That evening, everyone returned to Notting Academy.
Because of what Qin Qi had done earlier, the Formal Students no longer dared bully the Work-Study Students.
Naturally, the so-called contest for the title of the academy's top dog never happened.
Everyone returned peacefully to their dormitory and began to rest, while Qin Qi entered the Study Space.
Qin Qi began practicing the Five Treasures Body Protection Method as usual, but this time, he tried making slight adjustments to the route of Qi circulation.
"Granduncle, I'm thinking of changing the route of Qi circulation in the Five Treasures Body Protection Method. What do you think?"
Before doing anything, Qin Qi cautiously asked Tang Jiaren for his opinion.
"Changing the route of Qi circulation? The Five Treasures Body Protection Method's route was developed through the practical experience and exploration of countless people in our Tang Sect."
"If you change it carelessly, you'll definitely run into problems. But if you make slight adjustments based on your physique..."
"Then perhaps it'll be fine... No, that won't work either. You haven't been practicing for very long, and you lack experience."
"You won't be able to judge where to draw the line, so even slight modifications are out of the question."
After hearing Qin Qi out, Tang Jiaren didn't angrily scold him for his audacity. Instead, he gave the matter serious thought.
"Granduncle, I mean making slight adjustments based on my body, so the method suits me better."
"Everyone's body is built a little differently, so the method will work somewhat differently for each person."
"The Five Treasures Body Protection Method is the most widely applicable method our predecessors developed over the generations, but it isn't the method best suited to me."
"So I want to make slight adjustments within the framework our predecessors established, to make it fit me better."
"And I have a way to make up for my lack of experience."
Qin Qi explained.
"This... Go ahead and give it a try. I'll guard you from the side, and if I spot any problems, I'll stop you immediately."
Tang Jiaren looked at Qin Qi. After a moment's silence, he agreed to let him try.
No one could die in the Study Space, and it couldn't cause any real harm to the body, so Qin Qi could experiment boldly.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Granduncle."
Qin Qi sat cross-legged and began circulating the Five Treasures Body Protection Method. At the same time, he activated the Proficiency Panel.
He focused his attention on the Five Treasures Body Protection Method, observing the changes far beyond the decimal point.
"Activate the Epiphany State!"
Qin Qi activated the Epiphany State and the Transparent World, entering a state of Inner Observation.
Every meridian and bit of flesh in his body became crystal clear. He watched the Qi circulate as he practiced the Five Treasures Body Protection Method.
"The Qi circulation feels a little sluggish here. I'll adjust it."
In the Epiphany State, Qin Qi's perception was magnified. Problems he normally couldn't detect now stood out with perfect clarity.
He began making subtle adjustments to these areas, watching the Proficiency Panel as he went. If he made a mistake, his proficiency would decrease.
If he made a successful adjustment, his proficiency would increase.
Through repeated experimentation, Qin Qi gradually adjusted every subtle point in his body.
It took him a full half-day. During that time, the Epiphany State lasted for quite a while and cost him many credits.
[Five Treasures Body Protection Method (Beginner): Practice Progress: 16%!]
After just half a day of practice, the progress of the Five Treasures Body Protection Method had increased by one percentage point.
And when he continued practicing afterward, his progress improved much faster than before!
"Although the adjustments were subtle, with no earth-shaking changes..."
"Removing unnecessary steps from the route of Qi circulation made my practice faster."
"The benefits aren't obvious in the short term, but over time, the difference will add up!"
Qin Qi slowly finished his practice, letting his body adapt to and retain the modified route of Qi circulation.
"Did it work?"
Tang Jiaren looked at Qin Qi and asked.
"Yes, it worked!"
Qin Qi replied with a smile.
"Hmm... It really did."
Tang Jiaren stared at Qin Qi for a long time. At last, he nodded and spoke.
"Granduncle, did you really see the difference, or are you just agreeing with me?"
Qin Qi looked at Tang Jiaren, paused, then asked.
"Of course I really saw it."
"Although you have that talent you call the Transparent World, you still have too little experience with Observation."
"And your method of using it is far too crude."
Tang Jiaren looked at Qin Qi and explained.
"Could you tell me how you saw the difference?"
Qin Qi asked curiously.
"The fluctuations and feel of the Qi."
"Before, when you circulated Qi, it looked like flames, with little fluctuations appearing from time to time."
"But now your Qi surrounds you like a calm lake, without a single ripple."
Tang Jiaren explained.
"Fluctuations in the Qi?"
Qin Qi activated the Transparent World and entered Inner Observation as he began circulating Qi. He saw the Qi around him, like a ball of water.
He changed his method of circulating Qi back to its original form and observed it again.
This time, although the Qi was still calm, faint ripples appeared now and then.
"Because there were sluggish points in my body, the Qi would fluctuate whenever it passed through them."
"After I fixed them, the Qi flowed smoothly through my whole body, so naturally there were no more fluctuations!"
Qin Qi shook his head as the thought occurred to him. He finally understood why the Proficiency Panel showed that his Tang Sect Observation was only proficient, while his Transparent World was only at the beginner level of development.
In this particular case, if Tang Jiaren hadn't pointed it out, Qin Qi probably wouldn't have noticed it himself.
"It's not just the shape. There's also the feeling. Before, your Qi was somewhat restless. Now it's much calmer, much more harmonious."
Tang Jiaren continued.
"I didn't notice that. My Observation Method isn't advanced enough for me to see it."
Qin Qi tried to sense it, but couldn't. Compared with Tang Jiaren, who had spent decades refining and accumulating his experience, he couldn't yet get a sense of things from the Qi itself. His Observation Method wasn't profound enough.
"Being able to see the fluctuations in the Qi is already impressive. That kind of feeling takes time to develop."
"Once you've built up enough experience, you'll naturally learn how."
"Then, all you'll need is a glance to get a general idea of what kind of person someone is."
"You might even be able to use it to detect lies or read minds."
Tang Jiaren smiled and patted Qin Qi on the shoulder. Qin Qi was still young. He had plenty of time.
For the rest of their time together, Tang Jiaren didn't teach Qin Qi any other Tang Sect techniques. Instead, he began learning about Martial Souls from Qin Qi.
As Tang Jiaren put it, to win a hundred battles, you had to know both yourself and your enemy. If he wanted to teach Qin Qi properly, he first had to understand what Martial Souls were. Only then could he guide Qin Qi in a way tailored to him.
The old man and the young one taught each other, and before they knew it, the day was almost over.
Just as Qin Qi was about to leave the Study Space, Tang Jiaren suddenly realized something.
"Wait, the Soul Power you described isn't the same thing as Qi. They shouldn't be treated as one and the same!"
After hearing Qin Qi describe Soul Power, Tang Jiaren had spent a long time comparing it with Qi in his mind. At last, he spotted the problem.