Building a Martial Dao Celestial Family by Laying Low

He Niu Martial Arts Academy, the Bell Tower.

After seeing off his younger brother, Shouye, Chen Shouheng returned to the Bell Tower for his regular shift.

He sat cross-legged in a corner of the Bell Chamber, took out his father Chen Li’s letter, and read it carefully.

Besides telling him about the Liu Family’s situation and instructing him to find Qian Shijin to ask about the secrets of the Divine Intent Pass, the letter also urged him to take the Soul-Stabilizing Pill and see its effects.

Chen Shouheng didn’t hesitate. He took the Warm Jade Bottle from the Black Wooden Box.

He uncorked the bottle and took out the Soul-Stabilizing Pill.

An Elixir the size of a longan, milky-white in color with a faint luster flowing across its surface, fell into his hand.

A cool, refreshing fragrance that seemed to penetrate straight to his Spirit Platform instantly filled the air.

Chen Shouheng popped the Elixir into his mouth.

It melted the moment it touched his tongue, instantly transforming into a cool, icy stream that flowed down his throat and plunged straight into his Dantian Qi Sea.

At first, he only felt his Spirit Platform become unprecedentedly clear and serene, his Divine Sense growing exceptionally sharp.

The exhilarating feeling of this enhanced perception brought a flicker of joy to his heart.

However, this wondrous sensation lasted for only a few breaths.

The next moment, a sudden change occurred.

Above his Dantian, the somewhat blurry Divine Sense Illusion of himself, which he had condensed using the Ahan Shouyi Heart Sutra, began to tremble violently without any warning.

The illusion’s surface flickered erratically as cracks appeared out of nowhere, as if it were a piece of porcelain being crushed by immense force, emitting a strained CREAK.

Chen Shouheng was horrified.

This Divine Sense Illusion was the foundation of his Divine Sense Heart Method. If it was damaged, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Without a moment to think, he circulated the Ahan Shouyi Heart Sutra with all his might, trying to stabilize the illusion.

But it was all in vain.

The medicinal power of the Soul-Stabilizing Pill seemed to contain some kind of tyrannical law that was beyond his comprehension, making it impossible to stop in the slightest.

BANG!

An extremely faint shattering sound echoed directly in the depths of his soul.

The Divine Sense Illusion completely disintegrated, turning into countless brilliant, crystalline specks of light, like fragments of a galaxy.

Chen Shouheng’s Heart Spirit trembled, and he thought disaster had struck.

However, these motes of light did not vanish into nothingness.

Like tiny stars, they finally gathered and vanished into a mysterious, dark, and unknown Acupoint deep within his head—a place he had never sensed or touched in his past Cultivation.

The moment they entered, Chen Shouheng felt his entire mind get struck by a heavy hammer, a deafening roar resounding within.

His consciousness instantly went blank, as if a crack had been forcibly pried open.

It was impossible to tell how much time had passed. It could have been an instant or an eternity.

Chen Shouheng abruptly came to his senses, his back drenched in a cold sweat.

He quickly composed his mind and used Introspection to examine his body.

Above his Dantian, the place where the Divine Sense Illusion had once been was now completely empty.

But in his perception, deep within his head, the Acupoint that had just been forcibly pried open was now faintly emitting a weak glimmer of light.

"This is..."

Chen Shouheng was stunned for a moment.

Then he quickly realized.

’The Divine Hall Acupoint!’

To ascend to the Spirit Realm Fourth Level, one needed to find the Divine Hall Acupoint.

And the process of finding it was incredibly perilous.

Countless Martial Artists at the Spirit Realm Third Level were stuck before this pass, unable to even glimpse the path for their entire lives, let alone break through it to cultivate.

’This Soul-Stabilizing Pill... It has such a miraculous effect?’

A storm of shock surged through Chen Shouheng’s heart.

Although he couldn’t truly open and cultivate this Acupoint yet, the pill had located the Divine Hall Acupoint for him in advance.

This alone made the Elixir priceless.

This meant that once his Cultivation was sufficient and he reached the Spirit Realm Third Level, the Inner Mansion Pass, he would be spared countless hours of arduous searching.

The path forward was already illuminated.

