Cultivation

Who knew how much time had passed.

By the time Feng Xiu opened his eyes, it was already the middle of the night, and the medicinal liquid in the tub had long since gone cold.

He stood up, dried himself with a towel, changed into loose clothes, and had someone tidy the room.

After the guards left,

before going to bed, Feng Xiu practiced a set of the Eight Sections Vajra Skill as usual.

His movements seemed to carry more grace than before.

His mind was also exceptionally clear, and his eyes shone brightly beneath his brows.

"This feeling!"

Feng Xiu gently clenched his fist, feeling an abundant vitality—far greater than before—coursing through him. The soreness and weakness from practicing his punches during the day had mostly disappeared.

"It's all thanks to the internet age. In the old days, who could have a living immortal personally teach them a cultivation method?" Feng Xiu clicked his tongue.

The Eight Sections Vajra Skill was a health-preserving qigong routine that emphasized the unity of movement and stillness. Its method of circulating qi wasn't especially profound, but it could regulate his meridians, and some of its movements had much in common with the Five Force Fist.

After finishing one set, Feng Xiu was still eager for more. He rested briefly, then immediately continued.

One set, then two, until he finally contentedly stopped after the fifth.

Just as he was about to climb into bed, a stir rippled through his mental space.

``` [Life: 6]

[Spirit: 0]

[Strength: 0]

[Agility: 0]

[Technique Record: Eight Sections Vajra Skill (Hall-Entering Realm, Life +3), Five Force Fist (None)]

[Synthesis: Incomplete; cannot be obtained until mastery is achieved.]

The Five Force Fist entry, which had been flickering before, was now fully displayed. Not only that, but the moment it appeared, the Synthesis field briefly lit up, then showed a new line of text.

Feng Xiu's face brightened. He focused on the light screen, taking in the refreshed data and the line of small, flickering text at the bottom, his heart surging.

If his earlier practice of the Eight Sections Vajra Skill had merely imitated its outward form, this time he seemed to have touched the method's essential core.

On top of that, the first eight moves of the Five Force Fist had tempered his inner spirit, making it purer.

Feng Xiu stared at the light screen, his mind racing.

The Technique Record had never changed so dramatically before, and he had little experience to go on.

"Mastery must be the highest level of a technique. Two techniques can be combined once. I haven't learned the Five Force Fist yet, but the panel has already recognized it."

Feng Xiu looked at his Strength value of 0, the corner of his mouth twitching.

"From the looks of it, the Technique Record only shows data after I've worked hard to train."

"And it consolidates all my cultivation techniques into four attributes, then applies an overall boost to me."

Otherwise, there was no way to explain how an adult could have a Strength value of 0.

"Still, the Technique Record has shortened the time it takes me to grow, but it's not overwhelmingly powerful. It's just a special shortcut."

At that thought, Feng Xiu's expression settled.

He recalled the Five Force Fist Zhou Gang had taught him. He still hadn't performed all sixteen moves.

Yet the sluggish pauses had already turned into smooth, coordinated movements.

Suppressing the urge to keep going, Feng Xiu relaxed his body, then lay down on the bed.

There was no rush. He had plenty of time, and a new, broad road stretched out before him.

Given the gradual principles of martial arts, if he injured himself, he might have nowhere to weep.

The next day, Feng Xiu woke up early.

To be precise, he had been woken by the warm yet surging vitality inside him.

The sky outside was still dim, but he wasn't the least bit sleepy.

The medicinal bath after yesterday's training had washed over a body with no prior foundation, yet one that had undergone systematic training.

It was no different from returning him to the peak of his eighteen-year-old self; even his very bones brimmed with surging vitality.

In the small courtyard,

Feng Xiu performed two sets of the Eight Sections Vajra Skill. He felt refreshed, and as he breathed, his qi sank slightly. He shifted his footing.

While the feeling from his practice still lingered, he smoothly flowed into the Five Force Fist.

He extended both hands into the opening stance, then suddenly straightened his body.

As he sank into a bow stance, Feng Xiu felt a continuous tingling sensation in his hip joints, ligaments, ankles, and other parts of his body. It was wonderfully soothing.

The first eight stances of the Five Force Fist covered the sinews, bones, skin, and membranes involved in a martial artist's Body Refining. Almost every move visibly transformed his entire body.

