The news that Zhang Yang could materialize his energy was known to very few. The Huyuan family sent out only four carrier pigeons: one for each of the three great families, and the last one fell into the hands of the Shaolin Temple.

They were aware of this development, but only a select few within their ranks understood what energy materialization meant; informing the common folk would have been pointless. It was precisely because of this intelligence that the Abbot, Shi Cheng, came in person.

"The message you received... it is true!" After a brief pause, Zhang Yang slowly nodded, confirming the matter.

Zhang Yang achieved energy materialization through the Potian Sword Technique, but regardless of the method, the fact remained that he could materialize energy, and there was nothing to hide. After materializing his energy, he possessed strength far exceeding that of his peers.

Now that he had just entered the mid-stage of the Fourth Level, after utilizing the Potian Sword Technique for energy materialization, even Zhang Daofeng was no longer his match, and neither was the Shaolin Abbot, Shi Cheng, standing before him. "Indeed so.

Benefactor Zhang is truly a man blessed with profound fortune!" Shi Cheng’s eyes widened slightly against his will as he spoke with awe, and Shi Yuan and Shi Fang, standing beside him, nodded unnaturally in agreement. At twenty-one years old, already in the mid-stage of the Fourth Level, Zhang Yang was astonishing enough; yet, he could also materialize energy.

While others might not grasp the significance of energy materialization, they certainly understood it perfectly. Although Shi Fang was only at the Third Level of Internal Strength, his distinct status and considerable personal power meant he had learned things typically reserved for Fourth Level experts long ago.

He was equally clear on the implications of energy materialization. Energy materialization was the hallmark of a Fifth Level master.

Zhang Yang achieving it prematurely meant one of his feet was already firmly planted in the Fifth Level; once he reached the Great Perfection stage, he could step across with the other foot at any moment. This implied that Zhang Yang already bore the mark of a Fifth Level potential.

"Benefactor Zhang, might it be possible for the two of us to speak privately?" Shi Cheng inquired again, fixing his gaze directly upon Zhang Yang as he spoke. Shi Yuan and Shi Fang naturally turned their eyes to Zhang Yang, seemingly unbothered by Shi Cheng's request.

Only Qu Meilan beside them blinked her eyes slightly in surprise. "Young Master, I shall step out first!" Qu Meilan’s internal strength was low, but she was hardly foolish.

She understood that the esteemed guest wished for her absence. "Benefactor Zhang, what I intended to discuss is whether there is a quieter place, a location where we will not be disturbed?" Before Qu Meilan could depart, Shi Cheng waved his hand again.

His intention was not to dismiss her, but rather to secure an environment free from interruption. This was, after all, a living room where people could enter or exit at any moment, and he wished for not a single word of what he was about to say to be overheard.

"Master Shi Cheng, let's go to the study to talk!" Zhang Yang felt a flicker of doubt, but he nodded nonetheless. Shi Yuan and Shi Fang remained in the living room, where Qu Meilan continued to serve them tea, while Zhang Yang led Shi Cheng upstairs to the study.

The study was not large, but it was utterly silent. Furthermore, everyone in the household knew that if Zhang Yang chose to entertain a guest there, no one, not even Mi Xue, was permitted to enter casually.

"Benefactor Zhang, allow me to ask one more intrusive question: could you materialize your energy for me to witness just once?" Upon entering the study, Shi Cheng did not sit down, but instead put forth another request to Zhang Yang. However, his manner was extremely earnest, showing none of the bearing one might expect from a sect master.

Zhang Yang’s brow twitched slightly. Shi Cheng’s request implied a degree of doubt, a notion that would likely displease anyone hearing it.

"Please do not take offense, sir. What I am about to say is of paramount importance.

If you cannot demonstrate energy materialization, I cannot speak these words, as they would be detrimental rather than beneficial to you. But if you truly possess this ability, it will bring you immense advantages; I can guarantee that!" Sensing Zhang Yang's expression, Shi Cheng immediately offered an explanation.

This Shaolin Abbot truly possessed no airs whatsoever; even if Zhang Yang had felt some prior annoyance, he found it difficult to hold onto it now. "Master, you are too polite.

What I can do now is quite simple. Please watch closely!" Zhang Yang smiled faintly, walked directly to the window, slid it open, and without uttering a word, formed a sword shape with his finger.

A beam of sword light shot directly from his fingertip, a visible streak of silver-white energy that traveled out towards the rear mountain behind the villa, striking and shattering a boulder. Zhang Yang utilized virtually no Heaven and Earth energy for this sword beam, but materialized energy, no matter how small the amount, possessed purity and power far surpassing internal strength.

The damage caused by this energy was significantly greater than any internal strength attack. "It truly is materialized energy!" Shi Cheng’s eyes lit up instantly, and he murmured softly.

With his level of skill and sight, he could tell at a glance that Zhang Yang had indeed achieved energy materialization. This was genuine energy materialization; the final piece of information relayed by the Huyuan family was not false.

"Benefactor Zhang, according to our Shaolin records, energy materialization is a trait unique to the Fifth Level. Your ability to achieve this during the Fourth Level is sufficient proof that you possess Fifth Level potential.

