Entering the Gate, Condensing Blood Qi

A chill wind swept through the air above the training ground, carrying a faint trace of cold.

This wind heralded the approach of winter, and it also meant that Wang Yue had been in the Wang Clan's rear courtyard for a full month.

By the stone wall in the rear courtyard, Wang Yue stood opposite Xu Li, instructing him in his fist practice.

"The arc of the Splitting Wave Hand needs to be wider. Don't stiffen your wrist; turn it with your breathing." Wang Yue reached out and gently adjusted Xu Li's wrist to the correct angle. "And your footwork—plant your heel firmly first when you land. Otherwise, your Blood Qi won't keep up, and your punches will lack force."

Xu Li adjusted his movements according to Wang Yue's guidance, fine sweat already beading on his forehead. Over the past month, Wang Yue had taught him fist techniques, footwork, and even the finer points of coordinating with the Breathing Method almost without reservation. Though Xu Li's Harmonious Flow Fist had yet to enter the gate, it had become far more disciplined than before.

Watching Xu Li's somewhat awkward movements, Wang Yue secretly sighed. If I didn't have a Martial Soul and couldn't extract the experience of the Great Accomplishment Harmonious Flow Fist, I'd probably be like Xu Li too—feeling my way forward step by step, progressing slowly and painfully, wouldn't I?

Over the past month, he had also learned from Xu Li about the relationship between one's natural talent and the speed of martial training. Those with low-grade talent—

If they could enter the gate of the Harmonious Flow Fist in one or two years, they could already be called diligent.

Those with mid-grade talent could generally enter the gate in about half a year.

Those with high-grade talent needed only one or two months to enter the gate.

The gap between them was like a heavenly chasm. One had to know that the higher one climbed, the harder it became.

Wang Yue lowered his head and looked at his hands. Though he ate only corn cakes, millet porridge, and a little green vegetable each day, with no tonics or meat, he could clearly feel himself quietly growing taller.

His build had also become firmer and fuller than when he had first arrived. All these changes reminded him that entering the gate and condensing Blood Qi might not be far away.

Even with the experience of the Great Accomplishment Harmonious Flow Fist supporting him, it had still taken him a month to reach this point.

That day, Wang Yue spent nearly all his time practicing his fists.

During the day at the training ground, he still deliberately held back his strength. His moves were calm and measured, only slightly more steady than those of the collateral-line disciples.

But once midnight came and the rear courtyard fell completely silent, he no longer concealed himself.

In the open space of the rear courtyard beneath the moonlight, only Xu Li stood to one side, silently watching Wang Yue practice.

Over the past month, Xu Li had always voluntarily stayed behind late at night, watching Wang Yue's movements and pondering their secrets. Occasionally, he would even receive Wang Yue's guidance.

"Hu—"

Wang Yue drew a deep breath. Then, suddenly, his fist technique accelerated sharply, like wind rising from flat ground!

The experience of the Great Accomplishment Harmonious Flow Fist within his Martial Soul surged through his mind like a tide, turning into precise movements, one stance after another. Every step landed on the rhythm of his breathing, footwork and fist technique fitting together perfectly.

His fist force tore through the air with soft "whoosh, whoosh" sounds, sweeping up fallen leaves from the ground. Wrapped in the force of his fists, those leaves lingered in the air without falling.

Wang Yue's movements grew faster and faster, his figure darting through the moonlight so swiftly that it dazzled the eye. All one could see was a blurred black shadow shifting across the open ground.

Gradually, wisps of faint red aura began to surface around Wang Yue's body. This crimson hue had appeared only once before—when he had first received the experience of the Great Accomplishment Harmonious Flow Fist!

The red aura grew denser, cloaking Wang Yue like a thin mist. Yet his fist technique did not pause in the slightest; instead, it became ever more fierce. More and more fallen leaves were swept up by his fist wind, forming a spinning curtain of leaves around him.

"Hah!"

Wang Yue suddenly let out a low shout. His body came to an abrupt stop, standing firm amid the wild wind as the leaves around him instantly scattered across the ground.

Only the "whoosh, whoosh" of the Breathing Method circulating within his body rang especially clear in the silent night.

"Blood... Blood Qi!"

A powerful sensation suddenly surged through Wang Yue. He could clearly feel the Blood Qi contained in the meridians and muscles throughout his body slowly gathering as the Breathing Method circulated!

An invisible force carried that Blood Qi and formed a warm current inside him. Starting from his Dantian, the current slowly flowed through his meridians and spread through every limb and bone.

From the instant that warm current appeared, Wang Yue could clearly feel the strength in his body surge violently. It was no longer accumulating slowly, drop by drop, as it had in the past. Instead, it burst forth like floodwaters released from a dam!

His body also grew light, as though a thousand-pound burden had been lifted away. An indescribable sense of exhilaration stretched from the crown of his head all the way to his Dantian, making him want to throw back his head and howl, though he forcibly suppressed it.

I've done it! I've successfully condensed Blood Qi!

Wang Yue's heart was filled with excitement and joy. He had entered the gate.

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Xu Li, standing nearby, had long since been dumbfounded. He opened his mouth, not yet having time to offer congratulations, when Wang Yue raised his hand and assumed the opening stance of the Harmonious Flow Fist before immediately punching out.

