"Since you want me to speak plainly, then listen well," said Shuro with a glance at Marco. "Marco, at age eleven you reached the Minor Dan realm, thirteen the Lesser Empty Spirit realm, fifteen the Greater Empty Spirit realm. Such accomplishments surely demonstrate abundant talent, yet they also prematurely drained your potential, damaging your five viscera and six bowels until decline.

"The reason martial arts and elixirs lag behind the Way of Immortals is because martial arts start with an additional process of coalescing qi into elixir, adding the extra realms of Minor Dan and Major Dan. No matter how gifted one may be, true qi typically doesn't form until one's thirties or forties. By then, the organs have already started their downward slope, missing the optimal period for forging true qi. Thus true qi cannot condense into primordial essence. Though not yet thirty, your organs' premature aging prevents true qi condensation and primordial essence formation."

Marco was taken aback.

To seek the Way required condensing true qi into primordial essence, else all would be for naught. The freelance experts of the Tera martial world, though comparable in strength to the fourth stage of Foundation Establishment, had fully formed true qi. Even turning it back into prenatal vital breath later wouldn't let them refine true qi into primordial essence. Ultimately unable to advance further, their fate was still dust to dust, ashes to ashes.

Seven years ago, Marco had understood this, promptly abandoning his assault on the freelance realm to instead seek immortals and the Way.

Yet somehow he'd never imagined that no matter how he tried, he couldn't condense true qi into primordial essence. After fruitlessly searching the major immortal sects, he not only came away empty-handed but became the butt of disciples' jokes. Some immortals even pronounced with finality that he, Marco, would never refine primordial essence in this life and had no hope for the immortal path.

As for why, the immortals either equivocated or talked in riddles, not one explaining as clearly as this youth before him now.

"Heaven's Way damages the surplus to nourish the deficient," said Shuro, recalling a line from his cultivation method that perfectly fit here. Marco's heart stirred, and Lee's eyes widened, both feeling this short phrase contained truths of heaven and earth, yet also indescribable in words.

"The reverse is also true. If this continues, even your true qi will be hard to retain. Years ago you might've still broken through to the freelance realm, but forcing it now would surely end in defeat as you couldn't control the true qi, which would then dissipate. "

Marco listened with a trembling heart and frightened gallbladder. By this point he was no longer annoyed.

He didn't fully believe Shuro's words, like that last sentence which seemed exaggerated. But Shuro had correctly pointed out his failure to refine primordial essence, with no malice in his speech.

Seeing Shuro grow pensive, Marco shook his head and turned to leave.

Despite myriad reluctances, in his heart Marco had already started retreating. The immortal sects had long denied him, and now even a random youth could see it. After fruitless years had turned his hair gray, only regret remained. Perhaps it was time to let go.

But then the youth's voice sounded from behind: "However, I may have a way."

Marco stopped short, a buzzing in his brain, and turned to look at Shuro.

The youth's bearing and gaze were somehow different from before, distant and unfathomable, as if housing endless wisdom.

Marco thought it strange, of course unaware that just now a fragment of memories from His Highness Jiu Chen had flashed through Shuro's mind.

"The true difference between martial arts and elixirs lies in qi elixirs―one has the Minor Dan, the other Major Dan. These two realms don't exist in the immortal path."

"The founders of martial elixirs wanted to use qi elixirs to let those of mediocre talent condense true qi, while the exceptionally gifted could directly refine true qi without them. Our Tera people cultivate martial elixirs, succeed because of qi elixirs, yet also fail because of them. The elixirs let us condense true qi but also hinder its refinement into primordial essence."

"You differ in that you may try shattering the qi elixir, letting your organs absorb its essential energies. The shattered elixir becomes supreme medicine for your organs, revitalizing them. Thus you could at least restore your youth and recapture your vitality. Perhaps with a sudden insight, even refined primordial essence."

"To change the status quo, you must shatter the qi elixir."

The more Marco listened, the uglier his expression became, filled with disbelief.

Lee kept wiping the sweat from his brow.

Shatter the qi elixir? Wouldn't that cripple your cultivation?

Soon Shuro realized he was the only one talking, surrounded by silence.

Seeing the suspicion on Marco's face, Shuro's gaze dimmed as his expression cooled.

Shuro wasn't one to meddle. His main reason for telling Marco all this was childhood admiration for Master Low Hou's Sword.

Sensing Marco's distrust rather than gratitude, Shuro shelved that hint of regret.

Preoccupied with his own troubles, Shuro had no time to mind others'. If it wasn't appreciated, why say more.

"Let's go, Lee."

