Chapter 19 Testing
Qin's Ancestral Hall is located at the intersection of four major avenues in Zhangjiajie. Qin Shaochen didn't walk far along East Street when he saw the main entrance of the ancestral hall.
The gate consists of four mahogany doors, but only one is open at this time.
As soon as he stepped across the threshold with one foot, he heard an old voice say: "Who is it?"
"Grandpa Six, it's me."
Qin Shaochen quickly walked into the ancestral hall and bowed respectfully to the old man behind the case beside the door.
"Grandpa Six, I haven't seen you for a long time. You are really getting more and more energetic!"
The old man's beard and hair were all white, and he was energetic. He said with a smile: "Nonsense! I am a bad old man every time. I eat and sleep, eat when I sleep, and have no worries. Of course I am in good spirits!"
This white-haired old man is the first generation member of the Qin clan, ranking sixth in the clan. His duty in the clan is to guard the ancestral temple.
Among the older generation of the Qin family, only Master Qin Liu did not get married and established a family, and remained alone until he grew old.
"Boy, you haven't been here for a long time. "
"I heard that your mother is seriously ill! You haven't been here for a long time, maybe that's why! How is your mother's illness getting better now?"
"Thank you, Grandpa Six, for your concern. My mother's illness has improved a lot!"
"I came here today just to kowtow to my ancestors a few times, burn a stick of incense, and ask for their blessings!"
Mr. Qin Liu laughed!
"That's right! You juniors should come to the ancestral temple more often to worship your ancestors. Your ancestors have spirits and will definitely protect you."
After speaking, he took out three sticks of fine incense from under the table and handed them to Qin Shaochen.
Qin Shaochen took it, lit it, walked to the futon, knelt down, and bowed respectfully three times.
Then he raised his head and looked at the statue of his ancestors.
Although he often comes to the ancestral temple, he has never taken a serious look at the statue of his ancestor before.
Today I felt something in my heart and looked at it carefully.
I saw that the ancestor had a plump face, slanted eyebrows and phoenix eyes, and a long beard with three hairs under his forehead! He stood with his head raised and looked into the distance.
He holds a scroll in his right hand and a string of beads in his left hand. If it weren't for the long sword hanging at his waist, he would look like a well-educated scholar.
Only then did Qin Shaochen remember that the ancestor of the Qin family was not a warrior in the first place, but a spiritual warrior who had long enjoyed a great reputation.
He looked at the statue again, and he couldn't help but be curious!
"Grandpa Six, isn't our ancestor a spiritual warrior? Why is there still a long sword hanging on his waist?"
"Who says spiritual warriors don't need swords? The spells used by spiritual warriors also require the use of various instruments. The long sword is one of them."
"I see. It seems that spiritual warriors and warriors also have some similarities."
"That's nonsense. Spiritual Dao and Martial Arts are very different. They are two different things!"
Master Qin Liu disagreed and shook his head repeatedly.
"A spiritual warrior is much more useful than a warrior!"
"It's a pity! Our Zhangjiajie branch has had bad luck. Over the years, no one in the clan has successfully opened his spirit."
""I'm afraid... in a few more decades, even the fact that our ancestor is a spiritual warrior will be forgotten. "
After finishing speaking, he sighed deeply and was so sad!
Qin Shaochen felt a little excited when he heard Master Qin Liu's emotion.
Who said that no one in the Qin family has successfully opened a spirit? That is all in the past. Now, there is already one.
It's a pity that he can't make this good news public now.
"By the way, Grandpa Six, I want to ask you something."
Then, he asked about the "Kai Ling Jue".
But Qin Liuye's answer made Qin Shaochen deeply disappointed.
The "Kai Ling Jue" collected in the ancestral library is exactly the same as the book distributed to each family in the clan. Likewise, only the first-level cultivation techniques are recorded.
"Actually, the first level of skills in the book is enough."
Mr. Qin Liu also went out of his way to explain.
"There is a rule in the clan that once someone successfully opens a spirit, they will report it to the provincial capital. When the time comes, the Old Qin family will naturally send people over to take the person back to the provincial capital for cultivation."
"When we get there, the Lao Qin family, as a veteran spiritual cultivating family, will naturally have follow-up techniques and various cultivation resources, so there will be no shortage of anything."
"I see!"
Qin Shaochen was quite disappointed when he heard this.
Master Qin Liu was still sighing.
"Boy, I think you're a little obsessed with spiritual ways, and that's not a good thing."
"Although the clan has always advocated practicing the "Spirit Opening Technique", Grandpa Six reminds you not to pay too much attention to those things!"
"The way of a spiritual warrior is too imaginary, don't be too persistent."
"Don't be like your father who was obsessed with being a spiritual warrior and ended up delaying his martial arts."
"You have a good foundation in martial arts. In our Qin family, your qualifications are also ranked high. As long as you don't focus on other things, your future achievements should be high!"
Qin Shaochen shook his head disapprovingly, but it was inconvenient to refute.
After pondering for a while, he nodded helplessly.
"Grandpa Six, don't worry, I'm never lazy when it comes to martial arts training!"
"Actually, in addition to paying homage to my ancestor, I came here today to do something related to martial arts training."
"Oh! What is it?"
"I want to choose a martial art in the library of the ancestral temple."
Mr. Qin Liu was stunned for a moment, then slapped his forehead.
"By the way! I remembered that someone mentioned to me that you were promoted to level seven a few months ago. It seems to be true."
"Grandpa Six, the news you heard is out of date. I am not at level seven, but at level eight!"
"What?"
Mr. Qin Liu was surprised!
"Qin Shaochen, are you kidding me?"
"Of course not! Before choosing a martial skill, don't you have to take a test? Whether it is level seven or eight, you will know in one test."
"Yes! It's true!" Mr. Qin Liu looked very happy, "You're a bit secretive! If it's true, your progress is too fast! Come on, follow me!"
After saying that, he led Qin Shaochen to the inside of the hall and stopped in front of a large copper sand table.
"You know the method, show your inner breath and let me see it!"
Qin Shaochen nodded.
This large copper plate is a special instrument used by the clan to test the inner breath. He used it when he was promoted to level five and level six.
So he stepped forward, put the palm of his right palm towards a recess in the copper plate, performed the Yanyan Gong, pushed with palm force, and sent the inner breath in.
The fine sand in the copper plate immediately began to ripple in circles, and the ripples extended forward until they reached the eighth level, when they gradually calmed down.
Qin Liuye's eyes lit up.
"It is indeed the eighth level. Moreover, the intensity and strength of your ripples indicate that your inner energy is strong and your foundation is very solid!"
Qin Shaochen felt a little happy after hearing this.
"Eighth Master is so lucky! Although my two sons are not outstanding, your grandson will definitely make him show off!"
"You really know how to joke. I am a little martial arts disciple who has just reached the eighth level. How can I have any chance to show my grandpa's face!"
Master Qin Liu had a serious look on his face.
"I'm not joking. Grandpa Six has been here to take charge of the grading tests. He knows exactly what age and level any young boy in the clan is."
Speaking of this, he stroked his long beard.
"At your age, there are not many people in the clan who have reached level eight."
"Even Qin Qi, who is said to be extremely talented, was over seventeen years old when he broke through to level eight, so he was only at the same level as you."
Qin Qi, as mentioned by Mr. Qin Liu, is still the eldest grandson of the clan leader and one of the most famous geniuses in the clan.
"Grandpa Six, you think too highly of me. Qin Qi is a genius among the three generations, the first person in the martial arts realm, and his martial arts qualifications are much better than mine."
"Not necessarily, not necessarily. His qualifications are indeed not bad, but they may not be better than yours."