Vast Exhalation Breathing Technique

"Fatty Wang?!"

Commander Liu and Commander Xiong turned around.

At some point, Wang Zhi had quietly walked over to Chen Sanshi's side, a genial smile on his face as he personally helped him up from the ground.

"Wang!"

Commander Liu pointed at the fat man's nose and barked, "You said it yourself—you looked down on this kid's talent!"

"Exactly!" Commander Xiong chimed in. "I think you're the most shameless one here!"

"Gentlemen, you're mistaken. What does this have to do with talent?"

Wang Zhi shook his head as he spoke. "I, Wang, have always valued loyalty and kept my word. Since I took the silver, how could I fail to teach him with all my heart?"

"Fine, fine, fine!"

Commander Liu's teeth itched with hatred, his hand unconsciously settling on the hilt of his saber. "You fat bastard, you're competing with me too? Sanshi, think this through. This fatty treats money like his life. I can teach you without charging a single coin."

"Come with me!"

Wang Zhi did not waste a single word. He grabbed Chen Sanshi and ran. Within a few breaths, the two had vanished.

"Fat bastard, Xiong will never again walk the same path as you!"

Commander Xiong and the other man could only curse at the dust, then leave helplessly.

Chen Sanshi had not quite processed it.

From being ignored by everyone to being fought over like mad.

It seemed the people working against him did not possess absolute status and power. Otherwise, they would not have given him a chance to turn things around.

As for which Hundred Household Commander he chose to teach him—

Did he even have a choice?

Commander Wang was immensely strong, nearly pulling Chen Sanshi's arm out of its socket.

They did not stop until they reached the entrance of a tent.

Commander Wang released him. "Little Stone, come in with me."

The instant he stepped into the tent.

Wang Zhi abruptly spun around again and raised a hand toward his shoulder.

Chen Sanshi instinctively tried to dodge, but that hand was like Five Finger Mountain—there was nowhere to hide. It landed heavily on his shoulder, and a sharp pain shot through his bones.

Only after feeling over most of his body did Wang Zhi nod in satisfaction. "Monkey arms and bee waist. Most importantly, your bones are solid. Your foundation is truly not bad."

"Monkey arms and bee waist..."

Chen Sanshi nodded.

"In martial arts, talent comes first, and bone structure second."

Wang Zhi swaggered over and sat before the desk, explaining, "I needn't explain talent to you, right?

"As for bone structure, a martial artist must first be able to endure being put through the wringer. Their bones need to be sturdy. Beyond that, different types of bone structure also indicate different strengths.

"For example, archers generally need to be tall with long arms to fully draw a bow. That is why you are naturally good at archery.

"Monkey arms and bee waist, combined with exceptionally tough bones—you could be considered to have superior bone structure!"

Chen Sanshi nodded. "Thank you for your instruction, Commander Wang."

"You hold a grudge against me, don't you?"

A sharp gleam flashed in Wang Zhi's tiny eyes. "You think I took your money and still refused to teach you."

Chen Sanshi answered frankly, "I wouldn't dare."

"Wouldn't dare does not mean you don't.

"Enough. Don't feel wronged. Commander Liu and Commander Xiong cannot give you this."

As he spoke, Wang Zhi pulled a booklet from his robes and slapped it heavily onto the table.

On its cover were several familiar words: Basic Soldier Spear Technique.

Seeing the confusion in Chen Sanshi's eyes, he pulled out another copy of Basic Soldier Spear Technique. "Compare them. What is different between these two?"

Chen Sanshi did as he was told.

Both booklets contained the complete Basic Soldier Spear Technique, including stance training, spear techniques, and a breathing technique.

From the text, he learned the importance of the breathing technique.

Without one, he could endure more hardship and practice slowly, perhaps eventually performing the full spear technique. But he would never be able to condense qi and blood.

The stance training and spear techniques in the two booklets were exactly the same.

But there were many differences in the breathing techniques.

The first breathing technique focused on assistance.

