Chapter 77: The Realm of Consummation

Xiao Zongting saw that person all the way to the door, the two clasped their fists to bid farewell, and only then did Xiao Zongting turn back with a dark face.

He walked up to Duan Rong, stopped, and asked, "Something up?"

"Mm." Duan Rong replied with a well-behaved attitude; he could tell that Xiao Zongting was not in a good mood.

This also meant that Xiao Baijiao's illness was likely not very optimistic.

"Let's go inside to talk." After saying this, Xiao Zongting limped toward the Back Courtyard.

Duan Rong immediately followed behind him.

As soon as they reached the main room, they saw Xiao Baijiao sitting before the tea table with a weary look on her beautiful face; in front of her lay an ink-green pulse-reading pillow!

It seemed that the fierce-looking person from just now had already taken Xiao Baijiao's pulse.

Seeing Xiao Zongting enter, Xiao Baijiao was just about to speak when she suddenly saw Duan Rong following behind him. She smiled slightly, stood up, performed a light curtsy, and greeted him: "Senior Brother Duan!"

Seeing Xiao Baijiao welcome him like this, Duan Rong was slightly stunned, then immediately bowed and said, "The Second Miss is unwell, there is no need for such formalities!"

After the two exchanged greetings, they both rose!

Xiao Zongting walked straight to the grand armchair, sat down with a thud, looked at Duan Rong, and pointed quite casually with his thumb toward a chair not far away!

Duan Rong understood and walked over; Xiao Baijiao watched him as he sat down with her.

Xiao Baijiao knew her life was not long, and she hoped to leave a good impression on Duan Rong.

Xiao Baijiao's gaze swept across Duan Rong's face before she turned to look at Xiao Zongting's dark, gloomy expression, softly persuading him: "Since the Evil Doctor Shen Ping has no solution either, Father, there is no use in worrying yourself."

Hearing this, Xiao Zongting only let out a heavy sigh and did not speak.

Duan Rong's heart stirred slightly; it seemed that the person from before was indeed the Evil Doctor Shen Ping. That moniker certainly suited his appearance.

"Lifespan has its own destiny; forcing it is of no benefit! It is better to let each find peace with their fate!" There was a peaceful warmth in Xiao Baijiao's voice.

Xiao Zongting's expression softened slightly. He suddenly discovered that his daughter was comforting him; with death ahead, her eyes instead shone with a warm radiance, possessing a stable strength she had not possessed in the past.

Xiao Zongting's lips trembled as he said, "Baijiao, you seem to have changed!"

No one knows a daughter like her father; tempered by death, Xiao Baijiao's inner personality had clearly undergone some kind of transformation!

Xiao Baijiao smiled, stood up, and said, "In this final period, let Baijiao fulfill her filial duty and complete our bond as father and daughter! Father, do not go looking for any more famous doctors!"

Xiao Zongting felt a pain in his heart, his eyes filled with agony and dejection as he said, "Fine... I promise you!"

In truth, the Evil Doctor Shen Ping had been Xiao Zongting's last hope.

Seeing her father give his word, Xiao Baijiao smiled slightly, took a deep look at Duan Rong, and rose to go into the Inner Room.

The topic the father and daughter had discussed was quite private, yet they had not avoided Duan Rong at all, which showed that the Xiaojia could be said to trust Duan Rong completely!

Xiao Baijiao chatting about this topic in front of Duan Rong was actually also a way to inform him of her condition. This was the delicate mind of a young woman.

It was just that Duan Rong had not noticed; his mind was entirely focused on the problems he was facing.

Watching Xiao Baijiao's retreating figure, Xiao Zongting calmed his emotions for a moment before turning to look at Duan Rong and asking, "How is your practice of the Internal Breath Second Stage coming along?"

"It is already achieved!"

Xiao Zongting's pupils shrank slightly! It was even shorter than the time he had anticipated!

Xiao Zongting stood up, walked to the corner of the main room, took out a key from his waist, opened a low cabinet there, and rummaged through it!

Then he limped back, threw a yellowed booklet with a damaged cover and curled corners onto the tea table beside Duan Rong, and said, "The Secret Manual for the Third Stage!"

Duan Rong took the Secret Manual, flipped through it casually, and then put it away. His mind was not on this manual!

"Do you need me to write down the prescription for the Third Stage?" Xiao Zongting looked at Duan Rong and asked.

"I will study it first before deciding." Duan Rong smiled and replied.

Hearing this, Xiao Zongting nodded.

