Teaching the Body Refining Art

"I'm going to eat first."

Su Chen walked out of the Papal Hall, with Hu Liena following behind him.

"Can that booklet of yours really make ordinary soul masters stronger?"

"It can."

"How much stronger?"

"That depends on the person."

Hu Liena was dissatisfied with that answer.

"Why do you always say things that sound useless?"

"Because cultivation has never had a single method that works for everyone."

Su Chen stopped beneath the corridor and glanced up at her.

"The Demon Fox martial soul differs from beast martial souls, and tool martial souls differ from support martial souls. Some people have blocked meridians, some have weak bodies, and some have enough soul power but cannot keep up mentally."

"If I simply stuffed a complete Supreme Guidance Art into everyone, those who learned quickly would improve even faster, while those who could not understand it might even send their soul power down the wrong path."

Hu Liena fell into thought.

"So that's why you need to test it first?"

"That's right."

"Then wouldn't those thirty people from the Elite Camp all have to listen to you?"

"Teacher sending them here doesn't mean I can order them around as I please."

Su Chen continued walking forward.

"You can use the Holy Son's status to pressure people once or twice if you want them to obey. But if you want them to truly accept you, you have to let them see the benefits for themselves."

Hu Liena blinked.

"You're only six. Why do you talk like an old man?"

"Because all of you are too young."

"Su Chen!"

"Senior Sister, don't start hitting people while we're eating. It ruins the appetite."

Early the next morning, at Spirit Hall's Elite Camp.

Thirty young soul masters were already assembled in the training ground.

The oldest was nineteen, while the youngest was thirteen.

Their soul power ranged from level sixteen to level twenty-nine.

Their martial souls varied as well: long spears, iron shields, green vines, wolves, cranes, and even two support-system soul masters.

When they received the order, all of them had been somewhat confused.

The Papal Hall had suddenly transferred them over and specifically ordered that the Holy Son personally train them.

The Holy Son was famous.

He had gone from half a rank of soul power to level ten on the spot, created his own cultivation method, written the Treatise on the Truth of Martial Souls, and even condensed a lightning Soul Ring.

But fame was fame.

Having a six-year-old child teach them cultivation still left many people doubtful.

A tall, thin youth hugged his spear and muttered softly.

"I heard the Holy Son is even younger than us."

The short-haired girl beside him looked over.

"Are you scared?"

"What am I scared of? I'm already level twenty-seven."

"Then step out and ask him."

The tall youth immediately shut his mouth.

"I was just saying."

"Coward."

"Who's a coward? I just think that since His Holiness the Pope gave the order, there must be a reason."

The red-robed deacon standing before the crowd swept his gaze over them.

"Silence."

"His Highness the Holy Son has arrived."

The crowd gradually quieted down.

Su Chen wore a set of short black clothes, with the Purple Thunder Spirit Sword hanging at his waist.

Hu Liena stood beside him, her face carrying a hint of pride, as though she, rather than Su Chen, was the one teaching today.

Su Chen walked to the front of the group without putting on airs.

"Have you all eaten breakfast?"

Everyone froze.

A support-system girl hesitantly spoke up.

"Y-Yes."

"Raise your hands if you haven't eaten."

In the corner, two boys slowly raised their hands.

Su Chen looked at the red-robed deacon.

"Have the kitchen send some food over."

The red-robed deacon hesitated.

"Your Highness, training is about to begin..."

"Cultivating soul power on an empty stomach can easily make you dizzy, and it might even damage your meridians."

"When people are hungry, it doesn't matter how smoothly their soul power flows."

The red-robed deacon immediately nodded.

"This subordinate understands."

Watching this, the tall youth could not help speaking in a low voice.

"Your Highness the Holy Son, aren't we here to cultivate?"

Su Chen looked at him.

"What's your name?"

"Zhao Yan. My martial soul is the Ironback Spear. Level twenty-seven assault-system battle soul master."

"Zhao Yan."

"Here."

"How do you usually cultivate?"

Zhao Yan straightened his chest.

"Meditate, practice my spear, and fight people in real combat."

"How long do you meditate every day?"

"At least four hours."

"Where does your soul power go?"

Zhao Yan froze.

"What do you mean, where does it go?"

"When you meditate, do you keep your soul power in your dantian, or guide it into your limbs? When your soul power strikes at a bottleneck, does your chest feel stuffy? When you thrust your spear too quickly, does your right arm go numb?"

Zhao Yan's expression changed.

"How did you know?"

"A guess."

Su Chen raised a hand.

"Your martial soul is heavy, so you exert force mostly through your right shoulder and arm. Your soul power has been blocked near the Jianjing acupoint for a long time. It may not be obvious normally, but when it truly comes time to fight for your life, your right hand will be half a beat slower than your left."

Zhao Yan unconsciously tightened his grip on the spear shaft.

Only he knew about this.

Half a year ago, when sparring with someone, Zhao Yan's right arm had been a moment too slow, and his opponent had knocked his long spear away with a single sword strike.

Later, he had seen a physician, only to receive the words, "You trained too hard. Rest for a few days."

"What should I do, then?"

Su Chen did not answer immediately.

"Start with stance training."

Zhao Yan frowned.

"Stance training?"

"That's right."

"That simple?"

"You look down on stance training?"

"That's not what I mean, but anyone can stand still, can't they?"

Su Chen nodded.

"Then come here."

Zhao Yan stepped forward.

"Spread your legs slightly wider than shoulder-width. Draw your waist in a little."

Zhao Yan did as instructed.

"Relax your shoulders."

"Relax them more."

"I'm not telling you to throw away your spear. I'm telling you not to tense up like a wooden post."

Zhao Yan looked a little embarrassed.

"This is how I usually stand."

"That's why there's a problem with your right shoulder."

Su Chen walked over and tapped Zhao Yan's shoulder with two fingers.

"Let your soul power rise from the dantian, pass through your legs, then your back, and finally your shoulder."

"Don't rush it."

Zhao Yan closed his eyes and tried to move his soul power.

As soon as it reached his waist and abdomen, it habitually rushed upward.

"Slower."

"Don't use your soul power to ram into your meridians."

"Send it bit by bit, like carrying water."

Sweat appeared on Zhao Yan's forehead.

At first, his soul power moved in fits and starts.

But after a while, the stuffy sensation that had been blocked in his right shoulder slowly began to disperse.

His right arm felt noticeably lighter.

Zhao Yan opened his eyes and swung his spear.

The spear tip cut through the air without the usual sluggishness.

"It really works."

Su Chen stepped back to his original position.

"This isn't a soul skill, nor will it make you break through tomorrow after training today."

"It only helps you straighten out the paths inside your body."

"Soul power is water, and meridians are channels. If the channels are blocked, the more water there is, the easier it is for something to go wrong. Clear the path first, then talk about becoming stronger."

Zhao Yan fell silent for a while, then cupped his fists toward Su Chen.

"Your Highness the Holy Son, I was ignorant just now."

"It's fine."

Su Chen waved a hand.

"It's normal that you weren't convinced."

"I also don't like it when someone starts by saying, 'Do as I say. Don't ask why.'"

Standing beside him, Hu Liena's lips curled slightly upward.

That sounded rather reasonable.

But yesterday in the Papal Hall, Su Chen had not held back in teasing her.

Su Chen looked at the crowd.

"For the next month, you will not practice soul skills, go to the Soul Fighting Arena, or train extra in private."

The crowd immediately stirred.

"No soul skill practice for a month?"

"Then what about our soul power?"

"In ten days, I still have a scheduled battle with someone."

A black-haired girl stepped forward.