সাতচল্লিশ অধ্যায়: শিয়াল পথ

আসl陈戟 previously personally never opened a stone.

Yet having seen it often, he knew the essentials.

A stone was not a monolith; internally, it possessed grain and veins. Provided one found the appropriate spot to drive in a wedge, even the tightest and heaviest boulder would divide into two halves.

Especially after mastering the art of Qi observation, he could faintly discern the structural trajectory within the stones.

Although smashing stones required some effort, for Chen Ji's current physique, it posed no problem.

Thus, with a single glance, he hoisted his hammer and wedge to begin.

The fox spirits and ghosts could perceive no magical fluctuations emanating from Chen Ji, so they quietly awaited his actions.

The iron hammer fell, the wedge drove deep, and stone chips flew in all directions.

Amidst the ringing clatter, Chen Ji inexplicably thought of two numbers.

With a faint smile, he shook his head to banish these distracting thoughts and refocused on swinging the iron hammer.

Nearby, Bai Qi picked up a fragment of flying stone, and upon executing the wall-splitting technique, found that the pebble had scarcely diminished in size.

Consequently, she curled her lip in disbelief, even less convinced that Chen Ji could accomplish the feat.

If even magical arts failed to achieve this, how could a mortal possibly do so?

She even extended her paws, calculating how long it would take her to completely untangle this boulder if she were to employ the wall-splitting technique.

After a long moment, she raised a paw to scratch her head and shook it.

It was far too difficult, and far too long; a fox possessed only two paws, and truly could not calculate it!

Bai Ba reached out a paw and poked Bai Qi.

"I can lend you mine to calculate."

"It still doesn't seem enough."

The two foxes sighed, about to say more, when they heard another fox cry out in alarm.

"The stone is cracking!"

Lifting their eyes, they indeed saw that following Chen Ji's strikes, a crack resembling a spider's web had formed across the thousand-jin boulder.

Could human strength truly reach such heights?

The foxes let out a squeak, their beaks agape in disbelief.

Master Su remained silent, yet he observed Chen Ji's movements with heightened intensity.

Only Senior Huai seemed to recall something, knitting his brows in deep thought.

For a time, the entire scripture repository echoed solely with the sound of Chen Ji's hammering.

"The crack is growing!"

Another fox cried out.

The spiderweb-like fissure expanded to the width of a human hair.

Had those present not been spirits and ghosts, they surely would have failed to see it clearly.

Bai Qi and Bai Ba rubbed their eyes, eager to catch a closer look, but before they could lower their paws, another fox shouted out anew.

"It has split, it has truly split!"

Dinging sounds rang in their ears, and crushed stones scattered several yards away.

Bai Qi and Bai Ba hastily opened their eyes, only to miss the exact moment the stone cleaved apart. They merely beheld Chen Ji standing atop the rock while the other half of the boulder slowly toppled over, its cross-section as smooth and clear as ice.

Chen Ji spoke slowly.

"What do you all think?"

"This..."

The fox spirits remained dumbfounded, their beaks agape and eyes widened, unable to believe the scene before them.

A bolder fox even stepped forward, touching the smooth cross-section to confirm it, then clicked its tongue after a moment.

"It's truly just as if it were cleaved by magic!"

"Did Master Chen truly employ no magical arts?"

Master Su inquired.

Chen Ji shook his head.

Senior Huai also stepped in to bear witness.

"Indeed, no fluctuations of magic were felt. It is merely that Master Chen possesses a strength unlike that of ordinary scholars."

Chen Ji smiled faintly.

"It is entirely thanks to the breathing technique. My physique has indeed grown much stronger, though regrettably, I am not a fox spirit and cannot absorb moonlight; otherwise, I should be even stronger."

Naturally, this was not entirely the truth.

Chen Ji believed the improvement in his physique should be attributed to the Mysterious Mountain Dream Technique.

According to the descriptions within the Mysterious Mountain Dream Technique, the Qi of the Five Elements corresponded to the human body's five viscera and six bowels. Inhaling the five qi of the mountains strengthened the internal organs, which in turn reinforced the body's very foundation and bones.

The breathing techniques of ordinary people seemingly did not yield such potent effects.

