C12 Arrive at the Appointed Time

In recent days, Qi Xiao's attachment to the mundane world has been minimal, yet it has sufficiently fueled his body forging endeavors. With his sword soul now partially restored, Qi Xiao's prowess is far from feeble.

Take Chen Jinbai, the external martial arts expert he encountered previously. In terms of sheer physical strength, Chen was essentially Qi Xiao's equal, and Qi Xiao could handle him without even tapping into his sword soul's power.

Furthermore, Qi Xiao's physique is free from the typical vulnerabilities that plague external martial artists; instead, it thrives with vigor.

Martial artists are categorized into internal and external practitioners. External martial arts focus on physical conditioning, while internal martial arts cultivate Qi. Mastery of the external before delving into the internal is essential for advancing in the martial arts journey.

External martial arts without the depth of internal martial arts are merely scratching the surface of martial arts, not even qualifying as foundational knowledge.

The internal energy cultivated by internal martial artists differs from the spiritual energy that cultivators like Qi Xiao harness. To be precise, it's a diluted form of spiritual energy, significantly less potent.

This energy is dispersed throughout a martial artist's body, concentrated only when the martial artist takes a deep breath before executing a technique, thereby enhancing the power of each movement. This phenomenon is the essence of the saying, "cultivate the inner breath."

Internal martial arts are divided into three phases: Qi Gathering, Transforming Strength, and Return to Origin.

When people speak of internal martial artists, they're often referring to those at the Qi Gathering stage, where they've just begun to harness internal energy for physical reinforcement, without yet mastering its application.

Internal martial art experts, on the other hand, have reached the Transforming Strength stage, where they can convert their internal energy for personal use, seamlessly integrating it into every action, making their moves more forceful and swift.

The Return to Origin stage is where one becomes a true internal martial arts master, also known as a Martial Arts Master. At this pinnacle, martial artists merge their Qi with their being, making every breath an embodiment of strength, effortlessly performing feats that would otherwise seem burdensome.

Even at the pinnacle of the Return to Origin Stage, a martial artist would manage to condense a trace of their own true essence within their body. Though it paled in comparison to the true essence wielded by cultivators, for an average martial artist, this was an extraordinary feat.

Above the Return to Origin Stage lies the elusive Innate Realm, a level so rare that one might not find a single practitioner in all of West River City.

In the hierarchy of cultivation realms, the external stage of martial arts corresponds to the Body Tempering Stage, while the internal stage aligns with the Qi Refining Stage.

Yet, when it comes to raw power, martial artists like Qi Xiao are outclassed by cultivators, given the vast disparity between the force of inner strength and Genuine Qi.

That said, Qi Xiao's current level, while only akin to that of an external martial arts expert, would make him a formidable match against an internal martial arts master in combat.

As he continued to temper his body, Qi Xiao walked on, soon arriving at the restaurant where he was to meet Xue Rensheng. He took a deep breath, halting his cultivation practice.

A Hotel stood as one of the few five-star dining establishments in West River City, boasting the most opulent setting under the A Group's portfolio.

The twin stone lions guarding the entrance of A Hotel exuded a grand presence.

Upon entering, the grandeur of the hall was undeniable, with a glittering glass ceiling that rotated gently above and playful fish in the pond below, all contributing to the restaurant's exceptional ambiance.

The waiter, undeterred by Qi Xiao's worn attire, courteously escorted him to the reception.

Before Qi Xiao could even mention the "Room Number One under Heaven," a voice he recognized stopped him in his tracks.

"Qi... Qi Xiao? You're still alive?"

Turning, he found himself face to face with his high school classmate, Chen Jing!

Dressed in a sharp business suit with a name tag pinned to her chest, Chen Jing was the hotel's lobby manager.

"Chen Jing?"

His response to her served as a casual greeting, though he recalled her lack of fondness for him.

Back in high school, when his family wielded power and influence, Chen Jing had been all too eager to please him, practically glued to his side.

But as soon as the Qi family's fortunes waned, she quickly shifted her attentions to another wealthy scion, severing all ties with him without a second thought.

She had the audacity to embarrass him in front of everyone, a spectacle of feigned loyalty to that young master, leaving Qi Xiao feeling nauseated.

Chen Jing had clearly gained some weight, her stature now short and plump. Yet, she had managed to secure the position of lobby manager at a five-star restaurant. Her years of sycophancy had paid off, as she evidently latched onto a wealthy patron.

"Hey, what's with the getup, Young Master Qi? Dressed so 'modestly,' are you here to mingle with the common folk?"

Chen Jing's smile was anything but genuine as she scrutinized Qi Xiao's attire, her voice dripping with derision. She regarded him as if he were something vile, her gaze brimming with blatant scorn.

Qi Xiao dismissed her repulsive expression, offering a courteous smile in return. "Someone's treating me to a meal, that's all."

"Look at you, Young Master Qi, still able to snag a free meal around here? Hope you're not just here to freeload!"

Chen Jing might have been clueless about the specifics of the Qi family's situation, but she was aware that Qi Xiao no longer lived the life of a wealthy heir. Her tone was unapologetically rude as she relentlessly mocked him.

For Chen Jing, the thrill of stepping on someone she once fawned over was immensely satisfying.

You used to snub me, and now you're beneath me!

A single glance into her eyes was all Qi Xiao needed to read her thoughts. With no deep-seated grudge to speak of, he found her pettiness amusing rather than worth his concern.

Society always had its share of individuals at the bottom of the psychological pecking order, with mediocre accomplishments that were neither here nor there. They had a particular disdain for those above them, relishing the chance to belittle those who once stood higher—it gave them a perverse sense of accomplishment.

"Just here for a meal," he reiterated.

Chen Jing, however, wasn't about to let Qi Xiao off the hook so easily. The scorn in her eyes intensified.

She clearly didn't buy Qi Xiao's story about simply coming to eat. From his current attire, she surmised that he couldn't afford much here—not even a sip of water.

"Listen up, Qi Xiao, if you're broke, quit playing the big shot. You're only embarrassing yourself! Do you even know who runs this place? Think you've got friends here? That's a joke!"

Qi Xiao ignored her and turned to the receptionist.

"Where's the Sky Number One Room?"

Before the receptionist could respond, Chen Jing burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, Qi Xiao, there's a limit to how much you can fake it! You think I'm clueless about your current mess? Hasn't the Qi family been in ruins for years? I've heard it's just you and your sister left, two orphans."

Chen Jing's laughter was loud and mocking, drawing the attention of everyone in the lobby.

"So, what's it going to be? Here to beg or to borrow? I might spare some change if you ask nicely!"

Qi Xiao found the woman's antics puzzling and dismissed her, repeating his question to the waiter about the Sky Number One Room, and was then escorted to the private room.

Chen Jing's irritation flared at Qi Xiao's composed demeanor.

He was always like this, unaffected no matter how hard I tried to win him over. Was it all because his family had money? Now that you're penniless, you still have the nerve to act so high and mighty?

But then, something occurred to her.

An old classmate of hers, desperate and out of options, had come to her for help, hoping to land a job at A Hotel. She wasn't exactly a saint, but helping out with such a trivial matter wasn't a big deal—she could always get rid of him later.

And as fate would have it, this classmate was also an old schoolmate of Qi Xiao!

"Hmph, don't think for a second that I'm the same fawning fool from before, here to beg Shen Shishuang for money. That lowlife still in touch with you? He really doesn't know what's good for him. Just wait, I'll show both of you what's what today!"