Chương 5: Sun Essence, Moonlight

Fortunately, the moonlight was not too obvious in the brightly lit room, and was almost imperceptible to the naked eye.

Otherwise, this miraculous sight would be impossible to explain if someone witnessed it.

The secret of the Heaven and Earth Pearl is likely to be exposed on the spot.

Cang Lian turned her attention back to her body.

The moonlight, as smoky and misty as it entered the space between the eyebrows, did not disappear, but was absorbed and refined by the Heaven and Earth Pearl.

Soon, the bead seemed to transform into a strange spring, secreting a drop of mysterious liquid—moonlight—lighter than water and more moist than dew.

A drop of moonlight slowly fell, nourishing the sea of consciousness.

In an instant, my mind felt as if it had been washed by a clear spring, and a cool and refreshing sensation spread throughout my head.

The feeling is like plunging into cool well water on a sweltering summer day – a refreshing sensation from the inside out.

The fatigue, depression, and confusion of the past few days seemed to have been completely washed away by this cool breeze.

He savored the feeling, lying in bed, letting the moonlight stream into his brow, and didn't sleep a wink all night.

Only when the sky began to lighten and the first rays of dawn replaced the moonlight did that strange nourishing sensation slowly subside.

Cang Lian opened her eyes, feeling no fatigue from staying up all night. Instead, her eyes were clear and bright, and she looked radiant.

This is not an illusion; it is the body's most authentic feedback.

It was a feeling as if I had slept for three days and three nights, replenishing all my deficiencies, and my energy was so abundant it was almost overflowing.

He could even hear the faint sound of sparrows flapping their wings and their feathers rubbing against the air in the distant courtyard.

For the first time, he truly felt the power of this Heaven and Earth Pearl.

Just as the last sliver of moonlight was completely swallowed by the morning light, and a red sun emerged from the horizon, bursting forth in a spectacular display, a miraculous scene unfolded once more.

Unlike the cool and quiet moonlight of last night, wisps of pale golden light, like the finest gold threads, pierced through the thin mist, crossed the sky, and drifted toward his room.

The light carried a warm yet boundless vitality.

The pale yellow sunlight, without any obstruction, streamed straight through the window and into his brow.

The Heaven and Earth Pearl hummed once more, absorbing and refining them all, transforming them into an even purer and more domineering "Sun Essence".

If moonlight is the sweet rain that nourishes the heart, then the essence of the sun is the fierce fire that tempers steel.

Unlike the moonlight, this essence of the sun did not permeate his sea of consciousness; instead, it flowed through his meridians and into his limbs and bones.

In an instant, Cang Lian felt his whole body enveloped by a warm current.

Yesterday was my first time practicing Zhan Zhuang (standing meditation). After a night's rest, my body not only did not improve, but the soreness actually increased several times over. Even the slightest movement caused pain everywhere. Just as Master Huang said, I'm afraid even walking will be a problem today.

But the tearing soreness deep in the muscles and the indescribable weakness in the bones melted away quickly under the warm current, like ice and snow meeting the sun.

This feeling is indescribable.

It's like immersing your whole body in a steaming hot spring during the coldest days of winter. Every pore opens up, every tired muscle is gently soothed and repaired, leaving only a lazy and comfortable feeling.

"good!"

Cang Lian couldn't help but let out a low shout, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, once again shocked by the wonder of the Heaven and Earth Pearl.

This body was already lacking in exercise, and the soreness he felt when he woke up today reminded him of his first long-distance run. The next day, he couldn't even go down the stairs!

But now, thanks to the effects of the sun's essence, this feeling is disappearing, and my body is rapidly recovering.

Moonlight nourishes the spirit, and the essence of the sun strengthens the body!

This interplay of yin and yang, inner and outer, forms a perfect closed loop for cultivation!

This is no magical artifact; it's clearly a broad road leading to the pinnacle of martial arts!

It was still early, and most people in the Cang Mansion were still asleep.

He wasn't in a hurry to go out; he quickly closed his eyes and wholeheartedly welcomed this baptism from the sun.

……

Time flew by, and it was already eight o'clock in the morning.

Deep within the Cang Mansion, in a detached building that blends Chinese and Western architectural styles, lies the residence of the family head, Cang Hong.

In the study, several pieces of ancient imperial porcelain were displayed on a rosewood display shelf, and the air was filled with a tranquil aroma that blended the scent of fine sandalwood with the fragrance of ink.

Behind a large mahogany desk sat a middle-aged man who looked to be around fifty years old.

