Chapter 45: Golden Light Qi-Observing Eye

Brother Liang had said that Zhao Xiangbo snatched away a box and left behind calligraphy and paintings.

Could it be that the snatched item was the sandalwood box Third Master had mentioned?

Knowing Third Master's true identity now—that he was even a martial brother to my father—the affection Sister Yan and I held for him grew a few degrees closer.

It also made us understand why he had taken such good care of the two of us in every possible way.

The reason he hadn't told us all along was to prevent us from harboring distracting thoughts that would hinder our cultivation of Qi, and even more so, to protect us. Once Li Da and Luo Er discovered our true identities, they would surely never let us off!

Third Master was in high spirits and kept talking to us about matters concerning his sect. Though Sister Yan and I urged him to rest, he refused.

However, his mental state was abnormal, and I wanted to use my Qi-Observing Eye to check his current physical condition, but he repeatedly refused.

"I already know my time is running out!" Third Master said with a calm expression. "I dreamt of my Master last night. He said he had already figured out the recipe for the Qi-Cultivation Pill and asked me to go help him. I promised my Master!"

"Third Master!" Sister Yan and I sadly grasped his hands.

"Silly children, I have already arranged everything. There is nothing left to worry about!" Third Master looked at the two of us, then turned his head to glance at Blackie on the neighboring bed, and sighed as he said,

"If this kid can pull through this ordeal, he will be a fine helper for you two siblings in the future.

Coupled with Little Monkey and Liangzi, the Jianghu of tomorrow will belong to you youngsters!

Remember this, Stone, if your strength is not yet strong enough, never provoke Luo Er!"

I nodded.

Glancing at Blackie, who was still fast asleep, I asked Third Master, "Don't you want to know how the Luo family cultivates Qi? That Luo Wusheng is clearly around the same age as Blackie, yet why is he so powerful? He must be a Qi Cultivator, right?"

"A Qi Cultivator?" Third Master curled his lip with an expression of utter disdain. "Practicing internal Qi outwardly—even if you give him another thirty years, he won't become a Qi Cultivator!

Kid, do you think a Qi Cultivator is that easy to achieve?

Do you remember what I said?

It takes a hundred years to easily become a Qi Cultivator, but the Qi-Observing Eye appears once in a millennium!

Without several decades of foundational Qi cultivation, how can anyone become a Qi Cultivator!

The four of us martial brothers were only Qi Apprentices when we descended the mountain.

It was only after countless days of unremitting practice after descending, never daring to slack off, that we finally became Qi Cultivators.

To become a Qi Cultivator before the age of thirty—how easily said!"

So that was how it was.

It seemed my previous judgment of my own Qi flow was mistaken.

In truth, that was indeed the case. How could there be such a weakling of a Qi Cultivator? Right now, leave aside Luo Wusheng, I probably couldn't even defeat his younger sister, Luo Qiman.

Third Master patted the back of my hand, his expression solemn. "Stone, you possess the Qi-Observing Eye, and your comprehension of Qi is superior to other Qi Apprentices, so you will go much further on this path than I have!

But you must remember, try not to let others know of this talent of yours, or it will bring disaster upon you!"

Deng Zhiyong had told me something similar before. I looked at Third Master and nodded firmly.

Third Master closed his eyes and said, "Let me see how your Qi is doing now."

He placed his hand against my stomach and said, "You must become a Qi Cultivator as soon as possible. Only in this way can your Qi-Observing Eye..."

Before he could finish, he stopped. He kept his right hand resting flat against my stomach, an expression of pleasant surprise appearing on his face as if he couldn't quite believe it. With a trembling voice, he asked, "Stone, when did this happen?"

I was momentarily stunned. Realizing he was referring to the change in the Qi within my body, I hurriedly replied, "Just these past two days. I suddenly felt the original Qi transform into a stream of Qi..."

"A twenty-year-old Qi Cultivator!" Third Master removed his palm, opened his eyes to look at me, his expression thrilled and excited. He shook his head and said,

"I never expected that in my lifetime, I would still get to see such a genius of Qi cultivation!

