Chapter 58: Transformation of Fist Intent
Yang Shen’s heart trembled. ’As I thought, the ranks of Cultivation and Martial Arts don’t correspond one-to-one.’
Before, Xu Bamboo was displayed in the system as "Strength is Approximately Qi Cultivation Second Layer." He had thought one needed to reach the Marrow Refining Realm to advance, but it turned out that wasn’t necessary...
Or rather, they were simply two different paths. All that mattered was meeting their respective requirements.
With that, the information in the system changed.
"Clan Name: Jianghuai Yang Family (Qi Cultivation Ancestor)"
"Prestige: 19."
(The news of your Uncle’s death has faded. In its place, the new generation’s Patriarch has become a "talented one" in many people’s eyes. Many are optimistic about your future.)
"Clan Leader: Yang Shen"
"Cultivation: Qi Cultivation Second Layer."
"Cultivation Techniques: Qi Cultivation Guiding Technique, Sixth Set of Initial Body Forging Technique, Buddha Sound Body Refining Technique."
Yang Shen closed the system and focused on the changes in his body.
His physical strength had increased slightly. After all, the main function of the first few realms of Qi Cultivation was still to improve one’s constitution. However, unlike Martial Arts, the focus wasn’t on pure power or speed.
It was about adaptability to Spiritual Qi.
He was already stronger than others at the same level because of the Buddha Sound Body Refining Technique. Now, with Qi Cultivation Second Layer plus the initial stage of Bone Training, the effect was greater than the sum of its parts.
Of course, the most important thing was "Qi Sensitivity."
Yang Shen formed a Finger Technique and cast the "Ganlin Curse."
In the past, he had cast it completely blindly, but today he could actually sense the Spiritual Qi.
Yang Shen could vaguely feel the residual Spiritual Power in his body gathering at his fingertips... before finally being transformed by the Technique into a cloud of mist.
Of course, he still didn’t have a Qi Sea. If he hadn’t just taken a pill, it would have directly consumed his Qi and Blood Value.
’If... when my realm is higher and my foundational knowledge is more complete, maybe I won’t need system rewards to improve my Magic.’
’For example, this method of converting Spiritual Power in my palm—if the scale were massive, couldn’t it be called "Cloud Formation and Rainfall"?’
’If, on top of that, I could rely on an external object to cast it in a fixed area for a long-term effect, like a "Spirit Gathering Eye," wouldn’t that count as an "Array"?’
’So-called Magic... can it be understood as giving Spiritual Qi a "model" to operate within, to achieve a specific result? In that case, does the model have to be given by the system?’
’I reckon... I can figure it out on my own...’
The Yang Family existed in a world without Cultivation. This meant that the great power of Cultivation belonged to the Yang Family alone.
But it also meant they had to discover much of the common knowledge and conveniences of Cultivation on their own.
Perhaps in a proper Cultivation World, a cultivator at the Second Layer of Qi Cultivation like Yang Shen would already have a Storage Magical Artifact, many flashy Magic spells, and a pocket full of purchased talismans.
But on Cyan Blue, there was no Alchemy, Artifact Refining, talismans, additional Cultivation Techniques, resources, or Magical Treasures... none of it.
Even if the Yang Family was the richest on Cyan Blue, they still had to start their research from scratch.
This was also why Yang Shen felt they must pursue "independent research" in the future. Relying entirely on system rewards was no different from waiting to win the lottery. It was better to have the means to fish than to be given a fish.
He couldn’t possibly have the time and talent for every field, but his family might in the future.
In other words, to practice Cultivation in a world without it... one could only advance by relying on the strength of the collective.
Only the "Immortal Race System" could help them reach the other shore.
To stand out and rise as the sole cultivation force might be a little slow.
But it would definitely be awesome!
Reaching the Second Layer of Qi Cultivation and gaining Qi Sensitivity was a secondary improvement in terms of power. The biggest enhancement was in his perception.
’It seems you need to be at least at the Second Layer of Qi Cultivation to learn Magic. I was only able to cast it earlier because the system instilled the knowledge in me...’
