All Heavens Strategy Game

Chapter 55. The Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish

the next day.

The sky was just beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn, but the cold wind was still biting.

After finishing a set of punches in his small courtyard, Su Ming stood still, slowly exhaling a long, white breath, feeling the energy within his body...

The warmth and power brought about by the operation of Xingyi Gong.

The wounds on my temples and arms have mostly healed, but they are still slightly itchy.

He was preparing to go back to the house to pack his gear for the trip into the mountains when there was a loud knocking on the gate. The knocking wasn't loud, but it carried a hint of hesitation and unease.

"Who is it?" Su Ming asked loudly.

At this hour, most of the villagers were still asleep.

There was a moment of silence outside the door, then a deep, somewhat nervous voice rang out: "It's—it's me, Su Xiong Gou."

"Sanlang, are you free at home?"

Su Xiong Gou?

What is he here for?

Su Ming raised an eyebrow slightly.

Since that night when "Wolf Mountain" stood tall in front of the ancestral hall, the once-powerful and sturdy man who had always been determined to win against himself seemed to have fallen silent and never caused trouble again.

Arriving at your door early this morning —

Su Ming walked over, unlatched the door, and pulled open the creaking, broken wooden door.

Sure enough, Su Xiong Gou was standing outside the door.

He was still more than half a head taller than Su Ming, as sturdy as a door panel, wearing a patched old cotton-padded coat, his face reddened by the cold wind, his hands unconsciously rubbing together, his eyes somewhat evasive, yet trying hard to appear calm.

Upon seeing Su Ming, he subconsciously puffed out his chest, but under Su Ming's calm gaze, his imposing manner unconsciously diminished.

"Brother Bear Dog, what's up so early?"

Su Ming stepped aside to let him in, his tone flat, revealing no emotion.

Su Xiong Gou stepped into the yard, his feet landing awkwardly on the frozen mud.

He glanced at the snow still partially cleared in the yard, then at Su Ming's clear, calm eyes—eyes that didn't look like those of a thirteen-year-old at all. His Adam's apple bobbed, as if he had made a great decision. He suddenly raised his head, looked directly at Su Ming, his voice dry with nervousness, yet he spoke each word with exceptional clarity: "Sanlang, I—I want to follow you!"

This statement was abrupt, even somewhat comical.

A burly young man nearing twenty years old said to a teenager, "I'll follow you."

But Su Xiong Gou's expression was unusually serious, even carrying a kind of desperate earnestness.

Su Ming was stunned for a moment, then quickly regained his composure.

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he walked to the old locust tree in the courtyard, where the bare branches were covered with snow. He picked up the broadsword leaning against the trunk and slowly wiped away the remaining grease from the previous night's maintenance with a coarse cloth, his movements unhurried.

"Join me?"

Su Ming didn't even look up, his voice devoid of emotion, only a cold clarity: "Brother Xiong Gou, look at my yard, this house."

"I haven't even made a name for myself yet, I'm struggling to make ends meet. What can you possibly do with me? Starve?"

These words are blunt, even somewhat cutting.

But Su Xiong Gou seemed to have been prepared. Instead of backing down, he took a step forward and said urgently, "I don't want anything else! San Lang, I, Su Xiong Gou, am a rough man. I don't have your cunning schemes, and I can't beat you anyway. I admit defeat!"

He took a breath, as if to encourage himself: "All I want is—all I want is to be able to eat my fill! I don't want to have to worry every day about whether that little bit of millet will be enough to last until spring!"

"Occasionally—occasionally, it would be even better to have a little meat, just a bite of meat!"

"I'm strong, hardworking, and can endure hardship! I—I want to go up the mountain with you! I want to learn hunting from you!"

As he finished speaking, his eyes lit up with an almost devout longing.

Eating meat is an unattainable luxury for the vast majority of villagers in Sishui Village this winter.

His father was young and skilled at fishing, so the family never lacked food or drink. But now he's old, riddled with ailments and needs care. He's married and has several children. In addition, he spent a lot of money on martial arts training in previous years, which left him destitute.

Su Ming was the only one who could turn this wish into reality and bring back real meat time and time again.

Su Ming paused in wiping the knife, raised his eyes, and carefully examined Su Xiong Gou.

Although the man's eyes were somewhat evasive, the longing and determination deep within them were undeniable.

