The devastating ultimate punch he had painstakingly researched actually carried such a perilous side effect.

Qin Fen slowly raised his slightly trembling arm. Fists and kicks are the second life of a martial artist. Damage to the meridians in the arm could severely impact future development, possibly even leading to disability.

How could this be? Qin Fen clenched his ten fingers tightly, yet felt none of the damage to the meridians despite the immense power.

“For your age, that punch is already incredibly perfect,” the Master patted Qin Fen’s shoulder. “‘Eighteen Divine Dragons Gathering Wind and Clouds.’ The original intent for creating this move was not for combat against martial artists of the same rank.”

Qin Fen nodded numbly. When executing a mission, no one could guarantee that their opponent would always be of the same or a lower star level.

“Fighting above your level—that was your intention, wasn’t it?” The Master tilted his head back, watching the footage replaying repeatedly on the screen. “In truth, you don’t need to be discouraged. I said, for your age, this punch is already magnificent. The only thing you failed to consider is that while your fist and Qi can challenge higher tiers, have your meridians also reached the capacity for cross-tier combat?”

“I considered it,” Qin Fen replied with a serious expression. “I tested it carefully, but the damage was too subtle. With my current level of meridian perception, I couldn't detect something that minute.”

The Master nodded in satisfaction. The fundamental quality, the most basic quality required for a martial artist to truly grow to the ultimate peak, is the ability to face one's mistakes squarely, not to fabricate excuses to conceal them.

“‘Eighteen Divine Dragons Gathering Wind and Clouds’ itself has no error, including the damage to the meridians—that is not an error either,” the Master said with a faint smile playing on his lips. “Boy, if I hadn't told you today that this move damages the meridians, judging by your power growth rate, you would have been strong enough to sense its presence and likely devise a correction before your meridians suffered serious harm. My revealing it now is simply to save you from taking a slightly longer detour.”

A smile touched Qin Fen’s cheek as he nodded lightly. The Master had spoken of so many things he hadn't considered before; his confidence felt significantly shaken.

“Boy, you don't need to be so insecure,” the Master gazed at the towering screen. “My words are not meant as mere consolation. I don’t know what you have experienced to forge a heart of resilience beyond the ordinary. This is the most precious quality in a martial artist, even more so than so-called innate talent. Your heart makes it difficult for you to stray onto a wrong path in the martial arts, and coupled with your decent talent, you naturally would have discovered the issue with ‘Eighteen Divine Dragons Gathering Wind and Clouds’ in the future.”

The Master snapped his fingers. The image of Qin Fen on the screen above threw the ‘Eighteen Divine Dragons Gathering Wind and Clouds’ punch once more; this time, however, the meridians suffered absolutely no damage.

Perfect.

Qin Fen stared at the screen, his brow furrowing deeply. “Master, in that last punch, the circulation pattern and intensity of the Qi flow were unchanged—how?”

“I told you already. ‘Eighteen Divine Dragons Gathering Wind and Clouds’ is fine. The real issue lies within you—your meridians are not strong enough,” the Master raised a hand to stroke his chin. “When you were growing up, your nutrition was adequate for an ordinary person, but it was insufficient for what a true martial artist requires. This resulted in your meridians never achieving full strength. Although your body has been gradually improving through nutrient solutions these past days, the congenital deficiency has prevented a full recovery.”

Congenital deficiency? Qin Fen touched the area over his heart. If his brother hadn't left so suddenly without reason, perhaps this deficiency in nutrition wouldn't have occurred. But then, this resilient heart would never have been forged through solitary life.

Congenital deficiency versus a resolute heart—which holds greater importance? Qin Fen stared blankly at his image on the screen, unable to answer his own question for a moment.

“Boy, when you have time, practice more Qi Oscillation exercises,” the Master pointed toward the screen where Qin Fen’s body was changing again, his True Qi emitting the most basic oscillations repeatedly. “This oscillation not only heals wounds but also tempers the physique. It’s just less effective than oscillations from higher realms, but for repairing your extremely minor meridian injuries, it is sufficient. Moreover, it has the effect of strengthening the meridians.”

A look of sudden realization spread across Qin Fen’s face. The Master had taken a huge roundabout, and his ultimate goal was simply ensuring he performed the True Qi Oscillation exercises enough times—that’s why he brought up ‘Eighteen Divine Dragons Gathering Wind and Clouds.’

“As for other True Qi oscillations, you must strive to approach them and achieve them as soon as possible,” the Master placed a hand on Qin Fen’s shoulder. “This time, I will let you experience that feeling.”

Whummm.

The True Qi within Qin Fen suddenly began to vibrate uncontrollably. First, the most fundamental vibration, yet this vibration felt noticeably finer and smoother than previous attempts. Immediately following, the vibration of the True Qi within Qin Fen sped up and slowed down erratically.

