Book 3 Chapter 23: The Secret Art of Mutual Generation - Martial God

### Chapter 23: The Secret Art of Mutual Generation In the main peak's library, there is an inner chamber and an outer chamber. The outer chamber of the library is open to all the disciples of the Spiritual Medicine Peak and even allows them to copy the texts freely. In the past, when He Wu De left the mountain, he took with him a large batch of manuals copied from this very library. Without these manuals, He Family Village would not have developed so smoothly. At the very least, the second and third generations of He Family Village would not have had so many martial techniques available for them to study. However, the inner chamber of the library is not accessible to ordinary disciples. It is a reading room specifically prepared for the elders, and only they have the privilege of entering and exiting at will. At this moment, the four elders and the senior elder of the mountain range had gathered together in this chamber. He Yi Ming held a manual in his hands, his eyes faintly glowing, seemingly captivated by its contents. Yu Jing Lei and the others sat nearby, their expressions quite serious, gazing at He Yi Ming with anticipation and fervor. However, no one disturbed him as his attention was absorbed in the manual. Finally, as He Yi Ming reached the last page of the manual, he closed it and pondered for a moment before sighing deeply, "Indeed, these techniques are excellent. As expected of the predecessors of our sect, to have conceived such a method." Yu Jing Lei and the others exchanged glances. Yu Jing Lei then asked solemnly, "Elder He, did you understand it?" He Yi Ming casually patted the manual and replied with a hint of irritation, "It's all explained so clearly here. If I couldn't understand it, I would be a fool." Yu Jing Lei and the others wore faint blushes but, being individuals well into their hundreds with Yu Jing Lei even surpassing two hundred, they were thick-skinned enough that such moments passed without much fuss. Clearing his throat, Yu Jing Lei remarked, "Understanding the content is one thing, but achieving it is another. Are you confident you can do it?" He Yi Ming lowered his head to the manual in his hands, a confident smile appearing on his face. Ever since his official appointment as an innate elder of the He Mountain sect, access to the inner chamber of the library was granted to him. When he first entered the chamber, Yu Jing Lei and the others presented him with a specific manual, detailing the conversion techniques between various skills. Not only did it include conversions between two specific techniques, but it covered the transformation points among all regenerative skills within the five elements: wood gives birth to fire, fire gives birth to earth, earth gives birth to metal, metal gives birth to water, and water gives birth to wood. Upon reading this, He Yi Ming benefited greatly. While he also practiced all five elements and had no difficulty transitioning between each, the insights recorded still resonated with him. Were it not for the fact that he was in the sacred library, surrounded by four innate powerhouses, he might have attempted to practice on the spot. Upon hearing Yu Jing Lei's inquiry about his ability to execute these conversions, he couldn't help but smile proudly, "Uncle Master, rest assured. Give me a few days to practice, and mastering these techniques shouldn't be a problem." Yu Jing Lei and the others exchanged looks, and after a moment, Yao Dao Ren questioned, "Elder He, do you know the purpose of these skills?" He Yi Ming hesitated briefly, a thought flashing through his mind, and he blurted out, "Regenerative techniques... to achieve innate advancement?" Yao Dao Ren clapped his hands, "Exactly, Elder He. In secluded sects like ours, there are similar secret texts. Every elder who advances to innate status through their own efforts with the aid of dual regenerative techniques must study and comprehend them." He Yi Ming recalled the demands Xie Zhi En once made of him and understood immediately, "After mastering these techniques, can one act as a protector during another's advancement?" A slight smile appeared on Yao Dao Ren's face, confirming He Yi Ming's astuteness. Yu Jing Lei laughed heartily, "Elder He, this isn't exactly a secret among secluded sects. It's precisely because of this reason that such sects can remain prosperous, always having multiple innate elders each generation." After Yu Jing Lei's explanation, He Yi Ming finally grasped some of the underlying secrets. Within these secluded sects, each generation sees numerous disciples reaching the pinnacle of postnatal tenth level inner strength. Among them, there are