Chapter 17 brings further insights into the imagery of mountains and rivers.

A few days later.

Yangyan Martial Arts School, training ground.

The clear sunlight streamed in through the skylight of the martial arts hall, leaving a long, slanted patch of light on the warm-colored wooden floor.

Zhang Xingshan slowly stopped, adjusting his breathing rhythm. His martial arts uniform was soaked with sweat, and even his feet were drenched.

He went to a corner, drank some water, and took a short rest.

Even with the Pile Stance combined with breathing techniques, even the Hunyuan Stance, known for its centered and peaceful nature, cannot be practiced continuously. The muscles all over the body are sore and unbearable, and it is necessary to rest at intervals.

After all, modern Pile Stance is essentially a quick Cultivation Technique; there’s no secret formula, and it’s no different from self-harm.

Every time you move Luck inside your body, it comes at the cost of harming your body.

Some who haven’t experienced hardship might even cry out, unable to even complete a full Pile Stance.

If the Hunyuan Stance is like this, the Fu Long Stance will only be more difficult to endure.

While catching his breath, Zhang Xingshan’s gaze unconsciously drifted towards Ji Jingqiu beside him.

He had been paying attention these past few days, and Ji Jingqiu seemed to need absolutely no rest… How did he manage to get through it?

Is this the madman who survived 16 years of Niedu syndrome?

His grandfather was the director of the Public Security Bureau, and on the night Master Yang guided him into Samadhi, Ji Jingqiu’s file information was delivered to him.

Despite having no background and being just an ordinary person, Master Yang treated him differently, which can only be said to be for a reason.

After reading the file, his grandfather told him personally that Ji Jingqiu was not his rival, and he could never be Ji Jingqiu’s rival.

Grandfather did not explain the meaning of the second half of the sentence.

Although he did not refute it at the time, he was unconvinced.

Zhang Xingshan withdrew his gaze and passed Luo Xi on the way.

Their eyes met briefly before looking away.

These days, the two of them haven’t spoken much, not even a nod.

This cold, indifferent relationship, where they pretend not to see each other, stems from their respective families.

The recent attack, although Master Yang intervened in time to prevent major harm, still alarmed the higher-ups, especially since a high-ranking figure surnamed “Ji” was present at the time.

This incident left many people terrified. On the night of the incident, the Public Security Bureau mobilized its entire force to go down to the lower levels and massacre the gangs involved.

The Security Bureau also launched a full-scale operation to thoroughly investigate and eliminate all illegal and underground organizations’ strongholds.

But this matter is far from over.

Putting everything else aside, the fact that a high-ranking figure with the surname ” Ji ” was frightened means that someone from the Security Bureau and the Public Security Bureau must step forward and take responsibility.

Just as the trail to the Supreme True Buddha Sect has gone cold, the Public Security Bureau and the Security Bureau are locked in a fierce battle, each trying to shift the blame onto the other.

One of them is the grandson of the Director of the Public Security Bureau, and the other is the granddaughter of the Director of the Security Bureau. The fact that they didn’t fight shows that they were both very rational.

Although the two have not communicated at all recently, they have maintained a fierce competition in private.

For example, yesterday Luo Xi’s breathing technique blended with Pile Stance, earning her verbal praise from Master Yang, so she wins; the day before yesterday, Zhang Xingshan had an extra bowl of rice at the dinner table, so he wins…

Intense and childish.

Of course, both of them tacitly ignored the other guy during their competition.

Ji Jingqiu.

First, it’s meaningless; second, we can’t compete.

Since we’re not even opponents, what’s the point of comparing ourselves?

Besides, what’s the point of comparing yourself to this guy?

Comparing appetites?

If you tie them together, they can only be considered as Ji’s unit of measurement.

Although everyone’s martial arts have improved and their physique has been strengthened these days, their appetites have also increased significantly.

But they weren’t the only ones making progress; Ji Jingqiu also improved rapidly, firmly holding the third place in the martial arts school!

Sorting aside his jumbled thoughts, Zhang Xingshan, silently urged on by his two good classmates, took a deep breath and plunged back into the grueling Pile Stance.

…

Sweat dripped onto the floor.

