Xu Ziqing’s movements, this steward had seen them before.
That day, the young disciple in a black robe who had astonished everyone had stood outside the Yellow-rank barrier in the exact same stance.
The only difference was, that man had been tall and handsome, while this youth was shorter and delicate in appearance.
In terms of presence alone, Xu Ziqing naturally appeared a head lower.
But the White-robed Scripture Pavilion Manager noticed that their eyes carried the same determination, the same sharpness!
“He… what is he going to do?”
“Imitating him?” The white-robed manager grew a little curious.
Behind him, the Dao Gate disciples also began whispering among themselves.
“Chu Huaixu did the same that day, piercing through four barriers in one breath with just two fingers!”
“Is this junior imitating him, or has he perhaps learned some finger technique?”Everyone’s curiosity was thoroughly aroused.
Under the watchful gaze of so many people, Xu Ziqing finally moved.
His steps pressed forward, and with two fingers he instantly broke through the Yellow-rank barrier, followed right after by the Profound-rank!
Gasps of astonishment rippled through the hall.
The delicate youth did not stop moving; very quickly, he even shattered the Earth-rank barrier in a single breath!
“Only the Heaven-rank remains.”
All eyes were fixed on him as Xu Ziqing’s brows furrowed. The power within his body erupted at that moment. With the formidable physique refined by the 《Sword Refining Art》, he suddenly broke through the final barrier.
In one breath, without pause!
“Because I was taught by him myself, though I’ve only learned a little superficial skill.”
“I fall far short of Senior Brother!”
For a time, the crowd was stunned, glancing at each other.
Yet this was unexpected, but also within reason.
No wonder, no wonder indeed!
Whispers spread again.
No doubt, before long this news would circulate widely throughout the Outer Sect.
After exchanging a few more polite words, Xu Ziqing began choosing his desired Heaven-rank cultivation method.
He carefully browsed through the small booklets placed beside the jade slips, reading them with great seriousness.
These booklets described the characteristics of each cultivation method in detail.
“I don’t know what cultivation method Senior Brother practiced. He never mentioned it.” Xu Ziqing put down the booklet for the 《Dao Canon》, thinking this in his heart.
He read through ten in a row, sighing inwardly each time.
Because the thresholds for these methods all seemed extremely high.
Some even explicitly stated that those without top-grade or supreme-grade Spirit Embryos were not advised to practice them, as entry would be extremely difficult, yielding little for much effort.
At this moment, Xu Ziqing’s mentality was much the same as Chu Huaixu’s back then.
Chu Huaixu had continuously used 【Information Probe】, only to find that every cultivation method had a very low compatibility.
“Senior Brother said he hoped I could obtain the Pass Token for Hidden Spirit Mountain.”
“That means I must find a cultivation method suited to me. Otherwise, with my pace of cultivation, even if I constantly consume pills, I fear it would not make up for it.” His thoughts remained clear.
The only thing Xu Ziqing worried about was that none of the methods might be suitable for his mere low-grade Spirit Embryo.
He continued reading from left to right, until his hands picked up the booklet for the 《Ice-muscle Jade-bone Method》.
This boy, delicate like a girl, had always been troubled by his appearance. The moment he saw the name of this method, he felt an immediate dislike.
“What kind of name is this? So effeminate.” Xu muttered in his heart.
Given his looks, if others were to ask what method he practiced, and he had to answer “Ice-muscle Jade-bone”… wouldn’t that be humiliating?
So at first, he only intended to flip through it casually before putting it back.
But after a rough glance, he began to read it more carefully.
“Hm? A Heaven-rank body refinement method?” Xu Ziqing was astonished.
As expected of the Dao Gate, with such deep foundations. This level of body refinement divine art was rarely seen in the world—exceptionally rare.
He soon understood why a body refinement method would be called a “mind method.”
Because what one cultivated was the heart of Ice-muscle Jade-bone! The proper punctuation should be 《Ice-muscle Jade-bone Heart · Method》!
“The senior who created this cultivation method was truly a remarkable person.” The youth smiled slightly, thinking so to himself.
He read through the entire booklet in one breath, and the more he read, the more suitable it seemed for him.
Xu Ziqing’s guess was correct, because its compatibility with Chu Huaixu had also reached as high as 96%!
With the body-refinement sacred body forged by the 《Sword Refining Art》, how could it not match a Heaven-rank body refinement method?
The delicate youth finally let out a breath of relief. “At least there is one that suits me.”
He did not look down on the body refinement path.
He knew his own aptitude was limited, without the qualifications to be picky.
If not for Senior Brother bestowing fortune upon him, he would have been nothing more than the lowest-grade False Spirit Embryo.
Xu Ziqing continued flipping through the other booklets, and very soon he had finished them all.
He returned again before the 《Ice-muscle Jade-bone Method》, his face showing hesitation.
Although the name of this cultivation method was quite interesting, he truly felt embarrassed by it.
Yet, among so many Heaven-rank cultivation methods, not a single one was suitable for him to learn!
Some could barely be learned, but most likely he would then have no chance of reaching Hidden Spirit Mountain.
After a brief hesitation, Xu Ziqing still decided to put Senior Brother’s instructions first.
“I must go to Hidden Spirit Mountain!”
Clenching his teeth, he grabbed the jade slip and strode outward.
“This is it!”
When the White-robed Scripture Pavilion Manager saw the jade slip Xu Ziqing had taken, he could not help but be stunned.
