Chapter 118: The Secret of Xian Tian, A Second Breakthrough

“Xian Tian Realm?” Old Doctor’s expression flickered with an unreadable look.

“This is a wondrous realm. But you can first experience it for yourself.”

With that, a surge of aura burst forth from Old Doctor, enveloping Lu Qing like a crushing wave.

Instantly, Lu Qing felt as though a massive mountain had settled upon his body. The space around him seemed to freeze solid—every muscle, every sinew, even the tiniest finger, refused to move.

Lu Qing’s eyes widened in shock.

Though he trusted his master wouldn’t harm him, the suffocating sensation—like being trapped deep beneath the ocean—still sent a chill down his spine.

But the pressure lasted only an instant. Old Doctor withdrew his aura immediately, having merely shown Lu Qing what Xian Tian’s presence felt like.

Lu Qing exhaled, relief flooding through him. The suffocation vanished as if it had never been. It felt like a dream.

Yet Xiao Yan and Xiao Li remained utterly oblivious—unaffected, their faces blank with confusion, as if nothing had happened.

But Lu Qing knew better. That wasn’t illusion. He had truly been paralyzed, powerless.

If Old Doctor had wanted to kill him, it would have taken only a thought.

“Master,” Lu Qing asked quickly, “what was that just now?”

Though his Heritage contained knowledge of the Xian Tian Realm, it couldn’t possibly detail every nuance. Li Weitian wasn’t the type to over-explain.

“That,” Old Doctor said, “was the unique Xian Tian Pressure—exclusive to the Xian Tian Realm.”

“A Hou Tian cultivator who has perfected their Spirit Soul Power, upon breaking through into the Xian Tian Realm, has their Spirit Soul Power rapidly nurtured and strengthened under the guidance of the Heavenly Laws. It gains real power.”

“This spiritual might, combined with the aura of the Xian Tian Realm, creates a distinct pressure. Though it cannot directly injure, it can shatter a cultivator’s spirit, intimidating the soul. Few in the Hou Tian Realm possess the willpower or determination to resist it.”

“Even if one manages to resist the mental suppression, under such pressure, their mind becomes clouded, their body weighed down. They can only bring forth three or four out of ten of their true strength.”

“Xian Tian Pressure,” Lu Qing murmured.

At last, he began to grasp the true power of the Xian Tian Realm.

He didn’t even need to consider the physical prowess or the mysterious Xian Tian Qi—just this pressure alone gave its user a natural advantage over Hou Tian cultivators.

“Exactly,” Old Doctor nodded. “So A Qing, when you face a Xian Tian cultivator in the future, be cautious. Never provoke them recklessly.”

He knew his disciple was exceptionally gifted. It wouldn’t be long before Lu Qing might reach the Nei Fu Jing. A brilliant talent often came with overconfidence.

He couldn’t afford for Lu Qing to offend a Xian Tian cultivator through arrogance—because no matter how brilliant the talent, it would be crushed instantly by sheer power.

“Can’t be bothered by Xian Tian cultivators?” Lu Qing scratched his head. “Master, if you’d said that a few days ago, I might’ve listened. But now… I’m afraid it’s already too late. I may have already angered one.”

“Explain,” Old Doctor said sharply.

“A few days ago, I went into the mountains to gather herbs. I stumbled upon Ma Gu, who was being hunted…” Lu Qing recounted the entire incident—the ambush, the two disciples from the Tian Cang Sect, and how he’d slain them.

He’d kept quiet before, not only because Old Doctor hadn’t broken through yet, but also because he didn’t want to burden him with worry during such a critical time.

Now that his master had ascended to Xian Tian, he could finally speak freely.

Old Doctor fell silent after listening.

He hadn’t expected to warn Lu Qing against offending Xian Tian cultivators—only to hear that his disciple had already done so, possibly against an old, powerful Xian Tian master.

But he couldn’t blame Lu Qing.

