At the foot of the ancestral shrine, Xiao Baichuan knelt reverently before the sacred pedestal.
"Honored Ancestor," he murmured, voice thick with emotion, "I, Xiao Biachuan, though lowly and unworthy, beg your forgiveness. Please have mercy on me and protect the Xiao bloodline. I ask for your blessing to view the ancestral record."
He stood and stepped back, then reached out with careful solemnity and took hold of a black box.
No one in the Xiao clan knew what kind of stone the box was made from. It had been passed down as an heirloom from generation to generation, said to be a relic left behind by the great ancestor himself.
The box was engraved with delicate, intricate lines—symbols, strange patterns, and ancient carvings etched into its surface. Upon the lid was a single word, etched in archaic script: "Xiao Min"—the ancient name of their bloodline.
Xiao Baichuan tucked the box into his sleeve and carried it with care.
When he entered the chamber of Dao master , the elder was already seated, waiting in composed stillness.
Xiao Baiahuan placed the stone box gently upon the table.
"Grandmaster, please examine this."
Dao master studied the ancient lettering on the surface, nodding faintly.
"These are Zhou characters. As the legends say... This must date back to the Zhou Dynasty. A time when sages still walked the earth."
He leaned in, examining the markings, lines, symbols, and carved figures with deep interest. Then he gently ran his fingers over the box.
"The stone is… unusually cold. And surprisingly light."
With that, Dao master tapped the box lightly with his fingertips.
"… …"
No sound emerged.
"Hm…"
A sound of surprise slipped from his lips.
Ordinary stone boxes would echo faintly when tapped—even the hollow sound of an empty core would resonate. But this… this gave no sound at all. It was as if the stone absorbed all vibrations entirely.
He took his black lacquered baton and tapped it once more.
"… …"
Still, nothing. Not even the faintest resonance.
"How strange. It's clearly hollow, yet it produces no echo. Not even the faint contact sound you'd expect from object to object. What kind of stone could this be?"
"We of the Xiao lineage have never known the type of stone," Xiao Baichuan replied. "It has always been kept as a sacred relic from our great ancestor. The odd thing is, it never gathers dust or grime. It cleanses itself naturally. Even water can't cling to it. But if you touch it with wet hands, your entire bloodstream seems to tremble."
"I see… is that so?"
Dao Master dipped his fingertip into the warm teacup and gently pressed it against the box.
Ah…!
His hand flinched back involuntarily, eyes widening in astonishment.
"Incredible…"
He poured a few drops of water from the teacup onto the surface of the box. The water didn't cling. It slipped away, beading and rolling off as if repelled.
It was like how water skates off a lotus leaf. Except this surface wasn't sloped. The intricate carvings and grooves on the lid should have caught the drops. But something—some unseen force—pushed them all aside. The droplets slid off in shivers.
"This is truly extraordinary…"
Still curious, Dao Master brushed some dust from the corner of the room and sprinkled it onto the box. The same thing happened. The dust refused to settle, drifting aside as if the stone exhaled.
"Unbelievable. I don't know what kind of stone this is. It's colder than any mineral I've touched—and much lighter. But not in the brittle way of pumice or weathered stone. No, this is something else entirely. And stranger still—when touched with wet skin, it causes the blood vessels to tremble."
Xiao Baichuan nodded in agreement with Dao master's words.
"As a descendant of the Xiao clan, I've only been safeguarding our ancestor's inheritance. As for the rest, I don't know much. Inside the box, there's a Bronze record book left behind by my ancestor and a strange piece of white leather scroll."
Dao master nodded slightly, showing interest.
"The engravings and symbols on the box are also strange. I don't even recognize some of them. This little box is quite intriguing. Let's take a look at the record book inside."
Dao master gently tried to open the small box. However, it wouldn't open.
"It seems like the lid is stuck from being unopened for too long," he said and exerted more force. Still, the box didn't open—not even a budge.
