4: Chapter 4 Qi Gathering Second Stage

Ye Tian carried the broom and entered the Ancestral Hall once again.

The special aura in the air was denser here than it was outside.

The stone bead in his bosom grew slightly warm, and its automatic absorption speed quickened.

He was in no hurry to start working; his gaze swept across the high-and-mighty spirit tablets and the dusty beams and pillars.

This place held the Ye Family's accumulated heritage of years; although it was weak, it was perfect for a neglected "Trash" like him.

He walked to the most secluded northwest corner, where a pile of worn prayer mats and discarded incense tables lay, covered in the thickest layer of dust.

He swung the broom, and dust billowed up.

The stone bead's absorption speed increased by a fraction.

He didn't stop, cleaning, wiping, and tidying up.

He specifically chose those ancient, dust-laden corners to work on.

For three consecutive days, he spent all his time working in the Ancestral Hall, except for when he went home to eat and sleep.

The old servant, Ye Zhong, spent most of his time dozing on the threshold, occasionally opening an eye to glance at him without urging him on.

The current of Qi within Ye Tian's body grew at a slow but steady pace, gradually filling him up.

His cultivation at the First Level of the Qi Gathering Realm became completely stable and began to slowly advance toward the Second Level.

That day, while moving a heavy old incense table, his foot tripped on something, and he nearly fell.

The base of the incense table scraped against the floor, letting out a piercing sound.

Ye Zhong, who was dozing on the threshold, twitched his eyelids but didn't open his eyes, only mumbling incoherently, "Clumsy... prop up that right table leg; it's an eyesore."

Ye Tian looked down and saw that a thin, old booklet was indeed propped under one of the table legs, its edges deformed by the pressure and covered in grime.

He hadn't noticed it before.

He bent down, pulled out the booklet, and patted off the dust.

The cover was tattered and had no name.

He flipped it open to find crude human figures inside, posed in various contorted positions, accompanied by tiny, dense characters that seemed to be a method of circulating Qi, though many parts were blurred and illegible.

It looked like an unfinished Body Refining formula, discarded here as scrap paper to level a table leg for who knows how many years.

He tried to strike the first pose; the movement was awkward, causing his muscles to ache slightly.

At the same time, he subconsciously guided the Qi in his body to circulate according to the annotations.

Just as the Qi began to Move, the stone bead in his bosom suddenly vibrated slightly, releasing a small stream of warm Qi that actively flowed into the Meridians pathways activated by that awkward pose.

An aching and swelling sensation far exceeding his expectations instantly exploded, nearly causing him to lose his strength.

But after the aching came a subtle sense of comfort, as his muscle fibers were slightly stretched out.

This piece of junk, combined with the stone bead, actually had such a miraculous effect?

Ye Tian's heart stirred, and he immediately tucked the Nameless Booklet into his bosom.

At that moment, the sound of footsteps and voices came from outside the Ancestral Hall, drawing closer.

"Second Elder, this way please. The clan Elders are already waiting in the Discussion Hall," a respectful voice said.

"Mm," a voice that sounded somewhat aged yet full of vigor responded.

Ye Tian's movements paused, and he immediately lowered his head, picking up the broom to continue working while glancing out of the corner of his eye.

He saw a gaunt-faced old man dressed in an azure silk robe, accompanied by a Ye Family Deacon, passing by the bluestone path in front of the Ancestral Hall.

The old man's steps were steady, his gaze sharp, and there was a faint circulation of Qi around him, deeper and more powerful than any Ye Family member Ye Tian had ever seen.

Was this the Second Elder who was occasionally mentioned in the Family, the one who managed Family business away from home all year round?

His aura was indeed extraordinary.

The two did not enter the Ancestral Hall but walked straight past.

Only after the footsteps faded into the distance did Ye Tian straighten up.

He walked to the door and stood silently for a while, looking in the direction the Second Elder had gone.

Then he turned back to the pile of discarded incense tables and prayer mats and continued swinging his broom.

The days passed one by one.

Ye Tian went to the Ancestral Hall during the day and practiced the poses from the Nameless Booklet in his room at night.

The movements were awkward and strange, often leaving his whole body aching.

But every time he practiced, the stone bead would provide a feedback of warm Qi; after the soreness passed, his body would feel a bit lighter, and the Qi inside him would grow a bit thicker.

Late one night, he was propped on the ground in a contorted pose, his whole body trembling and sweat pouring down like rain.

The Qi inside him was surging, more turbulent than ever before.

Suddenly, all the Qi abruptly contracted toward his Dantian, then boomed outward, spreading to his four limbs and all his bones!

