Start with push-ups to gain experience

Chapter 495 Physical Enhancement, Aura, and Domain
How should I allocate skill points?
Fang Cheng's eyes were burning with determination as he quickly began to make plans in his mind.

A month ago, in pursuit of maximum attack power, I might have considered prioritizing strength or agility attributes.

We must strive to break through the 80-point mark first, so that our combat power can increase as quickly as possible.

But after the battle at the Grand Hotel a few days ago, Fang Cheng's thinking has fundamentally changed.

In order to prevent the mysterious leader from descending in his true form, he used "infinite combo" to forcibly destroy the spatial passage.

Although it was successful, the cost was enormous.

The body suffered a severe backlash, with muscles in the right arm ruptured and bones damaged, almost rendering it completely unusable.

If it weren't for destroying Xuanzhen's "Soul-Devouring Domain" and gaining a large amount of merit and vows, which caused the inner world to revitalize and nourish the physical body,

I'm probably still wrapped in bandages, and can only be a patient with nothing to do.

This made Fang Cheng realize that as his strength grew and he came into contact with higher and higher levels of society, the enemies he encountered would become increasingly terrifying and difficult to deal with.

Just like the leader of that "ideal land" has not yet descended in person, but has already shown such astonishing destructive power with only a wisp of consciousness and spatial fluctuations.

According to the professor, he is considered a top-tier expert, above the Super S level.

If we were to face a formidable enemy of this caliber head-on in the future, the intensity of the battle would be no less than being in the heart of a modern, heavily armed battlefield.

Every now and then there are earth-shattering explosions and the collapse of buildings.

It's not impossible that space itself could be torn apart, turning the surrounding area into scorched earth.

In such a fierce and dangerous battle, injuries will be commonplace.

After all, although his physical body was strong, he had not yet truly cultivated an indestructible body; he was not a machine made of steel.

Therefore, the "forgiveness" in combat and the speed of physical recovery become crucial.

Only with sufficiently high physical attributes can one grant themselves a thicker health bar, more abnormal self-healing ability, and longer endurance.

This allowed him to stand longer and fight more fiercely in intense battles.

Moreover, a high physique will further expand the capacity of the dantian, raising the upper limit of one's true qi and making the qi strength more powerful and fierce.

Having figured this out, Fang Cheng no longer hesitated.

With a slight thought, he went all in on his precious 9 points of free attribute and added them to the [Constitution] column.

hum-

As the numbers jumped, the original 67 points instantly became 76 points.

A surge of scalding heat suddenly welled up inside my body.

Unlike true qi, which flows through meridians, it is like a flood that overflows a dam, instantly penetrating the limbs, internal organs, and even the depths of the bone marrow.

Fang Cheng felt warm all over, as if he were soaking in a hot spring and enjoying the spa services of a top-notch technician.

Every cell is greedily absorbing this energy, undergoing microscopic division and strengthening.

The skin becomes tougher and denser, muscle fibers twist together like steel cables, bone density increases dramatically, and it emits bursts of fine popping sounds.

Even the true qi circulating in the meridians, under the blessing of this powerful life force, has its circulation speed increased by 30%, becoming more agile and lively.

Fang Cheng clenched his fist.

There was no sense of loss of control that came with the surge of power; instead, there was an indescribable sense of fulfillment and harmony.

It was as if every bit of power within my body had been tamed, flowing gently through my limbs and bones like mercury spilling onto the ground.

Feeling the unrestrained and abundant power between his fingers and palms, Fang Cheng couldn't help but feel a surge of strong confidence.

If I were to encounter Xuanzhen again now, even without using explosive techniques like "Qilin Arm" or "Infinite Combo,"

With his master-level Tai Chi skills alone, combined with over 60 points of strength and agility, and a constitution of 76 points, he could easily manipulate his opponent.

Even if one has enough true energy, relying on the newly comprehended "penetrating force from a distance," it would not be difficult to tear apart the opponent's S-class body, which is as hard as metal and stone, from several meters away.

Once the method of using internal energy is mastered, it means breaking the shackles of attack range, allowing Fang Cheng to have more ways to attack.

The previous weakness of only being able to engage in close-quarters combat has now been completely overcome.

Divine skills such as "Hundred-Step Divine Fist", "Flying Flowers and Plucking Leaves", and "Six-Pulse Divine Sword" appearing in movies and TV dramas.

Now, it's something he can do effortlessly and at will.