Because he knew—had he been in the same situation, he would’ve acted the same way. He wouldn’t have stood by while Ma Gu and Wei Fu Ren’s mother were slaughtered.

At most, he’d have spared their lives.

But Lu Qing’s strength? He knew it well. Not long ago, the boy had only just entered Jin Gu Jing.

To survive against two such formidable foes was already a miracle. To speak of restraint? That would’ve been fantasy.

For a moment, Old Doctor was speechless.

“Master… did I make a mistake?” Lu Qing asked, uncertain.

Old Doctor sighed. “You acted to save lives. How could that be wrong? This is simply bad luck for us—no fault, no blame.”

The thought of his disciple having angered such a powerful being made his own breakthrough feel hollow.

If he hadn’t broken through, he wouldn’t know the true strength of the Xian Tian Realm. He wouldn’t be so anxious now.

“Master, you’re now in the Xian Tian Realm. Shouldn’t you be less afraid of other Xian Tian cultivators?” Lu Qing asked.

“Me?” Old Doctor chuckled bitterly. “How could I compare to a true Xian Tian master? I’m just an old doctor. I’ve never fought in battle, never trained in the crucible of combat. How could I stand against someone who’s spent a lifetime honing their craft through bloodshed?”

“What about the Combat Technique left by Li Weitian?” Old Doctor paused.

He hesitated, then said, “It might help… but that technique is incredibly complex. Whether I can learn it… I don’t know.”

“Of course you can!” Lu Qing quickly praised. “You mastered Nourish Body Fist from a fragmented technique, reaching Inner Organs Perfection. You’ve already grasped Li Weitian’s Xian Tian Method in just days, forging your Spirit Soul Power. That proves your talent—no matter the difficulty, you’ll succeed!”

“Stop flattering me,” Old Doctor laughed, but there was a hint of relief in his voice.

At this point, he had no choice but to try.

He would study the Heritage jade scroll left by Li Weitian. Maybe, just maybe, he could find one or two simple Combat Techniques to master.

Not to defeat the unknown Xian Tian cultivator—only to gain enough strength to protect his disciples, his village, and himself.

Seeing his master decide to study the technique, Lu Qing silently breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew his master’s nature. Without pressure, Old Doctor would’ve spent the next few months absorbed in Medical Skills, never bothering with combat arts.

But as for whether his master could master the techniques in the jade scroll?

Lu Qing had no doubt.

The man had taken a broken, incomplete combat method and deduced Nourish Body Fist—a masterpiece of Nei Fu Jing. He’d grasped the Xian Tian Method in days, forged Spirit Soul Power, and broken through.

No matter how you looked at it, Old Doctor was a true martial genius.

He just never realized it—because he’d always been too devoted to healing.

“Master,” Lu Qing asked, “I know Xian Tian cultivators develop Xian Tian Qi with elemental affinities. What’s your Xian Tian Qi’s nature?”

“My Xian Tian Qi has no attribute yet,” Old Doctor said, shaking his head.

Lu Qing blinked in surprise.

Old Doctor smiled. “You’ve learned many Xian Tian techniques, but you still don’t fully grasp how it works. The truth is—most things in cultivation are subtle. You can’t truly understand them until you’ve stepped into the realm yourself.”

“In other words, you can’t comprehend it without having experienced it.”

“That’s correct. The human body is a marvel—complex and mysterious. Save for those born with extraordinary gifts or severe disabilities, ordinary people naturally possess all five elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water—in balance. Only through their harmony do we remain strong, healthy, and free from illness.”

“The elemental nature spoken of in the classics isn’t innate. It’s chosen.”

“Upon first breaking through to Xian Tian, a cultivator’s Qi is pure—without any element. Like the void at the dawn of creation.”

“Only through later cultivation—by fusing Spirit Soul Power with Qi, refining techniques, and selectively absorbing Heavenly and Earthly Qi from the environment—does the Qi take on a specific nature.”

