Chapter Sixty: Witnessing the Martial Temple’s Martial Chief Stone—Where Lies the Limit of Youth

The small pavilion in the secluded garden was draped with emerald curtains, light clouds floating across a pale spring sun. In the Lin estate, a gentle breeze stirred the air, sending ripples across the great pond.

Madam Hua sat upright upon the divan, her gaze fixed on the young man, whose bearing had become increasingly refined and handsome. Surprise flickered in her eyes and brows. The Refining Spirit and Transcending the Mundane stage was a crucial threshold among the Five Realms. If the enlightenment of cultivation marked the division between mortals and cultivators, then transcending the mundane differentiated the ordinary from the gifted among those who cultivated. To attain this stage was no small feat.

Yet Madam Hua had watched An Le grow up, had bestowed upon him the "Five Beasts Body Tempering Technique" and the "Sword Cascade Chart" when he had barely embarked upon his path of cultivation. Now, only a few days later, the youth had already stepped into the Refining Spirit and Transcending the Mundane stage. Such a pace was astonishing, bordering on the incredible. Though some fortuitous events aided him, and the act of painting assisted his spiritual refinement, making his progress evident, Madam Hua was nonetheless deeply shaken.

An Le entered the main hall of the waterside pavilion, bowing respectfully to Madam Hua and Madam Ye. Madam Hua, watching him, suppressed her surprise and smiled, "Another breakthrough in refining your spirit?"

An Le smiled and nodded, knowing Madam Hua had already discerned it. He said, "Last night’s battle brought me new understanding. I spent the night awake, gathered my sword furnace, and stepped into the transcending stage."

A gentle breeze swept through the pavilion. Everyone present was astonished, especially Lin Chasing Wind and Lin Gentle Sound, who, like Madam Hua, knew when An Le had begun his cultivation. None had thought that in such a short time, he would already transcend the mundane in refining his spirit.

To begin cultivation at eighteen, when one's roots and bones are already set, and yet advance so swiftly—it was most unusual, perhaps the proverbial late bloomer, accumulating quietly before erupting forth?

The maiden Ye Wenxi maintained her graceful demeanor, her smile radiant. Beside her, Ye Silver Bottle widened her eyes in curiosity, studying this young master An, whose fame in Lin’an had soared thanks to a painting of ink bamboo.

"Excellent," Madam Hua praised. "Late bloomers do indeed possess extraordinary qualities."

"You once said, ‘There are those who come later to the path, yet arrive sooner.’ It seems there is truth in that."

Madam Ye turned her gaze to An Le. "You are Master An, I presume? The ink bamboo painting you created was shared with me by Madam Hua—it is superb, pioneering a new style, and it reveals the spirit and pride of youth. Remarkable indeed," she said kindly.

An Le bowed. "Thank you for your praise, Madam."

"I hear you are a candidate in this year’s Spring Imperial Examination in Lin’an?" Madam Ye sipped freshly brewed West Lake Dragon Well tea and asked, "Are you confident for the exam?"

"I will give it my all," An Le replied with a smile.

He did not boast, nor proclaim he would seize the top scholar’s prize, yet his eyes shone with confidence.

Madam Ye smiled, "If you should rank among the top graduates, you will have the chance to attend the palace examination, face the Emperor, and strive for the Defining Storm, perhaps easing Lin estate’s future troubles."

An Le was startled by her words.

Madam Hua gently interjected, "Sister, Young Master An also excels at painting horses. I recall General Ye is fond of fine steeds, his White Dragon steed is said to be as majestic as a true dragon of the Eastern Sea. If possible, when General Ye returns to Lin’an, you might invite Young Master An to paint the White Dragon steed."

Madam Ye paused, puzzled, then understood. It seemed Hua Jiebing did not intend for An Le to contend for the Defining Storm. Perhaps she thought he had little chance?

"Young Master An paints horses as well? My husband’s White Dragon steed is indeed extraordinary. If possible, I must invite Master An to render it in ink," Madam Ye said, turning to An Le with a smile.

An Le saluted with cupped fists. "To paint the White Dragon steed, which has galloped across the battlefield and is laden with glory, would be my honor, Madam."

Madam Ye smiled, her gaze softening as she spoke of her husband.

Madam Hua smiled. "You have advanced in refining your spirit and transcending the mundane, but your path in body tempering and vital energy lags behind. I suspect the ‘Five Beasts Body Tempering Technique’ I taught you is of too low a grade."

An Le replied, "I am grateful for your generosity, Madam, and would never be concerned about the grade of the technique."

Madam Hua shook her head. "Your talent exceeds my expectations. You’ve already forged spiritual bones with the ‘Five Beasts Technique,’ which shows you are not lacking in body tempering either. At the time, I did not expect you would possess such brilliance."

Her beautiful eyes then rested upon Madam Ye. "Since you are visiting today, I’ll put aside pride and ask you to grant Young Master An a chance to enter the Martial Temple and behold the Martial Champion Stone."

