Discussing the Dao of Body Refinement, Houyi is Subdued

Since that day, after obtaining an earth-shattering opportunity in the ancestral land, Lin Xuan's status within the Houtu Tribe became extraordinary. This was not only because the trace of pure Pangu aura he carried earned him genuine respect from the Witch Tribe, from top to bottom, but also because of the unique insights into "strength" and "body" he demonstrated in the following days, which completely won over the Witch Tribe, who revered strength above all else, especially Great Witch Houyi.

One day, in the open space at the center of the tribe, the bonfire was unlit, yet many people had gathered. Houyi, Kuafu, and several Witch Tribe warriors particularly obsessed with body refinement sat in a circle, with Lin Xuan in the center. This was not a formal sermon, but more like a casual exchange. It began when Kuafu, while practicing throwing a heavy stone, had some questions about the technique of exerting force and sought Lin Xuan's advice.

Lin Xuan did not answer directly but first asked Kuafu to demonstrate again. Kuafu concentrated, his muscles bulging, his Qi and Blood surging like mercury, and he hurled a thousand-pound boulder with immense force, its trajectory sharp as it cut through the air.

"Brother Kuafu's strength is fierce and unparalleled, I admire it," Lin Xuan praised sincerely at first, then shifted his tone. "However, I observed that your exertion of force mainly relies on your shoulders, arms, and lower back. Like a strong bow or a rigid crossbow, it is certainly powerful, but..." He paused, searching for the right words, "...it places an immense burden on your own bones and muscles, and your strength falls short. You haven't managed to unite your entire body's power into one, reaching its peak."

Upon hearing this, Houyi raised his thick eyebrows, a look of interest appearing on his face. He was a master of this art himself and naturally understood that Lin Xuan's words were not false. The Witch Tribe's body refinement relied heavily on talent and instinct; they did not excel in the intricate application of strength. "Oh? Xuanyuanzi, judging by your words, you seem to have profound insights? Could it be that your human Qi-refining methods also emphasize these things?"

Lin Xuan smiled slightly, knowing the crucial moment had arrived. He needed to use a way the Witch Tribe could understand to subtly integrate concepts from modern sports mechanics and biology into his interpretation of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, thereby demonstrating his value and truly gaining the recognition of these powerhouses.

He stood up and walked to the center of the open space. He didn't circulate much magic power, but purely using the strong physique honed by the first rotation of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, he struck a simple boxing stance.

"Brother Houyi, Brother Kuafu, everyone," Lin Xuan's voice was calm. "The cultivation method I practice focuses on excavating the treasure within the physical body itself. In my view, the human body is a universe, containing infinite power. Exerting force is not simply about muscle bulging; it is a science."

He first pointed to his calves and ankles: "The root of exerting force lies in the earth. The soles of your feet grip the ground, and the power rises from the soles, like the branches of a large tree. The deeper the roots, the more stable it is, and the more powerful the exertion. This is 'Strength Rises from the Ground'." This secretly aligned with the Witch Tribe's reverence for the earth, and several Witch Tribe members nodded.

Next, he slowly demonstrated, his movements gentle, yet clearly showing the vibration of muscles and the rotation of joints: "Power rises from the roots of your feet, passing through the ankles, knees, and hips, flowing segment by segment, like waves pushing forward, each wave higher than the last. The waist is the pivot, connecting the upper and lower body, integrating the power from the lower limbs, and then channeling it into the spine."

As he spoke, he gestured with his hands to illustrate the trajectory of force: "The spine is like a dragon, undulating segment by segment, transmitting power to the shoulders, elbows, and wrists, finally reaching the fingertips. This is a complete 'Kinetic Chain'. If any link in this chain is disconnected or the force is not applied smoothly, the power will diminish and dissipate."