always a few dual-skill regenerative practitioners. These disciples are invaluable treasures to their sect, candidates with the potential to ascend to become innate elders. However, despite reaching the apex in dual-skill regenerative practice, ascending to innate status remains exceptionally challenging. If relying solely on their efforts, the success rate for ascending through dual regenerative techniques is less than one in ten. It is through the accumulated experience of past elders and the creation of a traditional approach that such sects maintain the presence of innate powerhouses each generation. When such a disciple emerges, and if there is an elder with matching skills in the sect, it becomes their duty to amplify the disciple's meridians and serve as their protector. Thus, the tradition ensures that secluded sects never lack innate powerhouses. After Yu Jing Lei finished, he sighed, "Elder Yao practices wood-fire dual methods. Elder Lian Yi and I are both wood-water dual practitioners. As for..." He paused, glancing at Yu Xi Chen before shaking his head. Yu Xi Chen blushed slightly, "Elder He, I practice earth-based skills. I only advanced to innate status with the help of innate elixirs. It's hardly worth mentioning." He Yi Ming quickly shook his head, offering comfort, though he sensed from the group's reactions that elders relying on elixirs for innate status seemed lesser in comparison to those succeeding through dual regenerative practices. Yu Jing Lei continued, "Among our He Mountain's younger generation, we indeed have a gold-water dual practitioner who has reached the pinnacle of the tenth level. That's Lu Zheng Yi of the Spiritual Jade Peak, now..." He paused, giving He Yi Ming an odd look, "He's only sixty-six, having reached the pinnacle three years ago, but failed in two attempts at innate breakthroughs." At Yu Jing Lei's age, Lu Zheng Yi's sixty-six was like youth, but comparing with He Yi Ming, the term just felt misplaced. If sixty-six was youthful, how would one describe He Yi Ming at seventeen? Yao Dao Ren smiled, "Even though Lu Zheng Yi failed twice, it was due to the lack of a protector. With someone to assist, his likelihood of success would increase significantly." Yao Dao Ren's expression was full of expectation as he stared at He Yi Ming—a sentiment clear even to the oblivious. He Yi Ming chuckled, finally understanding why Yao Dao Ren and Yu Jing Lei were so enthusiastic about his aptitude and treated him with more regard than a typical elder. He once thought it was He Mountain's sparse talent pool's reason; now he realized his presence was incredibly beneficial for the sect. He pondered briefly, "Among so many disciples, is there only one who meets the criteria?" The question surprised them, leading them to look toward Yu Xi Chen. After a moment's thought, Yu Xi Chen replied, "Aside from Lu Zheng Yi, there's another at the Thumb Peak, Che Wen Jun. Also a dual skill practitioner, but only at the ninth level. Even when he reaches the tenth, his breakthrough prospects are less than ten percent." He Yi Ming was puzzled, "Why is that?" Yu Xi Chen explained, "Che Wen Jun practices earth-metal techniques, the most challenging regenerative path to achieve innate status. With an elder to bolster his meridians, his odds would rise to fifty percent. Alone, though, they're slim." Doing the math, He Yi Ming realized that having two disciples of such caliber among two thousand was far superior to his experience in Tai Cang County. However, on second thought, He Yi Ming realized the advantage these secluded sects had. Born into an environment providing exceptional nurture, their disciples couldn't even compare to those from the outside world. If everyone in the Tian Luo Kingdom had such conditions, the number of disciples practicing dual regenerative techniques would far exceed those of the He Mountain sect. In reality, though, this was simply unfeasible. Even those naturally gifted, growing up in a common environment, often end up as ordinary people. Such is destiny. Different destinies determine individuals' ultimate achievements. Suddenly, He Yi Ming sensed eight intense gazes focused on him. Momentarily startled, he smiled wryly and expressed willingly, “Elders, I’m ready to offer any assistance I can when He Mountain disciples attempt to reach the innate realm.” Satisfied smiles appeared on Yu Jing Lei and the others' faces. Yet, Yu Jing Lei's expression grew serious, "Elder He, though we're aware of your prowess and your extraordinary command over the gold-water dual systems, where you can seamlessly convert energy at will, the methods in this manual summarize countless experiences of our sect's predecessors. It would be best for