He was truly terrified of poverty, or perhaps he was impressed by Su Ming's ability to change that poverty.

Should we take him up the mountain?

Su Ming quickly weighed the options in his mind.

Su Xiong Gou is indeed strong and a good laborer; he might be useful in a critical moment.

But he wasn't a hunter after all, and didn't understand the dangers of the mountains and forests. Bringing him along would be like having an extra helper, or even a burden. In fact, when encountering a terrifying being like the pig king from yesterday, he would be a distraction that needed to be taken care of.

My current situation, though seemingly gaining some fame, is actually fraught with danger. Constable Yang is watching me closely, and the secrets of the Pig King and the iron mine are hidden in the mountains. It is really not wise to cause any unnecessary trouble.

"Going hunting in the mountains isn't just about having strength." Su Ming slowly shook his head, his tone still calm, but carrying an undeniable refusal.

"I have to be responsible for your personal safety. If something happens to you, how am I supposed to explain it to your father?"

"You may not be aware of the dangers in the mountains."

"The wolf pack is gone, but there are others."

"I'm already struggling to cope myself, so I can't bring anyone else. Brother Xiong Gou, I appreciate your kindness, but let's forget about it."

The hope on Su Xiong Gou's face instantly faded. His lips moved a few times, as if he wanted to try again, but he didn't know what to say.

He lowered his head dejectedly, looking at his hands, which were calloused and covered with chilblains from years of hard labor.

After a while, as if remembering something, he suddenly raised his head again.

"Sanlang! Wait a minute!"

He frantically rummaged through his clothes, tearing his tattered cotton-padded jacket into a crooked mess.

After a while, he carefully took out a flat, square object wrapped tightly in oil paper and with frayed edges from the innermost pocket of his padded jacket.

He held the oil paper package in both hands, as if it were some rare treasure, and with a resolute determination, handed it to Su Ming.

"Sanlang, this—this is for you!"

Su Ming's gaze fell on the oil paper package, but he didn't take it: "What's this?"

"It is—it is a secret manual."

Su Xiong Gou lowered his voice even further, with a hint of reluctance, yet with extraordinary determination.

"My dad—my dad was able to make a name for himself as the 'Number One Fisherman' in the surrounding villages, and that was largely thanks to this!"

"The Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish!"

Secret manual?

Su Ming's heart stirred.

The "martial arts" of this world are probably far superior to the physical fitness routines of my previous life, since this world has internal energy.

He took the oil paper package; it was slightly cool to the touch, carrying the warmth of Su Xiong Gou's body.

He carefully wrapped the paper in oil paper and peeled it off layer by layer.

Inside was a thin, yellowed, thread-bound book with badly torn edges.

The cover features five slightly childish yet powerful characters written in ink: "The Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish".

The ink has faded somewhat over time, but it is still legible.

"My father said that this was left by a wandering Taoist priest who had fallen into the water years ago after he saved him. The priest left it to thank him."

Su Xiong Gou explained in a low voice, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "If you train with it, you can stay in the water for an exceptionally long time, your breath will be long and even, and your breath-holding ability will be incredibly impressive!"

"My dad relied on this to dive into deep waters and find the big fish nests that others couldn't reach, which enabled him to support our family and save up some savings for me—"

His tone was full of admiration and longing for his father, which then turned bitter: "But I—I've been afraid of water since I was a child. I can't swim at all. I get dizzy just standing by the river."

"This manual is nothing but a piece of waste paper in my hands."

"My father is old and frail; he can't go into the water anymore. This thing—rather than let it gather dust here, it's better—it's better to give it to you!"

Su Xiong Gou raised his head, a renewed flame of hope rekindling in his eyes, and earnestly said, "San Lang, you are a very capable person! This thing will definitely be more useful in your hands than in mine!"

"I don't ask for anything else, just let me follow you up the mountain, do some odd jobs, and earn a decent living!"

"I—I, Su Xiong Gou, keep my word. I will never be a coward, nor will I cause you any trouble!"

Su Ming did not answer immediately; he gently opened the book "The Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish".

The pages were fragile, so he handled them with extreme care.

The text inside was handwritten, interspersed with simple human figures depicting various peculiar breathing techniques and body twisting and stretching postures.

Next to some of the illustrations, there are annotations and insights added by his father in even more clumsy handwriting, such as "Inhale slowly here, like swallowing a whale" and "When twisting your waist, sink your breath to the dantian, so that it can be long and continuous."

