Early the next morning, while the sky was still barely light, Lin Tian got up, washed, changed into a light training outfit, and headed to the palace Martial Arts Arena under a maid's guidance.
The Martial Arts Arena lay on the eastern side of the palace, covering a vast area. Its ground was paved with hard bluestone, and weapon racks and training equipment stood around its perimeter. Though it was still early, quite a few guards were already engaged in morning drills.
"Third Prince!" A burly middle-aged man strode over. He was Kahn, captain of the guards. He stood nearly two meters tall, his muscles knotted beneath a fitted black outfit that outlined his powerful frame. His square face carried a resolute expression, and his tiger-like eyes gleamed with spirit.
"Captain Kahn," Lin Tian said.
Kahn nodded slightly, a faint smile appearing on his face. "Her Majesty the Empress has already given her orders. Starting today, I will teach Your Highness the Qi Gathering Stance. Third Prince, the Qi Gathering Stance is the foundation of a warrior's training, and the most important foundation at that. It may seem simple, but it contains endless mysteries. Many people train for years without truly grasping its essence."
"Please instruct me, Captain," Lin Tian said earnestly.
"Good." Kahn nodded in satisfaction. "First, I'll explain what the Qi Gathering Stance is. As its name suggests, it is a posture and breathing method for storing breath and nurturing the body. Through specific postures combined with a special breathing rhythm, one guides the elemental power between heaven and earth into the body, tempering the muscles, bones, flesh, and internal organs, thus laying a solid foundation for cultivating battle qi in the future."
As he spoke, he assumed an unusual posture—his feet slightly apart, knees bent a little, arms hanging naturally at his sides with his palms facing inward, head slightly raised, and eyes looking straight ahead. At the same time, his breathing became long and slow. With every inhale and exhale, he seemed to resonate with the world around him.
"Third Prince, watch carefully. In the morning, when the rising sun brings all things to life, it is the best time to absorb the essence of heaven and earth and unlock the body's potential. Spread your legs shoulder-width apart, bend your knees slightly, and hold your hands at your waist to form the Qi Gathering Stance. When practicing it, remember: focus your attention, keep your heart calm, and breathe naturally." Maintaining his posture, Kahn continued, "The key to the Qi Gathering Stance lies in 'stillness' and 'perception.' Stillness means calming both mind and body, casting aside all distracting thoughts, and allowing your body and mind to enter a state of emptiness."
Lin Tian carefully observed Kahn's movements, then copied his stance. Yet the moment he settled into position, he felt a faint ache in his legs, and his body swayed slightly.
"Don't rush." Kahn walked over to Lin Tian and gently adjusted his posture. "Spread your feet a little farther apart, and bend your knees less... Yes, just like that. Remember, the Qi Gathering Stance isn't about forcing yourself to hold the position. You must relax and let your body naturally maintain it."
Following Kahn's instructions, Lin Tian slowly adjusted himself and indeed felt a little more comfortable. He began coordinating with his breathing, inhaling and exhaling as he tried to make each breath longer.
Lin Tian closed his eyes and, as Kahn had instructed, tried his best to calm himself. At first, all sorts of distracting thoughts kept flashing through his mind—his anticipation for training, his hopes for the future, and his unfamiliarity with this world... But as his breathing gradually steadied, those thoughts slowly faded away.
Second by second, time passed. Lin Tian maintained the Qi Gathering Stance, and his breaths grew longer and longer.
His legs trembled. No matter how strong his will was, his muscles, aching to their limit, would no longer obey him. At last, he collapsed onto the ground in a seated position.
Kahn's voice sounded again. "All right, Third Prince. For your first training session, you shouldn't practice for too long. You've already done well enough today. Move your body around a bit."
"How do you feel?" Kahn asked.
"Exhausted. It feels like my whole body has been torn apart," Lin Tian answered honestly.
Kahn smiled. "Everyone is like this the first time. The Qi Gathering Stance is meant to train the body. Once your body is strong, cultivating battle qi later will yield twice the results with half the effort. All right, I'll take Third Prince to soak in some medicinal herbs."
"Okay," Lin Tian said.
Afterward, Lin Tian and Kahn headed toward a palace hall together. Before they even arrived, Lin Tian caught the sharp, pungent scent of medicinal herbs.
"Are these the herbs I'll be soaking in?"
"Yes. These are medicinal herbs specially developed by the Empire's Potion Master for the royal family at Emperor Leo's request, specifically for Qi Gathering Stance training. They heal hidden injuries caused during training and strengthen the body," Kahn said.
The two entered the hall and saw an enormous bathing barrel placed in the center. Medicinal liquid churned inside it, giving off a strange glow. With Kahn's help, Lin Tian slowly stepped into the barrel. The instant the warm liquid covered his body, he could not help letting out a soft cry.
At first, the medicinal liquid brought a warm yet stinging sensation, as if countless tiny needles were lightly pricking his skin. Lin Tian frowned deeply and gripped the edge of the barrel tightly with both hands. Seeing this, Kahn softly said, "Third Prince, the herbs are taking effect. It will be uncomfortable at first, but if you relax and slowly feel it out, you'll understand its benefits."
Lin Tian took a deep breath, forced himself to relax, and tried to adapt to the stinging sensation. Gradually, the pain changed into a warm numbness that seeped from the surface of his skin into his muscles and bones. He felt as though every inch of his body was being gently massaged by an invisible force. Under its effects, the soreness in his legs gradually eased.
"Captain Kahn, this herbal bath really does seem miraculous. I can feel the soreness in my body slowly fading," Lin Tian said in surprise.
Kahn nodded with a smile. "Third Prince, this herbal bath is a royal secret, and its effects are extraordinary. While you soak, the medicinal power in the herbs seeps into your body through your pores, repairing damaged muscles and meridians while strengthening your physique. If you keep taking these baths, your body will grow stronger and stronger."
As time passed, Lin Tian became completely immersed in the wondrous sensation. He seemed able to feel the medicinal power in the liquid like lively little sprites wandering throughout his body, driving away the fatigue and aches hidden deep within him one by one. His taut nerves gradually relaxed as well, and an unprecedented sense of comfort spread through his entire body.
"Captain Kahn, I feel like my body is bursting with vitality, as if I've been reborn," Lin Tian said excitedly, his eyes shining.
"That is the wonder of the herbal bath, Third Prince," Kahn said. "However, while it is highly effective, you cannot rely on it too much. On the path of training, what truly matters is your own effort and perseverance."
"I understand, Captain Kahn. I will definitely train hard," Lin Tian said firmly.
During the medicinal bath, Lin Tian and Kahn also discussed many topics related to training. Kahn told him about difficulties he might encounter during cultivation and how to handle them, as well as the training experiences of several famous warriors in the Empire. These stories filled Lin Tian with confidence and anticipation for the path ahead.
And so, Lin Tian began his training life in the Coiling Dragon World. Every morning and evening, he appeared at the Martial Arts Arena on time to practice the Qi Gathering Stance under Kahn's guidance. As time went by, he became increasingly skilled at it, and with the aid of the medicinal herbs, his body grew stronger and stronger.
Even while training, Lin Tian did not forget his other goal—becoming a mage. Every day, he set aside time to read the books in the palace's Library Pavilion, learning about the world's history, geography, magical beast distribution, divisions of power, and other information in preparation for his future adventures.
A month later, Lin Tian could already maintain the Qi Gathering Stance for two hours without feeling tired. His body had clearly grown much stronger than before. Although he still looked like a five-year-old boy on the outside, the strength within him already far surpassed that of children his age.
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