Chapter 126: A Grandmaster’s Revelation
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
The living room fell into a serene silence. Both Meng Xing Hai and Li Qing Yun sat perfectly still, their eyes fixed on the youth in front of them, afraid to disturb the boy’s intense concentration.
The Purple Bronze Incense Burner let off calming wisps of Calming Incense, designed to clear the mind and soothe the spirit.
Qin Ming eventually set down the three pages of scripture and stepped into the courtyard. He inhaled deeply, then exhaled in a deliberate rhythm, his eyes gleaming like twin stars. Drawing on his understanding, he used Celestial Light Force to form countless fine threads, expanding them through his flesh and mirroring the intricate network depicted in the diagrams on the three pages.
His Celestial Light Force was his foundation. Unified, it radiated with the intensity of a blazing golden sun, an awe-inspiring sight to any Disciple of the Beyond.
Now, the golden rivers of his force coursed through his flesh, mapping the dense web depicted in the first diagram. He felt a warm, comfortable sensation spreading through his body, and his forehead began to glow faintly. His entire being shimmered with clarity and vitality, as if on the verge of transcending into the heavens.
Meng Xing Hai and Li Qing Yun stared, utterly stunned. This wasn’t just an “unusual sensation.” This was tangible progress! And it had taken mere moments. Both men sat speechless, struggling to comprehend what they were witnessing.
“Every interpretation is unique… He’s creating an entirely new path,” Li Qing Yun whispered through a silent transmission, reluctant to interrupt the boy. He knew how daunting the copperplate diagrams were, with their overwhelming maze of lines. Each person who studied the scripture carved out their own method of navigating it.
Li Qing Yun’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. He realized he was witnessing history—a young man creating a new cultivation pathway for the ages.
Meanwhile, Qin Ming tried to replicate the process using Consciousness Aura threads, attempting to weave a network through his flesh. Yet this time, he frowned. It didn’t feel smooth or harmonious.
His thoughts turned to his recent transformations. During his time in the Spiritual Nest of Mountains and Rivers, his consciousness had undergone a profound change. Under Li Qing Yue’s guidance, he had cultivated Consciousness Aura, which now nourished his body, leaving only a sliver to maintain balance.
Similarly, over the past days, practicing the method from the thin scripture he’d received from The Secret Sect, he’d cultivated Sacred Light, which behaved the same way: replenishing his body while retaining a minimal presence.
The so-called Sacred Light was what the Secret Sect referred to as Divine Insight—a quality that could grow and evolve through diligent cultivation.
However, Qin Ming found that when he tried to use Consciousness Aura or Divine Insight to map the diagrams in his body, they met immense resistance. The process felt clunky and uncomfortable, lacking the lightness and clarity of the Celestial Light Force.
“Is this scripture only suitable for those following the Awakening Path?” Qin Ming murmured, reflecting on the possibilities.
Next, he tried a different approach. He combined Celestial Light Force, Consciousness Aura, and Divine Insight, weaving them into a single unified thread to extend through his flesh.
This time, the results were astonishing.
His body felt light and free, his mind perfectly clear. It was as if all impurities had been purged, leaving his spirit as pristine as a polished gem. Both physically and mentally, he experienced a profound sense of enlightenment, a completeness reminiscent of the transformative states described in ancient religious texts.
“This feels like it’s nourishing me from the inside,” Qin Ming mused. He focused on the sensations, realizing the scripture’s true value. With time and consistent practice, it could reshape one’s natural constitution, invigorate their life essence, and elevate their vitality.
More importantly, this practice seemed to clear his mind, heightening his comprehension and leaving him with a deep, joyful satisfaction—as though he had glimpsed a profound truth.
“These effects… Aren’t these the same ones Li Qing Yun mentioned about those great figures?” he thought, startled. His efforts had yielded precisely the phenomena described by the elder.
The three pages and copperplate diagrams weren’t just preliminary insights—they were the very foundation of the scripture’s mysteries. And Qin Ming had successfully unlocked their essence.
He raised his head to find both Meng Xing Hai and Li Qing Yun staring at him with unmasked excitement.
“You’ve mastered it?” Meng Xing Hai asked, his voice trembling with eagerness.
“You’ve forged a new path?” Li Qing Yun added, leaning forward.
