"Fire Mane Wolves are ultimately somewhat formidable for you. In truth, if you had given up, I would not have blamed you. But you held firm to your resolve and broke through the barrier, tempering your Jade Bone. This master is very gratified."
Li Xuan expressed his approval of his disciple.
"But, disciple, remember this: while charging into difficulties is certainly praiseworthy courage, martial artists are not reckless brutes, nor are they brainless fools. Reckless brutes only know how to charge headlong, and they ultimately cannot last long."
Li Xuan weighed his words carefully before speaking.
He had to give his disciple a warning. He must not do anything too dangerous!
Otherwise, if this foolish disciple filled in the gaps of his words with his own imagination in the future, fearlessly and foolishly went off to do dangerous things, and lost his life because of it, Li Xuan would cry himself to death.
Whether he could become invincible depended on this foolish disciple!
He absolutely could not die halfway!
Given Xu Yan's tendency to fill in the blanks himself and his heaven-defying comprehension, Li Xuan did not need to spell things out. He had to leave Xu Yan room to comprehend them on his own.
Xu Yan said respectfully, "Master's teachings, this disciple will remember them firmly!"
Li Xuan's mind raced as he carefully continued, "We cultivators place importance on comprehension and on distinguishing fortune from misfortune. When one should retreat, one retreats; when one should advance, one advances. One must have a flexible mind and the keen perception to see through danger..."
"One must be skilled at using wisdom and seizing opportunities... Those whose minds contain only the victory or defeat of the moment are reckless brutes; those without a courageous and resolute heart are merely mediocre people.
"In short, don't be rigid. Understand?"
Xu Yan said respectfully, "Master, this disciple understands!"
He sighed inwardly, The profound meaning in Master's words is too wondrous. On the path of martial arts, I only comprehended these surface meanings: I must be flexible when facing enemies, and I must be courageous, resolute, and decisive.
My martial arts realm is ultimately still too low.
I have too little experience as well. Still, I've firmly remembered Master's words: be flexible and not rigid. I understand now!
Li Xuan glanced at his disciple and muttered inwardly, I wonder whether this foolish disciple filled in the blanks himself, and whether he truly understood what I meant?
He probably understood, right?
After all, this kid's mind is flexible. He doesn't seem like a rigid person.
What should he do next?
Continue teaching Xu Yan cultivation methods?
He had not finished making them up yet!
Since Xu Yan could actually cultivate successfully, and Li Xuan could also obtain feedback, he could no longer truly make things up carelessly. They had to be orderly, profound-sounding, and powerful.
He had not yet figured out the martial arts realms, either.
As for the current beginner realm of martial arts, he would call it the Qi and Blood Realm.
He had made it all up anyway. He could name the realms however he pleased.
How should one cultivate from here onward?
What realms were there?
Li Xuan needed to spend some time pondering it. The levels had to be clearly defined, and they had to sound reasonable, well-founded, and theoretically solid.
Fortunately, in his previous life he had, after all, written web novels. Making up cultivation settings was still not difficult for him.
It would merely take some time.
Thus, Li Xuan said, "You've just broken through. Spend some time stabilizing yourself."
"Yes, Master!"
"Martial arts have no limits. Remember, entering the path is merely the beginning of stepping onto the road of martial arts."
Li Xuan continued in the manner of a strict teacher, "The entry level of martial arts is called the Qi and Blood Realm. You are currently only at the entry level of the Qi and Blood Realm. When you cultivate to the state of Vital Energy I displayed just now, you will have reached great accomplishment in the Qi and Blood Realm."
Upon hearing this, Xu Yan's heart surged with excitement.
So the entry level of martial arts is called the Qi and Blood Realm!
And I've only just entered the Qi and Blood Realm. Master's Vital Energy just now was terrifyingly powerful, yet such frightening strength was merely great accomplishment in the Qi and Blood Realm.
Li Xuan thought of how his strength was a hundred times greater than that of others in the same realm. Even if Xu Yan cultivated to great accomplishment in the Qi and Blood Realm, he would still be far inferior to Li Xuan.
