Chapter 5: What Is Cultivation, Strengthening Tendons and Bones Within

Liang Laoshi is a straightforward man!

Zhou Shu was reliable for once!

Qin Shi secretly let out a breath of relief, hurriedly pulled out two hundred-yuan bills and offered them, waiting for guidance.

The public security on Old Factory Street was not exactly stable; as a student carrying a huge sum of money, he definitely had to be careful.

So he did what he did in his previous life when rushing for the Spring Festival train travel: he hid the money in a small pocket sewn into his clothes.

Liang Laoshi sat by the edge of the flower bed, his gaze piercing:

"Teacher at Xin Yi High School, has anyone taught you what cultivation is?"

Qin Shi nodded:

"It was mentioned in the first combat theory class. The concept of cultivation has been spread since the extremely distant Old Era."

Originally it meant cultivating virtue, later it was cited by Buddhism and Daoism, gradually becoming a path to the extraordinary.

Like refining pills to seek immortality, taking elixirs to ascend, and the niche esoteric yoga of drawing yin to supplement yang, then later qigong and the supernatural ability craze—all are development and exploration of the 'Life Force Domain'."

These days, Life Force Development is like the 'Qi Gong Craze' of a special era in his previous life—known to everyone.

But as for exactly how to train, only professionals can master it.

The most common channel is undoubtedly getting into an excellent high school or university.

Thereby coming into contact with instructors of extremely high Life Force Levels, as well as related teaching materials.

Next would be the mixed-quality Martial Arts Classes and course-selling gyms.

High-end places like Cultivation Halls are unaffordable for ordinary commoners, with no fate to enter.

Liang Laoshi smiled:

"As expected of a Xin Yi High School student, solid foundation. Good, that saves a lot of effort, sparing me from lecturing you on these dry things."

He paused, lowered his head to touch his slightly lame leg, and continued:

"It is well known that the complete definition of 'Qi Life Force' was proposed by Dongxia's First Martial God Banquet, Yan Haishan."

This acknowledged peerless giant is the founder of 'Old Martial Arts'; he integrated ancient fist techniques, health preservation arts, guiding arts... and other miscellaneous cultivation methods, achieving Dongxia's first Supreme Life Map."

Qi Life Force is the starting point encompassing ten thousand paths of cultivation!"

It represents your physical potential and overall quality, and at the same time determines your future—how far you can go!"

Qin Shi held his breath and focused his attention to listen.

He had been in this world for several years, and was naturally familiar with the deeds of Martial Artists, longing for them.

"Whether it is combat boxing or meditation and quiet contemplation, all are methods to strengthen the flesh, liberate the spirit, and thereby develop Qi Life Force."

The Physical Class you take at Xin Yi High School aims to stimulate Qi Life Force through exercise, so as to condense and absorb it."

Liang Laoshi's voice was deep and resonant; his ordinary appearance, as he taught, actually gained a few points of steady bearing:

"This is the New Martial Arts Teaching proposed after the Dongxia Martial Association reform, applicable to over ninety percent of Dongxia Citizens, greatly reducing the risk of bodily injury."

But at the same time, it has an unavoidable defect—inefficiency!"

You are in the stage of the most abundant Qi Life Force, your physical quality is not bad, medium level."

Even so, working hard for three years of classes still cannot reach the Section Rank Standard. You can see from this!"

New Martial Arts?

Qin Shi heard this term for the first time and felt curious.

Liang Laoshi patiently explained:

"Just mentioned, Qi Life Force encompasses ten thousand paths of cultivation. Martial Artists focusing on themselves, Mechanics pleasing Machine Souls, and even Espers who can navigate the Star Sea and light up spatial coordinates... they all need to develop Qi Life Force."

Among them, the path of Martial Artists is not unchanging. You probably follow the Star Cup, right? The First Generation Ten Greats and the current Ten Greats—their combat methods are worlds apart."

