Chapter 645 - 261: Inheritance (Part 3)

"Very good."

Luo Zhixian slowly uttered two words, his tone growing much more solemn. "Your aptitude for the Spear Path far exceeds my expectations. Such a fine piece of jade should not be left to gather dust. Perhaps my life’s Cultivation in the Spear Path can find a successor, and I can teach you all I know."

Chen Qing’s heart stirred. He knew the crucial moment had arrived.

Such an opportunity would never fall from the sky for no reason.

Sure enough, Luo Zhixian’s tone shifted. "But you must agree to one condition of mine."

"A condition?"

Chen Qing’s brow furrowed slightly, his thoughts racing.

’Luo Zhixian is Li Yu-jun’s senior brother. Their master, the previous Nine Heavens Vein Master, died at the hands of the sect traitor, Li Qingyu. And Li Qingyu came from the True Martial Lineage... Is this blood feud going to fall upon my shoulders?’

’Will he make me swear an oath to deal with Li Qingyu in the future, or to target the True Martial Lineage?’

Just as Chen Qing was secretly pondering, weighing the pros and cons, and even preparing to politely refuse this legacy that seemed to come with shackles, Luo Zhixian’s next words took him completely by surprise.

"My condition is this."

Luo Zhixian’s voice was not loud. "When you have achieved mastery in the Spear Path and believe you stand above your peers, you must use all your strength to defeat me!"

"Huh!?"

Chen Qing was stunned, almost thinking he had misheard.

’He’s passing on his ultimate techniques, and his condition is for his disciple to defeat him in the future?’

Luo Zhixian seemed to see his confusion. "I have been obsessed with the Spear Path my entire life, viewing it as both my lifelong friend and rival. I am teaching you my Spear Technique not so you can inherit my legacy and bring glory to our lineage, nor to use you to settle some old grudge. To me, those old affairs, all the rights and wrongs, are far less real than the spear in my hand."

His gaze fell back on Chen Qing. "I simply do not wish for all that I have learned to be buried with me in the yellow earth. The Spear Path should be like a torch, passed down from generation to generation, burning ever brighter. However, a legacy is not a simple replication. If you only learn from me, become like me, or are even inferior to me, then this legacy loses its meaning. It would just be another shadow of ’Luo Zhixian’."

"We martial artists should have the ambition for the student to surpass the master! What I want is a successor who can break through my barriers and walk even further on the Spear Path!"

"So, defeat me! Use the Spear Technique I teach you and defeat me fair and square! That is the best repayment you can offer me, and it is the only way to prove that this Spear Path has a worthy successor who can climb to even greater heights!"

Hearing this, Chen Qing was deeply shaken.

He looked closely into Luo Zhixian’s eyes, and his previous speculations about sectarian prejudice and old grudges instantly vanished like smoke.

So the rumors were true. This old man’s temperament was indeed exceedingly strange, but also exceedingly pure.

This level of magnanimity and bearing, this confidence in and expectation for his own teachings, made Chen Qing feel a spontaneous sense of respect.

He took a deep breath, clasped his fist solemnly, and said in a deep voice, "Disciple Chen Qing will surely cultivate diligently without cease, in hopes of one day being able to compete with the Peak Master on the Spear Path!"

"Good!"

A sharp light flashed in Luo Zhixian’s eyes. "Since you have agreed, you may call me ’Instructor’. From now on, if you have any difficulties or confusion in your Spear Path Cultivation, you can come find me here. I will certainly give you my full guidance."

"Thank you, Instructor!" Chen Qing bowed again.

He knew in his heart that although "Master" and "Instructor" were similar terms, their meanings were vastly different.

A "Master" was like a father, implying a direct lineage and a close relationship. It often involved the complete inheritance of cultivation techniques, resources, and factional allegiances, carrying great responsibility and profound bonds.

An "Instructor," on the other hand, focused more on teaching a skill. They were a revered teacher who imparted knowledge and cleared up confusion, and the relationship was comparatively pure.

By having him use "Instructor," Luo Zhixian was clearly indicating that the core of this inheritance was the Spear Path, not binding him to the Nine Heavens Lineage or other complex relationships.

"Mm."

Luo Zhixian accepted his bow calmly and continued, "The Divine Secret Techniques of the Spear Path are incredibly profound and require True Essence to unleash their power. Since you haven’t reached the True Essence Realm, you can’t practice them for now. Forcing it would do more harm than good. As for the Ten Extremes Spear Technique, you already know the *True Martial Demon-Vibrating Spear* and have learned the *Biluo Jinghong Spear* today, both of which are the essence of it. Your priority now is to master and integrate these two Spear Techniques, practice them diligently, polish your foundation, and comprehend ’Spear Intent’ as soon as possible."

At this point, Luo Zhixian casually picked up the bright silver spear beside him.

