Ba Duan Jin, which initially originated in the Northern Song dynasty, had many versions: standing, sitting, Southern Ba Duan Jin, Northern Ba Duan Jin, and even evolved versions like Twelve Duan Jin and Eighteen Duan Jin. However, no matter which version it was, the fundamental movements remained the same; the essence did not change.
In his previous life, Wang Sheng started practicing health preservation at a young age, so he knew quite a bit.
Ba Duan Jin was a Health Care Skill that could cultivate Qi-Blood.
On the internet, one could find health care versions, national martial art versions, and others from various periods.
The version Wang Sheng knew was only one, the version from the State Sports General Administration.
This version was the latest and the most widely disseminated and compiled version.
Given that a state-compiled version existed, Wang Sheng naturally wouldn't look for unreliable methods online.
This version might not have much destructive power, but the ultimate fact proved that it was perfectly capable of enhancing health and strengthening Qi-Blood.
Wang Sheng's good physique in his past life was somewhat inseparable from his long-term practice of Ba Duan Jin.
Balanced, it nurtured Qi-Blood and enhanced physique.
Wang Sheng had practiced for more than ten years, having already integrated this set into his instincts.
Without hesitation, Wang Sheng went directly outside to begin practice.
"First movement, Raise Both Hands to Regulate the Triple Burner... Eighth movement, Back Seven Dizziness Hundred Diseases Disappear!"
The version of the State Sports General Administration was not fast; it took Wang Sheng more than ten minutes to complete a set.
Sure enough, after finishing, the progress bar of Ba Duan Jin appeared.
"Health Care Ba Duan Jin: 9 (98.5%)"
Looking at the progress bar, Wang Sheng was somewhat surprised that it was at full level.
"Did it include the experience from my previous life?"
However, upon thinking about it, it was not unreasonable. If the original body's experience in Chrysanthemum Planting was counted, his skills should be counted too.
This was a good thing.
Initially, he thought that if it weren't full level, unable to go directly beyond the limits, he would spend this entire month forcibly breaking his long-term self-discipline to fulfill it.
It seemed unnecessary now; a disciplined life could still be maintained.
The practice continued --
The progress bar enabled Wang Sheng to actively choose whether to keep it on or off, but to motivate himself, he did not turn it off but continually watched the progress bar rise.
Perhaps because of his high proficiency, within half an hour, the progress bar became "Health Care Ba Duan Jin: 9 (99.99%)"
And this round of Ba Duan Jin hadn't finished.
A few minutes later, he completed another set.
At the moment of completion, the progress bar changed:
"Health Care Ba Duan Jin: Breakthrough +1 (1%)"
Simultaneously, Wang Sheng seemed to feel his body leaping, yearning, as if in a dreamy haze.
"Is this... the initial activation of Qi-Blood?"
Some knowledge about low-level Martial Artists was public.
To become a Martial Artist, the first step was to activate one's Qi-Blood, making one's body lively.
After activation, the most obvious sign was the yearning emanating from deep within the body. This yearning was intensely apparent, as it was the body's need for food after becoming active.
Only by filling this sensation with a substantial amount of food could it be suppressed, allowing the ultimate emergence of Qi Blood Power.
"Progress bar is amazing!"
Right after breaking the limit, Wang Sheng already had this sensation. If this were to spread, it would certainly astonish many.
Generally, without special assists, this process would take 1-3 days.
Yet, with the help of the progress bar, Wang Sheng only needed an instant.
Even though he had practiced Ba Duan Jin countless times before with high proficiency, it's essential to know that Ba Duan Jin was simply a Health Care Guiding Skill, yet it was forcibly elevated by the progress bar to a Cultivation Technique.
The progress bar indeed didn't disappoint him.
However, Wang Sheng did not intend to stop immediately. After going into his room to cook rice and meat, he returned to continue because the yearning was still not satisfied.
According to theory, one had to reach the state where "Qi-Blood is boiling, and it sounds like a drum" before starting to eat.
To put it simply, Qi-Blood needed to be activated to a rebellious degree before one could begin to supplement food to satisfy the body's craving.
Repeating this process 30-50 times could potentially activate Qi Blood Power.
During this process, the amount of food one ate would increase. Initially, it wasn't much, but when nearing the awakening of Qi Blood Power, one might even need to eat hundreds of pounds of meat at a time.
Of course, this applied to poor Martial Artists without foundation.
