Chapter 563: Those Who Learn From Me Live; Those Who Imitate Me Die!

Mm.

After hearing Zhang Chulan’s reasoning, Zhang Jie nodded in understanding.

To be fair, although Zhang Chulan was a minor Yinbi, he didn’t lack face,

it was undeniable that his talent ranked among the top in the younger generation of the Yiren world.

Despite having neglected cultivation for years, this boy had already mastered the Golden Light Spell and Yang Wu Lei.

Moreover, his grandfather had passed away when he was seven or eight,

meaning this boy had learned the Golden Light Spell and Yang Wu Wu Lei by the age of eight or nine!

What does that mean?

In the Longhu Mountain Tian Shi Fu, only the Tian Shi and the highest-ranking Gao Gong after him could master Yang Wu Lei!

Currently, on Longhu Mountain, the only one under the age of twenty who wields Lei Fa

is that one disciple, exceptionally admitted as the Tian Shi’s final pupil,

regarded by the entire Tian Shi Fu as the undisputed successor to the Tian Shi position after the old Tian Shi—Young Uncle Lingyu Zhenren Zhang Lingyu.

In short, had he not wasted all these years, Zhang Chulan wouldn’t have needed to resort to all those petty tricks

or be cursed by other Yiren as lacking face—he could have,

purely through his own strength, competed on equal footing with Zhuge Qing of the Zhuge family, Wang Ye Daochang of the Wudang Sect,

and Young Uncle Zhang Lingyu of Longhu Mountain.

“But I still can’t give you my Qi.”

Zhang Jie shook his head, giving a negative answer.

“Why, Jiege?”

Zhang Chulan was utterly disappointed.

He had assumed that, given his relationship with Zhang Jie, Zhang Jie wouldn’t refuse.

After all, a few true Qi were nothing to Zhang Jie—just a trivial matter.

Not only had Zhang Jie saved his life from Xia He, Lu Liang, and others,

but he’d also patiently explained to him all the secrets about his grandfather and the Yiren elite.

He was entirely the image of a warm, kind big brother and senior disciple.

“Chulan, what do you think Qi is?”

Seeing Zhang Chulan’s dejected expression, Zhang Jie decided to guide him.

“Qi is the source of a Yiren’s power and the fundamental distinction between Yiren and ordinary people.

Yiren, through cultivation, perceive, absorb, refine, and control the ‘Qi’ within their bodies. All techniques,

such as Lei Fa, the Golden Light Spell, and Qimen Dunjia, are fundamentally different applications of ‘Qi’.”

Although Zhang Chulan had neglected cultivation for years, the foundation his grandfather and father had laid in his youth

remained solid, so he answered without hesitation.

Mm.

Zhang Jie nodded slightly, satisfied with Zhang Chulan’s answer, and asked again:

“Then, where does Qi come from?”

“The energy a person acquires after birth through breathing, eating, and other external sources,

refined through Yiren cultivation into energy they can wield as effortlessly as their own limbs—that is Qi.”

Zhang Jie first nodded, then shook his head: “That is postnatal Qi. But where does it originate?”

Zhang Chulan, overwhelmed by Zhang Jie’s relentless questions, found himself at the edge of his knowledge—he

fell into deep thought but could not find an answer.

“Primordial Qi! The source of all Qi is Primordial Qi!”

At that moment, Feng Baobao, who had been watching silently, interjected.

“Precisely.”

Zhang Jie gave Feng Baobao an approving glance: “All Yiren,

whether novices just entering the Yiren world or elders at its pinnacle,

derive their Qi from the Primordial Qi inherited from their parents.”

“Strong Primordial Qi can give birth to innate Yiren abilities—that is the Primordial Yiren;

weaker Primordial Qi, yet capable of being augmented through various methods, produces the Postnatal Yiren;

and those with feeble or inactive Primordial Qi, unable to even begin cultivation, are ordinary people.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chulan slapped his thigh and exclaimed in sudden enlightenment:

“So all Qi cultivation methods and practices ultimately revolve around cultivating Primordial Qi!”

“A promising student.”

Zhang Jie smiled with satisfaction, deeply pleased by Zhang Chulan’s understanding.

“Then, do you still want me to give you Qi?”

Zhang Jie asked with a smile.

“No, no, Jiege.”

Zhang Chulan shook his head like a rattle drum.

Qi is the foundation of a Yiren—if it becomes tainted with another’s imprint,

is that person still truly themselves?

“Those who learn from me live; those who imitate me die!”

These words suddenly flashed into Zhang Chulan’s mind.

Now he suddenly understood why his grandfather had always encouraged him to cultivate himself.

The sages of the Yiren world left only scriptures, guiding the next generation’s path forward,

not taking everything upon themselves.

Cultivation has always been one’s own affair!

“Then go cultivate.”

Zhang Jie, knowing Zhang Chulan had understood, laughed and kicked him in the buttocks.

“Ow!”

Feeling the familiar pain, Zhang Chulan leapt three zhang high, dashed forward, and rushed into the meditation chamber.

Jiege was still Jiege—same old method, same old pain.

Watching Zhang Chulan’s figure vanish behind the door, Zhang Jie’s lips curled into a faint smile.

With his current realm and strength, boosting Zhang Chulan’s power would be child’s play.

If he wished, he could raise Zhang Chulan’s Qi volume to match that of a top disciple or even the sect leader of a major sect.

Even if Zhang Chulan still lacked skill in techniques,

he could sweep the younger generation of the Yiren world with overwhelming Qi volume—winning the Luotian Dajiao championship would be no dream.

But then, what would be the cost, Guldan?

The cost would be Zhang Chulan becoming entirely shaped like him—

at that point, who would he truly be: Zhang Chulan, or a miniature Zhang Jie?

In the Yiren world, Qi is not like internal force in martial arts—it cannot be freely seized or gifted.

In martial arts worlds, such as Ren Woxing’s Absorbing Star Great Art, forcibly stealing another’s internal force

might lead to loss of control, demonic deviation, and the need to discard the stolen energy.

Even the Northern Darkness Divine Art exists, capable of fully transforming others’ power into one’s own.

In the Heavenly Dragon world, Zhang Jie once ascended Leigushan, broke the Zhenlong Chess Puzzle,

received the inheritance of the Northern Darkness Divine Art and sixty years of its power from Wu Yasheng,

laying the foundation for his rise—the Zhang Jie of Heavenly Dragon, Yitian, and Water Margin.

Later, he seized the entire power of the Four Evils, becoming a true supreme master, dominating his region.

The Northern Darkness Divine Art was, in fact, a crucial pillar supporting Zhang Jie’s towering cultivation.

But in this world, a Yiren’s Qi is not merely energy—

it is infused with the Yiren’s own spiritual imprint, a fundamental source of their being.

Those who seize or devour others’ Qi to strengthen themselves usually meet dire ends.