Their enthusiasm was palpable, far exceeding Qin Ming’s own.
He nodded. “Honestly, I don’t think it’s that hard.”
Both elders froze, their expressions blank. Qin Ming was simply being honest—the scripture hadn’t even delayed him for half a day.
To him, nothing could surpass the difficulty of the Silk Script Method, which he had practiced for over a decade, narrowly surviving a life-threatening ordeal before finally entering the Awakening Stage. Compared to that, this scripture felt manageable.
Naturally, neither Meng Xing Hai nor Li Qing Yun were privy to these thoughts. Instead, they were overwhelmed with conflicting emotions, especially the latter. Li Qing Yun, who had once spent years painstakingly studying the same scripture, felt a pang of existential doubt.
“It’s remarkable,” Qin Ming continued. “This scripture is extraordinary—it enhances aptitude and extends lifespan. I can teach it to you both.”
“This…” Li Qing Yun hesitated. Though his advanced years and cultivation lent him authority, asking a junior for guidance on a scripture he had failed to comprehend felt humiliating.
Meng Xing Hai, however, was less reserved. “Go on, teach me!” he said with a grin.
Li Qing Yun sighed and decided to set aside his pride, agreeing to learn as well.
But moments later, both men sat dumbfounded. No matter how hard they tried to follow Qin Ming’s instructions, they couldn’t replicate his results. Attempting to force the technique only left them on the verge of internal injuries.
“What’s going on?” Qin Ming muttered, confused. He allowed them to observe his process directly, even offering to guide their attempts with his own Consciousness Aura. Yet nothing worked.
Li Qing Yun, using his vast experience, noticed something unusual. As Qin Ming operated his Celestial Light Force, the countless threads in his body seemed to subtly adjust over time.
“How are you managing these adjustments?” Li Qing Yun asked.
“It’s just… part of the process,” Qin Ming replied, scratching his head. “This scripture is essentially about internal cultivation.”
“Internal cultivation?” Li Qing Yun nearly choked. This ancient scripture, linked to Longevity and revered for its mysterious origins in the Night Fog World, had been reduced to something akin to a mundane martial art in Qin Ming’s eyes.
Qin Ming clarified, “It’s definitely extraordinary. Practicing it consistently can reshape your constitution, nourish your body and spirit, and eventually trigger a qualitative transformation.”
Both elders nodded, grudgingly acknowledging the truth in his words. This was indeed a scripture that could alter one’s destiny.
Li Qing Yun asked, “So… What now?”
Qin Ming nodded and said, “These three pages of scripture, along with the corresponding copperplate diagrams—I think I’ve grasped the essence of their meaning.”
Li Qing Yun leaned forward, his eyes narrowing with interest. “Tell me, how did you map out those paths and manage to make them work?”
Qin Ming replied, “This scripture explains how to balance yin and yang, channel spiritual essence, and integrate Consciousness Aura and Divine Insight into Celestial Light Force, planting them into the body where they complement one another, harmonizing with the heavens and the earth.” He paused before adding, “Even without Consciousness Aura or Divine Insight, Celestial Light Force alone is sufficient.”
He demonstrated his method, showing how the Celestial Light Force naturally expanded when aligned with the heavens and earth, flowing effortlessly to create pathways. “It’s simple,” he said. “Once you find the harmony, the force charts its own course, and all you have to do is follow it. You’ll feel light, free, and at peace—like you’ve found something complete.”
Li Qing Yun stared at him, dumbfounded. It was a long moment before he managed to say, “You mean to tell me you let the Celestial Light Force move on its own, then you memorized the path it took and showed it to us?”
Meng Xing Hai sighed, shaking his head. “This doesn’t sound like carving a new path—it’s more like following your own heart.”
The two of them exchanged a helpless look. Each person’s Celestial Light Force was unique, meaning the paths it carved would differ from one individual to the next. How could they replicate such a method?
“This scripture is too mysterious—too cryptic. You can’t even copy someone else’s results!” Li Qing Yun muttered, gazing up at the sky in frustration. The hope he’d felt moments ago was quickly dashed. He slumped back into his seat, looking thoroughly defeated.
