"Alright then. I'll remember this favor you owe me."
Master Ma's face immediately wreathed in smiles. He had said he didn't mind, but that didn't mean he truly didn't care. As a high-level member of Xiaoyi Hall, it wouldn't have been appropriate for him to force Xu Xing to acknowledge the favor. Doing so would have made him seem too profit-driven. But since Xu Xing was so perceptive, he naturally wouldn't refuse.
Once Xu Xing became a Scholar, he would be considered a rare talent in Xiaoyi Hall, and even in Qin Fengshan. His future position in both Xiaoyi Hall and Qin Fengshan would surpass Master Ma's. This was merely Xu Xing's hidden identity.
On the surface, Xu Xing hailed from the Weijing Academy. His network of classmates, fellow villagers, and peers from the same year guaranteed he wouldn't remain an ordinary, impoverished scholar. Moreover, after obtaining the Scholar title, he could continue with the Imperial Examination in Qin Province. Alternatively, he could enter the Qin Province Martial Arts School and become an officer in the New Army...
Furthermore, Xu Xing was so adept at social interactions that it was clear he was destined for great things.
The Doctrine of the Average states: "Heavenly Order is called nature!"
Personality determines one's destiny.
...
...
After advancing his martial realm, Xu Xing obtained another Destiny.
"You have formed the Bright Yellow Destiny [Martial Arts Prodigy]. This is an upgraded Destiny from the Red Destiny [Average Martial Arts]. Do you wish to replace the [Average Martial Arts] Destiny with the [Martial Arts Prodigy] Destiny?"
"Solidify it with [Dao Fruit]."
Lines of text flowed across the Mirror Surface.
A Bright Yellow Destiny? Xu Xing mused. A Destiny ranked higher than the original Grey Destiny, White Destiny, and Red Destiny? Yellow is a color reserved for the Royal Family, unusable by commoners. Red, on the other hand, signifies officials. Could this Bright Yellow Destiny mean...
A sense of eager expectation welled up within him. He nodded in agreement without hesitation.
The next moment, the nearly one hundred strands of Internal Power stored in his Dantian began to deplete rapidly.
...
[Mirror Master: Xu Xing.]
[Dao Fruit: Righteous Thief (Red), Martial Arts Prodigy (Yellow), Wenchang (White), Broad Knowledge and Strong Memory (White).]
[...]
[Destiny: None.]
[Martial Arts Prodigy (Yellow): Innate Meridian Channels, affinity with Earth Element Internal Power, rapid progress on the Martial Path; if fated, can reach the Innate Realm and become a Martial World Supreme.]
...
To become a Martial World Supreme would be comparable to an Emperor... However, it's only if I'm fated to reach that level. In the Jianghu, Innate masters and Grandmasters are exceptional figures like Dugu Qiubai. Those who can reach the Storing Truth Realm are already considered prodigies in martial arts. With my original aptitude, I should have found it difficult to make any further progress on the Martial Path after entering the Storing Truth Realm. But after obtaining the [Martial Arts Prodigy] Destiny, my aptitude has improved...
Xu Xing calmed himself, examining the Bright Yellow Destiny [Martial Arts Prodigy] for any flaws, striving to maintain an air of serene composure.
He was ecstatic! Truly ecstatic at this moment.
Firstly, he had reached the Storing Truth Realm, making him a proficient fighter in the Jianghu. Secondly, the [Martial Arts Prodigy] Destiny confirmed his theory: forcefully breaking through in the Instance World wouldn't cause any lasting negative effects.
It's like a system glitch, he thought.
For now, I should focus on advancing to the Storing Truth Realm properly. I think... it should be almost time for the rescue from Mount Siming...
Xu Xing sat cross-legged on the straw bale and began to circulate his Cultivation Method. He compressed the small amount of Internal Power remaining in his body, nurturing a strand of his vital True Qi.
Thirty-six strands of Internal Power were required to form one strand of vital True Qi. In the Instance World, by borrowing Master Ma's internal strength to forcibly break through, he had already learned how to compress Internal Power and generate vital True Qi in his Dantian.
And now, his aptitude had significantly improved. His meridians were all clear, allowing him to directly bypass the internal cultivation and Body Cultivation stage. Refining his vital True Qi was far easier here than in the Instance World.
Experience! Aptitude! He lacked neither.
「One hour later.」
A wisp of vital True Qi was finally born in Xu Xing's Dantian.
Effortlessly, he reached the Storing Truth Realm!
What? He reached the Storing Truth Realm?
「Several hours later, at dawn,」
Chang Ji observed Xu Xing as usual, fearing Xu Xing might abandon him and leave first. Today, however, he noticed Xu Xing's skin was clearer and more jade-like than before. His eyes were bright and spirited, a stark contrast to his usual listless demeanor.
Storing Truth! Only by surpassing Body Cultivation and reaching the Storing Truth Realm could one possess such an aura. Vital True Qi is indeed the best at nourishing the Physical Body. His aptitude...? It's said that hundreds of years ago, a great scholar compiling the Daoist Collection was imprisoned. He had never practiced any Cultivation Method and was already fifty-seven, with mediocre martial arts potential. Yet, his mind was exceptionally perceptive; once he grasped one principle, all the truths of heaven and earth held no more secrets for him... In just thirty-six days, he became one of the few Innate experts in the world. Could it be... Xu Xing is like that great scholar?
The more Chang Ji pondered, the more astounded he became, yet he felt his guess wasn't wrong. Xu Xing's profound achievements in mathematics at such a young age were a testament to his genius. And if one delved deep into mathematics, it was said one could calculate the workings of the heavens, the earth, and even humanity itself. Comprehending the fabric of the cosmos would be a simple feat. The ultimate principles of heaven and earth were hidden within the path of mathematics.
I must get on good terms with him! Chang Ji swallowed hard, his resolve firming.
"Mr. Xu..." he whispered, approaching the iron bars and adopting as humble a posture as possible. "Did you... did you break through to the Storing Truth Realm?"
"Nonsense, what are you talking about..." Xu Xing began, then paused. "How... how did you know?"
So that's how it is.
Xu Xing was initially surprised, but a glance at his own body brought sudden understanding. Thanks to Zhao Yunniang's arrangements for him to "father an heir," he bathed every few days. Unlike ordinary prisoners, he didn't have a layer of grime obscuring his skin, making his transformation so conspicuous.
Of course, it might also be related to his current change in aptitude and the fact that he had broken through on his own. At least in the Instance World, his breakthroughs hadn't been this obvious.
"Indeed!" Chang Ji exhaled deeply. He gestured for Xu Xing to come closer. "I have a secret technique to disguise one's appearance, Mr. Xu. You can learn it," he said softly, then began reciting the technique's mantra.
Although Xu Xing was suspicious of Chang Ji's sudden deference, this wasn't the time for overthinking. Chang Ji was in the same boat. It was one thing for Chang Ji to witness his "great change," but if the Sky Prison's Prison Officers noticed his altered state, it would lead to endless trouble.
「A quarter of an hour later,」
Xu Xing's appearance began to shift subtly. His features remained the same, but his skin noticeably darkened, returning to how it looked before.
This secret technique wasn't particularly remarkable. It was called the 'Face Changing Technique.' Its sole effect was to stimulate the skin with True Qi, accelerating the secretion of certain hormones and thereby causing a slight alteration in one's appearance. True Qi could alter the body for better or worse. The Face Changing Technique, the result of the Chang Family's many years of testing, was their most refined method for such physical alteration. Using this technique, one didn't need to worry about excessive True Qi stimulation damaging the skin or harming the body.