Blood Nourishing Stance Art, Skill Fusion

"The first realm of Martial Path cultivation is called the Qi and Blood Realm, though some places call it the Foundation Establishment Realm. The Qi and Blood Realm is further divided into three minor realms: Qi Cultivation, Strength Training, and Blood Condensation."

A moment later, in a corner of the Training Ground, Qin Hu was explaining some fundamental knowledge of Martial Path cultivation to Gu Yang.

He knew Gu Yang had previously known nothing at all about Martial Path cultivation, so he explained everything in exceptional detail.

"Qi Cultivation, as the name implies, nourishes one's vitality and blood while regulating the body. Once Qi Cultivation is complete, a martial artist will become strong and robust, immune to all ailments, capable of lifting a three-hundred-jin stone lock with one arm."

"Strength Training is the tempering of one's strength. Through Stance Training, equipment, and dietary supplements, one increases one's power. When you can swing one arm with the force of a thousand jin, the Strength Training stage is complete."

"As for the final Blood Condensation stage, what it condenses is the Vitality Force within the body. The vitality and blood of ordinary people are scattered throughout their bodies; naturally, such vitality and blood cannot become a form of power. But we martial artists cultivate this Vitality Force within us. Condense the vitality and blood throughout the entire body into a single force, unleash it, and the strength of one arm can reach a hundred jun—three thousand jin of tremendous power."

Gu Yang listened intently to Qin Hu's explanation, his eyes full of hope.

Martial Path cultivation clearly developed the potential of the physical body far better than exercising on his own.

At that moment, he desperately wished to begin learning the Blood Nourishing Stance that Qin Hu had mentioned at once.

Seemingly noticing the longing in Gu Yang's eyes, Qin Hu did not beat around the bush. He said directly, "Next, I'll teach you the Stance Training cultivated in the Qi and Blood Realm: the Blood Nourishing Stance. The Blood Nourishing Stance has three stances and forty-eight movements. Watch carefully."

As he spoke, Qin Hu began demonstrating the Blood Nourishing Stance.

The stance movements unfolded like drifting clouds and flowing water, one move linked to the next, reaching the final closing form in an instant.

"Well? Have you learned it?" Qin Hu suddenly asked after withdrawing his stance.

"...What?" Gu Yang's eyes widened. He wanted to tell Qin Hu that he had not remembered more than a few movements, much less learned them.

Yet Qin Hu gave him no chance to say so. He merely waved a hand. "Since you're not a genius who learns it at a glance, practice seriously. Understand?"

"Yes, I understand, Master Qin." Only then did Gu Yang realize that Qin Hu had done it deliberately, to knock down his confidence and keep him from becoming arrogant.

This was probably Qin Hu's usual teaching method. Gu Yang offered no opinion on it; in any case, he would certainly study with all his heart.

Over the following period, Qin Hu began breaking down every movement one by one, teaching Gu Yang alongside the rhythm of breathing.

Qin Hu taught in great detail, while Gu Yang memorized and practiced along with him.

Unfortunately, it seemed as though his mind had learned it, but his body still knew nothing at all.

Compared to the graceful movements in Qin Hu's hands, Gu Yang's practice looked like that of a robot with stiff limbs, every movement extremely rigid.

Before long, all forty-eight movements had been broken down once. Qin Hu immediately demanded that Gu Yang demonstrate them for him.

"Alright." Although his movements were not standard, Gu Yang still began practicing earnestly.

One movement followed another. When Gu Yang reached halfway through the sequence, he stopped. He had already forgotten the movements that came after; even if he continued, he would only be practicing blindly.

This time, Qin Hu did not criticize or discourage him. Instead, he patiently taught and demonstrated every movement of the Blood Nourishing Stance again, then had Gu Yang practice it once more.

Once, twice...

After five repetitions, Qin Hu saw that Gu Yang had memorized every movement of the Stance Training and began correcting his movements and breathing rhythm.

Whenever Gu Yang's movements were not standard, Qin Hu would press heavily on one of his joints.

Pain shot through his body, and Gu Yang naturally began correcting his movements.