"This box is like that. It's very difficult to open. Physical strength alone won't do it. It only opens when internal energy is used," said Xiao Baichuan.
"Is it really that difficult to open?"
Dao master tried again, this time using a bit of his internal energy. But it was no use. The box remained completely closed.
"..."
He used more internal energy and tried again. Still, nothing happened. His expression darkened slightly. He then exerted his full internal energy and tried once more. Not even the slightest movement. If it were just a regular stone box, it would've cracked or shattered under such force. But this black stone box didn't even react. It was like trying to open a solid piece of uncut iron.
"I'll give it a try, Grandmaster," said Xiao Baichuan.
He hadn't realized how much internal energy Dao master had used. Being only a fundamental level trainer himself, he couldn't detect Dao master's efforts.
"Chak."
When Xiao Baichuan applied his internal energy, the box clicked open.
"Huh…?"
Dao master looked at him in disbelief.
Xiao Baichuan also had no idea why it had opened for him and not for Dao master.
"Maybe, Grandmaster, you didn't use the right kind of internal energy."
Xiao Baichuan shared his thought.
"The wrong internal energy?" Dao master had used the Pinnacle Master Level of his energy. And yet, it hadn't worked. But now, he realized something must be unusual. If his pinnacle master level energy couldn't open it while Xiao Baichuan's fundamental-level energy could, then it clearly wasn't about strength alone.
Inside the box was a white leather scroll and a thick bronze record book. Xiao Baichuan handed the box to Dao master.
As Dao master took it, something dawned on him, and he exclaimed in amazement.
"Oh… I understand now. The box was designed to only open to the internal energy of the Xiao bloodline. How fascinating… What a brilliant idea! How extraordinary!"
Hearing this, Xiao Baichuan finally understood why it had worked for him.
"This was my ancestor's inheritance, after all. He must've set it up that way."
"Exactly! That must be it. Your ancestor was truly a remarkable individual. No one ever really knew who he was. Even the founder of the Kunlun Sect couldn't decipher the scholar's secrets. My master always told me that. If this black stone box came from the scholar, then of course it would be something extraordinary."
Dao master shared his thoughts, then added,
"If it was designed so only the Xiao lineage could open it… what if someone tried to force it open instead?"
Xiao Baichuan smiled and said, "If you want to try, master, go ahead. I'm curious too."
Encouraged by that, Dao master decided to test it. He wanted to see how unusual the scholar's legacy really was.
He shut the box again with a chak.
Then, placing it on the table, he struck it hard with his black bamboo staff.
Whoosh…!
To Xiao Baichuan, all he saw was Dao master's hand move. He didn't see the bamboo staff itself move, nor did he hear any whooshing sound from the swing. He didn't even see the moment the staff hit the box.
"…"
Even though the bamboo staff had struck the box with great force, not a single sound emerged. It was completely silent.
"When I closed the box earlier, it made a clear chak sound. But now, even though the hit was powerful, there's not a single sound. It seems like only the same kind of strange material used to make the box could produce a sound from it."
The black stone box remained on the table, completely unscathed and unchanged.
Dao master examined the black stone box carefully and attentively, tapping it once with his black bamboo baton and letting out a satisfied laugh.
"Haha… That's quite a tough box, I must say. My strike just now was strong enough to shatter swords and spears — it's called the Weapon-Crushing Strike. This black bamboo baton? I was lucky to obtain it from an ancient cave. That cave was full of decayed ancient weapons. But this little baton… it's the best of them all. It's far more solid than any sword or spear. Even so-called legendary weapons can't outshine this baton. And yet, just one strike against this stone box, and my baton felt it. Good thing I restrained my inner strength — otherwise, it might have been damaged."
As he spoke, Dao master showed the mark left on his bamboo baton from striking the box.
"Well, that's enough studying the box. Let's take a look at the document inside."
Xiao Baichuan reopened the box.
