"Man is supreme?" Ding Songyan repeated Yan Changqing’s words.

Yan Changqing nodded solemnly.

"Man is the greatest of all beings, first among the hundred races. How could we not possess something extraordinary?

"You should know that after Emperor Xuanyuan united with the Way, and before Xia Hou Qi, the Celestial Thearch always served concurrently as the Human Sovereign. Could that be without reason?

"To forget humanity’s strengths and only imitate divine beasts and strange creatures is to abandon our roots and chase after branches!"

Ding Songyan only believed at most three sentences out of every ten that Yan Changqing spoke. But he did find his argument logically consistent. He played along and asked, "Then where do humanity’s strengths lie?"

Yan Changqing walked with his hands behind his back, then raised one to point at his own head.

"In wisdom. In spirit. In the spirit platform.

"Use body and mind well, resonate with heaven and earth, and you’ll be able to summon gods and command ghosts!

"Someday, if you can reach the threshold of the Heaven-Man Realm and glimpse the Spirit Platform Realm, you will find that with your root intact, everything yields twice the results with half the effort. Train the martial path by first training the ’spirit.’ Cultivate the self before cultivating the art. In this way, the spirit platform lies within the heart, and even supreme realms become merely a barrier to pass through."

You’re jumping straight to the Heaven-Man and Spirit Platform Realms to illustrate humanity’s strengths. Why do I feel like I’m being deceived again... In the past, if someone talked to me about a deal worth tens of millions, I would be thrilled. But if they started discussing tens of billions, I would consider calling the police... Ding Songyan grew skeptical as he listened.

Yan Changqing stopped and turned his gaze to Ding Songyan with a faint smile.

"Since the end of the Han dynasty, consuming divine beasts can only bring one to the Dharma Realm. Reaching the Heaven-Man Realm through that alone is nearly impossible. Even the purest divine essence has diminished too much to compensate for this fundamental weakness. Have you not noticed? In the thousand years since, seven or eight out of ten Grandmasters who achieved their attainments this way remain trapped in the Dharma Realm, unable to advance further."

Is that why Feng Yining of the Five Saints Sect chose to enter life-or-death seclusion in her prime, seeking the Heaven-Man Realm through a breakthrough? Ding Songyan made a few connections.

The Five Saints Sect was another of Great Zhao’s Six Sects and Four Schools. Its art derived from Fenghuang the Phoenix and carried the peculiarity of enhancing one’s "colors," meaning one’s appearance. Ding Songyan naturally aspired to it, though it was utterly beyond his reach.

The gray-templed Yan Changqing suddenly changed the subject and asked with a smile, "Have you ever deceived someone on an important matter?"

"Never." Ding Songyan shook his head instinctively.

You call that a win-win when it comes to investors!

Yan Changqing laughed heartily.

"Then it seems you’re well suited to this secret art."

He wasted no more words and returned to the point.

"The secret art I will teach you also emphasizes the root. Its first and foremost principle is a single word: deception!"

Deception? Ding Songyan felt that this turn of events was so sudden that it nearly threw out his back.

So your "root" is deception?

Yan Changqing noted his expression with a half-smile.

"Do you know why qi cultivation requires you to still the mind, focus your thoughts, and guide the true qi? And why aperture refinement requires corresponding visualizations?

"Setting aside the obvious fact that a strong body generates qi, when you still your mind and imagine thin wisps of qi gathering and flowing through your meridians, the thought comes first and the reality follows. Intent precedes qi.

"When you visualize different diagrams—as if facing a great sun, plunging into an ice cavern, or seeing gods and ghosts—your soul is stimulated by these visions and spontaneously undergoes corresponding changes. These changes then cause the body to transform as well, true qi flows accordingly, and apertures crystallize.

"What does this mean? First you deceive your own soul, placing it in the desired state, which in turn drives the body to produce the desired changes. This is the first secret of cultivation."

