Chapter 9: Innate Talent

In a state of deep meditation, the mind serene and clear, Lin Heng embarked on his very first internal cultivation.

According to the usual method of internal training, one first strengthens the body and invigorates the blood through external exercises to sense the Qi. Then, by refining the breath and accumulating internal power, the energy nourishes and clears all the meridians, completing the cultivation of the Postnatal Realm. Afterward, one can condense the spirit to comprehend the natural world, drawing upon the forces of heaven and earth to purify oneself, thus ascending to the Innate Realm.

Lin Heng, however, was different. Born with all meridians unobstructed, he did not need to undergo the trials of the Postnatal Realm. Following the oral instructions of Xiao Rang, he calmed his heart and quieted his breath. Once he successfully condensed his internal breath within the Dantian’s Qi Sea, he directly used his spirit to perceive the natural world.

The Golden Core of the Dragon and Tiger harmonized Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, achieving a state of primordial unity within the body. At this moment, Lin Heng easily reached the realm of spirit merging with heaven and earth.

Soon, he sensed the primordial energy of heaven and earth swirling around his body in a dazzling array of colors. Then, guided by his intent, he mobilized the internal breath in the Dantian’s Qi Sea, circulating it through his meridians in a complex, profound pattern known as the Great Cycle.

This newborn, faint breath continuously refined essence into Qi, gathering the body’s vitality and blood to strengthen itself. Simultaneously, the primordial energy of heaven and earth accompanied his cultivation, weaving in from his limbs and Baihui point, merging into his internal breath and nourishing his body, giving rise to a refreshing and invigorated sensation.

Refining essence into Qi during the Postnatal Realm is extremely taxing on one’s vitality, so martial artists often feel exhausted after cultivating their internal power. Without sufficient medicinal herbs to replenish, they must rest several days before training again. Progress is slow and never brings increasing vigor.

Lin Heng, however, was different. Innately unobstructed in all meridians, he directly harnessed the power of heaven and earth. His cultivation did not consume his vitality but instead was nourished by the primordial energy, making him feel increasingly spirited with each session.

After completing one Great Cycle, his breath settled in the Dantian, transforming into a thread of pure white light, ethereal as mist yet tinged with a faint sharpness. This breath was incredibly powerful, resembling the result of dozens of Great Cycles rather than just one.

“Impressive. He has directly formed the innate internal breath, and by drawing on the power of heaven and earth, his cultivation speed is dozens of times that of ordinary people.”

“If he maintains this pace, he will truly become a master of the Innate Realm within a year.”

Lin Heng awoke from his meditation, observing the state of his Dantian’s Qi Sea with joy. Now possessing innate internal breath, he could project internal power outward to injure foes, marking his entry into the Innate Realm—though his power was still weak, making him perhaps the weakest Innate master in history.

This was no great problem; his cultivation speed was rapid. Within a year, he would accumulate power comparable to a typical Innate master. During that time, he would also learn several external martial arts, becoming a genuine Innate warrior with the strength to face a thousand men.

“How is it?”

Xiao Rang, who had been watching over his cultivation, spoke as Lin Heng opened his eyes.

“It’s done,” Lin Heng replied with a smile.

“Excellent, excellent.”

Xiao Rang probed Lin Heng’s Qi meridians and nodded approvingly. He drew the same conclusion as Lin Heng: within a year, his disciple would become a true Innate master. In less than seven years old, this young Innate master was destined to become a great grandmaster, perhaps even reaching the Celestial Realm.

Though these outcomes had been anticipated, seeing them gradually turn from expectation to reality was deeply exhilarating.

“Disciple, cultivate earnestly. In one year, I will hold your formal disciple ceremony.”

“At that time, it will announce your great name throughout the martial world,” Xiao Rang said with a smile.

He had long withheld the disciple ceremony, waiting for this very moment. Common small sects, upon discovering such a prodigy, would hide him away, waiting until he became a true master before revealing him.

But the Cloud Sword Sect was different. Renowned as a martial sanctuary, it had the strength to protect its disciples openly. A seven-year-old Innate master with such a bright future would show the world that the Cloud Sword Sect was not only powerful now but destined for limitless greatness.

“Everything is up to master,” Lin Heng replied.

Xiao Rang had invested countless resources into Lin Heng’s cultivation without expecting anything in return. He sought emotional satisfaction through this disciple ceremony, a perfectly reasonable wish, which Lin Heng wholeheartedly supported.

“You are still growing, so no cultivation today. Rest early.”

“Since you have mastered the Cloud Sword Nineteen Techniques and Cloud Sword True Manual, tomorrow I will teach you several new martial arts.”

Xiao Rang reminded him before leaving.

“Alright, good night, master.”

Lin Heng nodded obediently and lay down to sleep. Human growth occurs during sleep, and to avoid stunting his growth, the young Lin Heng certainly could not stay up all night cultivating.

The next morning, the Cloud Sword Sect busied itself preparing for Lin Heng’s disciple ceremony a year hence. Of course, this had nothing to do with Lin Heng; his only task was cultivation.

After morning meditation and Qi refinement, Xiao Rang began teaching Lin Heng new martial arts in the training grounds.

“Though our Cloud Sword Sect is famed for sword techniques, traveling the martial world inevitably involves losing weapons, pursuing enemies, or facing foes too strong to confront directly,” Xiao Rang explained. “Therefore, you must also learn an unarmed martial art and a lightness skill.”

“There is little choice in lightness skills, but there are many styles of unarmed martial arts.”

“Fist, palm, finger, or leg techniques—what do you wish to learn?”

Xiao Rang asked with a smile.

“Finger techniques,” Lin Heng answered firmly.

He had heard Xiao Rang describe the characteristics of various martial arts. Finger techniques not only serve as an emergency when disarmed but also offer ranged attacks and pressure point manipulations, making them highly practical rather than gathering dust unused.

“In that case, I will teach you the ‘Primordial Finger’ technique,” Xiao Rang said. “This finger style balances hardness and softness, capable of splitting metal and jade with outward force, and internally healing and unlocking pressure points.”

He then began explaining the methods of force application and the associated moves of this finger technique.

Lin Heng listened intently, his innate talent steady and remarkable. He learned the entire finger technique at once and quickly mastered it through practice.

Once Lin Heng had learned the finger techniques, Xiao Rang proceeded to teach him a lightness skill called the “Swift Wind Cloud.”