He had specifically consulted Yan Chixia and the old Daoist priest, both of whom stated that although breathing techniques were considered a form of cultivation, progress was exceedingly slow.

However, Senior Huai harbored no suspicions regarding Chen Ji's explanation.

Plants and tree spirits naturally elevated their physical attributes by inhaling the breath of heaven and earth and the essence of the sun and moon.

That a human could achieve this was hardly strange.

And from Chen Ji's own sensation, through the tempering of the breathing technique, his body was roughly superior to that of ordinary Jianghu martial artists.

He simply wondered how he would compare to sword cultivators like Yan Chixia.

Though he thought of many things, it took no more than a few breaths of time.

The spirits, ghosts, and foxes present had all witnessed Chen Ji split the stone using mortal methods, and all were too astonished to speak.

Especially Bai Qi.

The entire fox crawled over the stone, attempting to locate and perceive any traces of lingering magic, while also examining the tools Chen Ji had used.

Regrettably, she returned empty-handed.

She raised her head to look at Chen Ji.

"Master, did you truly use no magical arts?"

"Even Senior Huai detected no trace of magic, so he surely used none. Master Chen indeed possesses marvelous methods!"

Master Su answered on Chen Ji's behalf.

"Is that so... How can a human be so formidable!"

Bai Qi extended her paws, gazing at her diminutive limbs with a sense of emotion.

"Could it be that fox spirits are truly inferior to humans?"

Bai Qi let out a long sigh.

Master Su was likewise filled with deep emotion.

"Master Chen's stone-cleaving technique, though not a spell, is more astonishing than any spell. If other stonemasons could master this method, cleaving mountains and splitting ridges would likely be a mere trifle."

"Er..."

Chen Ji froze for a moment, then spoke hesitantly.

"Has Master Su never witnessed stonemasons quarrying stones in the mountains?"

"I have studied books and practiced the sword since childhood, and have never traveled far. I have indeed never seen it."

"I see."

Chen Ji understood why he felt such emotion.

A scholar, a scholar—four limbs unaccustomed to toil, unable to distinguish the five grains; when a neighbor's house catches fire and calls for urgent help, he still debates the chapter on fire rescue in the *Rites of Zhou*.

He had assumed this was an exaggeration by the ancients, yet he never expected to actually encounter such a scholar.

Sighing and shaking his head, he looked toward him.

"Master Su, stonemasons have been quarrying stones in this manner for a very long time."

"You have only concerned yourself with books and never witnessed it, and the spirits rely on magic and have likewise never seen it, hence your ignorance."

Only then did he explain the principle behind splitting stones in this fashion to the spirits, ghosts, and foxes.

Master Su fell silent.

He was indeed ignorant of this matter.

"So that is how it is. Previously I knew not the reason, but now that I know, it is indeed wondrous!"

Senior Huai seemed to gain a sudden understanding.

"Does Senior Huai also know of this method?"

The foxes asked in astonishment.

"I did not know it as a method, but rather that roots sometimes grow along the crevices of rocks, and over time, the rocks are forced apart and shatter."

"I previously thought the roots were merely too tenacious, and only now understand the underlying reason."

The foxes suddenly came to a realization.

This was indeed identical to Chen Ji's approach.

"Go, all of you go cultivate your respective magical arts."

Chen Ji waved away the surrounding foxes, yet kept Bai Qi and Bai Ba behind.

"Master, has my examination... failed?"

Bai Qi lowered her head deeply.

"Indeed it has."

Chen Ji replied with a stern face.

"You imagined that after studying magical arts for two days, you could surpass all other foxes, yet you failed to realize there are foxes beyond foxes."

"You are unfamiliar with even the techniques of your craft, and understand little of the underlying principles. If I were to pass you on such an examination, it would be unfair to the other foxes, nor would it allow you entry into the fox academy; it would only harm you."

At the mention of the fox academy, Bai Qi and Bai Ba drooped their heads, pulling back their ears in profound shame.

What Chen Ji had considered was their admission to the fox academy.

Yet they had thought only of running down the mountain to play, thus somewhat辜负 (disappointing) Chen Ji's painstaking efforts.

"Does Master truly believe we can be admitted to the fox academy?"

The two foxes asked in low voices.