Qin Shi took up the conversation:

"Mm, Zhou Shu and Song Daye like Taigong Jiang Bai Chuan, Nujin Gang Kao Yun Chao and that crowd, saying their combat methods are more intense, more fitting the spirit of boundless Martial Arts and unrestrained self."

The current new generation of Martial Artists is too soft, not forceful enough."

Liang Laoshi made a sound of agreement and said very seriously:

"Great Demon King Qi Wuxiang, Flying Immortal Lian Yixing, Shi Fo He Lanchan... are all the top Martial Prodigies of Old Martial Arts, almost everyone has won the Star Cup championship."

【44 "Especially the match between Qi Wuxiang and Shi Fo He Lanchan, called 'Bo Xun War Against Tathagata', wonderfully exciting, with play count unsurpassed to this day."

Especially the match between Qi Wuxiang and Shi Fo He Lanchan, known as the "Bo Xun War Against Tathagata," was wonderful beyond compare, and its view count remains unsurpassed to this day.

Liang Laoshi's tone was full of sighs; the Dongxia Ten Greats of that time were brilliant and dazzling, truly like the sun, impossible to look at directly.

But the hidden dangers of Old Martial Arts were too great. These famous Martial Artists, either because their potential was exhausted or because they were plagued by injuries and illness, all stopped before the Martial God Gate.

So Dongxia began to reorganize the Martial Association, carry out Education Reform, and promote the doctrine of New Martial Arts.

Qin Shi roughly understood that although Old Martial Arts progressed quickly and had good results, it easily damaged the body and overdrew potential excessively.

Therefore it was abandoned by both the Martial Association and the Education Committee, gradually declining.

"I remind you once more: to gain a few points of Qi Life Force and cut off a more distant future is a very unwise move."

On the path of Martial Artists, the body is the foundation, Qi Life Force is like a running river. Without the former, once the latter floods and breaks the bank, you will suffer backlash and endure the torment of injuries and illness for the rest of your life."

Liang Laoshi's expression was solemn as he gave advice.

"Thank you very much for your caring, Teacher, but I have my own persistence."

Qin Shi was unmoved.

On one hand, he needed a way out, needed a path to climb upward;

On the other hand, the unlocking of the Stela gave him a few more points of solid confidence to face difficulties.

"Very well, this is the path you chose yourself; may you not regret it in the future."

Liang Laoshi's gaze was complex; Qin Shi's firmness at this moment seemed to him more like the ignorance and fearlessness of young people.

"Alright, let's start class. New Martial Arts early stage practices 'Breathing', Old Martial Arts beginning speaks of 'Tendons and Bones'."

What are Tendons and Bones? Tendons are sinews; the ability of the human body's four limbs to stretch and contract, five fingers to open and close, two feet to walk—all rely on this.

Dongxia's first Martial God, Hai Shan, left behind in posterity the "Inner Classic," which states clearly: "Tendons are firm, bones are dry; stretch tendons to draw forth strength!"

Liang Laoshi finished speaking and stood up; his originally medium build suddenly exploded, the joints within his body crackling like firecrackers, growing taller inch by inch, instantly surpassing Qin Shi by half a head.

A rich Qi Life Force surged and steamed, like heat rising from a boiling furnace!

"As the saying goes, training tendons requires 'loose yet not slack, tight yet not stiff.' Most people sit for long years and neglect exercise, their muscles are tightly knotted and scattered."

"Therefore, when exerting force, the large tendons cannot twist into one rope, one strength, resulting in insufficiently concentrated power and movements that are not clean."

"I will first teach you 'Meridian Opening,' to pry open the tendons and bring the flesh and blood back to life!"

……

……

On the playground, bean-sized sweat drops rolled down one by one, moistening the dry ground.

The two No. 9 Middle School students standing at the front like team leaders whispered to each other during the break:

"Another one signing up for the class. Tsk tsk, Old Liang really hits hard, Meridian Opening on the first class—who can stand this!"

"Did he offend Old Liang and get picked on? Too brutal!"

A thunderous roar suddenly exploded, cutting off their slacking—

"Li Yuan, Xie Yucheng! Not trained enough? Run another twenty laps!"

