Cultivation Method Simulation

"I obtained the fist art I'm going to teach you by chance in my youth. It is easy to learn but difficult to master. Getting started is not hard. I'll demonstrate it once first—watch carefully."

After saying that, the Old Doctor assumed a fighting stance and began demonstrating the set of punches he practiced every morning.

Lu Qing watched with bright, intent eyes.

The moment the Old Doctor finished demonstrating the first stance, a prompt appeared in his field of vision.

Cultivation method discovered. Begin simulation?

Staring at his master's figure, Lu Qing silently chose to simulate it.

Simulation initiated. Current progress: 1%, 2%, 3%...

As the Old Doctor demonstrated the fist art move by move, the progress bar in Lu Qing's vision rapidly climbed as well.

97%, 98%, 99%, 100%

At last, just as the Old Doctor performed the final stance and began to withdraw his form—

The progress bar in Lu Qing's vision also reached one hundred percent.

Cultivation method simulation successful.

Cultivation Method Name: Body Nourishing Fist.

Origin: Derived and perfected by Chen Songqing based on the Nameless Incomplete Cultivation Method he had obtained by chance in his youth.

Effects: Tempers the body and nourishes health. It is particularly effective at regulating qi and blood and strengthening tendons and bones. When cultivated to profound depths, there is a certain chance of breaking through to the Inner Organs Realm.

Begin cultivation?

Lu Qing did not choose to begin cultivating immediately.

Instead, some of the information within caught his attention.

So this fist art had actually been created by his master through deduction from a fragmented cultivation method he had acquired in his youth.

To independently deduce and perfect a cultivation method—if his master's ability were placed in the Martial World, he would at the very least be called a Martial Arts Genius.

It seemed his master was even more capable than he had imagined.

Lu Qing could not help thinking to himself.

"So, A Qing, did you clearly see the moves I just demonstrated?" the Old Doctor asked with a smile after finishing his form.

"Not really," Lu Qing answered honestly.

Lu Qing was telling the truth.

Without relying on his ability, he truly could not understand much of the fist art the Old Doctor had demonstrated.

Aside from sensing a peculiar charm to it, everything else was like being lost in clouds and mist.

"Haha, it's perfectly normal that you can't understand it." The Old Doctor laughed. "What I just demonstrated was only the form of this fist art. Its truly important parts—the mental formulas for circulating qi and blood and tempering the sinews and bones—I haven't taught you those yet."

"Come, I'll now teach you the mental formula for circulating qi and blood with this fist art."

Next, the Old Doctor began explaining the fist art to Lu Qing stance by stance, move by move.

How to regulate his breathing, how to circulate qi and blood, how to focus his mind on the Dantian...

Every essential point of cultivation was explained in great detail.

This explanation lasted for two hours.

"Alright, we'll stop here for today."

After explaining the ninth stance and seeing that Lu Qing could already assume the stance in a fairly convincing manner, the Old Doctor spoke.

"This fist art has thirty-six stances in total. The primary effect of the first nine stances is to invigorate qi and blood and regulate one's breath."

"In the days ahead, so long as you persevere and practice diligently, the day you truly master them will be the day you formally step into the Qi Blood Realm."

"As for the later stances, your current body cannot bear them yet, so there is no need for you to cultivate them for now."

"Master, does that mean that once I master these nine stances, I'll be like those martial artists you mentioned—my strength greatly increased and my body strong and sturdy?" Lu Qing asked in delight.

"That's right. So long as you enter the Qi Blood Realm, you will naturally be able to become like them." The Old Doctor nodded.

Then he cautioned, "However, you must remember that excess is as bad as deficiency. Practicing fist arts must also be done in moderation. Do not rush for quick success or dream of achieving it in one step. If you do, you will instead easily injure your body."

"This disciple will remember." Lu Qing nodded seriously.

"Also, martial training consumes a great deal of energy, so your nutrition must keep up as well. Don't be stingy with the silver you earned from selling the Red Moon Carp. Buy more meat to eat on ordinary days, lest your qi and blood fail to replenish and you merely wear down your body instead."

"This disciple understands." Lu Qing nodded again.

He had long since retrieved from his master the silver he had received from selling the Red Moon Carp and hidden it in some secret corner of his home.

Now, it seemed it was time to use that silver.

"It is a pity that I am still short a few medicinal ingredients and have never managed to gather them all. Otherwise, if the herbs were complete, I could prepare several doses of Qi Blood Nourishing Soup for you. That might greatly shorten the time it takes for you to enter the Qi Blood Realm," the Old Doctor said regretfully.

"There is no need, Master. You have already helped this disciple more than enough. I have yet to repay even ten thousandths of your kindness—how could I dare trouble you further?" Lu Qing hurriedly said.

"Very well. When I have time to enter the mountains one day, I'll see whether I can find those few herbs," the Old Doctor said.

Seeing that his master seemed unwilling to give up, Lu Qing was deeply moved.

For a moment, he did not know what to say. He could only silently engrave this kindness in his heart.

"Alright, that is enough for today. After you return, do not forget to practice your fist art. When you come up tomorrow, I will check whether you have slackened off."

After master and disciple chatted for a while longer, the Old Doctor waved him away.

Lu Qing hesitated for a moment before saying, "Master, why not let this disciple stay and attend to you?"

"No need. My body is still sturdy; I have not reached the point where I need someone to wait on me. Besides, medicinal materials are piled everywhere here. I cannot make room for you and Xiao Yan to live in. You should return to your own home."

The Old Doctor refused without hesitation.

"Then... this disciple shall take his leave for now. Tomorrow, I will come up again to pay my respects to you, Master."

Seeing that the Old Doctor insisted, Lu Qing could only give up.

He picked up Xiao Yan, who had long been nodding off beside him, and prepared to head down the mountain.

"Wait."

Just as he was about to descend the mountain, the Old Doctor suddenly came out of the courtyard again and handed Lu Qing a book.

"You have already thoroughly read that Classic of Materia Medica. Next, read this Treatise on Acupuncture Points. First memorize the human body's acupoints listed inside. I will test you on them later."

When Lu Qing reached the Foot of the Mountain carrying the book and Xiao Yan, his expression was still somewhat dazed.

He had originally thought that after becoming the Old Doctor's disciple, he and Xiao Yan would live in the Half-Mountain Courtyard from then on.

After all, as a disciple, serving one's master and seeing to his master's daily needs was only natural.

Yet the Old Doctor seemed to have no such intention and instead had him continue living at his home below the mountain.

Although this was also a good thing for Lu Qing, he still found it somewhat strange.

Shaking his head and no longer dwelling on it, Lu Qing carried the already sleeping Xiao Yan home.

After returning home, the first thing he did was take some money and go find Grandpa Zhang.

Then, despite the other man's refusals, he made up the money the villagers had contributed today for his Apprentice Ceremony.

After all, he no longer lacked money. How could he have the heart to let the villagers, who were not well-off to begin with, bear the cost of his Apprentice Ceremony?

After stuffing the money into Grandpa Zhang's hands, Lu Qing returned to his own courtyard and prepared to begin practicing his fist art.

Only this time, he was going to use his ability to cultivate.