[WC 1735]
Zhao Wei knew the journey would take several days, roughly four days for them to reach Guanjun Province City.
During this duration, Zhao Wei decided it would be better to concentrate on contemplating inner strength control and the dynamics of the transformation state (what it meant to be a Martial Master before transitioning to the Holy Path).
Zhao Wei had learned about energy and matter during his high school days. If the subjects he had learned were represented with proficiency bars, then Physics would surely have been filled to around 70%.
To him, some sessions had truly held his interest and kept his attention at peak but similarly, some topics only served to make him struggle with sleep.
Anything to do with Electromagnetic induction would have made him dizzy like someone affected with some bizarre sleeping curse but when it came to the study of photons, Planck's constant, photoionization, Zhao Wei would have maintained peak attentiveness.
It was a point in life that most students usually experience where you prefer specific topics of a subject over others.
You would pick linear algebra over calculus, right? (A/N: Existential dread coming your way)
Anyway, Zhao Wei had basic knowledge when it came to the topic of energy.
In his previous life on Earth, almost everything could be explained scientifically except for supernatural occurrences - things that could be considered beyond both mortal and scientific logic.
Zhao Wei knew that he was in a reality where physics and logic were mostly mere decorations. So the scientific knowledge he could apply in his day-to-day life was minimal.
They say energy cannot be created or destroyed, but martial artists can form/create internal energy in their Dantians, enabling them to perform superhuman actions.
In the cultivation world or more so a world of high fantasy, it is truly ridiculous that a concept can even be killed.
High-level cultivators can destroy matter if they wish or concepts like space and time while some Manga characters like Yogiri and Ryougi Shiki can kill almost everything e.g. Momentum, Emotions, and the like.
Well, all of these are things that cultivators can do. Cultivators are the ultimate cheats in all of existence. There is nothing they can't do.
'What most cultivators suffer from is their lack of control when it comes to the manipulation of their inner energy, which subsequently causes them to waste large amounts of energy over time.' Zhao Wei pondered.
'A Martial Master can materialize inner strength outside their own body and attack over long distances. Their inner strength is probably stronger and superior to those below them, except for a few exceptional individuals.'
With his eyes closed, Zhao Wei's face looked serene like the gentle waters of a cool lake. From his Dantian, Zhao Wei willed the inner energy to seamlessly flow through his meridians. His inner energy was purer and thicker than his peers but that wasn't anything special in the grand scheme of things.
Zhao Wei guided the inner energy outside and visualized it coating his own body like armor. Inner strength could easily be manipulated if the area of effect was small but when covering a large area it made it difficult.
His mind worked at greater speeds in order to prevent unnecessary energy waste and also prevent his inner strength from exploding out fiercely.
Connection: Zhao Wei sought to establish a connection with the inner strength such that it was an extra extension of his existence—to become one with his inner strength.
It was difficult at first trying to give the inner strength a definite shape to cloak his body but after multiple failures and due to his prior laid-out foundation, Zhao Wei managed to form a thin energy covering around his form.
Zhao Wei felt as if he had an extra layer of skin above his own and despite its thinness, its defensive properties were super tough and not to be taken lightly. It was just like how you might think that spider silk is fragile and nondurable, but in reality, it was significantly stronger than even steel.
Zhao Wei gradually opened his eyes and was met with a celestial golden glow coating his entire body.
'Success never fails to bring satisfaction and joy in my heart.' A small smile appeared on the corners of his lips.
'Hmm?' Zhao Wei extricated himself from his own world of thoughts when he felt two pairs of eyes watching him in unblinking concentration.
'I made sure not to create any noise, being careful not to disturb anyone's meditation, unless they happened to awaken before me and noticed the glow effect.' Zhao Wei deduced lightly.
'Well, it's within expectation when you cultivate openly.'
"Amazing. You, Zhao Wei, are truly amazing and have exceeded my expectations." Ye Lingyun showered him with genuine praises that came deep from his heart.
"This level of control is extremely rare even among Martial Masters. I wonder how much training one would put to be able to tame inner strength like that."
"How can someone who isn't even close to the Martial Master Realm be able to achieve such a feat?"
Zhao Yufei chose to remain silent and just watch. She had a feeling that she could learn something good this time round from the miraculous bastard; after all, she was also aspiring to be a Martial Master.