I originally thought Shi Si was already a rare sight in this world, but I never imagined you are a one-in-a-thousand-years seed for Qi cultivation!

No wonder, with your innate Qi-Observing Eye, your Qi cultivation is naturally much faster than an ordinary person's!"

Seeing his exceptionally excited state, Sister Yan hurriedly supported him and said, "Third Master, don't get too excited! Is Stone already a Qi Cultivator now?"

Third Master nodded and smiled. "Genuine and authentic! It's just that his stream of Qi is still very weak, and his strength hasn't caught up yet.

Yanzi, get some paper and a brush. I will write out a Qi-replenishing recipe for you. Find a way to gather all the items on it, and you must brew a soup for him to drink every night—at least one bowl.

Stone, the way you and Ah Qiang temper your Qi is very good. Once he recovers, you can continue practicing with him like that!"

I knew he was referring to the dough-kneading method between Blackie and me, so I nodded.

Sister Yan brought paper and a brush to Third Master. With rapid strokes, he quickly filled a large sheet, handed it to Sister Yan, and said,

"Three stages—what kind of soup to drink at each stage, I have noted them all down for you.

It might cost a lot of money. If you can't sustain it, you can ask Ah Qiang and the others; I left money for them..."

"There's no need!" Sister Yan shook her head and said to Third Master, "No matter how much money it takes, I won't mind at all. Rest assured, Third Master, Stone will not let you down!"

I nodded firmly at Third Master.

Third Master looked at me and said softly, "Stone, take off your glasses!"

Without the slightest hesitation, I took off my glasses and looked at him.

"Don't let your gaze wander, restrain your Qi, and try to let your left eye return to tranquility!" Third Master said to me in a deep voice.

I hurriedly obeyed his words, slowly circulating the stream of Qi within my body.

"Stone, your eyes..." Sister Yan suddenly cried out in alarm, then hurriedly covered her mouth with her hand.

Without the support of Qi, my left eye remained a hazy gray, unable to see anything clearly.

I asked Sister Yan, "Sister, is my eye bloodshot again?"

"No!" Sister Yan said from the side. "It's just... your pupil seems larger than before, but it has turned yellowish-brown! Stone, does your eye hurt? Do you feel any discomfort?"

Before I could answer, Third Master had already put the glasses back on me and said with excitement, "Yanzi, guard us. Stone, sit on the bed, cross your legs in meditation, and chant with me!"

Daring not to disobey, I quickly took off my shoes and sat cross-legged on Third Master's bed, facing him just as I usually did during Qi cultivation.

I heard Third Master say in a deep voice, "The mysterious ancestor of heaven and earth, the primal root of all Qi. Broadly cultivating through billions of kalas, I verify my divine power. Within and without the three realms, the Dao alone reigns supreme. My body possesses golden light, enveloping and reflecting my form!"

As I followed Third Master and chanted word for word, the stream of Qi in my body surged rapidly toward my left eye. Even though I was wearing glasses, I still felt a burst of golden light erupt before my eyes, like a blazing golden sun directly facing me, shooting forth myriad rays of light like tens of millions of steel needles piercing into my left eye!

"Ah!" Unable to bear the excruciating pain, I let out a miserable cry and covered my eyes with both hands!

A hand pressed down upon my head, and Third Master's voice reached me: "Stone, concentrate your mind and steady your breath, circulate Qi throughout your entire body. Experience and guide the flow of Qi, making it an instinct. Feel the impact it brings you, and adapt to this pain!"

Under Third Master's guidance, I gradually calmed down, entering the self-forgetful state of Qi cultivation as I usually did.

When the Qi within my body settled down, I opened my eyes. Although my left eye remained hazy and gray, the piercing pain was completely gone.

Third Master said to me softly, "The Golden Light Qi-Observing Eye, Stone, if you keep walking down this path, your name will surely shake the world in the future!"