Can Blood Qi Increase While Lying Down?

Looking at the glossy ointment on the masseur's fingertips, Chen Mochuan suddenly recalled certain reports he had seen online and immediately grew alert, his body tensing slightly.

The middle-aged masseur, a veteran of the service industry, was always observing his customers. Noticing the change in the young man's demeanor and sensing a possible misunderstanding, he quickly explained:

"Sir, don't worry. This is a medicinal ointment that relaxes the tendons and activates blood circulation. It is particularly effective for relieving the muscle fatigue that follows high-intensity training like yours. I specifically checked with the front desk earlier and learned that you practiced the fierce Tiger Fiend Fist this morning, which puts the most strain on your arms, shoulders, and back. Using this will significantly improve your recovery."

He then added a follow-up, his tone carrying a reassuring sincerity:

"I checked your membership service record, and it shows this is your first time experiencing our massage service. Please rest assured, Mingxin is a long-standing brand in Antu City. Unlike some other martial arts halls that chase short-term profits, we promise there are no hidden fees. This ointment is included in the free services for Gold members."

Hearing the masseur's explanation, Chen Mochuan finally relaxed completely. At the same time, he couldn't help but be surprised by the man's attentiveness; the staff had even gone out of their way to learn which martial art he had been practicing.

The masseur noticed his surprise and, while evenly applying the ointment to his arms and shoulder blades, said with a smile:

"Mingxin's reputation as the best martial arts hall in Antu is built on this level of care for our members. You are our most valued Gold member, and receiving the most comprehensive service is only right."

Chen Mochuan realized the truth upon hearing this.

He knew well that Mingxin was a long-standing benchmark for martial arts halls in the city, but in recent years, new halls had sprung up in Antu like bamboo shoots after rain. Several of them excelled in member services and were constantly eating into the high-end market share, posing a serious threat to Mingxin's leading position.

This competitive pressure had forced Mingxin to significantly improve its service quality, striving to retain every single one of its existing members.

As a consumer, Chen Mochuan was naturally happy to see this.

Once the ointment was applied evenly, the masseur used professional techniques to begin focusing on the relevant areas.

Before long, Chen Mochuan felt a comfortable, warm sensation spreading from the areas on his arms and shoulders covered by the ointment.

His muscles, which had been heavy and sore from overexertion, felt as if they were being enveloped by a warm current, gradually loosening and becoming relaxed.

Seeing that the medicinal effect was so significant, Chen Mochuan curiously asked for the name of the ointment. Upon learning it was "Shuluo Powder," he couldn't help but click his tongue in secret.

He remembered seeing this ointment in the martial arts section of the supermarket; a single bottle cost over two thousand yuan. The dosage the masseur had just used on him was likely worth a hundred yuan or so.

However, when he thought of the expensive annual fee for the Gold membership, he felt relieved. You get what you pay for; even if he came here to "freeload" on massages and Shuluo Powder every day, Mingxin would surely still be making a profit.

If the membership card hadn't been a gift from Li Biao, given his family's financial situation, he would never have been able to afford such a high-end membership.

As the massage continued, the warmth became increasingly distinct, and wisps of heat seemed to penetrate deep into his muscles.

What surprised him even more was that he vaguely felt the strength in his arms had become a fraction fuller.

The message that popped up on the light screen panel immediately afterward confirmed that this was no illusion.

[You have received professional therapy and medicinal nourishment. Your Qi and blood have been stimulated, and your physical fitness has improved.]

[Qi and Blood Value: 3.19 → 3.20]

This result greatly exceeded Chen Mochuan's expectations. It was his first time encountering a situation where he could increase his Qi and blood just by "lying down."

After a moment of thought, combined with some principles mentioned in his martial arts textbooks, he roughly understood the reason:

High-intensity training causes microscopic damage to the body and consumes a large amount of Qi and blood, resulting in a temporary state of "Qi and blood deficiency."

However, this extreme exercise also stimulates the body's potential.

At this moment, if one can be guided by a highly penetrative ointment like Shuluo Powder and professional massage, the body can absorb the medicinal power more efficiently to fill the "deficiency," thereby achieving a net increase in Qi and blood.

In the past, he had only done simple stretches after training, naturally missing out on many such "gain windows."

Now that he was a Gold member at Mingxin and could enjoy these things for free, he would never miss such an opportunity again.

"It's so good to have money."

He sighed inwardly. Whether on Earth or Blue Star, economic foundation was the hard truth. Even for martial artists pursuing the extraordinary, it seemed difficult to escape this reality.

It was over half an hour later when the massage finished. A ravenous Chen Mochuan met up with Li Biao and headed to the Mingxin member restaurant together.

As a top-tier martial arts hall in Antu City, the restaurant here offered a very rich supply, featuring both a wide variety of buffets and high-quality stir-fried dishes available for individual order.

The buffet was free for Gold members. The two of them felt like they were back on their home turf, moving through the area with their trays.

Their martial arts training consumed a massive amount of energy, and since their Spirit Talents had both enhanced their digestive capabilities, they didn't need to worry about calories and just picked whatever food they liked.

It didn't take long for their trays to be piled high with various dishes, fruits, and staples. Such an appetite drew side-glances from other diners nearby.

"Eating so much, are they martial artists?"

"I've never heard of such young martial artists."

"Could they be newly promoted core members of the hall?"

"I know the slightly taller one; he's a senior at No. 8 High School. His Qi and blood value seems to be only around the sixth stage; he's just a big eater."

Chen Mochuan and Li Biao ignored these comments, found a seat, and began to feast.

Although it was buffet-style mass-produced food, the dishes at the Mingxin restaurant were surprisingly tasty, and Chen Mochuan was very satisfied.

After stopping Li Biao from spending extra money to order stir-fried dishes, Chen Mochuan asked a practical question: "What time does this restaurant close?"

Li Biao didn't even look up, answering while he ate: "Same as the martial arts hall, 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM."

Chen Mochuan secretly thought it was a pity. 7:00 AM was a bit late for breakfast for him; otherwise, he wouldn't mind coming here to enjoy breakfast every day before going to school.

However, staying open until 11:00 PM meant he had a place for late-night snacks, which would allow him to eat well while saving his family a sum of money on food expenses.

Li Biao, who was wolfing down his food, suddenly paused. He realized that the location of Mingxin Martial Arts Hall happened to be right between No. 8 High School and Chen Mochuan's home.

Combined with Chen Mochuan's question just now, he immediately realized that Mingxin Martial Arts Hall was likely about to welcome the person with the highest "utilization rate" of Gold Member benefits.

Just as Chen Mochuan and Li Biao were feasting to their hearts' content in the Mingxin cafeteria, Hong Yucheng had just stepped off a flying car that landed in the city suburbs, preparing to enter the Wilderness Zone once again.

He habitually raised his hand, preparing to take off his terminal wristwatch—which was prone to damage during combat—to power it down, but caught a glimpse of a message notification from Feng Shi.

After checking the details of the message, his expression suddenly tightened.

"Hm? One and a half hours, and he's already mastered the basics of Tiger Fiend Fist?"