He skimmed through the text, reading quickly.

The core of this secret manual lies in a unique breathing technique, combined with specific physical movements, which can greatly enhance lung function and optimize the circulation of qi in the body, enabling practitioners to hold their breath underwater for far longer than ordinary people.

According to the book, when one reaches a high level of skill, one can even swim underwater for about 15 minutes, or roughly ten minutes, with agile movements like a fish and amazing endurance.

"The martial arts manuals of this world are indeed extraordinary."

Su Ming sighed inwardly.

In my previous life, the breath-holding training was so advanced that being able to hold one's breath for a few minutes was already superhuman, yet this seemingly rudimentary book, "The Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish," could achieve such an effect.

This once again confirmed his previous judgment that the "martial arts" system of this world contains energy utilization methods that transcend ordinary physical laws.

"The Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish"— Su Ming closed the book and looked at Su Xiong Gou.

The man was looking at him nervously, his fists clenched involuntarily, his knuckles turning white.

A manual that can significantly enhance underwater capabilities is undoubtedly valuable.

For hunters who frequently roam in mountains, forests, and waters, this provides an additional means of survival and resource acquisition.

Moreover, although Su Xiong Gou is honest and straightforward, he values ​​loyalty and is willing to put in a lot of effort. The fact that his father gave him this family's secret manual shows that the family has a good tradition.

Taking him in is like taking in a strong, relatively simple-minded, and somewhat loyal follower.

I do need manpower right now, whether for going into the mountains or for things that might happen in the future.

"I've read the manual, and it does have some merit."

Su Ming slowly opened his mouth, wrapped the "Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish" in oil paper again, but did not return it immediately, nor did he agree to return it. Instead, he asked a seemingly unrelated question.

"Brother Xiong Gou, your father practiced the 'Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish' his whole life, but did he ever reach any level of martial arts mastery?"

Su Xiong Gou was taken aback, not expecting Su Ming to ask this. He scratched his head and honestly replied, "Realm? My dad is just a fisherman, how would he know anything about realms?"

"He said that after practicing this skill, he became strong, had a long breath, and could swim nimbly."

"Oh, right, he mentioned that he once met a traveling peddler selling liniments, who boasted that—'The first realm of martial arts practitioners is called Mingxuan,' meaning that once you cultivate 'internal energy,' your strength and speed will be much greater than ordinary people."

"Mingxuan? Internal energy?" Su Ming's heart stirred; this was exactly what he wanted to know.

Is the "internal energy" in his body the same as the "internal energy" in this world?

"Yes, that's what they say."

Su Xiong Gou tried hard to recall: "The medicine seller said, 'Above Mingxuan, there's something called Anxuan,' and that one can cultivate internal energy to the point where it's formless and intangible, able to penetrate into another's body to strike—it's called 'penetrating energy,' even more powerful."

"But my dad said he was just bragging. He'd never seen it. He'd trained his whole life, and all he'd get was strength and good swimming skills; he didn't feel like he had any real 'energy' in him."

He said that to practice martial arts, one needs to have good physique, know the secret manuals, and have a famous teacher to guide them. "The poor study literature, the rich study martial arts," which is something that we peasants can only dream of.

Su Ming listened quietly.

Mingxuan generates "internal energy" within his body, enhancing his basic physical attributes.

Dark Mystic, its "energy" can be released outwards or penetrate the body to injure people, representing a qualitative change.

This is similar to some of the martial arts realm classifications he knew in his previous life, only the names are different.

"And—what about further up?"

Su Ming pressed further: "Are there any masters who can fly through the sky and disappear into the earth, split mountains and stop rivers, and take the head of a general from among ten thousand troops as easily as taking something out of a bag?"

""

Upon hearing this, Su Xiong Gou reacted as if he had heard some absurd joke.

An incredulous expression crossed his dark face as he shook his head repeatedly. "Sanlang, what are you saying? Wouldn't that make you a god?"

"Humans are just humans, made of flesh and blood. How powerful can they really be?"

He paused, organized his thoughts, and said, "My father said that he traveled all over the country fishing and heard some rumors."

"The most skilled martial artist can take on hundreds of ordinary men, but against a trained expert, he can probably only handle a dozen or twenty at most."