The first move stretched the sinews, the second shook the bones, the third tightened the skin, and the fourth brought the membranes to life.

The cycle went on and on, endlessly renewing itself.

Feng Xiu became immersed in the practice, increasingly obsessed. Compared to yesterday's sluggish awkwardness, even his stances now carried a hint of fierceness.

"I see. The Eight Sections Vajra Skill nourishes, while the Five Force Fist trains. Only by combining the two can I align with the true path of martial arts." Feng Xiu's face lit up with delight.

One set, then two.

On the training ground, Feng Xiu seemed tireless. His punches flowed like mercury spilling across the ground, smooth and natural.

Sweat gradually soaked through his undershirt, but his stances grew ever more practiced and swift, until the first eight moves became second nature. At the mere thought, his fists and feet would follow.

By now, the sky had just begun to brighten. The sun rose, its rosy light spilling softly across the courtyard and dispelling the morning chill.

The estate gradually came to life. Faint footsteps and quiet voices drifted from all around as smoke rose from the kitchen.

The maids and guards began their busy day, but they all kept well away from this courtyard, afraid of disturbing the young master's training.

Feng Xiu stopped without realizing it and drew a deep breath facing the rising sun.

"So heavy~"

Cool air surged into his heaving lungs and mingled with the warm blood and qi within him.

The rush made his spirits leap, and he suddenly felt a weight in his chest.

"A breath during morning practice, training at noon—the vitality of the sunrise really does wonders for nourishing and training one's blood and qi."

Feng Xiu understood. No wonder the members of the escort team practiced under the blazing sun.

There really was a reason behind martial arts training.

Just as he focused on savoring the fresh, mysterious sensation his breathing had brought him, soundless footsteps approached the courtyard gate.

"Excellent!"

A booming voice of praise suddenly rang out.

Feng Xiu jumped and turned around. Zhou Gang had appeared without him noticing, arms folded and a smile of undisguised admiration on his face.

"Uncle Zhou." Feng Xiu hurriedly bowed.

"No need for formalities."

Zhou Gang strode over, his gaze sharp as lightning as he looked Feng Xiu up and down. His eyes lingered especially on the sweat-soaked clothes and the steam rising from his head.

Then he burst into laughter, stepped forward, and clapped Feng Xiu on the shoulder. "Come, do it again. Let me see your progress."

Feng Xiu readily agreed. He moved at once, his stances carrying considerable grace.

A moment later,

he finished the set and looked at Zhou Gang with an expectant expression.

"I thought you'd need at least three to five days to get the first eight moves to the point where your body followed your intent."

"It seems the Five-Strength Medicinal Bath worked even better than I expected."

As he said this, Zhou Gang felt puzzled. He had watched the whole set carefully and patiently.

Feng Xiu's progress was astonishingly fast.

"That's odd. Your blood and qi flow is fierce, yet it carries a resilience I've never seen before. The cycle is so long and steady that you don't seem like a beginner—you seem like someone who's practiced internal boxing for years."

"Have you worked out some way to harmonize it yourself?"

It seemed as though Feng Xiu had woven some special method into his movements. Even Zhou Gang couldn't explain why.

Still, he didn't dwell on it for long. He had met plenty of remarkably talented people over the years.

Martial arts had room for geniuses, but even geniuses needed sweat to nourish them.

A pampered young master from a wealthy family was practically the opposite of a hardworking, rough-edged martial artist.

Though Zhou Gang didn't know whether Feng Xiu's enthusiasm would last only three minutes, the serious, hardworking look of him was worth praising.

"You've got sharp eyes, Uncle Zhou. I really did practice some other health-preserving qigong before. I never thought it was anything special, but it turned out to be quite a windfall."

As a master of the art, Zhou Gang would see through him anyway, so Feng Xiu simply told him.

But he left out anything about the Vajra Skill, speaking with a smile.

Zhou Gang's eyes narrowed slightly. "Health-preserving qigong?" He pondered for a moment.

"What kind? It's made your blood and qi circulate for so long. It doesn't seem like an ordinary routine."

Feng Xiu's heart tightened, but he kept his expression calm.

"I stopped by a secondhand shop on North Street and found an old manual for a qi-nourishing routine. I didn't take it seriously at first. The movements in the book just looked strange, but they felt good to practice."

Zhou Gang smiled, unconvinced by nothing. "Everyone has their own fate. Looks like this was your lucky break."