However, Vital Energy soaring a hundred zhang into the sky already counted as great accomplishment in the Qi and Blood Realm.
Thus, he added, "Of course, this master's strength is ultimately too high. Even if you reach great accomplishment in the Qi and Blood Realm, you still won't be able to accomplish what I have. When your Vital Energy rises a hundred zhang, blazing like flames, and evil forces are driven away, that is great accomplishment."
Xu Yan said respectfully, "This disciple understands!"
A hundred zhang of Vital Energy—that was great accomplishment in the Qi and Blood Realm!
He could kill enemies a hundred zhang away!
What astonishing strength that was.
Judging by the strength of the martial artists in Qi Kingdom's jianghu, Xu Yan was certain he could sweep across the entire jianghu. Even those legendary Peak Jianghu Experts would not be able to withstand a single punch from him.
He felt that with his current strength, he could probably ignore even the emperor of Qi Kingdom.
However, he still had to keep a low profile. Who knew whether there were martial arts experts like his master hiding somewhere?
Thus, Xu Yan asked, "Master, how strong is the Martial World? In the Qi Kingdom where this disciple lives, the jianghu's strength is too low. Even if someone is a Peak Jianghu Expert, this disciple feels that I could kill him with a single breath!"
Li Xuan was astonished inwardly. Is Qi Kingdom's martial strength really this low?
Could a single breath truly kill a Peak Jianghu Expert?
However, judging from the strength of the Fire Mane Wolves in Evil Fiend Forest, the martial strength of this world should not be so low.
As for whether the Martial World existed in this world, Li Xuan naturally had no idea. Seeing Xu Yan's expectant gaze, he said, "Once your strength improves, you will naturally come into contact with it. Don't aim too high. With strength this poor, going to a place with many powerful experts would make you nothing more than cannon fodder."
Xu Yan nodded thoughtfully. "Master is right!"
Then, he asked curiously, "Master, what realm are you in?"
Li Xuan smiled mysteriously, raised his head slightly toward the sky, and said faintly, "Realm? That is something far too distant..."
Xu Yan froze. A realm was something far too distant?
Master said that martial arts have no limits. Could he mean that he has already surpassed all existing realms?
At this thought, Xu Yan was shaken to the core.
As expected of my master—a Reclusive Master who has long since transcended the Martial World.
"Master, I understand!"
Xu Yan spoke solemnly.
Li Xuan was somewhat dazed inwardly. What did this foolish disciple understand this time?
He rose to his feet, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked leisurely toward the house. "Disciple, properly stabilize your strength."
"Yes, Master!"
After returning to the house, Li Xuan calmed his agitated heart and began pondering how to make up cultivation techniques.
The entry level of martial arts is the Qi and Blood Realm, and the Qi and Blood Realm cultivates Vital Energy. The stronger the Vital Energy, the stronger the physical body and the greater the strength. How should one cultivate after the Qi and Blood Realm to make it sound reasonable?
Even if I'm making it up, there has to be a framework, a theory, so that my disciple can comprehend it himself.
I've got it!
Above the Qi and Blood Realm is the Innate Realm. Vital Energy is refined into Innate True Qi.
Those in the innate state can ride qi through the air and cross a hundred li in an instant...
How should one cultivate to become innate?
After pondering for a while, Li Xuan settled on the realm after the Qi and Blood Realm: the Innate Realm!
But how was one supposed to break through to the Innate Realm?
What Li Xuan had thought of was refining Vital Energy into true qi. The first step would be to open up the Dantian Sea of Qi...
Open up the Dantian Sea of Qi, refine true qi, and transform the acquired into the innate... How should the Dantian be opened?
Forget it. Having a theory is enough. I'll leave it to my disciple to comprehend. It should be fine, right?
The Ren and Du meridians... Open the Ren and Du meridians... That doesn't sound profound enough. Then I'll call it the Heaven and Earth Bridge?
That's it. It will be called the Heaven and Earth Bridge. Open the Heaven and Earth Bridge and lay the foundation for controlling the Heaven and Earth Power...
Before you continue