The Four Frontiers

Beast Garden, Sun Xiang's private courtyard.

Yun Shan sat on a chair with Yue Yun standing behind her waiting on her.

Both of them were looking at an empty space in front of them.

The empty space was paved with green stone slabs, engraved with dragons and phoenixes, which were not only aesthetically pleasing but also prevented slipping.

Under the gaze of Yun Shan and Yue Yun, Du ke had taken on the stance of the Tiger Leopard Stake from the stake skills.

Meanwhile, Sun Xiang was standing to the side, holding a ruler to correct Du ke’s form.

“Chest flat, back rounded, head suspended from the ceiling, hips sinking lower, tail hanging down but not touching the ground!"

While explaining the standing stake stance to Du ke, Sun Xiang used the ruler to correct his movements.

The stake stance must be standardized. Any deformity in the movements would affect the fluidity and naturalness of the physique.

After correcting Du ke’s posture, Sun Xiang nodded in satisfaction.

“Maintain this stance without moving, breathe naturally and calmly, the effect will naturally manifest itself!”

"Dr. Sun is indeed an expert in animal husbandry. Training beasts is definitely your forte!"

Seeing Sun Xiang walking over with a ruler on his back, Yun Shan could not help but praise him.

Sun Xiang sat down in the armchair next to Yun Shan’s, took a sip of tea, and then put down the teacup and stroked his beard, "I'm just building on the wisdom of my predecessors!"

"It was our sect’s founding patriarch who was the real genius, deducing exercises suitable for birds and beasts to practice from the beast shape fists passed down in the martial world, combined with observing the dynamics of hundreds of beasts."

"I'm just taking what the patriarch summarized and teaching it to others, it's nothing much."

Listening to Sun Xiang's modesty, Yun Shan also sighed, "That's right, ordinary people all say that martial arts grandmasters observe beasts and birds to create martial arts methods and start sects."

"Yet your Ganzhi Beast Control Sect has done the opposite, teaching beast shape fists to birds and beasts, strengthening their physique and intelligence, imparting them with martial arts, a real feat of genius!"

"To think the unthinkable, to do the undoable, that's what defines a grandmaster!"

Yun Shan's words of praise were heard by the other two people present. Whether it was Sun Xiang or Yue Yun, they both showed looks of approval.

However, Yun Shan did not know that her conversation with Sun Xiang would have a significant impact on Du ke.

"So this is the origin of the Tiger Leopard Stake."

Du ke gained insight and also marveled at the genius of Sun Xiang and Yue Yun's sect patriarch.

To deduce beast shape fists in reverse and adapt them into practices suitable for animals was no easy task.

Moreover, these words also had an effect on Du ke.

Beast shape fists were created based on the usual movements of beasts and birds in the first place. Shouldn't he try to learn from them as well?

With the help of the Cinnabar, he could learn things very quickly.

As long as he accumulated enough knowledge, even without demonic wisdom, he could still trigger qualitative changes from quantitative ones. Reversing beast shape fists might not be so difficult after all.

It looked like he had to continue refining the Cinnabar!

While Du ke was pondering in his mind, his stance also unconsciously shifted out of shape.

"General Cat!"

As soon as Du ke's stance changed slightly, Sun Xiang noticed it at once and gave him a reminder.

Du ke’s mind immediately tensed up and he swiftly adjusted his movements back to the standard form, making Sun Xiang nod in approval with a smile.

"Reign in your thoughts, reign them in!"

Du ke gathered his chaotic thoughts. His limbs bent slightly as his tail hung down, almost touching but not quite touching the ground. His head reached forward assuming an attacking stance.

At the same time, all the muscles in Du ke’s body were relaxed, his power restrained but ready to be released, with his head, tail and back aligned in a straight line, appearing lazy but vigilant.

This stance felt very relaxed to Du ke at the start, but before long, his four limbs started to ache and even his heartbeat began to quicken.

And when his heartbeat accelerated to a certain rate, Du ke suddenly felt the inner qi within his body begin to circulate, slowly flowing through every part of his body, even projecting into his skin and flesh, making his whole body feel warm.

At the same time, Sun Xiang's eyes lit up as he couldn’t help but admire, "What a fine General Cat, after just one incense stick of time since the start, you have already entered the state."

"Vital energy and blood surging like a river, inner qi already fully mobilized and beginning to temper skin, fascia along with the blood..."

"I reckon that with sufficient blood food supplied, plus the simple nature of beasts who dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to their tasks, you’ll soon be able to set foot in the martial path and begin flesh and skin stage cultivation."

"As for blood food, Langya Palace will naturally not lack supply. With the full backing of Miss Yun, General, breaking into the flesh and skin stage will only be a matter of time for you."

Yun Shan smiled as she spoke. Sun Xiang agreed, "What Manager Yun said, I certainly believe it to be so."

"It’s just that I wonder if Manager Yun knows anything about the legendary final stage limits of the four stages of acquired martial artists?"

"Is Doctor Sun referring to..." Yun Shan's eyes flashed as she looked at Sun Xiang. Sun Xiang nodded slightly. "The ultimate limits of the four stages - flesh and skin, bones and tendons, internal organs, and true qi!"

"Namely, the supreme attainments of Water and Fire Fairy Garment, Mercury Blood Silver Marrow, Five Shrines Divine Treasury and Revolving Heaven Inhaling and Exhaling!"

"That's just nonsense written to fool people in ancient texts. Does Doctor Sun actually believe them?" Yun Shan scoffed.