To make it more intuitive for the Witch Tribe, he used several clever analogies:

"Have you all ever thought about why an arrow flies farther when the bowstring is drawn tighter? Because the stored power is sufficient, and its release is complete. Our muscles and tendons are like the 'bowstrings' of the body; they need to be moderately stretched (warmed up) before they can unleash their strongest force. Constant tension, on the other hand, is more likely to cause injury."

"Consider throwing a stone again. It's not that the thicker your arm, the farther you can throw. The key is to find the optimal fulcrum for exerting force (lever) and the control at the moment the stone leaves your hand (acceleration). This is 'timing of force exertion' and 'efficiency of force transmission'."

He even introduced more microscopic concepts, of course, using Primordial Era terminology: "Within our bodies, there are countless fine 'Qi and Blood Units' (cells) as small as dust. Every exertion of force is the result of these 'Qi and Blood Units' working in synergy. Body refinement is not just about tempering large muscles and bones, but also about awakening and coordinating these billions of 'Qi and Blood Units', making them obey your commands, so that the body's power can be maximized, and unnecessary losses reduced. This is 'Micro-control of Strength'."

Finally, he touched upon the concepts of fatigue and recovery, which directly addressed the drawback of the Witch Tribe's cultivation, which overly relied on talent and could easily leave hidden injuries: "Continuous exertion of fierce power is like a strong bow constantly being strung; eventually, it will break. After exerting force, one needs to relax and guide the Qi and Blood to nourish the muscles and repair subtle injuries. This is the long-term path. Strength cannot last forever; gentleness can overcome strength. A balance of tension and relaxation is the way of martial arts."

Lin Xuan's words broke down the exertion of force into multiple stages such as "root, chain, segment, point, control, and nourishment." He used familiar things to the Witch Tribe, like bowstrings, levers, and water waves, as analogies. His explanation was both high-level and easy to understand. This completely opened a new world for the Witch Tribe! They possessed innate divine strength and relied entirely on instinct and experience in combat. When had they ever thought about "strength" itself in such a detailed and theoretical manner?

Houyi's eyes grew brighter as he listened. As a Great Witch, his combat experience was immense. Every word Lin Xuan spoke was like a key, unlocking some of the vague confusions he had felt in past battles but could not articulate! Why was it that when he shot down the suns, certain postures were more energy-efficient and more powerful? Why did he sometimes feel a dull ache in certain areas after a full-force strike?

"'Chain of Strength'... 'fulcrum for force exertion'... 'synergy of Qi and Blood Units'..." Houyi muttered to himself, then suddenly stood up and walked to the side. Without using his Qi and Blood divine power, he simply imitated the principles of force exertion Lin Xuan had described and threw a light punch into the air.

Whoosh!

The punch wind was sharp, actually more condensed than his usual casual strike, and the sound of it breaking through the air was short and powerful!

Houyi's eyes burst with astonishing brilliance. He abruptly turned to look at Lin Xuan, his face filled with shock and incredulous admiration: "Xuanyuanzi! You... this isn't a Qi-refining method! This is the 'Dao' that directly points to the origin of strength!"

He strode forward, placing his hands heavily on Lin Xuan's shoulders, and said excitedly, "My Witch Tribe has refined our bodies for countless years, relying on the legacy of our Father God and our formidable talent. Regarding the wondrous operation of strength, we mostly know that it works, but not why it works! Your words are simply... like the sun breaking through the clouds!"

Kuafu and the other Witch Tribe warriors also tried, and although they couldn't grasp the essence immediately, they felt greatly benefited. Their gazes towards Lin Xuan were filled with fervor and respect. To explain "strength" so thoroughly was not just "having some skill," but a manifestation of great wisdom!

In a casual discussion, Lin Xuan, with his modern knowledge, provided a "dimensional reduction" interpretation of Primordial Era body refinement techniques, completely captivating the warriors of the Houtu Tribe, led by the Great Witch Houyi. The name "Xuanyuanzi" was no longer just that of an outsider, but of a "wise man" whom they could earnestly seek guidance from and discuss matters with as equals.