The training method for the Third Stage of Internal Breath was vastly different from the first two stages; it was a good attitude for Duan Rong not to be rash!

"Xiao Lao! You once said! Martial arts use Martial Technique as the method of combat, Internal Cultivation Method as the foundation, and Mental Power as the core." Duan Rong looked at Xiao Zongting with clear eyes and asked, "I can understand the meaning of the first two layers of this statement. But for the third layer, using Mental Power as the core, could I ask Xiao Lao to break it down for me!"

Xiao Zongting looked at Duan Rong and nodded slightly; it didn't matter if one asked questions, but being able to ask the right ones was a skill!

In truth, what Duan Rong really wanted to ask about was the method to improve Mental Power, but he had to throw out a brick to attract jade, leading the topic to Mental Power first before he could ask further.

"After your training in the first two stages of the Inner Breath Realm, you should already have a preliminary understanding!"

"For a Martial Artist, the strength of their Mental Power is closely related to their talent for cultivation!"

"Whether it is the understanding of Martial Technique combat methods or the mastery of complex Internal Breath circulation methods, the essence behind them all is Mental Power!"

Duan Rong nodded continuously as he listened to Xiao Zongting's explanation.

This was basically consistent with his own understanding, only Xiao Zongting explained it more thoroughly!

"But this, in fact, is still not the true connotation of martial arts having Mental Power as the core!" As Xiao Zongting spoke, his tone suddenly rose a little.

Duan Rong knew that what he was about to say was the true essence of martial arts, so he braced himself, pricked up his ears, and watched Xiao Zongting with focused eyes.

Xiao Zongting was very satisfied with Duan Rong's attitude; he nodded slightly and said, "The realms of martial arts are divided into Entry, Proficiency, Small Success, Great Accomplishment; Entering Micro, and Consummation!"

"The first four are actually more inclined toward the realms of Martial Technique, corresponding to the four stages of Internal Breath!"

"However, Entering Micro and Consummation are almost exclusively related to Mental Power!"

Duan Rong widened his eyes, his gaze shining with a thirst for knowledge!

Xiao Zongting continued, saying, "The combat methods of Martial Technique are a system constructed based on the human body's skeletal and muscular structure!"

"And Internal Breath is a system constructed based on the structure of human meridians and acupoints!"

"All martial arts are oriented toward the general public and possess universality!"

"Yet, while the general structure of human skeletons, muscles, meridians, and acupoints is the same, the differences in the minute details are vast!"

"Therefore, after martial arts pass the hurdle of Great Accomplishment, one must shift from focusing on the martial art itself to focusing on the differences in one's own skeleton, muscles, meridians, and acupoints!"

"This step of cultivation is called Entering Micro!"

"Based on your own skeleton, muscles, meridians, and acupoints, you perform differential fine-tuning on the Martial Technique methods and Internal Breath circulation methods, gradually grinding them together to achieve the true meaning of the union of Qi and force!"

"And this entire process is gradually completed through the internal vision and governance of Mental Power!"

Duan Rong felt a chill run through his entire body; only today did he realize that the essence of martial arts was so vast and profound.

Duan Rong pondered for a long time, then raised his head and asked with a glint in his eyes, "What about Consummation?"

Xiao Zongting glanced at Duan Rong; ordinary Martial Artists were often repulsed by such theoretical things, yet Duan Rong seemed very interested in them!

This, in fact, was also a manifestation of talent.

Xiao Zongting picked up the teacup from the side table, took two light sips to moisten his throat, and continued, "Consummation after Micro-Perception is another kind of realm!"

"Whether it is the first four realms or the Micro-Perception Realm, they are all a form of adaptation."

"The first four realms are the adaptation of Martial Technique to Internal Breath; while Micro-Perception is the adaptation of Martial Technique and Internal Breath to the differences in body structure!"

"But the Consummation realm is no longer adaptation; it is taking that adaptation, which has already become seamless upon achieving Micro-Perception, a step further!"

"Reaching a realm of being Round and Harmonious!"

"It is neither Martial Technique adapting to Internal Breath, nor Internal Breath adapting to the combat method of Martial Technique!"

"And it is even less about Martial Technique and Internal Breath adapting to the differences in body structure!"

"Instead, they merge into one, echoing each other, where moving a single hair affects the entire body!"

"Once the Internal Breath moves, the Martial Technique follows naturally!"

"Once the Martial Technique is unleashed, the Internal Breath is triggered along with it!"

Duan Rong was already listening in stunned silence, his soul trembling in waves!

"The Round and Harmonious realm is Consummation!"

(End of chapter)