Chapter 63: Nourishing Spirit Technique, Wind Fist Style

The midsummer sunlight filtered through the tree shade, and time slipped away unnoticed amidst the clamorous cicada cries; in the blink of an eye, seven days had passed.

The increasingly empty playground was left with only Qin Shi; he was stripped to the waist, sweat trickling down his muscle definition, soaking his loose trouser legs.

Exhale! Inhale!

Following the even and drawn-out rhythm of his breath, his sharply defined waist and abdomen undulated gently like water ripples, rising and falling calmly; his chest expanded and contracted inward, the intensity of his breathing so strong it seemed each breath aimed to thoroughly expel all the turbid waste from his body, the movement and stillness quite startling.

Hiss hiss hiss!

Qin Shi's lips and teeth parted slightly, like a python flicking its tongue.

That Qi sensation, which had already grown into a babbling stream, spun rapidly like a rotor motor, cycling round and round his sturdy, powerful limbs and trunk.

The speed of his blood flow gradually increased, actually emitting a clattering abnormal sound; a large amount of heat steamed out, like wisps of white smoke rising upward.

Old Martial Arts Level 5 (1/60)

"The practice method has upgraded again."

Qin Shi closed his eyes, perceiving the vigorous, surging life force within his body.

It was as if a turbulent river washed his mortal body, making his flesh like a rough uncut stone placed under an angle grinder, slowly stripped of its hard shell and debris, revealing the lustrous brilliance within.

Although a slight stinging pain rose all over his body, like a thousand needles piercing down, it could not affect Qin Shi's peaceful state of mind.

He greatly enjoyed this change; he seemed to have transformed into a master craftsman, using exquisite skill to sculpt his flesh, making it tend toward perfection.

This kind of bit-by-bit, solid, tangible progress is probably the greatest charm of the Martial Artist path.

"Lao Liang told me, the practice method emphasizes Body Cultivation; as long as you keep breaking through, you can comprehend extraordinary skills from within. Fighting styles are the same; the more proficiently you master them, the more you can learn killing moves."

Qin Shi slowly settled his mind and began visualizing the Nourishing Spirit Technique.

As his spirit gradually entered a meditative state, the chaotic, disorderly, and unfathomably complex ancient patterns were disassembled and reorganized, transforming into clear symbols.

Woo woo woo!

Howling filled the sky!

Boundless air currents converged into winds of various forms, dense and numerous, large and small, filling every corner of the universal world.

This is the core imagery of Hundred Aspects Tempering Momentum - Swift as Wind.

Hurricanes, storms, tornadoes... meteorological changes originating from nature.

Cold winds, hot winds, white hair winds... representing the changing of seasons, the turning of years.

There are also clear winds, evil winds, demon winds... symbolizing inner changes, one's own nature.

"Old Martial Arts was never a conservative, stuck-in-its-ways path; every inheritance lasting over a hundred generations, every 'ability' persisting unbroken for a thousand years, has all undergone destruction and re-establishment, seeking change and benefit."

Qin Shi recalled Lao Liang's solemn and serious instruction:

"The flesh transforms, tempering the mortal body; this is the Dao of the 'Body'.

Heart momentum condenses, seizing imagery; this is the Dao of the 'Spirit'.

The former is body and power united; the latter is spirit and intent united..."

He chewed on the profound true meaning within these words, deep in thought.

Opening meridians and pulling the back, Amateur Eighth Rank Nine Joints, Grasping Qi Sensation, until opening the Breakthrough Limit.

All are "Body Refinement".

Once life force grows to a certain degree, one can, through the inheritance's Nourishing Spirit Technique and Visualization Diagram, following the summarized experience of past sages and ancestors, extract heart momentum suited to oneself from the vigorous things of heaven and earth, yin and yang creation, stars and mountains and rivers, etc., gradually smelting and refining them, taking them for one's own use.

This is called "Spirit Cultivation".

"The path of Old Martial Arts is actually not narrow; on the contrary, under the pioneering of countless seniors, it displays boundless breadth.

Body Refinement returns great power to the mortal body; Spirit Cultivation refines the false into the true; the two almost encompass the subtleties of the many cultivation methods of the ancient era."

Qin Shi immersed himself in the wondrous state of spiritual epiphany; he increasingly felt that New Martial Arts and Old Martial Arts were not opposed.