The two named shrank their necks, and amidst the laughter of the other students, they hung their heads and honestly accepted the punishment.

"You! Stand firm! Waist, back, hips—every large tendon, hold them open, tighten them, no loosening!"

Far from the playground, Qin Shi, staying under the tree shade, was no better off than those No. 9 Middle School students being drilled.

He spread his legs, bent his knees, squatted his body, and made a horse stance movement.

Liang Laoshi's joined fingertips were inexplicably extremely sharp, carrying a heart-piercing sharp force.

Like the fascia knife he had experienced in his past life, it suddenly gave Qin Shi a strike.

Sometimes it poked his shoulder blades, sometimes it scraped across his entire latissimus dorsi.

Every strike was like a red-hot steel needle driven into bone gaps, making him ache and swell, wanting to cry out at the top of his lungs to vent the pain!

In just five minutes, Qin Shi, who thought he had suffered great hardships, was already sweating on his forehead, his skin flushed, his breathing rapid.

"If you can't take it, say so; I can slow down a bit."

Seeing this frail and delicate student gritting his teeth until they creaked, Liang Laoshi spoke up on his own.

"Teacher... is heavier more useful, or lighter more useful?"

Qin Shi asked in a trembling voice.

"Of course, the heavy hand sees results."

Liang Laoshi answered.

"Then... it's fine. I can bear it!"

Qin Shi continued to maintain his posture.

"Another stubborn one."

Liang Laoshi shook his head.

Fifteen minutes later.

Qin Shi's breathing became increasingly short, his body radiating astonishing heat, every muscle in his body seemingly twitching and trembling.

This "Meridian Opening" method is too brutal for ordinary people, no different from torture!

"Alright, Meridian Opening is about done! Today's class ends here!"

Through breathing rhythm and physical signs, Liang Laoshi roughly judged that this was Qin Shi's limit.

"When you feel 'ribs like wings, fascia like feathers,' your whole body connected above and below, clear and refreshing, that is success."

"Qi Life Force can probably increase by about half a point."

Qin Shi swayed unsteadily, his two legs barely supporting him to stand, his whole body immersed in soreness and pain, almost out of control.

Even walking was extremely difficult.

"Xie Yucheng!"

"Here!"

"I remember your family also lives around Bao Gong Street; take the new student home!"

Liang Laoshi waved and called over a tall, thin youth.

Xie Yucheng asked with a smile:

"Alright! Old Liang, do I not have to run my remaining laps?"

"On the account book, pay back tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Xie Yucheng stopped smiling, put on a bitter face, carried Qin Shi on his back, and strode toward the school gate.

The sun shifted westward, orange-red afterglow fell upon No. 9 Middle School; the tutoring class students finished training and scattered in small groups.

Liang Laoshi dragged his lame leg, limping along slowly.

Passing the Guard Booth, he was stopped by an old man preparing to get off work and buy groceries.

The old man casually handed over a Li Min Cigarette:

"Old Liang, today you came to see your little kid, how was he carried out by someone?"

Liang Laoshi said in a light tone:

"He came to me for make-up lessons and signed up for the class; I didn't refuse, and he trained a bit too much."

The Guard Booth old man was surprised:

"That kid is an outside student; this isn't according to the rules..."

Liang Laoshi shook his head:

"Don't worry, Guard Uncle Han. Just this once; he won't come again after this."

He knew clearly that Qin Shi had gone at such high intensity on his first day of class; tomorrow he definitely wouldn't be able to get up.

"Old Martial Arts not only injures the body, but also has a high threshold. Taking shortcuts will inevitably exact a price."

"No talent, no family background, wasting one's life, of no benefit to one's future."

Liang Laoshi put a cigarette in his mouth without lighting it, and thought to himself:

"After working his tendons and suffering enough, this kid will know how difficult and treacherous the Old Martial Arts Training Method is, and should retreat."

When young, he always wanted to make something of himself, not knowing that living well, plain and simple, is the truth."

(Chapter End)