The Delusional Youth

Chen Ping'an approached and helped Luo Shao-jie up wordlessly, advising him, "Just sit down and rest for now. Don't try standing again."

Chen Ping'an figured this kid's legs must not have fully recovered, as he had tried standing only to have his legs buckle again, causing him to kneel.

When Luo Shao-jie touched Chen Ping'an, the oppressive pressure he felt immediately vanished. He looked at Chen Ping'an gratefully, then glanced at the teapot on the table.

The pressure he sensed earlier had come from this teapot. 

It was an incredibly powerful treasure as well!

Everything in this courtyard was utterly terrifying in its might. 

Upon entering, Luo Shao-jie had already witnessed many formidable existences. Now seeing just how daunting this teapot was, he felt numb to it all.

Chen Ping'an placed the medicated draught on the table, opened the bottle of Six-Flavor Rehmannia pills, and poured out a few small black pellets, offering them to Luo Shao-jie.

Noticing the tea in his cup was finished, Chen Ping'an refilled it and said, "Take these first, then I'll apply some medicated draught on you."

Luo Shao-jie didn't understand what Chen Ping'an intended to do.

He hadn't seen that strange medicine bottle before, unsure of its material or the unfamiliar text on it. 

Nor did he know why Chen Ping'an insisted on having him take medicine the moment he was brought inside, mentioning something about applying medicated draught.

Just what was this medicated draught?

However, he didn't ask.

Figuring the medicine was from the senior, he might as well take it. If the senior wanted to harm him, a simple breath would suffice to kill him. No need for such troublesome means.

Eat!

Moreover, with the incredible potency of this tea, and the senior now offering these pellets, perhaps it was a great opportunity being presented. 

Without further ado, Luo Shao-jie picked up the teacup, popped the pellets into his mouth, and washed them down with the tea.

Seeing he had taken the medicine, Chen Ping'an opened the medicated draught and stood before him, asking him to roll up his pant legs.

However, having just consumed the Six-Flavor Rehmannia pills, Luo Shao-jie was in a daze, completely unable to comprehend Chen Ping'an's words.

He stared blankly at Chen Ping'an.

He could feel the spiritual power within him swelling rapidly!

It was as if a mountain-sized pie had slammed into him, leaving his mind reeling in shock.

Condensation realm level five, six, seven, eight... 

Finally stopping at the fifth level of the Yuan Ying realm!

Seeing Luo Shao-jie's vacant stare, Chen Ping'an waved his hand in front of his face. 

At this, Luo Shao-jie snapped out of it, his face filling with reverence and veneration.

Luo Shao-jie's heart was a complex tangle of emotions, a newfound awe and respect for Chen Ping'an welling up within him.

Finally, he decisively stood and knelt before Chen Ping'an.

"Thank you, senior!!" 

Only by kneeling could he express his immense gratitude!

Chen Ping'an had intended to apply some ointment on Luo Shao-jie's knees but was dumbfounded when the youth abruptly stood and knelt before him.

Good lord! 

Are your knees expendable?

Why must you keep recklessly slamming them against the floor?!

Observing Luo Shao-jie, Chen Ping'an felt this kid's mental issues seemed even more severe than Mu Rong-yun-hai and the others.

Are your family genes really this flawed?

With a twitching eye, Chen Ping'an pulled Luo Shao-jie back up and asked, "Why did you kneel again?"

Luo Shao-jie responded earnestly, "For such a great kindness, how can I not kneel?"

Great kindness? 

Just for giving him some Six-Flavor Rehmannia pills?

"It's nothing, a trifle really," Chen Ping'an said casually.

After all, it was from the system's rewards.

Something he had no use for himself.

Luo Shao-jie gulped audibly.

He had broken through an entire major realm boundary, yet in the senior's eyes, it was merely a trifling matter?!

"Be careful in the future. Don't keep kneeling recklessly. After all, a man's knees hold his fortune." 

Chen Ping'an spouted this profound wisdom.

Luo Shao-jie nodded vigorously. 

But after a thought, he felt the senior's words seemed...to carry a deeper meaning!

Knees?

Fortune?

As Luo Shao-jie pondered, recalling when he had zoned out earlier, he remembered Chen Ping'an seemed to have gestured toward his legs.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up in realization.

He had always lagged behind the other geniuses in terms of physical technique. 