It is highly likely that a Fifth Level master will reappear within a few short years!" Shi Cheng’s expression turned slightly grave. As he spoke, his hand reached inside his kasaya.

He withdrew an ancient text and placed it with extreme care upon the desk, saying softly, "This is a manuscript containing cultivation insights, written personally by our temple's founding ancestor, Patriarch Bodhidharma. It details his application experience regarding energy materialization.

Since its creation, this manuscript has only been opened twice within Shaolin." As he said this, his expression became intensely serious once more. "This was personally written by Patriarch Bodhidharma?" Hearing Shi Cheng’s words, Zhang Yang’s heart gave a sharp jolt, and he immediately moved to stand beside Master Shi Cheng.

Patriarch Bodhidharma was a true grandmaster, a Fifth Level powerhouse. This was his personal application insight on energy materialization; to claim Zhang Yang felt no temptation now would be a lie.

"Yes. Patriarch Bodhidharma left behind an ancestral instruction: no disciple within the temple who has not reached the Fifth Level may open this book.

However, there are two exceptions to this rule!" Shi Cheng held up two fingers and continued, "The first is someone who has not reached the Fifth Level but can achieve energy materialization. The second is a disciple who has reached the Great Perfection stage through their own enlightenment of the Way of Nature.

Only these two individuals may open and read it; it will prove helpful to them. Any others who forcefully view it risk dizziness at best, and qi deviation leading to madness at worst!" "Only these two types of people can read it?

And others have adverse reactions just from looking at it?" Zhang Yang asked in surprise. While forcing the practice of certain cultivation techniques could certainly lead to negative outcomes, he had never heard of a cultivation insight causing such extreme reactions simply by reading it—just reading it, not even practicing it.

Shi Cheng nodded lightly, then sighed softly. "This is the Ancestor's injunction.

For many years, no disciple of Shaolin has advanced to the Fifth Level. However, two of our ancestors attained the Great Perfection through their own comprehension of the Way of Nature, and only those two opened this book!" "The ancestors who read its contents never spoke a word afterward; they all immediately entered seclusion.

But they all made progress afterwards, although we do not know the specifics of that progress, as the two ancestors never discussed it themselves!" Shi Cheng explained further. Everything he said was factual.

He did not know what the contents were, nor did he know the specific gains those two ancestors achieved after reading it. "Master, please forgive my directness, but I truly wish to know why you have brought forth this manuscript, and why you are telling me this." "Benefactor Zhang is a cultivation genius unprecedented in the cultivation world.

I have brought this manuscript today specifically to lend it to you for perusal. However, you will only have three days.

Afterwards, I must take the manuscript back, as it is, after all, a treasured legacy of our Shaolin!" Shi Cheng smiled slightly as he spoke. "You mean, you are directly lending it to me for three days?" Zhang Yang’s heartbeat quickened involuntarily.

Although he had entertained a similar guess while asking, Shi Cheng’s actual confirmation still made him quite emotional. A cultivation insight personally penned by Bodhidharma—it would be a lie to say he wasn't drawn to it.

This was written by a Fifth Level master, and it pertained to energy materialization. After Shi Cheng introduced the manuscript, Zhang Yang had a strong premonition that he would be allowed to see its contents, but he hadn't expected Shaolin to agree to lend it to him for three days without any preconditions.

Being allowed three days of access already satisfied Zhang Yang greatly. This was a document left by a Fifth Level master, its value to him potentially even surpassing that of a Great Reverting Pill.

"Shi Fang will remain here for these three days, and after the three days are up, Shi Fang will take the manuscript back." Shi Cheng smiled as well. He observed Zhang Yang’s reaction; while Zhang Yang's strength was currently formidable, he was still very young.

Faced with an object of such immense temptation, his composure had slipped slightly. "Master Shi Cheng, I wish to know what you require of me?" After a moment of silence, Zhang Yang suddenly asked.

He had neither flipped through the secret text nor rejected the offer. Pies do not fall from the sky, nor are there free lunches.

For Shaolin to offer such a valuable item for loan, they must have a request. Zhang Yang was intensely curious, but his mind remained sharp; it was best to clarify everything first.

Shi Cheng chuckled softly, though his eyes held a trace of approval. "Benefactor Zhang, we require nothing of you now.

We only hope that you can promise, once you advance to the Fifth Level, to grant Shaolin your protection, and not coerce us into performing any actions against our will." Shi Cheng spoke slowly, and Zhang Yang turned back, looking at him with genuine shock. Shaolin's request concerned events after he reached the Fifth Level, and it was for protection—a requirement Zhang Yang found almost impossible to believe.

This was Shaolin, not some minor sect. This was a lineage that had produced Fifth Level masters, one of the foremost sects in the entire world.

Among sect cultivators, Shaolin’s standing was no less than that of the Long family. In terms of sheer power, the mysterious Shaolin Temple was certainly not inferior to the Long family, and perhaps even surpassed them slightly.

For such a prestigious sect to approach Zhang Yang and ask for his future protection—even with the wisdom gained from two lifetimes, his resolve, though firm, wavered slightly at this juncture. 【To be continued】