Benign Internal Cycle

Benign Internal Cycle

At that moment, the Kunlun Mirror was roaming through the Sea of Consciousness, reveling in the vastness of the heavens and earth.

Lu Li's expression froze. "My Sea of Consciousness... it really grew!"

He'd vaguely felt it before, but the change hadn't been obvious enough to be sure.

Now, though, the Kunlun Mirror had expanded his Sea of Consciousness by fifty percent. He could see it at a glance.

The Sea of Consciousness—that is, the pineal gland—had been considered the birthplace of the soul and consciousness since ancient times.

In the ancient texts of Xia Country, the Dao Shu, it was called "the cave of a hundred spirits, the jade chamber of the soul's essence."

A larger Sea of Consciousness was bound to bring tremendous benefits to the mind.

Yesterday, taking advantage of the Calming Incense, Lu Li had poured a great deal of his mental energy into the Kunlun Mirror.

Nourished by it, the magical treasure was not only in excellent condition, but had also further opened up its master's Sea of Consciousness.

Perhaps this was an instinctive urge to "improve its own living conditions," but it had brought Lu Li tangible benefits.

His mental strength was growing at an unbelievable rate;

with a stronger mind, he could refine the Kunlun Mirror more effectively;

and with the Kunlun Mirror in excellent condition, it would diligently expand his Sea of Consciousness...

And so, they had somehow formed a perfect "Benign Internal Cycle"!

Lu Li was overjoyed. "That means, as long as I can solve the unfathomable problem of 'enlightenment,' I can advance my realm at breakneck speed!"

Only with strength could he protect himself on Blue Star.

And whether because of his own nature or his "family heritage," Lu Li wanted to do something to the "Emperor of Izumo" in the other world.

He'd started too late to do anything before, but now he could finally see a glimmer of hope!

Just as his spirits were soaring, he heard a creak. Xiao Cha's head pushed open the window and poked inside.

"Hey, look at the time! Get up already!"

"Coming..."

Lu Li hurried outside.

It was around ten in the morning, and the sun was blazing.

Xiao Cha put on a stern face, ready to begin her lesson.

But Wan Qing came over with a bowl of food and said gently, "Martial arts training is exhausting. Young Master Lu, have something to eat before you practice~"

The bowl held millet porridge and a peeled boiled egg.

Lu Li thanked her, took the bowl, and began eating.

Taking the opportunity, Xiao Cha explained:

"Martial Arts is a cultivation method created by ancient great masters who took the universe and nature as their teachers. Like Spirit Refinement, it has nine realms. The first three are Tendons Training, Bone Forging, and Organ Refining!"

She only mentioned the first three realms because, given Lu Li's condition, he'd be lucky to reach Bone Forging. There was no point discussing what came after.

Lu Li also voiced his concern. "I'm disabled. Can I still train in martial arts?"

Xiao Cha answered with confidence, "It shouldn't be a problem~ It's not like we're trying to make you a master. You just need to strengthen your body and support your Spirit Refinement cultivation."

Since that was the case, Lu Li wasn't about to pass up any chance to grow stronger.

He shoveled down the last few bites and said, "Then let's begin."

"A towering building rises from the ground. We'll start with Tendons Training!"

Xiao Cha's pretty face turned serious as she explained:

"As the saying goes, when the bones are aligned and the tendons are supple, the qi and blood flow freely! Tendons Training means stretching the major tendons and ligaments!

"There's nothing mysterious about this realm. Even at its peak, you'd be no more than a gymnast.

"But it's the foundation of Martial Arts, and we can't afford to be careless! Even with your disability, you have to give it everything you've got and build a solid foundation!"

Her words came from the heart. Lu Li nodded firmly. "I understand. I won't take it lightly!"

"Good. Next, I'll teach you the 'standing stance.' Watch carefully."

Xiao Cha brought her hands together, thumbs facing each other, and clasped them into a firm circle. Then she swung her arms around in a wide arc.

"This is the Dragon Unwinding Stance. It turns the force from your upper body into stretching force for your tendons, minimizing the impact of your broken leg."

So Xiao Cha had already considered the difficulties Lu Li faced and come up with a solution ahead of time.

She swung her arms with all her might. Her lovely curves were on full display, and the sweat on her body gave off a tempting, musky scent.