"If someone drugged you, or if you were surrounded and attacked by crossbows, you would still die."

"There's no such thing as someone who can defeat ten thousand men. Even in plays, they wouldn't dare to make that up! Human strength has its limits."

really--

Su Ming understood and sighed softly.

This is a world with low-level martial arts, or rather, a world that leans towards practical combat skills and the development of human potential, but has not yet escaped the realm of flesh and blood.

There was no moving mountains or filling seas, no flying on swords.

Individual bravery still has its limits in the face of a well-trained army, a meticulously planned conspiracy, and the power of a collective.

This gave him a clearer understanding of his own level of power.

The "internal energy" I cultivated through Xingyi Gong should have reached the "Mingxuan" realm, thus my strength...

Only those with speed and endurance far exceeding that of ordinary people can accomplish the feat of single-handedly slaying wolves.

As for "Dark Profound," it probably requires even more advanced techniques or fortuitous opportunities to reach it.

His "internal energy" originated from the Xingyi Gong of his previous life. It seemed to be more balanced and peaceful than the ordinary "energy" described by Su Xiong Gou. Its effects of nourishing the whole body and restoring physical strength seemed to be more significant, and its endurance was also stronger.

Is this good or bad?

It seems to be a good thing so far.

But in the long run, will it affect the breakthrough to "Dark Profound" or even higher realms?

Everything is unknown.

"I understand." Su Ming nodded, weighed the oil paper package in his hand, and then looked back at Su Xiong Gou's face.

"I'll accept this secret manual."

"If you want to come up the mountain with me, that's fine too."

Su Xiong Gou was stunned for a moment, then a surge of joy welled up inside him. His honest face flushed red instantly, and he stammered excitedly, "Really? San Lang! You agreed? Thank you! Don't worry, I, Su Xiong Gou, will definitely—"

"Don't rush to thank me," Su Ming interrupted him, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority.

"Come up the mountain with me, and you'll have to follow my rules."

"First, orders must be obeyed without question. You must do exactly what I say and are not allowed to act without authorization."

"Secondly, you must be observant and quick-witted."

"Third, whatever you see or hear in the mountains, keep your mouth shut and don't tell outsiders."

"Is this even possible?"

"Yes! Absolutely!" Su Xiong Gou pounded his chest loudly, his voice resolute: "San Lang, from now on I'll listen to you! If you point east, I'll never go west!"

"Hmm." Su Ming responded, carefully putting the oil paper package of "The Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish" into his pocket.

"Go back first today, pack your things, find some neat and warm clothes, and prepare some dry food."

"Wait for me here first thing tomorrow morning, when it's just getting light."

"Okay! I'll go get ready right away!"

Su Xiong Gou excitedly agreed and turned to run away, but then remembered something, turned back and clasped his hands in a deep fist salute to Su Ming. He then grinned and, with much lighter steps, rushed out of the courtyard.

The gate was closed again, and the courtyard returned to its tranquility.

A cold wind swept through the treetops, making a soft, mournful sound.

Su Ming did not go into the house immediately. He stood under the old locust tree, took out the book "The Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish" from his pocket again, and began to read it again in the increasingly bright light of the day.

This time, he observed more carefully, combining his own experience in practicing Xingyi Gong to understand the key points of coordinating breathing and movements.

Before he knew it, the sun had risen higher and the chill had subsided slightly. Su Ming closed his book, his eyes thoughtful.

He walked to the center of the courtyard, assumed a starting stance, not the stance of Xingyi Gong, but according to the first illustration of the Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish and the breathing techniques, he tried to adjust his breathing and slowly stretch his body.

At first, it was a bit difficult, and breathing and movements were hard to coordinate.

However, he has a foundation laid by Xingyi Gong, which gives him a control over his internal energy that far surpasses that of ordinary people, and he is also extremely sensitive to the sensations in his body's muscles.

After a few tries, I gradually found my rhythm.

He felt that when he breathed according to the method of "Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish", the rise and fall of his chest and abdomen seemed to have a unique rhythm. The cold air he inhaled circulated in his body and seemed to complement the slowly circulating internal energy of "Xingyi Gong".

The internal energy accelerates slightly along a specific route, nourishing the related lungs and meridians, while the new breathing method seems to in turn warm and mobilize the internal energy, making it more active.