Ji Jingqiu vibrated her entire body in the form of Fu Long Stance, her spine resembling a hidden dragon, and her muscles and bones stretched out in stages.

Suddenly, a series of muffled cracking sounds emanated from his body!

The internal energy surges and contracts like clouds, transforming into a warm current that permeates the entire body, nourishing and moisturizing every muscle and tendon.

It was so comfortable that Ji Jingqiu felt like she was stepping into a perfectly heated hot spring, and she almost groaned with pleasure.

happy!

The more I practice Pile Stance, the more enjoyable it becomes!

It just won’t stop!

In addition to complementing blood qi, Qi energy also nourishes all parts of the body and unblocks meridians and acupoints.

Just like now.

In just a few days, he felt that his body had undergone a complete transformation. Apart from spending more time in the toilet, he had no other problems.

During his practice these past few days, he has been pondering Master Yang’s phrase, “The body is like a green mountain, the body like a cloud.”

When he was empowered by Wisdom Light, although he could not achieve the internal vision described in Wuxia novels from his previous life, he could still make connections and vaguely see the general meridians within his body by using the Qi energy within his body.

When Qi energy disperses and swirls within the body like clouds, the meridians, bones, muscles, and acupoints together form a microcosm within the human body.

But more often than not, Qi energy is mainly about circulation.

It disperses into a misty cloud, a sight that only appears after completing a full set of stakes, when the blood in one’s body surges like a tide, much like the reward settlement in a game dungeon.

Most of the time, Qi energy flows within the body, with the meridians acting as rivers, and bones, muscles, and other structures forming a continuous mountain range. Qi energy is like flowing water, turning and twisting.

Gradually, a landscape painting slowly unfolded before his eyes.

After nourishing Qi, the next step is to open the meridians.

But Ji Jingqiu was completely clueless about how to open the meridians.

The description of this thing is too vague and difficult to truly grasp.

But when this landscape painting appeared before him—

The original process of opening the meridians went from being completely clueless at the beginning, to having a vague picture, and finally becoming clearer and clearer.

Qi flows like water, its veins open, following the contours of the mountain.

He could clearly sense where the water flow was blocked on which river channel, and which bend it couldn’t turn around!

This gave him a completely new understanding of Pile Stance, and even of the human body and the universe.

Just as Ji Jingqiu was immersed in her insights about Pile Stance.

Yang Yan walked into the training ground.

He didn’t speak, but stood at the door, examining the Pile Stance progress of each of the three Discords.

A moment later, he stopped the three of them and called them over.

“You have all made great progress. It seems that even after you went home these days, you did not slack off.”

“But mastering Pile Stance is only the first step. Don’t treat practicing Pile Stance like an assembly line job. Every time you practice, you must unite your mind and body, carefully experiencing the rhythm of each movement and each breath…”

Yang Yan nodded in satisfaction, acknowledging the achievements of the group over the past few days.

Then, changing the subject, he urged them to keep up their efforts.

The implication is that we shouldn’t be complacent; they still have a long way to go.

Zhang Xingshan looked serious, but inwardly he smiled bitterly.

He had heard these words at home no less than ten times in the past few days.

To make subtle modifications to the Pile Stance based on its own physique, and to innovate and introduce new features…

This is completely baffling!

“ Jingqiu, you’ve already developed a strong drive and are ahead of the others. Why don’t you share your experience with everyone?”

Master Yang suddenly laughed.

The three of them were taken aback at the same time.

Ji Jingqiu was bewildered. What was going on? She was supposed to go on stage to share her learning experience with her classmates after the monthly exam?

Zhang Xingshan and Luo Xi looked blank and fell into deep thought.

Those who were sent by their families to learn martial arts naturally have good talent; their basic innate constitution is top-notch.

In the past few days, in addition to various tonics at home, the elders have been promoting bloodletting to help them find that spark of inspiration in their body’s meridians.

This is the opportunity for blood energy to condense and sublimate into Qi energy.

Even now, the two of them have only scratched the surface of Qi Jin. It will take at least another week or so to fully develop Qi Jin.

In total, it took no more than ten days.

Developing Qi in about ten days is already a commendable achievement.

But right now… has Ji Jingqiu already developed Qi?

It’s only been a few days!