Stepping over Young Sir Liu's corpse, Shuro walked toward the cave exit.

Lee?

Marco was startled. This youth even knew his attendant's name?

Shatter the qi elixir? How could Master Shuro even suggest that. Though coming from him, such an outlandish claim almost sounded reasonable, judging by Marco's reaction - he nearly believed it! Thankfully Marco didn't, or there'd be real trouble. Imagine it, the legend of Tera, peerless in the realm below True Master, crippled by a few words. The Tera martial world would be in an uproar!

Uninterested in explaining further, Shuro stood at the edge of the muddy pit, staring at the scattered dawnlight herbs. "The cave's secrets can't be kept," he said.

He'd completely memorized the seven illusion manuals here, the only ones in the Southern Wastes River Lord's estate. Add the various herbs Lee had fished from the pond's bottom, and the place had been thoroughly cleaned out.

"You're right, Young Master. Once the guards responsible for the reservoirs arrive, the cave will likely be discovered." Lee agreed.

Glancing at Leonard's corpse, Shuro grinned. "John's going to be in trouble soon. His retainer mysteriously died in an immortal sect's cave, after it's been emptied of everything - no matter how eloquent, he can't talk his way out of this."

Seeing the beaming youth under the sunlight, Lee suddenly felt a chill.

But soon his thoughts centered on the medicinal herbs in hand, greed flashing through his eyes.

Marco walked down the snowbound avenue.

At the River Lord's estate, he'd repeatedly almost called out to the youth, yet suppressed the urge each time.

Shattering the qi elixir and letting his organs absorb it - how shocking and outrageous! Every Tera person knew damaging the elixir would drain all one's cultivation. Yet the more Marco pondered, the more the youth's words seemed to have basis, not wild speculation.

Discovering an immortal sect's cave.

So young yet already beyond the Lesser Empty Spirit realm.

Water illusion arts that could withstand his sword-strike unharmed.

One glance penetrates his facade to know his primordial essence congelation failure.

The more Marco thought, the more he felt the youth was no ordinary person. But all he knew was the name "Master Shu", nothing else.

"Are there any Shu families in the capital?"

Marco murmured, halting his steps.

The clear winter dawn had sunlight and wind but no vitality. Days of accumulated snow left the usually bustling avenue deserted. Icicles as thick as infants' arms hung from eaves and branches, but no children ran out to break them off and play.

Raising his head, Marco saw a Daoist in white robes standing in the street's center.

"Sir Low Hou, have you returned to the capital to die?"

In the Tera martial world, only eight people would address Marco in this manner. Known as the Eight Masters of Tera, in ordinary people's eyes they were "immortals on earth" comparable to the transcendent sects.

Only now did Marco notice he'd unknowingly arrived at South Quarter's East Pass Street, the busiest street where his famed final battle had occurred before seeking the Way. The white-robed man was known as the Dispersed Master, Marco's legendary opponent eight years ago.

The peerless in the freelance realm battling a true master, a narrow victory becoming legend.

Seven years later in Caelius Capital, the Dispersed Master gave Marco no chance to speak. Skimming over the snowy ground, his long whip unfurled and tore a thirty-zhang trench.

In the blink of an eye he appeared before Marco, faster than any illusion art.

Marco's arm sliced through afterimages as he drew the five-chi Green Edge sword.

The Green Edge flashed like lightning, shattering the surrounding air layers upon layers.

Whip and sword collided with the force of a hundred thousand jin, Marco's body quaking violently as he spat blood and was blasted back.

Even the Dispersed Master couldn't help a cry of surprise, never expecting the peerless Low Hou Sword from seven years ago, who'd fought him for three days and nights with no victory, to now be unable to withstand even one strike of his whip. Realization dawning, the Dispersed Master knew Marco must be feigning weakness to catch him off guard. With a flash the Dispersed Master reappeared before Marco, chopping down with his left palm bladelike.

Marco barely dodged with all his might, but his silver crown was struck off, his hair coming loose as he staggered in sorry shape.

Remembering the youth's words in the cave, Marco's mind stirred.

It was true he hadn't clashed and struggled with others for years. Battling masters required an unshakable will, decisive and resolute. Marco wasn't sure when it had started, but that stalwart heart from before felt increasingly distant. He rarely contended with others anymore.

Who could've expected now, against an opponent no weaker than seven years past, he would be rendered completely helpless. The surging two hundred thousand jin force when he used to circulate his true qi had suddenly shrunk to seventy or eighty percent, reduced back to ordinary half-step freelance realm.

Not just his mindset, even his true qi was far inferior to before!

A desolate feeling rose in Marco's heart.