Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils: The Successor of Bodhidharma

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He sat cross-legged on the stone platform, facing the vast wall of martial arts, his eyes calm as a deep, still well. He knew that this solitary journey of cultivation had only just begun.

Chapter 14 Breaking Through the Wall

Inside the Damo Cave, time seemed to stand still. Only the faint crackling of the burning torches and Qiao Tian's long, steady breathing provided the only rhythm in this absolute silence.

He did not rush to comprehend the martial arts of the stone wall, but instead spent a whole day thoroughly surveying and organizing this cave that would become his long-term residence.

Using the flickering firelight, he carefully ran his fingers over every inch of the main stone chamber wall again, confirming that there were no other hidden compartments or passages. He slightly modified the stone slab of the ventilation opening, making it easier to open and close from the inside, ensuring proper airflow while also being able to completely seal it off if necessary to conceal any trace.

The limited supplies were properly arranged: dry rations and a salt container were placed in a dry spot inside the stone platform, and a water bag was suspended under the vent to keep it cool with the flowing air. He cleared out a larger area and used dried moss and withered grass collected from outside the cave to make a simple but relatively comfortable bed next to the stone platform.

The most important thing is the light source. Torches don't last long, and candles aren't a long-term solution either. Qiao Tian frowned, his gaze sweeping around, finally settling on the ceiling of the main room—there was an inconspicuous shadow there, seemingly a natural depression.

He concentrated his energy, exerted a slight force with his feet, and his body floated up as lightly as a falling leaf, silently attaching itself to the cave ceiling. Upon closer inspection, it was not a simple depression, but the end of an ancient tree root that had withered and died sometime in the unknown, embedded in a crevice in the rock. Only a small section, about the thickness of a bowl, protruded into the cave, while the rest had long since merged with the rock, its color dull and indistinguishable.

In the blink of an eye, Qiao Tian slightly raised his right palm, and the Nine Yang True Qi quietly condensed. He did not release it forcefully, but instead used the "condensation" technique from the "Theory of Yin and Yang Mutual Assistance," which he had just begun to understand, to highly compress the supreme Yang internal force into his palm, and then gently pressed it onto the withered wooden stake.

With a soft "poof," there was no violent damage. The wooden stake turned into dust and fell down in a flurry.

Just as the wooden stake shattered, a blinding beam of light, like a golden sword bestowed by heaven, suddenly pierced straight into the bowl-sized hole!

It was midday outside, and the sunlight was at the perfect angle. The beam of light shone precisely on the center of the massive stone wall opposite, which was inscribed with profound martial arts principles!

Within the beam of light, dust danced like gold dust. The ancient Sanskrit inscriptions on the stone wall illuminated by the sunlight seemed to be instantly infused with life, the lines becoming incredibly clear and profound, creating a wondrous three-dimensional effect, far clearer and more lustrous than when viewed under firelight! A grand, sacred, and primordial aura swept over us.

Qiao Tian landed gracefully, gazing up at the unexpected "skylight" and the illuminated martial arts essence, his heart filled with indescribable shock. He instantly understood: this was no coincidence! The predecessor who carved this hole must have precisely calculated the angle; the opening was likely intentionally left and then blocked with wooden stakes, allowing sunlight to penetrate only at specific times, illuminating the core essence on the wall and aiding future generations in their comprehension! He had stumbled upon this ancient and wondrous sight of inheritance!

This beam of light not only solved the problem of daytime illumination but also held profound meaning. He resolved to dedicate himself to studying the most profound teachings on the wall during this "divine light sermon" each day.

With his basic needs for survival met, Qiao Tian finally sat facing the wall, bathed in the sacred pillar of light, and devoted all his attention to the "Theory of Yin and Yang Mutual Aid".

The process remained difficult. The Nine Yang True Qi possessed a powerful inertia, and attempts to guide its Yin-Yang balance were repeatedly thwarted, causing persistent, dull pain in his meridians. However, he no longer became anxious but instead immersed himself in the "Marrow Cleansing Visualization Diagram," using his mental focus to guide his internal energy and deeply cleanse his bone marrow and internal organs.

Amidst the extreme pain of internal cultivation, a transformation quietly takes place. As the supreme yang internal energy nourishes the marrow of the supreme yin, a trace of pure true yin vitality naturally arises. This trace of yin energy shares the same origin as the Nine Yang True Qi, yet its nature is entirely different.

