble; to be repelled by a mere boy who hasn’t even entered the Sixth Grade or experienced Blood Exchange... That Black Mountain Celestial King isn’t much. The only noteworthy aspects are that Taiping Demon Dao and Vajra Temple."

"I, having completed the tempering of my spleen, lung, and kidney among the Five Viscera, wielding the Seventh-Grade Cyan Frost Sword and secret techniques, along with my insights during this period... Even if I encounter a martial artist who has undergone Blood Exchange, I have a thirty percent chance to kill."

Zhou Qing’s cyan brows raised; his last vestiges of worry about the impending battle dissipated entirely with tonight’s news.

He cared little about the upcoming battle. A member of the Zhou Family, though it can’t compare to the Four Great Clans in Qingzhou, is still a significant lineage in One County, and their heritage and vision are unmatched by the Rebel Army and nameless lads in this desolate Qingyun Three Counties.

In another courtyard, Shangguan Ke’s thoughts were similar; however, unlike Zhou Qing, Shangguan Ke didn’t express joy or anger openly and continued conserving energy.

...

Amidst the continuous Qifeng Mountain Range, in Changfeng City.

Deep within the ancient courtyard of the Changfeng County Magistrate’s Office, with the main hall doors tightly shut, black mist surged.

The Blind Swordsman and a burly man kneeling on one knee, enveloped and consumed in a cloud of black mist, their faces appearing somewhat sinister, but upon closer inspection.

It was evident that the injuries inflicted by Su Mu on the two men tonight were healing at an astonishing rate, severed tendons reconnecting, fractured bones repairing, leaving no wound on flesh and hair.

"Thank you, Celestial King!"

Soon, their injuries were completely healed, and with joy on their faces, the Blind Swordsman and the burly man expressed their gratitude.

Wang Xuantian waved his hand, and the rolling black mist retreated like a tide, re-entering his body. He took off the Black Tiger Mask on his face, revealing a youthful yet pallid face, seeming as though afflicted by a chronic illness.

If this scene were to spread, no one would believe that the infamous Black Mountain Celestial King, who could terrify children into silence, would appear so seemingly gentle and unobtrusive, like a frail scholar.

"Cough, cough, cough... Third Brother, Fourth Brother." Wang Xuantian let out a series of coughs, his indifferent face now showing a hint of pain. "The death of Purple Shirt, this vendetta I, Wang Xuantian, will surely avenge, and the vengeance against the Liu Family will be repaid tenfold, a hundredfold."

"This is an irreversible path, fraught with danger, yet even if the next breath leads to a plunge into the abyss, breaking into fragments, shattering soul and spirit, I will continue onward..."