Chapter 41: The Feasibility of the Inverted Life State, Wang Ai's Candied Hawthorn

"Senior surnamed Zhang..."

Feng Ping stared at the spot where Zhang Zhiwei had vanished, muttering to himself, "The senior just demonstrated a thunder technique, he is surnamed Zhang, and he was wearing Taoist robes..."

Feng Ping suddenly became animated. "I heard the Celestial Master is also attending this birthday banquet. Could it be him?!"

But immediately, he corrected himself. "No, that can't be right. It shouldn't be the Celestial Master. Although I haven't met the Celestial Master of Mount Longhu, I've heard from my master that the current Celestial Master is an old man with sword-like eyebrows and a bushy beard. This senior clearly doesn't match that description."

"However, judging from the overwhelming wave of thunder I saw earlier, he must surely be a high-ranking master from the Celestial Master's Mansion—one of high seniority, granted the mastery of the thunder technique. No wonder just a slight bit of guidance could leave one feeling as if enlightened!"

Just then, Feng Ping noticed the money pouch on the ground. He blinked, picked it up, and counted the contents. It was full. A wave of emotion washed over him.

"The senior guided me, and seeing my distress, he even left me money to cover the damages... Such kindness, I, Feng Ping, will never forget. If I ever achieve greatness, I will personally visit Mount Longhu to repay the favor of his guidance!"

Feng Ping tucked away the pouch, bowed deeply toward the spot where Zhang Zhiwei had departed, and then headed to the place where the pleasure boat was rented, intending to offer compensation. To his surprise, he was told that Young Master Lu had already settled the bill.

Feng Ping sighed in admiration, "Just as the rumors say, the Lu family is strict with themselves and filled with integrity. Young Master Lu is truly a gentleman worth befriending!"

He hadn't walked far from the door when a voice called out.

"Feng Ping, you brat, you've been causing nothing but trouble since I last saw you?"

Feng Ping turned around to see a burly, bald man in a martial arts suit striding toward him. This man was Master Chu, the current sect leader of the Fire Virtue Sect.

"Ma... Master, why are you here?" Feng Ping asked, somewhat startled.

"I heard you got into a scrap with the twin gems of the Lu family. What, feeling discouraged?"

Master Chu hadn't come to scold Feng Ping; hearing that his beloved disciple had been taught a lesson by Lu Ci, he had come to offer comfort, fearing the boy might not be able to handle the blow. Of course, even when members of the older generation tried to comfort someone, it sounded like a reprimand, but Feng Ping was long used to it.

Besides, he wasn't discouraged at all. He was even somewhat grateful for the relentless nature of that mad dog, Lu Ci. Had it not been for him, how could he have encountered the senior who had guided him?

"What discouragement, Master? I'm only growing stronger through adversity. I may not be able to beat that mad dog Lu Ci now, but give it some time, and you'll see me roast him like a mangy cur!" Feng Ping said, brimming with confidence.

"Ho, then I'll wait to see your performance!" Master Chu laughed. "Let's go, to the Lu Mansion. The birthday banquet is about to start!"

"Master, I won't be going. I'm a bit tired, I'll head back to rest first!" Feng Ping said.

Master Chu frowned. "What? Too discouraged to eat?"

"Not at all. I just had some realizations during this trip and want to head back to properly digest them!"

At this moment, Feng Ping’s mind was filled with the silver waves of lightning from Zhang Zhiwei’s palm. He wanted to return to meditate and reflect on the experience.

"Really? Don't push yourself!"

"Would I lie to you?"

...

Elsewhere, Zhang Zhiwei walked nonchalantly along the long street, his mind occupied with the idea of using Fire-Gold Qi to trigger the state of "Inversion to Life."

The street was not long, and before long, he reached the end. The stalls were sparse here, and the crowd was thin. The setting sun shone directly onto Zhang Zhiwei’s face; he shielded his eyes with his hand and stopped at the edge of the street.

"Acting on a whim to use Fire-Gold Qi... it feels a bit presumptuous, but... should I give it a try?" Zhang Zhiwei looked at the sun and muttered.

