Chapter 11: Moon Palace Projection

According to the calendar, the resurgence of primal qi was near.

On New Year's Eve, Wang Sheng happily ate egg noodles, which his senior sister had cooked, while watching snowflakes drift past the window and recalling the analytical posts that he had read in his previous life.

The Moon Palace Projection would likely appear on the first full moon after New Year, around the Lantern Festival. Following that, the primal qi of heaven and earth would begin its rapid resurgence. There were only two weeks left until then, and Wang Sheng wasn't sure how he could prepare for it.

What he had gained in the past six months had already exceeded his expectations. In fact, he wouldn't have dared to dream of this situation before coming to the Wudang Mountains.

His renowned master had not only been providing him guidance in the Dao. He also frequently helped him adjust his bones and activate most of his meridians. Wang Sheng could even sometimes sense faint traces of qi now, saving him years of arduous effort.

Most importantly, he had made considerable progress in practicing the Seven-Star Sword Formation. Wang Sheng even felt that the results of his six months of "qi-less" cultivation were far superior to the five years of muddled practice in his previous life when primal qi was abundant.

What else could he do to prepare in the remaining time?

In reality, all that was left to do was quietly wait for the Moon Palace Projection—for the silent arrival of a new era that would transition their blue planet into another epoch overnight.

After the resurgence of primal qi, would his master suspect his "motives" for coming to learn under him?

Probably not,

Wang Sheng concluded.

The secret that he had buried the deepest in his heart was his regression. Though his master had keen eyes and a knack for divination, He likely wouldn't believe something as absurd as a thirty-one-year-old returning to his seventeen-year-old self.

As long as Wang Sheng seized the opportunities before him, remained respectful to his master, and adhered to the commandments, he shouldn't come across any major issues. Claiming he wasn't nervous would be a lie, but he didn't let it trouble him too much. He had resolved to go with the flow.

Since nightfall, firecrackers had been popping at the foot of the Wudang Mountains, bringing a burst of festivity to the usually tranquil mountain range.

Many families had chosen these famous Daoist mountains as their vacation destination for the Lunar New Year. They admired the scenery, prayed to the immortals, and welcomed the new year.

During the holidays, only a few Daoist priests remained on Wudang. Most temples were short-staffed, lacking Daoist masters to chant sutras, preach, and perform rituals. Hence, Qing Yanzi had left early in the morning of New Year's Eve to assist other Daoist temples. Although Qing Yanzi wanted to spend more time with his young disciple during his first year away from home, he couldn't ignore the income from each ritual.

"Don't stay up too late tonight; we have to continue making offerings to the forefathers tomorrow morning," he had instructed before leaving.

Dressed in rarely worn ceremonial robes and accompanied by the morning light, Qing Yanzi departed with the Daoist master who had come to fetch him.

By dinnertime, he still hadn't returned.

"Senior Sister, I'm going to the courtyard to practice my swordsmanship."

His senior sister casually waved at him. "

Mm!

"

Lying on the bed, she giggled over the manga that she was reading on Wang Sheng's phone. She had become fond of comedy manga recently.

Wang Sheng chuckled softly, took his wooden sword from behind the door, and stepped out into the courtyard. On the light layer of snow, he practiced the Seven-Star Sword Formation as he had always done.

The sword formation contained its own Dao. Through diligent practice, enlightenment would come naturally.

"

Hm?

"

Through the gap in the round window, a pair of large eyes watched him. Mu Wanxuan glanced at the phone in her hand, then shyly stuck out her tongue.

Before long, she wrapped herself in the down jacket that Wang Sheng's mother had recently sent her and carried a small stool to the doorway. Sitting obediently, she watched her faintly illuminated junior brother practice with unwavering focus.

Wang Sheng's sword moved like a sparrowhawk diving, making the stars seemingly shift and the sky revolve. As snowflakes danced along with his movements, the tip of his wooden sword appeared to flicker with the dim light of seven faint stars.

However, this was still merely entry level; he had just begun to grasp the formation. To truly master it would depend on his cultivation speed after the resurgence of primal qi.

