"Standing Posture Technique training emphasizes gradual progress."
"As a martial artist's Life Development Power increases, movements that are difficult for ordinary people become easy to perform."
Qin Annian remembered an interesting story his martial arts teacher had told them during class about Standing Posture Techniques:
"Some upgraded stances have to be practiced in scalding medicinal baths, while others require you to slow your breathing. It's said that one of them only requires six breaths an hour..."
Qin Annian sifted through his memories. This new Standing Posture Technique, upgraded from the Iron Man Stance, was extraordinarily difficult to practice.
The technique had no strange training requirements. The breathing rhythm, the environment, and even the movements were all ordinary.
There was only one difference.
"During training, you have to visualize eighteen Arhat Diagrams?"
"Why does this involve mental power?"
Standing Posture training was supposed to cultivate both body and mind, but this was the first time Qin Annian had heard of a technique requiring detailed visualization.
After all,
there were already Mental Secret Manuals for mental cultivation.
He focused intently on this section of the memory.
Clearly,
even though his past self had extraordinary talent, he had still struggled when practicing this Standing Posture Technique.
"What counts as perfect visualization? There's no standard at all."
"I could only keep trying until I found what suited me best."
He had forged ahead through trial and error, carving out a path of his own.
"Whew!"
"My past self spent three years experimenting before finally adjusting it to suit him best."
The most difficult part of this upgraded Standing Posture Technique was the eighteen visualization diagrams.
Now,
the state in which those eighteen diagrams suited him best had become deeply ingrained in his memory.
Eager to try it, Qin Annian began to assume the stance.
He lowered into a horse stance, relaxed his shoulders, and held his palms upward, right hand resting over his left. His thumbs touched at the tips as he formed the Dhyana Mudra.
His breathing was steady, strong, and natural.
This time, Qin Annian didn't follow the usual process of "exhaustion bringing out the Inner Demon—understanding his true nature—entering the Spirit Sea."
As soon as he assumed the stance, he felt as if his physical body had been "anchored" in the present world, becoming an Anchor Point.
The first Arhat Diagram gradually emerged in his mind. After countless acts of visualization, the image was flawless, becoming so vivid in Qin Annian's consciousness that it seemed real.
Boom!
At that moment,
beneath the dazzling golden light of Buddha, the pitch-black Consciousness World around him gradually revealed itself.
However,
as Qin Annian took in the scene within his Consciousness World, he found himself wishing he'd never seen the truth.
The boundless sky was filled with heavenly flames, and the firmament had burned to a bloody red.
The Arhat stood upon scorched earth. Everywhere he looked was Purgatory.
"What is this?"
"An Inner Demon?"
There was no need to use physical exhaustion to draw out the Inner Demon.
As soon as he visualized the Arhat Diagram, this terrifying Inner Demon had begun to emerge.
In Purgatory,
one grotesque demon after another appeared, their vacant eyes gradually filling with various emotions.
Then,
they surged toward the Arhat standing amid Purgatory, as frenzied as moths rushing into a flame.
Qin Annian's consciousness remained divided in two, with half inside the Arhat Golden Body and the other half suspended beyond the heavens.
"The Inner Demon triggered by this Standing Posture Technique is far more terrifying than the one from the Iron Man Stance!"
Qin Annian narrowed his eyes and began to do three things at once.
Visualize, observe, and practice the Water-Fire Tempering Technique.
In an instant,
a Kunpeng emerged from the Yin-Yang Sea and pecked at the grotesque Inner Demons crawling out of the scorched earth.
The Arhat Golden Body shimmered with a glassy light, rooted firmly in the earth and unmoving.
Boom!
Qin Annian's consciousness entered the Spirit Sea.
"I did it!"
He immediately focused intently on drawing in the Force of Creation from the Spirit Sea.
"Even in the Spirit Sea, I can clearly sense the Anchor Point of my physical body. I never felt this during my previous training."
"With these precise coordinates, I can guide the Force of Creation into my body more accurately."
Before, it had been like an old horse finding its way by instinct. Now it was as if he had a map and directions, allowing him to draw the power from the Spirit Sea far more precisely.
Only when his body began to feel "stuffed" did Qin Annian's consciousness get forced out of the Spirit Sea for the first time.
"Whew!"
His consciousness returned to his body.
He immediately realized just how much his body had changed!
His vitality had grown more vigorous, and his flesh, bones, and internal organs had all become stronger.
"My mental power has improved a lot, too!"
"The effect is at least three times better than practicing the Water-Fire Tempering Technique used to be!"
Even now, he still couldn't break the restraints of his physical body with his mental power and use it to move objects from a distance.
But he could observe everything around him in far greater detail. He could even see traces of the wind as it flowed!
"When I finish this Standing Posture session, my Life Development Power will have increased by at least three points!"
"And this is the first time I've felt that I've reached the limit of how quickly this body can evolve."
This was due to his body's innate aptitude. The upper limit of how much it could evolve within a given period was fixed, and his body needed time to adapt.
To break through that limit, he would need to rely on medicines and potions to keep improving.
"In the past, I used to set an alarm for my Standing Posture training and carefully schedule it alongside practice with my other martial techniques."
This feeling of having a "daily experience cap" was pretty nice!
After musing for a while, Qin Annian turned his attention to martial arts training.
The Willow-Bending Fist, in particular, still had plenty of room for improvement.
The Security Bureau had given everyone who'd fought in the previous battle a rare long break. Aside from essential daily patrols, the security officers and Operations Division staff were taking turns going on leave.
Qin Annian practiced at home for two days before receiving a message from Miss Ju Zi.
"My shift is tomorrow? Then things will return to normal the day after."
That meant Qin Annian's break was over.
Click.
He had just put down his Personal Terminal when he heard the front door open.
Han Xi, whom Qin Annian hadn't seen for several days, had changed out of her combat uniform and into simple black casual clothes.
Her loose top still hinted at her stunning curves. Her delicate, picture-perfect face showed no sign of fatigue, only calmness. Her short hair had grown a little, now reaching her chin.
Qin Annian smoothly looked away. With his senses and mental power now sharper, it was inevitable that he'd notice such details.
"Are you off tomorrow?"
Han Xi set down the Black Box and nodded.
"The Bureau's affairs have been settled."
So soon?
That was a little unexpected. He'd thought the aftermath and the final decisions would drag on for a while longer.
"Everyone's focused on the Hundred Cities Tournament now, so they're wrapping these matters up quickly."
"I see!"
Qin Annian nodded in understanding, then asked Han Xi:
"Are you free right now?"
"I'd like to ask you about some things related to training."
Qin Annian poured two glasses of water, took a Nutrient Bar from the fridge, and sat down.
Han Xi took the seat opposite him and accepted what he'd offered.
"Go ahead."
Before you continue