Chapter 3

Although he learned the horse stance very quickly, Bai Lang was a weakling when it came to getting started with Qi Sensation. He was practically one of the last dregs among the servant boys to sense it, nearly getting thrown out to go back to being a little beggar. Of course, being thrown out was unlikely. A gang needed more than martial artists for muscle; it also needed all sorts of errand boys with a bit of strength.

For seven whole days, he gathered Purple Qi at dawn, breathed in the evening glow at dusk, and gathered moonlight once more when the moon hung high overhead. Only then did Bai Lang feel a slight stirring in his Dantian, as though a warm current had emerged. After confirming that it was not the urge to urinate, he managed to guide that warm current, bit by bit, through the meridian route he had already memorized. At first, these young servants were taught only one meridian—the easily memorized Ren Meridian. They would first open the Ren Meridian, then slowly work on opening the Twelve Primary Meridians, the Du Meridian, and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.

This was the slow, grinding work of a lifetime. True Qi circulated through the Twelve Primary Meridians, dispersed into the Eight Extraordinary Meridians for storage and regulation, and finally returned to the Dantian's sea of Qi to complete a cycle. But that was work for much later. At the beginning, one only circulated through the Ren and Du Meridians, occasionally opening the acupoint routes of individual Twelve Primary Meridians or Eight Extraordinary Meridians. That was enough to cultivate most martial arts, and this level was called the Lesser Heavenly Cycle. One day, when the Ren and Du Meridians were fully opened and inner strength flowed without end, one could then open the Twelve Primary Meridians along with the eight meridians, connecting the body's meridians section by section. Acquired True Qi would leap into Innate True Qi, and one could then be called a Xiantian Master. As for anything beyond that? At least, Bai Lang had never heard Liu Heita mention it.

Directing a strand of True Qi was no easy task. Though it had arisen from within his own body, and though Bai Lang was deeply moved that he could actually practice martial arts, the True Qi still did not obey him very well. Controlling it was incredibly clumsy, and it often lagged behind. It's great that I can cultivate a strand of True Qi, but this damn thing is way too hard to handle. Did my soul transmigrate, or did my body transmigrate? If it was my soul, that would be easy enough to explain. But if it was my body, how did it cultivate this strand of True Qi? I remember fooling around with similar visualization methods before, and I never felt even the slightest hint of Qi.

On Earth, there had been plenty of determined people with the perseverance to cultivate a strand of True Qi. Visualization and Qi-guiding methods were countless, yet not a single person had cultivated inner strength or True Qi—though quite a few had developed delusions. Bai Lang had no way to solve this question anyway. Who knew whether it was soul transmigration or bodily transmigration? Maybe his soul had entered an identical body? Better not dig too deeply into it. It was better to be wisely muddled. Cultivating True Qi was what mattered most.

Liu Heita was actually quite satisfied. The new servant boys had good potential this time, and there was even a disciple with genius-like talent. That disciple also had a resounding name: Mo Di. This ten-year-old child had mastered the horse stance in a single day and cultivated a strand of True Qi. In seven days, he could circulate Qi through the Ren Meridian and achieve half a Lesser Heavenly Cycle. He was truly a martial arts prodigy. Nearly everyone else had also gained Qi Sensation within seven days, meaning they could all enter the gang as Probationary Disciples.

As for Mo Di, after he had built a foundation, he was very likely to be selected by an Elder as an inner disciple. That would benefit Liu Heita as well, so the dark-skinned man became somewhat more kind-looking for a time. His rattan whip no longer whistled quite so sharply. Bai Lang was not particularly valued among them, but since he had cultivated Qi Sensation, a position as a Probationary Disciple was assured.

Regarding the cultivation of True Qi, Bai Lang discovered that he had no cheat ability—no system, no point-allocation device. He did remember a few Qi-guiding and visualization methods from games he had played in the past, but he did not dare try them. He was no edgy teenager. Though he was perhaps eleven or twelve now, an age when he ought to be one, anyone could figure out that Qi-guiding methods were not something to be used recklessly. Any normal person should know that this method was the most basic foundation-building technique, likely tested and refined by countless people. Did some nobody from Earth, who had never cultivated anything worthwhile, really dare experiment with it? Did he think he would not suffer Qi deviation because he was the chosen one?

Bai Lang was very rational. He knew he could not afford to take risks. Whatever he did, he had to build a solid foundation first. He knew nothing about this world, only that it somewhat resembled ancient China, with what looked like a mishmash of Tang, Song, and Ming styles. For now, he needed to lay down a good foundation and gradually learn more about his circumstances. No matter what, being able to cultivate True Qi meant limitless possibilities. Bai Lang thought excitedly of all the famous wuxia novels he had read.

A man's fairy tale was like this. He had never expected to become part of a fairy tale himself, and that was naturally wonderful. Bai Lang also had confidence in himself. Though I may not be a genius, I received a higher education. I'm still somewhat confident in my ability to analyze and learn! He did not know where that confidence came from, but it was good enough if it helped steady his resolve. Since they had already cultivated Qi Sensation, Liu Heita began gradually teaching these Probationary Disciples martial arts techniques.

From now through the next half year, these little fellows would learn beginner boxing and kicking techniques, along with basic internal cultivation breathing methods. Naturally, they would not abandon exercises such as horse stances and stone locks, which tempered strength. Many internal arts did not simply involve sitting meditation and Qi cultivation; they required one to circulate True Qi alongside specific unarmed martial techniques. The Changle Gang's Thirty-two Forms Long Fist was a boxing art meant to clear the meridians throughout the body. Its effects were mediocre at best, but it was balanced, gentle, and without any particular bias.

Thus, Bai Lang discovered that their three daily meals now included some boiled white meat. When practicing martial arts, it was never good to go without meat. Meat replenished Qi and built strength. This was not some Buddhist temple that served as a sacred martial arts sanctuary; such places had divine arts passed down to them, so it did not matter if they ate no meat. He learned Long Fist fairly quickly, and with Long Fist to nourish Qi, Bai Lang gradually began catching up from behind. But Mo Di fully displayed his talent. He learned things at once, and once he learned them, he mastered them. He was much faster than Bai Lang, who considered his own learning ability strong.

Mo Di's movements were exceptionally precise, leaving Bai Lang somewhat discouraged. The boy truly was a genius. Bai Lang learned quickly, mainly because his transmigration had given him broader horizons and a more open mind from his past life, but mastering something was far from easy. Moreover, when he first practiced Long Fist, he often failed to coordinate it with the rhythm of his breathing and was repeatedly forced to interrupt the circulation of True Qi. Ordinary Probationary Disciples were indeed like this.

Bai Lang learned the forms quite quickly. Within seven days, he had learned three forms of the Thirty-two Forms Long Fist, only one fewer than Mo Di. Yet looking at Mo Di, Bai Lang truly had to admit that some people were born martial arts geniuses. This fellow learned quickly and learned well. He could already coordinate his breathing and Qi circulation, circulating True Qi while practicing Long Fist.