Seizing a Thread of Life Mechanism

Chen Chuan realized this could not go on, so with a thought, the pain gradually faded as he transferred it to the "Second Self."

The "Second Self" could bear both injury and pain, but this time, he had only shifted away the pain.

Because he knew that the damage caused by the medicinal power might be the direct source of stimulation. Without any injury at all, the medicinal power would fail to penetrate as intended.

But this was enough. Without pain interfering, he could focus his attention on the Breathing Method.

Yu Gang watched calmly from the side.

He had expected Chen Chuan's breathing to fall into disorder right from the start. This was basically how everyone reacted when first attempting the Breathing Method. If Chen Chuan could not bear it and was unable to continue properly, Yu Gang would step in to stop him, then disperse the accumulated medicinal power through patting and rinsing before waiting for another attempt. Otherwise, his body would only be damaged for nothing.

Nor had he expected Chen Chuan to succeed in one try. He knew very well how agonizing the stimulation of medicinal power was, especially upon first contact. Very few people could endure it.

Generally speaking, even those with firm wills needed two or three attempts before they could adapt and proceed relatively normally. A few more tries would not be strange. But more often, people could not endure such torment and gave up halfway through.

Yet very quickly, a ripple appeared in his previously calm expression, because after merely half a minute, Chen Chuan's breathing stabilized.

He stared fixedly at Chen Chuan. This kid was not simple.

Chen Chuan was carefully guiding his breathing, but after two consecutive rounds, he had found neither any trick, nor any pattern, nor any trace of breath. He was completely at sea.

As the medicinal power gradually dissipated, there was not enough time left to complete a third round. To avoid leaving behind hidden problems, he simply had the "Second Self" bear the damage to his body during the process as well.

This caused dense patches of varying degrees and sizes of fading to appear on the "Second Self," like numerous holes of mist in the air. Seeing this scene, something stirred in his heart, and an idea suddenly came to him...

"Alright, stop for now." Yu Gang spoke at this moment. "Time is about up."

Chen Chuan hurriedly asked, "Mr. Yu, can I continue again shortly?"

Yu Gang saw that not only did Chen Chuan show no resistance or aversion, there was even a hint of eagerness in his expression. He fell silent for a moment before saying, "Go rinse off in the washroom next door. Rest for half an hour first."

Chen Chuan acknowledged him, picked up the large glass of salt water Yu Gang had prepared on the table, drank it, then went to the washroom next door and turned on the simple shower to rinse himself.

At this point, he felt extremely hungry. After all, he had not eaten lunch yet, and the Breathing Method stimulated vitality and mobilized his blood and qi, greatly draining his body. Once he had rinsed off, he asked, "Mr. Yu, is there anything to eat here?"

Yu Gang had long been prepared. He tossed him a plastic-sealed box about two fingers wide and fifteen centimeters long, saying, "Longde Food's Nutrient Paste. It doesn't taste like much, but it has all the nutrients necessary for combat training. If you go to Wu University, you'll have to eat this every day."

Chen Chuan tore open the outer wrapping and saw a whole strip of green paste inside. He did not disdain it, stuffing it into his mouth and swallowing it in a few bites. Sure enough, it had almost no flavor, but before long, he felt as though his spirit had returned to his whole body, and he was no longer as hungry. The effect was immediate.

After resting for more than ten minutes, he reapplied the medicinal paste with Yu Gang's help and began his second attempt.

This time, he had experience. When the burning pain swept through his body once more, he immediately shifted away the pain and part of the damage with his consciousness. As he used the Breathing Method, he also looked toward the "Second Self." He could see that as the Breathing Method progressed, varying degrees of fading appeared on the "Second Self" again.

He watched carefully and could determine that these manifestations of fading were intimately tied to his breathing.

The degree of fading in those areas fluctuated between strong and weak, appearing intermittently. This should have been because his breathing was guiding vitality and blood and qi. Damage from medicinal power alone would not manifest in such a complex manner.

But through this, he could also directly see the function of the Breathing Method. At present, because his guidance of the Breathing Method was not in place, the blood and qi and vitality became chaotic and scattered when mobilized. Could it be understood this way: when the faded areas no longer differed in strength or weakness, when they became smoothly connected and gradually converged, would that achieve the whole Yu Gang had spoken of?