In other words, whether it’s mental focus and guidance or diagram visualization, the essence is tricking the brain into secreting the corresponding hormones and directing the body to make the changes the cultivator wants. Over time, those changes become permanent alterations to body and soul? Ding Songyan translated this into a knowledge framework he could understand.

Seeing him deep in thought, Yan Changqing smiled.

"If you can trick your soul and body into accelerating their tempering, trick them into recovering faster, trick your true qi into flowing ceaselessly—training while walking, training while lying down, having six hours of rest equivalent to another’s twelve—would you have to worry about not completing body tempering and qi cultivation within a year or not breaking through the Initial Realm?"

And the cost? Ding Songyan muttered, then said in deliberation, "Fortune and misfortune are two sides of the same coin. Nothing in this world is purely good or purely bad. Where is this secret art’s hidden danger?"

"It will consume your vital essence and diminish your lifespan." Yan Changqing said calmly. "You are only twenty. You can bear it. Once your aperture forging succeeds and you enter the Great Proliferation Realm, you will naturally recover what was lost. Not to mention there are plenty of divine medicines and treasures that can replenish vital essence and extend lifespan."

Ding Songyan nodded slightly.

Yan Changqing turned around and said, "I’ll recite the secret formula first.

"To deceive others, first deceive yourself. The false can become true. Believe, and it exists..."

Ding Songyan half-felt this sounded like self-hypnosis while earnestly memorizing it, attempting to understand, and raising questions.

"A secret art is not a cultivation method. For it to take effect, you must first have an actual martial art to practice. Otherwise it is water without a source, a tree without roots, and will only leave you delusional and mad..." Yan Changqing concluded with a few final cautions.

Ding Songyan ran through the secret art’s contents once more in his mind, then asked, "Senior, do you have any instructions for today?

"Also, I used the qi once yesterday. Can you replenish it, in case of emergencies?"

Yan Changqing’s expression did not waver.

"I can."

As soon as he finished speaking, the hazy luminescence piercing the mist and descending into the sea of consciousness grew slightly denser.

Immediately after, a ray of light surged towards the "seed" and fused with it.

This Senior Yan has deep reserves. After years of imprisonment, likely with his martial abilities crippled, he still has considerable qi to spare... Ding Songyan cupped his hands in thanks.

Yan Changqing then said, "What you need to do today is wander around Dingjiang Prefecture. Go wherever you please. But at some point, pass by the docks as if by chance. Look at the river for a while. While looking, sneak three glances at Heavengaze Gate Island. Remember, don’t be too obvious about it. To deceive others, first deceive yourself."

"Understood." Ding Songyan had a vague sense that Yan Changqing was beginning to "lay false trails."

Yan Changqing said nothing more and ended the exchange, withdrawing the hazy light from Ding Songyan’s sea of consciousness. Ding Songyan’s awareness merged back into one. He advanced The Legend of the White Snake to the scene of Lady Bai heading to Jinshan Temple to save Xu Xian.

Just like the previous two days, Ding Songyan was guided out of the dungeon, out of the building, and out of the Zhen estate. No one asked if there were any abnormalities, and no one issued any warnings.

He began wandering without destination, crossing whatever street appeared, passing through whatever lane presented itself, occasionally picking up items from roadside stalls to examine.

After some time, the docks came into view. Ding Songyan turned toward them naturally.

"Brother Ding?" Xu Chang’an’s voice rang out.

"What are you doing at the docks?" Ding Songyan asked with amusement, just as he was about to assume a posture of admiring the river.

Wearing a dark headscarf and still looking shifty, Xu Chang’an said, "There’s a lot of valuable cargo here. I came to have a look."

Is any of it yours to claim? Ding Songyan used the corner of his eye to glance at Heavengaze Gate Island.

"I thought you were quitting as a thief?"

"That’s right. No more petty theft. Only grand heists. Stealing from the Four Waters Brotherhood or merchant fleets—now that’s a grand heist." Xu Chang’an straightened his back. "But my skills aren’t there yet. I still need a few years at a martial hall. For now, all I can do is look at these fine goods and salivate."

