Start with push-ups to gain experience

Chapter 494 True Qi Soars, Advancing to Master

A gentle breeze suddenly arose in the woods, swirling past the treetops and causing the leaves to rustle.

The wind could stir the grass and trees, but it could not dispel the sudden, heavy aura emanating from Fang Cheng.

In the dim light of dawn, he stood like a pine tree, his eyes slightly closed, then slowly opened again.

His originally gentle and peaceful demeanor suddenly changed, as if an ancient sword that had been hidden for many years was slowly being drawn from its sheath in the morning mist, revealing its sharpness.

Fang Cheng stopped trying to suppress the restless true energy in his dantian and instead relaxed his mind, letting it flow out along his meridians.

In an instant, a powerful and majestic airflow, like a river bursting its banks, pierced through his spine and then spread to his limbs and bones.

Then, Fang Cheng raised his hand and waved his palm, lifted his knee and stepped forward, starting from the beginning of the entire practice, from standing in a stance to launching a move.

Wild horse parting its mane, white crane spreading its wings, knee-hugging and twisting steps...

The moves remained unchanged; it was still the same twenty-four-form Tai Chi Chuan that he had mastered to perfection.

However, the originally smooth and rounded boxing stance suddenly developed a heart-palpitating heaviness under the support of the immense power within his body.

Fang Cheng's movements appeared extremely slow, but in reality, his internal energy surged, making them fluid and unhindered.

Every opening and closing of a joint, every stretching and contraction of a muscle, and every snapping and springing of a tendon and bone contains a rhythm that conforms to human kinesiology, allowing the flow of Qi throughout the body.

The morning mist floating all around seemed to take on a tangible form under Fang Cheng's palm.

As he pushed and pulled with both palms, the air became thicker and more stagnant.

As he swung his arm, it was as if he were in a deep pool, pushing a huge millstone weighing a thousand pounds.

The movements were incredibly heavy, yet they carried an unstoppable force capable of crushing everything in their path.

Just as this powerful force reached its peak, a new change suddenly occurred.

The overwhelming heaviness vanished instantly, replaced by an extreme lightness and softness.

Fang Cheng's hands continued to draw smooth arcs in the air, his strength flowing continuously, like a silkworm spinning silk, each strand perfectly connected.

It is both light and graceful, and exceptionally resilient.

It was as if invisible threads were being drawn from the air, constantly entwining and sticking together.

Any external force that gets caught in it will be instantly dissolved into nothingness.

A set of Tai Chi was performed again, still flowing smoothly and conveying profound meaning.

However, it is no longer simply gentle and lingering, but has a more solid and powerful structure.

The moves combine strength and gentleness, speed and slowness, sometimes heavy like pushing a millstone, sometimes light and agile like drawing silk.

During the practice of boxing techniques, Fang Cheng recalled the teachings on the use of qi and energy he received from Ma Jianguo and others at the Martial Arts Research Association.

"The way of martial arts is based on internal energy."

"The so-called 'unobstructed' means smooth and unimpeded, like the rushing of a river, where qi and blood can flow through the limbs and bones, reaching the extremities."

"The so-called 'penetration' means that it can penetrate without obstruction, like the sun and moon illuminating the dark, and its power can reach far and wide, injuring people invisibly."

Fang Cheng, relying on his absolute control over his muscles and blood, had already mastered the "flow" technique to its fullest extent.

His internal energy was as responsive as his own limbs; with the slightest thought, it could instantly reach any part of his body.

The only thing that's lacking is the "penetration" technique.

Recalling when I first unlocked the palm technique, the energy could barely detach from the skin's surface, forming a thin layer of blade-like light.

Even on the night of his decisive battle with Luo Lie at Noah Building, when his palm technique broke through to the expert level, the limit of his external energy release was only ten centimeters.

That layer of true energy blade light is indeed unstoppable in close combat.

However, once the distance is created, they become like a tree without roots, making it difficult to achieve effective long-range damage.

According to Ma Jianguo, once a martial artist reaches the level of "True Essence Casting Cauldron," physical transformation is merely the foundation.

The real key lies in the extension and outward release of "qi".

After all, martial artists train hard through winter and summer, tempering their muscles and bones and accumulating true energy, not just to become a durable punching bag, but to control the killing power to crush everything.

The ultimate goal is to allow true qi to flow through the body without hindrance, maximizing the power of martial arts moves.

At that time, kung fu skills such as "hitting a cow across a mountain" and "hundred-step divine fist," which seem like miracles to ordinary people, will no longer be legends.

Only by mastering this method can a pure martial artist rely on their physical body to truly compete with monsters possessing bizarre and supernatural abilities.

Looking back at myself, I realized that my previous use of internal energy was far too crude.

Either you simply and crudely wrap the fist blade to increase its hardness and destructive power.

Either it burns its true energy to transform into flames, which then act as a defensive shield.

