What Cultivation Is: Strengthening Tendons and Bones from Within

Teacher Liang was quite an honest man!

Uncle Zhou had actually been reliable for once!

Qin Shi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly pulled out two hundred-yuan bills, and offered them up as he waited for guidance.

Security on Old Factory Street could hardly be called stable. As a student carrying a huge sum of money, he had to be extra careful.

So, just like taking a train home during the Spring Festival rush in his previous life, he hid the money in a small pocket sewn inside his clothes.

Teacher Liang sat by the flowerbed, his eyes bright.

"Did the teachers at New No. 1 Middle School ever teach you what cultivation is?"

Qin Shi nodded.

"The first combat theory class covered it. The concept of cultivation has been passed down since the distant Old Era.

"It originally meant cultivating one's virtue. Later, Buddhism and Daoism adopted the term, and it gradually became a path toward transcendence.

"Alchemy in pursuit of immortality, consuming elixirs to ascend, obscure tantric yoga, harvesting yin to replenish yang, and later qigong and the psychic ability craze—all of them were explorations into the development of the 'Life Force' domain."

These days, Life Force Development was like the "qigong craze" of a certain era in his previous life—something everyone knew about.

But as for exactly how to practice it, only professionals could master it.

The most accessible route was undoubtedly getting into an excellent high school or university.

That way, one could come into contact with teachers possessing exceptionally high Life Force levels, as well as relevant teaching materials.

The next best choices were Martial Arts Classes of uneven quality and gyms selling courses.

High-end places like cultivation centers were beyond the means of ordinary people, leaving them no chance to get started.

Teacher Liang smiled.

"As expected of a New No. 1 Middle School student. Your foundation is solid. Good, that saves me quite a bit of trouble and spares me from having to explain all this dry stuff."

He paused, lowered his head to stroke his slightly lame leg, and continued.

"As everyone knows, the complete definition of 'Life Force' was proposed by Yan Haishan, Eastern Xia's first Martial God.

"This universally acknowledged peerless giant was the founder of Old Martial Arts. He fused together ancient boxing techniques, health-preservation methods, guiding arts... and other complex cultivation practices, achieving Eastern Xia's first Supreme Life Chart.

"Life Force is the starting point encompassing countless cultivation paths!

"It represents your body's potential and overall qualities, while also determining just how far you can go in the future!"

Qin Shi held his breath and listened intently.

He had been in this world for years. Having heard countless stories about Martial Artists, he naturally yearned for and admired them.

"Whether it is fighting and boxing, or meditation and quiet contemplation, all are methods of strengthening the body, liberating the mind, and thereby developing Life Force.

"The physical training classes you take at New No. 1 Middle School aim to stimulate Life Force through exercise so that you can gather and absorb it."

Teacher Liang's voice was deep and powerful. As he taught, his otherwise unremarkable appearance gained a few traces of steady authority.

"This is the New Martial Arts curriculum proposed after the Dongxia Martial Arts Association's reforms. It is suitable for more than ninety percent of Eastern Xia's citizens and greatly reduces the risk of bodily harm.

"But at the same time, it has an unavoidable weakness—inefficiency!

"You are currently at the stage when Life Force is at its richest. Your physical condition is fairly good, around average.

"Even so, after working hard in class for three years, you still would not reach the rank assessment standard. That says enough!"

New Martial Arts?

This was Qin Shi's first time hearing the term, and he immediately grew curious.

Teacher Liang patiently explained.

"I mentioned earlier that Life Force encompasses countless paths of cultivation. Martial Artists who focus on themselves, mechanics who please machine spirits, and even Psionicists who can navigate the sea of stars and light up spatial coordinates... all need to develop Life Force.

"Among them, the path of Martial Artists has never been fixed. You usually follow the Stellar Cup, right? The First Generation Ten Prodigies of Eastern Xia and today's Ten Prodigies have combat styles and tactics as different as heaven and earth."

Qin Shi picked up the thread.