When facing powerful enemies in the future, Fang Cheng will no longer have only one option: "recklessness".

Using internal energy, a casual move can be a killing blow.

It can attack or defend, and it also has remote control methods that are difficult to defend against.

Moreover, as physical fitness continues to improve, the upper limit of the dantian and qi sea will also increase, and the explosive power and endurance of qi will rise accordingly, which will greatly benefit the improvement of combat power.

Fang Cheng looked at the attribute values ​​on the panel.

76 points of constitution.

We are only 4 points away from breaking through the 80-point threshold, a major leap in life level.

At that time, my overall combat strength will likely experience an even more terrifying surge.

Facing those formidable opponents of the highest rank, they can be more composed and confident.

"Uu——"

Fang Cheng took a deep breath to calm his agitated emotions.

Then his eyes flickered as he looked at another equally encouraging message at the bottom of the panel.

[You have grasped the true meaning of controlling Qi with intention, your Qi has become solidified, and a small-scale Qi field has been initially formed. Qigong experience +90]

Qigong lv2 (403/500)

"Aura..."

Fang Cheng murmured to himself, savoring the wonderful feeling of the fallen leaves around him moving at his will while he was practicing his boxing earlier.

That was not just a disturbance in the airflow caused by the release of true qi, but more like an interference with physical matter under the participation of spiritual will.

Although this "aura" is still very immature, its range is only about three meters around the body.

But Fang Cheng vaguely sensed that this should be an essential path to a higher level of martial arts.

If this "aura" is continuously strengthened and expanded, it can be integrated into an indestructible martial will.

Furthermore, combined with the projection of the Great Sun Fire in the inner world...

Does that mean we'll wait until the day our aura is fully mature?

Could I also possess a special skill similar to the "domain" that S-class ability users are so proud of?
Within this unique aura domain, one's words become law, and one controls everything.

Everything can be a weapon; plants and trees can become sharp edges, and air currents can become blades.

With a single thought, one can create a prison, imprisoning powerful enemies; with the flow of true energy, one can instantly transform the world and reshape the environment.

Even when trapped in dire straits, this field can turn the tide and even achieve the incredible feat of withstanding a nuclear bomb with one's own body...

As his thoughts wandered, the light in Fang Cheng's eyes grew even more intense.

The experience of practicing Tai Chi by Cuihai Lake this time was far more rewarding than I had expected.

Not only did his skills successfully break through to the Master level, but his physical attributes were also improved.

More importantly, in this process, I personally experienced the combination of "intention" and "qi", truly mastered the method of releasing qi externally, and even began to explore the mysteries of qi field construction.

"So that's how it is..." A sudden realization dawned on Fang Cheng.

The path of martial arts is not simply about accumulating experience points or stacking various skills.

Fist techniques, palm techniques, qigong, visualization, running...

These seemingly independent skills are actually complementary and interdependent.

Physical constitution is the foundation that supports everything; Qigong is the driving force that connects the inside and outside; martial arts are the means to defend against and subdue enemies; and spirit is the commander who governs the overall situation.

Perhaps, it will be when all the skills are finally integrated and completely combined.

Only then did he truly reach the pinnacle of martial arts and touch the legendary realm of "physical sainthood".

Just as Fang Cheng was immersed in his reflections, the voices of people on the lakeside running track in the distance gradually became noisy.

As more and more citizens come here for morning exercise, the originally tranquil environment is broken, and a sense of daily life is restored.

Fang Cheng looked up at the sky. The sun had risen completely, making the emerald green lake surface shimmer with golden light.

"It's time to go back."

He quickly suppressed his aura and relaxed completely.

That sharp, sword-like aura vanished instantly, and he transformed back into a harmless-looking young man in sportswear.

Immediately afterwards, Fang Cheng started running along the path he had come from, heading towards the holiday home halfway up the mountain.

....................................

The two-story villa stood quietly in the shade of a tree.

Several clumps of green vines climbed the off-white wall, their leaves still covered with morning dew.

Fang Cheng ran along the mountain path and stopped in front of the half-open carved wrought iron gate.

He walked straight through the courtyard, arrived at the villa entrance, took out his key, and gently opened the door.

The room was silent, with only a faint hum from the central air conditioning vents.

The spacious living room was empty, with only the morning light streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows casting shadows on the leather sofa.

Judging from the situation, Uncle and Pan Wendi were fast asleep, having played cards all night, and were completely undisturbed.

