Cultivating Martial Arts

It was mid-afternoon.

Shen Ying escorted Lu Zheng and the Liu Family Sisters all the way to the outskirts of Peach Blossom Glade.

"If you sisters have time, come chat with your sister more often."

"So long as Sister doesn't find your little sister too noisy, Qing Yan would naturally be willing."

"Peach Blossom Manor has been quiet for so long. With Qing Quan around, it is at least a little livelier."

Shen Ying watched them board the carriage. "Oh, right. I usually stay at the manor and do not go out. Only on the last and first days of the lunar month will I be away. There is no need for you to come here on those two days."

"Qing Yan will remember. Farewell, Sister!"

"I never imagined there was such a serene and elegant Peach Blossom Manor hidden deep within Peach Blossom Glade. It seems I have never heard anyone in the county mention it." Lu Zheng casually flipped through the Mountain Carrying Eighteen Forms in his hand as he spoke.

"Peach Blossom Manor is not located where the Peach Forest is densest. One has to turn farther in toward the southeastern foothills. People who come sightseeing rarely go there." Liu Qingyan thought for a moment before explaining.

"That makes sense."

The Great Jing Dynasty was unlike the modern world, where scenic mountains and rivers had roads running through them and all kinds of venomous insects and savage beasts had been driven away.

In the Great Jing Dynasty, even in a place like Peach Blossom Glade, where visitors streamed endlessly, only the few mu of peach woods around the outskirts were safe. Go even slightly deeper, and weeds grew rampant with no roads in sight. Who knew whether venomous insects or savage beasts might lurk among the southeastern mountains?

After returning all the way to the entrance of his home in the county town, Lu Zheng gave the remaining preserved plums and dried fruit to Liu Qingquan, then bid farewell to the Liu Family Sisters and returned home.

He made a trip back to the modern world and checked his phone. No one had contacted him, so he immediately returned and began studying the Martial Cultivation method he had acquired that day.

Mountain Carrying Eighteen Forms.

There were eighteen basic movements in all. They were both a cultivation method and a means of fending off enemies.

During cultivation, one maintained each movement while trembling specific muscles, tempering the muscles, blood and qi, internal organs, and bones from the outside in.

It strengthened the body and enhanced one's blood and qi.

When facing enemies, each movement also formed a basic stance for either attack or defense. Built upon these movements, one could better mobilize the blood and qi cultivated through the Mountain Carrying Eighteen Forms.

Fortunately, having cultivated the Midnight Stillness Breathing Technique, Lu Zheng had managed, albeit with difficulty, to understand this Martial Cultivation method without encountering any threshold.

At the same time, he discovered the differences between the two techniques.

The Midnight Stillness Breathing Technique was a daoist breathing and energy-circulation art. It mainly cultivated true qi and could slowly improve the meridians within the body. Its ability to strengthen the physique was limited, but it was first-rate for preserving health.

The functions of true qi leaned more toward Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy. According to the scriptures, it possessed all manner of wondrous uses and formed the foundation of spellcraft.

The Mountain Carrying Eighteen Forms, on the other hand, was a Martial Cultivation method. Its effects in improving physical fitness were far stronger than those of the Midnight Stillness Breathing Technique, and it chiefly enhanced the practitioner's blood and qi.

Or rather, blood energy! Blood like a blazing furnace, qi like wolf smoke—wild, fierce, violent, and unmatched in offense!

Well, he did not know whether this world's martial arts had other types, but at the very least, the Mountain Carrying Eighteen Forms was like this.

Furthermore, fortunately, the cultivation of true qi and blood energy did not conflict. Lu Zheng could cultivate both at once.

With the Light of Luck in hand, Lu Zheng had no need to worry about troubles such as limited energy or being distracted by too many pursuits. Just thinking about it made him feel downright blissful.

No more nonsense. Time to train!...

As its name implied, with the Mountain Carrying Eighteen Forms, every movement required him to imagine a great mountain resting upon his body.

On his shoulders, his back, or his arms.

Using that image as a foundation, he mobilized specific muscles and exertion methods throughout his body to resist that imagined mountain.

Before dinner, Lu Zheng could already perform the rudiments of three movements and could make his muscles tremble and exert force in a basic manner.

Though he was still a hundred and eight thousand miles away from executing them perfectly, he had already met the foundation needed for enhancement through the Light of Luck.

A realm that others needed years of cultivation to achieve might require Lu Zheng only two days, so long as he had the Light of Luck.

After dinner, Lu Zheng continued cultivating. By the time he went to bed, he had completed the foundational training for seven movements.

The entire next day, Lu Zheng did not go out at all.

Until evening...

In the rear courtyard, Lu Zheng completed all eighteen forms in one go. A thin sheen of sweat broke out over his body, and he breathed heavily through his mouth.

"As expected of a Martial Cultivation method. Enhancing blood and qi consumes far too much physical strength!"

At noon, he had eaten an entire old hen and four large bowls of rice, yet his stomach was already growling again.

"Young Master, dinner is ready!"

After swallowing two fish and five large steamed buns, Lu Zheng patted his stomach and returned to his bedroom.

"Enhance!"

"Buzz!"

The Jade Seal trembled lightly, and the last three strands of Light of Luck were completely depleted.

Then a dense surge of blood energy appeared from nowhere within Lu Zheng's body.

At the same time, the muscles throughout his body began to tremble, slowly transforming his meridians, marrow, and internal organs from the outside in.

"What the hell..."

Lu Zheng lay on the bed, shaking like chaff in a sieve, feeling an indescribably intense ache and thrill throughout his entire body.

This was the first time he had felt such a violent transformation in his body.

After all, when an ordinary person began cultivating, they used these movements to train themselves and improve their blood and qi. Only those with sufficient talent, after training to a certain realm, would begin producing blood energy that could be used for attack and combat.

Lu Zheng had skipped that step entirely. The Light of Luck could directly produce blood energy, but it could not instantly transform his physique. No matter how fast it was, the change still needed a process, and Lu Zheng also needed to gradually adapt.

His previous improvements had enhanced his entire physique. Because they covered a broad range and the increases were not great, Lu Zheng had adapted relatively easily.

This time, the enhancement was more concentrated, which was why his sensation was so intense.

Fortunately, Lu Zheng had improved his overall physique several times before. Otherwise, who knew whether this single burst would have thrilled him into unconsciousness?

"Traverse!"

Lu Zheng forced himself to communicate with the Jade Seal through his thoughts and instantly returned to the modern world.

"Ah~~~"

Lu Zheng climbed to his feet. Though his body was still sore, he felt power brimming from head to toe.

Standing before the full-length mirror, he saw six-pack abs paired with a sleek V-line. Girls would clutch their hearts at the sight, while aunties would start flowing rivers.

Drool!

Returning to the ancient world, Lu Zheng practiced a set of fist techniques in the rear courtyard. Only after loosening up his body did he practice a sequence of saber forms, finally completing his morning workout.

Lu Zheng nodded in satisfaction. No wonder people said lifting iron could become addictive. The feeling of growing stronger truly was exhilarating.

"It has now been half a month since I obtained the Midnight Stillness Breathing Technique, and the Light of Luck has been used up as well. I can visit White Cloud Temple again."

"I wonder whether I can get what I wish for this time."

Lu Zheng ate breakfast in the ancient world, then turned around and traversed back to the modern world.

He washed up, changed clothes, and headed out.

It was another bright, sunny day. After leaving home, Lu Zheng sent Du Lin a message. Once he received a definite reply, he hailed a taxi and headed straight for the Ten Thousand Ren Ancient Sword Hall.