In Wang Sheng's memory, families with some foundation ate special items.
These items not only required much less consumption each time, but even a little bit provided perfect energy supplementation, also accelerating the process; otherwise, where would the disparity of 30-50 times come from?
Of course, no matter how one condensed Qi Blood Power, the emergence of Qi Blood Power meant becoming a First Grade Martial Artist.
A First Grade Martial Artist, with single arm strength reaching five hundred pounds, had skin and flesh refined by Qi-Blood, which couldn't be pierced by anything but sharp blades.
Though it seemed to be only 500 pounds of strength, remember it's a single arm, and merely the lowest standard for a Martial Artist.
With a little training, strength would increase significantly. Coupled with other advantages of a Martial Artist, even without combat skills, being ruthless enough could easily handle around ten strongmen or hoodlums.
That was also the realm Wang Sheng aimed to achieve.
As long as he reached the stage of generating Qi Blood Power, he could be ruthless to survive.
After all, he had started practicing health preservation at just over ten years old to live longer!
With resolute determination, the practice of Ba Duan Jin continued.
About three hours later.
"Health Care Ba Duan Jin: Breakthrough +1 (5%)"
After the breakthrough, the progress bar's growth abruptly slowed, growing just over four percent in three hours. This was a whole new realm, beyond ordinary logic.
Of course, three hours of Ba Duan Jin represented more than just progress bar growth.
Wang Sheng had reached "Qi-Blood boiling, sounding like a drum."
The most direct feeling was hunger, extreme hunger!
Among the eight words, the drum sound might also include the hunger-induced stomach growling.
Another sound related to Qi-Blood boiling appeared beneath Wang Sheng's skin, small bouncing lumps with prominent veins.
This was Qi-Blood restlessly bouncing, producing a muffled sound only he could hear.
Without timely nutritional supplementation, it wouldn't be long before he'd become a bag of bones.
Wang Sheng dared not delay, running directly into the kitchen, starting to eat the cooked meat and rice.
He finished cooking all the meat at home, about six or seven pounds, along with over a pound of rice, filling a large pot.
"Phew~ that felt great!"
After eating, Wang Sheng could feel his body noticeably satisfied, the boiling Qi-Blood suppressed.
As for the food that usually couldn't be finished, none of it was left.
Eating so much wasn't without reward; he squeezed his fist.
"Grip strength increased, and strength improved, not bad."
The fear of having no gains was the most daunting prospect. As long as there were evident gains, people could persist through almost any task.
"But now, I can't continue practicing even if I want to!"
He had eaten up all the meat at home. If he didn't want to drop dead while practicing, he had to go buy some meat.
But buying meat required going to Lijiang Town, which he was reluctant to do now, fearing being forcefully conscripted.
"Seems like I have to ask Uncle Li for help!"
The villagers were pretty good, and Uncle Li, whose full name was Li Wenguang and was a hunter, was the best to him, often taking him hunting before.
During the previous chrysanthemum crisis, he emptied his household stock, though it didn't help much.
When confirming that his ability could accelerate chrysanthemum growth, he went to Li Wenguang's home to get a lot of chrysanthemum seeds, even asking for assistance in gathering them.
Li Wenguang readily agreed, and judging by the timing, he would deliver them today.
Speak of the devil, the devil appears.
A robust voice called from outside.
"Yun Sheng, are you home?"
Qingshan Village had an old scholar who named all the children of Wang Sheng's generation and taught them to read. Wang Sheng's given name was Yun Sheng.
Sadly, the old scholar passed away a few years ago, and since Qingshan Village didn't have another educated individual, the next generation of children was once again named things like Goudan and Er'gou.
Hearing the call, Wang Sheng hurriedly went out, seeing a burly middle-aged man with a kind face.
This was the village's only hunter, Li Wenguang, originally named Li Daxiong. But due to the old scholar, his father forcibly changed it, resulting in a scholarly name contrasting his robust figure.
"Uncle Li!"
Wang Sheng politely greeted him. With an elder running around on his behalf, Wang Sheng felt a bit embarrassed even without deep feelings involved.
But since he came here, it meant the chrysanthemum seeds were already gathered.
However, Wang Sheng still noticed something unusual.
A book, a pottery jar.
Before he could ask, Li Wenguang spoke first, "Yun Sheng, take these and see if you have a chance to become a Martial Artist. As long as you become a Martial Artist, your troubles have a chance to be resolved!"