Despite its impressive scale, it was actually used very inefficiently and failed to form an effective offensive system.

But right now, with the help of Tai Chi, a set of principles passed down for thousands of years, he has vaguely touched that window paper.

The harmony of Tai Chi is not only about neutralizing force, but also about accumulating force.

The vital energy is compressed, rotated, and accelerated within the body, and then released through a specific trajectory...

Fang Cheng felt something and silently circulated his true energy, filling every inch of his body.

I felt that all the muscles and fascia in my body contained amazing potential, which was constantly being squeezed and boiled by the airflow.

Just like the rising sun about to burst forth, it is poised to unleash its power.

"Ho-"

He inhaled sharply, his waist and hips twisted violently, and his spine tightened instantly, producing a series of cracking sounds like popping beans.

That immense power rising from the soles of my feet, amplified by the spiraling motion of my waist and abdomen, was delivered without reservation to my right arm.

The arm, which had been supple and boneless, suddenly lashed out, like a steel whip striking the air.

Snapped!
A crisp, explosive sound suddenly erupted in the silent woods.

This is "Covering Hand and Elbow Strike," a highly lethal striking move in Tai Chi.

The power emanates from the body; it is not brute force, but rather the "whole-body power" that is most valued in traditional martial arts.

Its roots are in the feet, it originates in the legs, it is controlled by the waist, and it flows through the fingers.

Finally—it pierced through the flesh and exploded in mid-air!

As the punch was unleashed, the moist air in front of him was instantly compressed and then exploded, forming a visible white ring of air that surged outwards.

Ten meters away, a few large leaves that had just fallen had not yet landed.

It was directly shattered by this invisible fist wind, turning into fine dust that scattered in all directions.

On the lakeside running track in the distance, a jogger wearing headphones faintly heard the crisp sound.

He then took off his headphones in confusion, stopped in his tracks, and looked around.

"Who is it? Setting off firecrackers so early in the morning?"

He muttered something, his gaze sweeping over the misty grove of trees.

However, apart from a few swaying branches, nothing else was seen.

He could only shake his head, thinking he had misheard, and continued jogging away.

Inside the woods, Fang Cheng did not stop; his fist techniques had reached a high level.

He didn't actually unleash his full power in that punch, and the speed of his punch didn't reach the speed of sound.

Simply follow the principles of Tai Chi, which are "to accumulate strength through roundness and to transform hardness through softness," and allow the true energy to be fully compressed and rotated within the body before being guided out.

Even so, it still easily produced a sonic boom-like effect.

This is clear evidence that true qi breaks through the body's surface constraints and forms effective "penetrating force".

Fang Cheng suddenly understood, gaining a deeper understanding of the essence of qi circulation and boxing techniques.

Then, he moved his body, took Tai Chi steps, drew circles with his hands, and then performed "Cloud Hands".

At that moment, he seemed to become the center of the wind.

The release of internal energy, though not causing any real harm, stirred up the surrounding air currents and even began to affect the environment.

The scattered withered branches and leaves around him were swept up by the aura flowing around him, but were not blown away. Instead, they seemed to be drawn by invisible threads, fluttering and dancing around him like hundreds of butterflies.

This is not a superpower inherited from bloodline, but rather a result of one's exquisite control over airflow and force.

It is also a profound application of "neutralizing force" and "penetrating force" that traditional martial artists dream of.

Fang Cheng's eyes were half-open, his expression solemn.

At this moment, he could clearly feel that the true energy in his body was no longer simply flowing in his meridians.

Instead, it permeated every muscle and fascia with his fist intent, completely merging together.

Then, this kinetic energy, formed by the fusion of blood and qi, is transmitted into the air along with the fist's force, subtly influencing the surrounding environment.

Within a few meters of him, true energy rippled and flowed, enveloping Fang Cheng.

A small, circular aura, faintly visible, is quietly taking shape.

Within this energy field, he doesn't even need physical contact; he can guide external objects remotely simply by sensing the energy.

The saying goes, "Qi follows the mind, strength follows the will; wherever the mind goes, qi reaches, and strength extends, nothing is insurmountable."

Perhaps that's the case.

This feeling of unity of body and mind, and harmony between inner and outer self, was clearer to Fang Cheng than ever before.

In the past, practicing Tai Chi focused more on "practicing the form," imitating the postures of the moves.

At this moment, he finally crossed the threshold of "Qi cultivation" and touched the realm of "Intent cultivation".

He truly grasped the essence of Tai Chi Chuan: "using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds" and "extreme strength and gentleness".

As the falling leaves reached their highest point, Fang Cheng suddenly changed his tactics.

Press down with both palms, then suddenly lift them up, a move called "Vajra Pestle".

He stomped his right foot heavily on the ground.

thump—

The dull, deafening roar was like the beating of war drums, and the earth seemed to tremble slightly.

The hundreds of fallen leaves that were swirling around him seemed to lose all their pull at that moment, and all of them froze.