After completing a simple set of movements, Su Ming slowly came to a stop, feeling a sense of comfort in his chest and abdomen, and his breath becoming long and deep. The slight fatigue he had experienced from practicing boxing and thinking early in the morning was completely gone, and his spirits were even more vigorous.

Even more miraculously, he clearly "saw" that the handwriting representing his proficiency in the "Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish" in his mind had subtly changed:

[The Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish: Beginner 1/10]

Sure enough!

Moreover, with the support of internal energy and his own superb understanding of martial arts, his speed of mastering the basics is astonishing!

A surge of joy welled up in Su Ming's heart.

He struck a pose again, this time with even greater fluidity and naturalness.

The internal energy flows gently with each breath and movement, like a stream quenching a dried-up riverbed, while the cultivation of the "Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish" is like widening and dredging the channel of this stream.

An hour later, when Su Ming's forehead was slightly sweaty and he stopped again, the words in his mind had changed to:

[The Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish: Beginner 3/10]

In just half a day, and even though it was my first time trying it, I jumped from beginner to 3 points of proficiency!

This speed far surpasses that of when I first started practicing Xingyi Gong!

The martial arts skills and internal energy cultivated in my previous life seem to have excellent compatibility with the techniques of this world, even acting as a catalyst and accelerating cultivation? This is a virtuous cycle!

Su Ming's eyes gleamed, as if he had discovered a new treasure.

If this speculation is true, then with the foundation he laid in Xingyi Gong and the "internal energy" he generated, he will likely achieve twice the result with half the effort when cultivating other martial arts in this world!

This will be a huge advantage for him to quickly improve his strength in this low-level martial arts world!

He suppressed his excitement and carefully put away the "Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish".

For lunch, I simply ate some millet porridge that Liu had left behind and some leftovers from last night.

In the afternoon, he did not go into the mountains again, but stayed in his own yard to continue to consolidate his Xingyi Gong, while also practicing the introductory movements of Lingyu Shibabian, carefully experiencing the subtle interaction and benefits produced by the two techniques in his body.

He even tried to incorporate the breathing rhythm of the Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish into the practice of Xingyi Gong, and found that the flow of internal energy seemed to be longer and more profound. Although the change was extremely subtle, the direction was positive.

This filled him with even greater anticipation and a stronger desire to explore the path of martial arts in the future.

As the sun set, it bathed the courtyard in a warm golden light. Su Ming finished his cultivation for the day, feeling his blood and energy flowing freely, his internal energy abundant, and his condition better than ever before.

After having dinner, he chatted with Madam Liu for a while, teased the little golden tiger that was already wagging its tail and running around the yard, and then washed up and went to bed early to conserve his energy for the next day's trip into the mountains.

We still have to go into this mountain!

1

The next day, before dawn, the eastern horizon was only tinged with a faint bluish-gray.

Su Ming had finished packing.

A brand-new broadsword was tucked into his waistband, and a quiver was strapped to his back, filled with replenished arrows.

He carried dried meat, tumbler, and a small amount of salt wrapped in oil paper in his pocket.

As for the book "The Eighteen Transformations of the Spirit Fish," he wrapped it in waterproof tarpaulin and left it under the bed.

He gently opened the courtyard gate, and a gust of crisp morning wind rushed in.

Outside the courtyard, a tall and sturdy figure stood already in the cool mist; it was Su Xiong Gou.

He changed into a relatively thick old cotton coat with the cuffs and trouser legs tied tight. On his back was a simple wooden bow and a quiver of arrows—judging from their style, they were old items discarded by the village hunters. He also had a thick-backed wood-chopping knife tucked into his waistband.

Her face was red from the cold, but her eyes were full of excitement and anticipation. When she saw Su Ming come out, she immediately straightened her back.

"Sanlang, I'm ready!" Su Xionggou said in a low voice, trying not to wake the neighbors.

Su Ming glanced at him, nodded, and didn't say much. He simply pointed to the mountain path leading to the village and then took the lead in walking.

His steps were steady and swift, making a slight "crunching" sound as he stepped on the frozen mud.

Seeing this, Su Xiong Gou quickly took a deep breath, tightened the straps on his body, and took big strides to follow closely behind.

The two, one after the other, quickly disappeared into the deepest darkness and chill of the pre-dawn winter, heading towards the snow-covered landscape.

The small, dangerous mountain, shrouded in countless secrets, is once again the target of our expedition.