He then asked, "Brother Ding, what brings you to the docks? Looking for Brother Bull?"

Ding Songyan shifted his body, pretending to gaze at the river while actually stealing a glance at the craggy Heavengaze Gate Island. He said casually, "I’ve been going to the Zhen estate a lot lately and picked up a new skill. I came here to practice."

"What skill?" Xu Chang’an asked, curious.

Ding Songyan turned his head and glanced at him. He smiled.

"Deception."

"Deception?" Xu Chang’an blinked, then laughed. "Brother Ding, you’ve always been honest and straightforward, bad at lying. Even if you learned a con artist’s tricks, I doubt you could pull them off."

Ding Songyan asked with a smile, "Have you ever been conned?"

"In the past, yes. But after apprenticing with my master and learning the patterns behind various scams, I’ve never been fooled again." Xu Chang’an said with a touch of pride. "All those swindlers outside Dangkang Temple—the ones cheating people of money, luring them to gamble—I can see through them at a glance. Brother Ding, the day you can fool me is the day your deception skills are ready."

"Let me start with someone easier to practice on. Like my elder brother." Ding Songyan took the opportunity to steal another look at Heavengaze Gate Island, then sighed. "Never mind. I shouldn’t con family."

With that, he turned and left the docks. Xu Chang’an, having nothing better to do, followed him toward Chengyu Lane, chatting the entire way, commenting on the distinctive martial arts of several major halls.

Passing Dangkang Temple, Ding Songyan spotted a patrol squad of constables in the distance. His expression suddenly darkened.

"Brother Ding, what’s wrong?" Xu Chang’an’s heart trembled.

Ding Songyan suppressed his voice and said to him, "I forgot something. Didn’t I go to the county office yesterday? Brother Li told me they’re planning to make an example of you."

"Me?" Xu Chang’an pointed at himself in shock.

He quickly confirmed, "Li Wu the constable?"

Ding Songyan nodded and explained rapidly, "Didn’t I mention this before? With the thief boss gone from these streets, the yamen is worried someone might get reckless. They want to slaughter a chicken to serve as a warning to the monkeys. Your fellow disciples all paid respects to Constable Xue and Brother Li. You’re the only one who hasn’t shown any gesture at all."

"But— but I haven’t stolen anything..." Xu Chang’an went white.

Not these past few days. But before that, certainly.

Though it was said that one could only be convicted with evidence in hand, the yamen did not always play by the rules. Under severe punishment, "honesty" was inevitable.

Xu Chang’an thought it over and said, trembling, "Brother Ding, you’re like a real brother to me! Help me smooth things over with Constable Li and the others. I— I’ll give you silver to grease the wheels."

"All right. What are brothers for?" Ding Songyan wore an expression of "no need for words between us" and clapped Xu Chang’an firmly on the shoulder.

Xu Chang’an quickened his pace and led Ding Songyan back to his home on Chengyu Lane.

He pulled heavy silver ingots from the hidden compartment, along with a pile of silver pieces and loose silver. His tone was panicked as he asked, "Brother Ding, how much do you think is enough? Just name a figure and I’ll put it together!

"This is everything I have!"

Xu Chang’an finished speaking with visible dread, then saw the corners of Ding Songyan’s mouth gradually curl upward into an unmistakable smile.

"..." Xu Chang’an slowly realized something was off.

Ding Songyan picked up one of the silver ingots with a grin.

"You’ve saved up quite a bit, haven’t you?"

Xu Chang’an finally came to a realization.

"Brother Ding, were you... conning me?"

Ding Songyan set down the ingot, smiled, patted the fellow’s shoulder, and turned toward the door. As he left, he called back over his shoulder, "Be more careful from now on."

Conning strangers is hard. Conning someone who trusts me, especially you? Child’s play.

Xu Chang’an’s face flushed red. He wanted nothing more than to find a crack in the earth and bury himself in it.