"So that's how it is!" Qiao Tian suddenly understood. "The mutual support of Yin and Yang is not about mixing fire with water, but about refining true water from fire! It is the self-generation of true Yin from extreme Yang, achieving inner perfection!"

With the direction clear, progress, though slow, was steady. Every day, he studied the "Theory of Yin and Yang Mutual Aid" under the daylight and practiced the "Marrow Cleansing Visualization Diagram" by candlelight or in the darkness. The Nine Yang True Qi became increasingly pure and refined, and the self-generated True Yin added a touch of harmony and resilience to the True Qi.

In his spare time, he practiced the "Qi and Blood Returning to the Source Technique," and his precise control over his internal energy gradually became more proficient.

One day, as he was trying to cultivate a vegetable patch on the platform, he suddenly heard a "squeaking" sound above him. Looking up, he saw the little black monkey, nimbly climbing down the cliff, curiously observing the platform and Qiao Tian, ​​with a wild fruit clutched in its paw.

Qiao Tianxin's mind stirred slightly. He handed over a small piece of coarse flour and gave a gentle whistle. The little black monkey watched warily for a moment, but finally couldn't resist the temptation. It nimbly grabbed the flour and scurried back to its high perch, munching on it while constantly looking around.

From then on, the little black monkey became a regular visitor to the platform. Qiao Tian often "exchanged" food with it for the wild produce it brought back, and could even guide it to help collect simple things, forming a wonderful tacit understanding. Through the little black monkey, Qiao Tian also confirmed that the path from the platform to the top of the mountain was indeed feasible, and the last trace of worry in his heart disappeared.

Time seemed to stand still in the cave. Qiao Tian was completely immersed in cultivation and simple labor. The true energy in his dantian, once vast, now flowed with a serene calm, and his spiritual will became increasingly refined and clear. He knew that he was on the right path, and breaking through the bottleneck and reaching the fourth level of "Yin-Yang Harmony" was only a matter of time.

He also knew that what he had grasped was merely the tip of the iceberg. His gaze shifted to other profound and mysterious figures on the stone wall, not directly illuminated by sunlight, such as "The Prototype of the Indestructible Body" and "The True Meaning of Crossing the River on a Reed," a thoughtful glint in his eyes. It was time to explore more diverse martial arts concepts, to gain a broader understanding through analogy.

Chapter 15 Family Choices

As the sun rose and set, the ray of sunlight arrived as promised, deeply imprinting the profound martial arts principles inscribed on the stone wall into Qiao Tian's heart. With his ever-deepening understanding of the "Theory of Yin and Yang Mutual Balance" and the "Marrow Cleansing Visualization Diagram," the wisp of true Yin energy within his body gradually grew from a faint thread into a gentle stream, merging and circulating with the originally abundant Nine Yang True Qi, achieving a profound balance. His internal energy flowed with a harmonious blend of strength and gentleness, devoid of its former fiery agitation, leaving only a deep and restrained aura.

He had also mastered the "Qi and Blood Returning to Storage Technique". With the slightest thought, he could completely conceal the abundant Qi in his body, becoming as calm as an ancient well without waves, making it difficult for ordinary masters to discern his true strength.

However, the improvement in his cultivation level failed to quell the turmoil in his heart.

Whenever there is a break in my practice, or when I am alone with the lamp late at night, a deep longing quietly creeps in.

“I have been in seclusion here for quite some time…” Qiao Tian stared at the lamplight, a look of worry on his face. “The temple must have already noticed that a servant disciple has gone missing.”

He seemed to see the officiating monk searching everywhere, eventually adding his name to the missing persons list. What worried him even more were his family far away: "How worried my parents would be if they knew I was missing?"

Thinking of the sorrow on the simple faces of Qiao Sanhuai and his wife, his heart tightened. Leaving without saying goodbye, causing them unnecessary worry, was not what he wanted.

"And then there's Brother Feng..." Thinking of Qiao Feng's bold and unrestrained nature, he was even more worried. "Given his personality, if he knew I was missing, he would definitely search everywhere for me."

A strong urge almost compelled him to break free of his confinement immediately and return home to report that he was safe.

But reason quickly suppressed the thought.

