Internal Strengthening

Biodata

Realm Overview

Internal Strengthening is the realm in which a martial artist uses internal force to nourish and reinforce the internal organs, making the body resilient from within. Its practitioners possess greater vitality and may normally live to around ninety years 43 61.

It is reached after Three Refinements and Meridian Clearing, when internal force can fill the body's meridians. At this stage, the practitioner can begin strengthening the five viscera and prepare for the transformation of internal force into true qi 49 61.

Cultivation Method

Internal Organ Nourishment

Unlike the earlier Three Refinements, which temper the skin, bones, and meridians, Internal Strengthening focuses on the body's vulnerable internal organs. Internal force is used to gradually strengthen the five viscera, which remain less durable than externally tempered skin and membrane 35 43.

• Hostile internal force entering the body can injure the organs and become fatal if not expelled or neutralized 35.
• Internal Strengthening experts possess heightened perception; Li Yuan could sense that Qin Jiu's internal energy had not yet fused with his blood and qi 36.
• Internal force at this realm can be cultivated into Mystic Power through a suitable secret technique 43 61.

Five Elements Mystic Power

To advance beyond Internal Strengthening, a practitioner must visualize a Divine Intent Diagram and nurture Mystic Power through the five viscera. The organs correspond to the five elements 61.

A martial artist must chiefly cultivate one type of Mystic Power. Attempting incompatible dual cultivation can disrupt the balance of the five elements, cause internal force to run wild, and result in death 61.

Internal Force Transforming into Qi

Mystic Power is the foundation required to transform internal force into true qi. Without a secret technique or an exceptionally rare external treasure, a martial artist's path generally ends at Internal Strengthening 43 44 49.

• Secret techniques cultivate the Five Elements Secret Power within the organs 43.
• The quality of a practitioner's true qi affects their future potential in the Willow Tendon realm and beyond 61.
• Rare treasures of heaven and earth may also nurture secret power, but doing so without a secret technique makes the transformation extremely difficult 44.

Known Levels

Known Practitioners

• Wang Yue — The Qin Mansion's sole Internal Strengthening expert during Qin Jiu's early cultivation; he mentors Qin Jiu in the Dragon-Tiger Health-Nurturing Stake and Tyrant Blade Technique 5 16.
• Tang Yu — Master of the Canghai Martial Hall; had recently broken through to Internal Strengthening during the demon crisis 17.
• Nan Zhenxiong — Long Wind Escort Agency representative who had recently entered Internal Strengthening 17.
• Jiang Lin — Canal Gang chief who had recently entered Internal Strengthening 17.
• Baili Ce — A Divine Fist Sect deacon and Internal Strengthening expert defeated by Qin Jiu while Qin Jiu was still at Three Refinements 42 43.
• Liu Zhilan — A Divine Fist Sect practitioner who cultivated Blazing Sun Mystic Power at the Internal Strengthening stage 51.
• Qi Yuan — Mystic Firmament Sect disciple stationed at the Qin Mansion at the Internal Strengthening level 49.
• Xu Jinghua — Mystic Firmament Sect disciple stationed alongside Qi Yuan at the Internal Strengthening level 49.

Related Martial Arts

• Tyrant Blade Technique — Its stated realm limit is Internal Strengthening due to the damage its harsh cultivation can inflict on the lungs and viscera 4.
• Taiyin Horizontal Training Body — A brutal hard-qigong method that allows rapid breakthroughs but causes practitioners to die upon entering Internal Strengthening, or before reaching thirty years of age 26.
• Sun-Moon Heavenly Light Force — A superior martial art and secret art suited to Qin Jiu's Extreme Yin Cold Sha; its later stages rely on Mystic Power and true qi 60 62.