War-level

War-level

The night passed quickly.

In theory, practicing a Visualization Method should have left one brimming with energy, yet when Baili Qingfeng got up the next morning, he instead felt as though he had not slept enough.

Still drowsy, Baili Qingfeng got out of bed, chose a loose tracksuit, and went to the mirror. Reflected there was an ordinary-looking youth, yet one who carried a steady, composed air.

It would have been even better without the dark circles under his eyes.

After straightening his clothes, he left home and took the bus with Baili Hong toward Sanshun Town outside the city.

Forty-three minutes later, the two got off the bus.

"Wait here for a while and don't wander off. I'm going to buy some oranges."

Baili Qingfeng nodded.

Before long, Baili Hong arrived at the courtyard carrying fruit and some supplements.

No one was practicing martial arts in the courtyard this time. When the two entered the house, Baili Changkong was already waiting inside.

"Qingfeng, go hold a stance for a while first. Your father and I need to talk."

Baili Changkong said this, then had Baili Ruoshui keep an eye on him.

Baili Qingfeng held his stance outside for a while when Baili Ruoxue emerged. Dressed in a gray martial arts uniform, her features were delicate and pretty, and the radiant bloom of her youthful beauty was almost dazzling.

The moment Baili Ruoxue arrived, she stared at Baili Qingfeng and looked him over repeatedly. Had Baili Qingfeng been a shy boy his age, that gaze alone would have made it hard for him to stand still.

"Little sister, don't disturb Brother Qingfeng while he's practicing."

Baili Ruoshui said from the side.

"I just wanted to see what was different about him. Looking at him now, he's nothing special."

Baili Ruoxue muttered.

After saying that, she began practicing nearby. What she practiced was not boxing, but swordsmanship. With her pure, lovely appearance and the coordination of her swordplay and footwork, she looked like a beautiful scene in motion.

Inside, Baili Changkong had no idea what he had discussed with Baili Hong. In the end, Baili Hong came out looking somewhat displeased. He glanced at Baili Qingfeng, but quickly reined in his emotions and said, "Qingfeng, keep practicing here for now. If you're really tired, then forget it."

"I understand."

Baili Qingfeng nodded.

After Baili Hong left, Baili Changkong came out and personally began instructing Baili Qingfeng.

In the blink of an eye, it was noon.

Taking advantage of lunchtime, Baili Changkong began speaking with some pride. "Our lineage has some renown even in Xia. The Rushing Thunder Thirty-Six Forms are a first-rate body refining art. They strengthen the physique externally and refine essence and blood internally. At its peak, one punch can carry a thousand jin of force. Thunder Breath is even more remarkable; it is one of Xia's finest breathing arts. Once mastered, it can stimulate one's potential and help one break past one's limits. Back in your grandfather's generation, countless people came to our Baili Family seeking instruction. Those wishing to take us as masters could line up all the way from Sanshun to the city district. Those were days of boundless glory..."

Second Grandfather Baili Changkong had begun his daily boasting.

"Second Grandfather, I found a Visualization Method. Take a look."

Seizing an opening, Baili Qingfeng handed the printed Thunder Sovereign Spirit Refinement Visualization Method to Baili Changkong.

"This..."

Baili Changkong had been somewhat unhappy that Baili Qingfeng interrupted his account of the Baili Family's glorious history. Yet after glancing over the Visualization Method, his eyes swiftly widened, and even his hands began trembling slightly. "Th-this is the Thunder Sovereign Spirit Refinement Visualization Method lost by our Baili Lineage... This Visualization Method represents the highest secret of our lineage. How did it end up in your hands... Could it be that Grandfather passed this Visualization Method on to your Little Uncle and the others back then!?"

"No, I found it online."

"Online? On the spiderwebs at home?"

Baili Changkong looked puzzled.

"..."

Baili Qingfeng.

So this was why one had to read more. Only by mastering knowledge could one master the core driving force.

However, Baili Changkong's confusion was soon washed away by the joy of recovering the Thunder Sovereign Spirit Refinement Visualization Method. He flipped through it for a while, and after confirming that this Spirit Refining Method was genuine, he could not help slapping his thigh. "Good! Qingfeng, you truly are the lucky star of our Baili Family! The moment you decided to learn martial arts, you found the Spirit Refining Method our Baili Family lost nearly a century ago. With this Spirit Refining Method, along with the Ancient Thunder Beast Diagram preserved by our family, the cultivation path of our Baili Lineage is complete once more. Your Little Uncle and I may yet rise to another level in cultivation."

This Visualization Method he had found online really was the Thunder Sovereign Spirit Refinement Method lost by the Baili Family. What else could Baili Qingfeng say? "As long as Grandfather is happy."

"Happy, very happy."

