The name of this Qi refining technique was peculiar, "Xing Ting Wan" (行停晚), literary and refined, like a ci-pai tune penned by scholars. However, after Lin Zhao studied it carefully, he discovered its secrets. "Xing" (行), meaning movement, referred to guiding the internal spiritual energy to circulate through seven key acupoints: Guanyuan (关元), Neiguan (内关), Hegu (合谷), Yangling (阳陵), Fengchi (风池), and Mingmen (命门). As for "Ting" (停), stopping, it meant the period the spiritual energy lingered in a major acupoint. Finally, "Wan" (晚), late, signified exhaling the spiritual energy after absorption.
The entire Qi refining technique appeared simple, but to ignite the circulation of spiritual energy throughout the body, precisely controlling the timing of movement and stillness, and then mastering the breath retention, was no easy feat.
Thus, though seemingly rudimentary, it was in fact quite complex.
Lin Zhao didn't know where Qin Suihan had obtained this Qi refining mantra, but he was certain it wouldn't harm him.
So, after finishing dinner and practicing his boxing techniques until he was drenched in sweat, Lin Zhao sat on a tree stump and began cultivating the "Xing Ting Wan" mantra. He started by attempting to guide the spiritual energy within him. Initially, it felt quite unnatural. After more than three hours, he still couldn't complete a full cycle according to the mantra. It wasn't until late at night, when the world was silent, that he finally felt a faint sense of resonance. For a moment, the young man felt he had found a lifeline. He spent another hour guiding his internal spiritual energy for three full cycles before, exhausted, he went to sleep.
...
The next day, he woke up feeling refreshed and invigorated.
After getting up and washing his face, Lin Zhao felt his state was better than ever. Not only had his physical strength reached its peak, but the sense of "clarity" in his mind also delighted him. This was perhaps the feeling of spiritual cultivation, a path distinct from that of worldly martial artists, a path of a clear heart and mind.
In the morning, he continued to focus on food and practice boxing.
Bai Yu Stream had frozen over. Lin Zhao chipped two holes in the ice and, with Little Stone, went ice fishing. Winter fishing required immense patience, but it was also excellent for tempering one's state of mind. After fishing for a while, he practiced boxing with Little Stone, then returned to fishing. While fishing, he practiced "Xing Ting Wan," gradually becoming more familiar with it.
At noon, Lin Zhao asked Little Stone to go home by himself to find something to eat. He himself continued practicing boxing on the stone bridge, feeling he was on the verge of a breakthrough.
Indeed, just as Little Stone returned, he saw Lin Zhao on the stone bridge suddenly appear blurry, as if radiating heat. Lin Zhao himself took a deep breath. After completing a set of boxing forms, a restraint within his body was naturally broken. As he opened his eyes, he seemed to see many small figures moving before him. Some were wielding shovels, others hammers, and some were drawing bows. They were all clad only in animal skins, appearing wild and primitive.
At this moment, the young man's boxing intent flowed around him, and what he saw upon opening his eyes was the primeval wilderness.
Perceiving the wilderness with his spirit and intent, the fifth realm of a martial artist, the Primeval Realm!
...
"Brother Lin Zhao, have you broken through?" Little Stone asked.
"Mmm!"
Lin Zhao smiled, "I'm at the fifth realm of a martial artist."
"So powerful!"
Little Stone clenched his fists and said, "I want to be as strong a martial artist as you."
"No rush."
Lin Zhao patted Little Stone's small head. "You're still young. Otherwise, with your tenacity, you'd probably enter the first realm of a martial artist very soon."
"Then I need to work even harder!" Little Stone said like a little adult. "That way, when you need me, I can throw a punch, protect Little Jiuer, and even protect Brother Lin Zhao!"
"Mmm!"
Lin Zhao couldn't bear to discourage him and simply nodded with a smile. "What did you cook for lunch?"
"Half a braised chicken, two pig trotters, a bowl of fish soup, and five large flatbreads!" Little Stone blinked. "Is that enough?"
"More than enough... Lin Zhao felt a bit ashamed. He had indeed become quite a glutton. The two of them ate together. While a normal person would be full after one flatbread, Lin Zhao could easily eat three, and Little Stone two. As for the chicken, fish soup, and other dishes, the more, the better; they ate whatever was made, never wasting a bit.
Thus, the two young boys, one large and one small, sat on the bridge, eating together. After eating, Little Stone took the tableware back, and then they practiced boxing together again.
...
In the afternoon, the winter sun warmed the town, filling one's body with a pleasant warmth.
Little Stone practiced his horse stance and followed his boxing forms, diligently and meticulously. His small body had already developed quite a bit of sturdy muscle. His physique far surpassed that of children his age. Even more astonishingly, when he adopted a boxing stance, a faint martial intent flowed around him, making it seem as if he truly understood what he was doing.
As a result, in less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Little Stone's body suddenly trembled, and the martial intent around him instantly increased by at least fifty percent!
He had actually broken through!
This was... a first-realm martial artist at only seven years old!
"No way?"
Lin Zhao was also astonished. He repeatedly examined Little Stone's cultivation and confirmed it was genuine. He was a bona fide first-realm martial artist, and a single punch from him would make Lin Zhao feel a pang of pain.
This was truly astonishing. After all, Zhao Jin had only become a first-realm martial artist in his late teens. Little Stone had achieved it at the tender age of seven!
"Brother Lin Zhao, did I... enter the martial path?" Little Stone was still in disbelief.
"Yes."
Lin Zhao lightly clasped his fists towards him and smiled, "Congratulations, Little Stone, you are now one of the martial artists in the world!"