Old Doctor, now fully enlightened by the Heritage scroll, explained it all to Lu Qing.

“So… the choice of Combat Technique determines one’s Qi’s elemental affinity?” Lu Qing realized.

“Precisely. All things in the world can be classified into the Five Elements. The Heavenly and Earthly Qi is no exception. It’s which type of Qi you refine that shapes your own.”

Old Doctor’s understanding had deepened ever since his Spirit Soul Power had surged beyond the Baihui Point and first sensed the colorful, vibrant essence of the universe.

“Could I… refine all five elements at once? Make my Qi contain all five?” Lu Qing asked suddenly.

“In theory, yes,” Old Doctor replied. “But the human mind has limits. Refining a single element already consumes most of a Xian Tian cultivator’s time and focus. How could you spare the energy to refine more?”

Lu Qing nodded. It made sense.

Greed leads to ruin. Too much ambition, and you end up with nothing.

If refining all five were easy, there wouldn’t be elemental distinctions in Xian Tian techniques.

“Then… what technique will you study?” Lu Qing asked.

He knew Li Weitian’s Heritage contained several Xian Tian Combat Techniques, each with different affinities. He wondered which one Old Doctor would choose.

“I haven’t decided yet. I need time to think,” Old Doctor said.

After lingering in the Half Mountain Courtyard for a while, exchanging insights on the Xian Tian Realm, Lu Qing finally took Xiao Li and Xiao Yan back.

His master had just broken through—this was a time for quiet reflection and integration. He wouldn’t disturb him further.

But before leaving, Old Doctor gave Xiao Li a stern warning: “Don’t use your invisibility to cause trouble. You’re not invisible to Xian Tian cultivators.”

It turned out, while playing in the yard earlier, Xiao Li had used its invisibility to hide from Xiao Yan—only for Old Doctor, now a Xian Tian master, to see through it instantly.

Lu Qing felt a chill.

His suspicion had been confirmed—Xiao Li’s ability couldn’t fool a Xian Tian cultivator.

And he realized: Old Doctor’s warning wasn’t just for Xiao Li. It was for him too.

Don’t rely on Xiao Li’s tricks to get into dangerous situations.

After all, Lu Qing had already told him how Wang Qing Shan had been killed by Xiao Li.

Back at the house, Xiao Li and Xiao Yan both began to feel drowsy.

Lu Qing understood. They’d absorbed a great deal of the Qi White Mist released during Old Doctor’s breakthrough.

That mist was condensed essence from the Heavenly Laws—rich in gentle, potent life energy. It was akin to Dipulse Spiritual Fluid, a rare substance that healed and strengthened the body.

Ordinary people could benefit from just a thread of it—strengthening their constitution, curing illness.

But for two little ones to absorb so much? Their bodies couldn’t process it all at once. Sleep was the only way to slowly digest it.

Even Lu Qing felt the surge of power within him—his body thrumming with energy, almost overwhelming.

He helped the two girls to bed, watching them fall asleep.

Then, stepping into the courtyard, he assumed his stance and began practicing Nourish Body Fist.

As his body moved, the Qi White Mist within him found a path—flowing through his blood, muscles, tendons, and deeper layers of his being.

His body grew stronger, more vibrant—renewed and invigorated.

This time, he trained longer than ever.

He repeated the form over and over, from high noon until the sun dipped below the horizon.

If the villagers hadn’t seen him practicing every day, they might’ve thought he’d gone mad.

Still, some worried. They watched from afar, fearing he’d push himself too far.

Zhang Da Ye came out of his house several times, standing at the edge of Lu Qing’s courtyard, eyes filled with concern, watching him train with complete focus.

Had Lu Qing’s face shown any signs of strain, he might’ve stepped in.

But Lu Qing paid no mind.

Lost in the flow of the technique, he entered a rare, transcendent state.

Finally, as the last sliver of sunset vanished, Lu Qing’s body trembled.

A series of sharp, cracking sounds echoed through his bones.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end