Xu Lingxin had heard many tales of mortals displaying disdain towards the explanations and stories told by cultivators reliving their experiences and vast stores of knowledge, but had merely regarded those matters as the mortals either being ignorant of the jianghu’s matters or displaying an impetuous attitude in defiance. Now that she had received such glance of disdain from An Fei who was seated across from her, the temple maiden felt her heart bleed, just as those cultivators had experienced beforehand.
…especially when the young girl carried with her words a painful logic.
“The Shadow Blighting Pearl, upon contact with liquid, render its composition to resemble a hallucinogen that relieves stress and brings tranquility to a person’s state of mind, which is a condition required by those of the Morning Star Temple to practice the martial arts techniques with relative ease? Then, the routine for someone of the Morning Star Temple would be to consume a large quantity of such liquids or medicaments?”
Basically, the disciples of the Morning Star Temple were hallucinogenic drug addicts?
“Er… Little Sister, you can’t word it so crudely like that…” Xu Lingxin groaned, speechless.
“Only those who are lacking of the necessary talent would resort to such medicinal pills and spiritual artefacts that Little Sister mentions. The Shadow Blighting Pearl, on the other hand, constantly releases spiritual qi closely related to the attribute of spiritual essence mobilized by the Morning Star Temple’s martial arts techniques. It doesn’t have a direct relation to the actual user’s body or state of mind.”
“Then, why is the Haunted Buddhist Sect pursing such an object?” An Fei questioned with a blank expression.
“Simply from the name of their sect, it doesn’t appear relevant that a cultivator from their tutelage would seek tranquility agents or other hallucinogens…”
Again, why hallucinogens?
Xu Lingxin resisted the urge to place a palm against her forehead with great strength.
Having little experience in confronting someone who had experienced a brief of modernized life filled with rampant prejudice, the temple maiden found herself short for words and thus, adopted the ruthless yet effective strategy of ignoring everything that came from the young girl’s mouth.
“Based on the intrinsic nature of the Shadow Blighting Pearl as a naturally formed spiritual artefact, it is capable of altering the attribute of spiritual essence it resonates to one befitting that of its current environment. Save for the name that we cultivators have given it, the Shadow Blighting Pearl’s main purpose is to amplify the magnitude of the destructive potential brought on by a martial arts technique.”
“Then, on the opposite end, a spiritual artefact created by a cultivator would remained fixed to an attribute?”
“That is correct. And should spiritual essence of a differing quality attempt to assimilate it, the spiritual artefact would be crippled and useless to all.”
The young girl sipped at her now cooled tea, wrinkling her brows at the astringent aftertaste left behind. An Fei quietly pondered upon her next question, only to recall the words that Xu Lingxin had muttered when they had first properly conversed.
“What is the difference between external martial arts and the more… conventional types?”
“Con…ventional?” the temple maiden’s eyebrows shot up in surprise at the unfamiliar word, prompting her to mull over the possible definitions.
“Er… Little Sister, external martial arts techniques refer to martial arts techniques that were revised into a form that ordinary mortals could practice without risk to their lives. Of course – there is a significant, latent danger that is hidden underneath every martial arts techniques, but through rigorous practice, mortals can somewhat replicate a weaker imitation of the original martial arts technique’s produced phenomenon.”
Given her expression, could it be that the mortal girl before her didn’t know she was practicing an external martial arts technique? However, if an external martial arts technique could provide such immense defensive potential, then the original martial arts technique designed for cultivators…
“I’ve heard from others that in cultivation, there are several Realms that classify the advancement of cultivators,” An Fei broke apart Xu Lingxin’s daydream.
“However, do martial arts techniques follow similar routes?”
As Morning Star Temple maiden Xu was more prone to answering questions without additional questions compared to the stingy and utterly despicable Wang Qinian, An Fei swiftly decided to herself to dump all of her questions onto the former’s shoulders. Thus, the young girl continued to raise questions back and forth, while the temple maiden enthusiastically answered under the mistaken belief that she was paying an owed favor.
“Compared to cultivation Realms… martial arts techniques indeed follow a similar pattern of progression,” Xu Lingxin nodded after a brief interlude of thought.
“Every martial arts technique – or at least, to be qualified as a proper martial arts technique – possesses an Initial Three Points, Five River Stones, Small River, and Large River. There is a final Realm of martial arts techniques regarding Consolidation, but nobody has achieved such a state in thousands of years that it’s nothing more than a mere legend.”
Initial Three Points, Five River Stones, Small River, and Large River… indeed, Wen Jiu and Shen Haoren had mentioned those topics before, but didn’t explain them in so much detail…
“The Initial Three Points of any martial technique refer to the three composite theories and principles that constitute the martial arts technique. Three concepts must capture the martial arts technique’s manifested phenomenon wholly and completely to the last detail. Should three concepts not be enough, there would be instances where the martial arts techniques simply fail to manifest or crumble halfway through…”
“Then if less than three concepts are required to capture the essence of the martial arts technique, then it would essentially serve no purpose to a cultivator?” An Fei murmured followed by a light exhale.
“…but why three concepts? Where was such a limit determined?”
Er…
“That… ah, Elder Sister couldn’t say, for Elder Sister doesn’t know either. The Five River Stones, for what I know of it, are five secondary phrases that reinforce the Initial Three Points’ concepts into a purely unique and distinctive martial arts technique,” Xu Lingxin sighed despondently, and her head lowered in shame.
“It’s said that those who have managed to attain the Five River Stones of their martial arts technique can manifest miracles into reality… It’s truly a pity that I’ve yet to complete the Initial Three Points…”
The barrier was that difficult to surmount? Was it because of the emphasis on “Points” – that the three concepts were to be short and concise, yet fulfilling the necessary objective?
An Fei stifled a small yawn as she ordered another cup of black tea, and stared into her now drained bowl of clear noodle soup. The young girl scattered a surveying glance around her surroundings, only to discover that save for a few additional people, those who were present earlier had yet to leave, and were conversing amongst one another in rambunctious discussions.
“…are they waiting for something?”
“Ah, right – after the afternoon service, there is a daily exchange of knowledge and information amongst the cultivators at this restaurant,” Xu Lingxin replied after a momentary realization.
“Those who wish to impart knowledge can lecture for an exchange of equivalent value. Trading and bartering can be conducted as well, although primarily, many seek to take advantage of this meeting to gather groups of cultivators to challenge a difficult mission from their sect.”
…another mass gathering of cultivators? Hopefully… it wasn’t an establishment like the one managed by Wang Qinian…
As An Fei groaned to herself in brooding irritation, a young man dressed in a light brown tunic arose to his feet, and loudly clapped his hands.