However, nearly every one of Gu Yang's movements was incorrect. This meant that after completing the entire set of Stance Training, Qin Hu had pressed him more than forty times.

With a muffled groan, Gu Yang collapsed to the ground. His hands clenched into fists, his teeth gritted tight as he kept himself from crying out in agony.

It hurt far too much.

The ceaseless pain radiating from within made Gu Yang want to tear open his own flesh and rip away the places emitting the pain.

Looking at Gu Yang's twisted expression, yet seeing that he still did not utter a sound, Qin Hu's face gained a hint of approval before turning to regret.

"Good resilience. He's a fine seedling, but it's a pity he started too late."

Everyone knew that the best age to practice martial arts was ten.

At ten, the bones had yet to settle, the body had not fully matured, and one's potential was immense. Cultivating Stance Training then would yield twice the result with half the effort.

But Gu Yang was already fifteen this year. His body had basically matured, his potential was limited, and only beginning cultivation now meant twice the effort for half the result.

Still, nothing in the world was absolute. Qin Hu felt that with this resilience, Gu Yang might not necessarily be unable to break through Strength Training and condense his vitality and blood.

Of course, even if he had hope of Blood Condensation, by then there would long be no hope of advancing any further.

After a long while, Gu Yang finally recovered.

The first thing he did was rise to his feet and begin practicing the Blood Nourishing Stance Art again.

The veins on his forehead bulged, and pain wracked every inch of his body, yet Gu Yang persisted.

At last, he completed the full set of Stance Training, all forty-eight movements, and heard Qin Hu's approving voice. "Not bad. Your movements are very standard."

Hearing this, Gu Yang revealed a carefree smile. He dropped onto the ground on his butt and panted in great gulps.

"Rest here for now. At noon, follow those children to the cafeteria for lunch."

Qin Hu gave this instruction before turning and walking away, leaving Gu Yang alone, sitting in that corner with his head lowered against the wall.

"Gather up, you little brats! Break time is over! Get back to drilling!"

From far away, Qin Hu's roar rang clearly in Gu Yang's ears.

Gu Yang smiled knowingly and gently closed his eyes. Brilliant starlight lit up once more.

Skill: Blood Nourishing Stance (1/100); Exercise (55/100)

Talent: None

Skills 'Blood Nourishing Stance' and 'Exercise' can be fused. Fuse?

Gu Yang raised a brow. He had not expected that skills could actually be fused with one another.

What, then, were the benefits of fusion?

As his thoughts turned, the words before Gu Yang suddenly shifted.

The Exercise skill suddenly disappeared, while the Blood Nourishing Stance's proficiency rose from 1 to 12.

Gu Yang's gaze sharpened. The change suddenly reset, as though what he had just seen had been nothing but an illusion.

But Gu Yang knew it had not been an illusion. It was the result of skill fusion being simulated in advance.

After silently pondering for a moment, Gu Yang muttered "Fuse" in his heart, imagining Exercise merging into the Blood Nourishing Stance.

In any case, he would certainly no longer waste time exercising his body in the days ahead. Since that was the case, he might as well merge the Exercise skill into the Blood Nourishing Stance Art.

As the thought arose in Gu Yang's mind, his vision darkened again, black as ink, as though he had gone blind.

The next instant, brightness returned to his eyes and starlight bloomed. Memories of himself endlessly practicing the Blood Nourishing Stance suddenly surfaced in Gu Yang's mind.

Move by move, from unfamiliarity to familiarity, he gained some understanding of the Blood Nourishing Stance's breathing rhythm and the essentials of Stance Training.

At the same time, the three lines of text had changed at some unknown moment.

Skill: Blood Nourishing Stance (12/100)

Talent: None

"The Exercise skill has indeed disappeared, and I have a vague premonition that it can never form into a skill again. But the Blood Nourishing Stance Art's proficiency has risen by 11 points, and I've become more familiar with the Blood Nourishing Stance's movements. All in all, it's a great bargain."

Gu Yang's brows relaxed, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

"Exercise was only a helpless choice from before. The Martial Path is the true road. Just as Master Qin said, only through martial arts can one change one's fate."