Celestial Human Diagram-Chapter 59 - 50: Inquiry Hall

Hearing this, Cheng Zitong offered a reminder. "You need to think this through. There’s a definite risk. If you fail to pass, you’ll be demoted back to a Class B student. You will lose everything you’ve fought for up to now."

Chen Chuan said, "Teacher Cheng, the path of a fighter is bound to have gains and losses, but what I’ve already learned can never be taken away. Besides, I have confidence in myself."

Cheng Zitong said, "Good. Regardless of the future, you are now my student—Cheng Zitong’s only student. Since you’ve made this decision, then I, as your teacher, will provide all the help I possibly can."

Chen Chuan said with genuine sincerity, "Thank you, Teacher!"

Cheng Zitong said, "Alright then. Let’s figure this out and tackle it one step at a time.

This exam doesn’t include third-year students; it’s only for the first and second years. That said, I doubt there are many first-years with your level of ability, so your main competition will be the second-years.

The total time from the start of registration to the exam is six months, and registration is open until the end of the year. This means that in the next three months, you must complete at least three major commissioned tasks with a rating of ’Excellent’ or higher just to qualify. I’ll figure something out for you on that front. Your teacher still has a bit of influence, you know.

However, the other requirement for registration is mastering Power. I don’t need to tell you that if your Mutated Organization continues to grow at this rate, your life will be in danger within three months. So, you must find a way to bring it under control."

’He’s right,’ Chen Chuan thought. ’This is the most critical issue right now, the prerequisite for everything. If I can’t master it, then all of this is just empty talk.’

Cheng Zitong looked at Chen Chuan and continued, "You have the determination, so now it’s time for action. The next priority is teaching you how to master Power. Go change into your training clothes. You’re coming with me."

Chen Chuan said, "Alright. One moment, Teacher."

He rose and went back to his bedroom. After a moment of thought, he changed into his cyan training clothes and tied the matching cyan band around his forehead.

When he walked out, Cheng Zitong couldn’t help but nod in approval. ’This student of mine is already good-looking, but in this uniform, he looks as elegant as a jade tree—sharp, refined, and handsome. Walking around with him will certainly make me look good, too.’

He waved a hand and said, "Let’s go."

He led Chen Chuan downstairs and out the main gate to a white sedan. Opening the passenger door, he gestured for Chen Chuan to get in before walking around to the driver’s side.

Once they were both buckled in, Cheng Zitong started the car and drove toward the eastern part of Wuyi Academy.

About ten minutes later, the surrounding buildings thinned out, and two hills, each three or four hundred meters high, came into view ahead.

The Wuyi Academy campus was vast, containing three hills. These two were known as North Peak and South Hill, situated in the northern and southern parts of the grounds, respectively.

The car reached the base of the hill and continued up the winding mountain road. Soon, they arrived at a building on the summit. It was built in a classical style, with upturned eaves, white walls, and dark-gray roof tiles. The plaza in front was paved with grey bricks and flanked by several majestic pine and cypress trees.

After the car came to a stop, they both got out. From his vantage point, Chen Chuan could clearly see the stream winding around the opposite North Peak, as well as a large cluster of garden villas resembling a private estate. That was where the Recommended Students lived.

Neither the A-class nor the Class B students typically had any contact with them; they almost never even saw one another. Despite being at the same academy, it was as if they lived in two different worlds.

Cheng Zitong walked up, exchanged a greeting with the security guard at the gate, then beckoned Chen Chuan to follow him inside. They passed through a front courtyard, crossed a Martial Arts Arena paved with square flagstones, and finally arrived before the main building at the very back.

He could tell the place was constructed with modern materials, merely designed in a classical style. Academy security guards were patrolling the perimeter.

Cheng Zitong ascended the steps to a pair of thick, heavy doors. He took out a key, inserted it into the lock, and turned. With a push from one hand, the two massive doors slid inward. He glanced back and said, "Change your shoes before you come in."

Chen Chuan walked to the doorway and exchanged his shoes for a pair of cloth slippers with layered soles. Once inside, he passed through a foyer and found himself in a spacious training hall. The floor was polished to a mirror shine. Above the far wall hung a plaque inscribed with the two words "Inquiry Hall." Lining the side walls were rows of antique bookshelves, stacked with bundles of old-fashioned bamboo slips—something rarely seen in the modern day.

Once Chen Chuan approached, Cheng Zitong said, "Stand still and don’t move."

Chen Chuan did as he was told, standing perfectly still.

Cheng Zitong moved behind him and tapped his spine with a peculiar technique. "Do you feel any sharp pain, aching, numbness, or swelling?"