Dao master took out the animal hide scroll first and unrolled it. It was impossible to determine the type of hide it was made from. The texture was soft and extremely thin. The dimensions were about two taung long and one taung wide. Though it was said to be over a thousand years old, being the legacy of a great scholar, the hide showed no signs of decay — it remained in pristine condition.
On the white hide were red lines resembling symbols, similar to the symbols on the box's surface but more complex and numerous. At the top of the scroll, there was a line of text — but neither of them could recognize the characters.
After staring at the scroll for a while, Dao master quickly turned away. A wave of nausea had struck him, and he felt dizzy.
"Ugh… I don't even know what I just saw. I barely looked at it, and I already feel light-headed."
Seeing his reaction, Xiao Baichuuan offered an explanation about the strange scroll.
"Grandmaster, you could withstand it only because of your strong internal force. An ordinary person would pass out from just a glance. I myself can't even dare to look at it."
Listening to Xiao Baichuan's words, Dao master gently stroked his tangled white beard, deep in thought. But he couldn't make any sense of it. So he rolled the scroll back up and returned it to the box, turning his attention to the bronze tube.
The broze book was made of finely polished bronze plates. The lid — the first plate — was slightly thicker than the others and bore no inscription.
Dao master flipped it open. The second plate was thinner and had small, engraved letters. More plates followed, some with writing and others with figures etched into them.
"To clean and craft bronze plates so precisely and evenly — it's extraordinary craftsmanship. Of all I've seen, this bronze book has the finest workmanship. The script is clearly from the Zhou Dynasty. That confirms the great scholar lived during that time."
Though the writing was in an ancient Zhou script too difficult for most to read, Dao master could still decipher it.
He began reading the first page aloud:
"Memoirs of Xiao Min."
"Only descendants of the Xiao lineage may study the knowledge within. If you are not of the Xiao bloodline, do not proceed."
That was all written on the first page.
Dao master looked at Xiao Baichuan.
"Please, continue reading, Grandmaster."
So Dao master moved on to the second page.
"Within this record, I have left behind some of my knowledge and training methods for my descendants. These practices can only be mastered by those of the Xiao bloodline. For others, attempting them would be a waste of time. However, should someone outside my lineage chance upon this memoir, I have also included a few teachings unrelated to cultivation. May they benefit the world and humanity."
From this, it became clear that even non-descendants could read the memoir. With that, Dao master continued skimming through the scroll tube.
As he read further, he began to understand the nature of the memoir — why only Xiao descendants could master the inner practices, and why outsiders were instead encouraged to seek worldly and humanitarian benefits from the general teachings.
The scroll was divided into major chapters — nine in total. The first four covered cultivation methods exclusive to the Xiao bloodline.
In the first main chapter, the text explains the knowledge of internal energy. The second chapter describes the system of bodily movements and the physical training of the body. The third chapter elaborates on unarmed martial arts techniques, while the fourth chapter details weapon-based martial arts techniques.
The reason why only members of the Xiao lineage are allowed to train in these four primary chapters is that every field of knowledge presented here is based on the unique internal energy method exclusive to the Xiao lineage. If one cannot practice this internal energy, then training in body strengthening, unarmed martial arts, or weapon-based martial arts will be impossible.
From the fifth to the ninth chapters, various disciplines are presented: metaphysical arts, mechanical arts, medicine and toxicology, military strategy and warfare, governance and political sciences, and natural philosophy including geography and cosmology.
Even though he had only skimmed through the records, he could already discern the profound depth and subtlety within each field of study. He also came to a better understanding of why someone would wish to benefit the world and humanity through such knowledge.
This is because each specialized chapter had the potential to transform a person completely. Rasate, having studied medicine extensively himself, could clearly comprehend the depth and uniqueness of the medical knowledge recorded here. Alongside medicine, toxicology was also included.
Whether it be political sciences or military strategy, these are disciplines capable of reshaping dynasties and nations.
