Chapter 20: The Profound Use of Destiny

Following that, Dan Wu Ju further explained the cultivation stages beyond the Qi Perception Realm for internal martial artists.

"After the Qi Perception Realm, there are three major stages: True Qi, Xiantian, and Grandmaster."

"In the True Qi Realm, an internal cultivator gains the strength to contend with external martial artists. They can imbue their weapons with True Qi, and even something as light as a falling leaf can be turned into a deadly weapon."

"But reaching this level? Even for the most gifted of martial artists, without thirty to fifty years of deep meditation and cultivation, it's simply impossible."

"And by then, they are already old men. Even if they achieve this power, it's too late to use it."

"One must rise to fame while young."

"As for the Xiantian Realm…"

At this point, Dan Wu Ju's eyes revealed a hint of nostalgia.

"The Xiantian Realm is a stage that both external and internal martial artists can reach. External practitioners refine their marrow and bones, nurturing an innate Qi within themselves…"

"Your Grandmaster, my master, once pursued this realm and left for Qingfeng Prefecture, vanishing without a trace."

"Later, an old friend sent back his Golden Saber, and only then did I learn that he had perished in seclusion while attempting a breakthrough."

"Throughout history, attaining Xiantian has been an impossible feat. But if one succeeds…"

"As my master once claimed, one can live for two hundred years in this realm."

"Two hundred years?"

Standing respectfully by the side, Wei Tu was deeply shaken by this statement.

He had always believed that martial artists, being battle-hardened and reckless, rarely lived to an old age—most died young, either on the battlefield or in duels.

But now, learning that a Xiantian expert could live for two centuries, essentially experiencing a second lifetime, shattered all his previous beliefs.

"If Xiantian Realm martial artists have such longevity… then what about the Daoist Immortals?"

"Everlasting life and eternal youth—perhaps it's not just a myth."

"I possess the Late Bloomer destiny… Could I… one day reach the Xiantian Realm?"

Unconsciously, Wei Tu's fingers brushed over the space between his brows, where his greatest secret lay—the golden-purple fate known as Late Bloomer.

"As for the Grandmaster Realm, your master never spoke much about it. Even when I conversed with fellow martial artists, none of them truly understood what lay beyond Xiantian."

Dan Wu Ju sighed deeply.

Although he held the status of a respected martial scholar, in terms of martial arts mastery, he still felt like a child, barely taking his first steps.

Life is limited, but knowledge is infinite.

Now well into his sixties, his body was deteriorating. Hidden injuries were surfacing more frequently, and even his intimate relations had gone from thrice a month to twice, then once.

At his current state, living another ten or twenty years would already be a blessing.

Advancing further in martial arts?

That was simply out of the question.

Back in his room, Wei Tu focused his thoughts inward, examining his Late Bloomer destiny.

Within his spiritual sea, his golden-purple fate radiated an ancient, boundless aura, emanating a sense of timelessness and mystery.

Beside it, his Turtle Breath Energy Cultivation progress was clearly recorded:

"Turtle Breath Energy Cultivation (83/100): Practice nine times a day, mastery in five years."

"In the past three months, my progress has only increased by 2%. Although my training was somewhat interrupted by archery and horsemanship practice, I never missed my daily nine repetitions…"

"It seems my assumptions were correct. After achieving major accomplishment, reaching perfection—fully transforming from external strength to internal energy, and stepping into the Qi Perception Realm—is far from easy…"

Wei Tu glanced at the Turtle Breath Energy Cultivation progress and let out a silent sigh.

"Fortunately, in at most two more years, I will reach the five-year threshold, and by then, I should be able to step into the Qi Perception Realm."

Thinking of this, the frustration in his heart dissipated instantly.

With the Late Bloomer destiny, as long as he persevered, success was inevitable.

His master, Dan Wu Ju, had practiced martial arts for decades but never managed to transition from external training to the Qi Perception Realm.

Yet he, with just five years of training, would be able to break through.

What more could he ask for?

"Now that I have the Tiger-Crane Twin Form Fist manual, I can finally test one of my theories about the Late Bloomer destiny…"

"For example, that mysterious warm current."

Under the flickering oil lamp, Wei Tu carefully flipped through the aged pages of the Tiger-Crane Twin Form Fist.

Compared to Turtle Breath Energy Cultivation, this martial art was far more complex.

Aside from its forty-five foundational stances, it had an additional one hundred and four minor stances split between the Tiger Form and Crane Form.

"According to Master, my stance training has already reached major accomplishment, and my martial foundation is solid."

"These intricate stances may look daunting, but for me, they shouldn't be too difficult."

Several hours later, after thoroughly studying the manual, Wei Tu rose to his feet and began practicing the movements in a rough, unrefined manner.

One repetition.

Two repetitions.

By the seventeenth repetition, something remarkable happened—

Just like with Turtle Breath Energy Cultivation, his golden-purple destiny manifested a new progress tracker.

"Tiger-Crane Twin Form Fist (1/100): Practice seven times daily, mastery in three years."

"Three years? That's two years shorter than Turtle Breath Energy Cultivation?"

Wei Tu was taken aback.

Tiger-Crane Twin Form Fist was a formidable martial art—one of Dan Wu Ju's most treasured techniques.

Compared to the widely known Turtle Breath Energy Cultivation, it was clearly on an entirely different level.

Even from the intricacy of its stances, it was evident that mastering it would be far more difficult.

There was no way that learning it would take less time than Turtle Breath Energy Cultivation.

"The only explanation is that after mastering Turtle Breath Energy Cultivation, I already possess a strong martial foundation."

"Because of that, training in Tiger-Crane Twin Form Fist is significantly more efficient—thus, the time required for mastery is shortened by two years."

Wei Tu silently analyzed the situation.

From then on, aside from practicing archery and military tactics, Wei Tu dedicated all his remaining time to training in Tiger-Crane Twin Form Fist.

And as the saying goes—

Diligence brings rewards.

This time, after only ten days, he once again felt the same warm current coursing through his body, just like when he had trained in Turtle Breath Energy Cultivation.

"This confirms it…"

"This warm current isn't exclusive to Turtle Breath Energy Cultivation—it comes from within me."

"Or rather… from my golden-purple destiny, Late Bloomer."

"The Late Bloomer destiny may not grant me instant mastery, but as long as I persist in training, it will continuously release this warm current to refine my body—making me more suited for the martial art I am practicing."

Instantly, Wei Tu fully comprehended the effects and profound use of his destiny.

"In other words…"

"For me, there's no such thing as talent or natural aptitude limitations."

"As long as I have enough time, the Late Bloomer destiny will gradually transform my body, making me the perfect vessel for whatever technique I practice."

A genuine smile formed on Wei Tu's face.

In the martial world, the reason why external martial arts were far more popular than internal cultivation was simple—

Internal cultivation was too difficult.

Only those with exceptional talent could sense Qi, channel it through their meridians, and cultivate internal energy.

Even if someone accidentally managed to sense Qi, progressing further was extremely challenging.

On the other hand, external martial arts were far more straightforward—you could see results and feel the improvements in your strength.

Thus, for most people, external martial arts were the obvious choice.

However…

Wei Tu was different.

With the Late Bloomer destiny, as long as he obtained a legitimate internal cultivation method, he wouldn't be held back by talent limitations.

So long as he kept training, his destiny would continuously refine his body—allowing him to progress without any bottlenecks.