The immense, pleasant surprise diluted his earlier horror.

He let out a long sigh of relief, but his brow furrowed again soon after.

The reason was simple: the Divine Sense Illusion in his Dantian had vanished without a trace.

’It will take who knows how long to condense it again.’

...

DONG! DONG! DONG!

The last bell for 5:00 PM rang out.

Classes were over.

Song Zilian arrived at the Bell Tower right on time.

At almost the same time, a familiar, graceful figure also appeared at the foot of the Bell Tower.

It was Zhou Shuwei.

Ever since she had resolutely given up the vast Zhou Family enterprise to come to the He Niu Martial Arts Academy, her days had become simple yet fulfilling.

Every day, besides listening to the Masters lecture on the principles of the Martial Dao, she spent most of her remaining time with Chen Shouheng.

The two would go to the dining hall for meals together and often spent their evenings in each other’s company, discussing things.

Though nothing was explicitly said, they were always together, truly like a young couple, their simple life filled with warmth.

Chen Shouheng finished a brief handover with Song Zilian.

"Shouheng."

Zhou Shuwei came forward to greet him, a faint smile naturally spreading across her lips.

"Shuwei."

Chen Shouheng nodded in response.

He then looked at Song Zilian and asked, "Brother Zilian, do you know if there’s a Master at the Martial Arts Academy named Qian Shijin?"

He and Zhou Shuwei had only been at the Martial Arts Academy for a short time and hadn’t heard of anyone named Qian Shijin.

"Qian Shijin?"

Song Zilian frowned, a thoughtful look on his face. After a moment, he said, "I remember now. He’s not one of the six hall Masters. I think he’s one of the old caretakers of the back mountain, with a very high seniority.

"But he usually keeps to himself. The place he lives is quite remote and quiet. I remember... I think it’s a small courtyard on the back mountain called the Shabby House Inn."

Having gotten the information, Chen Shouheng felt a little more at ease.

After a simple dinner with Zhou Shuwei at the dining hall, the two of them headed for the back mountain hand in hand.

The mountain path was winding, growing more secluded the further they went.

The only sounds were the wind whistling through the gaps and the chirping of birds returning to their nests.

"Shouheng."

Seeing that no one was around, Zhou Shuwei naturally took Chen Shouheng’s arm and asked softly, "Are you looking for this Mr. Qian for something important?"

Chen Shouheng pondered for a moment, decided there was no need to hide it from her, and briefly told her about Liu Zongying.

"The Liu Family, the Eldest Branch..."

Zhou Shuwei didn’t ask any more questions. She just tightened her grip on his arm slightly and quietly walked beside him along the mountain path.

The two searched and, in a quiet corner near a hollow on the back mountain, found a simple, small courtyard.

The courtyard was silent, with no one in sight.

Only a few old plum trees stretched their branches in the twilight.

They didn’t dare to barge in, so they could only wait quietly outside the gate.

The mountain wind began to pick up, carrying the chill of the deep mountains.

Zhou Shuwei subconsciously moved a little closer to Chen Shouheng.

Not until the sky had almost completely darkened did the faint sound of footsteps come from the end of the mountain path.

An old man with white hair and a white beard, carrying a half-full medicine basket on his back, walked over slowly.

The old man walked to the courtyard gate, saw Chen Shouheng and Zhou Shuwei waiting there, and glanced at them indifferently. Without pausing, he reached out to push the gate open.

"Excuse me, Senior, are you Master Qian Shijin?"

Chen Shouheng quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply.

The old man’s hand paused on the gate. He turned his head, his gaze lingering on Chen Shouheng’s face for a moment. "I am. You’re disciples of the Martial Arts Academy? What do you want with me?"

Chen Shouheng stated his purpose directly: "Junior Chen Shouheng. An elder in my family named Liu Zongying once said he is an old acquaintance of Master Qian. His Divine Sense is now damaged, and I wish to implore Master Qian, for the sake of your past friendship, to bestow or temporarily lend an Exotic Treasure that can nourish the Divine Sense. We are willing to pay a suitable price!"

"Liu Zongying..."

Hearing this name, a flicker of an extremely complex emotion flashed in Qian Shijin’s eyes.

He fell silent and said nothing for a long time.

