Chapter 103: Interrogation [Request Subscription, Request Monthly Votes]

Xia Daoming closed the box containing the Master’s Secret Map, then casually opened another box filled with potent medicines, pulling out a five-hundred-year-old Lie Lin ginseng, gnawing on it as he walked out of the stone chamber.

He had consumed two of these Lie Lin ginsengs back when he first traveled far with Liu Qiaolian, after becoming a Sixth-Rank Great Martial Master.

One was three hundred years old, the other three hundred and sixty.

He took only a small segment each day.

Even so, when the medicine’s power surged through his meridians, he felt as if his body was being torn apart.

Yet now, Xia Daoming chewed large bites of the five-hundred-year-old Lie Lin ginseng as he walked—beyond a slight fiery taste and a slow warmth spreading from his stomach to every limb, he felt no discomfort at all.

“Taste is weaker, potency is duller,” Xia Daoming finished quickly, wiped his mouth, and turned his gaze to the spring.

Mist rose and curled, nourishing the land around the spring for more than ten mu.

Xia Daoming’s mind involuntarily recalled the cave and valley he had seen in Gengyuan Mountain.

“Pity—the Xu family aren’t cultivators. Otherwise, they should’ve planted some spirit rice or transplanted medicinal herbs here!” Xia Daoming grumbled aloud, but his thoughts grew active.

“I wonder if there are special requirements for planting spirit rice? If not, I happen to have some on hand—I could take a few seeds, clear a field here, and ensure a self-sufficient supply of spirit rice from now on!”

“Hmm, besides spirit rice, I could also cultivate a spirit herb garden here! The Ji family probably know something about this. Even if they don’t, Ding Chushan is a cultivator—he should know at least a little.”

As these thoughts spun in his mind, Xia Daoming left the cave, heart ablaze with excitement.

He walked down the long corridor and returned to the training chamber.

He pressed the hidden switch, nearly indistinguishable from the rock’s natural patterns; the Xuan Gang rock slowly sealed shut, leaving no trace.

Then he stepped out of the training chamber and gently closed the heavy iron door, which required at least an Eighth-Rank Great Martial Master to open.

Returning to the back courtyard, Xia Daoming gave instructions to a Ji family disciple guarding the gate, then left the Xu household.

Next, Xia Daoming swiftly searched the key strongholds of the Ding, Lin, and Ba Dao Men.

Aside from discovering numerous precious herbs and elixirs—and, of course, wealth—there were no unexpected finds among these three families.

The only minor surprise was a plaque carved from a hundred-year-old peach wood heart, found in Gong Zhonghou’s private chamber.

The plaque bore an engraving of a mountain shrouded in mist, shaped like a snail but with its pointed tail downward and its opening facing upward.

Xia Daoming couldn’t discern its significance, yet precisely because of that, Gong Zhonghou’s decision to hide it in his secret chamber seemed odd.

Beyond the Xu family’s back courtyard and Xu Zhiyuan’s private collection, Xia Daoming personally selected only a few precious herbs to serve as his “rations” over the coming days; the rest he left to Ji Yuanzhen and Liang Jingtang to sort and store.

——

The Xu family’s back courtyard, nestled against Cuiyun Mountain.

Under the sunlight, flowers bloomed in competition, butterflies flitted among them, and bees buzzed busily gathering nectar.

Xia Daoming sat comfortably in an old wicker chair, eyes half-closed, watching Ding Chushan lying on a bamboo cot before him.

Originally, Xia Daoming had intended to sit face-to-face with Ding Chushan for a proper conversation.

Unfortunately, Jiao Yongbao, distrustful of cultivator techniques, had brutally broken the man’s limbs with a staff.

So now, the fellow could only lie there.

“Sorry, Young Master Chu Shan, my brother-in-arms went a bit too far—it was entirely unnecessary, in my view,” Xia Daoming said, picking up a Hanbing Zi Shouwu, taking a bite, chewing it, then speaking.

“No problem, no problem at all,” Ding Chushan hurriedly shook his head.

“It seems Young Master Chu Shan understands propriety and knows when to yield. Since that’s the case, I won’t beat around the bush,” Xia Daoming set the Hanbing Zi Shouwu down on the tea table and sat upright.

“Master Xia, ask whatever you wish—I’ll answer truthfully, only beg you to spare my life!” Ding Chushan said.

“Little Ding, whether I spare your life depends on your answers, alright?” Xia Daoming adopted the tone and posture of a superior.

Uh!

Ding Chushan was momentarily disoriented—Xia Daoming had shifted from addressing him as “Young Master Chu Shan” to “Little Ding.”

“Master Xia, please! I’ve devoted myself to the Dao, seeking only a quiet, carefree life among the mountains, detached from worldly strife—I never intended to join in mortal battles or power struggles.

I was simply worn down by my clan elders’ desperate pleas, and reluctantly left the mountains to help. Who could’ve imagined it would end like this!

Now that the Ding family is finished, I have no ties left in this mortal world. If Master Xia grants me a path to live, I swear I’ll never return to it again!” Ding Chushan wept bitterly, tears and snot streaming.

“Little Ding, we’ll discuss that later. For now, let’s focus on the matter at hand—pay attention!” Xia Daoming said.

Ding Chushan gazed at Xia Daoming through tear-blurred eyes, then reluctantly nodded.