Wang Sheng wasn't obsessed with cultivation, though. He found joy in the steady progress he made each day, constantly pushing himself without a moment's rest.

Standing still in the snow, he quietly reflected on the subtle changes in the sword formation, a glimmer of realization flashing across his expression.

He smiled, looked at the wooden sword in his hand, and exclaimed, "Senior Sister, I just figured something out! The core of the Seven-Star Sword Formation lies in the position of the North Star. The seven stars of the Big Dipper revolve around it. To unleash the true power of this formation, I have to think of the enemy as that great star..."

Trailing off, he noticed that his senior sister had curled up at the door, fast asleep. "

Uh,

why did you fall asleep here again?"

He walked over and gently nudged her shoulder. "Go back to bed."

Mu Wanxuan murmured a response and then placed Wang Sheng's phone on the chair. Yawning, she shuffled back to the warm, earthen bed with her eyes still half-closed.

"Don't forget to take off your jacket; don't just sleep like that." Wang Sheng caringly reminded her.

"

Mmm...

"

After waiting for her to settle into bed, he picked up and checked his phone. It was full of New Year greetings, most of them group messages from classmates, relatives, and former teachers.

That world felt increasingly distant.

As the tranquility of the mountains brought him a sense of calm and clarity, he began opening and skimming through the messages. However, he didn't reply to most of them.

Bzzz! Bzzz!

The phone vibrated a few times, and a festive e-card from Shen Qianlin slid down the screen.

Happy New Year, Wudang Successor!

Keep chasing your dreams. With careful nurturing, they will surely bloom and bear fruit. Do take care of yourself, though. Don't overwork yourself practicing martial arts.

Don't take too long a break from school, either. You shouldn't forget the importance of cultural studies. Only a balanced development can make you the most outstanding junior.

Shen Qianlin 😊

It was kind of her to remember him. Wang Sheng smiled, replied simply with "Happy New Year," and placed the phone back on the stool. He then returned to the courtyard.

He practiced for a while longer, but he kept feeling that something was missing. He realized he needed to adjust his training approach to make the most of his earlier insights.

Surveying the area, he picked up a few long wooden sticks from the corner and fashioned a crude dummy. He planted it in the center of the yard.

Using the dummy as his "enemy," he did the Seven-Star Sword Formation again, immediately sensing new nuances in it.

Moves that had once felt clumsy or elusive gradually became smoother.

His master's teachings resurfaced in his mind: the Seven-Star Sword Formation was originally a seven-person formation designed to be the protective array of the Wudang Mountains. Later, a highly skilled practitioner modified it into a one-person formation. Although it lost a bit of power, it gained flexibility and versatility in return, making it an exceptional Sword Dao formation.

That night, Wang Sheng began to understand why his master emphasized the importance of integrating movements into the sword techniques that the formation required.

While the dummy in front of him was static, real opponents would never remain still. Precise footwork would be essential to adapt to their movements.

The stars shifted, and positions interchanged.

Immersed in a flow of realizations, Wang Sheng became so focused on his sword practice that he didn't even notice Qing Yanzi passing by silently.

When the firecrackers from the valley below intensified, signaling the arrival of midnight, Qing Yanzi emerged from a side room and glanced at his second disciple, who was still practicing in the courtyard.

"That's enough for tonight. Get some rest; you can practice more tomorrow," Qing Yanzi said, yawning with a smile. "If I'd known you'd end up like this, I would've given you a Daoist name that means 'Sword Maniac.'"

Wang Sheng stopped reluctantly. Smiling back, he asked, "Master, are you heading out again tomorrow?"

"I'll be busy for the next few days. You and your senior sister can head down the mountain for a stroll if you like. There's no need to stay cooped up here all the time; it's the New Year, after all."

Clearly exhausted, Qing Yanzi yawned again, closed the window, and lay down.

Wang Sheng looked at the overcast sky, exhaled a misty breath, and returned to his room unsatisfied. After cleaning up with a warm towel, he put on thermal clothing and climbed into the brick bed with blankets.

With that night's sleep, the arrival of the world's first wave of primal qi edged closer.

