The sky darkened.
He lit a candle.
Returning to his small courtyard, recalling the experiences from dawn to dusk, Jixia let out a deep breath and slammed the Government Officer's Saber onto the desk.
He looked at the official seal embroidered with the words "Black Mountain."
In the evening, drinking with Zhong and Zheng, whom he had met at the Government Office today, Jixia's face still bore traces of drunkenness...
He finally felt his muscles and bones, his entire body, relax.
It was as if the burden on his back had loosened all of a sudden.
A life in officialdom.
The lifelong pursuit of so many people.
This evening.
Recalling those expressions that turned from arrogance to humility, Jixia couldn't help but shake his head and laugh lightly.
Usually, his unvisited courtyard was nearly overwhelmed by visitors tonight.
Poor in a bustling city, no one asks; rich in the deep mountains, there are distant relatives. Today, he saw it firsthand.
"Now, I, from a hunter in Black Mountain Outer City, have leapt up to become a civil servant and constable with a clearly higher status than before."
"In terms of fist techniques, I possess the 'famous' inheritance of the 'Meteor Chasing Moon Fist Scripture.' This single fist technique, without the aid of destiny, is enough to occupy me for an entire 'Martial Gate Foundation Establishment' to comprehend."
Thinking of this, Jixia took out a jade scroll from his bosom, his eyes full of anticipation:
"The first volume of the Golden Lock Jade Technique, Martial Arts Foundation Establishment Chapter..."
"Although I don't know why Xie Wutong from the Demon Hunting Department gave me such a precious Foundation Establishment Secret Method."
"But when there's a benefit, why not take it?"
He never forgot.
The reason he could turn the tables today wasn't due to Chen Zhenwu's pulling of strings, nor Xie Wutong's goodwill, nor the attentiveness of the constables Zhong Xu and Zheng Fan.
He relied on the Great Success Fist Skill he cultivated through the 'Reincarnation Celestial Book,' backed by the destiny of 'God in the Fist'!
Without the Great Success Fist, when he rung the Zhenjin Bell, why would the mighty Department Head of the Government Office spare him a glance?
Let alone the series of events that followed.
But fists, after all, are merely a method for protection and the martial path.
Unless he attains perfection, reaching the mysterious and profound 'realm' rumored to exist.
Otherwise, any martial artist donned in a 'Water and Fire Immortal Robe', akin to steel and iron, could stand there, take ten punches from him, and remain unscathed!
This is the difference in realm, something skill cannot bridge.
Thus,
from a hunter to a constable, is Jixia going to stop here?
No!
Above constable, there is Squad Leader, then Department Head, and the mysterious Demon Hunting Department in the Inner City, as well as the 'Great Innate' Guardian of Black Mountain City!
In cultivation, Golden Flesh and Jade Veins, Mercury Blood Silver Marrow, Water and Fire Immortal Robe... to him, who is merely a 'mortal body', this is just the beginning!
Cultivation, cultivation!
Thinking of Song Brahman Mirror, Tantai Yao in the Reincarnation Celestial Book, and the Great Flood Dragon Demon that roams three hundred miles of the Wo River...
These 'marvelous and fantastical', seemingly mythological figures, appear like a dream, still incredibly distant from him, a Black Mountain constable.
But does this mean he will resign himself to mediocrity?
Of course not!
Therefore...
"Someday,"
"I too will be like them, breaking through the first step, standing at Great Innate!"
The intoxication gradually faded, and with a 'whoosh', Jixia stood up, pressing the jade scroll of 'Golden Lock Jade Technique' to his forehead.
In an instant, lines of text began to emerge, like ink soaking into xuan paper...
The Golden Lock Jade Technique, Martial Arts Foundation Establishment Chapter.
It contains 'four refining methods', corresponding to the four steps of the first stage of cultivation. Mastering them all would enable entry into 'Great Innate', transcending the ordinary.
Unlike common superficial Secret Techniques, the Golden Lock Jade Technique is a 'famous' inheritance and thus has its unique aspects.
Ordinary Foundation Establishment Techniques usually involve refining the surface, tempering the blood marrow, using external exercises to perfect the first step of cultivation.
But the inheritance above the 'famous' touches upon the Qi only the 'Great Innate' can enter.
Take this Golden Lock Jade Technique, for example.
Apart from the four methods of grinding the skin, strengthening muscles, and circulating qi and blood...
The phrase 'raise golden essence as Golden Lock, tightly clench teeth as Jade Lock' is something other shallow Secret Skills lack.
