Slag Shou Cultivating Manual - Chapter 80

Although this is a world where everyone dreams of embarking on the path of cultivation, truly stepping through the gates is no easy feat. Even the entry-level Qi Refinement stage has stumped countless individuals. Many with mediocre aptitude spend months without making any progress. Therefore, Jiang Hanzheng’s rapid advancement was already enough to astonish others—especially since he was initially dismissed as a waste spirit root when he joined the sect.

He Lang had full confidence in Jiang Hanzheng and thought this progress would finally silence the idle chatter within the sect. However, the results seemed to backfire.

Jiang Hanzheng’s cultivation achievements were still not acknowledged by most people, and he even faced more disdain.

His advancement didn’t surprise anyone. Subconsciously, people had already concluded that being under the tutelage of Wushang Zhenren had allowed him to take a shortcut. This breakthrough only seemed to confirm that belief.

“Just look at whose disciple he is. All the sect’s best resources go straight to him. How can we, mere outer disciples, even compare?”

Inner disciples, who had always regarded outer disciples as lowly and unworthy of association, surprisingly agreed. One of them said sourly, “It’s all because the Zhenren protects him! Hah! I can’t stand that kid. Back when I was in Qi Refinement, it took me over two years to make progress. Yet this newcomer takes one top-tier pill and surpasses a year of my hard work. Really, there’s no comparison!”

After learning that the waste spirit root was highly favored by Wushang Zhenren, the disciples became more cautious. They no longer pushed him around like before, but venomous remarks such as these still circulated privately.

Jiang Hanzheng and He Lang occasionally left the sect for fresh air and to broaden their horizons. Naturally, they were aware of the gossip within the sect. Jiang Hanzheng was particularly clear about it. Yet, he always listened to the distant murmurs with an impassive expression, his heart as calm as still water.

Compared to the timid boy he had been when he first joined the sect, Jiang Hanzheng had clearly become more composed. He had learned to ignore malicious words and stand firm in his beliefs. Perhaps this transformation was an inevitable adjustment after growing numb to it all.

He Lang nodded in satisfaction but still asked, “Does it truly not upset you?”

Jiang Hanzheng blinked, glanced at the people behind him, and the moment his gaze swept over them, their chatter immediately ceased. The crowd assumed the soft target was about to rely on Wushang Zhenren’s presence to lash out at them. Their incessant prattling came to an abrupt halt.

Turning back, Jiang Hanzheng lowered his gaze, a hint of ingratiation in his demeanor. “With Master’s protection, they wouldn’t dare act recklessly.”

Hearing this submissive response, He Lang patted his head. His disciple had grown much closer to him, but even so, He Lang didn’t want him to think this was a permanent solution. He offered some advice and then posed another question.

“And what if one day I’m no longer here? Who will protect you then?”

Jiang Hanzheng’s body stiffened. His mind became a chaotic mess, and his eyes reddened as he immediately retorted, “Don’t say such things, Master!”

He Lang was momentarily taken aback by his disciple’s sudden firmness. Seeing the round, glaring eyes, he waved his hand dismissively. “Fine… In any case, I hope you will become strong someday. Then no one will dare speak ill of you, and you’ll no longer need anyone’s protection.”

“Strong? Me? Could that day really come?” Jiang Hanzheng murmured in disbelief, as though he had never dared to imagine himself as a strong cultivator. Now that his master had brought it up explicitly, he allowed himself a moment to entertain the thought.

Could he one day become a strong cultivator like his master?

Without hesitation, He Lang nodded. He firmly believed that Jiang Hanzheng would become a powerful cultivator one day. And even if he couldn’t, He Lang would ensure it happened.

“Some are destined to be strong from birth, some strive to become strong, and others never consider the possibility of strength. Everyone has their path. You’ll know which to choose when the time comes,” He Lang said with a faint smile, saying no more.

“Master, I understand,” Jiang Hanzheng said, his tense body relaxing slightly as he offered a calm smile.

Perhaps due to this newfound clarity of mind, Jiang Hanzheng’s cultivation proceeded without further obstacles. Even without He Lang providing incense or meditation pills, he could train smoothly, and his progress in cultivation improved daily.

After reaching the Qi Refinement stage, no disciples dared to bully him anymore. His cultivation achievements and his master’s favor brought him newfound confidence. He began to embrace his identity, no longer seeing himself as lowly. His temperament and personality improved significantly. Traits like timidity, over-cautiousness, and fearfulness gradually disappeared, replaced by an elegant and refined demeanor. He became polite and respectful toward his elders.

If one were to ask the senior members of the sect, their evaluations of him would invariably include words like “diligent,” “hardworking,” and “humble.”

The more He Lang observed him, the more satisfied he became. He felt gratified that he had finally encountered a reasonable task target in this world. Pouring his energy into Jiang Hanzheng seemed worthwhile—not just for completing his mission but also for helping him achieve his path.