"Yesterday, when I got home, I looked up some information on martial arts. It seems martial artists are ranked too? Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, and so on. Could you tell me about it?"

"The Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 rankings for martial artists do not really have much reference value. They are merely a mechanism created by the World Martial Arts Association to help governments manage martial artists more conveniently. Just take a look; there is no need to take them seriously. Some top experts would never bother testing for those levels. Would Sword Casting Masters go take an exam for a craftsman's certification?"

Baili Changkong said disdainfully.

"Second Grandfather is a top expert!?"

Baili Changkong's face darkened. "Although I am not a top expert, I am only that little bit away from becoming one... just a tiny bit more. Why are you asking about these things? You child, you always like aiming too high."

"I heard that some martial artists can throw a punch, and before the fist even arrives, it feels as though it could shatter someone else's spirit. What realm is that?"

"That is an expert who has cultivated Fist Intent. A martial artist can nurture Fist Intent upon reaching the Spirit Refining stage, but not many can truly cultivate it."

"Spirit Refining?"

"Fine, I'll tell you about it."

Baili Changkong paused and organized his words. "When ordinary people throw a punch, they use the strength in their arms. But when martial artists punch, it is not just their arms—their legs, waist, and spine exert force at the same time, twisting all that power into a single strand and driving it through the arm. It is equivalent to using the strength of the entire body, like a great dragon. In martial artists' terms, this strength is called force. When you can gather all your strength into a single current of force, you can be considered a true martial artist."

"A Level 1 Warrior?"

"You could say that, but that description is not rigorous. A two-meter-tall muscular giant and a skinny man only one meter sixty tall may both cultivate force and both be Level 1 Warriors, but do you think the strength of their force can truly be compared?"

Baili Qingfeng fell into thought.

"According to the Martial Arts Association, condensing force makes one a Level 1 Warrior, nurturing Qi and Blood makes one a Level 2 Warrior, and uniting qi and spirit makes one a Level 3 Warrior. These three steps are respectively strengthening the body and refining essence, refining essence and nourishing qi, and refining qi and nourishing spirit. As for what comes after..."

"I know. After that comes Spirit Refining and Returning to Emptiness, and after that, the ultimate realm: Refining Emptiness and Uniting with the Dao."

Baili Qingfeng spoke slowly.

"What Spirit Refining and Returning to Emptiness, what Refining Emptiness and Uniting with the Dao? Nonsense. When Essence, Qi, and Spirit have been cultivated to perfection, one uses essence as kindling, qi as oil, and spirit as flame. With Three Essences United as One, one breaks open the Mysterious Gate Aperture and nurtures the first strand of Inner Breath. From then on, one returns from Houtian to the Xiantian Realm, the entire body free of impurity and untouched by a hundred illnesses. In ancient times, this realm was called Three Flowers Gather on the Crown. Such people were grandmasters who could establish their own schools, roam the world unchecked, and break armies of a thousand with their strength. But in modern times..."

"After Three Flowers Gather on the Crown comes Five Qi Unification, right?"

Baili Qingfeng said.

"...You are correct."

"I understand. Essence Refining is Level 1, Qi Refining is Level 2, Spirit Refining is Level 3, Three Flowers Gather on the Crown is Level 4, and Five Qi Unification is Level 5."

"No. Levels 4 through 6 are Three Flowers Gather on the Crown, while Levels 7 through 9 are Five Qi Unification! Besides, Three Flowers Gather on the Crown is merely the ancient term. In modern times, we call this level..."

Baili Changkong lowered his voice slightly, building up a weighty atmosphere. "War-level!"

"War-level? Why is it called War-level?"

"Because even in the modern age, such experts can still influence the outcome of a war within a limited area."

As Baili Changkong spoke, he glanced sidelong at Baili Ruoxue, whose eyes were shining, and at Baili Qingfeng, who had kept asking these questions. "You little ones should master your foundations first. If you can cultivate force, you can receive quite decent treatment from relevant companies. If you can nurture Qi and Blood, you can already be considered skilled; taking on ten ordinary strong men alone would be no problem. If you can nourish spirit with qi, you can rank among the best in martial artist circles across an entire county or city."

"What about the War-level that unites the Three Essences, breaks open the Mysterious Gate, and nurtures Inner Breath?"

"Every War-level martial artist can be called a Kingdom Expert. Even the weakest War-level expert would immediately be approached by state departments and granted the rank of reserve Major, along with a monthly subsidy of one or two thousand yuan."

"Wow, one or two thousand!?"

Baili Ruoxue immediately cried out, "That much? My father only earns six or seven hundred a month."

"What is that? If you are willing to take up a post, even the income from a nominal position can double, while an actual position pays even more. So, little ones, practice well. The prospects of martial arts are not nearly as bleak as your parents and family imagine."