"Yeah. Uncle Zhou and Grandpa Song both like people from that era, such as Grand Master Jiang Baichuan and Raging Vajra Kou Yunchao. They say those people's fighting styles were fiercer and better embodied the spirit of martial arts being boundless and the self being unrestrained.

"The new generation of Martial Artists is too soft. They don't have enough punch."

Teacher Liang gave a low hum and said with great seriousness.

"Great Demon King Qi Wuxiang, Flying Immortal Lian Yixing, Stone Buddha He Lanzhan... all of them were the finest Martial Arts Prodigies of Old Martial Arts. Nearly every one of them had won the Stellar Cup championship.

"Especially that match between Qi Wuxiang and Stone Buddha He Lanzhan, known as 'Mara Battles the Tathagata.' It was incomparably thrilling, and its view count remains unbeaten to this day."

Teacher Liang's tone was filled with emotion. The Eastern Xia Ten Prodigies of that era had shone brilliantly, truly like blazing suns that could not be looked at directly.

But the hidden dangers of Old Martial Arts were too great. Those famous Martial Artists either exhausted their potential or became riddled with injuries and illnesses, one after another stopping before the gates of Martial Godhood.

That was why Eastern Xia began restructuring the Martial Arts Association, reforming education, and promoting the theories of New Martial Arts.

Qin Shi roughly understood. Old Martial Arts progressed quickly and produced excellent results, but it could easily damage the body and excessively drain one's potential.

That was why it had been abandoned by both the Martial Arts Association and the education committee, gradually declining into obscurity.

"I'll remind you once more: cutting off a longer future just to gain a few points of Life Force is a very foolish thing to do.

"On the path of a Martial Artist, the body is the foundation, while Life Force is like a rushing river. Without the former, once the latter swells and bursts its banks, you will suffer backlash and spend the rest of your life enduring the torment of injuries and illness."

Teacher Liang's expression was grave as he offered his warning.

"Thank you for your concern, Teacher, but I have my own convictions."

Qin Shi remained unmoved.

On one hand, he needed a way out, a path to climb higher.

On the other, the unlocking of the Monument gave him a little more solid confidence when facing difficulties.

"Very well. This is the path you chose yourself. I only hope you will not regret it in the future."

Teacher Liang's gaze was complicated. To him, Qin Shi's determination at that moment looked more like the ignorance and fearlessness of youth.

"Alright, let's begin the lesson... The early stage of New Martial Arts trains 'breathing,' while Old Martial Arts begins with 'tendons and bones.'

"What are tendons and bones? Tendons are the sinews. The human limbs can stretch and contract, the fingers can open and close, and the feet can walk—all because of them.

"Eastern Xia's first Martial God, Yan Haishan, stated it clearly in the Inner Classics passed down to later generations: 'Tendons are strength, bones are the frame; stretch the tendons to draw out force!'"

After speaking, Teacher Liang stood up. His previously average-sized body suddenly expanded, and the joints within him crackled like firecrackers. He grew taller inch by inch, instantly standing half a head above Qin Shi.

Intense Life Force surged within him like steam billowing from a boiling furnace!

"As the saying goes, when training the tendons, one must be 'loose but not slack, tight but not stiff.' Most people sit for years and neglect exercise. Their muscles are tense and spread apart.

"So when they exert force, their major tendons cannot twist into a single rope, a single force. Their Qi Strength is not concentrated enough, and their movements are not clean enough.

"I'll first teach you Muscle Twisting, opening up the tendons and bringing your flesh and blood to life!"

On the athletic field, bean-sized beads of sweat rolled down one after another, moistening the dry ground.

The two Ninth High School students standing at the front like leaders whispered to each other during the break.

"Another one signing up. Tsk, tsk. Old Liang is really heavy-handed. Muscle Twisting in the very first lesson—who can endure that?"

"Did he offend Old Liang and get put in his bad books? That's too brutal!"

A thunderous roar suddenly exploded, interrupting their distraction—

"Li Yuan, Xie Yucheng! Not enough training, huh? Run another twenty laps!"

The two named students shrank their necks. Amid the laughter of the other students, they lowered their heads and obediently accepted their punishment.