Lu Li's mouth went dry. He hurriedly entered the Spirit Concentration State and focused his attention on her movements.

With Bullet Time helping him, he watched for a while before matching her movements—almost perfectly!

Xiao Cha gave him instructions in a sweet voice. "Keep your back straight and your lower abdomen tight."

"Push inward, and make the movements bigger... That's it~ Just like that!"

With every instruction, Lu Li's movements became more precise. After just a few words, he was performing the Dragon Unwinding Stance perfectly!

Xiao Cha was very pleased, but also all the more regretful. "What incredible talent! If not for that broken leg, this person's potential would be limitless!"

One taught while the other learned, and they were having a great time practicing.

But barely half an hour later, Xiao Cha called a halt. "That's enough. Take a break."

Lu Li still felt reluctant to stop.

The Dragon Unwinding Stance used the body's swaying motion to stretch the major tendons and ligaments throughout the body, especially those along the spine.

At first, it was a little tiring, but the more he practiced, the looser he felt! Like someone scratching an itch in just the right spot—it was incredibly satisfying~

"As the saying goes, every inch added to your tendons gives you ten more years of life. Tendons Training brings great benefits, but you can't overdo it."

Xiao Cha lightly patted Lu Li's left knee, which was slightly sore and swollen.

"You only have one leg bearing the pressure, so you need to rest often. Don't push yourself until you wreck your body!"

The human body was intricate, but fragile. Overexertion could easily leave lasting damage.

Lu Li had no choice but to sit down and rest. Xiao Cha didn't let him resume training until half an hour later.

After three hours of practicing in fits and starts, noon arrived.

Lu Li's clothes were soaked through with sweat. The knee of his weight-bearing left leg throbbed unbearably, and the stump of his broken leg had been rubbed raw and burned with pain.

Despite all that effort, his training efficiency was appallingly low.

His broken leg seriously hampered his training. It made it impossible to keep practicing without interruption and forced him to spend a great deal of time resting.

Rubbing his knee, Lu Li realized that martial arts training was an exhausting, thankless task for him.

Xiao Cha encouraged him from the side. "You've already done really well. You'll reach Bone Forging in just two or three years~ That's faster than most people~"

Just then, Wan Qing looked up from the herbs she was sorting nearby and said:

"You must be in a lot of pain, Young Master Lu. Let me massage you and help ease it."

At that, Xiao Cha immediately said, "You don't have enough strength in your hands. It won't do any good. I'll do it~"

Wan Qing hesitated. "Maybe not. You..."

Xiao Cha ignored her and came straight over to Lu Li. "Take off your shirt. I'll loosen up your muscles."

Lu Li still had no idea how serious things were. He obediently did as he was told.

Then Xiao Cha stretched out her smooth, pale hands and grabbed his trapezius muscle!

"Ahh—ow!!!"

Her slender fingers were like a pair of pincers, making Lu Li cry out in pain.

"Why are you howling~? You're a grown man. Don't be such a wimp~"

Xiao Cha's words were harsh, but she immediately eased the pressure of her hands, making it much more comfortable.

Wan Qing reminded her, "You've reached the peak of Bone Forging and have five hundred catties of strength in your hands. Be gentle."

"Five hundred catties!"

Lu Li was surprised. That meant this slender young woman was as strong as an Olympic-level weightlifter!

Martial Arts was no simple matter after all!

Just then, Xiao Cha's fingers, hard as steel bars, began easing the muscles around Lu Li's broken leg.

Lu Li's thoughts stirred, and he asked, "Martial Arts trains the body. Is there a way to regrow a severed limb?"

The two young women paused, then answered in unison, "Of course. The Golden Body Realm can do that!"

"The Golden Body Realm... Is the Emperor of Izumo at that realm too?"

"Yep. It's the seventh realm of Martial Arts. You can withstand cannon fire with your bare body. Losing a hand or foot is nothing~"

"Withstand cannon fire with your bare body..."

Having been blasted by a tank, Lu Li knew all too well how powerful artillery shells were.

He stood up and said, "I've rested enough. Let's keep practicing. Also, would it be all right to use the Calming Incense tonight?"

"Of course. It's entirely up to you."

The two young women were puzzled by Lu Li's sudden sense of urgency.