C5 Training

Chenmu suddenly appeared behind the pair, his expression stern. "Since you're both up, let's start today's training," he declared.

He tossed a bottle of pills to Jie Mu and Yu Wen. "Your master's wife isn't home, and I'm not in the mood to cook. These pills will have to do."

Yu Wen pursed her lips but remained silent, popping a pill into her mouth. Jie Mu, observing her, did the same. The pill dissolved, releasing a rich fragrance that transformed into a warm flow within his meridians, instantly banishing his hunger.

Jie Mu recalled hearing in the tavern that the Zhao family's core disciples ate pills daily instead of food, for the energy provided by the pills was far superior and more valuable. Only the most prestigious sects could afford to nourish their disciples with pills rather than food.

Chenmu went on, "Yu Wen, continue practicing as I've previously instructed. Jie Mu, follow me."

Yu Wen stretched and returned to the massive rock, pounding it with her fists, much to Jie Mu's amazement.

Chenmu clapped Jie Mu on the shoulder, snapping him out of his reverie, and led him towards the valley's heart.

As Jie Mu departed, he noticed a pile of white powder at the forefront of the rocks, wondering who had left it. 'Could Yu Wen have pulverized the stone? Is she that powerful?' he mused, though his question remained unanswered.

The two traversed the meadow, with Chenmu effortlessly stepping over the flora without harming it. Jie Mu tried to emulate him but ended up trampling the grass, eventually resigning himself to his heavier tread.

They soon reached the valley's center. Chenmu halted, giving Jie Mu a knowing look. "Watching her practice the Fist Technique, what do you think? Do you still like her?" he asked, a teasing tone in his voice.

Jie Mu was momentarily taken aback, nodding before he could fully process the information, then quickly realizing his mistake and shaking his head.

Observing Jie Mu's reaction, Chenmu let out a sneer. "Alright, you little rascal, you're not being honest with yourself."

He adopted a serious expression and declared, "Starting today, I will formally instruct you in martial skills and Machine Arts."

At these words, Jie Mu's attention sharpened, and he gazed intently at Chenmu.

Chenmu produced a fan seemingly out of thin air and explained, "Machinery Equipment is simply a type of tool, similar to firearms and cannons that rely on external forces for power."

"The essence of Machinery Equipment, however, is to use one's internal force as the base, harnessing the individual's own strength to execute a variety of complex maneuvers."

With a smile and a casual wave of his fan, Chenmu continued, "Before you can practice Machine Arts, you must possess a solid foundation of internal force. I can see you've already developed a certain level."

"Still, you have a ways to go before you can begin training in Machine Arts. Take Yu Wen, for instance; she has reached Rank Two strength, fulfilling the basic prerequisites."

"Has Guan ever explained to you how a warrior's strength is categorized?"

Jie Mu nodded, then shook his head. "Dad mentioned some of the basics, but he never touched on the more advanced levels."

Chenmu chuckled, "Of course. On the docks of Zither Island, wielding Dark Strength is enough to turn heads; there's no need for anything more advanced. But pay close attention now."

"The path of martial skills is long and full of forks. At Rank Four, one is barely scratching the surface.

Only when Dark Strength fills the palms in the Acquired realm does one truly become formidable.

Without a trace, Enlightenment eludes, and in the Transformation Stage, none dare claim sovereignty.

Only after three days and four realms of breaking illusions does one understand the impermanence of the world."

After reciting the poem, renowned among elite warriors, Jie Mu was lost in contemplation. He had once believed that masters of Acquired Dark Strength were unbeatable, but now he realized there were many more levels to martial arts mastery.

Chenmu extended his finger, concluding, "This is how a warrior's progress is classified, and likewise, Inner Arts Mantras and Martial Arts Secret Scriptures are ranked accordingly."

"Among low-level warriors, we categorize Mantras and martial skills into three ranks: heaven, earth, and man. Each rank is further divided into upper, middle, and lower levels."

"Today, I'm going to teach you an Inner Arts Mantra. It's a traditional Taoist technique known as the Qi Drawing Technique."

"Don't be fooled by the name. It's merely a common Human Rank Mantra, but this Mantra is the very foundation that my teacher and I have built our skills upon."

Jie Mu had never heard of any orthodox Taoism before, but if his master was teaching it, that was good enough for him.

...

Jie Mu had now officially begun his apprenticeship in the Silent Sea. Meanwhile, on the distant Zither Island, a chilling event was unfolding.

Guan, as he often did, sat alone in the tavern, nursing his drink.

He had never spoken of it, but his eyes brimmed with nostalgia.

He remarked to a nearby bartender, "You know, when that little rascal was here, I hardly noticed him. But now that he's gone, there's an emptiness in my heart."

The bartender laughed softly, "Boss, it's not just you. We're all feeling a bit off with the young master leaving so suddenly."

Guan gave him a sidelong glance and took a couple of hearty swigs of his drink, "Well, it's for the best. He's off to learn great things, so he won't end up stuck in a backwater like this, like me."

"Boss, you've been here for over a decade. Are you finally tired of it?" the bartender joked.

Guan sighed and took another drink, "Yes, it's become rather dull."

"When Jie Mu returns, having completed his studies, I'll take him traveling. We'll visit the outskirts to see the snowy plains, Plepvale to witness the desert, and Anzhe to admire the beauties."

At these words, everyone in the tavern burst into hearty laughter.

Just then, a gust of wind swept in, bringing with it an icy chill that enveloped the tavern, coating everything in a thin layer of frost.

The bartender was clueless about what was happening, but Guan's brow furrowed, and his fingers instinctively went to the slice blade at his waist.

He hadn't felt this presence in years, yet his response was immediate and precise.

"Murderous intent! Pure, unadulterated murderous intent!"