"No!" He clenched his fists slightly. "If we go back now, how will we explain our martial arts skills? How will we explain our whereabouts over the past few months?"

His gaze gradually calmed down: "If the temple finds out that I possess extraordinary skills, especially the Wall-Moon Fate that is different in form but similar in spirit to Shaolin martial arts, the consequences will be unimaginable."

He quickly realized the far-reaching consequences: "If I am proven guilty of 'stealing knowledge,' Feng, as my brother, will inevitably be implicated. His background is already special, and this matter could become a variable, making his future situation even more difficult."

Thinking of this, he felt a chill run down his spine. His initial intention was to protect his family, and if it backfired due to a moment of impulsiveness, then it would be his fault.

“We must be patient.” Qiao Tian took a deep breath, suppressing his surging thoughts. “Disappearing now is the best way to protect them. We must use this precious time to truly learn and master the skills, so that we have the power to protect them in the future.”

With his mind made up, his eyes returned to calm, and he transformed his concern for his family into motivation to persevere in his spiritual practice.

Besides his own concerns, he also began to ponder the connection between the Bodhidharma Cave and the Shaolin tradition.

"Bodhidharma meditated facing the wall here for nine years, leaving behind the origin of martial arts." Qiao Tian gently stroked the carvings on the stone wall, seemingly lost in thought. "Later Shaolin seems to have placed more emphasis on the form that evolved from it—the Seventy-Two Arts."

He thought of Master Xuancheng, who had mastered thirteen unique skills but ultimately suffered damage to his meridians: "If Master Xuancheng had first understood the true meaning of the Yin-Yang Mutual Aid Theory and the Marrow Washing Classic, and clearly understood the way of the balance between strength and gentleness, perhaps he could have avoided that ending."

Qiao Tian knew that if this cave were to be revealed to the world, it would shake the martial arts world. "To possess such a treasure is a crime; this secret must not be revealed before I have sufficient strength."

With his inner knot untied, the road ahead became clearer. He began to comprehend the martial arts principles of offense, defense, and self-defense.

Standing before the diagram of the "Indestructible Body Prototype", he pondered the subtle mysteries of "using shock to transform force" and "concentrating a point to control the whole situation", attempting to integrate them with the strong physique honed by the "Marrow Cleansing Classic".

He then practiced the "True Meaning of Crossing the River on a Reed" on the platform, experiencing the principles of "lightness, heaviness, and borrowing strength." His body moved nimbly and swiftly within a small space, and his control over strength improved day by day.

In his spare time, the vegetable patch he cultivated has sprouted new green leaves, and the wild rabbits he raised have adapted to life in the cave. The little black monkey has become a regular visitor, sometimes bringing wild fruit, sometimes imitating Qiao Tian's actions, adding a bit of life to this desolate place of cultivation.

Qiao Tian understood that the path he had chosen was lonely and long, but his mind was made up, and he would not waver again. His figure grew more and more composed and profound in the daylight and candlelight.

Chapter 16 A Glimpse of the Mortal World

Time flies, and nearly half a year has passed since I began my arduous cultivation in the cave.

That day, Qiao Tian awoke from a deep meditative state, feeling the Nine Yang True Qi within his body surging like a river, flowing freely and smoothly, his mind clear and bright. He had already begun to grasp the basics of the "Theory of Yin and Yang Mutual Aid," and the nature of his internal energy was completely different from before; he practiced the "Marrow Cleansing Classic" daily without ceasing, his physique was strong and his five senses were extraordinary; the "Qi and Blood Returning to the Source Technique" could be activated at will, almost instinctively; even the principles of energy circulation in the "Indestructible Body Prototype" had been initially integrated into his protective true qi.

However, the last coarse flour pancake he brought had already been eaten yesterday. The salt jar was empty by morning, and the rice bag was also gone. Even with the meager produce from the vegetable patch on the platform, plus the wild fruit occasionally brought by the little black monkey, it was no longer enough to sustain such arduous practice.

"It's time to go out," Qiao Tian sighed softly. Seclusion doesn't mean complete isolation; supplies are still essential.

He quietly pushed aside the ventilation slab and came to the platform at the edge of the cliff. The morning mist was thick, and the mountain breeze was crisp. He took a deep breath and looked down at the deep valley shrouded in clouds.

