Translator: AnubisTL
Old Man Wei Cang arrived at the Blacksmith Shop at breakneck speed, a feat almost unbelievable for a man in his seventies or eighties.
Upon entering, he immediately spotted Li Qing gesturing with two crescent-shaped blades.
The blades were entirely black, but a natural, harmonious streak of red blended seamlessly along the cutting edge.
It resembled the final sunset glow before the long night, a beauty beyond words.
"Do these two blades have names?" Old Master Wei's voice trembled, as if he couldn't believe his eyes.
Li Qing smiled and handed him the two longswords, explaining, "I'm glad I didn't disappoint you, Old Wei. They're called 'Lingering Embers.' What do you think?"
As Old Man Wei Cang received the Lingering Embers, the sensation of the blades in his palms brought tears to his eyes.
"Excellent! The name is perfect, and the blades are even better!"
"The ancestral wish has finally been fulfilled in my generation."
With his words, Wei Cang picked up the two blades and began to wield them. His swordsmanship was exquisite, two fiery red arcs dancing through the air.
The Wei Family's first patriarch was a Grandmaster who died without ever possessing a Peerless Divine Weapon of his own, a profound regret.
Now that the Ember Flame had appeared, this regret was finally remedied in his generation.
It was clear that Old Man Wei Cang cherished the two blades deeply, almost to the point of obsession.
When Wei Qingqing rushed in, panting and breathless, and saw her grandfather's expression, she hesitated to ask him to show off the blades for her.
After a long moment, Wei Cang turned to face Wei Qingqing, speaking with a solemn tone: "Qingqing, you must never let today's events spread. Do you understand?"
Wei Qingqing blinked, then nodded instinctively, still somewhat confused.
Old Master Wei sighed. "These two blades are too precious. They are Peerless Divine Weapons. After I'm gone, the Wei Family could face utter destruction because of them."
Hearing these words, Wei Qingqing's delicate face turned deathly pale.
This was the first time her grandfather had ever spoken to her so frankly about such a harsh reality, leaving her momentarily stunned.
"Grandfather... you're so healthy. You'll surely live as long as the heavens!" Tears welled up in Wei Qingqing's eyes.
"I'm not a turtle or a deity. How could I possibly live that long?" Wei Cang chuckled bitterly.
That's right. In the past, with Old Master Wei still around, the younger members of the Wei Family hadn't felt much pressure. They lived their lives as they pleased, knowing that no matter what, they were the top family in Origin Spring City. They rarely thought about such matters.
But Old Master Wei couldn't truly live forever. What would happen to the Wei Family after Old Master Wei was gone, without an Inner Strength expert to hold the fort?
Wei Qingqing panicked, realizing for the first time that she should consider the family's future.
Wei Cang sighed deeply, turning his gaze to Li Qing.
Li Qing merely chuckled inwardly, thinking that Old Master Wei had protected the younger members of the Wei Family too well, to the point where they couldn't even see this simple truth.
He shook his head and said, "Old Wei, I've already handed over the twin blades. I wonder..."
The transaction would naturally be fulfilled. Old Wei hoped Li Qing would continue to look after the Wei Family in the future, so he certainly didn't want to offend him here.
Soon, the two-hundred-year-old Bitter Profound Ginseng and the Wei Family Ancestor's Grandmaster Martial Path insights were presented together.
"Master Li, this Martial Path insight is rather special. It can't be copied or replicated, so we can only let you view it. We can't allow you to take it with you. We hope you understand."
Old Man Wei Cang held out a pine wood box and a leather scroll.
"No problem!" Li Qing nodded, accepting both.
The box contained the two-hundred-year-old Bitter Profound Ginseng, while the leather scroll was naturally the legacy left behind by the Wei Family Ancestor, a Grandmaster of the Martial Path.
Li Qing eagerly unfurled the scroll, ready to transform into a sponge and absorb its contents.
At first glance, he understood why Old Master Wei had said it couldn't be copied.
Two crossed double-bladed swords were etched into the leather scroll with remarkable clarity.
These swords radiated an intense Martial Path intent. Even just looking at them, Li Qing could almost feel their sharpness and killing intent.
This was the work of a Divine Intent Realm Martial Path expert who had used Transformed Strength techniques to personally imprint their Martial Path intent onto the leather scroll.
