"It is well known that martial arts are divided into nine stages. The first to third stages are known as the 'Strength Refining Stage,' with the title of 'Martial Disciple'; the fourth to sixth stages form the 'Qi Accumulation Stage,' where one is titled 'Martial Artist'; and the seventh to ninth stages are the 'Qi Breaking Stage,' where such formidable individuals are considered masters within martial arts. These practitioners hold an exalted status, and few exist within the entire Yun Clan..."
Head Instructor Zhang's voice was deep and resonant as he briefly outlined the nine stages of martial arts.
Such knowledge was familiar to many of the younger disciples present.
"Martial Arts Stages... Strength Refining Stage... Qi Accumulation Stage... Qi Breaking Stage! Between each stage lies a vast and insurmountable divide."
Cloud Che's mind painted a clear picture of these divisions.
[Strength Refining Stage]: This stage focuses on tempering one's physical strength, enhancing bodily vitality and blood flow, thereby laying the foundational groundwork.
[Qi Accumulation Stage]: At this stage, the martial artist's physical condition is sufficiently developed to condense internal martial energy within their body. The power of martial arts techniques far surpasses that of ordinary individuals or martial disciples.
[Qi Breaking Stage]: Martial artists at this level have perfected their internal martial energy to the extent where they can strike from a distance, slay opponents with ease, and elevate their power to a whole new realm.
It is said that certain peak martial artists within the Kingdom of Xiangyun, at the pinnacle of the ninth stage, are known as "Enemies of Ten Thousand Men." They can charge through armies with unparalleled ease, soaring through the air like gods, effortlessly decapitating their foes.
At this level, personal combat prowess reaches an almost terrifying level. Ordinary warriors and fierce beasts are viewed as insignificant as ants in their eyes, easily eradicated with a single motion.
"First, let us discuss the foundational techniques of the first and second stages, focusing on cultivating bodily strength and fortifying one's blood energy..."
Head Instructor Zhang began by explaining the fundamentals of the first two stages.
Many disciples present, who had already reached the third stage of martial arts, did not pay much attention.
Cloud Che, however, listened intently. He had spent a long time at the first stage, and with over a hundred martial arts manuals in his mind, he felt a deep sense of resonance and enlightenment...
He suddenly recalled the first martial technique he ever learned, the "Yan Gang Fist."
Gradually, the techniques, moves, and insights from the Yan Gang Fist melded into his consciousness, as if they had completely merged into his memory.
Cloud Che was slightly startled, unsure of the cause, but he could tell that his understanding of the foundational technique had reached a level of perfect mastery.
He had unknowingly triggered a state of "sudden enlightenment," an experience that even the most gifted of individuals might struggle to achieve.
"Next, I will explain the techniques of the second and third stages, as well as the condensation and application of one's blood energy..."
Head Instructor Zhang not only explained but also demonstrated.
As a true martial artist, with just a few moves, Zhang could unleash the full power of mid-level martial arts, astonishingly powerful in its might.
Even if he were to use only the third stage of martial arts power, he could easily defeat the top ten disciples of the outer layer with just his intermediate-level techniques.
"Finally, I will share my insights and techniques regarding 'Martial Arts Inner Energy.' Among you, a few have reached the peak of the third stage, but still struggle to condense their internal martial energy and breakthrough to the true martial artist realm of the 'Qi Accumulation Stage.'"
A smile appeared on Head Instructor Zhang's lips as he spoke these words.
Instantly, the eyes of several disciples ranked among the top in the outer layer lit up with anticipation.
Those whose strength ranked within the top ten of the outer disciples had all reached the peak of the third stage.
"Even though I have successfully cultivated Martial Arts Inner Energy, it would be impossible to fully explain its principles. The key lies in your individual comprehension. All I can do is share techniques and personal insights..."
Head Instructor Zhang's voice grew softer.
With his words, he took a deep breath, releasing a powerful aura from his body.
In that instant, the disciples of the Yun Clan felt a tremor in their hearts, overwhelmed by a sense of suffocating pressure.
Cloud Che felt a sudden constriction in his chest, his body inexplicably growing heavy.
It was an indescribable aura, like an invisible force field that enveloped the entire group of martial disciples.
"Such terrifying power—this is Martial Arts Inner Energy? With it, one can aspire to become a true martial artist..."
The entire crowd held their breath, their faces filled with awe and even greater anticipation.
"Martial Arts Inner Energy is, at its core, the power of the human body, born from the condensation of blood energy. Therefore, strong blood vitality is the key to condensing Martial Arts Inner Energy. The body's blood vitality comes from the flesh and bones. This is why the first three stages of martial arts, the 'Strength Refining Stage,' are the foundation of everything."
As he spoke, Zhang demonstrated with his own movements.
"Stone Shattering Palm!"
Suddenly, he shouted, and a faint yellow aura appeared in his palm, surging outward with the strike.
Bang!
Before the palm even landed, a heavy, howling wind shot forward, cutting through the air.
"Aah!"
Several martial disciples standing nearby cried out in surprise.
The power of that strike, enhanced by Martial Arts Inner Energy, felt as though a mountain was crashing down, and even the sheer force of the wind was enough to make ordinary martial disciples falter.
Thud!
Two or three disciples at the second stage of martial arts lost their balance and fell to the ground.
"Hmph! It's clear your foundations are unstable, and your blood energy is weak. A mere gust of wind from my palm has left you in such disarray. If this were a Martial Master above the seventh stage, the Martial Arts Inner Energy would break through your body, and with a strike from several meters away, you would be obliterated..."
