C3 A Pleasant Surprise

Body Tempering encompasses nine distinct realms.

The first four, known as the Fourth Heaven, primarily involve honing one's techniques and fortifying the body.

The Fifth Heaven marks a significant milestone. Upon entering this realm, one undergoes a profound transformation, cleansing and strengthening muscles and bones, resulting in a more robust physique, more focused strength, and a more resolute temperament. The difference in power between someone in the Fifth Heaven and an ordinary person is starkly apparent.

Hu Nao had ascended to the Fifth Heaven of Body Tempering, finally casting off the burden of being 'injured in the womb and inherently deficient' – a stigma that had been etched into his life for over a decade.

"Damn you, you thieving sky! At least you show a hint of decency!"

Overwhelmed by emotions, Hu Nao couldn't resist bellowing into the heavens.

"Naonao, are you cursing at the sky again?" Hu Bugui had just seen off Chang, the Godly Doctor, and upon his return, found his son railing against the heavens. He shot him a stern look.

"Dad, I've made a breakthrough. I'm cursing at that thieving sky in celebration," Hu Nao quickly explained.

Hu Bugui was torn between amusement and disbelief. Who celebrates by cursing?

Any other parent might have issued a stern reprimand.

But Hu Bugui, who knew his son better than anyone, understood that despite Hu Nao's typically jovial demeanor, he was deeply concerned about his physical condition, keeping his worries unspoken. So instead of a harsh rebuke, Hu Bugui simply smiled with relief and encouraged him, "It's great that you've broken through. Now, continue to practice diligently and strive to enhance your cultivation level."

Hu Nao, intrigued by the dark gold feather at the bottom of Spring Lake, eagerly recounted his experiences in the lake that day. He chose to omit his visions of the River of Forgetfulness, the Abyss Bridge, and the oppressed giant bird, considering them too bizarre and ominous, not wanting to cause his father concern.

Even without those details, the tale was harrowing enough, and Hu Nao felt a shiver of fear just speaking of it. Curiously, throughout the recounting, Hu Bugui remained composed, as if the close calls with fire and water had not involved his own son.

Hu Nao couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Dad, what's with that face? And what exactly is that dark gold feather?"

Hu Bugui responded calmly, "What's happened has happened, and you're unharmed—that's all that matters to me. As for the feather's origins, I know them, but I won't tell you."

"Why?" Hu Nao's curiosity intensified.

Hu Bugui chuckled, "Because that item is now yours. What it is, its uses, why it suddenly glowed... all these things are for you to discover and experience on your own. Through this process, you'll grow stronger and more mature. If I were to tell you everything outright, you'd lose more than you'd gain, and life would be far too dull."

Hu Nao understood the reasoning but was desperate to know immediately. Frustrated, he stamped his foot. "Dad, why must you be so..."

"Want to say I deserve a thrashing? Dream on. I'm your father; you'll never be able to beat me. Once you reach the Fifth Heaven of Body Tempering, you can start cultivating skills, meditating, and refining your breath. Your cultivation will transform you from the inside out. I'll take you to select a skill." With a flourish of his sleeve, Hu Bugui turned and strode out of Hu Nao's courtyard.

Hu Nao followed quickly, throwing mock punches at his father's back.

I can't beat you, but I can make my feelings known!

...

Hu Nao trailed behind his father, winding through the various courtyards to reach his father's study.

Hu Bugui approached a wall at the far end of the study and rapidly patted it with his palms in a seemingly random sequence that Hu Nao tried but failed to memorize.

Suddenly, with a rumble, the wall slid apart, revealing a small door that led to a hidden chamber—the Hu family's vault for safeguarding their martial arts grimoires, protected by intricate mechanisms that only the Patriarch could activate.

The chamber was spacious, its walls inlaid with glowing pearls that cast a shimmering light. The absence of any other light sources helped preserve the ancient texts.

Hu Nao's gaze swept over rows of bookshelves, each one filled with volumes of martial arts manuals.

Hu Nao's expertise in martial arts had always been modest, and he had never before set foot in this secret chamber. Aware that his family possessed a variety of sophisticated martial arts, he was nonetheless astonished by the sheer volume of them, akin to an endless sea, which instilled in him an immediate sense of awe.

Hu Bugui gave Hu Nao a reassuring pat on the shoulder and said, "All of our Hu family's hidden treasures are here. Take your pick."

Hu Nao nodded in agreement and began to meticulously browse the bookshelves near the entrance.

"Subduing Tiger Technique," a top-grade Mortal skill, promised immense inner breath and formidable strength when mastered to perfection, enough to overpower a tiger with one's bare hands.

"Howling Lion Technique," a top-grade Supreme skill, allowed the practitioner to merge their inner breath with sound waves, unleashing a roar that could harm an enemy from a hundred steps away.

That powerful?

Hu Nao blinked in amazement.

Martial arts in this realm were categorized into Mortal, Spiritual, Earthly, and Heavenly levels, each with four grades: Lower, Middle, Upper, and Supreme. The higher the grade, the greater the potential unlocked within the human body.

With sufficient talent, one could advance Mortal level martial arts to the Ninth Heaven of Body Tempering. Spiritual level martial arts could awaken the deepest potential within a person, even enhancing their psychic force, leading them to achieve Spirit Speak—a testament to their immense value.

Typically, mastering a Spiritual level martial art would enable one to found a family lineage. Earthly Martial Arts could establish a sect with a legacy spanning a millennium.

Heavenly level martial arts, however, were the stuff of legends. Their emergence could provoke a frenzy among the major sects, triggering a maelstrom of bloodshed and upheaval that could alter the very skies.

