Great Body Realm, Three Realms Nine Ranks

Lin Changqing had cultivated the power of the mind through the Visualization Method.

He could sense things ordinary people could not. Ordinary people would certainly be unable to perceive the Qi and Blood radiating from Daoist Yunyang.

At most, they would only think Daoist Yunyang was full of vigor and spirit.

But in Lin Changqing's eyes, it was entirely different.

That was precisely why, even after Daoist Yunyang said he would only teach a Health Fist, Lin Changqing had no intention of leaving.

The Health Fist truly was nothing remarkable.

But that depended on who was teaching it. A Health Fist taught by an ordinary person and one taught by Daoist Yunyang were certainly not the same.

"Changqing, although the Health Fist is also a Martial cultivation method, cultivating it can at most strengthen the body. It has little killing power.

"Besides, I heard that cultivating the Health Fist makes it impossible to Enter the Ranks of Martial Dao and step into true martial arts."

Seeing that Lin Changqing was unwilling to leave, Lin Hu assumed he still had hopes for the Health Fist and quietly reminded him.

"Entering the Ranks of Martial Dao?"

Lin Changqing frowned and looked at Lin Hu.

Lin Changqing knew virtually nothing about the martial arts of this world.

Thus, he had no idea what this so-called Entering the Ranks of Martial Dao meant.

"Hehe..."

Seeing this, Lin Hu immediately chuckled, his face full of pride. "My grandfather told me this. According to him...

"Martial Dao is divided into nine ranks.

"Only by entering the ranks can one be considered to have formally entered Martial Dao and become a true Martial Artist..."

"The Martial Dao Ninth Rank?"

Lin Changqing silently speculated, then asked in a deep voice, "Then how are these nine ranks of Martial Dao divided?"

"Well... I don't know either..."

Lin Hu shook his head, his face flushing slightly.

How could he know how they were divided? His grandfather, Lin Yuntang, had only mentioned the Martial Dao Ninth Rank in passing.

Lin Changqing was somewhat disappointed, but upon thinking it over, he felt relieved.

Although Lin Hu was the grandson of the Clan Chief, Lin Yuntang, he was just a mountain village boy like Lin Changqing.

How could he know such things?

Perhaps Clan Chief Lin Yuntang knew something.

But Lin Changqing knew even more clearly that one person certainly knew much more.

That person was Daoist Yunyang.

It seems I'll have to find a chance to properly seek his guidance.

Meanwhile!

At the entrance to the Ancestral Hall, Lin Yuntang saw quite a few clansmen leaving and immediately looked rather embarrassed. He gave Daoist Yunyang an apologetic smile. "Daoist, I'm truly sorry.

"I never expected these people..."

"Layman Lin, it is no matter!"

Daoist Yunyang smiled and waved his hand. "This old Daoist teaches the Health Fist. It is perfectly normal for some people not to wish to learn it."

As he spoke!

Daoist Yunyang looked at those who remained and said gravely, "Fellow villagers, although my Five Elements Health Cultivation Fist is more exquisite than most Health Fists,

"its focus is still on preserving health.

"If anyone does not wish to learn it, you may leave on your own. This old Daoist will have no objection."

As his words fell.

Everyone present exchanged glances, and more people gradually left.

In the end.

Fewer than thirty people remained outside the Ancestral Hall.

Lin Changqing and Lin Hu stood in the last row. Lin Hu had originally wanted to leave, but seeing Lin Changqing standing still, he stayed as well.

"Very good!"

Seeing that more than twenty people had remained, Daoist Yunyang smiled faintly and continued, "The Health Fist I cultivate is called the Five Elements Health Cultivation Fist.

"It is a health-preserving fist art derived from imitating the spirit and postures of five animals.

"It strengthens the body, invigorates Qi and Blood, and prolongs life.

"There are fifty-four forms in total.

"They are divided into thirteen forms of Tiger Fist, nine forms of Deer Fist, nine forms of Bear Fist, ten forms of Monkey Fist, and thirteen forms of Crane Fist.

"Beyond that, there are also various paired-practice routines..."

Daoist Yunyang did not waste words and immediately began explaining the Five Elements Health Cultivation Fist to Lin Changqing and the others.

Then, he demonstrated it himself.

Seeing this, the others began practicing along with him.

Daoist Yunyang had clearly slowed down. His fists followed his heart; at times he was like a fierce tiger, at others like a Spirit Deer.

Yet even so, among the more than twenty people, only one could truly keep up completely.

Lin Changqing.

The power of the mind allowed Lin Changqing to perfectly replicate Daoist Yunyang's every movement. After seeing it only once, he could perform it with exceptional precision.

Coupled with Lin Changqing's Heaven-Defying Comprehension.

He had even completely grasped the Health Fist.

Of course!