The figure was indistinct, their location within the tavern unknown, yet a raspy and weathered voice echoed throughout the establishment.

"Are you tired of life? This tavern seems like a fine place for you to stay in... forever."

Guan's heart skipped a beat. As he reached for his blade, the voice spoke out with a chilling tone.

"Old Guan, proficient with the slice blade—a weapon seven feet and two inches long, with a blade two feet in length and one and three-tenths inches wide. Its edge is keen, its back two-tenths of an inch thick, and its handle four feet and seven inches long, with a thickness of four inches. It's the simplest and most common of weapons."

"Yet in his hands, it becomes a source of exceptional combat power."

Guan's brow furrowed, his grip on the handle tightening. The strength of this unseen adversary was immense, so much so that even he could not discern their current position.

Even when compared to the formidable experts he had encountered in the past, this person likely held a significant advantage.

The voice continued unabated, "Guan himself, at the pinnacle of the late Innate Union Strength stage, found solace in the tavern after his breakthrough to the Enlightenment Realm."

"Your internal energy is a closely guarded secret of the West Prosperity lineage, and your martial skills are grounded in the Slice Blade Arts of the Yao family, one of the three great families from beyond the city walls. In your youth, you wandered the martial world, and it was only through your connections with the academy that you were able to retire peacefully."

Guan remained vigilant, his senses alert to every movement, as he responded, "I, Guan, have long since retired. I no longer meddle in worldly affairs. I must insist that you leave at once!"

"Not meddling in worldly affairs?" The voice let out a mocking laugh. The bartender, who had been standing beside Guan, now lay on the ground, decapitated. He had been dead for quite some time.

"Do you really think that by withdrawing from the martial world, you can wash your hands of its affairs?"

Guan looked down at his fallen comrade, his teeth clenched in anger, his hand gripping the slice blade even tighter. The rage within him was beyond words. "Who are you? Who in the world are you? Are you from the Blood Space Tower? The Qilin Society? Which faction do you belong to?"

The voice sneered once more, "So you want to know who I am to tip off your little gang, huh?"

"Relax, you're just the first stop. I'll be taking the lives of the others, one by one!"

"It's time for the six of you to settle your debts!"

Upon hearing these words, Guan's pupils shrank, as if he had heard something utterly terrifying. His eyes briefly betrayed a flurry of complex emotions.

Then, his vision went black, and he felt an intense pain in his chest. He toppled backward, crashing to the ground.

In his final moments, Guan seemed to see his old comrades, Jie Mu moving away from him, and Chenmu standing behind Jie Mu.

Chenmu appeared to smile at him, and then, Guan lost consciousness completely.

...

In Fragrance Light Valley, Jie Mu was sitting cross-legged, feeling the flow of his internal energy with Chenmu's guidance.

Suddenly, an inexplicable wave of sadness welled up from within him, and for no apparent reason, tears streamed down his face.

Instinctively, he cried out, "Dad!"

But when he opened his eyes, only Chenmu was there.

Chenmu offered a gentle smile but remained silent.

Jie Mu returned a sheepish smile, embarrassed, yet the inexplicable sadness lingered, refusing to fade.

He had never felt such discomfort before, and he couldn't understand what was happening.

Looking up at Chenmu, he said, "Teacher, could you send a message to my father? Tell him I'm doing well here and that he shouldn't worry about me."

Chenmu nodded with a smile, "Of course. Your filial respect is commendable, and I will certainly convey your message."

He then took out a small blackboard and began to write on it.

"The message will reach Zither Island soon, and someone will pass it on to Guan."

Setting aside the blackboard, Chenmu moved behind Jie Mu and channeled his inner energy into him.

"Keep focusing on my energy and practice the Qi Drawing Technique."

"Don't worry about Guan. As a master at the peak of the Innate Realm, if he can't win a fight, he can certainly escape. After all, being at the peak of the Innate Realm is a sign of considerable strength."

"Moreover, Zither Island is Zhao Tailong's domain. Zhao Tailong and Guan are close friends, so with his oversight, what could possibly go wrong? Don't worry, focus on your training—that's the true path."

Chenmu sensed the instability in Jie Mu's inner energy and offered his advice accordingly. Truth be told, Chenmu had also detected a disturbance within his own energy, but given his formidable strength, he didn't dwell on it and quickly subdued it.

Jie Mu gleaned a wealth of previously unknown information from Chenmu's remarks. "I've heard of Zhao Tailong—he's the head of the Zhao family, which holds sway over the entirety of Zither Island. How is it that my father is well-acquainted with such a high-ranking individual?"

"Why has my father never spoken of this to me?"

"The blackboard in my teacher's possession is a mystery to me, but it's capable of transmitting messages, surely a sophisticated piece of Machine Arts."

"My teacher can effortlessly mention the Zhao family patriarch's name and even relay messages to my father. His influence must be considerable."

As Jie Mu pondered these thoughts, Chenmu continued. "Moving forward, upon rising each morning, dedicate your time to practicing the Qi Drawing Technique. After lunch, join Yu Wen for an afternoon of basic martial skills."

"Then, before going to bed, run through the Qi Drawing Technique several times with the goal of advancing to Rank Two as soon as possible, which will allow you to commence your study of the Machine Arts."

Chenmu laid out the daily regimen for Jie Mu, essentially emphasizing the intensity of the upcoming schedule, leaving no room for idle distractions.

"Jie Mu, you have a gift, but talent alone isn't enough. Only through relentless study and rigorous practice can one become a true warrior."

"You might not yet grasp the helplessness that the weak experience, but when the time comes, I hope you'll recall the words I've shared today. Your own strength is the cornerstone upon which all you achieve and possess is built!"

"Otherwise, when you find yourself bereft of all you hold dear, it will be far too late for regrets."