Chapter 242: Prajnaparamita Sutra

"Prajnaparamita Sutra?"

Ling Chen was momentarily taken aback. The name sounded strange, somewhat like the title of a Buddhist scripture? Thinking this, he looked at He Ziyun, puzzled, hoping for an explanation.

He Ziyun saw his thoughts and couldn’t help but smile slightly, patiently explaining: "The reason you find this Internal Cultivation Method obscure is that it involves a lot of Buddhist terminology. I must admit, I too had to consult many ancient Buddhist scriptures to translate this mental method. Personally, I think the author of this Internal Cultivation Method must have been a Buddhist monk. However, if my guess is correct, there is a significant issue with this Internal Cultivation Method."

"What issue?"

"It’s well known that Buddhism values the equality of all beings and bases itself on compassion, saving people with a fearless heart from dire situations. However, this Internal Cultivation Method focuses primarily on killing, which contradicts the principles of Buddhism. Thus, it puzzles me why a Buddhist monk would leave such a mental method for future generations."

Ling Chen slightly raised his lips and chuckled: "Mr. He, as you just mentioned, this is only your conjecture. Perhaps the author of this Internal Cultivation Method wasn’t a Buddhist monk but someone else. Who can know the affairs of hundreds of years ago?"

"That’s also true." He Ziyun nodded and said, "Maybe I’m overthinking it." After pausing, he changed the subject: "You just asked me why the name of this Internal Cultivation Method resembles a Buddhist scripture. The reason is quite simple. Buddhism encompasses everything, and this Internal Cultivation Method also harbors all the essences of Martial Arts—changeable in countless ways."

"That powerful?" Ling Chen couldn’t contain his excitement, his eyes gleaming.

He Ziyun smiled and said: "That’s why I said you are fortunate. You practiced this Internal Cultivation Method before and didn’t see much effect because you didn’t approach it in the right way. Only with the correct approach can you understand its mysteries. However, any top-tier Internal Cultivation Method has specific requirements for the practitioner."

Ling Chen asked curiously, "What requirements?"

"The Prajnaparamita Sutra can only be practiced by men; they must be at the peak of their external skills and cannot be older than twenty-five. You meet all these conditions, but there is one crucial condition you haven’t fulfilled, which is why you haven’t progressed."

"The most important condition?" Ling Chen felt anxious, "Mr. He, do I still have any hope?"

He Ziyun revealed a meaningfully deep smile: "There is hope. Actually, this condition is not difficult for you; you can meet it anytime you want." Pausing, he cleared his throat and said with a smile: "For the practice of the Prajnaparamita Sutra, the man must lose his virginity."

"What?" Ling Chen widened his eyes, thinking he had heard wrongly. Losing virginity? This was the first time he had heard such a bizarre condition.

"That... Mr. He, are you sure you’re not mistaken?"

"I have studied it over a dozen times, and I am positive there’s no mistake. At first, I thought it was a joke, but after careful study, this condition is actually well-founded. It’s useless to explain it to you now; you would understand once you practice the Prajnaparamita Sutra and experience its transformations yourself."

Saying this, He Ziyun smiled and patted Ling Chen’s shoulder, "You’re not that young anymore; this sort of thing is quite normal, no need to feel embarrassed. If you don’t have a suitable partner, you might as well roam the night markets. There are many such places in East Sea City; you might try it out."

Hearing this, Ling Chen was speechless. He Ziyun actually encouraged him to visit those kinds of places. The old man usually seemed so proper; who would have guessed he was so unconventional.

"Come, I’ll take you to the training room first, to teach you the introductory mental method."

Following He Ziyun, Ling Chen arrived at a room behind the Martial Arts Academy. This room was entirely built of wooden materials without using a single steel nail. The room was spacious, with several candlesticks placed on each of the walls. Directly across from the door, the wall had a thickly inked ’Quiet’ character. In the center of the room, there was a round carpet.

He Ziyun walked directly onto the carpet and sat cross-legged, then patted the spot beside him, signaling for Ling Chen to sit down too.

"Internal cultivation involves three key aspects: Body Adjustment, Breathing Control, and Mind Control. Your physical condition is excellent, so there’s no need to spend much effort on that; thus, I will teach you Breathing Control directly. Breathing Control is about mastering the correct breathing techniques. Internal cultivation places much emphasis on breathing; you need to achieve three shallow and one deep breaths, maintain a steady breath, only then can you enter what we often refer to as the state of meditation."

While explaining, He Ziyun also provided guidance.

Although Ling Chen had practiced Internal Strength before, his approach was purely by accident, based on his understanding without any guidance, resulting in many mistakes in his practice. Now, under He Ziyun’s patient guidance, he closed his eyes, slightly bent his arms, fingertips pointing skyward, while adjusting his breathing, fully relaxed.

Minutes passed, and he felt his body enter an ethereal state. With full concentration, following He Ziyun’s instructions, he controlled the Inner Strength within his Dantian, converting it into a warm current, circulating from the Gate of Heaven down to the abyss, completing a cycle.

"Close eyes to transverse the void, hands embracing Kunlun, stabilize essence to settle mind, connecting conscious to heavens... Perceive the void’s breath, pull it into the Dantian..."

He Ziyun’s voice flowed gently into his ears. Listening to the chanted mnemonic, Ling Chen immediately made the corresponding movements, guiding the warm current in his Dantian through his limbs.

Time ticked by.

Unaware of how long it took, in his meditative state, Ling Chen seemed to forget the existence of time, his mind wholly invested in the practice of the Internal Cultivation Method.

"That will do."

Only when He Ziyun spoke did Ling Chen open his eyes, his handsome face carrying an inexplicable excitement.

"Mr. He, I succeeded." Unable to contain the surprise in his heart, he grinned broadly.

He Ziyun nodded, not hiding his admiration: "Your comprehension is good. You’ve memorized the incantations of the Prajnaparamita Sutra, and without my guidance, you can practice it on your own. However, still the same words I said before, although you’ve laid the foundation, without meeting its requirement, this Internal Cultivation Method can hardly progress. So... you’re an adult now; I need not say more; it’s up to you to see what to do."

Ling Chen gave a wry smile; the requirements of the Prajnaparamita Sutra were truly outrageous. Nevertheless, at this juncture, he could only comply; he could not miss the opportunity to master a top-tier Internal Cultivation Method.