CHAPTER 51: 51. INNATE TALENTED INDIVIDUALS (SEEKING MORE READERS)

[[Martial Arts Extraordinary Person (Yellow)]: Innate Meridian Channels unobstructed, with an additional Three Mountains, One Qi Exotic Meridian. Close to Earth Element Internal, rapid progress on the Martial Path, it is possible to catch a glimpse of the Innate Realm within twenty years, becoming the Martial World Supreme.]

Another Bright Yellow Destiny?

Yes, the next level of Destiny isn’t that easy to come by. I estimate that only after I break through to the Innate Realm can the next level of Destiny be born.

However, this [Martial Way Exotic] Destiny and the [Martial Arts Prodigy] Destiny seem to differ little, aside from the addition of the Three Mountains, One Qi Exotic Meridian. This aligns with what I was thinking... The Dao Fruit essentially turns effect into cause... After solidifying, the condensed exotic meridian is inherently born!

Upon seeing the description of the [Martial Way Exotic] Destiny, Xu Xing was delighted.

Cultivated from postnatal meridians versus born with innate meridians... The difference between these two is not small! Postnatal cultivation inevitably accumulates internal injuries in the meridians. Innate birth, however, not only means a completely integrated meridian system without any internal injuries but also allows for control as natural as moving one’s own limbs.

But twenty years...

He sighed.

Even with my cheat-like advantages, it still takes twenty years to cultivate to the Innate Realm. No wonder there are so few Innate Martial Artists under the sky; they are almost unheard of in the world. At least, I haven’t encountered one yet. After all, even with the Three Mountains, One Qi Meridians I was born with, it would take twenty years of cultivation to accumulate enough True Qi to break through to the Innate Realm. And this is just the ideal scenario. If the sect elders of Big Snow Mountain were to cultivate this method, the time required would likely be far more than twenty years.

I should return and solidify it with the [Dao Fruit] first... Xu Xing thought, concentrating his mind. I can still wait twenty years.

「With a blink of his eyes, the environment changed.」

One and a half months in the Instance World was equivalent to nine days in Reality—almost one decan. A decan was ten days.

"You have condensed the Bright Yellow Destiny [Martial Way Exotic]. This Destiny is similar to the [Martial Arts Prodigy] Destiny and is favored by martial luck. Do you want to replace the [Martial Arts Prodigy] Destiny with the [Martial Way Exotic] Destiny?"

"Solidify with [Dao Fruit]?"

Those familiar lines of text reappeared. Xu Xing didn’t hesitate, immediately agreeing to the replacement with his will.

Instantly, the dozens of strands of his Natal True Qi began to be consumed at a frantic pace.

A tiny meridian slowly appeared under his introspective gaze. Compared to the meridian he had condensed in the Instance World, this one had lost its blood-red color. It was no longer coarse but crystalline like jade, resembling a worldly treasure—exquisitely intricate and radiating a unique charm.

Martial Way Exotic? Could it be that cultivators of immortality also possess Inborn strange veins similar to mine? Xu Xing secretly mused. There should be immortals in this world. Perhaps... the Innate Realm is the stepping stone to cultivating immortality.

I’d better meditate and recover my vital energy first.

Xu Xing sat cross-legged and began to circulate his cultivation method. He hadn’t dared to try circulating his Internal Power through the Three Mountains, One Qi Meridian while in the Instance World, fearing that the painstakingly constructed passage would collapse the moment he began. But now, solidified by the [Dao Fruit], this Three Mountains, One Qi Meridian had become an Inborn strange vein within his body; there was no need to worry about it collapsing during cultivation.

The moment he began circulating his Internal Power, the food in his stomach started to deplete rapidly. Simultaneously, wisps of True Qi steadily accumulated in his Dantian.

Have the cooks prepare food, quickly! It’s urgent.

Seeing his abdomen was empty with only dregs remaining, Xu Xing hurriedly stopped meditating. If he continued to circulate his cultivation method, it would start consuming his natal essence. While this could be replenished later, the gain wouldn’t be worth the loss.

