Cloud Realm Illusion, Room Seven.
Within the spirit pod, his soul had long since connected to the vast, misty expanse of the Lingnet.
The formation’s glow completely isolated the clamor of the outside world.
Gu Qing lay quietly in the chair.
However, his brow was tightly furrowed, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest, revealing clear confusion and bewilderment.
Dozens of documents about the Eternal Verdant Qi-Introduction Art floated on the light screen in his field of vision.
[Eternal Verdant Qi-Introduction Art (Public Revised Edition v9.0)]
[Eternal Verdant Qi-Introduction Art: From Beginner to Abandonment (Notes from a Certain Foundation Establishment Cultivator)]
[Heavenly Dao Sect Outer Sect Basic Textbook: Detailed Explanation of the Eternal Verdant Chapter]
These materials could not be called anything less than exhaustive.
They detailed everything from meridian pathways to the frequency of breathing and exhalation, even clearly marking the spiritual energy fluctuation range for every single acupoint.
The problem was…
‘Wrong.’
Gu Qing muttered to himself.
Looking at one passage describing “introducing qi into the body,” he murmured,
“According to this, after spiritual energy enters the body, it should flow along the Yongquan acupoint, pass through the Sanyinjiao, go straight to the dantian, and transform into a qi vortex.”
This was a straight line, simple and clear, and also the publicly recognized safest foundational route.
But deep within Gu Qing’s mind, in the inherited memories left by the Sword Immortal, the first step of the Eternal Verdant Qi-Introduction Art was not like this at all.
One was a smooth, straight descent; the other was a reverse flow with nine turns.
One went straight into the dantian; the other first tempered the flesh and skin.
What version difference was this?
This was clearly two completely different cultivation methods!
Even in a post titled “Cultivation Method Textual Research,” a cultivator claiming to be a descendant of an ancient sect elder pointed out:
“The ancient Eternal Verdant Art has long been lost. The versions circulating today have all been supplemented by later generations based on fragments. Although balanced and moderate, they have lost the intent of directly pointing to the Great Dao, reduced to third-rate foundational methods.”
Similar statements were everywhere.
Gu Qing refused to believe it.
He opened several so-called “advanced annotations” in succession, but the results were largely the same—all were supplemented versions.
‘Lost?’
He was stunned.
The inheritance passed down to him by Lin Qingyue’s master, that mysterious Sword Immortal, was not the version circulating in the market.
It was the true original, ancient version, one that might have already vanished from the cultivation world.
This gift was too heavy.
But what followed was an even greater trouble.
Since the cultivation methods on the market were all “revised versions,” then these meridian diagrams and cultivation insights held almost zero reference value for him.
‘Troublesome…’
Gu Qing rubbed the space between his eyebrows.
The basic terminology was universal, but the core logic was completely misaligned.
‘I can’t keep researching the Eternal Verdant Qi-Introduction Art. I’ll be misled.’
He quickly adjusted his train of thought, closed the original pages, and input new search terms:
[Research on Alternate Names for Ancient Meridian Acupoints]
[Risks and Protection Measures for Spiritual Energy Reverse Flow in Meridians]
[Methods for Judging the Body’s Limit for Containing Spiritual Energy]
Since there was no ready-made instruction manual, he would dismantle and reassemble every component.
He wasn’t seeking speed, only stability.
The light screen cascaded like a waterfall once more.
Gu Qing’s expression gradually grew focused, like someone piecing together a world from ruins.
And high above, in a place he did not know, a conversation about him was taking place.
Celestial Authority Star, Jianmu Divine Palace.
The Sea of Clouds churned.
Starlight filtered through the branches and leaves of the divine tree, casting golden light that flowed through the entire hall.
The Qin Family Head, Qin Tianheng, stood with his hands behind his back before a railing, looking down upon Celestial Authority City.
His expression was calm, his imposing aura restrained, yet he naturally exuded a presence that could suppress a starfield.
Behind him, Momo Qin bowed slightly.
“You’re saying that boy went to the Cloud Realm Illusion?”
“Yes,” Momo Qin said softly.
“He first lingered outside a bookstore for a long time without entering, then went to Tianji Pavilion’s Cloud Realm Illusion. He’s been there for an hour now.”
Qin Tianheng chuckled lightly.
“Lingered outside a bookstore? It seems he wanted to buy cultivation manuals but was afraid they’d be discovered if he brought them back.”
Momo Qin hesitated for a moment.
“This old servant also sensed a change in his aura… as if his meridians have just healed.”