Little Stone was stunned for a moment, then straightened his body and, following Lin Zhao's example, clasped his hands together. "Thank you!"
The two, one large and one small, performed the martial artist's salute on the bridge with utmost seriousness.
...
Days turned into weeks. After the spring festival, the weather gradually warmed, and the Bai Yu Stream began to flow again, with more fish appearing. Lin Zhao's V-shaped traps came into use once more. When they could roll up their trousers and go into the water, their fish catch began to increase.
One day, as spring bloomed in the town, Chen Yu walked hand-in-hand with a young man in flowing white robes.
"Lin Zhao!"
Chen Yu saw Lin Zhao fishing by the Bai Yu Stream from afar and smiled, shaking her head vigorously.
"Sister Chen Yu!"
Lin Zhao stood up, holding a white fish that weighed nearly half a pound. He smiled and asked, "What brings you to town today?"
"Oh, helping Commander Chu with some trivial matters."
Chen Yu gestured to the man in white beside her and smiled. "Let me introduce you. This is Lord Su Fu, the Mountain Lord of Tianchi Mountain. He is a deity officially enfeoffed by the Great Shang Dynasty as the northernmost deity. I came today to discuss the matter of renovating the Mountain Lord's shrine with Lord Su Fu. Lord Su Fu has made significant contributions to gathering the spiritual energy of the mountains and waters in this region!"
Lin Zhao's eyes widened. Since childhood, he had heard his mother tell stories of mountain gods, water gods, rain masters, wind masters, and cloud masters. But he had only heard of them. To see one now was entirely different. The Mountain Lord was elegant and handsome, dressed in flowing white robes. His features were exquisitely delicate, and his eyes held a deep golden hue, completely unlike those of ordinary people. Furthermore, from a martial artist's perspective, this person was indeed extraordinary. His realm was far beyond what Lin Zhao, in the lower five realms, could compare to.
"Little friend Lin Zhao."
Su Fu bowed to Lin Zhao, smiling. "Su Fu offers his respects!"
Lin Zhao was taken aback and quickly returned the martial artist's salute with clasped fists. "I dare not accept, Lord Mountain Lord..."
Little Stone looked at the Mountain Lord cautiously. "Is this... really the Mountain God? The legendary Land God?"
"He is not a Land God; he is a Mountain Lord of a much higher rank," Chen Yu said with a smile.
"Oh..."
Little Stone was skeptical but had no way to verify. He couldn't just throw a punch at him to see if he could take it.
...
Fearing Little Stone might actually throw a punch, Chen Yu quickly changed the subject, looking at the white fish in Lin Zhao's hand. "Oh, your catch today is quite good..."
"Mmm, it's alright, it's alright."
Lin Zhao asked, "Sister Chen Yu, would you like me to make white fish soup for lunch? I can get you some."
"No, no, no need to be polite. I'll eat at the government office near the construction site for lunch."
"It's no trouble."
The young man nimbly broke off a willow branch from a spring willow and quickly strung seven or eight small to medium-sized white fish onto it, weighing over a pound. This size of white fish was most delicious in soup. Larger ones were better for braising or steaming, though Lin Zhao had grown tired of those.
"Sister Chen Yu."
The young man jogged to catch up, holding the willow branch strung with white fish. He smiled, "Take this, it's for you to make soup."
"Ah?"
Chen Yu smiled softly. "Really? Our Little Lin Zhao is so earnest?"
"Mmm!"
Lin Zhao suddenly seemed to think of something. Chen Yu, though a martial artist, was still a girl and inherently disliked fishy smells. Although the white fish from Bai Yu Stream were delicious in soup, their fishy odor was also stronger. He turned to look at the young man in white, the Mountain Lord Su Fu, and smiled. "Lord Mountain Lord, it's inconvenient for Sister Chen Yu as she's a girl. Perhaps... you could carry this string of fish?"
Su Fu was taken aback. "I'll carry it?"
"Ah?"
Lin Zhao was surprised. "Did I overstep my bounds?"
"Well... not exactly..."
Su Fu's expression was somewhat complex. "However, since it's for Princess Yu's fish soup... I don't mind carrying it. I know the cooks at the Mountain Lord's shrine construction site very well."
Saying this, the Mountain Lord actually took the strongly-scented willow branch.
Chen Yu was a bit embarrassed. "Lin Zhao!"
"Ha, it's fine!"
Lin Zhao smiled. "Lord Mountain Lord surely won't mind me."
Su Fu nodded, looking somewhat disinclined to speak.
At this moment, Little Stone said, "Brother Lin Zhao, you're flattering Sister Chen Yu so much, could it be that you like her?"
"Ah!?"
Lin Zhao's face turned red instantly. "How... how could that be? Don't talk nonsense..."
"Oh?"
Chen Yu also smiled. "Really?"
The young man's face turned even redder. "N-no, Sister Chen Yu, don't listen to Little Stone's nonsense."
"Is that so..."
Chen Yu gently placed her hand on Lin Zhao's shoulder and smiled. "Hmph, you want to marry me? If you do, practice your boxing well. I won't marry a man weaker than myself. When you become a tenth-realm martial artist, I'll consider giving you a chance!"
"Really?"
Lin Zhao's heart stirred, but he immediately regretted speaking. With a yelp, he fled, going to fish.
...
Chen Yu burst into laughter, her delicate shoulders shaking, a truly captivating sight.
The Mountain Lord Su Fu cast a glance at Lin Zhao's retreating back, and a flicker of anger and killing intent crossed his golden eyes.