"Clench teeth to retain spirit, swallow saliva to nourish qi..."
Jixia thought for a moment, then sat cross-legged on the bed as depicted in the jade scroll, holding his breath, tightly clenching his jaw, and ran a Circulation according to the unique breathing method...
Sure enough, he sensed a faint trace of 'qi.'
Then, with a single breath, he drew it in as 'nourishment', like a cool stream, swallowed into his belly.
Repeating this process several times.
One incense stick's time.
When Jixia opened his eyes and moved his muscles and veins, he clearly sensed that his skin surface was covered with a layer of hazy jade hue.
"I heard Zhong Xu and Zheng Fan chatting over drinks, saying that the reason why the 'Great Innate' great cultivators can effortlessly show the various visions in their fist and blade techniques when reaching 'realm',
is because they have mastered 'qi'."
"The final hurdle of the Martial Arts Foundation Establishment, Circulation Qi Collection, is to integrate qi into the body. Ordinary martial artists, without feeling for qi, have to struggle at this barrier for ten or eight years."
"But like me, who refines clear qi in advance during the 'Golden Flesh and Jade Veins' step, adapting early, reaching the Qi Collection Barrier should be much easier."
"And this is just 'prestigious sect' level inheritance; if higher..."
"I can't imagine!"
"No wonder those great sect celestial prides progress with such divine speed!"
Jixia had an epiphany, temporarily paused his cultivation, dressed, and went to the courtyard to move a large water jar into the room.
Previously, the 'medicine bath' formula made by the Danxia Sect for the Great Zhao Official Mansion was now taken out by him, directly sprinkled into the hot water jar.
"Gurgle gurgle..."
As the medicine bath dispersed, emitting a fragrant aroma,
Jixia did not hesitate, undressed, then sat inside, following the cultivation technique keys, began to operate his breathing, extracting the medicinal power and 'qi' between heaven and earth.
In an instant, as the nutrients of the herbs combined with the body's warmth, a fragrant scent wafted from Jixia's mouth and nose, feeling that every pore of his body was opening, incredibly comfortable.
Even as the medicine bath was absorbed, the scars on his legs gradually faded, and the glimmering jade light on his skin surface began to overflow with golden haze...
When at some point, this layer of golden haze completely covered the skin, retracting to the body, spreading to every vein.
The first barrier of Martial Arts Foundation Establishment, 'Golden Flesh and Jade Veins', is considered accomplished.
Half an hour later.
Splish!
Rising from the water jar with a pitch-black tinge, drying off, Jixia felt the toughness of his skin and bones, silently estimating:
"If I strike now, it would be about twice as strong as before, maybe even more."
"According to the 'Golden Lock Jade Technique' record..."
"The first step of Golden Flesh and Jade Veins, I've only completed a third."
"Without relying on the medicine bath, simply by grinding the skin, other constables would need several months to half a year; even with my breathing secret method, it would take over a month."
"To be faster, the only way is medicine."
"And later... the needed medicine will be even more."
"Practicing martial arts is truly the biggest money pit, never enough capital to burn!"
"How much silver coins do I need to match a set of this medicine bath?"
Having tasted the benefits, Jixia's heart moved.
The next morning, after roll call at the Black Mountain Government Office.
He took the opportunity to ask Zheng Fan indirectly.
The answer he got made Jixia's heart tremble.
Danxia Sect has a pharmacy in the Inner City, named 'Danxia Hall'.
And such basic medicine baths for martial artists in the Golden Flesh and Jade Veins Realm...
One set costs five taels of silver.
One tael of silver equals 1,000 coins.
In the Outer City District, ordinary residents earn just thirty to fifty coins a day after taxes, at most eighty.
Even calculating at 100 coins, without eating or drinking, would take nearly two months to save up!
Previously, as a hunter, Jixia didn't always return fully loaded, income fluctuating.
Now as a constable, receiving five taels of silver each month is quite a lot.
But now looking,
it seems...
life has become tougher after practicing martial arts?
No wonder every constable has some ties with the local jurisdiction.
After all, to progress, one has to think of ways!
Just as Jixia was lamenting the difficulties of cultivation.
Time flew by, half a month passed quickly.
And with the first cycle, fragments of memory born, stopping abruptly upon reaching Yunluan Mountain, the Reincarnation Celestial Book...
finally recharged, shining again.
Which means,
Jixia can continue reading,
and resume the journey named 'Song Chai Xin'!
Since reality isn't easy.
Then seek in reincarnation!