He felt this was highly possible. And when he could find no clue, it was worth trying. Even if he was wrong, he could use the "Second Self" to remove the damage. Thus, he began deliberately adjusting his breathing rhythm according to the fading displayed on the "Second Self."

Half an hour later, he had no choice but to stop once again. Though somewhat exhausted and breathing a little heavily, his heart was filled with excitement, because he felt he had vaguely touched the edge of it. He was very likely on the right path! Yu Gang looked at him, then at the mixture of sweat and medicinal paste flowing down beneath his feet, and said, "Even with Restorative Medicine/Food, a person can attempt this at most three or four times a day. Do you still want to continue?"

Chen Chuan said with great determination, "Continue!"

After rinsing off and resting, he immediately began his third attempt.

With his efforts to adjust again and again, those signs of fading finally began to converge, as if they had been linked together. At this point, he gradually sensed something as well. But just as he was about to seize that thread of insight, the medicinal power's duration ran out once more.

He could only wait until the next attempt.

But when he stood up this time, he suddenly felt weak and short of breath. His head spun, and he could not stand steadily, causing him to slump back down. Even though he had shifted away the pain and part of the damage, the remaining medicinal stimulation was still real.

Seeing him like this, Yu Gang said, "Let's stop here for today. Training the Breathing Method, lifting blood and qi, and the stimulation of the medicine will place a heavy burden on your internal organs."

Chen Chuan raised his head and said, "Mr. Yu said a person can do it up to four times. I still want to try once more."

Yu Gang met his gaze and sensed that absolute determination never to retreat. In a deep voice, he said, "Since you insist, then try one last time."

As usual, Chen Chuan went to rinse off. After returning, he ate two strips of Nutrient Paste in succession, then began his fourth attempt after resting.

He believed he had found the right direction. The damage displayed on the "Second Self" was like a correcting ruler, allowing him to draw ever closer to what was right.

This time, he had to press on in one burst.

Yu Gang gazed intently at Chen Chuan. The damage from the medicinal paste was immense, not only physically but psychologically as well. After suffering such double devastation again and again, how many people could persist?

Four attempts were only theoretical. Ordinary people could not endure more than one or two rounds. He had not expected Chen Chuan to persist this far.

After cooking the meat, Lu Ke came running upstairs again. When he saw Chen Chuan making desperate attempt after desperate attempt, his eyes could not help widening.

At the beginning of the year, he had attempted the Breathing Method once. He would never forget that feeling.

At first, it was only a burning, stabbing pain. But later, it felt as if countless ants were crawling beneath his skin, and an indescribable agitation would arise in his heart, making him want to shout and scream, leap up, and flail his fists and feet.

Because he could not endure several attempts, Yu Gang had concluded that he was not ready yet and temporarily halted this cultivation.

Even now, he had not escaped that shadow. Whenever he recalled it, he faintly felt phantom pain.

Yet Chen Chuan, this rich young master from the city whom he thought had never suffered much, had actually persisted all the way through. He could not describe how he felt—perhaps admiration and jealousy intertwined, with even a tiny part of him hoping Chen Chuan would fail.

At this point, he could not help asking, "Master, can Young Master Chen do it?"

Yu Gang said, "Combat Cultivation has six elements: goal, determination, action, perseverance, luck, and talent. At the beginning, I confirmed his goal and determination. Now I have seen his action and perseverance. He already possesses four of them."

Lu Ke gave an oh. He did not look at Yu Gang, merely asking, "Then, Master, since Young Master Chen possesses four of them, he should find the trick soon, right?"

Yu Gang said in a deep voice, "No. Of the six elements, talent is the hardest to possess, but luck is actually the most indispensable."

At this moment, Chen Chuan had completely concentrated his entire body and mind on his breathing, almost losing all awareness of the outside world.

Just a little more. Just a little more.

Under his efforts, the correction of the Breathing Method had reached its final stage. When all the flickering lights gradually aligned, he sensed the presence of a hidden current of qi. He could not say what it was, but it seemed that by following this pattern, the originally separate and scattered breaths were gathered together.

In an instant, he finally understood what Yu Gang meant by a whole.

At this point, the medicinal power was almost spent as well, and he stopped.

Yu Gang watched him sit there without moving, his body merely rising and falling slightly with his breathing. "No need to rush. You must first eat some Restorative Medicine/Food. Continue trying tomorrow."

Chen Chuan slowly raised his head. Bright light flickered in his eyes as he said, "I think... I seem to have found the trick."