Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique

Great Zhou Dynasty, Qingzhou, Qingyuan Sect.

Yang Chan felt the blood and qi in his body slowly recovering and let out a long breath.

He was not originally from this world. Back in Zhonghua, he had been a programmer who cared deeply about health preservation, all to save his somewhat endangered hairline. He would soak wolfberries, red dates, longans, blueberries, and other supplements together for drinking, and in his spare time he practiced the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique by following videos. His health regimen had shown modest results, and his hairline had stopped receding.

Until one day, a client sent over an urgent request, and his unscrupulous boss demanded that he work through the night to meet the deadline. Yang Chan had refused in his heart to do something like earning money with his life—after all, he was someone who valued health preservation. But this time, that unscrupulous boss had bled heavily. The offer was simply too much.

After staying up for three consecutive days to finish the client's request, Yang Chan had just stood up when his vision swam and his head spun. Waves of pain came from his chest, and then his body swayed before collapsing.

"Damned capitalists! I'll never stay up all night working overtime again in this life, not even for more money!"

"Work overtime through the night? Even dogs wouldn't do it!"

Before he fainted, Yang Chan thought exactly that. Then he truly accomplished it—he never got another chance to work overtime in his previous life.

Staying up late harmed the body and drained one's life away. Given another choice, Yang Chan would definitely fling the client's request into his unscrupulous boss's face and swagger off to join the ranks of shut-ins, rather than struggle to survive in this chaotic age where imperial power was crumbling, bandits ran rampant, and disasters came one after another.

As the saying went, better be a dog in peaceful times than a man in troubled times.

With no choice left, Yang Chan could only curse that unscrupulous boss again, wishing him ten centimeters shorter and unable to last even a minute. Then he looked at the virtual panel before him. This was the foundation upon which he could establish himself in this chaotic world.

[Name: Yang Chan]

[Lifespan: 16/53]

[Talent: 4]

[Potential Points: 0]

[Mastered Professions: Pharmacist (Beginner 25%)]

[Comprehended Techniques: Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique (First Stage Peeking into the Threshold 10%), Ox Demon Strength Fist (Beginner 40%)]

During this time, Yang Chan had thoroughly figured out the purpose of the panel before him. It was a panel for allocating points and displaying proficiency. Once proficiency reached one hundred percent, it would automatically advance.

At first, the panel had not looked like this. Instead, it had been:

[Name: Yang Chan]

[Lifespan: 16/49]

[Talent: 3]

[Potential Points: 2]

[Mastered Professions: Pharmacist (Beginner 25%)]

[Comprehended Techniques: Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique (Beginner 50%), Ox Demon Strength Fist (Beginner 40%)]

After he had used up both Potential Points on the panel, it had become the panel above.

After allocating the two Potential Points to the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique, the technique had directly advanced to First Stage Peeking into the Threshold. It increased his lifespan by four years and raised his talent by one point.

"I studied the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique for so long by following videos, yet I only reached fifty percent Beginner. No wonder its health-preserving effects were so mediocre—I couldn't even endure three straight days of staying up late. If I'd known, I should've spent more time on the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique. Maybe I wouldn't have transmigrated into this world."

When Yang Chan saw the proficiency on the panel, he regretted spending more of his spare time watching beauty videos. The Beauty Health Preservation Method seemed to have had no effect at all, because even the panel did not acknowledge it.

The proficiency for the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique on the panel had been brought over by Yang Chan himself and directly added to the panel.

After allocating points to the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique, aside from the changes on the panel, Yang Chan's complexion had grown rosy. The depletion of his blood and qi caused by forcibly practicing the Ox Demon Strength Fist was also slowly recovering.

His strength had noticeably increased as well. A warm current flowed through his entire body, speeding up the recovery of his blood and qi by several degrees.

His current identity was that of a Steward Disciple of the Qingyuan Sect. He had entered the sect two and a half years ago. If he could not comprehend Jing Power within the three-year limit, he would be driven out of the Qingyuan Sect.

At this time, the political situation in the Great Zhou Dynasty was chaotic, disasters never ceased, and the common people could barely survive. If he were driven out of the Qingyuan Sect, it would be difficult for him to stay alive amid such turmoil. Remaining a Steward Disciple in the Qingyuan Sect, at least, meant he could live.

If he were driven out of the Qingyuan Sect, he would also lose his only possible chance to rise. Therefore, although the previous owner of this body knew there was a problem with forcibly practicing the Ox Demon Strength Fist, he had still trained desperately, all to comprehend Jing Power, become a Formal Disciple of the Qingyuan Sect, and gain the sect's protection.

There were quite a few people in the Qingyuan Sect like Yang Chan, all gambling on a sliver of opportunity. Success meant soaring into the heavens in a single leap; failure meant vanishing without a sound.

Practicing a fist technique like the Ox Demon Strength Fist required sufficient food and medicinal supplements, because martial cultivation consumed the body's essence and vitality. Without enough medicine and food to replenish oneself, forcing cultivation would consume one's essence and vitality instead. Over time, this would lead to depleted blood and qi, ending in death from exhaustion.

This was also the fate of most Steward Disciples in the Qingyuan Sect: ordinary talent, no nourishing supplements, yet fighting for that faint and distant chance.

The Qingyuan Sect's Steward Disciples received a fixed amount of food each day. Under normal circumstances, they could practice the Ox Demon Strength Fist twice daily without damaging their foundation. Any more than that would harm the body. This was also how the sect selected those with exceptional talent from among them.

When Yang Chan transmigrated here, his body's blood and qi had been severely depleted. The previous owner had died because of this. Left with no other option, he could only allocate points to the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique first. After all, it was a Life-Nourishing Technique. It nourished life and prolonged longevity, replenishing the body's essence and vitality as well as its depleted blood and qi.

The results were much as Yang Chan had expected.

As for the Ox Demon Strength Fist, which concerned his future prospects, he could only put it off for later. Once his life was gone, what use were prospects?

Besides, allocating points to the Ox Demon Strength Fist would only accelerate the consumption of the essence, vitality, blood, and qi in his body, causing him to die once more from depletion.

Allocating points to the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique, on the other hand, had produced obvious results. If he continued practicing it, his body would grow stronger and stronger. His strength, the recovery speed of his blood and qi, and other aspects would all improve, while the Lifespan and Talent on the panel would surely continue to rise.

He had read records stating that True Master Zhang, Zhang Sanfeng, the creator of Tai Chi Fist, had lived to be 218 years old. Since he practiced the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique, it should be perfectly normal for him to live just a little longer than Zhang Sanfeng, the founding patriarch who created Tai Chi Fist!

After all, he possessed a panel for allocating points and tracking proficiency. His upper limit should be even higher.

Yang Chan set himself a small goal: first, live for a thousand years, and make up double for the years he had not lived enough in his previous life.

On the panel, Yang Chan had the profession of Pharmacist under Mastered Professions. It was a profession gained from working for the Medicine Hall of the Qingyuan Sect as a Steward Disciple.

Not long after Yang Chan allocated points to the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique, his body had completely recovered. He was in better condition than at any previous time, which also meant that he could continue practicing the Ox Demon Strength Fist.

"After the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique advanced to First Stage Peeking into the Threshold, its effects are actually this good."

"Others have to worry about the risk of depleted blood and qi, but I don't have that concern. As long as I practice the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique or rest a little longer, my blood and qi will slowly recover."

"Even without Potential Points now, my chances of comprehending Jing Power will rise greatly."

Feeling the abundant power of blood and qi within his body, Yang Chan revealed a delighted smile.