“I heard cultivation can only begin before age eight or nine—is that true?” Xia Daoming asked his most pressing question.

“It’s true,” Ding Chushan replied, glancing at Xia Daoming—his previously humble, fearful gaze now subtly revealed a flicker of superiority.

“Oh? Explain why,” Xia Daoming’s expression darkened slightly.

Seeing Xia Daoming’s sudden scowl, Ding Chushan trembled inwardly, his gaze instantly reverting to humble fear as he explained earnestly.

“Humans have twelve regular meridians connected to the five zang and six fu organs. Martial cultivators begin by training these twelve meridians, producing postnatal qi, blood, and strength.

Yet humans also possess eight extraordinary meridians, which do not directly connect to the organs nor form exterior-interior pairs, yet link the twelve regular meridians, regulate their qi and blood, and balance yin and yang.

These eight extraordinary meridians are the human’s innate foundation, also called the innate meridians, storing the original true qi—also known as yuan qi or true qi. In the womb, these meridians are open and filled with original true qi.

Upon birth, when the umbilical cord is cut and the infant begins breathing postnatal air and consuming postnatal food and flesh, the original true qi gradually dissipates and becomes turbid, and the eight extraordinary meridians close.

Cultivators begin by training the eight extraordinary meridians, cultivating true qi and magic power. At birth, infants still retain a small amount of original true qi, and the eight extraordinary meridians are not yet fully closed; if cultivation begins then, anyone could enter the Dao.

But infants lack spiritual awareness and cannot comprehend cultivation. As they grow older and become truly conscious, the original true qi has completely dissipated into turbidity, and the eight extraordinary meridians are fully sealed—thus, the opportunity for cultivation is lost.”

Hearing this, Xia Daoming finally understood.

“No wonder cultivation must begin in childhood—children have begun to develop awareness, yet their eight extraordinary meridians are not yet fully closed. This is the compromise.”

“Master Xia is wise—exactly so. Yet even then, children’s comprehension is limited, their nature is restless, and they cannot sit still. Cultivation is profoundly obscure and requires deep meditation. Merely this one hurdle eliminates most children.

Moreover, if the eight extraordinary meridians have closed too much, even a child with high comprehension and calm temperament cannot reopen them to cultivate true qi and magic power. This requires innate cultivation potential. Thus, those who truly walk the cultivation path are exceedingly rare.

Martial cultivation is different. The twelve regular meridians remain connected to the five zang and six fu organs, continuously transporting qi and blood energy. They’re merely narrower and more obstructed without cultivation. Thus, there’s no childhood requirement for martial cultivation—anyone with the means can practice.” As Ding Chushan spoke, his eyes once again betrayed a faint superiority.

“According to you, is there truly no chance for cultivation after childhood?” Xia Daoming narrowed his eyes, bit hard into the Hanbing Zi Shouwu, and asked, unwilling to give up.

“The Dao has fifty paths; Heaven’s evolution takes forty-nine, leaving humanity one thread of hope,” Ding Chushan replied, his gaze fixed on Xia Daoming’s Hanbing Zi Shouwu—evidently four or five hundred years old—as he swallowed hard.

“Oh!” Xia Daoming’s eyes lit up. With a sharp snap, he broke off a small segment, stood, and held it before Ding Chushan. “Take a bite to moisten your throat—keep going!”

“Th-this Hanbing Zi Shouwu is too old, its potency too fierce—I can’t consume it!” Ding Chushan struggled to swallow, his throat moving painfully.

“If you can’t eat it, why were you salivating? I thought you wanted some!” Xia Daoming retracted the Hanbing Zi Shouwu and sat back in the wicker chair. “Continue. How can adults enter cultivation?”

“It’s said some rare spirit herbs and elixirs can help reopen the eight extraordinary meridians, sense heavenly spiritual energy, and enter cultivation,” Ding Chushan replied.

“What rare herbs or elixirs? Tell me!” Xia Daoming urged.

“I’m merely a spirit farmer of Ling Dao Men—I know little. I’ve only heard of something called Tong Ling Xuan Guo, said to help adults reopen their eight extraordinary meridians and sense heavenly spiritual energy.

But unless one has excellent innate cultivation potential or powerful backing to consume vast quantities of spirit herbs and elixirs, an adult who starts too late—even with spirit herbs—will remain stuck at Qi Refining Stage One for life.” As he spoke, Ding Chushan’s heart grew bitter.

He had no background in the cultivation world, and his innate potential was mediocre—that’s why he descended to the mortal realm to gamble.

And now he was reduced to this.

Had he been born into a cultivation family, like those immortal second-generation heirs who casually consumed spirit herbs, fruits, and elixirs, even with mediocre potential, he wouldn’t have remained stuck at Qi Refining Stage Two until now.

“That’s none of your concern! By the way, take a look at this fruit—is it Tong Ling Xuan Guo?” Xia Daoming opened a small box.

“Th-this… this is Xuan Wu Qing Li Guo!” Ding Chushan’s eyes bulged, his breathing grew heavy, and despite his broken limbs, he nearly sat up from the bamboo cot.

PS: Finally, the book is officially released. I sincerely beg readers to support the official subscription and kindly cast a monthly vote. Early-month votes are crucial—they help this novel climb the monthly ranking, gain exposure, and I’m deeply grateful! Today will be a triple update—around ten thousand characters—with two more chapters to come.

(End of Chapter)