"Amazing... If news of this manuscript ever leaked into the martial world, I dare not imagine what might happen. This is no mere martial arts manual. It is not merely a medical text, a toxicology guide, or a metaphysics scripture. This manuscript alone could stir nations, empires, and entire civilizations. It is truly astonishing."
Even though Rasate had only read the manuscript superficially, it left him deeply stirred. Therefore, he closed it and calmed his mind, trying to prevent his thoughts from running wild.
He had once left the Kunlun Sect and wandered like a madman—not for the sake of martial arts, nor for medicine. It was to study natural philosophy. And now, the very knowledge he had been obsessively searching for throughout his life was right here in this manuscript. These were disciplines so deep that a lifetime would not be enough to master them. That is why he had to control himself and not lose his composure. Otherwise, destructive emotions could consume him.
On the final page of the manuscript, there was a short passage written with great intent:
"In every era, worthy men will always emerge. May this subtle manuscript never be an obstacle for those noble individuals. — Xiao Min."
After reading those lines, Rasate's excited state calmed. He realized that the wise author had intentionally called the record "subtle" and made a vow not to let it become a hindrance to future enlightened individuals. Thus, it was no longer appropriate for him to harbor selfish desires or wicked thoughts.
"Xiao Baichuan. We must not speak a word of this manuscript to the outside world."
"Yes, Grandmaster. That's how we've always conducted ourselves. Though our wisdom is not enough to study the manuscript, our ancestors instructed us never to speak of it."
"Good. Seal it back now. With this, I already understand your foundation well."
Rasate placed the manuscript back into its container and returned it to Xiao Baichuan.
"Yes, sir."
Xiao Baichuan then stored the black stone box inside his sleeve.
"Hmm… The Xiao lineage's internal energy training is based on blood essence. That's why it's entirely different from other internal cultivation methods. Other methods rely on natural energies, medicinal ingredients, and herbal sources for training. But the nature of the Xiao internal energy is different from all others. In the martial world, internal energy systems are generally divided into two types: those based on cold energy and those based on heat energy. Training cold energy can cause it to accumulate inside the body like poison, eventually harming the practitioner. It's also extremely difficult to train. After all, living humans are naturally warm by nature—only the dead are cold. That's why practitioners of cold-based internal energy are rare in the martial world. Most cultivate heat-based internal energy systems."
Xiao Baichuan listened attentively to the martial arts knowledge being shared by Dao Master.
"But the internal energy technique of the Xiao lineage isn't based on heat. It's not the kind of intense cold inner energy that acts like poison either. As the name suggests, it is a cool inner energy technique—a gentle, refreshing interna force."
"Yes, Master. When we practice it, the body becomes refreshed and cool. It's not a freezing cold kind of feeling. Once we start circulating it, the fatigue disappears, and we feel revitalized."
"Mm, I understand now. You've just been cultivating internal energy lightly as a way to relieve fatigue, not with the focused intensity needed to reach a breakthrough level. Isn't that so?"
"Yes, Master."
"In that case, let me ask you—how powerfully can you gather this cooling force at the energy convergence point? And how long can you maintain it?"
"When I gather the internal energy, the coolness spreads throughout my whole body. It's strong enough to make me feel fully refreshed. I can maintain it for about one time segment, Grandmaster."
(Note: In the Ming Dynasty, time was tracked using sundials, water clocks, and sandglasses. Time was precisely measured. A day was divided into 12 time segments, each further divided into 8 smaller parts. One small segment is roughly equivalent to 15 minutes.)
"I see. So Shan Mei's current condition is because you practiced the internal energy for many years only for comfort and relief, without pursuing a true breakthrough. I know how to treat her now. You go on ahead. I'll come once I've gathered what I need."
"Yes, Grandmaster."
When Xiao Baichuan heard Dao master's words, he realized that Shan Mei's weakened state was partly his fault, which caused him to feel sorrowful. However, hearing that Dao master already knew how to treat her brought him relief and lifted a weight from his heart.
So, he quickly headed to Shan Mei's room.
End of Chapter