Now an Inner Strength expert himself, Li Qing could clearly sense the intensity of this Martial Path intent. It sparked a sudden realization within him, as if he had gained a deeper understanding of what it meant to be a Transformed Strength Grandmaster.
So this is what a Grandmaster truly is...
The so-called Divine Intent Realm was no longer simply about refining the body and tempering Vital Energy.
So that's what Divine Intent means... cultivating one's own Martial Path will, integrating essence, qi, and spirit into a unified whole.
The reason Grandmasters were called Grandmasters was because they had forged their own unique Martial Path, capable of establishing their own schools of thought.
Li Qing immediately became immersed in the profound essence of the leather scroll, greedily memorizing the words inscribed upon it.
The scroll's text explained the unique characteristics of Transformed Strength Grandmasters, clearly articulating why they were also known as the Divine Intent Realm!
This information was invaluable to Li Qing, who had followed a wild, unguided path in his Martial Path journey. It was as if the scroll had cleared away some of the mists obscuring his path.
So that's how it is...
No wonder one must undergo numerous battles at the Inner Strength level, using real combat to hone one's Martial Path will. It's the most effective method.
Observing Li Qing's intense focus, Old Master Wei gently said, "Master Li, you may study this scroll for as long as you wish, as many times as you need. If you ever wish to revisit its contents in the future, you are always welcome to visit the Wei Family. This enlightenment will forever be open to you!"
Li Qing didn't refuse, as he couldn't rule out the possibility that he might need to revisit the unique Martial Path will contained within the scroll someday.
"Very well, thank you, Old Wei."
Wei Cang continued, "In the future, I hope Master Li will look after the Wei Family."
"No problem!" Li Qing replied succinctly.
With that said, Wei Cang didn't linger any longer, leaving Li Qing alone in the room to carefully study the Martial Path insights left behind by his ancestors.
Li Qing was more than happy to have the peace and quiet. His entire mind was now immersed in the profound insights before him.
He easily memorized the words on the scroll. At the Inner Strength level, his memory had improved significantly. While not quite photographic, he could remember everything clearly after reading it just two or three times.
For the next few days, Li Qing devoted himself to contemplating the Martial Path insights, constantly comparing them with his own understanding and refining his comprehension.
During this time, meals were brought to him when he was hungry, water when he was thirsty, and when he grew tired, he simply curled up with the scroll in his room and drifted off to sleep.
Li Qing's current state was like that of Old Master Wei, who had just obtained a Peerless Divine Weapon—completely captivated by his newfound Martial Path insights, he wished he could immerse himself in them entirely.
Unexpectedly, Li Qing remained in this state for nearly half a month. His planned return to Shengtian was repeatedly postponed.
Finally, after a full half month of dedicated study, Li Qing fully extracted himself from the profound Martial Path insights.
Having spent a year honing his skills and seeking out Inner Strength experts for combat practice, his practical experience was already incredibly rich. With these insights as a guide, Li Qing felt as though he had finally found his path, knowing exactly where to go next.
"Phew! So this is the secret of the Grandmaster Realm. This trade wasn't a bad deal after all."
Li Qing slowly rolled up the leather scroll and then opened the pine wood box in the room. Inside, nestled on silk, lay a mountain ginseng with dense, thick roots.
The moment Li Qing opened the box, a thick, pungent medicinal fragrance filled the air.
A two-hundred-year-old Bitter Profound Ginseng was an absolute treasure for Martial Artists, especially for an External Martial Artist like him who relied on physical strength.
At Li Qing's level, he needed to consume a massive amount of meat daily to maintain his peak Vital Energy.
With this Bitter Profound Ginseng, which aided in refining essence and converting it into Qi, his cultivation would undoubtedly benefit greatly.
The moment he obtained the ginseng, Li Qing already knew how he would use it. Back in Shengtian, he would use half to brew tea and cook soup, and the other half to infuse medicinal liquor, allowing its medicinal power to fully evaporate.
Thinking of this, Li Qing couldn't wait to leave the Wei Family and return to Shengtian to continue pursuing his Martial Path.
He immediately bid farewell to Old Master Wei, declined the lavish farewell banquet the Wei Family had planned, and, accompanied only by Fan Tong, he and the tiger left the Wei Family.
(End of the Chapter)
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