Chapter 4: Birth and Death, Entering and Leaving the World

The Quanzhen Heart Method!
In “Jianghu,” it is a very ordinary beginner-level heart method. However, compared to ordinary sects like the Five Tigers Gate or the Thunderclap Hall, it is considered much more authentic.
The Quanzhen Heart Method focuses on health preservation and physical cultivation, relying heavily on internal energy. Even the palm and sword techniques mastered by the Quanzhen Sect are meaningless without sufficient power.
During the time Kai Xin spent near the Quanzhen Sect, he spent the first month in meditation, dedicating himself almost entirely to it aside from performing some simple tasks.
The strength of internal energy determines one’s cultivation level…
In “Jianghu,” the levels of cultivation are clearly defined, starting from having no internal energy at all to the initial novice stage where internal energy levels are similar, resulting in weak combat capabilities. Even dealing with ordinary wild beasts would be difficult without survival.
One must reach the first level of internal cultivation—entering and leaving the world…
That is, when the cultivation method yields some results and internal energy increases to a certain extent. This level is called “birth and death,” meaning entering and leaving the world. Only those who reach this level can barely be considered true Jianghu warriors.
Reaching this level is not difficult.
At least that’s what Kai Xin thought. By guiding the vital energy to circulate three times in the body daily—expanding meridians, strengthening acupoints, and filling the dantian—three times a day, one could reach this level in just three months.
However, each cycle of vital energy circulation takes a long time (about an hour), and few people can complete three cycles at once. Some prefer to use meditation after battles, when exhausted, to quickly recover. It was only later, after gaining experience, that they persisted in gradually building up their internal energy.
Unfortunately…
This is no longer a secret to many players. Otherwise, if Kai Xin had started cultivating internal energy from now, he might have soared to fame, becoming the most powerful figure in China through his mastery of internal energy techniques.
Circulating the vital energy is tedious but also a very serious matter, especially during the first few attempts. Since the meridians are fragile, one should not rush or be too forceful. Seeking speed not only risks damaging the meridians but also leads to mistakes. Many have suffered setbacks at this stage, so extreme caution is required for each cycle!
Although Kai Xin had extensive experience in circulating various heart methods, he still dared not take it lightly…
Like an old monk, he entered meditation and circulated the energy for over ten minutes before finally sensing a faint presence within his dantian.

Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, Happy carefully guided that tiny wisp of true energy into his meridians, allowing it to move forward slowly. Miss Murong had actually not left; she had been watching from afar until she noticed a barely visible wisp of energy appearing above the little boy’s head. Only then did she smile and leave in peace. Left alone, Happy continued to silently circulate the true energy, expanding his meridians. It took nearly half an hour before the first round of the Whole Heart Technique was completed. The true energy in his dantian had grown more than twice as thick, no longer so hard to detect or control. But this was nothing… From nothing to something, it might seem like a big change, but it was actually just a slight increase in true energy—still a long way from achieving mastery. He began the second round. This time, since his meridians were already accustomed to the process and the path was familiar, the speed increased slightly, and it took less than twenty-five minutes to finish. Encouraged, Happy completed the third round as well, solidifying a stream of true energy in his dantian that was half the thickness of a little finger! After estimating, Happy realized that although this amount of true energy couldn’t be used in actual combat, it could still help increase his movement speed when using the Whole Heart Technique in critical moments. Full of energy, he stood up, grabbed his short sword excitedly, and left Murong’s mansion with a sense of accomplishment: Hehe, it was time to start his first task in the martial world. “Gusu City, the Purple Bamboo Forest in the eastern suburbs—this name seems familiar,” Happy thought curiously as he hurried out of the city. The Purple Bamboo Forest originated from the South Sea, with slender bamboo trunks of deep purple color that could be used to make flutes. Upon arriving, Happy realized there were an astonishing number of people here seeking bamboo… Outside the lush and eye-catching forest stood over a hundred new players dressed as servants, some in groups of three or five, others standing at the edge of the forest, but none dared enter its bounds. Happy’s eyes lit up as he noticed a graceful woman in a pavilion inside the forest, playing the zither with a sword slave. After thinking for a moment, he approached someone and learned that many instrument shops in Gusu City had a task: to fetch a piece of purple bamboo from the forest. Those who succeeded not only received half a tael of silver as reward but might also catch the attention of the forest’s owner and be taken in as disciples. “The owner of the Purple Bamboo Forest?” Happy was stunned, looking thoughtful. Having spent so many years in the martial world, he didn’t seem to recall any such sect existing—was it perhaps an obscure little faction? No!

Miss Murong even sent someone here to fetch the bamboo herself. To be able to enter the Murong family’s mission sequence, it’s clear that the owner of this Purple Bamboo Forest is by no means an ordinary expert.
“Can you just take the bamboo from the Purple Bamboo Forest as you please?”
As he pondered this, a scornful shout came from within the forest. A player who tried to sneak in to cut bamboo was flung away by a gust of wind before he could even act, landing face-first on the ground! Holding his nose, he fled in shame.
The players around him fell silent once again.
Only Happy was not surprised but rather delighted…
There really was a trick to it.
A mere sword slave could master such an advanced martial art as “Finger Snap Divine Power.” It seemed the mission assigned by Miss Murong was indeed a tough one.
Whether he could catch the Murong family’s attention depended on his ability to complete this mission successfully!
However, Happy wouldn’t resort to petty tricks like those used by the other players to deceive them. Such tricks were useless against experts who could see and hear everything, especially with someone skilled in “Finger Snap Divine Power” around. To deal with such people, one had to use their own rules!
Adjusting his clothes, Happy stepped out of the crowd… walking calmly, slowly, and openly toward the pavilion in the Purple Bamboo Forest.
“My master is here. If outsiders step in, don’t blame me for being unforgiving!”
Before he even reached the Purple Bamboo Forest, a strong gust of wind blocked his path.
Happy remained calm. Clasping his hands in a martial arts gesture, his true nature as a martial artist became evident: “I am Happy, sent by my lady to visit the Purple Bamboo Forest. I hope you’ll, out of respect for the Murong family, allow me to take three sections of bamboo. I would be extremely grateful.” His composed demeanor, clear speech, and the mysterious aura of the Murong family sparked discussions among the players.
“The Murong family?”
The owner of the Purple Bamboo Forest seemed interested too: “A mere household slave with such courage and grace—indeed, the name Murong family lives up to its reputation. But if you want to take my bamboo, you must follow the rules. Unless you can withstand three moves from this sword slave…”
Happy was pleased. Three moves? Great. He wasn’t afraid of rules—he was afraid of no rules at all!
“Please teach me!”
Although he had no skills at the moment, Happy had a vague idea of the mission’s purpose. With a swirl of his robes, his calm and unshaken composure was fully displayed.