With a slight dip of his wrist, a vast, majestic, and piercing intent—one that seemed capable of vanquishing all the world’s demons—suddenly enveloped the entire Thunder Listening Cliff!

Chen Qing felt his breath catch, his skin prickling as if pointed at by countless fine needles.

He could clearly feel that this Spear Intent also contained the brilliant Righteous Qi of the True Martial Demon-Vanquishing, perfectly harmonious and flawlessly round, its power unfathomable.

’This is the Spear Intent of the *True Martial Demon-Vibrating Spear*...’

Chen Qing understood in his heart.

Afterward, Luo Zhixian began to explain in detail the insights, experiences, and techniques he had accumulated over decades of cultivating the Spear Path.

From how to more efficiently channel Gang Qi to coordinate with Spear Techniques, to how to seize opportunities and anticipate opponents in battle, and even how to cultivate a ’feel’ for the spear and nurture Spear Intent... These precious experiences were not specific techniques or moves, but they broadened Chen Qing’s understanding of the Spear Path immensely, and he gained a great deal.

Finally, Luo Zhixian changed the subject. "You are now in the Late-stage Astral Force realm, so you must be quite concerned about the True Essence Realm. The essence of the True Essence Realm is to take the ’True Astral’ that spreads throughout your meridians and temper it within your Dantian, condensing it into a strand of True Essence that is even more infused with life force."

"The more abundant and higher quality the accumulated True Astral, the more powerful the resulting True Essence. The function of True Essence is to temper one’s own body. You can use it to repeatedly temper your organs, limbs, bones, and even your flesh and skin. Each time you complete a full-body tempering, not only will your strength leap forward, but your lifespan will also increase."

"Generally speaking, three temperings make up one stage, corresponding to the early, middle, and late stages of the True Essence Realm. The vast majority of True Essence Realm experts spend their entire lives completing these nine temperings in total. The grade of the Heart Method used to build one’s foundation directly affects the outcome of the tempering. Even if one can complete nine temperings with a foundation from a Superior Heart Method, the resulting strengthening of the Flesh Body and the qualitative change in True Essence are far inferior to those of someone who used a Supreme Heart Method."

Luo Zhixian glanced at Chen Qing. "The fusion of the Three True Astrals in your body gives you a foundation even deeper than those built on ordinary Supreme Heart Methods. You have no need to worry on this point; your prospects are vast."

Chen Qing couldn’t help but ask, "Nine times of tempering? Does that mean nine is the limit for the True Essence Realm?"

"Not so."

Luo Zhixian shook his head and said slowly, "Back in my day, I completed ten temperings in the True Essence Realm."

"Ten times!?"

Chen Qing was shaken to the core.

Nine times was the limit for ordinary people. Ten times meant a foundation and strength far exceeding others in the same Realm!

"Ten times is not the limit either."

Luo Zhixian pondered for a moment, then said, "According to the secret records of our Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, our founding patriarch was a peerless genius who completed thirteen temperings!"

"Thirteen times!"

Chen Qing was secretly astounded. ’What an incredibly deep foundation that must be!’

Luo Zhixian sighed. "After nine times, the difficulty of each subsequent tempering increases exponentially. The test on one’s Flesh Body, willpower, and resources is extremely harsh. Moreover, the main reason the founding patriarch was able to achieve thirteen was that he cultivated the *Taixu Scripture*. Unfortunately, that method has long been lost."

’The *Taixu Scripture*!? Thirteen temperings of True Essence!?’ Chen Qing exclaimed inwardly.

Luo Zhixian shook his head. "Even if we found it today, its cultivation is so difficult and demanding that it’s beyond the reach of ordinary people. You could say that after the ninth time, every additional tempering is an act of defying the heavens, as difficult as ascending to them. But each success brings immeasurable benefits to solidifying one’s foundation and future potential on the path of the Dao. The increase in strength is also far beyond what the first nine can compare to."

Hearing this, Chen Qing took a deep breath. "Thank you for clearing my doubts, Instructor. Disciple understands."

Luo Zhixian nodded slightly. "That is all for today. Digest what you have learned. If you have any questions, you may come at any time."

"Yes, Disciple takes his leave." Chen Qing bowed again, then turned and left.

Luo Zhixian stood alone at the cliff’s edge, watching Chen Qing’s receding back. The mountain wind stirred his graying hair and beard, and a complex light flickered in his deep eyes.

The aptitude for the Spear Path that Chen Qing had displayed had truly surprised him, even bringing him a sense of joy.

’Mastering the basics of *Biluo Jinghong* in a single attempt... a talent like this might truly be able to bear my expectations.’

He muttered to himself, the constantly taut strings of his heart seeming to loosen just a bit.

’Finally, this lifetime of Cultivation, this lifelong pursuit of the Spear Path, might not be left without a successor. It was not in vain that I guarded this place, searching for a worthy talent.’

’When... this boy learns those two Divine Secret Techniques and his foundation is stable, then the time will have come...’

...