For the past six months, he has spent every day pondering the true meaning of "Crossing the River on a Reed," and his desire to understand it has been burning ever since. Today is the perfect time to put it to the test.

He did not jump down immediately, but closed his eyes and concentrated, carefully observing the subtle changes in the airflow and sensing the mysterious connection between himself and the world—the connection of lightness, heaviness, and leverage. The next moment, he lightly touched the edge of the platform with his toes, and his body floated out like a feather, drawing an elegant arc in the air.

As he fell, his arms were slightly outstretched, and each time he touched a cliff or a tree, he deftly used his fingers or feet to gain leverage. Each touch was light and brief, not a hard step, but rather a combination of the slight rebound force and the circulation of his internal energy to constantly slow his descent. His body moved freely in the air, seemingly walking on air, exceptionally graceful!

He landed safely on the cliff several tens of feet high, using only three or five strokes of the reed, without disturbing a speck of dust. "This is the true meaning of 'Crossing the River on a Reed'... Truly profound!" Qiao Tian was delighted, his understanding deepening. After determining his direction, he moved again, like a wisp of smoke, heading towards the town outside the mountains.

The town was still bustling, full of the warmth of everyday life. After half a year of silence, the sudden influx of noise made him slightly uneasy. He reached into his pocket and found only a few loose copper coins, the proceeds from his past menial tasks, far from enough to buy what he needed.

He frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping across the street. A moment later, he slipped into a quiet alley, emerging with a heavy purse in his hand—a ruddy-faced, portly merchant who had just left a gambling den was still unaware that his own pockets were empty. Qiao Tian felt little remorse; extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, taking only what he needed and not adding a single penny.

Entering the general store, he bought rice, flour, salt, and candles to store, and also added some vegetable seeds. The shopkeeper, seeing that his clothes, though not tattered, were patched in many places and faded from washing, and that his long hair was unkempt, flashed a hint of disgust in his eyes, and his tone became somewhat perfunctory. Qiao Tian was slightly taken aback, looked down at himself, and couldn't help but chuckle. Half a year of living in a cave, weathered by wind and rain, though he cleansed himself daily with his inner energy to avoid filth, his worn-out clothes and untamed air made him no different from a beggar in this marketplace.

As they were about to leave town with the supplies, their eyes were drawn to a small figure huddled up at a street corner.

It was a boy who looked to be just over ten years old. He was thin and pale, dressed in rags, and squatted in the corner of the wall with a broken bowl in front of him. He looked at passersby with timid eyes, his expression showing a numbness and pleading beyond his years.

Qiao Tian stopped in his tracks. He thought of Qiao Feng. If things were alright at home, his younger brother Feng, at this age, should be growing up in the Shaolin Temple, learning martial arts and literature, instead of begging here.

On a whim, he stepped forward. Seeing someone approach, the boy quickly lowered his head and whispered, "Master, Madam, please have mercy..." Qiao Tian knelt down and asked gently, "Child, what's your name? Where are your family?"

The boy looked up and saw that although Qiao Tian's clothes were tattered, his eyes were clear and there was no malice in them. He then said timidly, "I...I am Xie Xiaoyu. My mother...my mother died of illness...I fled here with my mother, and now...the elder in the gang told me to stay here..." His voice grew softer, and the so-called "gang" was undoubtedly the Beggars' Gang.

Qiao Tian felt a pang of sympathy. He looked at the object in his hand, then at the child, and a thought flashed through his mind. "Xiao Yu, do you want to earn money? Clean money," Qiao Tian said gently. Xie Xiaoyu's eyes lit up for a moment, then dimmed again. He whispered, "I... what can I do?" "Simple," Qiao Tian pointed to Shaoshi Mountain. "On the last day of each month, buy two small bags of rice and some seasonal vegetable seeds, and take them to the old pavilion at the top of the mountain. Just put them under the stone table." "And then?" Xie Xiaoyu asked, puzzled. "Then, you'll find your silver in a crevice in the southeast corner of the pavilion—more than you'd like." Qiao Tian took a few pieces of silver from his purse and placed them in Xie Xiaoyu's hand. "This is your deposit and this month's wages."