Madam Ye was taken aback, her eyes narrowing slightly, lips parting in surprise. "Jiebing, you planned this, didn’t you?"

She realized that today’s visit to the Lin estate was arranged by Hua Jiebing, who had set her up for this request. Yet granting a youth access to the Martial Champion Stone was not a difficult favor, far less than what she had previously promised Hua Jiebing.

"The Martial Champion Stone?" An Le was puzzled, having only recently begun cultivation and unfamiliar with the Martial Temple and Literary Academy.

Ye Wenxi, sitting nearby, smiled and explained, "The Martial Champion Stone is the Martial Temple’s treasured artifact. Each generation’s champion pours a drop of heart-blood onto it, year after year, so the stone has gained spiritual power. Body-tempering warriors who observe the stone may resonate with the champion’s blood and gain insight into a method suited to their own path."

"The stone contains top martial scriptures, but few ever gain direct access to them. Most use the stone’s unique nature to clarify their own shortcomings, then seek other methods to make up for them."

Ye Wenxi illuminated the matter for An Le.

"Sister, that applies only to those who catch the stone’s eye. Most who observe the Martial Champion Stone see nothing special," Ye Silver Bottle interjected with brisk energy.

Ye Wenxi smiled at her. "Young Master An is no ordinary person."

Her words left Ye Silver Bottle unable to retort.

With Ye Wenxi’s explanation, An Le understood the stone’s purpose. It seemed Madam Hua had invited Madam Ye today precisely to secure him an opportunity to view the stone, since An Le was not a member of the Martial Temple and had never studied there.

"General Ye is the current martial champion; Madam Ye naturally has extra privileges. To whom she grants this chance matters little. If you observe the stone, whether you gain from it or not, take it with equanimity," Madam Hua said graciously.

An Le bowed in gratitude. "Thank you, Madam Hua, thank you, Madam Ye."

Madam Ye shook her head with a gentle laugh. "Since Jiebing insists, and the day is still young, let Ye Chong take you to the Martial Temple now. Ah, so Jiebing had arranged for Ye Chong’s presence as well. She’s prepared everything."

She was somewhat surprised by how highly Madam Hua regarded An Le. Rumor had it that Madam Hua was Master An’s protector, and now it seemed true.

Ye Chong, upright as a pine tree, suddenly rose and saluted.

He turned to An Le. "Young Master An, I shall escort you to the Martial Temple to view the Champion Stone."

"Thank you, General Ye Chong," An Le replied with a respectful bow and smile.

He focused his spirit, sending four waves of Time Qi toward Ye Chong. From three times per day, he now advanced to four. An Le felt a surge of confidence. Four strands of Time Qi swirled at his fingertips, then he drew from Ye Wenxi, Ye Silver Bottle, and nearly depleted Lin Chasing Wind. After absorbing from five people, he reached his limit.

Though he felt a tinge of dissatisfaction, the twenty strands of Time Qi earned left him content. Madam Hua instructed Xi Xiang to prepare a carriage.

Ye Chong proceeded outside the pavilion. An Le, clad in green robes with a black ink belt, bid farewell and strode out in good spirits.

"We shall accompany you," said Ye Wenxi and Ye Silver Bottle, rising to depart and bidding farewell to Madam Hua and Madam Ye.

Meanwhile, Lin Chasing Wind, impatiently toying with her fire poker, pulled Lin Gentle Sound along and hurried out.

The waterside pavilion grew suddenly quiet.

Madam Ye and Madam Hua sat gracefully, exchanging smiles.

"You wish for Young Master An to observe the Champion Stone and gain a top martial scripture, but that is no easy feat," Madam Ye said, sipping her tea.

Madam Hua likewise lifted her teacup, gently tracing the lid, the fragrance spreading.

"Compared to his spirit refinement, his martial path with the ‘Five Beasts Technique’ is indeed his weakness. If he were to switch to a higher method, none seem quite suitable. Better to let him seek his fortune at the Champion Stone—should he gain a scripture, it would suit him and remedy his weakness. He will be more competitive on the Young Saints List," Madam Hua said with a light laugh.

A gentle breeze swept through, bringing a chill to the pavilion.

Madam Ye and Madam Hua’s dark hair fluttered, their robes stirred by the wind.

"You truly value this youth," Madam Ye remarked, gazing at Madam Hua.

Madam Hua sipped her Dragon Well tea, lips glistening with crystal droplets, and smiled softly. "The talent he has shown deserves such attention."

"On the path of cultivation, I have lit the green lamp for him, illuminating his way. Since I am his guide, I must be responsible, helping him shine brighter and farther. I cannot stay in Lin’an forever, so I’ll help him as much as I can. If he should one day become someone like General Ye or Old Lord Lin, it will be a blessing for the people of Great Zhao."

"Of course, I began with idle curiosity, but now I am eager to see—"

"Just where lies the limit of this youth, whose heart harbors a tiger."