Chapter 1

Star Han lay in bed and once again recalled the words his master had said to him ten years ago: "Your life will be full of ups and downs, with great successes and failures. Among your peers, you will have opponents but no friends. However, you will be surrounded by many women, and every turning point in your life will be accompanied by the appearance or departure of a woman."

In Star Han's heart, his master was a mysterious figure. He never doubted the truthfulness of his master's words. The master in Star Han's heart was not any teacher he had from elementary school to university; rather, it was the old man who taught him the Clear Heart Technique ten years ago. It was precisely because of the Clear Heart Technique that Star Han stood out among the ordinary people and became an extraordinary person. But the master's magic was not just limited to the Clear Heart Technique; he had predicted Star Han's current fate ten years ago and had given him some appropriate advice.

At that time, Star Han was only ten years old. One day, he was happily playing with his friends on the mountain, just like before. However, he suddenly realized that he had become separated from his companions. He looked around and saw nothing but flowers, plants, and trees. He was all alone. He shouted loudly, but there was no response. Star Han knew that his friends had probably already gone back. It was quite normal for one or two people to go missing in the mountains, but usually, they would find their way back home afterwards. Since there were limited unexplored areas nearby, no one would be concerned about it.

Star Han also knew this, so he quickly observed the surroundings and made a frustrating discovery. He had never been to this place before; in other words, he was lost.

After realizing his situation, Star Han didn't panic. Although he was young, he was courageous. He quickly determined a direction based on the position of the sun and started walking towards it, believing that he would soon find his way out of this unfamiliar place. Once he reached a place he had been before, he wouldn't have to worry anymore.

However, to his disappointment, even as the sun set, Star Han was still trapped in the predicament. The sky gradually darkened, but he had no idea which direction to go. Tall trees surrounded him, and nothing was certain. Star Han began to feel anxious.

It wasn't until the sky was completely dark that Star Han continued to walk without stopping. Just when he was about to despair, he finally discovered a thatched hut—a pleasant surprise. If there was a house, there must be people. At worst, he wouldn't have to spend the night in the wilderness. In his dazed state, Star Han saw his master, and everything changed.

The next day, when Star Han woke up, he finally got a clear look at his master's face. The master was a kind old man with a white beard. It was impossible to tell his age. Even after Star Han bid farewell to his master, he still didn't know the master's name, age, or where he was from.

Due to walking in the scorching sun for half a day the previous day and getting lost in his hurry, Star Han woke up with a high fever. His mind wasn't very clear. When his master saw him awake, he fed him a bowl of porridge and kindly said, "Child, you have a high fever. Let me treat you." With that, the master placed his hand on Star Han's head without any visible movement. Star Han suddenly felt a cool breeze starting from his head, cleansing his entire body. After the flow of energy, his mind became clearer, and his body was no longer burning. He felt an indescribable vigor and wanted to get out of bed and exercise immediately.

The master seemed to know what he wanted to do and said gently, "It's alright now. You only had a slight fever, and there's nothing to worry about. You can do whatever you want!" Star Han jumped out of bed, his heart filled with gratitude. He knelt down and kowtowed a few times, saying, "Grandpa, thank you for saving me. You have amazing skills. Please accept me as your disciple. I also want to have your abilities so that I can help many people in the future."

The old man chuckled and said, "Good child, get up."

Star Han was overjoyed and immediately kowtowed three more times, saying, "Thank you, Master."

"Hehe, a few days ago, I had already foreseen that I would find a successor for my Clear Heart Technique. No one has come here for many years, and you arrived at my doorstep yesterday. It can only be described as destiny. Well, I will pass on the Clear Heart Technique to you. However, there are some conditions you must agree to. First, this technique is primarily for strengthening the body, and you should only use this power when necessary. You must not use it for evil deeds, and it's best not to let anyone, including your loved ones, know that you have learned this technique. Second, you can only pass on this technique to one person in your lifetime, and it must be done orally. Only if that person dies can you pass it on to another. This is a rule passed down by the ancestors. Can you fulfill these conditions?" As the master spoke, his expression became serious.

"I will definitely fulfill them!" Star Han immediately responded.

"Good, I believe you. In fact, the Clear Heart Technique is not of much use until you reach the second level. If you can reach the second level, it means you still have a sense of right and wrong. Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to reach that level. But remember, you should not be overly competitive. Even if you become powerful, there will always be someone stronger than you. Keep that in mind," the master said with great emphasis.

"Disciple has taken note of Master's words," Star Han said.

"Alright, now let me see your hand, the left one." After examining Star Han's left hand, the master remained silent for a while before saying, "Child, your early years will be full of disasters and hardships. Two years from now, you will experience a major catastrophe. You need to be accepting. As you grow older, you will gradually rise to success, but it won't be smooth sailing. Your life will be full of ups and downs, and among your peers, you will have opponents but no friends. However, you will be surrounded by many women, and every turning point in your life will be accompanied by the appearance or departure of a woman. But strangely, I cannot see the ultimate outcome of your life. This is the first time for me."

After pondering for a while, the master shook his head and said, "Alright, I will now give you the initiation. Before practicing the Clear Heart Technique, someone must initiate you. Remember, when you pass it on to someone else, you must initiate them as well. Without initiation, they won't be able to practice. Initiation means transferring a portion of your true energy into the other person's body and guiding the flow of energy within them. After initiation, you can follow the technique to circulate the true energy within yourself. Understand?"

"I understand!" Star Han said.