Xie Xiaoyu stared at the gleaming silver in his hand, almost unable to believe it—it was more than he had earned from begging for half a year! He suddenly looked up at Qiao Tian and asked curiously, "Big brother...you, are you also...a beggar?" Seeing his clothes, he assumed he was one of the gang's leaders.

Qiao Tian was taken aback upon hearing this, then smiled wryly and shook his head: "I'm not. You just need to remember the agreement, once a month, rain or shine. Don't mention this to anyone else, okay?"

Xie Xiaoyu gripped the silver tightly and nodded vigorously: "Yes! I've got it! Thank you, big brother! I'll definitely do it!"

Having arranged this secret supply route, Qiao Tian felt somewhat relieved. He carried the supplies but didn't immediately return to the mountain. Instead, he went to a secluded waterfall and pool at the back of the mountain.

I put down my things, took off my old clothes, and plunged into the icy pool. Half a year of travel, the accumulated heat, and the troubles brought by the bustling city were all washed away in an instant.

He took a leisurely bath and changed into a newly purchased blue cloth outfit, ordinary yet neat and tidy. His black hair, which hadn't been cut for six months, had grown quite long, reflecting his handsome face and sharp eyes, giving him a different air about him.

Standing by the water, gazing at his reflection—a serene yet powerful image, completely different from what he had seen six months ago—a surge of heroic spirit welled up within him.

He let out a long howl that shook the woods and startled the roosting birds! His body suddenly rose from the ground, soaring several feet into the air! In mid-air, he tapped his feet together as if walking on thin air, using the momentum to rise again, like a hawk soaring into the sky, having already brought the "Crossing the River on a Reed" technique to its ultimate level!

Ascending to an extreme height, he spun around, head down and feet up, his right palm slamming down onto the surface of the pool! The powerful and harmonious Nine Yang True Qi within his body surged forth. Though he didn't use any specific palm technique, the sheer purity of his internal energy, a fusion of the essence of the *Yin Yang Mutual Aid Theory* and the *Marrow Cleansing Classic*, erupted! "Boom!!!" A deafening roar, like a boulder thrown into a lake! The calm surface of the pool was blasted into a massive column of water several meters high by the force of his palm strike, the countless water droplets reflecting the sunlight like a rainbow raining down!

Qiao Tian landed lightly back on the shore, surprisingly without a wet spot on his body. He felt a surge of exhilaration, the gloom of six months of arduous training swept away.

Feeling inspired, he wasn't in a hurry to return to the cave. Instead, he used his lightness skill, his figure transforming into a green shadow, darting through the forest. Sometimes, his toes lightly touched the treetops, leaping several feet; other times, he used the steep cliffs as if walking on flat ground. The mountain breeze caressed his face, the sound of the forest whispered in his ears, and an unprecedented sense of freedom and resilience filled his body and mind.

He knew that this brief period in the world had not only relieved his worries about supplies, but also served as a tempering and breakthrough for his mind. When he returned to the Bodhidharma Cave, his cultivation would surely enter a new realm.

Chapter 17 News about Qiao Feng

Returning to the Bodhidharma Cave, Qiao Tian's state of mind was vastly different from six months ago. His brief experience in the marketplace had been like wiping away the last layer of dust from his heart, making him increasingly clear and resolute about the path he had chosen. The sunlight still poured down from the cave ceiling, illuminating the martial arts principles inscribed on the stone walls, but Qiao Tian was no longer satisfied with improving in a single area; he began to try to integrate the various concepts on the walls.

He first chose "The Essentials of Dragon-Capturing Techniques".

This skill emphasizes "qi flowing through the fingertips and intention reaching the void," using internal force to seize objects from a distance and control the enemy. Qiao Tian's Nine Yang True Qi is incomparably powerful. When he first tried this method, he used his internal force slightly, and with a grasping motion of his five fingers, he could easily lift up pebbles from ten feet away and snatch them from the air.

However, when he tried to switch between the "fierce and outward" nature of the Dragon-Capturing Skill and the "ultimate inward" nature of the Qi and Blood Returning to the Source Technique in the same instant, in pursuit of the state of "starting with thunder and ending in stillness", he encountered unprecedented obstacles.

The two philosophies were like fire and water. The Dragon-Capturing Force required a surge of true energy; the Returning Qi and Blood, however, required drawing internal energy back into the depths of the dantian. This release and retraction was not a simple reversal, but a violent clash between the methods of circulating qi and the power of mental intention. He tried several times, but not only did he fail, it also caused the true qi in his dantian to become disordered, like two giant waves colliding within his body, shaking his blood and qi to the point of near injury.