'Training? It was just around six months. I used exactly six months to steadily build up experience.' Zhao Wei thought but he didn't expose those facts. It wasn't good in the long run.
"What do you know about inner strength?" Zhao Wei posed an easy question that popped up in his mind.
Ye Lingyun slightly frowned, feeling confused by the youngster's simple question that almost every martial artist and non-martial artist could answer. It was categorized under general knowledge.
But since he had a good impression of Zhao Wei, Ye Lingyun decided to just answer him.
"Inner strength is a type of energy that can be formed inside our dantians when a Martial Learner breaks through to become a beginner Martial Artist. Of course, it isn't an easy task and one has to be enlightened about the mechanisms of inner strength. This hurdle usually leaves a lot of Peak Martial Learners hopeless."
Zhao Wei nodded lightly as he gradually absorbed the celestial golden inner strength coating his exterior back to his Dantian.
"I don't want you to get offended due to my simplistic approach, Master Ye. I just wanted to hear your reasoning since everyone's minds and deductive capabilities are essentially different."
Ye Lingyun found himself chuckling as he lightly rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"I didn't get offended since we are now basically comrades in arms under his lordship, Lord Guanjun."
"And you are a bloody genius, how can I get angry with you?" Ye Lingyun shamelessly proclaimed.
Zhao Yufei secretly rolled her eyes while Zhao Wei lightly shook his head with a small grin forming on his lips.
'Stop licking the base, mister. It's unethical and… gay. It's better to just show us your fiery temperament.'
"This inner strength, this innate power, is something born from our own insights and comprehension. And the thing with energy is that it can be transformed at will when a martial practitioner has adequate control." Zhao Wei started explaining his views.
"It is common knowledge that inner strength can only be used to attack through the air when one becomes a Martial Master but I beg to differ."
Both Ye Lingyun's and Zhao Yufei's attention were wholly captured as they listened to the young man's standpoint.
Even as Ninth Rank Martial Master, someone whose strength sat at the top of Cloud Country and could ultimately decide the fate of a country, Ye Lingyun shoved his expert's pride down his ass and chose to listen.
There wasn't a law that stated that people with lower cultivation bases couldn't have more insightful views and heaven-defying understanding than those stronger than them.
"Who set the law that only Martial Masters can materialize inner strength and use it to attack their enemies over several distances? No one." Zhao Wei continued with an interesting look shining on his face. A scholarly aura seemed to radiate off his being with every word that rolled out of his tongue.
"Who decided that those below the Martial Master Realm can't use inner strength the way they want? No one."
His strong assertive words echoed incessantly in the minds of his avid listeners.
Zhao Wei opened the palm of his right hand and willed his inner strength to materialize in the form of a circular ball.
The energy ball then started to slowly levitate a few inches above his palm under his deliberate control.
Ye Lingyun's eyes widened in astonishment and he almost felt like jumping from his seat and stealing the energy ball off Zhao Wei's hands.
"Imagine the materialized inner strength to be an extra sensory organ and hold onto that connection." Zhao Wei spoke in a low, suspenseful voice and under his deliberate control, the ball of energy morphed into a miniaturized arrow, a sword, and so on.
Moments later a golden gauntlet could be seen on Zhao Wei's right hand.
"Imagination is a powerful tool, fellow enthusiasts. A cultivator with a powerful imagination is an unstoppable force of nature."
"Limitations are simply set by men and the world of men can simply be altered to conform to how you perceive it."
"Reality can be whatever you want." Under the mesmerized gazes of his two traveling companions, Zhao Wei snapped his fingers and the gauntlet cracked before breaking into tiny icy fragments that fell on his lap.
Ye Lingyun seemed to have grasped something after Zhao Wei finished his lecture. This could be seen by how he immediately went into a meditative pose, his expression shifting into one of resolute focus and concentration.
Zhao Yufei mirrored Ye Lingyun's state, leaving Zhao Wei to his own thoughts.
'Tsk, can you two please maintain some sense of originality?!'
'What's so special about my random bullshit?'
Zhao Wei was rendered speechless as he comically ran his hand down his dull face.
'If I tell you I can control the shape and intensity of a fart, then would you believe me?'
***
Enjoy!
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I was hyped when writing chapter 61. I like where this is going. Things are getting good. *foxy grin*