Sheep were slaughtered and oxen butchered! The kitchens of Siming Mountain Stronghold became a hive of activity. Xu Xing was the steward in charge of the stronghold’s Internal Affairs and also the Fourth King. The men responsible for the granary and livestock dared not voice any complaints or show any negligence, quickly preparing a grand feast to replenish Xu Xing’s energy and essence.

"Fourth Brother... has he successfully condensed his meridians?"

The next day, King of Sorrow Yao Dang noticed the unusual state of the stronghold and was momentarily stunned. Those like them, who had no hope of a breakthrough, generally wouldn’t fully refine their food. They ate more than ordinary people, but not excessively so. After all, eating too much wasn’t enjoyment; it was torment! The mere act of constantly expelling waste was unbearable.

"This is a Thousand-Year-Old Ginseng. Go, deliver it to King Xing Tian."

Returning to Snow-Stepping Pavilion, Yao Dang hesitated for a long time. Eventually, he retrieved a precious medicinal herb he had treasured for many years from a secret chamber—a thousand-year-old ginseng. He handed it to Silent, one of the Five Tiger Envoy, instructing him to deliver it to Xu Xing’s Yangxin Pavilion. Although he had given Xu Xing the key to the medicine storeroom, the medicines within couldn’t compare to a thousand-year-old ginseng. After Xu Xing had moved into the three-room dwelling, he, like the other Three Great Kings, had given his quarters an elegant name.

"Yes, Heavenly King." Silent nodded and accepted the ginseng box.

After taking a few steps, he hesitated. "Heavenly King, this old ginseng is a secret treasure of Big Snow Mountain, one of its prized possessions. Are you sure about giving it to King Xing Tian?"

Only six survivors from Big Snow Mountain had escaped to Jiangnan West Road, and he was one of them. He knew some of the secrets concerning King of Sorrow Yao Dang and Big Snow Mountain.

"It’s just an old ginseng," Yao Dang said, glancing at Silent and sighing softly. "Besides, Fourth Brother is my sworn brother. My aptitude is limited—not just my martial arts constitution... but also the strategic wisdom needed to navigate the world..." He had a clear understanding of his own capabilities. He had fled to Jiangnan West Road fifteen years ago and had only managed to build up the assets of Mount Siming. To advance further, he truly needed Xu Xing.

"Young Master..." Silent began, then hesitated, "if it weren’t for the Imperial Court’s Tyrannical Rule that led to you suffering a hidden injury during forced labor..." Regarding innate talent, he didn’t believe Yao Dang was inferior to Xu Xing. It was just that Yao Dang’s fortune had been poor. The entire Big Snow Mountain sect had been dispatched by the Imperial Court to the northern borders to fight the Tartars. After repeated instances of reckless bravery, even if Yao Dang possessed great talent, his progress was inevitably hampered.

"Say no more." Yao Dang waved his hand, dismissing Silent.

Once Silent had departed, Lu Xiaohou hurried in, his face etched with the weariness of travel. He knelt. "Heavenly King, Gui Yishou ordered this subordinate to return and report! News has arrived from Shenjing: Wei Wentong, framed by Sikong Durong, had no choice but to petition Emperor Chongming to allow him to resign due to old age and return to his hometown... Furthermore, on our journey here, we observed that the command tent of the official soldiers was empty." He enunciated each word carefully, his usual jovial demeanor gone.

King of Sorrow Yao Dang was already struggling to contain his delight by the time Lu Xiaohou was halfway through his report. "Heaven is aiding me! Heaven is aiding me!" he exclaimed, then a realization struck him. "No, it’s Fourth Brother! It’s Fourth Brother... who, through careful planning, secured victory from a thousand miles away!" He slammed his hand on the writing desk. "Quick! Notify Monk Shang of this news! The chance to turn the tables is within these next few days. We absolutely cannot miss this military opportunity!"

King Xing Tian? Lu Xiaohou was secretly astounded. When he had impersonated Judge Tian, he had already become aware of Xu Xing’s brilliance. But he had never imagined that the one to force Wei Wentong, the commander-in-chief of the official soldiers, to petition for retirement would be King Xing Tian, Xu Xing.