"Considering the status of our Hu family, it's unlikely we possess any Heavenly level martial arts, and even Earthly level ones might be too much to hope for. A Spiritual level martial art that resonates with me would be quite sufficient," Hu Nao mused to himself.

With careful consideration, he continued his search. After a considerable time, he discovered a Spiritual level top-grade martial art tucked away on the most remote bookshelf—Storm's Fury, capable of harnessing the elemental forces of creation to cultivate the dual energies of wind and thunder.

The wind was Xun, and the thunder, Zhen.

It moved with the swiftness of the wind and the force of thunder, embodying both resilience and flexibility, rendering it unstoppable.

A spark ignited in Hu Nao's heart.

Noticing his son's unwavering attention on the "Storm's Fury," Hu Bugui smiled slightly and inquired, "Fancy this skill? You can start practicing it. If a more suitable one comes along later, you can always switch. Just remember, it requires a focused mind to integrate and master both skills."

"This martial art is indeed impressive," Hu Nao acknowledged. As he browsed the adjacent bookshelf, he discovered another skill that greatly appealed to him—the Long River Sword Technique, of spiritual medium grade. It allowed one to concentrate their breath into a formidable Long River Sword Qi, creating an overwhelming presence in combat, much like an unending, mighty river. Paired with a treasured sword, its potency would be even more formidable.

Ultimately, Hu Nao had to choose between "Storm's Fury" and the "Long River Sword Technique."

"Storm's Fury" is known for its harmonious blend of power and gentleness, balancing Yin and Yang, with a strong comprehensive nature; while the "Long River Sword Technique" specializes in sword qi, offering a more pronounced edge. Its only drawback is its slightly lower grade, being of spiritual medium quality... I wish I could master both, but alas, I'm laying the groundwork now and mustn't spread myself too thin. There's wisdom in the adage, 'Don't bite off more than you can chew.'"

What to do!

Hu Nao's brow furrowed deeply as he struggled to decide.

"Damn it, this is giving me a headache. I'm done thinking; let's keep it simple and direct."

With a string of curses, Hu Nao pulled a copper coin from his pocket and declared, "Heads for Storm's Fury, tails for Long River Sword Technique!" With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the coin into the air.

Hu Bugui's eyes widened in disbelief. "..."

My son, what a creative mind you have!

Frustrated and annoyed, Hu Nao watched as the coin missed his grasp and landed atop the bookshelf. Agile as a swallow, he leaped over ten feet into the air and snatched the coin. To his surprise, alongside the coin lay a book of prophecy, shrouded in dust yet still emanating a soft glow.

"Could this be a book of prophecy?" Hu Nao gasped in amazement, swiftly taking the artifact into his hands.

Hu Bugui had never imagined that his son would stumble upon the book of prophecy hidden in such an unassuming spot. After a brief moment of surprise, he confirmed, "Indeed, this is a book of prophecy."

"Holy smokes, jackpot!" Hu Nao couldn't contain his excitement, his eyes ablaze with fervor.

Mortal and Spiritual Level Martial Arts were typically inscribed in scrolls, but only the profound and mysterious Earthly and Heavenly Level Martial Arts, which encapsulate the true essence of the cosmos, warranted recording in the form of a book of prophecy.

The book of prophecy bore no inscriptions; one only needed to attune their mind to it to decipher its contents.

Hu Nao had assumed that the Hu family possessed no Earthly Level Martial Arts, so when he chanced upon the book as if by fate, his joy knew no bounds. However, he soon noticed something puzzling. "Dad, there's nothing written on this book of prophecy. What kind of martial art is it?"

Hu Bugui responded calmly, "That's something you'll have to discover on your own. The only thing I can tell you is... I'm your father, and if I don't tell you, it's for your own good."

Hu Nao nearly let out an expletive. Who ever heard of a father evading his son's questions like that?

Despite the martial art's enigmatic nature, the mere fact that it was contained within a book of prophecy suggested it was at least a low grade Earthly martial art, an item of immeasurable value. Take Qin Feng from the Northwind Keep, for instance; he likely didn't even have the privilege to practice Earthly Level Martial Arts.

The disparity between him and Qin Feng was vast, akin to the difference between clouds and mud. Yet, once he mastered this Earthly martial art, the tables would turn; he would ascend to the clouds, leaving the other in the mud!

Thrilled by the prospect, Hu Nao felt his spirits soar. Why hesitate any longer?

This was the one!

That night, as fierce winds raged and snow swirled, Hu Nao's room was a haven of warmth, as cozy as springtime.

Seated in the lotus position on his bed, he cradled the book of prophecy, tuning into it with all his concentration.

A hum resonated, and a deluge of mantras, diagrams, and symbols cascaded into his mind like an incoming tide.

The sheer volume was overwhelming, sending his head into a gentle spin.

"Dragon-Elephant Divine Might is a skill where the elephant's strength reigns supreme on land, and the dragon's is unmatched in water. Master this skill, and you'll possess the divine power of the Nine Dragons and Nine Elephants, making it effortless to take on thousands of foes with the ease of moving mountains and parting seas."

Is it really that powerful?

Hu Nao was astounded, nearly leaping to his feet in surprise.

He meticulously went through the entire skill from start to finish, grasping the intricacies before he began his cultivation.

"Hu..."

Taking a deep breath, he channeled the breath according to the Dragon-Elephant Divine Might technique, guiding it through his meridians and striking his acupoints.

Previously, his meridians were damaged—blocked and fragile, rendering him incapable of manipulating the breath.

But now, as he commenced his cultivation, he felt a newfound agility coursing through his body, akin to an animal emerging from hibernation at the arrival of spring. With his eyes closed and his inner vision activated, he saw the breath transform into a One Dragon and One Elephant, rampaging through his body with the force to engulf a bull.