Qin Ming, unfazed, said, “It’s not that mysterious. Where’s the difficulty? You could simply follow your instincts and explore your own paths. Try finding your ‘heart’s way.’”
“Stop talking. Let me think,” Li Qing Yun groaned. He was sorely tempted to smack the young man. Heart’s way? Who dared to experiment so recklessly? One misstep and they’d cripple themselves.
Qin Ming reflected silently. Perhaps it was the techniques he had practiced from the Silk Script Method that made his Celestial Light Force so perfectly attuned to him. That synergy allowed him to intuitively guide the force along paths that made him feel light and clear. If that was the case, his insight wouldn’t help others.
“This scripture is extraordinary,” Qin Ming concluded aloud. “It can enhance one’s aptitude and extend one’s life. It’s a treasure, no question. But I wouldn’t say it’s superior in combat. Compared to something like Sky-Supporting Force, it’s probably lacking.”
Li Qing Yun sighed as he stood. “There are more detailed techniques beyond the framework you’ve seen. They should be of great use to you. This scripture is worth far more than most martial arts. I’ll leave you with that.” He glanced at Qin Ming one last time, his expression inscrutable, before turning to go.
“Why does Senior Li look like that?” Qin Ming wondered aloud, watching the elder’s retreating figure.
“He’s been shaken,” Meng Xing Hai said with a chuckle.
Then, his tone turned more serious. “When we first came here, he thought of you as nothing more than Li Qing Yue’s future Jade Armor Protector or perhaps even her Divine Armor Protector—someone destined to be her foremost guardian. He’d heard of your unusual talents, of course, but your performance today has far exceeded his expectations. It rivals the potential shown by some of the greatest figures on the Path of Awakening during their youth. For instance, the grandmasters of the Five Elements Palace, Yin-Yang Pavilion, and Pure Sun Palace—they too only managed to comprehend parts of this scripture.”
Qin Ming’s expression darkened. He had sworn long ago that he would never become a mere follower. All his efforts, all his struggles, were meant to secure his own destiny, not to serve others.
Meng Xing Hai placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Don’t get worked up. He didn’t mean anything malicious by it. It’s just that, to him, the Path of Awakening seems hopeless. Even figures like the grandmasters of Sky-Supporting Force and Six Imperial Force only managed to inch forward over centuries of effort. The further you go, the harder it gets.”
He paused, then smiled. “But after today, you’ve clearly changed his perspective. You’ve proven yourself as a potential grandmaster in hiding—a Youth Master lying in wait.”
Meng Xing Hai’s voice softened with admiration. “Even I was taken aback by your performance today.”
Qin Ming shook his head. “This so-called ‘achievement’ is nothing. During the competition for the Near-Immortal Artifact, I couldn’t even participate in the core disciples’ battles. People my age stood at the center of the fray, while I was just a bystander. At the banquet that followed, the Disciples of the Beyond and those from the Secret Sect were all brilliant talents with profound cultivation levels. Some of them weren’t much older than me, yet they’ve already reached towering realms and are seen as near-immortal prodigies. Even Cui Chong He, who failed twice in his possession attempts, is terrifying. He’s my age, but he’s in an entirely different league. His defeat was only because he crossed paths with Li Qing Yue’s Spiritual Eyes, exposing him.”
Meng Xing Hai met his gaze. “You think of yourself as a ‘nobody’? You’re just starting out on this road. Don’t belittle yourself—you’ll carve out a grandmaster’s path soon enough.”
Qin Ming exhaled deeply. “It’s still true that I’m behind. Some people were leagues ahead of me even when they were much younger. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”
“You’re looking at other paths for comparison, aren’t you?” Meng Xing Hai asked.
Qin Ming nodded. “Yes. Other paths are so profound. For example, the Disciples of the Beyond treat a scripture we treasure as merely another text, casually shelved for anyone willing to pay the price to study it. That shows how little they value it, which means their foundations are far deeper than ours.”
He paused, his thoughts drifting. “I suspect the Disciples of the Beyond made significant discoveries during the Great Opening of the Night Fog World.”
Meng Xing Hai sighed. “That’s true.”
Then, as if remembering something, he turned to Qin Ming. “The exams are entering a critical phase. Have you decided where you’ll go next? I have faith in you. I’m looking forward to seeing you forge your grandmaster’s path.”