Despite Jiang Hanzheng’s efforts and meticulous approach to cultivation, the slow process was not something that could be completed in a mere few years. After the mid-stage of Qi Refinement, there remained stages like Foundation Establishment, Awakening, Fusion, Heartfelt, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Projection, Severance, Union, Void Cleaving, and Great Ascension before the Tribulation stage. Each major stage contained four smaller sub-stages, and each subsequent stage became exponentially harder to advance.

The difficulty of this path was self-evident.

In a sect with thousands of members, only a handful had ascended to immortality over the past century. Smaller sects often relied on a single Tribulation-stage elder to maintain their standing. To achieve fame and glory, one would need to reach at least the Great Ascension stage.

Even those with supreme variant spirit roots may not progress so smoothly on this path. Even with abundant resources, cultivators must remain steadfast, keep their hearts clear, and avoid being disturbed by inner demons. Even so, cultivation often requires hundreds of years, making the endeavor as challenging as ascending to the heavens.

Thinking of this, He Lang felt a deep sense of melancholy. No matter how much he valued Jiang Hanzheng, he wasn’t entirely confident in ensuring his success. He also had no intention of lingering in this world for millennia. Thus, any method that could accelerate cultivation, He Lang would pursue without hesitation.

Recently, while perusing ancient texts, he discovered a peculiar object known as the Bodhi Seed. Said to be as pure as jade, it was gathered from the sacred mountain where the Buddha once sat. It was an extremely rare fruit of the millennia-old Bodhi Tree, capable of neutralizing a hundred calamities and enduring a thousand tribulations. It was said to share the lifespan of heaven and earth. When used for cultivation, it could greatly enhance potential and ensure a smooth cultivation journey.

He Lang had seen records of it in the sect’s library. It was said that Venerable Xu, who ascended seven hundred years ago from Tianshan, had the fortune of obtaining one. With a stable foundation, his cultivation advanced monthly, breaking through yearly, envied by all.

However, the whereabouts of the Bodhi Seed were elusive, and He Lang could only set the matter aside for now.

At fourteen, Jiang Hanzheng had been in the sect for two years and established a solid foundation. He Lang decided it was time to teach him body techniques and offensive moves for combat.

Influenced by his experience in the previous world, He Lang’s teaching approach began with martial basics. He made Jiang Hanzheng practice horse stance daily, strike wooden posts, and drill punches and palms. The goal was to strengthen his physique and ensure flexibility in using physical techniques, unlike other cultivators who relied solely on spiritual power, leaving their bodies weak.

Moreover, traditional martial arts contained many essences and moves that could still be applied in this world. When integrated with spiritual power, they produced unexpected results, doubling their effectiveness. These unique techniques and styles stood out compared to the sect’s uniform methods.

Jiang Hanzheng primarily used a powerful sword style as his main attack, and He Lang, having been a swordsman in his past life, happened to have valuable insights to pass down.

In addition, He Lang invited healers to his cave dwelling to teach Jiang Hanzheng about human anatomy, including the body’s meridians and vital points. This knowledge helped Jiang Hanzheng master swift and precise sword moves to maximize damage.

He Lang’s familiarity with traditional sword techniques allowed Jiang Hanzheng to practice meticulously, not deviating in the slightest. To the people of this world, such martial arts seemed profound and innovative. Whenever Jiang Hanzheng practiced his swordsmanship in public, passersby often stopped to watch in admiration, applauding him sincerely.

Among the onlookers were occasionally female cultivators, standing in groups of two or three. With linked arms, they would cast shy and appreciative glances, giggling as they discussed his attire and every move. Even though Jiang Hanzheng was entirely focused on his practice, he sometimes caught snippets of their chatter.

After finishing his practice, he would carefully sheath the Kunwu Sword and return to He Lang, wearing a hint of awkwardness. It was clear that the unabashed attention from the female cultivators made him shy and uneasy.

He Lang couldn’t help but chuckle, tapping him lightly on the forehead without saying a word.

Realizing his master was probably teasing him, Jiang Hanzheng’s face turned red, and he wished he could hide against He Lang’s shoulder to cover his embarrassment.

Upon closer observation, He Lang noticed that his disciple had grown taller over the past two years. His once frail frame had become sturdier, and his facial features had matured, becoming more defined and striking. With clear and heroic brows, Jiang Hanzheng’s once youthful appearance now carried an air of refinement. Thanks to the superior resources and premium elixirs He Lang provided, he was no longer a starving, ragged figure but someone brimming with vitality and grace. He was beginning to show signs of becoming a handsome young man, which explained the interest from the young female cultivators.

“Junior Brother, your swordsmanship is truly remarkable—so swift and masterful that it left us dazzled!” A girl in pink smiled coyly.

Jiang Hanzheng shook his head. “Senior Sister flatters me. It’s all thanks to my master’s guidance. When it comes to swordsmanship, no one can match him.”

He Lang waved his sleeve and said nothing. His disciple always exaggerated with such a serious tone, painting him as a celestial being descended from the heavens, incapable of doing any wrong.

Author’s Note: Every time I start a new world, I feel like there’s not much to write about, but then I keep dragging things out… I have a feeling this world will end up being quite long. Orz