ATP

Muscle contraction was the mechanical response produced when muscle fibers received stimulation.

Su Hao also understood the process of muscle contraction. Simply put, when muscles were stimulated, they underwent a series of reactions: cross-bridges bound to actin, twisted, detached, bound again, and twisted again, forming the cross-bridge cycle. The energy for this process came from ATP hydrolysis.

So what was ATP? It was Adenosine Triphosphate.

In the conversion and transfer of energy within living organisms, ATP was a crucial substance. No biological activity could exist without ATP. It could directly supply cells with energy and was also the "transfer station" for energy conversion within cells.

Could the Blood Qi his father spoke of be a combination of ATP and some other substance? Whether it was or not, it was certainly directly related to ATP.

There was another difficulty. No matter what Blood Qi was, Su Hao could not directly observe its existence. What exactly did his father mean by finding it? A person could easily perceive organs such as their fingers, toes, ears, and nose, yet they had no way to directly perceive their internal organs. Failing to perceive one's internal organs did not mean they did not exist. By the same logic, Su Hao's inability to perceive Blood Qi did not mean Blood Qi did not exist.

So, what his father meant by finding Blood Qi was not that he should actually use his consciousness to observe Blood Qi wriggling through his body like a loach. Rather, he needed to form a clear concept of the circulation of energy throughout the human body. Just as the brain could not perceive the direct existence of the internal organs, yet still knew their locations, functions, and conditions.

In other words, Su Hao only needed to establish a cognitive system for his own Blood Qi. This cognitive system included where Blood Qi began, where it was located, how much there was, how to use it, and so on. He only needed to keep updating that cognitive system according to his own condition.

As time passed, once such a cognitive system became habitual, the brain would automatically optimize a model that made one truly feel a powerful Blood Qi energy throughout every part of the body.

This model was essentially an illusion, a deception, but that deception allowed one to perceive one's true condition with incomparable precision.

Su Hao's entire body trembled with excitement as he clenched his fist. "If that's really the case, then the people of this world are incredible. The perfect fusion of Mind Studies and biology lets an ordinary person wield tremendous power."

"Then how should I establish my own Blood Qi system?"

A gleam flashed through Su Hao's eyes.

"Light of the Universe 2.2, it's time for you to shine."

After understanding the principle, there was no need to run anymore. He directly entered Marble Space to check his body's records from the past month.

"Little Light!"

"Little Light is here!"

"Immediately retrieve my detailed physical data. Set the date range to one month before today, and the time to 8 a.m. through 10 a.m."

"Retrieval complete."

Soon, an enormous mass of data appeared on the living room wall, dense and chaotic.

Su Hao continued issuing commands. "Create a 3D Human Body Model."

The data on the wall vanished, and the coffee table and sofa in the living room disappeared as well. In their place, thirty small boys' bodies stood neatly arranged in the middle of the room. Their faces were unmistakably Su Hao's. He had manifested the physical data from the past thirty days; every body contained all of Su Hao's physical information from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on that day.

"Retrieve ATP data."

The bones, skin, and muscles of the thirty bodies immediately faded away, leaving only human-shaped outlines made of countless infinitesimal specks of light. Through those light-and-shadow figures, he could clearly see where in the human body ATP levels were high and where they were low.

After observing for a moment, Su Hao gave another command. "Little Light, starting from 8 a.m., play the dynamic display. Time scale, one to one."

The thirty childlike bodies that consisted only of outlines immediately began moving, while Su Hao quietly watched from the side.

While running, the ATP in his muscles was consumed in great quantities. Once it had been depleted to a certain extent, ATP in other areas began to be consumed as well. When the ATP within his body reached a low point, Su Hao could no longer run.

After drinking the Vegetable and Egg Soup, Su Hao sat quietly. His digestive system operated at full power, and the ATP he had consumed slowly recovered.

Three hours later, Su Hao smiled.

"Blood Qi! I found you!"

ATP was not Blood Qi, but Blood Qi was certainly related to ATP. A model system built according to ATP content could be regarded as a model system for Blood Qi.

Su Hao was confident that, given only half a month, he would be able to construct a model system for his own Blood Qi in his mind without relying on Little Light.

By then, he would be a Martial Artist who had truly mastered Blood Qi.

The next day, after Su Hao returned from his run and drank the Vegetable and Egg Soup, he sat in meditation and contemplation. He looked no different from usual, but once he closed his eyes, his consciousness had already entered Marble Space. He had Little Light manifest his current physical condition and update it in real time. At the same time, he sensed the overall condition of his body, compared it against the changing humanoid light-shadow figure in Marble Space, and actively constructed a Perception system in his mind.

Not only that, as long as he was not asleep, he continued building the system anytime and anywhere in his daily life.

Three days later, Su Hao no longer needed to frequently look at the body's light-shadow figure in Marble Space. He could accurately perceive changes in his body and thereby construct a Blood Qi model for it.

Another five days passed. Su Hao only needed to compare with the light-shadow figure in Marble Space from time to time to accurately manifest the movements of his body's Blood Qi. When he compared them afterward, the discrepancy was minimal.

Another five days passed. He no longer needed to compare with the light-shadow figure at all. By then, the discrepancy between his brain's perception of changes in his body's Blood Qi and Marble Space's manifestation was extremely small.

Su Hao knew that he had successfully constructed a precise Blood Qi system in his mind.

Another two days passed. After confirming that there were no mistakes, Su Hao went to find Wu Yuntian.

"Father, I found Blood Qi."

"You found it?" Wu Yuntian's face was full of suspicion. It was not that he did not believe Su Hao, but he had never heard of anyone sensing Blood Qi in only a month and a half. It was simply too shocking. As far as he knew, even the greatest Genius of the Human Race had taken a full six months to find Blood Qi.

Facing his father's doubtful gaze, Su Hao answered with certainty, "I found it."

"Impossible!" Wu Yuntian blurted out. It was his first reaction. After saying it, he hurriedly explained, "I mean, it's possible that your perception is mistaken. Tell me carefully about the process of what you perceived. Many people develop certain illusions while searching for Blood Qi. That is normal. Speak boldly and truthfully. I'll help you analyze it."

So Su Hao told Wu Yuntian everything in full detail: his perception of his body, the process of Blood Qi's changes, and his understanding of Blood Qi.

After he finished, Su Hao looked at his father again. At this moment, his father's mouth was hanging open and his eyes were wide.

It was as though the four words "beyond belief" were written across his face.

If Su Hao could have heard his father's thoughts at that moment, he would have known that his father was roaring in exasperation: Where did this monster come from? Is this thing really my son? I told you to find Blood Qi, not to investigate every last trace of Blood Qi throughout your body! That's something only a High-Rank Ordinary Warrior does! You only needed to know that such a concept existed!

Su Hao asked in confusion, "What is it, Father? Did I say something wrong?"

Wu Yuntian indicated that he did not want to speak.