Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 35: Soaring Far Away, the Grandmaster’s Secret
"Yes."
Zhang Yao drew out a few sheets of Fire Paper and threw them into the basin, his voice very calm.
"Changping City is no longer suitable for me to stay."
"My mentor has passed away, and I’ve obtained what I wanted. I’m free of attachments, so leaving is good."
"This..."
Meng Zongwei hesitated for a moment, but couldn’t help saying, "You could stay and live with us."
His tone was sincere, continuing, "Junior brother, I only learned of your true strength recently."
"But I hope you stay, not for any selfish desire to bask in your glory."
"You were born in Changping County and have lived in Changping City for so many years. Why suddenly leave?"
"As the saying goes, people distant from home are discounted. Being a wanderer isn’t easy, just like I was at the beginning. It was miserable..."
Zhang Yao looked at the flickering flame in the copper basin and said, "Senior brother, I must leave."
"I’m too young, young enough to make them envy, jealous, and even somewhat afraid."
Hearing his words, Meng Zongwei fell silent.
Zhang Yao turned his head, looking toward Changping City’s direction, speaking plainly, "Though I repeatedly express no greed for power or status, their apprehension grows day by day, leading them to test me."
"When such tests accumulate to a certain level, they might act against me, wanting to eliminate the threat early."
"I don’t fear them, but I don’t want my life consumed by such meaningless erosion."
He turned back to the copper basin, drew out more sheets of Fire Paper, and threw them in, speaking firmly, "Therefore, I must leave."
"Perhaps, I’ll find a place to start anew, continue pursuing the pinnacle of Martial Dao, and seek out the mysteries of the Grandmaster Realm."
"...I understand."
Meng Zongwei took a deep breath and said, "Junior brother, may you have a safe journey."
"Okay."
Zhang Yao nodded, "Senior brother, rest assured, even though I’ve left, my reputation still holds some deterrent power."
"At least for the next few years, they will certainly protect the Golden Furnace Martial Arts Hall, and no one will dare cause trouble."
"In a few years, senior brother’s Golden Furnace Technique should reach Perfection; you can truly inherit the mentor’s legacy and continue the Martial Arts Hall."
"Okay."
Meng Zongwei nodded resolutely and said, "Junior brother, don’t worry."
"The Golden Furnace Martial Arts Hall is my home and my mentor’s lifetime of effort; I won’t let the hall fall into disrepair."
The conversation ended abruptly.
After everyone bowed and paid respects, they left the burial mound together.
That evening, Meng Zongwei hosted a farewell banquet, where the brothers drank heavily.
On the snowy morning of the second day, Zhang Yao, carrying his luggage, rode away from Changping City on a horse.
After he left, Zhao Donglai, the elders of the Chen Family, the elders of the Li Family, and many others in Changping City unexpectedly breathed a sigh of relief.
......
Half a month later.
In a modest inn in Lingjiang City.
Zhang Yao sat at a round table, looking at the book in his hand, pondering silently.
"Grandmaster Realm, I finally have some understanding."
"But in terms of specific descriptions, it remains incredibly profound, without a practical specific Magic Skill..."
This book is the Grandmaster’s insights he longed for.
Not long after that night, Zhao Donglai personally delivered the item, along with many golden leaves, top grade jade, Luminous Beads, and other treasures.
Though only carrying one luggage, its value was worth tens of thousands of silver, enough for a family to live for ten generations.
To ease his mind, Zhao Donglai didn’t deliver a handwritten copy but the original written by Grandmaster Wang, his calligraphy powerful and vigorous, lines flowing like dragons and snakes.
"Grandmaster Realm..."
Zhang Yao put the book away and fell into deep thought.
This book contains Grandmaster Wang’s cultivation experiences, breakthrough insights, and reflections, spanning decades.
The most crucial part is the records from forty to fifty-seven years old.
At forty, he reached all-around perfection and advanced to Absolute Peak Expert; at fifty-seven, he deciphered the secret and achieved the Grandmaster Realm.
According to Grandmaster Wang’s records: After becoming a Grandmaster, a mysterious energy is born within the body, termed "True Qi" or "Inner Strength," immensely versatile.
The Grandmaster’s formidable power and various extraordinary traits are all based on True Qi.
Yet, even Grandmaster Wang wasn’t clear on how to cultivate True Qi, the key descriptions remained vague and speculative.
"Still lacking foundation."
"If the Court, Imperial Family, or Imperial Family, with generations of Grandmasters, would have more detailed records."
"They might even grasp specific breakthrough Magic Skills instead of just a vague direction."
Zhang Yao furrowed his brows, then slowly relaxed them, managing a self-deprecating smile, "Still too greedy, enjoying what’s in the bowl while eyeing what’s in the pot."
"Having a rough direction is already quite good, better than stumbling around blindly like a headless fly, relying on time-consuming perseverance."
"That night at the Governor’s Mansion was fraught with danger; Zhang Yao wasn’t prepared to participate in similar matters again."
Having a Grandmaster’s cultivation insights is enough for him, and it’s not entirely without harvest.
"The key to breakthrough was summed up by Grandmaster Wang decades later as ’harmonizing inside and outside, waiting for the opportune time.’"
Zhang Yao recalled the records in the insights, subtly pondering.
Decades ago, Grandmaster Wang also went through transformations from being full of vigor and confident, to frustration and gloom, deeply affected.
It was only ten years later, at the age of knowing destiny, that he finally eased his mind and faced things calmly, practicing calligraphy daily, playing with grandchildren, enjoying family life, almost forgetting to continue honing his Martial Arts.
After living like this for several years, suddenly one day, he gained transcendent understanding, refining a trace of True Qi.
Once True Qi emerged, he surpassed the Absolute Peak, achieving the Grandmaster Realm.
"Mental Realm, Mental Realm..."
Zhang Yao seemed to have grasped the key point.
In his view, nothing in the world is without cause.
At least his Martial Arts and his body are tangible, no such thing as sudden epiphany leading to instant power surge.
Just like when he used to practice Martial Arts, even breaking through to Small Success or Great Success stages required many days for further strengthening and evolving, not happening overnight.
"Maybe cultivating True Qi is also a similar process."
Combining his years of cultivation experiences and the Grandmaster insights, Zhang Yao had a hypothesis.
The birth of True Qi likely also requires time for the body to nurture, and the Mental Realm plays a vital role.
Emotional stimulation, extreme joy or sorrow, exhausting thoughts daily harm the body and the balance of internal organs, hindering the refinement of True Qi.
Only a life of moderation and distant aspirations most align with the conditions for True Qi to be born.
"If my hypothesis is correct, maintaining such a mindset is incredibly easy for someone with a long-lived body."
"Without the pressure of lifespan, everything can be viewed more lightly."
Thinking to this point, Zhang Yao mused, "Maybe I should find a place to retreat for a while? Live a normal person’s life?"