Qin Tianheng raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Unblocked?”
“Yes, it’s almost certain. His meridians are unblocked.”
Qin Tianheng waved a hand dismissively and sat down at the tea table.
“Unblocked, then unblocked. Nothing to make a fuss about.”
“With all the heavenly treasures and rare materials my Qin Family has fed him, even a rotten piece of wood should have sprouted.”
What he didn’t say was that all of this was actually his own secret instruction.
Momo Qin said quietly, “Master, if he has already recovered but still conceals it and searches for cultivation methods, is this act not…”
“Deception?”
Qin Tianheng laughed, gently setting down his teacup.
“You are still too rigid.”
He stood up, his gaze piercing through the clouds as if directly landing on Gu Qing within the spirit pod.
“Why do you think I chose him in the first place? Did you truly believe it was just to find a useless cripple?”
Momo Qin was taken aback.
Qin Tianheng’s tone was indifferent, yet carried an undeniable force.
“The outside world believes my Qin Family sought a useless mortal for the Third Young Lady, to ensure her a peaceful life.”
“Ridiculous.”
“Who dares to bully a daughter of mine, Qin Tianheng?”
His gaze turned slightly cold.
“This so-called ‘matrilocal son-in-law’ is merely a smokescreen I released.”
Momo Qin’s heart trembled.
Qin Tianheng’s tone softened.
“Xiyan chose him. That is the key.”
“As for Gu Qing—”
He paused, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
“His current state is good.”
“Cautious, suspicious, treading on thin ice, yet not giving up the possibility of becoming stronger.”
“He thinks he’s hiding from everyone, but every step he takes is within my sight.”
Momo Qin asked quietly, “Master, you intend to…”
“Temper.”
Qin Tianheng uttered a single word.
“He is like a young wolf cub thrown into a wild forest now, thinking hunters are all around.”
“So he will desperately learn to bite, hide, and grow.”
“If I pave the way for him now, he will instead become useless.”
Momo Qin understood.
Qin Tianheng continued, “But we also can’t truly push him to his death.”
He raised a hand and turned it over.
A black jade pendant appeared in his palm.
Plain, without luster, even resembling a low-quality stone from the roadside.
“Formless Nether Jade.”
Momo Qin’s pupils contracted slightly.
She knew better than anyone what this thing signified.
Qin Tianheng casually tossed it.
“Throw it into Tianji Pavilion’s second-hand area, disguised as a damaged piece.”
“Let him ‘find’ it himself.”
“Isn’t he afraid of exposing his cultivation?”
“Then give him a protective shell he believes he obtained through luck.”
Momo Qin caught the jade pendant, her heart shaken even more deeply.
This was not the treatment of a matrilocal son-in-law.
This was…
A cultivation method at the level of a personal disciple.
And it was the most concealed, most ruthless, yet also safest kind.
Inside the Cloud Realm Illusion.
Two hours were nearly up.
Gu Qing’s soul began to feel slightly fatigued, but his eyes grew increasingly clear.
He had basically ruled out the “wrong cultivation method paths” and had instead begun building his own comprehension model.
Just as he was preparing to log out of the Lingnet, he suddenly clicked on the “Rogue Cultivator Market.”
It was just a casual glance.
But the next moment, he froze.
An extremely inconspicuous transaction message popped up:
[Ancestral old jade, material unknown, no spiritual energy reaction. When worn, aura becomes completely undetectable, insects do not approach. Suspected to be a damaged piece of a Dust-Repelling Pearl.]
[Price: Eight thousand mid-grade spirit stones]
The accompanying image was a piece of grayish-black stone jade.
Utterly unremarkable.
But the four words “aura becomes completely undetectable” made Gu Qing’s gaze sharpen slightly.
Concealing aura…
That was exactly what he lacked most right now.
He stared at that piece of jade for a long time.
Reason told him: unknown origin, extremely high risk.
Experience told him: in the cultivation world, these “treasure from trash” stories were mostly traps.
But his intuition was gently stirring.
‘What if it’s real…’
He remained silent for a moment, then finally closed the page.
‘Can’t gamble.’
‘Any mistake now could lead to exposure.’
He took a deep breath, suppressing this piece of information deep in his heart.
Then he logged out of the Lingnet.
The spirit pod slowly opened.
The light of the real world flooded back in.
Gu Qing opened his eyes.
His gaze was calm and restrained.
What he didn’t know was—
That “black jade” he had just given up on was, in an extremely subtle way, quietly drawing closer to him.