Path to Dual Cultivation

Chapter 16: Heavenly Constitution

Senior Wu took a moment to ponder about the cause of Su Yang's condition, but he quickly stopped and said, "Forget it. We can figure this out later. Right now, we need to focus on healing your Dantian. Fortunately, it's not crippled, so it can still be restored."

Su Yang nodded, and he sighed, "I apologize for the inconvenience, Master."

"No, I am also to blame for not being there to watch over you even though you are new to this environment. I have never accepted a mortal as a disciple before, so it slipped my mind–not that I am trying to make any excuses. I have indeed failed you as your Master, and I will make sure never to make the same mistake again.."

Senior Wu brought Su Yang to his living quarters and prepared a medicine bath for him.

"A damaged Dantian isn't something that can be fixed overnight and requires time and resources. Until your Dantian is completely healed, you are forbidden from cultivating."

"How long does it usually take to heal a Dantian?" Su Yang asked nervously.

"Fortunately, your condition isn't that severe, so it should only take half a year to a year to heal it. I will also call a doctor just in case."

"A year?! That's so long! How much will this affect my cultivation path?" Su Yang asked.

"A year may be insignificant for those already past their prime days such as myself, but when you are young, losing a year's worth of time could be detrimental. However, I am only speaking for those without talent. A true genius would be able to catch up even if they have a ten-year late start."

"Moreover, that gap can be narrowed with the use of treasures, and as your Master, I will ensure that you do not lag behind others. In short, there is nothing you need to worry about, Disciple Su. And it's not like you won't be doing anything until you fully recover."

"Until you are able to cultivate again, I will teach you about the cultivation world as well as our sect's sword techniques."

"Huh?" Su Yang raised an eyebrow and asked, "I thought one needed to be a cultivator before they could learn the sect's sword techniques."

Senior Wu shook his head and clarified, "You won't be able to unleash the techniques' true power without Profound Qi, but you can still do the movements normally without being a cultivator, so you'll be able to train it without Profound Qi."

"I understand..." Su Yang nodded, engraving this crucial mistake into his soul so that he doesn't recklessly cultivate again in the future.

"Don't forget to thank you Senior Apprentice Sister later. If she hadn't realized the problem so quickly, you would've continued to cultivate with that damaged Dantian, further worsening its condition." Senior Wu said to him.

"Of course," Su Yang said.

Over the next few days, Su Yang spent most of his time bathing in a medicine bath that slowly healed his damaged Dantian. In the meantime, Senior Wu left the sect to find a capable doctor for Su Yang.

A week later, Senior Wu returned with an old woman by his side.

"This is Madam Shao, she's a renowned medical expert who is known throughout the entire Qiang Providence." Senior Wu introduced the old woman to Su Yang.

"Oh my, what a handsome fellow." Madam Shao's eyes flickered with excitement, feeling a sensation in her heart that she thought had vanished long ago.

"Old Wu, why didn't you warn me earlier? I would've brought my granddaughter along if I had known he was such a hunk!"

"Old Shao, I didn't bring you here to tease him. Hurry up and look at his Dantian." Senior Wu shook his head at her.

"Rushing an old woman like me, do you have no shame?" Madam Shao sighed as she extended her hand and said to Su Yang, "Let me see your wrist."

A moment later, Madam Shao pressed two fingers on his wrist and closed her eyes.

"Hmm... Indeed, his Dantian was damaged by a forceful opening. I am impressed you managed to endure the pain, young man. However, there's no need to panic. Your Dantian is already healing steadily."

Hearing this, Su Yang asked, "How long do you think recovery will take?"

"If you follow my instructions and treat it daily, your Dantian will fully heal within 3 months."

"I will! Thank you, Senior Shao!" Su Yang's face glowed with delight.

"Then I will give your Master the instructions. Don't be reckless with your cultivation in the future, young man." Madam Shao said to him.

The examination ended there and Madam Shao didn't linger, as she was an extremely busy person. If Senior Wu hadn't bothered her to wit's end, she wouldn't have visited Su Yang so quickly.

Once Madam Shao and Senior Wu were alone, she looked at him with a deep frown and said in an agitated tone, "Old Wu, you are fully responsible for his condition. Because you handed him a cultivation technique without fully confirming whether he has the Perfect Sword Body or not, even leaving a beginner like him to cultivate alone, your irresponsible actions have nearly crippled him."

"I am aware of my failure... I was so happy to receive a disciple with the Perfect Sword Body that I rushed everything and ignored the basics. And judging by your words, it appears that he doesn't have the Perfect Sword Body."

Madam Shao nodded, "Indeed, he does not have the Perfect Sword Body."

"Then what is it? There's no way he learned the Fleeting Sword Basic Manual so quickly without having some sort of sword talent." Senior Wu asked.

However, Madam Shao did not immediately answer, even looking a little hesitant about whether she should respond or not.

Seeing this, Senior Wu frowned and spoke with clear anger in his voice, "Old Shao, are you really going to hide information about my own disciple from me?"

Madam Shao sighed and said, "Indeed, he does not have the Perfect Sword Body. However, he does have a unique body–a very rare and precious one at that."

Senior Wu's ears perked up with anticipation upon hearing this.

"When I examined his body, it was enveloped by a large amount of Yang Qi, which shouldn't be possible for a mortal unless he consumed a miraculous treasure. However, if that were the case, it wouldn't exist within his body so harmoniously, as it would be harmful to one's body if they consume a spiritual treasure without dealing with the immense of energy afterward."

"And as a mortal who never cultivated before, he would have no way of dealing with such energy. Thus, I could only come to one conclusion. He has a Heavenly Constitution that is related to Yang Qi–a very powerful one at that."

Senior Wu swallowed nervously, and he asked in a dazed voice, "I also examined his body before, but why didn't I sense any Yang Qi?"

"Because his Yang Qi is so pure that it could only be detected by those experienced with it. Even I barely noticed it. To have such pure Yang Qi, he probably has the Divine Yang Body or the Solar Yang Constitution–or something entirely different. If you really want to know, you should look for an expert in Yang Qi."

"An expert in Yang Qi, huh? I will have to ask around." Senior Wu pondered out loud.

"Anyways, thank you for taking the time to visit my disciple even though you are so busy."

"Hmph! You truly have no shame! How dare you talk as if you didn't force me here?! I will definitely make you repay this debt in the future!" Madam Shao sneered angrily.

"Of course." Senior Wu smiled.

After Madam Shao handed Senior Wu the prescription for Su Yang's healing process, she quickly disappeared from the Fleeting Sword Sect.