"I see myself as white bones, as a decaying corpse, a withering skeleton..."
Amidst the feasting of dense skeletons, Zhang Fusheng gradually got used to the tearing pain, which slowly lessened.
"This descent into purgatory seems to end only when I reach the entry-level of the Grim White Bone Observation and manifest the outer aspect of decaying bones."
"Or perhaps... my spiritual will, trapped in this illusion, might collapse completely?"
Zhang Fusheng felt speechless, as if he was trapped in a loop.
The contract seemed to have some special use, suppressing his true self in the ancestral acupoint on his forehead; whenever his spiritual will was about to collapse, the contract would 'pull him back.'
"This isn't good news... do I need to immediately use Uncle Wang's [Contemplation Time]?"
Zhang Fusheng hesitated since this was at the Hongji Martial Arts Hall and it was his first attempt, he didn't know if any abnormal changes would occur.
"I'll give it another try!"
He tried to ignore the pain like being carved, attempting to perceive himself as a decaying corpse with no flesh and blood, just bare bones,
This time, there was indeed a slight effect; in the descent into the illusion, the speed of growth of blood and internal organs being gnawed by bones slowed somewhat.
But only slightly.
"Is it because of the contemplation map, or the three gentle knocks from the hall master?"
"Perhaps, it's both."
Zhang Fusheng pondered over and over, he was well aware that with his current level of enlightenment, it was impossible to progress so quickly in the Grim White Bone Observation,
The credit could only belong to the contemplation map and the hall master's three knocks.
"The tuition here is really worth it; even with my poor enlightenment, if I came here every day, I might still reach entry-level of this Superior Contemplation Technique within half a year or even two or three months!"
In the descent into purgatory, looking at the dense bones crawling all over himself, Zhang Fusheng sighed.
"No choice left."
"Contract... give me an upgrade!"
The contract trembled within the ancestral acupoint on his forehead.
The next second.
Zhang Fusheng felt as if his 'soul' was being forcibly infused with a load of vague concepts.
In a daze, he seemed to see some illusory scenery, continuously repeating this descent into purgatory, with new memories emerging in his mind.
Memories on cultivating the Grim White Bone Observation.
[In the first year, I achieved entry-level of the Grim White Bone Observation, stepping into the 'Outer Aspect' stage, during contemplation, I see my body as a rotten corpse, as white bones, I could sense a vast number of mysterious factors dancing around me.]
[Two and a half years later, I seem to have realized something, understanding that contemplation is not just about the external, the 'Outer Aspect' is just a start, I need to seek its core, its true intent.]
[In the seventh year, amidst repeated descents into purgatory, I suddenly understood certain truths, the cycle of withering and flourishing, the alternation of day and night, the instant where spring and winter meet, the point where life and death intersect.]
[In the eighth year, I finally unveiled the true intent of the Grim White Bone Observation, achieving minor success in the contemplation technique, I stepped into the 'Inner Realm' stage.]
[The mysterious factors became incredibly clear in my perception, when I contemplate the Grim White Bone, others looking at me indeed feel a chill.]
[In the fourteenth year, I thoroughly solidified my Inner Realm stage, yet I was not content, beginning to progress towards the great success of the White Bone Observation, stepping towards the third major stage— 'I should see myself as such.']
[What is 'I should see myself as such'? I do not understand.]
[In the fifteenth year, I had no understanding.]
[In the sixteenth year, I had no understanding.]
[In the seventeenth year.....]
[In the twenty-ninth year, a flash of insight, I seemed to grasp an element.]
[In the thirtieth year, I had no understanding.]
[In the thirty-first year, I had no understanding.]
[In the forty-fifth year, a flash of insight, I seemed to grasp an element.]
[In the forty-sixth year, a flash of insight, I understood something.]
[In the forty-seventh year, a sudden burst of enlightenment.]
[I began attempting to achieve the 'I should see myself as such' level of contemplation, or rather, spiritual realm.]
[Decades of accumulation made my progress swift.]
[This is truly 'great artifact matures slowly!']
[In the fiftieth year, I attained enlightenment, I understood!]