Subsequently, an invisible shockwave erupted centered on Fang Cheng.

Those delicate leaves were given bullet-like kinetic energy, and shot out in all directions with a roar.

Crackling!

The flying leaves struck the surrounding tree trunks, creating a dense sound like rain pattering on banana leaves.

Some leaves, with their sharp edges, were even deeply embedded in the rough bark, penetrating the wood completely.

This scene is reminiscent of the techniques possessed by unparalleled masters in martial arts movies, who can injure people with a mere leaf or a flying flower.

As the boxing techniques were practiced and time passed, the eastern sky gradually brightened.

A ray of golden-red dawn tore through the clouds, pierced the morning mist, and sprinkled its light onto the lake, creating a shimmering effect.

A few egrets were startled by the light, flapping their wings and taking flight from the reeds, skimming the water's surface and leaving behind a string of clear cries.

Fang Cheng paid no attention to this, his mind completely absorbed in the intent of his fist.

He practiced this new set of boxing techniques, which incorporated internal energy, over and over again.

From initially exhibiting an outward burst of power and a somewhat forceful style, it later evolved into a balance of strength and gentleness, handling heavy tasks with ease.

With each strike, the raging true energy is tamed and becomes more docile, its harmony with the technique deepens.

Countless insights flowed rapidly through my mind like a stream.

A faint light flickered in the air before my eyes.

[You have grasped the principle of controlling Qi with intention, and are gradually reaching a higher level. Tai Chi experience +1]

[You have grasped the principle of controlling Qi with intention, and your Qi field is beginning to appear. Qigong experience +1]

[You have grasped the principle of controlling Qi with intention, and your Qi field is beginning to appear. Qigong experience +1]

………………

One after another, notification messages indicating the increase in skill experience appeared.

This process is not a simple accumulation of data, but a real sublimation of physical memory and artistic conception.

It was as if each move was meant to contain such immense power, and was meant to be so natural and effortless.

Gradually, he forgot the moves, forgot how to breathe, and even forgot where he was.

Only a pure martial arts intent remained, flowing endlessly in this world.

As the morning breeze subsided, sunlight dappled through the gaps in the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Dust particles filled the air and danced in the beams of light, as if they were also dancing along to this silent rehearsal.

"call----"

After an unknown amount of time, Fang Cheng slowly withdrew from his stance, pressing his palms down lightly and focusing his energy into his dantian.

The dust and fallen leaves that had been scattered by his force now seemed to have lost their support, and they drifted down, covering the ground beneath his feet.

He stood still with his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling slightly, and two long puffs of white breath coming out of his nostrils.

It lingered in the air as the morning mist dissipated, shooting out several meters like a sharp sword before slowly fading away.

At this moment, a red sun had already risen above the mountain peak, revealing half of its outline.

The golden sunlight pierced through the trees and shone on him, making the steam rising from his body appear as if it were ethereal mist.

He exuded an extraordinary and masterly aura.

Fang Cheng slowly opened his eyes. The sharp glint in his pupils, ignited by his boxing practice, gradually subsided, returning to its gentle, jade-like state.

Just as he finished his practice and stood still.

On the retina, a dazzling screen of light, shining alongside the rising sun, slowly unfolds.

Congratulations! Through your tireless efforts, your skills have reached the Master level.

Tai Chi Level 2 (0/500)

[Receive skill enhancement reward: 9 free attribute points]

Looking at the notification message that appeared on the panel, Fang Cheng's lips curled into a satisfied smile.

Finally, we made a breakthrough.

The leap from Lv1 to Lv2 is not just a breakthrough in accumulated proficiency, but also a qualitative leap in understanding martial arts.

During this Tai Chi practice, Fang Cheng no longer adhered to the form and meaning of the moves.

Instead, they boldly experimented, drawing on their experience in practicing palm techniques, and forcibly integrated the various methods of applying qi and energy they had learned into their boxing techniques.

The results were surprisingly good.

This signifies that, in terms of martial arts, Fang Cheng has officially crossed the threshold of "physical training" and entered the realm of "qi training" and even "unity of mind and qi".

In the past, Tai Chi was simply a set of advanced power-generating techniques for Fang Cheng.

In normal combat, Fang Cheng actually prefers to use straightforward fighting techniques such as boxing and Sanda.

Now, Tai Chi, a martial art that uses softness to overcome hardness, seems to have become a perfect vehicle for this.

A way of circulating internal energy that allows one to release the surging true energy within their body in the most appropriate and effortless way.

Of course, this was not accidental; it was all a natural progression.

Whether it was the powerful perception granted by the high mental attribute of 70 points, the physical qualities far exceeding those of ordinary people, or the vast amount of true qi stored in the dantian, all of these laid an unshakable foundation for this breakthrough.

Thinking of this, Fang Cheng's gaze fell on the enhancement rewards for skill upgrades.

"9 points of free attribute..."

(End of this chapter)