"I do not," Chen Chuan replied.

Cheng Zitong’s expression relaxed slightly. "You’re not exhibiting the symptoms I described, which means you’re adapting to the Breathing Method of Qi Breathing fairly well. The Mutated Organization hasn’t started invading your body yet, but as long as it keeps growing, it’s only a matter of time. The previous Breathing Technique was just to build your foundation. The real work begins now. Wait here."

"Yes, Teacher," Chen Chuan affirmed.

Cheng Zitong went through a side door and emerged a moment later, having also changed into a set of dark brown training clothes. Though his face was round and gentle, the uniform gave him a distinctly different, more formidable aura.

He walked to the center of the hall, sat cross-legged on a soft cushion, and said, "Sit."

Chen Chuan found a cushion opposite his teacher and sat down cross-legged, mirroring him. Just then, he caught a whiff of a pleasant scent. His eyes followed it to an Incense Burner that had been lit at some point. The aroma was wonderfully comforting, calming his mind and spirit. ’You certainly have a sense of occasion, Teacher,’ he involuntarily thought.

Cheng Zitong pointed up and behind himself toward the plaque. "Do you know why this place is called the Inquiry Hall? Because learning has no end. One must always maintain a sense of reverence and caution. A student may have faults, but the master is not necessarily without them. We must constantly engage in self-reflection. That is why the Fighters of the past conducted dialogues between master and disciple beneath this very plaque, to inquire about each other’s failings."

Chen Chuan nodded. He was beginning to realize that while his teacher seemed casual in his speech and mannerisms, as if he cared little for old-fashioned rules, the traditions of the old era were, in fact, deeply ingrained in his very bones.

Cheng Zitong said, "So, between us, this won’t be a one-man show. If you make a mistake, I will certainly point it out. But if I’m wrong, if I say something incorrect or you think I’m mistaken about something, you can point it out, too. That would be a favor to your teacher. Understand?"

Chen Chuan shook his head. "No, Teacher Cheng is excellent."

Cheng Zitong sighed. "Don’t say that. Everyone makes mistakes. If I do something wrong, you must tell me. You must."

After getting these preliminaries out of the way, his expression turned serious. "Starting today, I will guide you in your training of Power. But before I begin teaching, I must first explain what Power is.

You already understand that Power is generated by the Mutated Organization. This is the first stage, where a Fighter actively guides and utilizes their Mutated Organization. The entire process, from the beginning until it is brought under control, is what we now call the ’First Limit.’ In the old era, this step was known as ’Primordial Truth Seed.’

Of course, some of the more obscure religious sects of the old era called it ’Nurturing Demon Embryo.’ In any case, this stage has been considered critically important since ancient times. It is the true beginning of utilizing the Mutated Organization, and it is the foundation that will allow you to ascend to the Upper Layer of Fighting Skills. Well? Do you have any questions?"

Chen Chuan thought for a moment, then said, "Teacher, I was wondering... today, we can use surgery and medicine to stimulate or inhibit the Mutated Organization. So how did they deal with this problem in the old era?"

Cheng Zitong said, "Let’s put it this way. According to the records we have, it wasn’t actually common for a Mutated Organization to grow continuously without pause in the past. For most, it would grow in fits and starts. The situation we see today, this constant growth, only started to become more frequent after the Algae Fluid Revolution.

As for why, some people believe it’s a result of the frequent use of various drugs and biotechnologies that came after the Algae Fluid Revolution. Others think it’s simply because information spreads more easily now, so we’re naturally more aware of such cases. And then there are those who believe it’s just because more people are practicing Fighting Skills. There’s some truth to all of these theories.

But you have to understand, before the advent of firearms, the old era was rife with conflict. Expert fighters, whether in the military or among the populace, were always involved. The more skilled they were, the faster they tended to die. As a result, very few of them lived long enough to die of old age. Some never even survived long enough for such problems to develop.

Furthermore, in the old era, both the Imperial Central Hub and independent Boxers had their own time-tested and effective systems. They would seek out heirs compatible with their specific Fighting Technique. Those who were a good fit were kept, while those who weren’t were weeded out early. In some cases, they would use special methods to sever their connection to the path of Martial Arts, which was another way of preventing such issues from ever arising."

Chen Chuan nodded. "Thank you for the explanation, Teacher." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Do you have any other questions?" Cheng Zitong asked.

Chen Chuan looked at him, rose from the floor, and said in earnest, "I understand now. Please, Teacher, impart the Power Technique to me." As he spoke, he clasped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute and gave a deep bow.

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