***

Over the first two weeks of the New Year, Qing Yanzi urged the two disciples four to five times to go down the mountain for some leisure. However, Wang Sheng remained engrossed in practicing the sword formation, and his senior sister disliked crowded places.

Together, they subtly resisted their master's order.

Finally, the Lantern Festival arrived. The skies over the Wudang Mountains were clear and bright during the day, and when night fell, stars twinkled alongside the full moon.

Using sword practice as an excuse, Wang Sheng stood in the courtyard and occasionally glanced up at the moon, worried that he'd miss the phenomenon that he had been anticipating.

Inside, Qing Yanzi prepared

tangyuan

for his disciples, while Mu Wanxuan was still glued to her comedy manga. Wang Sheng had even purchased extra mobile data in secret to ensure she wouldn't run out while browsing.

By 9:00 PM, Wang Sheng had gone through the Seven-Star Sword Formation twice. The moon, now directly overhead, appeared larger than it had half an hour earlier, glowing like a massive disk.

The gentle moonlight illuminated the Wudang Mountains, casting a faint luminescence over the landscape.

"

Huh?

"

Wang Sheng stopped in his tracks. For a moment, he thought he heard a soft, ethereal hum. It seemed to have emanated from the moonlight itself, resonating deep within his heart and causing the hairs on his body to stand on end.

He wasn't the only one. Inside the house, Qing Yanzi and Mu Wanxuan froze mid-bite. Qing Yanzi was about to stand up when he heard Wang Sheng's shout from the courtyard.

"Master! Senior Sister! Come quickly! Look at the sky! The moon is huge!"

Frowning slightly, Qing Yanzi stepped outside in two quick strides and followed Wang Sheng's pointing finger to the sky. His eyes widened.

The moon had expanded to take up nearly half the heavens. The stars had all but vanished, enveloping the night sky in a pale glow.

In front of the enormous moon appeared the silhouette of a jade-like tree, its intricate branches clearly defined. At the edge of the tree's crown, a palace-like structure emerged, its features growing increasingly vivid.

"

Ah!

" Mu Wanxuan exclaimed, her mouth agape in astonishment.

The ethereal humming grew clearer—now a gentle, inexplicably chilling melody—as a soft breeze descended from above, seemingly carried down by the massive moon.

Wang Sheng inhaled sharply, feeling his mind clear and his body stir with a faint, restless energy.

"Sit! Meditate! Circulate using our sect's mental cultivation methods!" Qing Yanzi commanded as he dropped into a seated position himself.

Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan followed suit, closing their eyes and reciting the mental cultivation mantras in their minds. Within moments, Wang Sheng felt a cool, pure aura flooding into him.

It coursed through his body, gathered in his lower abdomen, and circulated along the meridians that his master had painstakingly unblocked. A warm current rose, completing its first circuit.

It's here! It's finally happening!

This was the first breath of primal qi in the world—a monumental opportunity.

Just as Wang Sheng marveled at the moment, he felt a hand press against his back. A steady stream of cool qi flowed into his body, targeting the meridians in his system that were still blocked.

He turned slightly, only for Qing Yanzi to murmur, "Focus. Don't squander this chance. Your senior sister's meridians are already fully opened. I'll assist you."

"Master..."

Wang Sheng's heart trembled. Since his regression, he had come across very few moments that could move him like this.

Qing Yanzi naturally recognized the extraordinary significance of this first wave of primal qi. He even thought of it as a fortuitous event. He might never encounter such a chance again in his lifetime. Nevertheless, he stopped his own cultivation to help his second disciple, knowing full well how much it could cost him.

The kindness of his master was as profound as a mountain. The unease in Wang Sheng's heart had now transformed into a deep sense of guilt.

Not daring to waste any more time, he quieted his mind and focused on channeling the primal qi flowing into him. With each cycle, the previously blocked meridians expanded, becoming wider and more receptive to the flow of the qi.

A few moments later, Wang Sheng's internal circulation became smooth and unhindered, accelerating more than tenfold its initial speed.

Only then did Qing Yanzi withdraw his hand and sit down nearby, closing his eyes to resume his own meditation.

The breeze continued to flow, and the opportunity remained open.

The Moon Palace Projection—the Great Upheaval!