To this day, no one has been able to cultivate the final supreme boundaries of the four stages of flesh and skin, bones and tendons, organs and true qi.

The Su clan, despite ruling over a prefecture for hundreds of years, never produced anyone who attained mastery of even one of those four supreme stages.

They were likely just fabricated by the ancients to deceive later generations.

Sun Xiang gave Yue Yun a meaningful look and Yue Yun immediately returned to the room.

After dismissing Yue Yun, Sun Xiang no longer cared about Du ke. After all Du ke was just a cat who could neither speak human words nor read texts.

Even if he overheard their conversation, what could he do, speak it out or write it down?

"But what if I said they truly exist?"

"Oh?"

Yun Shan's smile disappeared as she calmly replied: "Then I offer my congratulations to Doctor Sun."

"To present such an opportunity to the master's household is immense fortune and prosperity without end!"

"I'm too old now and have no heart left to enjoy such things." Sun Xiang waved his hand showing lack of interest in that. Instead he said: "Now the only thought left in my mind is that one thing!"

"Could it be you're still thinking about that matter?!"

Yun Shan's eyes flashed as she whispered: "That incident caused great chaos in your sect back then. It's taboo to bring up now!"

"If not for you having cured the precious Dan Yang Phoenix of old grandfather, you and your disciple would not have gotten off that lightly!"

"You should know, what was triggered back then has now reduced your Ganzhi Beast Control Sect to being powerful in name only."

Yun Shan's phoenix eyes narrowed, "Be careful not to harm yourself, Doctor Sun!"

"I cannot let it go!"

Sun Xiang clenched his fists tightly as he growled through gritted teeth: "The painstaking work of my ancestors, the foundations built over hundreds of years, all ruined at the hands of that wretched beast. I simply cannot accept it!"

"If I cannot revive my sect, even in death I won’t be able to face my honorable forefathers!"

"However, what's written in ancient texts about those four supreme attainments still stands. Even if you found someone today who had achieved mastery of one of them, the superiors will not give your sect special pardon!"

Yun Shan gently picked up the teacup and took a sip, giving Sun Xiang a reminder.

But Sun Xiang seemed oblivious as he whispered: "What if I could guide Miss Yun to mastery?"

"What?!"

Yun Shan was startled, nearly dropping the teacup in her hand.

"Have you lost your mind, plotting such things for our little miss?! If others get wind of it, the family head will have yours and your disciple's hides!"

"I don't have long left to live, so I can only take risky gambles!"

"What do you mean?!"

"I have recipes for two elixirs that can help one attain mastery of the Water and Fire Fairy Garment and Mercury Blood Silver Marrow, two of the four supreme attainments of acquired cultivators!"

"I wonder if they would be enough to exchange for a small mountain gate?!"

"That I cannot say for sure." Yun Shan shook her head. "I too am but a lowly servant. How can I make such grand promises?!"

"I only ask Manager Yun to help me out!"

There was a pleading tone in Sun Xiang's words. "With Miss Yun's talent, plus the assistance of elixirs, it would be enough for her to reach the limits of the four stages. If Miss Yun successfully cultivates either one, wouldn't Manager Yun flourish as well?!"

"What use are just two recipes?"

"I also know the whereabouts of the other two." Sun Xiang revealed in a low voice. "Moreover, these four supreme attainments truly exist."

"Although there have been few who achieved mastery, fifty years ago my Ganzhi Beast Control Sect conducted experiments on beasts which verified their feasibility."

At that time, although I was just a little groom feeding horses, I had also witnessed with my own eyes the terror of a beast that had cultivated to the pinnacle of the Fourth Stage.

Unaffected by water and fire, immune to blades and spears, with just the strength of its skin and flesh - not even at the Core Stage - it could still cross over a whole great stage to fight and kill warriors at the Internal Organs Stage. It could truly be called a ferocious beast.

And Housekeeper Yun, think about it - with the assistance of these elixirs, even beasts can cultivate to that pinnacle of the Fourth Stage, let alone humans."

"Even that vicious beast from back then was only able to become a demon because it possessed the Revolving Heaven Inhaling and Exhaling skill, which allowed it to inhale the essences of the sun and moon and transform!"

Sun Xiang revealed a secret that almost no one knew, and it made Yun Shan clench his teacup tightly enough that it shattered with a crack.

"Is what you said true?"

"Naturally it's true. If it were false, may the Heavens strike me down with five thunders!"

With a splash, a strange sound attracted the attention of both men, and Yun Shan and Sun Xiang looked over in unison to discover that Du ke had actually collapsed on the ground.

Seeing him gasping for breath with his fur soaked in sweat, it was clearly because he had been standing in horse stance for too long and exhausted his strength.

When Du ke saw Yun Shan and Sun Xiang look his way, he also returned their gazes. Then he tilted his head blankly.

Seeing that Du ke was normal, Yun Shan and Sun Xiang continued their hushed discussion.

Yet unbeknownst to them, Du ke had heard all of their conversation with his ears, and it had set off stormy waves in his heart.

"The pinnacle of the Fourth Stage?"

"Becoming a demon!!"

Du ke suppressed his shock deep inside and looked again at Sun Xiang.

Not bad, old man. On normal days you're so low-key, and the only disciple you've taken on is a simpleton. Who could have thought you'd have such explosive secrets hidden away in your heart! If not for himself being just a cat that no one paid attention to, there'd have been no way for him to overhear such inside information.