[At the end of the fiftieth year, I successfully cultivated the White Bone Observation to great success, entering the 'I should see myself as such' level, no longer constrained by contemplation or not, constantly withering and flourishing, life and death, I unveil the truth of the mundane world as purgatory, flesh as a prison.]
[I contemplate my flesh rotting, turning to white bone, then contemplate the bones growing flesh, reconstructing the body, further contemplate the glow circulating over the grim white bone.]
[I discover, the bones indeed emit light—this is 'I should see myself as such!!']
[In the fifty-first year, I attempted to research the level of 'He should see me as such', but found that achieving great success in the contemplation technique had exhausted all my accumulation, leaving me clueless.]
Fifty-one years of cultivation memories submerged Zhang Fusheng like a tidal wave.
Entry-level, minor success, great success of Grim White Bone Observation!
Outer Aspect, Inner Realm, I should see myself as such!
In the descent into purgatory.
Zhang Fusheng opened his eyes, sitting upright in the illusion of descent into purgatory, letting the bones feast on him, with just a thought.
In the next moment, his spiritual form mirrored in the illusion, half-decayed, half white bone, with glowing bones, emitting a sparkling radiance.
The skeletal fierce ghosts suddenly halted, retreating little by little, crowding and jostling, emitting vague howls which gradually became orderly and uniform.
As if in praise.
Zhang Fusheng could actually understand this chant, it was—Great Medical King!
What nonsense is this?
He didn't think deeply, nor did he care, merely letting out a sigh:
"Observing both one's own and others' bodies, all built of white bones... where bones gave rise to flesh, flesh gave rise to light."
The half-decayed Fusheng surprisingly gave rise to flesh and skin, and those skeletal fierce ghosts also grew flesh and skin.
Then,
they all prostrated, kneeling down.
As if seeing their master.
The descent into the illusion suddenly shattered.
......
It was already early morning.
The entire Hongji Martial Arts Hall was silent, with the dormitory lights off and the martial arts rooms mostly empty.
The young martial arts hall handyman held a flashlight, performing the final patrol and inspection.
"Inspection of Martial Arts Hall No.1 completed."
"Inspection of Martial Arts Hall No.2 completed."
"Inspection of Martial Arts Room No.1 completed."
The handyman spoke repeatedly into the walkie-talkie, pushing open the door of Martial Arts Room No.2 and habitually held down the walkie-talkie:
"Inspection of Martial Arts Room No.2 completed... hmm?"
He paused, seeing a large martial arts room with a delicate young boy curled up on a meditation mat, trembling slightly.
Seemingly in great pain.
"Hey, kid, what time do you think it is?"
The handyman frowned, put the walkie-talkie down, walked forward, glanced at the badge hanging on the boy's chest, and reached out to push him.
"Wake up, wake up, go back to the dormitory to sleep!"
The boy remained unmoving, with a twisted expression, clearly in extreme pain, and still trembling slightly.
The handyman's heart skipped a beat:
"Could he be having an attack?"
Just as he was about to grab the walkie-talkie, he saw the young boy's expression return to calm, his curled body suddenly sat upright, legs crossing in meditation, face expressionless.
"Huh?" The handyman was taken aback, wanting to reach out to push the boy but was inexplicably filled with an eerie chill.
Somehow, he suddenly felt as though he stood in a mass grave, with wind and rain tearing apart coffins, seeing not a young boy before him but grotesque white bones lying in a broken coffin!
The handyman stumbled back two steps, rubbed his eyes, and looked again.
The boy opened his mouth, sighing:
"Where bones gave rise to flesh, flesh gave rise to light..."
The handyman saw that the boy's skin indeed emitted light, truly glowing!
That light, not very bright but very real, interconnected, revealed clearly—it was indeed a skeletal form—it was his bones emitting light!
"Ghost... Ghost!! Ghost!!!"
The handyman turned and ran, dropping his badge and walkie-talkie, rushing out of the martial arts hall, disappearing without a trace.
At this moment.
In the martial arts room, the youth broke through the illusion, slowly opening his eyes, with a hint of aged wisdom fading from them.
"I think I heard a scream?"
Zhang Fusheng murmured to himself, looking at the night sky outside the window, immediately worried.
The Martial Arts Dojo provides lodging... but where is my dormitory??