"You! Stand steady! Open up and tighten every major tendon in your waist, back, and hips! Don't loosen up!"

Qin Shi, standing under the shade far from the field, was not faring much better than the Ninth High School students being drilled.

He spread his legs, bent his knees, and lowered his body into a horse stance.

For some reason, Teacher Liang's pressed-together fingertips were incredibly sharp, carrying a piercing pain.

Like the fascial scraping tools Qin Shi had experienced in his previous life, they would suddenly strike him without warning.

Sometimes they jabbed his shoulder blade; other times, they scraped across his entire latissimus dorsi.

Every strike felt like a red-hot Steel Needle driven into the gaps between his bones. The pain and swelling made him want to throw back his head and scream, just to vent the agony!

In just five minutes, Qin Shi, who had thought he had endured great hardship before, was already sweating from the forehead, his skin flushed and his breathing rapid.

"If you can't take it, say so. I can ease up."

Watching this delicate-looking student grit his teeth until they creaked, Teacher Liang spoke first.

"Teacher... is it more effective if you use more force, or less?"

Qin Shi asked in a trembling voice.

"Of course, heavy-handed methods work better."

Teacher Liang answered.

"Then... it's fine. I can endure it!"

Qin Shi maintained his stance.

"Another stubborn one."

Teacher Liang shook his head.

Fifteen minutes later.

Qin Shi's breathing became increasingly shallow. His body radiated astonishing heat, and every muscle within him seemed to be spasming and trembling.

This method of "Muscle Twisting" was far too brutal for ordinary people. It was no different from torture!

"Alright, that's enough twisting! Today's lesson ends here!"

Judging from his breathing rhythm and physical signs, Teacher Liang roughly determined that this was Qin Shi's limit.

"When you feel that 'your ribs are like wings and your fascia like feathers,' when your whole body is connected from top to bottom and feels clear and refreshed, then you will have Succeeded.

"Your Life Force should rise by around half a point."

Qin Shi swayed unsteadily. His legs barely supported him as he stood, while every muscle in his body was immersed in sore, swollen pain and almost beyond his control.

Even walking was extremely difficult.

"Xie Yucheng!"

"Here!"

"I remember your family lives around Baogong Street too. Take the new student home!"

Teacher Liang beckoned over a tall, thin youth.

Xie Yucheng asked with a grin.

"Sure! Old Liang, does that mean I don't have to run the rest of my laps?"

"I'll put them on your tab. Pay them back tomorrow."

The moment Teacher Liang said that, Xie Yucheng stopped grinning. With a bitter expression, he hoisted Qin Shi onto his back and strode toward the school gate.

As the sun dipped westward, orange-red afterglow fell over Ninth High School. The cram school students had finished training and left in groups of twos and threes.

Teacher Liang dragged his lame leg along, slowly limping onward.

As he passed the guard booth, the old man preparing to get off work and buy groceries called out to him.

The old man casually handed him a Liming Cigarette.

"Old Liang, that little kid who came to see you today—why was he carried out?"

Teacher Liang's tone was mild.

"He signed up for supplementary lessons with me. I didn't hold back, so he trained a little too hard."

The elderly guard was surprised.

"That kid is a student from outside. Isn't this against the rules...?"

Teacher Liang shook his head.

"Don't worry, Grandpa Han. This Time only. He won't come again."

He knew full well that Qin Shi had gone through such intense training in his first lesson that he definitely would not be able to get out of bed tomorrow.

"Old Martial Arts does not just injure the body; its threshold is high as well. Taking shortcuts and cutting corners always comes at a price.

"No talent, no family resources, and a loss of one's vital nature—there is no benefit to one's future."

Teacher Liang put the cigarette between his lips but did not light it, thinking to himself.

"After his tendons have been twisted and he has suffered enough, this kid will understand the hardship and danger of the Old Martial Arts Cultivation Method. He should back off then.

"When you are young, you always dream of distinguishing yourself, without realizing that living well is what matters. An ordinary, peaceful life is the real thing."