William Grant grew more and more agitated the more he thought about it. After returning home, he would finally have status, and he could lecture that shrew at home, telling her not to be so short-sighted anymore.

Why should I, William Grant, compare myself to the stewards of other lords? Their fleeting wealth and temporary glory—what are they worth? Do all their gains combined compare to what I’ve achieved this time?

……

While William Grant was outside the secret chamber envisioning his happy future, Ethan Grant inside the chamber was beginning his very first cultivation journey across both his past and present lives.

It had to be said, the former Ethan Grant was truly the laziest of the lazy when it came to cultivation. In terms of talent and aptitude, among the 108 heirs of the lords, he was definitely top-tier.

But in terms of diligence and dedication, he was without a doubt at the very bottom.

“This kid really is a first-class wastrel. Such great talent, completely squandered.” Ethan Grant couldn’t help but feel some dissatisfaction with his predecessor.

In this world, the martial path begins with cultivating true qi.

Here, the common knowledge of martial arts is this: the human body contains twelve vital acupoints, connecting twelve meridians. Each time a vital acupoint is opened, a meridian is unlocked, and a new level of true qi is condensed.

Therefore, the True Qi Realm has a total of twelve levels.

However, in the Eastern Kingdom, not a single person has managed to open all twelve vital acupoints, connect all twelve meridians, and attain twelve-meridian true qi.

Thus, in the cultivation world, there are two sayings: “Twelve levels of true qi, distinguish the snake from the dragon.”

Whether a martial artist is a dragon or a snake depends on how many vital acupoints they can open within themselves.

Generally speaking, opening three is considered qualified; with three-meridian true qi, one is said to have reached the initial True Qi Realm. Such people are just a bit stronger than ordinary folk—good enough for military service, guarding homes, or acting as bodyguards.

If one can surpass three, up to six-meridian true qi, that counts as advanced true qi. Martial artists of this level hold relatively high status among their peers. Whether in the military or other professions, they can attain respectable positions.

As for those with more than six but less than nine meridians of true qi, they are considered high-level True Qi Realm.

High-level True Qi Realm practitioners are extremely rare. Once someone becomes a high-level true qi expert, they are regarded as a notable figure throughout the Eastern Kingdom.

Above nine meridians is the True Qi Master, an existence as rare as a phoenix feather or unicorn horn.

In the entire Eastern Kingdom, there are only a handful.

Cultivating beyond nine-meridian true qi earns one the title of True Qi Master, a genius among martial artists.

Of course, the twelve levels of true qi are, at the end of the day, just the foundation of martial arts.

Even so, within the True Qi Realm, no matter how strong, one is still just a true qi-level martial artist. If true qi cannot be transformed into spirit, the martial path will always be an illusion. When the two-hundred-year lifespan ends, all is but dust.

Therefore, there are two more sayings: “If true qi does not become spirit, you’ll always be a worm.”

Combined with the previous, that makes four sayings, twenty characters—

“Twelve levels of true qi, distinguish the snake from the dragon.

If true qi does not become spirit, you’ll always be a worm.”

What is “becoming spirit”?

It means that when true qi is cultivated to the utmost, one opens the spiritual sea, transforming true qi into spiritual energy, borrowing the power of heaven and earth, and turning it into supreme spiritual force.

Once true qi becomes spirit, one breaks free from the shackles of the martial path and enters the spiritual path.

A spiritual path expert can summon wind and rain with a wave of the hand, move mountains and overturn seas.

It is said that even ten True Qi Masters working together could not withstand a casual blow from a spiritual path expert.

It’s no exaggeration to say that entering the spiritual path is truly like a golden-scaled carp transforming into a dragon, soaring to the heavens!

In the Eastern Kingdom, legend has it there is such a spiritual path expert—reclusive and unfathomably mysterious. Even the king must address him as a junior and show utmost respect.

Interestingly, in the martial cultivation world, although spiritual path experts rarely appear, there are still a few; but top-level True Qi Masters are almost nonexistent.

What is a top-level True Qi Master?

It is a genius martial artist who has opened all twelve vital acupoints and connected all twelve meridians.

Such a genius has never appeared in the history of the Eastern Kingdom. Even among the sixteen neighboring countries, there have been very few.

A twelve-meridian True Qi Master is even rarer than a spiritual path expert.

As for those with ten or eleven meridians, each kingdom has a few.

But for some reason, there has never been a twelve-meridian True Qi Master.

Logically, after reaching eleven-meridian true qi, one should be able to push forward and strive to open the twelfth vital acupoint. But the laws of cultivation are that cruel.

Some geniuses, after reaching eleven-meridian true qi, pursue the perfection of twelve meridians in vain, only to end up with nothing, missing the best opportunity to break through to the spiritual path.

According to the rules of the cultivation world, the greatest hope for transforming true qi into spirit is before the age of thirty. Before forty, the probability is cut in half. After fifty, it becomes impossible.

Therefore, after reaching eleven-meridian true qi, if one does not seize the time to become spirit, once the age limit is passed, the opportunity is lost forever.

Even if one achieves the perfection of twelve meridians, it is still the True Qi Realm, and the lifespan will not exceed three hundred years.

But after becoming spirit, the lifespan can immediately increase to seven or eight hundred, even over a thousand, and the martial path will offer many more opportunities.

Thus, True Qi Masters with ten or eleven meridians all face this choice: should they continue to pursue the twelve-meridian true qi, or seize the chance to become spirit?