Head Instructor Zhang snorted, shaking his head at the weak foundations of the outer disciples.
While he demonstrated Martial Arts Inner Energy, a young disciple stood still, resembling a statue, unmoving.
When Zhang finished his strike, the young disciple closed his eyes.
"Martial Arts Inner Energy... so this is how it is born..."
Cloud Che closed his eyes entirely.
In his mind, the outline of the human body appeared repeatedly, with blood and energy flowing and circulating throughout.
At a certain moment, the immense blood energy within the outline surged like magma, releasing a faint yellow-red aura, which then surged forward with the power of the palm.
It was then that Cloud Che realized...
During Zhang's demonstration, he had pushed his left eye abilities to their limit...
In that moment, his left eye had captured all the subtle changes in Zhang's blood energy and the birth and explosion of Martial Arts Inner Energy.
Moreover, when he closed his eyes once more, the scenes he had just witnessed seemed to replay endlessly in his mind, as if they had been duplicated with perfect clarity.
It was likely that even Master Zhang himself could not observe the subtle fluctuations of his own internal energy and the changes of his martial force with such remarkable precision.
For the next while, Master Zhang demonstrated a few more techniques, sharing his personal insights and experiences. Every time he did so, Yun Che exerted all his focus on activating his left eye.
While the other disciples could only grasp the knowledge and theory presented verbally, Yun Che had the advantage of not only combining text with imagery but also having a direct and vivid experience.
Half an hour passed.
Master Zhang's lecture concluded.
"Regarding the inner martial energy, you must not force it. Whether or not you can comprehend and successfully condense it depends on two things: innate talent, and the strength of your own life force," he said.
As Master Zhang departed, he gave a final shake of his head and let out a soft sigh. Clearly, he held little hope for these outer disciples. If his teachings could inspire even one or two of them to grasp the concept of martial energy, it would far exceed expectations.
Once he left, the majority of the disciples were left in confusion, their minds clouded with uncertainty. After all, martial energy was an indescribable and difficult-to-interpret phenomenon, with the key lying in personal comprehension.
Of course, some of the disciples ranked at the top had gained some insight.
The first-ranked Yun Yue, as well as Yun Yijian, Yun Qian, and others, showed signs of contemplation. Their brows furrowed slightly, yet now and then, a glimmer of joy flickered across their faces.
Yun Feixiu's elegant brows furrowed ever so slightly, and her translucent, pearl-like eyes gleamed with an unusual light.
As for Yun Che, he simply closed his eyes and remained still for a long while, his thoughts immersed in the patterns of internal energy and blood flow Master Zhang had demonstrated.
After half a cup of tea's time passed, Yun Che exhaled deeply, excitement and joy shining in his eyes as he swiftly made his way home.
Bang!
As soon as he entered, he shut the door behind him and sat cross-legged.
"The principles and processes of creating martial energy are becoming clear to me," he murmured softly to himself, a smile briefly flickering across his lips.
Closing his eyes, the contents of the Piao Ling Du (Later Chapters), the introductory part of the Ling Du Qi Formula, resurfaced in his mind.
If judged by theory, Yun Che had cultivated the Push Qi Formula to its perfection. His vitality and blood flow were stronger than most at the peak of the third level of martial arts, making him fully capable of condensing martial energy.
That day, he first integrated the insights he had gained. By evening, Yun Che practiced the Push Qi Formula multiple times, until he confirmed that he had reached the third level of perfection.
"It begins now!"
Yun Che took a deep breath, feeling his internal energy and blood surge within him. A mysterious, suffocating pressure began to emanate from him, gathering bit by bit.
According to the content of the Ling Du Qi Formula, Yun Che's internal energy and blood flowed together, undispersed, while surging lowly in a manner that created pressure without losing a sense of lightness and joy.
Compared to the Push Qi Formula, which was relatively basic in its requirements, the Ling Du Qi Formula demanded a higher level of precision in speed, refinement, and circulation of the energy.
After a while, Yun Che felt his internal energy condensing in a smooth and light fashion, as it traversed through his body in a mystical and incomprehensible way.
Everything was progressing smoothly, but as he reached the final stage, Yun Che began to sense a lack of strength.
The reason was simple.
Though Yun Che's vitality and blood were strong enough, the volume of it was insufficient.
In terms of intensity, he could rival Yun Yue, ranked first among the outer disciples. But in terms of sheer quantity, he fell short.
Yun Che had yet to reach the peak of the third level, and the Ling Du Qi Formula's method of refining martial energy was far more challenging than usual techniques.
"If I fail, my energy will weaken, and it will be even more difficult to surpass this point in the future…" Yun Che gritted his teeth, taking out a 200-year-old blood ginseng and swallowing it in one swift motion.
Hoo!
Yun Che inhaled deeply, the medicinal power of the ginseng instantly melting and merging with his blood energy, creating a powerful surge.
Wooom...
At this crucial moment, Yun Che could even hear the roaring rush of energy within his body.
"Ha!"
A loud shout burst forth, like a muffled thunderclap. The windows rattled as a strong gust of wind rushed through the room.
In an instant, the room was plunged into darkness, even the oil lamp extinguished by the force of the wind.
Under the moonlight's glow, the young man's face was tense with nervousness as he slowly opened his palm.
A faint, translucent azure aura swirled gently in his palm, carrying an ethereal and mesmerizing beauty