"Whether I believe it or not is unimportant. What matters is what you yourselves think. If you truly wish to pass the examination, there is indeed a way."

"I beg Master to enlighten us."

Chen Ji smiled faintly.

"Would you like to learn the technique you just witnessed?"

"We would!"

"Well then, there is a good deed at present; if you accomplish it, it will enhance both your magical arts and your virtue. Are you willing?"

"We are willing! Bai Qi is willing!"

"Bai Ba is also willing!"

The two foxes nodded repeatedly.

"Good."

Chen Ji nodded slightly, looking toward Bai Qi and Bai Ba.

"Starting tomorrow, there is no need to attend the daytime lectures. Go quarry stones and build a path down the mountain."

"Building roads and constructing bridges to accumulate virtue and perform good deeds is the supreme merit. Your virtue grade will undoubtedly be rated as superior-superior."

Having uttered the words harbored in his heart for so long, Chen Ji felt deeply satisfied.

Bai Qi, however, was so startled her beak flew open, unable to recover her wits for a long time.

"Build... build a road?"

Bai Qi struggled to gesture with her paws.

"From the mountain top to the foot of the mountain, it takes a fox the better part of a day to walk. If we are to build a road, it will likely take several years. Master, are you trying to work the foxes to death!"

"I do not require you to finish it immediately, and the primary purpose is to temper your wall-splitting technique."

Chen Ji slowly explained.

"I observed that when you dug for Solomon's seal earlier, you used the wall-splitting art, yet you merely aimed to shatter things and never seriously pondered how to apply it more efficiently and precisely."

"This time will serve as a proper training ground. When you are able to effortlessly shape a flight of steps using the wall-splitting art, your magical mastery should also be considered superior-superior."

"With two superior-superior grades, coupled with diligent study and shape-shifting, you should indeed be able to enter the fox academy."

"Is that so?"

Bai Qi's fox eyes rolled, feeling somewhat tempted.

Before she could reply, Bai Ba could no longer restrain himself and asked.

"What about me? Master! This is all Bai Qi's affair; what does it have to do with me?"

"Your magical art is well-suited for transporting the materials for road-building. Once this road is completed, your magical arts and virtue may likewise be rated as superior-superior."

Superior-superior!

And the fox academy as well!

This temptation was truly substantial.

The two foxes exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and nodded.

"Master, we have decided. Tomorrow... no, today we shall go build the road!"

The two figures lingered no longer, trotting off toward the originally narrow path, and quickly vanished from sight.

"Master Chen's method is truly an eye-opener."

Master Su remarked with emotion.

"Building roads to practice one's craft—I daresay even Miss Bai could not have conceived of such an ingenious method."

"It's just that spirits and ghosts do not comprehend human hardships. When I last descended the mountain, I nearly walked my legs off."

"Since you now possess the wind-summoning art and need not walk, why compel Bai Qi and the others to build a road?"

"If it brings no convenience to me, it may bring convenience to others. Moreover, a road must be built eventually; having them do it also benefits their examination for the fox academy."

"Indeed so. I shall wait a few days to see how they fare. I too shall first go cultivate; if there is any matter, call upon me again."

Master Su nodded and concealed his form.

Senior Huai also withdrew his aura, leaving Chen Ji once again by himself.

Just as he was about to leave, a thought stirred within him, and he summoned the Chronicle of Strange Tales, whereupon he indeed beheld a new entry.

"The Fox's Path"

"Xiantai Mountain is perilous and steep, consisting entirely of narrow trails. Since ancient times it has seen few humans and many spirits and ghosts. Before entering the Dao, Master Chen resided in this place; traveling here was like a blind turtle entering a log, exceedingly difficult. Desiring to have the foxes build a road, yet lacking a pretext, he remained silent. Coincidentally, some foxes came to inquire about the Dao and spoke of being able to split walls. Chen cleaved a massive boulder with mortal strength, shocking all spirits, ghosts, and foxes. The foxes desired to learn this art, so Chen dispatched them to cultivate the Dao, stating they could thereby cultivate both magic and virtue. Delighted, the foxes departed and constructed the Fox's Path to connect with the foot of the mountain, while Chen likewise acquired the wall-splitting art."