He remembered that Zhang Chulan had developed a similar technique called "Swift Thunder"—using the Qi of the Yang Five Thunder to stimulate his meridians, allowing for a sudden, exponential increase in speed and strength for a limited time.

Of course, Zhang Chulan's method was only a basic application, which meant nothing to the current Zhang Zhiwei. Given Zhang Zhiwei's current mastery of the Yang Five Thunder and his cultivation of life and spirit, he could maintain what Zhang Chulan called a "special state" as his normal baseline.

What Zhang Zhiwei was pursuing now was not merely stimulating his meridians, but temporarily converting all the Qi in his body into Fire-Gold Qi to achieve an all-around enhancement, even if only for a short time.

"When a person is born, their innate Qi is dispersed throughout the limbs and bones, nourishing the body. This Qi is powerful yet gentle. That is why when Lu Jin performs the 'Inversion to the Third Level,' he draws out the innate Qi, guides it along a specific trajectory into the Upper Dantian, and then lets it flow from the Upper Dantian into the limbs and bones. When entering this state, the body undergoes varying degrees of 'Qi-fication,' but it doesn't harm the body; instead, it strengthens combat prowess."

"But if I were to draw out Fire-Gold Qi and circulate it through my entire body to induce partial Qi-fication... given the violent nature of Fire-Gold Qi, if my body couldn't withstand it, it wouldn't be strengthening—it would be self-immolation!"

"But if I don't try, how will I know if my body can handle it?"

Zhang Zhiwei pondered for a long time, then gritted his teeth. "I have spent ten years like one day, tempering my life and spirit with the Golden Light Spell until they are as tough as iron. How could I not withstand this small amount of Fire-Gold Qi? I must try!"

"However, I can't risk my life on it. I can start by testing it on some trivial parts, like a strand of hair. If my hair can handle it, then the rest of my body certainly will!"

Having resolved the problem, Zhang Zhiwei felt a sense of clarity. He intended to find a place to experiment immediately, but checking the time, he shelved the thought. The banquet was about to start; he would ponder it slowly after eating and returning to his room.

He turned and headed toward the Lu family estate.

As one of the Four Great Families of the Outsider world, the Lu family was undeniably grand. The Lu Mansion was a vast manor, with carriages lining the road before the gates adorned with vermilion lacquer and bronze knockers. The plaque above the gate bore two large characters: "Lu Mansion!"

Just as he arrived at the entrance, he encountered Lu Jin, who was greeting guests. He had changed into a clean red outfit, looking festive as ever.

However, he was currently being pestered by the little fatty, Wang Ai.

"Lu Jin, where are the candied hawthorn sticks I asked you to keep for me?" Wang Ai asked with a serious expression.

Lu Jin: "..."

Lu Jin stammered and confessed, "I... I stuck them on the street!"

At that time, he and Lu Ci had been fighting like two dogs; how could he have spared a thought for those hawthorn sticks?

"I told you to keep them, and you stuck them on the street?!" The little fatty, Wang Ai, pressed him, "Which street? I'm going to get them!"

"It was just..."

Just as Lu Jin was about to explain, Zhang Zhiwei, who had walked up, said, "They're already in other people's stomachs! There were so many people watching the commotion earlier—one for each person, they were long gone. If you go now, you might still find the empty sticks!"

"Eaten by others?" The little fatty, Wang Ai, was startled and glared at Lu Jin. "Is that how you kept them?"

"..." Lu Jin quickly said, "I'll compensate you, I'll compensate you, okay? I'm busy greeting guests, don't make a scene. After today, I'll pay you back with ten sticks full of candied hawthorns!"

"No! I promised Shi Hua'er I'd bring her candied hawthorns, and I want them now!" the little fatty, Wang Ai, shouted angrily.

Lu Jin, looking helpless, fished out a few silver dollars. "I have things to do and can't get away. I'll give you the money; go buy them yourself, okay?"

"Hmph, who wants your money!" Wang Ai pushed his hand away. "I have money, I'll go myself!"

With that, he stomped off out the gate.

Zhang Zhiwei turned his head, watching the chubby Wang Ai waddle away. He found it impossible to connect this silly little fatty with the sinister, vicious old schemer from the later stories.