Trying to practice Magic without Qi Sensitivity was like asking a blind person to learn painting or a person in a vegetative state to do a plank...
’The four little ones just need to focus on the "Guiding Technique" for now. They don’t need to be distracted by other fields.’
Thus, after one month of Cultivation, Yang Shen reached the Second Layer of Qi Cultivation.
An absolutely terrifying speed!
Lei Lv had also stepped onto the path of Cultivation. Once the remaining three little ones began their preliminary practice, he would complete another main quest and obtain the second "Clan Inheritance Treasure"!
——————
The night was long, with Cultivation as a companion.
After entering the Second Layer of Qi Cultivation, his "Daily Cultivation Time Limit" didn’t seem to change much. What changed was the efficiency of absorbing Spiritual Qi.
This was reasonable. Otherwise, wouldn’t high-level Cultivators have their butts welded to their meditation cushions? Would they end up cultivating 25 hours a day, owing the world an hour?
If a powerful Cultivator could live for 1,000 years, but 900 of those were spent stuck in meditation, then what’s the point of cultivating?!
When he finished at three in the morning, the Di Di Boy reported that his Qi and Blood Value had increased by 9.5 points. This was the effect of the dual amplification from his realm breakthrough and the "Spirit Gathering Array."
However, he still had to spend 0.5 Qi and Blood Value daily to activate the Spirit Plant Magic, plus another 0.5 to activate the "Bee Control Technique" to strengthen his connection with the Sun Worms.
All in all, he had more to spare now!
After his Cultivation session ended earlier than usual, Yang Shen went to the Celestial Platform at three in the morning. Bringing the large amount of Qi and Blood Value he had just absorbed, he began to practice the "Sixth Set of Initial Realm Body Refining Fist."
He wanted to rediscover that warm feeling in his fist from during the day...
When he was passionately trading elbows with Huo Jun, his mind wasn’t on himself.
There were no personal grudges, only the Innocent Heart of wanting to win the elbow exchange.
So much so that he couldn’t remember now... How did his fist get hot back then?
’It was like... my whole fist was enveloped in a kind of warmth, and its speed even increased a bit, as if it had been lubricated...’
But the more he thought about it, the less he could find it. It was just like with the "Buddha Sound Body Refining Technique" back then—the more he wanted to turn it off, the more it wouldn’t stop.
’Wait... the Buddha Sound Body Refining Technique...’
Yang Shen felt that practicing so hard like this was pointless. He might as well try something.
So, he began to actively recall that brainwashing, special music in his mind. He quickly found the familiar sensation, and his entire body began to thrum faintly.
’This miraculous Cultivation Technique mobilizes the entire body. Maybe it can help me find something different...’
Just like that, while enduring the "Buddha Sound Body Refining Technique" at 20% volume, Yang Shen continued to practice his fist forms. At the same time, he replayed the day’s fight in his mind... imagining himself hammering Huo Jun until he was crawling all over the floor.
Then he gradually increased the volume to 30%.
That was his limit. He was basically teetering on the edge of a full-body cramp.
An unknown amount of time passed before Yang Shen truly felt something different...
Yang Shen felt the "source" within his body being mobilized... It seemed to form a rotating circle.
Warm, stable, and self-sustaining.
If he had asked the teacher for Subject Four during his monthly exam, he probably would have learned that the "source loop" inside his body when he punched was similar to this. Under the instrument, it had formed a circle, though it hadn’t been as Harmonious or obvious at the time.
If he didn’t have the Cultivation of the Cultivation Side at the Second Layer of Qi Cultivation and possess "Qi Sensitivity," it would have been absolutely impossible for him to perceive the "Source Flow" in his body at this realm without the aid of an instrument.
’No wonder... Director Liang said there was no need to delve into Fist Intent at a low realm. Low-level Martial Artists can’t perceive the changes inside their bodies, so targeted training is out of the question.’
But sometimes, a low realm wasn’t an absolute limitation. Some people were just born to be the type to slap the "laws of Martial Arts" in the face.
For example, Chen Beiwang.