Every move brimmed with power, fiercer and stronger than before. His fist wind was several times more substantial than it had been in the past, and when it struck the open ground, it even kicked up fine dust.

As Wang Yue practiced, he silently assessed himself. If I fought a disciple like Xu Li, one who hasn't entered the gate yet, I could definitely cripple him within five moves.

As for ordinary people who had never practiced martial arts, one punch would likely be enough to knock them over!

For a time, his mind was full of thoughts about finding someone to spar with, to see the results of these past months.

He smacked his lips and let those thoughts fade a little.

Cold moonlight spilled over Wang Yue. Tonight's moon seemed especially bright.

A faint red glow still lingered over Wang Yue's body as his breathing gradually steadied. The Blood Qi within him also became more and more stable with the circulation of the Breathing Method.

The winter wind still blew, yet Wang Yue felt no chill at all. After successfully condensing Blood Qi, his physique had already surpassed that of ordinary people by far.

Xu Li stepped forward, his eyes full of envy as he looked at Wang Yue. "Wang Yue, you... you really condensed Blood Qi successfully!"

Wang Yue stopped moving and nodded with a smile. "Mm, I did."

"Good, such good talent!"

Suddenly, a deep laugh came from the darkness nearby, breaking the rear courtyard's silence.

Wang Yue and Xu Li turned their heads at the same time. They saw Steward Hu emerge from the shadows behind the stone wall, draped in a thick padded robe. Moonlight lit the smile on his face.

Steward Hu walked up to Wang Yue, his gaze sweeping over the faint red glow on his body. His tone was full of praise. "Congratulations, Wang Yue. You condensed Blood Qi successfully in just one month. Among the collateral-line disciples in the rear courtyard, this talent is the first of its kind."

Wang Yue's heart jolted. Just as he was about to speak, Steward Hu continued, "Over this past month, whenever you practiced your fists at midnight, I was actually watching from the shadows."

He paused, surprise in his eyes. "Your fist technique has improved almost day by day, from your initial clumsy imitation, to disciplined moves later on, to the exquisite technique you showed tonight when you condensed Blood Qi... More importantly, you've even mastered the Breathing Method."

Steward Hu lowered his voice slightly, carrying a hint of deeper meaning. "This Breathing Method is something only main-line disciples can learn. The Lineage has never passed it on to the collateral branches."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over Xu Li beside him. A trace of speculation flashed through his eyes, but he asked no further questions. He merely turned back to Wang Yue, his tone sincere. "Now that you've successfully condensed Blood Qi, you're qualified to enter the Inner Court. If you wish to go in, I can write you a letter of recommendation. What do you say?"

Xu Li was left staring in astonishment. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but did not know what to say. He had originally planned to bring up entering the Inner Court after Wang Yue met his adoptive father, Wang Hu. He had never expected Steward Hu to take the initiative and offer a recommendation first.

Wang Yue was even more puzzled. Looking at Steward Hu and then at Xu Li beside him, he silently considered, Steward Hu is an old hand of the Lineage. Could he not know about Xu Li's relationship with Wang Hu?

Or does he have some other plan?

Although entering the Inner Court was his goal, Wang Hu had specifically instructed him to meet him first after condensing Blood Qi. If he agreed to Steward Hu now, he might offend Wang Hu.

Wang Yue steadied himself, his tone respectful but cautious. "Thank you for your kindness, Steward Hu, but... Martial Uncle Wang Hu told me before that after I condensed Blood Qi, I was to visit his private residence first."

Xu Li hurriedly nodded at the side, backing him up. "That's right. Father really did tell Wang Yue to go see him after condensing Blood Qi."

Steward Hu was stunned for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.

He patted Wang Yue on the shoulder. "You brat, you're quite cautious! Don't worry, Wang Hu and I have a good relationship. My recommendation doesn't conflict with his arrangements."

He waved a hand, his tone relaxed. "Since he told you to see him first, then go see him first. After you've met him, if you still wish to enter the Inner Court, come to me anytime for a letter of recommendation."

The weight in Wang Yue's heart eased slightly. He hurriedly clasped his hands in salute. "Thank you for your understanding, Steward Hu."

Steward Hu smiled and added another reminder. "When you meet Wang Hu tomorrow, there's no need to be nervous. He may look imposing, but he isn't an unreasonable man. Just perform well."

With that, he turned and headed toward his residence, his figure quickly vanishing into the darkness.

The rear courtyard returned to silence. Wang Yue watched the direction in which Steward Hu had left, still somewhat puzzled, while Xu Li looked at him with a touch of envy in his voice. "Wang Yue, your luck is really good. Not only did you successfully condense Blood Qi, Steward Hu even took the initiative to recommend you..."

Wang Yue shook his head, but he understood in his heart that all this was only because his Martial Soul supported him. Without the experience of the Great Accomplishment Harmonious Flow Fist, he would probably still be worrying about entering the gate of the Harmonious Flow Fist, much less making Steward Hu and Wang Hu view him differently.

The moonlight remained bright. Wang Yue drew a deep breath, suppressing the thoughts in his heart, then said to Xu Li, "I'm going to see Wang Hu tomorrow. Are you coming with me?"

Xu Li quickly nodded. "Of course I'm going. Father originally said for me to take you there."

Wang Yue nodded and said no more.