He had only captured its shape. To achieve the same spirit as Daoist Yunyang, he still had a long road ahead.

After demonstrating the Five Elements Health Cultivation Fist five times in a row, Daoist Yunyang finally stopped. Then he smiled at everyone and said, "This old Daoist will remain in Green Mountain Village for ten days.

"Over these ten days, everyone may come here each morning and cultivate the Five Elements Health Cultivation Fist with this old Daoist."

As he spoke, Daoist Yunyang waved his hand, signaling everyone to disperse.

He knew very well.

Though more than twenty people had remained on the first day, perhaps not even one would truly persist until the end of ten days.

After all, this was a health-preserving fist art.

In truth, Daoist Yunyang's prediction was not wrong at all.

Early the next morning.

A third of those who came to practice had vanished at once, leaving fewer than twenty.

On the third day, there were fifteen.

After the fifth day, only two remained. One was Lin Changqing, and the other was Lin Hu.

After eight days, Lin Hu no longer wished to come either.

Only Lin Changqing remained.

And so.

In the blink of an eye, the tenth day arrived.

Early Morning.

At the entrance to Green Mountain Village's Ancestral Hall.

After Lin Changqing and Daoist Yunyang practiced the Five Elements Health Cultivation Fist once together.

"Changqing..."

Daoist Yunyang called out to Lin Changqing, took a book from his robes, and said, "Today, I will leave Green Mountain Village.

"This is for you..."

"This is?"

Lin Changqing froze and did not reach out to take the book from Daoist Yunyang's hand.

"This is a compilation of my life's experience in practicing medicine. There are several prescriptions in it that will help you cultivate the Five Elements Health Cultivation Fist in the future."

Daoist Yunyang smiled faintly. "Your talent is very strong. In only ten days, you have already entered the gate of the Five Elements Health Cultivation Fist, and you are not far from minor accomplishment.

"I believe you have also sensed that this Five Elements Health Cultivation Fist is no ordinary health-preserving fist art.

"Once you cultivate it to perfection, you can use it to Enter the Ranks of Martial Dao..."

"Entering the Ranks of Martial Dao!"

A sharp light flashed through Lin Changqing's eyes as he asked in a deep voice, "Daoist, I know that Martial Dao is divided into nine ranks, but how exactly are these nine ranks divided?

"Could you clear up my confusion?"

"The Martial Dao Ninth Rank... Strictly speaking, it is not the Martial Dao Ninth Rank, but the Nine Ranks of Flesh."

Daoist Yunyang chuckled. "The first realm of Martial Dao is the Great Body Realm. The Great Body Realm is further divided into the Body Tempering Realm, the Blood Changing Realm, and the Qi Refining Realm.

"These are the Three Realms Nine Ranks.

"The Ninth Rank refines skin and muscle, the Eighth Rank refines sinews and bones, and the Seventh Rank refines the organs. These make up the Body Tempering Realm.

"The Sixth Rank through the Fourth Rank make up the Blood Changing Realm.

"So-called Blood Exchange is not truly replacing one's blood. It is purification and sublimation, elevating ordinary blood into Spiritual Blood. This process requires three refinements and purifications to complete.

"One refinement is the Sixth Rank, two refinements are the Fifth Grade, and three refinements are the Fourth Rank.

"This is the Blood Changing Realm.

"After Blood Exchange, when Qi and Blood reach a peak, one uses the power of Qi and Blood to open the body's Meridians. This is the Third Rank.

"Then one Opens Apertures and enters the Second Rank.

"The strength of the flesh body is further elevated. One draws Spiritual Energy from heaven and earth into the body, merging it with one's own power of Qi and Blood and transforming it into True Qi. This is the First Rank.

"Opening the meridians, Opening Apertures, and Qi Gathering make up the Qi Refining Realm.

"This Qi is one's own Qi and Blood, but it is also the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth. It can even be something else..."

"So that's how it is!"

After hearing Daoist Yunyang's explanation, Lin Changqing was suddenly enlightened.

Martial Dao in this world had developed over countless years and already possessed an extremely complete cultivation system. It was something his self-created visualization cultivation method could not compare with.

He let out a long breath of Turbid Air and looked at Daoist Yunyang. "Daoist, the Nine Ranks of Flesh you just described are only the first realm of Martial Dao, the Great Body Realm.

"What lies above the Great Body Realm?"

"Above the Great Body Realm, hehe..."

Daoist Yunyang shook his head slightly. "This old Daoist does not know either. After all... this old Daoist is merely an old man who knows a little health-preserving fist art.

"I only know this much.

"Perhaps when you truly step into the First Rank one day, you can leave the Great Zhou Dynasty and take a look. I have heard that beyond Great Zhou, there are Sect holy lands with true inheritances stretching back through the ages.

"They possess complete Martial Dao inheritances..."