Internal Breath

Bell-ringing life was not dull.

Every day, he practiced his fists, strengthened his Qi Sensation, and lived a fulfilling, happy life.

Several more days passed.

After ringing the bell, Li Gan practiced the Sword Piercing Fist. As his fists shot forth like sword thrusts, the muscles, bones, skeleton, and organs throughout his body all trembled.

Suddenly, Li Gan felt that clump of Qi Sensation that had constantly boiled at his navel seem to be stirred by the force of his punches, shifting ever so slightly.

His spirits lifted, and he abruptly adjusted his breathing, doing his utmost to mobilize that clump of Qi Sensation.

Gradually, the sensation of movement grew stronger.

Guided by the breathing and movements of the Sword Piercing Fist, the mass of Qi and blood slowly began to move.

At first, it was very slow, as though a person were pulling a cart, heavy and ponderous.

But little by little, the mass of Qi moved faster, becoming much lighter.

He knew that as the Qi Sensation moved, its nature was gradually changing, transforming into Internal Breath.

If Qi Sensation relied on the body's instinctive drive,

then Internal Breath allowed one to actively control its circulation.

As for the principles behind it, only the forebears who had created these Martial Arts could answer that.

After completing one set of punches, Li Gan felt scorching hot all over. Once he drew in his stance, he opened his mouth and exhaled, as though a blast of high-temperature steam were erupting from his mouth.

This was the bodily energy produced by the circulation of Internal Breath.

After that single breath left him, Li Gan was immediately overcome by fatigue.

His stomach also rumbled, and an intense hunger rose within him, as though he could devour an ox whole.

He had never experienced this before.

It showed that after entering the Internal Breath stage, practicing his fists consumed even more of his body's Qi, blood, and energy.

He summoned the System Interface.

Host: Li Gan.

Cultivation Base: Foundation Establishment (Internal Breath).

Sacrificial Tool: Chen Bell (Mortal 57/100).

Martial Arts: Sword Piercing Fist (Minor Accomplishment).

A satisfied smile appeared on Li Gan's face.

He had just returned beneath the Bell Tower and was preparing to find something to fill his stomach when Elder Song walked in. He glanced at Li Gan and immediately asked in surprise, "You've entered the Internal Breath stage?"

"Yes, Elder Song. How could you tell?"

Li Gan nodded.

"Your face is pale right now. One look is enough to tell that when Qi Sensation transforms into Internal Breath, your body consumes too much Qi and blood."

Elder Song said.

Li Gan ate Medicinal Meals every day, so his body was already sufficiently strong. Had it been an ordinary person breaking through to Internal Breath, their Qi and blood would likely have withered away, damaging their physical foundation.

Elder Song immediately went to his room, opened a chest, and took out a small box.

"Eat this."

Elder Song took out Exotic Beast Jerky and handed it to Li Gan.

"Elder Song, this is too precious."

Li Gan hurriedly shook his head.

He knew his own place. He and Elder Song were neither related nor connected in any way, and Elder Song had already taken very good care of him.

"I brought it for you to begin with. At my age, eating it would be a waste. Besides, this Exotic Beast Jerky tastes far worse than Medicinal Beast Jerky."

Elder Song said with a light laugh.

After spending some time together, he had formed quite a favorable impression of Li Gan.

Unlike the Menial Disciples who had come before, Li Gan was not rash and impetuous, always desperate for quick success.

Moreover, his talent in the martial path was not bad.

Elder Song believed that as long as Li Gan maintained his diligence and a good mindset, he would have a good chance in the future of shedding his status as a Menial Disciple and becoming an Official Disciple of the Divine Sword Sect.

That was why he was willing to lend him a hand.

Li Gan was deeply moved.

After transmigrating into this world, he had been all alone. He had fought desperately through the examinations just to become a Menial Disciple of the Divine Sword Sect.

In only a few short months, he had suffered more hardship than he had in his entire previous life.

"Hurry and eat it. When Internal Breath has just formed, it is a crucial time when your Qi and blood urgently need strengthening."

Elder Song added.

"Thank you, Elder Song."

Li Gan hurriedly thanked him.

He was someone who repaid kindness. He etched Elder Song's goodwill into his heart.

The Exotic Beast Jerky truly tasted terrible.

It was dry and hard, and chewing it was rather rough on his teeth.

After finishing one piece of Exotic Beast Jerky, Li Gan felt his abdomen swell uncomfortably, as though he had eaten himself full.

"Go practice the Sword Piercing Fist now. Digest the Exotic Beast Jerky within three days if you can. The faster, the better—the faster you digest it, the better you absorb it, and the faster your Internal Breath will grow."

Elder Song reminded him.

Li Gan nodded and immediately returned to the top of the Bell Tower, where he continued practicing the Sword Piercing Fist.

He practiced, then rested; after resting, he practiced again. Naturally, he did not forget to ring the bell.

Moreover, practicing the Sword Piercing Fist after ringing the bell was even more effective.

It had to be said that this Exotic Beast Jerky was truly extraordinary. His Internal Breath grew at a rate visible to the naked eye.

By the time he rang the final bell of the day at You Hour, Li Gan had basically digested the Exotic Beast Jerky.

That feeling of fullness had completely vanished, replaced by a slight sense of hunger.

His Internal Breath had grown more than tenfold. It was no longer the tiny trickling stream it had been before.

When Elder Song saw that Li Gan could actually eat dinner, he was greatly surprised.

Li Gan had not eaten lunch or dinner earlier.

A single piece of Exotic Beast Jerky could sustain someone for two or three days, even if Li Gan kept practicing his fists to aid digestion.

"You digested the Exotic Beast Jerky so quickly?"

Elder Song asked.

Li Gan nodded.

"Tsk, tsk. When I ate my first piece of Exotic Beast Jerky, I had already cultivated Internal Force, yet it still took me more than half a day to digest it. You've only just formed Internal Breath, but you digested it so quickly. It seems your body's digestive ability is extraordinary. For someone practicing martial arts, that is an excellent innate advantage."

Elder Song said in amazement.

Li Gan's talent in the martial path was not bad, and now his digestive ability was also very strong. As long as he cultivated step by step, he would certainly achieve something on the path of martial arts in the future.

Li Gan knew his own situation. The reason he digested it so quickly was related to how the Bell Sound stimulated his stomach and intestines when he rang the bell, promoting digestion and strengthening his Internal Breath.

Over the next period of time, he rang the bell every day. Under the stimulation of the Bell Sound, his cultivation of Internal Breath progressed quite rapidly.

Elder Song became even more concerned about Li Gan's martial training. When preparing the three daily meals, he greatly increased the amount of Medicinal Meals to meet Li Gan's cultivation needs.

He was now raising Li Gan as a future Official Disciple of the Divine Sword Sect.

He had striven toward that goal all his life, yet ultimately failed, and it remained a lifelong regret.

Just like that, another month passed.

Elder Song somehow managed to acquire another piece of Exotic Beast Jerky and had Li Gan eat it.

He also said that he would find a way to get a piece of Exotic Beast Jerky every month in the future, if possible.

In Elder Song's words, Li Gan was now laying his foundation. If he could not eat better food at this stage, it would have a huge impact on his future path of martial arts.

It was said that Official Disciples of the Divine Sword Sect received a fixed amount of Exotic Beast Jerky every month in addition to their basic Medicinal Meals.

Menial Disciples had no such benefits at all.

Elder Song wanted to make up for that gap, so that during Li Gan's time as a Menial Disciple, the difference between him and those Official Disciples would not grow too great.

Li Gan gradually noticed this, and he became even more diligent, unwilling to disappoint Elder Song's painstaking efforts.