"Haste makes waste." Qiao Tian had no choice but to stop, gazing at the stone wall, as if gaining some insight. "The fierce power of 'Capturing Dragon' and the restrained power of 'Returning to the Source' are not mutually exclusive. Perhaps the key lies not in simultaneity, but in... the intention preceding the movement, the qi following the heart? Controlling the flow of qi within a single thought?" He realized that this was no longer a matter of accumulating internal energy, but the ultimate test of mental control and micro-manipulation of internal energy. It required painstaking effort, and even more so, a moment of sudden enlightenment.

He put the matter aside for the time being and instead focused on refining the prototype of "The Indestructible Body".

This method is even more extreme than the *Marrow Washing Classic*. While the *Marrow Washing Classic* emphasizes nourishment and transformation from the inside out, the *Indestructible Body Prototype* contains numerous methods of using external force to strike and vibrate the body, guiding the instinctive reaction of internal energy, and tempering muscles, bones, and skin. With no one to help him in the cave, he acted on his own: sometimes slamming his body against the hard stone walls, sometimes striking the major acupoints around his body with palm strikes imbued with true energy, guiding the internal energy to vibrate, condense, and dissipate rapidly at the point of impact.

Each impact was accompanied by a muffled thud and excruciating pain. If it weren't for the foundation laid by the *Marrow Cleansing Classic* and the protection of his Nine Yang True Qi, an ordinary person would have already had their bones shattered. Even so, Qiao Tian was often shaken by his own force, causing his blood and qi to become unstable and his skin to turn blue and purple. At first, the little black monkey was frightened by his "self-harm" and would squeak and run far away. But as time went on and he was unharmed, it even noticed that Qiao Tian's aura was becoming more and more profound, so it got used to it. Sometimes it would even imitate Qiao Tian, ​​slapping its own chest with its paws, looking comical.

The greatest danger comes from a bold attempt.

Seeing the extraordinary skill of the "Finger Technique of Picking Flowers," which was specifically designed to break through the opponent's internal energy and subdue them invisibly, he wondered if he could unleash the Nine Yang True Qi using the extremely soft and silk-reeling force of the Finger Technique. He forcefully focused his mind, restraining and compressing that extremely Yang and hard power, attempting to transform hardness into softness.

However, how domineering was the Nine Yang True Qi? Its nature was like the blazing sun, like a torrent, forcefully binding and suppressing, like blocking a volcano! With a strange "hiss" sound from the fingertip, an extremely condensed yet out-of-control finger force shot out, actually punching a hole in the opposite wall, with traces of melting visible at the edges! Qiao Tian himself groaned, his entire right arm meridians felt as if they were being burned, the pain was unbearable, his fingers trembled uncontrollably, almost ruined!

“Wrong…I’ve gone astray again…” Qiao Tian was sweating profusely. He hurriedly channeled a wisp of true Yin energy generated from the “Theory of Yin-Yang Mutual Aid” to nourish his injured meridians, his heart filled with dread. “It’s not about forcibly restraining and transforming, but about guiding its ‘nature’ to change. Yang can become as soft as silk, but its root is still ultimate Yang, not transforming into ultimate Yin…The difference in scale and meaning is so subtle that a slight deviation can lead to a world of error.”

The path of cultivation is fraught with thorns. Every failure is accompanied by risk, but it also deepens his understanding of his own power.

Before he knew it, the end of the month was approaching again. Qiao Tian arrived at the mountaintop pavilion as usual. Sure enough, he saw two small bags of rice and a packet of new vegetable seeds neatly placed under the stone table. He put down the money and was about to leave when he noticed something extra next to the rice bags—a few pieces of osmanthus cake wrapped in clean leaves.

Qiao Tian held the still-warm pastry in his hands, slightly taken aback, a warm feeling washing over him. That child, who himself was struggling to find enough to eat, yet…

Just then, faint voices could be heard from below the mountain. Qiao Tian immediately concealed his breath, and the "Qi and Blood Returning to Storage Technique" naturally activated, his figure silently disappearing into the canopy of the lush trees beside the pavilion.