you to train for a few years, fully mastering the content before serving as a protector for Lu Zheng Yi." Yao Dao Ren sighed, "What Uncle Master says is true. Elder He might find it amusing, but it took me twenty years to fully master the secrets of this text. Regrettably, throughout these six decades, no wood-fire dual system disciple reached the tenth level pinnacle, rendering my efforts wasted." He Yi Ming glanced around and noticed similar expressions on their faces. He was baffled, as the points in the manual appeared profound yet not overly complicated. Why did figures like Yao Dao Ren need so much time to understand them? With a thought, he understood it must relate to his unique constitution. Smiling slightly, he extended his hands, surprising everyone who didn't understand his intent. Yet, their expressions changed to shock and amazement in the next moment. Right before their eyes, He Yi Ming's hands remained seemingly still. But the innate powerhouses sensed the powerful energies coursing through them. The qi of water and gold alternated prominently on his hands. At times, his left hand conveyed gold and his right water; sometimes it reversed, mixed, or transformed into one type, only to switch again quickly. In mere moments, the qi transformed dozens of times on his hands. Amid rapid changes, He Yi Ming continued smiling, sitting calmly, as his qi circulated smoothly, without any stalling or interruption. After a moment, he retracted his hands, picked up his teacup, and took a satisfied sip. Raising his head, he was taken aback by the expressions of Yu Jing Lei and others. All four stared wide-eyed at him, with a peculiar expression as if he were unrecognizable. If He Yi Ming hadn't sensed their benign intent, he might have fled instantly. Yu Jing Lei finally released a long breath, "A true genius." Lian Yi nodded in agreement, "Indeed, in over a hundred years, I've never seen anyone with such skill in the gold-water systems. Elder He's cultivation is approaching the essence of power." He suggested intensely, "Elder He, I advise abandoning wood-fire systems, focusing solely on gold-water. Continue on this path, and one day, you'll surely surpass the Boundless Heaven into the One Line Heaven realm." Yao Dao Ren shivered, quickly responding, "Inappropriate! Despite his talent in the gold-water systems, Elder He shows equal aptitude in wood-fire. Continuing wood-fire training would be wise," he said, though recalling the earlier performance and its profound impact left him speechless. Lian Yi frowned, dissatisfied, "Elder Yao, I understand your desire to have Elder He inherit your Spiritual Medicine Peak. Yet, his talent in gold-water shouldn't be ignored for the bigger picture." Yao Dao Ren flushed, retorting, "I swear, Elder He's wood-fire talent matches gold-water. If I'm lying, let heaven strike me with no good fate." Their expressions were momentarily dazed, again looking at He Yi Ming with wonder. He Yi Ming's countenance, less seasoned than older practitioners, blushed awkwardly, "I've already chosen my path, elders, so please speak no more of it." Yu Jing Lei and the others nodded. Despite their curiosity, once He Yi Ming decided, they suppressed their intrigue. Placing the manual back, He Yi Ming declared, “Elder Yu, when is Lu Zheng Yi planning to attempt an innate breakthrough? If within this month, I’m eager to serve as a protector.” Having come to know the sect dynamics over time, He Yi Ming realized that while Yu Xi Chen was the least martial-advanced, he handled daily affairs on the main peak. Yao Dao Ren focused on alchemy, while Yu Jing Lei and Lian Yi immersed themselves in martial pursuits, leaving minutiae to Yu Xi Chen. After a moment's thought, Yu Xi Chen responded, “Given Elder He's generosity, let's schedule it for ten days hence.” Surprised, He Yi Ming inquired, "Elder Yu, are you certain? Lu Zheng Yi might need more than ten days to stabilize his mindset." Indeed, not everyone shared He Yi Ming’s constitution, and Lu Zheng Yi bore the shadow of two failed innate breakthroughs. A mere ten days might not suffice to reach peak condition. Yu Xi Chen smiled lightly, "Elder He, your willingness to step in is a great blessing for him. If he can't adjust in ten days, it reflects his cultivation inadequacies, losing the opportunity for five more years." He Yi Ming nodded silently. In truth, he was keen as well. To him, aiding Lu Zheng Yi presented a rare chance, and likewise, it was a novel experience for himself. "Reviving experiences anew" isn't just a literary pursuit but parallels in martial arts. He vividly recalled the moment of his innate breakthrough. Quietly, he hoped to once again savor that sensation while aiding another...