I wonder if Chu Qiao and Bai Ling have woken up yet.

Fang Cheng changed out of his muddy running shoes and walked straight to the kitchen without making a sound.

After exercising for so long, my stomach is completely empty. It's a good time to get something to eat and prepare breakfast for the others as well.

Chen Xu'an was very meticulous and thoughtful. The refrigerator in the kitchen was packed full of fish, meat, rice, noodles, fresh fruits and vegetables, and he also kept a lot of convenient instant food and snacks.

As Fang Cheng turned the corner of the living room hallway, he paused slightly.

A hushed conversation clearly reached his ears.

It seems to be coming from the kitchen.

Moreover, the people speaking were Lin Chuqiao and Ye Zhiren, who had returned at some unknown time.

"Professor, can't we really give it a try? Since your Formless Barrier can obscure the secrets of heaven, it can theoretically also shift cause and effect."

Lin Chuqiao's voice carried an unusual urgency, even a hint of pleading.

"Chu Qiao, you're playing with fire."

Ye Zhiren's voice conveyed a deep sense of helplessness.

"The principle of the 'Phenomenon-Blocking' is to disrupt the perception of other mental beings, confuse the causal lines, and cause the tracker to lose their way and unintentionally ignore the target. It does not actually change cause and effect."

"You want me to temporarily graft the causal thread belonging to Fang Cheng onto you? This is not only deceiving your opponent, but also inviting trouble upon yourself..."

"I'm sure!"

Lin Chuqiao interrupted her firmly:

"As long as the clues to the Utopia investigation are directed to me, Fang Cheng can disappear from that person's sight."

"As for myself, I can also guarantee my safety."

Fearing that Ye Zhiren would refuse again, she quickly gave her reasons:

“I can be considered half a member of the Pan family, and the blood of the Pan family flows in my veins.”

“If Ideal Land intends to continue to build its influence in Xia Kingdom, it cannot act without restraint against the scions of aristocratic families, especially against a top-tier clan like the Pan family.”

“Like this time when they dealt with the Chen family, they only did it in secret. After the matter was exposed, they haven’t made any move so far, willing to let it go. This is clear evidence.”

"Xiao Chu, this is still too risky."

Ye Zhiren's voice remained hesitant, clearly indicating his disagreement:
"That person's behavior cannot be judged by common sense. Moreover, once this causal link is exposed, the consequences will be unimaginable..."

"Professor, I also have the ability to foresee the future."

Lin Chuqiao then raised her stakes, her tone unusually confident:
“I am more sensitive to danger than Fang Cheng. Once that person really sets their sights on me, I can immediately detect the abnormality, distinguish between good and bad fortune, and take precautions in advance.”

“But Fang Cheng is different. He is in the open. Once that person targets him, it will be a dead end.”

Outside the door, Fang Cheng stood in the shadows, his brows slightly furrowed.

This woman is incredibly stupid...

He secretly blamed her for her reckless and adventurous behavior.

But under this rebuke, Fang Cheng's softest spot seemed to be touched, and a warm current emerged.

The conversation continued in the study.

Lin Chuqiao paused, her voice softening slightly, a hint of lingering fear in her voice:
"Actually... I had secretly predicted this before."

"You predicted that person?!"

Ye Zhiren's voice suddenly rose, startled:
"Didn't I warn you not to pry into his affairs without permission? Chu Qiao, you've been too reckless!"

"No, I'm not that stupid."

Lin Chuqiao quickly explained:
“Professor, I know that beings of that level cannot be easily spied upon. Once they sense your presence, your whereabouts will be immediately exposed.”

"I only used Fang Cheng as the subject of my meditation and simply predicted his future fortune."

"What do you see?"

"A complete...blackout."

Lin Chuqiao's voice became somewhat unsteady, as if she had fallen back into that suffocating nightmare:

"It was dark and cold there, with no end in sight, like being in a bottomless abyss, with no signs of life around."

"I didn't know what that place was. I was just groping blindly in the dark, trying to find a clue that could guide me or something that would allow me to continue observing my target."

Suddenly, I saw a glimmer of light in the extremely distant darkness.

"The scene was as if the universe had already come to an end, but a lone star was still burning tenaciously."

"I wanted to get closer and observe more closely, but I just couldn't."

"After several attempts, each time I approached the light spot, I was interfered with by an unknown force, and the preview was forced to stop."

(End of this chapter)