Chapter 531: Chapter 256: Inborn Candidates_3
Moreover, my arms and legs are old now, let alone practicing martial arts, I’m afraid even lifting a sword might break my bones.
Under such circumstances, how can I practice martial arts?”
Although Sun Siwen was deeply moved by Lu Yuan’s words, he still had many concerns in his heart.
Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan hurriedly said, “Age is not a problem. Our Chu State is vast, and we have everything. Brother Sun, if you are willing to practice martial arts, I can collect divine medicines from all over the world and personally cleanse your marrow and rebuild your foundation.
It’s okay if it takes a bit longer.
Brother Sun has been studying the classics for many years, and his mindset is well-cultivated.
All you need to do is to put some effort into studying the Buddhist and Taoist classics, and understand the principles of martial arts, and your mindset would not be much different from those top martial artists in the Jianghu.
With all sorts of divine medicines at hand, after taking them for at most three to five years, Brother Sun will become a top martial artist in Jianghu.
By then, I will continue to nourish you with divine medicines, and if Brother Sun studies the Taoist classics more, you can further elevate your mindset.
Breaking through the Innate realm within ten years and living for a hundred and fifty years is not an empty promise.”
Since Lu Yuan was prepared to have Sun Siwen switch to practicing martial arts and break through the Innate realm, he naturally had his considerations and planning.
First of all, although Sun Siwen was a disciple of Confucianism and read the classics with little regard for Buddhism and Taoism,
he, like Buddhists and Daoists, also followed the idea of self-cultivation and nurturing his nature.
If we were to discuss the mental cultivation, Sun Siwen’s experience of more than thirty years of reading and twenty years in office,
his realm might not be inferior to that of high monks and immortals.
Therefore, as long as Sun Siwen switches to practicing martial arts, with his mental state, all he needs is some time to adapt, and he would be able to handle the surge of Inner Strength within him.
What he lacks is a deep understanding of the Taoist classics. He may encounter some difficulties while practicing martial arts and needs to learn more knowledge in this aspect.
But this is not a problem either.
With Lu Yuan, the Inborn Grandmaster, as long as he teaches earnestly, and Sun Siwen learns diligently, his progress in martial arts under the guidance of a Grandmaster would be swift, wouldn’t it?
There have always been only two factors limiting martial artists from breaking through: Inner Strength and their realm.
Now that there are divine medicines to fill the gap of Inner Strength, and Sun Siwen already possesses the realm, all he needs is a slight shift in mentality, merging the original Confucian thoughts with Taoist ones.
Adapting for a couple of years should be enough.
From this perspective,
if everything goes smoothly, breaking through Innate within ten years is indeed not an empty promise.
In this way, not only will Great Chu gain another Innate expert in ten years, but Sun Siwen can also live for several more decades, accompanying Lu Yuan for another hundred years. It’s a perfect combination of both gifts, how wonderful!
However, despite having various arrangements prepared, including detailed plans for Sun Siwen’s transition from practising martial arts to breaking through Innate, he still hesitates about Lu Yuan’s considerate care: “The divine medicine for breaking through Innate is so precious. Brother Lu, wouldn’t it be a waste to give it to me? With these divine medicines at hand, they can be used for other people.
For example, Brother Lu’s disciples, Chu Wei and Li Liang, they are already top-tier experts. If they use these divine medicines, wouldn’t it help them break through to the Innate?
By then, Great Chu will have two more skilled and combative Innate experts. Wouldn’t this be better than having me, a scholar, as an Innate?”
At this point, although his heart was somewhat tempted by the idea of breaking through the Innate realm and living for a few more decades,
Sun Siwen’s character still made him prioritize the overall situation and think about the state affairs.
Seeing this, Lu Yuan couldn’t help but feel both annoyed and amused, so he said: “How can the resources consumed by breaking through the realm of top-tier martial artists and breaking through the Innate realm be compared?
To cultivate an Inborn Grandmaster, the resources consumed would be enough to train a dozen, or even dozens, of top-tier experts.
My resources are indeed only enough to cultivate one Innate realm expert.
Even if they were used on Li Liang and Chu Wei, they could only help one of them break through.
Moreover, although these two are my disciples and obedient in the daily life, human hearts are unpredictable, and I cannot fully trust them.
On the other hand, Brother Sun, you and Xiaoqing are the most trustworthy people to me. If you break through the Innate realm, I have no worry about you betraying me. Would Brother Sun betray me?”
Lu Yuan looked at Sun Siwen, who immediately shook his head: “Absolutely not possible. Even if someone threatened the life of my whole family, I would never betray Brother Lu.”
“Isn’t that so?”
Lu Yuan smiled upon hearing this: “You and I have been supporting and understanding each other all the way to this day. I am responsible for fighting foreign enemies, and you assist me in stabilizing the rear. It is precisely because of your support that Great Chu has come to this point today.
Don’t you, Brother Sun, want to see what Great Chu will be like a hundred years from now?
With you and Xiaoqing being Innate experts, the foundation and strength of our Great Chu would certainly not be limited to today’s territory.
After decades or even a hundred years, we may unify Jiangnan, dominate Yangzhou, and restore the former glory of Da Yue. That is not impossible, is it?
But all of this requires time to wait.
Doesn’t Brother Sun want to live until that day, witness the scene with his own eyes, or even personally accomplish it?
As long as Brother Sun is willing to practice martial arts, you can witness and accomplish it.”
Living until a hundred years later, seeing Great Chu unify Jiangnan and recreate the glory of the past Da Yue within the Great Chu Country with his own eyes,
Lu Yuan’s grand aspiration undoubtedly struck a chord in Sun Siwen’s heart.
As a scholar, cultivating oneself, managing one’s household, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world are undoubtedly the highest ideals in life.
And now, Sun Siwen has long achieved self-cultivation and managing his household.
In terms of governing the state, Chu Country is thriving under his and Cui Changqing’s administration.
Yet, in terms of bringing peace to the world, it still seems to be a far-off dream.
Of course, this peaceful world does not refer to unifying the entire Nine Provinces.
That is the achievement of the ancient Three Emperors, which only exists in myths, never seen anyone accomplished it in later generations.
However, if we talk about bringing peace to Yangzhou, there is much that can be done.
All that is needed is to restore Da Yue’s prosperity.
Therefore, this last life ideal, with great hope, is right in front of Sun Siwen’s eyes.
Before this grand ideal, Sun Siwen no longer was insistent. Instead, he slowly nodded his head and said, “If Brother Lu truly wishes and doesn’t mind me trying, I am willing to give it a shot. I’ll do my best for the future of Great Chu.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan immediately smiled and said, “Then it is settled.”
Then, extending his hand, Sun Siwen did the same. They clapped each other’s hands and laughed heartily.
Time seemed to go back to more than ten years ago.
At that time in Yangmei Town, the two of them hit it off, shared the same interests, talked about everything, and expressed their heartfelt thoughts.
There was no monarch and minister, no hierarchy, no ranks, only pure friendship.
How worry-free it was!
For a moment, as they looked at each other, both felt somewhat bewildered.