I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1903 - 334: Hints, Nursing the Child

Chapter 1903: Chapter 334: Hints, Nursing the Child

In the gazebo at the back mountain of Unparalleled Academy, a Dharma Aspect formed by Primary Qi, indistinguishable from the dean, sits upright.

Its crystal-clear eyes reflect a tranquility and indifference towards all things in the world, responding only with a nod or shake of the head when Inner Sect Disciples come forth, trembling, to reveal their True Spirit.

Each successful verification results in a character formed of Primary Qi floating above the gazebo; these characters may be sharp like a blade edge or burn brightly like flames, with their position indicating the order of study.

The Dharma Aspect appeared on the third day of assignment, and within the first three days, only three disciples had completed the search for their True Spirit.

Among them was Eldest Senior Brother Yang Fan from the Inner Sect, and the remaining two were Tang Tianyu and Tang Nianfan.

In the subsequent five days, none completed the search for their True Spirit, leaving the disciples who entered the Inner Sect through the Cloud Steps extremely indignant.

They trained ever more diligently, but if diligence alone could penetrate the Three Realms of Martial Arts, masters in Xiehe wouldn’t be so rare.

To see yourself, to see the universe, and to see all beings.

The vast majority of martial artists, through their lives, do not truly comprehend the initial realm, understanding their own strengths and weaknesses.

For some, it’s due to a lack of resources, for others, a lack of opportunities; all the while, they move onward, making mistakes along the way.

After all, to be admitted into a martial hall is a blessing for an average martial artist, yet the teaching capacity of city martial halls varies greatly based on the skill of the master, and martial teachers, who often keep their true skills secret, result in vagabond martial artists having a very weak foundation in martial arts.

This weakness is all-encompassing; although it doesn’t limit martial artists in terms of strength or weakness in the first two realms, it greatly affects their subsequent martial arts cultivation.

The Inner Disciples of the Unparalleled Inner Court before us are all martial artists of extraordinary character and talent, yet their upbringing destined them never to have as solid a foundation as disciples from noble families or sect disciples. Some, indeed, are at odds with their congenital gifts.

While martial arts cultivation has no absolute right or wrong, a martial artist’s body has innate compatibilities, and finding the True Spirit is the process of seeking one’s compatibility.

As was once said, solitude helps one recognize oneself more clearly, but the ambiguity lies in this phrase’s highly subjective nature.

"More clearly" doesn’t mean merely being in solitude allows completion of self-recognition.

At best, it’s only slightly clearer than when you are confused, baffled, and muddled.

Yet the most frustrating part of martial arts is that when you resolve some doubts and confidently press forward, you encounter new ones.

The more doubts you resolve, the more doubts appear, leaving only two ways to attain perfection.

One is to close oneself off, stop at a certain level, withdraw inward, and use energy to sort out resolved doubts to prevent new ones.

The other is to remain eternally humble and continue exploring outward until life’s end.

Neither affects one’s strength—only the state of mind. The former is not absolutely inferior to the latter, nor is the latter superior to the former.

After all, it’s merely a choice on the martial path, and one can only make such a choice by beginning with self-awareness.

The scattered disciples from vagabond backgrounds are slow in this regard.

Because as a species, humans have never lived solely for themselves since birth; they must engage in collective synergy.

Disciples born in the Tang Clan excel here, not only because of the solid foundation from years of cultivation but also more importantly because they learn from each other.

Compared to the solitary effort of ordinary Inner Disciples, these Tang Clan disciples, specially recruited up the mountain, have a keen sense for martial arts; more importantly, they have a habit of team collaboration.

Due to familiarity from the same clan and sect, Tang Clan disciples with similar cultivation levels spontaneously form small circles in which leading individuals or those who have found their True Spirit share their experiences and feelings in finding the True Spirit.

All of these provide supplementary benefits to the martial arts of others in the circle—at minimum, they can eliminate a wrong option for others.

When compared, the formal disciples of the Inner Sect naturally fall a significant distance behind, especially after the sixth day when ten Tang Clan disciples’ names were hung above the gazebo, causing the Inner Sect disciples to finally panic.

Clumsily attempting to imitate the Tang Clan disciples, they tried discussing among themselves, but lacking deep mutual understanding, their uneven discussions were more akin to arguments, all of which Tang Luo witnessed.

"Won’t you assist these Inner Sect Disciples, husband?"

Yun Xiu gently asked Tang Luo, holding a small bundle wrapped in soft silk.

"Solutions are devised when driven to desperation; I can help them once but not for a lifetime."

Although dividing his attention to oversee the back mountain, Tang Luo’s primary focus and spirit were still on the woman before him.

Thanks to the physique of a Fierce Realm martial artist and the endless supply of Innate Qi, Yun Xiu could get out of bed two days after the child was born, though Little Qianqian seemed unusually energetic. Still, before the formidable Fierce Realm martial artist who barely needs sleep, there was little she could do. _{free\we,bnovel.c o(m)}

After overcoming initial small chaos, Yun Xiu masterfully acquired the skill of nursing the child, now adept with various skills.

Such as positions to hold Qianqian without distress, the volume of conversation that won’t wake a sleeping child, the number of times to feed in a day, the number of rounds to lull to sleep nightly, etc...

Throughout this, Tang Luo’s companionship and encouragement provided great mental comfort, albeit with no practical assistance.

The powerful Martial Arts Monarch could not help Yun Xiu nurse the baby; even his posture of holding the child was slightly rigid.

Hence, Yun Xiu repeatedly suggested that Tang Luo return to his proper position, such as the dean’s office at the top of the academy or amidst the group of truly hungry disciples at the back mountain.

Yet every time, Tang Luo deflected the idea simply, as Yun Xiu needed him more than those disciples at that moment.

For reasons unknown, Yun Xiu was determinedly unwilling to return to life at Xiling Residence with her mother, nor did she wish to hire nurses or maids for assistance.

Tang Luo attributed this to peculiar postpartum tendencies, the careful reluctance to rely on others, and Yun Xiu seemingly only tolerated himself.

So this harmless little mood was something he was keen to accommodate, more importantly as it was simply not an appropriate time for him to appear at the back mountain.

Seeing Yun Xiu’s somewhat distrustful eyes, Tang Luo continued explaining: "I have already given ample hints. Those who found their True Spirit have marked their names on the gazebo with various manifestations. If Inner Sect Disciples cannot even ask for guidance, their achievements will be limited for life. Conversely, if they are willing to ask, it matters little whether I am present or not."