For example, Yang Shen.
’Fist Intent... is a person’s Martial Dao Will. It is a kind of fusion between a person and "Spiritual Qi," far more than just Strengthening Qi and Blood Value or enhancing practical combat ability.’
A moment later, Yang Shen suddenly threw a punch. A wisp of the "Harmonious" circle inside him was guided to his arm, and he clearly felt a warm current.
And then... with the next punch, the warm current in his body became even more distinct to his Qi Sensitivity.
However, when he switched to a kick, the "Harmonious Sun" also showed a tendency to spread in that direction, but it ultimately retreated in vain...
Yang Shen realized that at his current stage, only his fists could trigger this strange phenomenon!
’Or maybe my upper body?’
’That’s fine. If my lower body heated up, I’d be worried about the risks...’
He grasped this feeling, and the "Harmonious Sun" was mobilized more and more quickly.
Finally, a scorching heat began to appear on the surface of his fist!
To be precise, the source within his body was mobilized and enveloped the surface of his fist! It manifested as a state of high temperature!
’It’s like... like a type of "Magic" that belongs to Martial Arts!’
’Yes, source... Spiritual Qi... they are fundamentally one and the same! It’s just that the paths of Martial Arts and Cultivation are completely different. To understand Martial Arts as merely fists, feet, strength, and speed is to underestimate it severely!’
Martial Arts is just a different way of using "Spiritual Qi," and a more restrained one at that...
If Magic is about constructing a "large model" for Spiritual Qi to operate in, then Martial Arts is closer to...
Using the body itself as a large model for operating the "source"!
And Yang Shen’s "Qi Sensitivity" gave him the "eyes" to see and adjust this large model!
Yang Shen’s punches grew faster and faster, and the "Harmonious Sun" began to ascend within his body! It was as if it were rising!
Finally, a faint distortion began to appear over the surface of his fist... This was because the temperature of his fist was so high that it changed the density of the air, causing the light to refract!
’Studying liberal arts really is useful.’
’If the illiterate Huang Gang were here, he’d probably think I was distorting space itself!’
Yang Shen continued to throw punches but felt that the temperature seemed to have reached its limit... and his stamina was draining much faster in this state...
Finally, he stopped his Body Forging and let a drop of sweat fall onto his fist. It evaporated instantly. The water droplet even seemed to leap, indicating the temperature was probably around 200°C...
Even though it was scorching hot, he himself only felt a pleasant warmth.
It really was just like Magic; under the effect of the "source," it produced an effect that defied conventional physics.
He was very curious about how high the temperature of the ultimate Rising Sun Fist Intent could get... Would his fist be wreathed in flames, disinfecting as he fought?
"I’ll temporarily call it... ’Flame Fist.’ Even though there’s no fire yet, I can’t exactly call it ’Hot Fist,’ can I..."
’That would be too lame...’
However, as it stood, he could only use it after highly activating his body with the "Buddha Sound Body Refining Technique," and the wind-up was too long.
In a real fight, he couldn’t just ask his opponent to wait a moment while he performed a set of the "Body Refining Fist" before starting...
The next step was to practice continuously, so he could use it more and more smoothly, and eventually release it from any part of his body.
Director Liang had a move called "Bend Finger into Steel." With a flick of his finger, whether it was a bottle cap or just the air, it seemed to harden instantly. That was likely an advanced effect of Fist Intent, something he could do with ease.
’Right, since it’s as miraculous as Magic, what’s the cost?’
Yang Shen quickly looked down at the "Di Di Boy" and found that his Qi and Blood Value had only decreased by 0.2!
Compared to the various spells of Cultivation, this could be called cost-effective!
’Excellent! I, Yang Shen, love these kinds of stingy abilities!’
Having broken through to the Second Layer of Qi Cultivation and grasped Fist Intent in a single night, Yang Shen felt that if he were to face the "Giant-mouthed Woman" again, he could win with much more ease, even without the element of surprise from his Bee Control Technique.
’One punch is 200°C, ten punches is 2000°C! I’ll scald you to death!’
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