The former is merely constructed upon the deep accumulation of the latter; therefore, whether "Cannon Fist", "Collapsing Fist", "War Machine Body Technique", "War Axe Style Chopping Kill", and other classic moves of the military physical style, none fail to derive from Old Martial Arts ancient fist arts.

"The decline of Old Martial Arts is because fewer and fewer people are willing to walk this path; those who can walk to the end and carve out a world are nearly none."

Qin Shi's thoughts flashed, as if ideas collided and sparked, continuously stimulating the Brain.

One punch after another, one palm strike after another; one imagined battle after another, unafraid of injury, even less afraid of death... daytime's persistent physical training, night's replayed combat scenes!

Bit by bit, like gathering sand into a tower, dripping water into a river.

Every bit of hard training and payment before, every bit of insight and experience.

In an instant, "quantitative change" triggered "qualitative change"!

"As expected, I am a genius!"

Qin Shi abruptly halted his posture; the water-ripple-like skin membrane tightened, his spine stood straight and strong, and then, like a rolling dragon, he slowly spread open the muscle groups on both sides of his shoulders and lower back.

This scene exuded a very intense sense of power and beauty!

Immediately after, the route of his breath circulation suddenly changed, transforming from the previous swiftness into calmness.

Silently, permeating the hundred bones!

"Hundred Aspects Tempering Momentum - Swift as Wind! Wind is the movement of air currents! The speed of wind flow is 'Fist Power'!

Breeze, strong wind, gale, storm wind, violent wind... as long as my fist is faster, my power fuller, the 'heart momentum' contained within becomes more real, more formidable!"

Spiritual light split open the mist in his brain sea; Qin Shi's eyes shone brightly.

Immediately, he exhaled a long breath.

Hu!

The Qi sensation filling his body seemed to boil; the scorching hot current instantly accelerated.

Aided by the Zhou Tian Circulation, Qin Shi's five fingers closed, his palm clenching tight.

The instant his whole body's tendons and muscles contracted, his twin fists hammered out madly!

Bang bang bang! Bang bang bang—

Fists striking air, again and again, under the dual blessing of ample physical strength and abundant Qi power, streaks of white air currents, viscous like waves, exploded outward!

It was as if a powerful gale blew fiercely, stirring up dust from the surrounding ground to float in the air.

At first glance, Qin Shi seemed like a humanoid tornado; as his body technique flashed, he actually displayed the terrifying momentum of flying sand and walking stones!

"Stubborn temperament! Everyone says killing moves aren't that easy to comprehend, yet you just had to try……"

Lao Liang, sitting on the cement steps, rubbed a cigarette in his hand, sniffing the tobacco smell from time to time, using this to suppress and relieve the smoking craving of many years' habit.

He was muttering about whether to smoke or not, when he suddenly seemed to perceive something, and raised his head to look toward Qin Shi training on the playground.

Astonishment enlarged in his eyes, transforming into surprise, and finally he was dumbfounded.

This No. 9 Middle School Physical Education Teacher who prided himself on being widely knowledgeable, lost his composure to the point that the cigarette clamped in his fingers fell, yet he was completely unaware.

He stared blankly at Qin Shi's figure; as he raised his hands and moved his feet, swung his fists and kicked, a hurricane passed through, a violent and fierce sweep of everything striking straight at the heart!

Without a doubt, this is Heart Momentum!

"Swift as Wind Killing Whale Hand! Clearly an assassination fist art, reputed to be treacherous, insidious, and vicious! Specializing in vital points, every move fatal!"

Lao Liang murmured to himself, simply unable to believe the scene he was seeing.

"Xiao Shi, how did he cultivate the assassination fist's 'Heart Momentum' into such an upright and imposing, rigid and violent form!?"

【New Occupation Activated - Martial Artist】

【Extract Fighting Style】

【Wind Fist Style】

On the Achievement Panel where the Stela stands erect, 【Worker Warrior】 suddenly lit up.

Qin Shi, who was comprehending Hundred Aspects Refining Momentum and visualizing Spirit Cultivation, actually actively unlocked a brand new occupation.

When he gradually absorbed and digested the Hong Sheng True Transmission's signboard fighting style Killing Whale Hand, as well as the "Heart Momentum" condensed by generations of ancestor predecessors, and thoroughly integrated them.

The Martial Artist's certification condition was thus achieved!

Text flickered on his retina, as if inquiring.

【Can choose one Wind Fist Style technique to strengthen】

【Wind Roar】 【Instant Shadow】 【Wild Surge】

(Chapter End)