Two Shaolin monks, who were serving guests, came along the mountain path and stopped at the pavilion to rest.

"...So, Qiao Tian has been missing for almost a year?" one monk asked. "Long past that. The Disciplinary Hall searched without success, and they probably concluded he couldn't endure the austerity and returned to secular life. Alas, what a wicked child, all that effort wasted on Uncle-Master Xuanku personally teaching him to read." Another monk said disdainfully. "Shh, watch your words. But his brother, Qiao Feng, is quite remarkable!" "Oh? That lay disciple? I've heard his martial arts have improved greatly recently, his Arhat Fist is incredibly powerful, and several senior brothers from the Bodhidharma Hall seem to have been defeated by him?" "More than that! I've heard his internal energy has progressed rapidly, perhaps due to some fortuitous encounter? The Abbot has also paid considerable attention to him... Shh..." "Silence! This is not something we can discuss..."

The two monks rested briefly before leaving.

Hidden among the treetops, Qiao Tian's heart stirred slightly. The temple had indeed declared him to have "left on his own accord," which was for the best. But… they even had reservations about Master Xuanku? This stirred a pang of guilt within him. More importantly, however, was news of Qiao Feng! "Great progress in martial arts," "defeated several monks in succession," "rapidly increasing internal energy," "the abbot's attention"... every word he heard brought both relief and unease. His younger brother Feng's brilliance had manifested sooner than he had anticipated! Xuanci's attention was certainly not a good omen!

On the way back to the cave, Xie Xiaoyu's pure yet worried eyes, and the bag of osmanthus cake he couldn't bear to finish, kept appearing in his mind. "He's a good child who values ​​relationships and keeps his promises," Qiao Tian murmured. He thought of Qiao Feng's uncertain future, and if he could have a reliable friend and a capable assistant... an idea gradually became clear. He couldn't protect Qiao Feng personally, but perhaps... he could cultivate another "shadow"? "Perhaps I could teach him some techniques for strengthening his body and protecting himself? Not anything too advanced, just a solid foundation, so that in the future..." Qiao Tian's eyes flickered as he considered his options. How could he teach him subtly? How could he assess his character? All of these required careful consideration.

As the sunlight gradually shifted from the cave ceiling, it once again illuminated the illustrations of the "Dragon-Capturing Technique Outline" on the stone wall. Qiao Tian gazed at the four characters "Yi Da Xu Kong" (意达虚空), recalling the previous sluggishness in his internal energy conversion. Suddenly, a brand new idea flashed into his mind like lightning.

"The mind reaches the void... Qi moves with the heart... Perhaps, my initial direction was wrong?"

Chapter 18: The Arhat's Entrustment in a Dream

The mountain breeze at the end of the month carried a slight chill. Xie Xiaoyu, carrying two small bags of rice and a packet of vegetable seeds, climbed once again to the pavilion atop Shaoshi Mountain. He skillfully placed his belongings under the stone table, then, standing on tiptoe, carefully retrieved a few warm, smooth pieces of silver from a familiar crevice in the corner of the pavilion. After counting them carefully, a pure and satisfied smile spread across his face. This time, he used the few coins he had saved to buy a small packet of maltose carefully wrapped in clean lotus leaves, which he gently placed next to the rice bags.

"Big brother must be the best person in the world," Xiaoyu thought to himself, brushing the dust off his clothes and turning to head down the mountain.

Just then, a slight numbness ran through the "Jade Pillow" acupoint at the back of his head, as if he had been brushed by the gentlest willow catkins in spring. An indescribable warmth and an overwhelming drowsiness instantly swept over his entire consciousness. Before he could even make a sound, he softly fell backward.

A wisp of green flashed by like a ghost, and Qiao Tian appeared silently, his arm sweeping out to support the child's small body. He looked at Xiao Yu's slightly furrowed brows and pale face as he slept, a deep sense of guilt flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a more resolute light.

"Xiaoyu, don't blame me. Although this method is almost mystical, it is a destiny I can give to you and to this world. I hope you will not fail this destiny in the future."

He picked up Xiaoyu, and with a slight movement, he floated like a falling leaf to a secluded spot behind a giant rock at the back of the pavilion. He laid the child flat on the thick, soft, dry grass that had already been laid out, and then sat cross-legged behind him, calming his mind.