This was the reason why, despite having similar cultivation levels as the top two talents in the kingdom, he couldn't quite catch up.

Hence, he had been constantly researching physical techniques.

Inspired by the senior's words, he felt a profound enlightenment, unlocking a new martial technique!

Closing his eyes, he began verifying its principles.

In a short while, a complete set of combat techniques took form in his mind. 

He then circulated this new inner art.

After cycling through it once, when he reopened his eyes, an expression of excitement graced his features.

Looking at his own legs, he saw them brimming with golden spiritual energy! 

Without needing to test it, he could affirm that at full speed, his velocity would be utterly terrifying!

He had created his own martial art!

Luo Shao-jie trembled with excitement.

For someone who had just broken through to the Yuan Ying realm to self-create fighting techniques - if word got out, it would shake the world. 

Because only those at the Immortal Transcendence level and above could accomplish such a feat!

"Senior, thank you again!" 

Luo Shao-jie stood up.

This time, heeding Chen Ping'an's advice, he did not kneel but simply bowed deeply instead.

Chen Ping'an was confused again. 

He didn't understand why Luo Shao-jie kept thanking him.

But after a moment, realization dawned.

Luo Shao-jie was now standing steadily!

No longer depleted!

It seemed cultivators absorbed medicinal effects rapidly!

Just a few Six-Flavor Rehmannia pills and he had recovered!

"Ahem, it's no trouble. I think you young cultivators should pay attention to resting properly. Don't be so tightly wound or over-cultivate. Relax and rest periodically, so you don't become too... that, you know." 

Chen Ping'an didn't explicitly say "depleted," but he felt his meaning was clear enough for the other party to understand.

As expected, Luo Shao-jie nodded in comprehension, an expression of profound realization on his face.

So that's it! I've been too focused on surpassing the first and second talents, pushing myself relentlessly every day. No wonder I've been trailing behind, unable to make substantial progress!

Alright, I must rest properly from now on! 

Looking at Chen Ping'an, the admiration in Luo Shao-jie's eyes reached an unprecedented level. 

Not only had the senior granted him insights, he had also guided him regarding his cultivation issues.

To encounter such a senior was truly his blessing!

"Okay, since everything is fine now, you should head back. Remember to thoroughly investigate this issue with your legs when you return, to prevent any lingering problems."

Chen Ping'an couldn't be bothered to apply the medicated draught, instead instructing Luo Shao-jie to take care, lest any ailments take root.

Luo Shao-jie was momentarily confused upon hearing this. But at that very moment, a cold stream of energy suddenly surged through his legs!

This...

Does this martial art have side effects?!

Only then did he finally understand the implication behind Chen Ping'an's words.

The senior was telling him to hurry back and carefully investigate any potential flaws in the martial art he had created!

"In that case, I shall take my leave, senior!"

Luo Shao-jie felt the senior was incredibly formidable.

To be able to discern what martial art he had created, and even perceive at a glance that it had issues!

Just how tremendously powerful must one be to possess such abilities?!

Utterly terrifying!

After bidding farewell, Luo Shao-jie left the courtyard, his mind spinning with thoughts about the new martial art techniques he had comprehended.

As for Chen Ping'an, he shook his head seeing Luo Shao-jie's departure, feeling this younger generation of cultivators truly had some screws loose.

This kid's delusions were even more profound than those of Mu Rong-yun-hai and the others.

Could it be some kind of hereditary mental deficiency?

Chen Ping'an sighed helplessly. Cultivators sure were an eccentric bunch.

At least this Luo Shao-jie hadn't tried to freeload off him like that Mu Rong-yun-hai fellow.

By this point, Su Ling had finished washing the yams and returned to ask what Chen Ping'an wanted to do with them.

"Let's make some fried yam strips first," Chen Ping'an said. "You've definitely never tasted french fries before."

As they headed to the kitchen, Chen Ping'an felt it was about time he properly organized and compiled all the cultivation insights he had gathered so far from the cultivator visitors.

Perhaps in doing so, he could gain some understanding into the supposed "profundities" of cultivation.

Otherwise, every new cultivator that showed up would just feel like a bunch of delusional ramblings to him.

A short while later, the fragrance of fried yam strips wafted through the courtyard as Chen Ping'an began meticulously sorting through and analyzing the various records and notes he had accumulated.

In a remote valley, Luo Shao-jie found a secluded spot to investigate the issues with his self-created martial art...