Stance training and spear techniques damaged the body too greatly, so a special breathing method acted as lubricant, easing the pain of training while slightly increasing cultivation speed.

The second one, however, was called the Vast Exhalation Breathing Technique.

This breathing technique offered no protection during cultivation, nor was it faster than the first. But it claimed that the qi and blood cultivated through it would be superior to that of the first technique.

As for how it was superior, he did not know.

Fatty Wang shelled peanuts as he ate and explained, "The breathing technique I gave you produces qi and blood that is more enduring, more durable, and more fierce—just like me.

"As for the other breathing technique, it may be faster, but it is neither hard nor lasting, just like Commander Xiong.

"You should understand my explanation, right? It is fine if you do not. Once you cultivate qi and blood, you will naturally experience it yourself."

Chen Sanshi asked thoughtfully, "Please enlighten me, Commander Wang. Why does the same cultivation method have two different breathing techniques?"

"A castrated version, obviously."

Fatty Wang said, "The Vast Exhalation Breathing Technique is better, but not just anyone can learn it. If your bone structure is not sturdy enough, it might cripple you through training. If your talent is not good enough, it will greatly slow your cultivation progress. And this thing burns through silver like crazy. Generally, only the Eight Great Camps teach it.

"I have told you all the advantages and disadvantages. Which one you wish to learn is up to you."

A cultivation method from the Eight Great Camps?

Chen Sanshi looked at the fat man, then at the manual.

"You look down on me?"

Fatty Wang glared with all his might. "Do not look at me as merely a Hundred Household Commander now. I was once a man of the Eight Great Camps!"

"You are overthinking it, Commander Wang. I did not mean that."

Chen Sanshi quickly made his decision. "I will practice the Vast Exhalation Breathing Technique."

"Good lad. I did not misjudge you."

Wang Zhi brushed the peanut crumbs from his hands and called for a subordinate to bring in a Plum Blossom Iron Spear from outside. Then he began teaching Chen Sanshi hand in hand.

"Stance, spear, breathing—combine all three as one.

"Take a deep breath. When you hold your breath, do not simply trap it in your lungs. Imagine that breath as 'strength' stored within your body. Every time you execute a move, use that 'strength' to support it.

"That is not how you breathe. That is ordinary breathing. Why do you think the Vast Exhalation Technique is different?

"You must use this 'strength' to stimulate your acupoints!

"Yes, yes, just like that!"

"Hiss—"

Using the breathing diagrams in the manual along with Commander Wang's explanations, Chen Sanshi successfully mastered the proper way to use the Vast Exhalation Breathing Technique after a few attempts.

Every move he made was accompanied by "breath." This breath transformed into "strength," stimulating his acupoints and bones twice as intensely.

The original double layering of stance training and spear technique immediately became a triple layering.

The discomfort nearly made Chen Sanshi retch.

Yet at the same time, a System Panel appeared before his eyes.

Cultivation Method: Basic Soldier Spear Technique (Not Yet Initiated)

Progress: (8/100)

Effect: None

"Huff, huff—"

After holding on for only a few seconds, Chen Sanshi was already somewhat exhausted. His feet swayed, and he nearly fell over.

"That is enough."

Wang Zhi called a halt. "We will stop here today. You learned the spear technique in a single night. Even an iron-forged body has its limits. You must not injure yourself.

"Especially when it comes to food. You need to eat at least five catties of meat every day. Game is good; ferocious beasts are better. Exotic beast meat is best.

"Once you train the Basic Soldier Spear Technique to the initiation stage, you will have entered the Blood Training realm and truly become a Martial Cultivator!

"Then I will help you seek out Lord Thousand Households.

"As for Tianyuan Martial Arts Academy, what grudge do you have with Young Master of the Academy Liang Zhan?"

"Tianyuan Martial Arts Academy?"

Chen Sanshi understood at once and replied, "I have absolutely no grudge against the Liang family."

"Oh?"

Wang Zhi was somewhat surprised. He stroked his chin, the light in his eyes flickering between bright and dim. No one knew what he was thinking. "I understand. Go rest first."