He was wearing a dark gray Zhongshan suit that was pressed without a single wrinkle, and his hair was neatly combed, revealing his smooth forehead.

His face was thin and his lips were tightly pressed together. He was like a sword drawn from its sheath, his sharpness concealed, yet he exuded a powerful majesty.

This person is none other than Cang Hong, the head of the Cang family.

On the single sofa opposite him, a woman in a dark green brocade cheongsam leaned against the sofa. She was plump and had delicate features, but her carefully drawn willow-leaf eyebrows always carried a hint of lingering hostility.

She was Shen Peiyu, the eldest wife of the Cang family.

In addition, a person stood straight next to the desk, like a silent iron tower, which was Gu Guolong.

"I heard that A-Lian went out yesterday." Cang Hong didn't look up, his gaze was fixed on a "Sheng Hai Daily" newspaper, his voice was as flat as if he was reading a headline, but the way he placed his ten fingers on the table exuded a sense of oppressive control.

"Returning home, Master." Gu Guolong bowed, his voice steady as a bell.

"Young Master was just strolling around the manor when he happened to see Master Huang showing off his skills to the coachmen. Intrigued, Young Master asked Master Huang for some pointers and practiced his stance in the garden."

"Oh?" Cang Hong paused in his flipping through the newspaper, and finally looked up.

"Him?" Shen Peiyu let out a contemptuous sneer, her bright red nail polish tapping lightly on the sofa armrest.

"A weakling like him, does he even deserve to learn martial arts? He'd probably collapse from exhaustion after standing for half an hour."

Gu Guolong continued his report: "Young Master has an outstanding talent for martial arts. He found his footing in less than half an hour."

"Huh?!" Shen Peiyu's smile froze on her face. She sat up abruptly, her voice suddenly rising, "Guolong, did you see it clearly? That kid... how could he be so fast?"

Cang Hong's gaze lingered on Gu Guolong's face for a moment, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly: "Is there anything else?"

"Returning home, Master." Gu Guolong paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, "Young Master's temperament seems... somewhat different from before. He has become much calmer, and there is a hint of fortitude in his eyes."

"Alright, you can go now. Keep an eye on him." Cang Hong waved his hand, his deep eyes returning to the newspaper, as if everything that had just happened was insignificant.

"Yes!" Gu Guolong quietly withdrew, as if he had never been there.

Once the door closed, Shen Peiyu's face turned completely grim. She lowered her voice, hersing like a viper's hiss: "This kid's martial arts talent is actually so outstanding? Could it be just pure luck that he stumbled upon a perfect stance?"

"You must know, sir, even with your exceptional martial arts talent, it took you a full half hour to even grasp the basics. Xiong'er, though gifted, took him nearly thirty-five minutes to find his footing!"

"What has this kid done to deserve this?"

"It's alright." Cang Hong folded the newspaper in half and threw it on the table with a crisp "thud." He stood up, walked to the window, his back to Shen Peiyu, and said in a cold, hard voice, "The path of martial arts requires countless trials and tribulations; it cannot be achieved overnight. Without the 'secret medicine' to hone one's foundation and without mastering superior martial arts techniques, even a reincarnated martial arts immortal cannot achieve great things."

"That's right! They're like ants, easily killed! My only concern now is whether that bitch Han Yu told this kid the secret of the treasure map before she died." A hint of malice flashed in Shen Peiyu's eyes.

"Judging from his demeanor during the previous inquiries, he doesn't seem to be faking it. No one in this world can lie to me," Cang Hong said calmly, his hands behind his back.

"Whether he knows it or not, he won't last much longer." Shen Peiyu's lips curled into a cruel smile.

"In a few days, Xiong'er will graduate from the Japanese Army Academy. The letter said that through his grandfather 'Tanaka Takeo's' introduction, he met masters of the Nine Chrysanthemums School. They know many secret techniques that can make people reveal their deepest secrets while they are in a daze. Then, we'll see if it's true or not!"

"In this era of warlordism, heroes always emerge from chaos. If we can raise an army, why can't the world belong to the emperor?"

"Such a momentous matter requires careful planning and cannot be rushed!" Cang Hong nodded, turned around, and said with a sharp gaze, "The matter of the treasure map must not be mentioned to a third party. Within the entire Cang family, only you, me, and Xiong'er know about this. Be lenient with A-Lian on the surface, and do not let outsiders see through the slightest clue."

"Master, I understand," Shen Peiyu said, but a calculating glint flashed in her eyes.

Cang Hong nodded in satisfaction, sat back down at his desk, picked up the newspaper, and the room returned to the cold, commanding silence that belonged to those in power.