It took half a day to complete the initiation. After the initiation, the master began teaching the technique. It didn't take long as there wasn't much to teach.

After explaining the technique, the old man told Star Han about the distribution of meridians and emphasized the importance of a calm mind. He then asked Star Han to guide the true energy along the meridians, ensuring its continuous circulation. Star Han sat there, feeling the flow of energy, and it took him the whole afternoon to complete one cycle. Afterward, he felt much more energetic. When he opened his eyes, he saw the old man smiling at him.

"Looking at your appearance, you may not be very handsome, nor are you exceptionally clever. However, you are surprisingly suitable for practicing the Clear Heart Technique. It seems your character is calm and composed, perfect for cultivating the Clear Heart Technique. It appears that I have chosen the right person. The most crucial aspect of the Clear Heart Technique is a calm mind, seeking tranquility and peace. It is vital to avoid being consumed by desires. If you cannot let go of ambition and greed, you won't be able to achieve mastery in the Clear Heart Technique. I have passed the technique to you, and from now on, your fate depends on your own efforts. But remember, the Clear Heart Technique has three levels, each consisting of upper, middle, and lower stages. When you practice the first level, you will find that you are no longer concerned about trivial matters. That's because, in the first level, the true energy has a yin nature. When you reach the second level, the true energy gradually becomes yang, and at that time, you will be more passionate about things. However, once you reach the third level, you will achieve a state of tranquility and follow the natural course of the world. But all of this may not be clear to you now. Just remember it. Also, until you reach the second level, you should practice the technique for at least two hours every day, whether sitting or lying down. And if you use the technique to heal others, you must rest for at least seven days after each session. Before reaching the upper stage of the first level, you should not heal others, as it could harm both them and yourself. Remember this well. Given your situation, I don't expect it will take more than five years for you to reach the upper stage of the first level. However, I must tell you that progressing further will depend on your destiny. Take care of yourself."

"I understand, Master," Star Han listened, somewhat understanding.

In the following days, Star Han practiced the Clear Heart Technique under his master's guidance. After about ten days, he achieved some progress.

One day, the old man called Star Han and said, "Child, our time together has come to an end. I have something to attend to tomorrow, and you should leave here as well. But don't worry, as long as you practice the Clear Heart Technique diligently, we might have a chance to meet again. Let's not talk about anything else. Fate brought us together, and it is also fate that separates us. Now, I will send you out; otherwise, you won't find your way. Close your eyes."

After saying that, the old man carried Star Han, and Star Han felt a rushing wind in his ears. Before long, it stopped, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself in a familiar place. The old man gently put him down and disappeared. From that moment on, the master became a mysterious presence in Star Han's heart.

Although Star Han never doubted his master's words, it turned out that his parents did pass away two years later, just as the master had predicted. However, they were involved in an unforeseen accident, which meant that Star Han, as the only surviving family member, received compensation—100,000 RMB, the price of two lives.

With this money, Star Han completed his middle school and high school education, and now he was in university. However, the money had gradually diminished from 100,000 to the current 40,000.

But when he reflected on the past ten years, although he had experienced a difficult life and some ups and downs, he hadn't truly encountered major successes or setbacks. As for women, Star Han was an orphan now, and he had never had any relationships. Perhaps all of this would begin after he graduated from university, Star Han thought.

Checking the time on his wristwatch, Star Han realized it was time to start his daily practice of the Clear Heart Technique. After practicing for one or two years, he indeed felt that he was different from others. His hearing and vision were much sharper than the average person's. When he concentrated, he could hear the faintest sounds that others couldn't, and he could see much farther. His reflexes were also quicker. Because of these improvements, he continued to diligently practice the Clear Heart Technique without any breaks.

After an hour of practicing the Clear Heart Technique, Star Han felt refreshed and clear-minded. However, he sensed that his recent progress had reached a plateau. No matter how he practiced, he couldn't make any further advancements beyond the upper stage of the first level. Nevertheless, Star Han was already satisfied. After all, hadn't the old man mentioned that he would rely on opportunities in the future? Impatience wouldn't serve any purpose. Moreover, he now felt that his hearing and vision were better than most people's. He also discovered that his intuition was much stronger than that of an ordinary person. Many times, his unintentional feelings turned out to be accurate.

However, he never shared these observations with anyone. From a young age, he had no friends. People called him a bringer of misfortune since his parents had died because of him, so most people avoided him. As a result, he developed a love for reading early on and read many books, including various genres. Through books, he learned about the vast world outside the village and gained knowledge of simple yet universally applicable truths. Among them were sayings like "The nail that sticks out gets hammered down," and he understood that "The bigger the tree, the more it attracts the wind" was not just a social phenomenon but a natural principle. For someone like him, it was always best to keep a low profile.

The Clear Heart Technique became a habit for him over time, and he felt uncomfortable if he didn't practice it for a day. However, the time required for practice had decreased from two hours per day to just one hour. After each practice session, Star Han felt a sense of relief throughout his body and a boost in his mental energy.

Since practicing the Clear Heart Technique, Star Han had always maintained a calm state of mind. He rarely experienced extreme joy or anger and remained indifferent to most things. In fact, he had been relatively quiet since childhood. His mother often mentioned that even as an infant, he was different from other children—always peaceful and never fussing. His favorite activity was lying quietly, looking at the clouds in the sky, unlike other children who cried and made noise every day. After saying this, his mother would often smile and add, "He will accomplish great things when he grows up. He's different from others even at the age of three." Unfortunately, now it was impossible to hear his mother's words again.