Qin Fen felt as if the world’s finest digital masseurs were administering peak-level massages simultaneously. He couldn't help but let out a sound of immense comfort, opening his mouth in a soft groan. In that moment, it felt as if every injury within him was rapidly recovering.

“Next, different frequencies for several major meridians—” The Master’s voice reached Qin Fen’s ears. The next instant, Qin Fen felt his bones go soft. This was beyond the capability of even top-tier masseurs. He could genuinely feel his internal organ injuries beginning to trend toward recovery.

Miraculous. If the different frequency vibrations of True Qi in the main meridians could achieve this level, what about different vibrations across all meridians? Qin Fen’s eyes brightened. All the meridians in his body began vibrating at different frequencies simultaneously, causing the hairs on his skin to stand on end and open wide from sheer comfort.

Internal organs, blood, muscles, bones.

In an instant, Qin Fen clearly felt a sensation that was difficult to describe—a supreme, exhilarating feeling, akin to ascending to the heavens in broad daylight as myth describes.

Blissful. So blissful that all one hundred eight thousand pores opened, constantly expelling the ailments within his body outwards.

The Master lifted his palm, and the pores on Qin Fen’s body instantly closed. The sensation of profound comfort rapidly receded from within his body.

“Do you remember that feeling?” The Master looked at Qin Fen with a slight smile. “I will only grant you this experience once. So don’t pretend you didn’t remember it.”

Qin Fen scratched his head sheepishly. That feeling was too intensely pleasurable; it was hard to refuse another taste. If he could experience a comprehensive session like that, recovering fifty percent of his injuries wouldn’t be out of the question.

“Recall it carefully,” the Master spoke softly. “Don’t blame me for not healing you directly. For me, healing this minor injury is truly as easy as lifting a hand. However, that would not be truly beneficial for you. Injury is not necessarily a bad thing. Of course, it could be a bad thing; it depends on how you handle it. Any good thing can turn into a bad thing, and a bad thing can be transformed into a good thing.”

Qin Fen had lost count of how many times he had nodded today. If someone else had healed him, his body would indeed recover faster, but his life would lack the experience of conquering the injury itself, missing out on the valuable experience and qualitative advancement gained during that conquest.

A martial path without bumps is an incomplete path. And how could an incomplete martial path lead to the apex of the martial way, how could it prepare him to face the World Martial God, Song Wendong?

“Boy, although the injury temporarily limits your strength, it also gives you more opportunities to experience control, to learn how to avoid affecting bone recovery due to collisions with opponents during battle,” the Master watched Qin Fen with appreciation. “Remember, you possess the most steadfast heart. If I intervene too much and heal you quickly, it could create dependency, shaking that most precious, resolute heart of yours.”

“I understand,” Qin Fen nodded once more. “The True Qi Oscillation just now was extremely helpful; it’s enough, truly enough.”

The Master’s eyes shone with satisfied warmth. “Exactly, boy. Besides True Qi Oscillation, when you have time, use the Rejuvenation Art more often. That is a marvelous technique. The person who created this healing method was truly a genius. It’s a pity you only reached the halfway point of this technique.”

“Halfway?” Qin Fen’s eyes suddenly lit up. “Master, are you saying the true method for using the Rejuvenation Art involves oscillation while the entire True Qi stream circulates? The person who taught me, because I couldn't grasp Qi Oscillation, only taught me what I know?”

“Clever,” the Master gave a thumbs-up. “Besides a resolute heart, you also have a brain that can infer the rest. Maintain these two qualities, and you will certainly achieve greatness in the future.”

Qin Fen smiled. This wasn't deliberate withholding; perhaps Song Jiazi herself didn't know the Rejuvenation Art possessed a higher level of usage: True Qi Oscillation. Without sufficient True Qi control, rashly employing True Qi Oscillation would only harm the body. The Martial God Song Wendong, being a Grandmaster of martial arts, obviously understood these risks.

“What a pity,” the Master’s expression held a faint trace of melancholy. “What a pity that the creator of the Rejuvenation Art and I were not born in the same era. Otherwise, sparring and exchanging insights would have been a marvelous thing.”

“You communicated with Qilin?” Qin Fen scratched his head. “Master, you might be mistaken this time. Song Wendong’s strength…”

“Boy—” The Master waved his hand, interrupting Qin Fen. “His strength might not surpass mine, but his power is certainly not what you have heard. In this world, even what one sees with one’s own eyes can be deceptive. Only by experiencing it personally grants the right to speak.”

“I am enlightened, Master,” Qin Fen bowed deeply again, performing the etiquette of a disciple receiving instruction. “Your lesson is well taken. Anyone you praise highly naturally cannot be lacking.”

The Master’s body began to look translucent—the physical change that occurred just before his departures.

Qin Fen bent over in a bow, performing the farewell ritual for his teacher, listening to the Master’s final words before he faded away: “Very well. Since you understand, then advance through this injury. This injury has granted you an opportunity for a qualitative leap. It all depends on whether you can seize it.”