After a long while, he finally spoke slowly, "...He’s still alive?"

He paused, as if confirming something, and continued, "What he wants... is the Warming Divine Jade, isn’t it?"

Before Chen Shouheng could answer, he added, "Tell him to prepare an object of Divine Sense in exchange. He can borrow the Warming Divine Jade for one year."

"An object of Divine Sense?"

Chen Shouheng was surprised. Objects of Divine Sense were incredibly hard to find, but he still bowed and agreed, "I will relay Master Qian’s words back without missing a single detail!"

Qian Shijin said no more, pushed open the wooden gate, and then closed it.

Chen Shouheng and Zhou Shuwei exchanged a look and, without lingering, walked hand in hand back down the mountain, following the path they had come by, bathed in moonlight.

...

Another day passed. Chen Shouheng finished his shift at the Bell Tower.

After having dinner with Zhou Shuwei, who had come to find him, at the dining hall, they parted ways for the time being.

With his father’s request to ask about the Divine Intent Pass on his mind, he went alone to Tingzhu Cottage to find Duan Mengjing.

"Master Duan."

Seeing that Duan Mengjing, for once, wasn’t off playing chess with his old friends but was instead tending to the flowers and plants in the small courtyard, Chen Shouheng straightened his robes and walked over quickly.

"Ah, Shouheng. What is it?"

Duan Mengjing looked up, turned around, and nodded slightly as his gaze fell upon him.

Chen Shouheng began, "Master Duan, in my recent Cultivation, I’ve felt quite confused about the matter of Divine Intent. I don’t know what the key to it is. I ask for Master Duan’s generous guidance."

Duan Mengjing was taken aback, his gaze as sharp as lightning as it swept over Chen Shouheng.

After a moment, he slowly shook his head, his tone admonishing, "Shouheng, you’ve only recently entered the Profound Acupoint Pass. Although your foundation is initially stable, your own True Intent is far from being condensed, and the Divine Hall is even more distant.

"Don’t be overambitious. Keep your feet on the ground. First, condense your True Intent or break through to the Divine Hall. It won’t be too late to ask me then."

Chen Shouheng opened his mouth, but the words on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down.

He couldn’t explain that he was asking for his father, and a trace of helplessness rose in his heart. He could only bow and say, "Yes, this disciple understands."

After taking his leave from Tingzhu Cottage, Chen Shouheng still felt unwilling to give up.

He remembered that Master Zhang Luyan of Guangye Hall had once taught this course.

Thinking of this, Chen Shouheng changed his direction and headed for Zhang Luyan’s residence within the Martial Arts Academy.

Chen Shouheng presented the ten taels of gold he had prepared in advance as a gift and explained his purpose.

However, he still used the excuse of being confused in his own Cultivation to inquire about the secrets of the Divine Intent Pass.

Zhang Luyan glanced at Chen Shouheng and said nonchalantly, "Ten taels isn’t enough. Three thousand taels, and I’ll tell you the Secret Technique. The price is not negotiable."

"Three thousand taels of gold?"

Chen Shouheng secretly drew in a sharp breath.

Even if exchanged at the Martial Arts Academy, that would require three hundred thousand taels of silver.

In the Black Market, it would cost even more—six hundred thousand taels of silver.

This was undoubtedly an astronomical sum.

He had only brought one hundred taels of gold and ten thousand taels of silver with him to the Martial Arts Academy this time.

He had already spent most of it trying to break through the Profound Acupoint Pass.

And for ringing the bell at the Bell Tower, his monthly salary was a mere three hundred silver taels.

He couldn’t possibly come up with that much silver.

Even if his family could afford it, it was still an astronomical figure.

He didn’t dare make such a decision on his own.

He immediately cupped his hands in an embarrassed gesture and said, "Master Zhang, this amount is truly immense. This disciple can’t produce so much at the moment. Could you allow me to slowly raise the funds over time?"

Zhang Luyan didn’t get angry. He waved his hand casually, "No matter. Just come find me whenever you’ve gathered enough."

With that, he picked up the teacup on the table and gently blew on the foam, a clear gesture of dismissal.

Chen Shouheng sighed inwardly. "This disciple will take his leave."