“What’s with these two? One chose the 《Dao Canon》, the other chose the 《Ice-muscle Jade-bone Method》?” He could not help but look the youth up and down.
Xu Ziqing lowered his head slightly, thinking it was because of his appearance and the name of the cultivation method.
But the White-robed Scripture Pavilion Manager still adhered to his earlier principle: not to voice his opinion, respecting individual karma and fate.
He immediately activated the jade slip, imprinting its contents entirely into the youth’s mind.
After finishing, Xu Ziqing gave thanks and left, walking out of the Scripture Pavilion.
For this boy, delicate yet male, stepping out with this choice meant he had truly embarked upon the most forceful path of body refinement.
Outside the bamboo house, Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang were sparring again while waiting for Xu’s return.
As soon as he came back, the two asked at once, “What did you choose?”
Xu Ziqing felt a little embarrassed to say, and replied softly, “The 《Ice-muscle Jade-bone Method》.”
The two of them exchanged glances, each somewhat surprised.
Big Ice Block looked at him, then at Chu Huaixu.
“These two brothers—one practices both internally and externally, the other purely body refinement,” she thought.
In contrast, she, the most normal one, suddenly seemed a little out of place.
Chu Huaixu gazed at Xu, also a little surprised.
“In 《Borrowed Sword》, was Xu Ziqing a body refiner? I don’t think so…”
“But either way, the 《Ice-muscle Jade-bone Method》 is indeed the cultivation method most suited to him at present.” In this regard, he understood all too well.
“Only, in 《Borrowed Sword》, even if Xu chose another method and consumed pills, he might not have entered so quickly. So how did he obtain the charred-black wooden pass token?” Chu Huaixu felt puzzled.
In the end, he did not say more, only looked at Xu unhappily and said,
“I ask you a question, why do you answer so softly, like a mosquito buzzing?”
But soon he guessed the reason and asked, “Is it because of the name of the method?”
Xu Ziqing nodded honestly.
Chu Huaixu was speechless: “Are you stupid? You can just make up a new name for yourself later!”
“If you don’t like Ice-muscle Jade-bone, then call it Crimson Blood Steadfast Heart, Sword Courage Zither Heart, Hundred Claws Scratching Heart, Heaven and Earth Conscience, Beast Heart in Human Face…” He grew more and more absurd.
Yet Xu, though not stupid, always turned foolish before Chu Huaixu. He really took every word seriously, asking, “Senior Brother, should I pick one from these?”
Big Ice Block stood to the side, unable to listen any further.
Looking at the two brothers, her face cold, she said, “Why not just call it Brothers United in Heart?”
Hearing this, Xu Ziqing was actually moved, his eyes instantly lighting up.
Chu Huaixu burst into loud laughter, nudging Han Shuangjiang lightly with his shoulder: “Hahaha, Big Ice Block, who would’ve thought—you even have a bit of a cold-faced comedian in you! Hahaha!”
The cold-faced girl felt she could hardly stand being there any longer.
“Laugh your head off,” she cursed inwardly.
Finally, after a few more moments of joking, Chu Huaixu began ushering Xu away, urging him to hurry back inside to cultivate.
“I already put the pills on your desk. But since this is body refinement, you also need medicinal baths. I’ll prepare everything for you.” He added, “Also, body refinement requires taking beatings. When the time comes, don’t blame me for being too harsh.”
After saying that, he turned to Han Shuangjiang with a grin and asked seriously, “Do you also want to beat him?”
Big Ice Block could no longer endure, turning on her heel and going straight back into her room.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
During these three days, Xu Ziqing’s life was nothing short of hellish.
The pain of cultivating the 《Ice-muscle Jade-bone Method》 was different from the 《Sword Refining Art》. It was pain from the inside out.
In this, it was somewhat similar to the 《Dao Canon》.
Each time he cultivated, even his internal organs felt tormented.
Xu Ziqing suspected that by the time he cultivated further, he really would end up with an incomparably hard heart…
In addition, Chu Huaixu truly “domestically abused” him every single day.
At Xu’s current stage, Chu could beat him with one hand.
He didn’t even need to use his spiritual energy; with sheer physical strength alone, it was a complete one-sided crushing—the difference was simply too great.
After being covered in wounds, Xu would soak in medicinal baths, and the absorption worked better.
For the sake of Hidden Spirit Mountain, the youth clenched his teeth and endured, never once uttering a single complaint, his Dao heart incomparably firm!
Chu Huaixu also paid attention to the self-healing effect of the 《Ice-muscle Jade-bone Method》.
“Most body refinement methods come with some of this, but compared to the 《Dao Canon》, the difference is far too great—the effect is much weaker,” he thought.
And so, with spiritual pills, medicinal baths, and Chu Huaixu’s tireless effort, Xu Ziqing barely managed to break through to the First Heaven just in time.
Indeed, if he had not chosen body refinement, he would likely have been too late.
“Quick, hurry and collect the wooden pass token.” Chu Huaixu urged, “I’ll go with you.”
Han Shuangjiang looked at the two rushing off. With her temperament, if they didn’t invite her, even if she wanted to go, she would never take the initiative to ask.
She watched their figures fade into the distance, a trace of doubt in her heart.
“Didn’t he say a few days ago that he wasn’t Xu’s father, so why does he accompany him in everything?”
“How come, once it involves Hidden Spirit Mountain, he becomes this enthusiastic?”
She did not know that Chu Huaixu had been waiting for this day for a long time.
The many doubts in his heart could finally have an answer today!