His muscles and bones chimed in unison!

Second Level of the Qi Gathering Realm!

He collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, feeling a strength that was significantly more powerful.

The next morning, he went to the Ancestral Hall as usual.

Just as he picked up his broom, the old servant Ye Zhong, who rarely missed his nap, was leaning against the threshold and glanced at him with his cloudy old eyes.

"Kid, the aura about you has changed."

Ye Tian's movements paused.

Ye Zhong slowly fished something out from beside his feet and tossed it over.

"Take it. Save me the eyesore."

It was a worn little wooden jar containing a black ointment that emitted a pungent odor.

Ye Tian took it. "Thank you, Uncle Zhong."

Ye Zhong closed his eyes and waved his hand as if shooing away a fly.

Ye Tian put away the ointment and continued sweeping.

He knew in his heart that the old servant had seen through his Breakthrough.

By noon, a commotion came from outside the Ancestral Hall, getting closer and closer.

"He's right inside! I saw it with my own eyes!" It was Ye Hao's voice, filled with irrepressible excitement and malice.

With a mess of footsteps, a group of people swarmed to the entrance of the Ancestral Hall, blocking the light.

Leading them was the Law Enforcement Manager, his face cold and stern.

Ye Hao followed beside him, pointing at Ye Tian and shouting, "Manager! It's him! He's stealing the Family's Martial Skill! Last night, I saw him with my own eyes, hiding by the west wall practicing a Move that wasn't the Basic Boxing!"

The Law Enforcement Manager's sharp gaze shot toward Ye Tian. "Ye Tian, is this true?"

Ye Tian stopped what he was doing and held his broom. "I did not steal any skills."

"You still dare to deny it!" Ye Hao stepped forward. "That weird pose you were practicing isn't a Ye Family martial art at all! As an Outer Courtyard Disciple, where did you learn it? If it wasn't stolen, then what is it?"

The Law Enforcement Manager's eyes grew even colder. "Ye Tian, you'd better confess the truth. Stealing a Martial Skill is a great taboo in the Family!"

The surrounding Ye Family disciples who had come to watch the excitement whispered among themselves, their gazes toward Ye Tian full of disdain and schadenfreude.

Ye Tian silence.

The origins of that Nameless Booklet were indeed unknown.

"Search him!" Ye Hao cried. "The stolen goods must be on him!"

The Law Enforcement Manager gave a signal.

A Law Enforcement Team member beside him stepped forward, his face cold as he prepared to take action.

"What's all the noise about?" a raspy voice rang out.

The old servant Ye Zhong had woken up at some point; leaning on his cane, he stood up and slowly walked in front of everyone, squinting at the Law Enforcement Manager. "The Ancestral Hall is a place of peace. What are you all shouting for?"

The Law Enforcement Manager was somewhat polite to this old servant who had guarded the Ancestral Hall for many years, but his tone remained firm. "Uncle Zhong, Ye Hao reported that Ye Tian is stealing a Martial Skill, we are currently verifying it."

"Martial Skill?" Ye Zhong sneered, pointing his cane at the pile of discarded junk in the corner. "You mean that piece of junk propping up the table leg?"

Everyone was stunned.

Ye Zhong tilted his head and looked at Ye Hao. "You've got sharp eyes, kid. You could see what he was practicing from so far away? Was the moonlight that bright last night?"

Ye Hao's expression changed. "I... I just saw it!"

"Saw my foot," Ye Zhong said bluntly. "I'm the one who told him to use that thing to prop up the incense table. It's something the Old Ancestor threw here who knows how many years ago. Does that count as a Martial Skill? Then does Ye Hao pissing and playing with mud count as an original divine technique?"

Someone in the crowd couldn't help but chuckle.

Ye Hao's face turned the color of pig liver. "You... you're shielding him!"

The Law Enforcement Manager frowned. "Uncle Zhong, is this true? That booklet..."

"It's just a piece of junk; anyone who wants it can have it," Ye Zhong waved his hand impatiently. "Now get lost and stop disturbing an old man's peace."

The Law Enforcement Manager's expression shifted before he finally swept a cold gaze over Ye Tian and Ye Hao. "This matter is settled. Everyone, disperse!"

Ye Hao was unwilling and wanted to say more, but after being glared at by the Law Enforcement Manager, he could only grit his teeth and shut up. He shot Ye Tian a vicious glare and left resentfully.

The crowd dispersed.

Silence returned to the Ancestral Hall.

Ye Tian looked at Ye Zhong.

But the old servant acted as if nothing had happened, leaning back against the threshold and closing his eyes as he mumbled:

"Get back to sweeping."