Martial arts mastery? But I'm just a spoiled brat!

"Amazing! One against two, one crippled and one escaped!"

Yan Qing stopped what he was doing and walked toward Steward Cao.

Behind him, Lan Yue quickly stepped forward with a trench coat in her hand and draped it over Yan Qing's shoulders.

"So Yang Xing was rescued?"

Chief Steward Cao immediately discerned the problem from Yan Qing's words. Yan Qing did not say one died and one escaped, but rather one was crippled and one escaped, which meant that Yang Xing must have survived.

"Yeah, he's not dead, but he's crippled."

"So you've obtained the true essence of Tai Chi?"

"I've got it. I'm just waiting for you to come back and confirm it."

When Chief Steward Cao learned that Yang Xing practiced the true Tai Chi, he began to plan to get his hands on Yan Qing.

That's why he was willing to get injured to quickly defeat Yang Xing; that was the main reason.

Fortunately, Yan Qing did not disappoint him and successfully extracted the true essence of Tai Chi from the other party.

However, Yan Qing was not at ease with Yang Xing. After acquiring the true teachings of Tai Chi, he did not rush to practice it, but instead handed it over to Steward Cao.

"Okay, I'll take it and study it!"

Steward Cao took the handwritten manual from Lan Yue with one hand, and without even looking at it, put it directly into his pocket.

"Your hand..."

After Yan Qing and the other steward Cao accepted the manual, they raised their chins and looked at the other's arm, which was wrapped in bandages.

"Tongbei Quan is not to be underestimated. Its power is concentrated and its penetrating force is too strong. I'm afraid I'll need to recuperate for a while, and my breakthrough plan will have to be delayed."

Chief Steward Cao didn't care about the injury on his arm, but he was a little disappointed that he couldn't immediately try to break through to the Core Formation Realm.

Gang Jin is the ability to project force outwards. When it is perfected, force can be projected outwards from various parts of the body.

To reach the pinnacle of Gang Jin and break through to the Dantian stage, one needs the perfection of "Jing, Qi, and Shen".

Now that his arm is injured and his energy and spirit are not at their peak, he doesn't want to risk breaking through at this time.

"It just so happens that the doctor who treated Yang Xing last time was quite good. I'll have someone call him over to take a look at you."

After Yan Qing finished speaking, she looked at Lan Yue and asked her to go and call the person over.

When one cultivates martial arts to the point of "Bao Dan" (抱丹), their strength will undergo a qualitative transformation. With someone who has reached the "Bao Dan" level, they will have an extremely high deterrent effect.

Yan Qing knew from the last time that Zhang Shaoshuai of Northeast China had praised him so highly that the other party definitely had ill intentions.

In the past, the Cao family served as a buffer between the two warlords, and there was no threat between them.

But things are different now. The two are adjacent, and most importantly, the Yan family now occupies Hebei Province and Tianjin, which almost completely surround the capital.

Under such circumstances, a fierce battle is inevitable between the Zhang and Yan families.

Therefore, after Wanxing broke through to the Transformation Realm, he became extremely busy. Yan Qing ordered him to infiltrate most of the intelligence personnel into the capital and the Northeast, with the aim of making plans for the future.

Therefore, at this critical juncture, if the Yan family can produce a martial artist who has reached the Core Formation stage, the Zhang family will definitely not dare to make a move lightly.

To this, Steward Cao simply smiled and said nothing more.

Regardless of whether Yan Qing had ulterior motives, he considered this concern quite rare.

"By the way, I've met my martial uncle Li Cunxiao. He saved me once and gave me a lot of guidance."

Watching Lan Yue go out to find a doctor, Yan Qing personally poured a cup of ginseng tea for Steward Cao and casually mentioned some recent events.

"Yes, I met him once in Tianjin, but he didn't mention this matter. As for saving you, don't worry about it. If his disciples need help in the future, feel free to help them."

Steward Cao sipped his tea, looking completely indifferent, clearly not wanting Yan Qing to worry about these matters.

"Both Wanxing and Lanyue have already reached the Transformation Realm."

Yan Qing simply nodded in agreement. As for how he would get along with Li Cunxiao, he knew what he was doing.

"They are not bad, but their foundation is still a bit weak. It is not difficult to reach the peak of the Transformation Realm, but the three stages of Marrow Cleansing after the peak of the Transformation Realm will probably be more difficult to pass."

Chief Steward Cao knew the two women well and would occasionally give them guidance. He had even anticipated the difficulties the two women might face in the future.

"Will it be harder than for me?"

Yan Qing was somewhat curious. After learning last time that it would be extremely difficult to break through to the Gang Jin level using four different techniques, he was very curious as to why this was the case. However, Chief Steward Cao was away at the time, so he didn't have a chance to ask. Now that Chief Steward Cao was in person, he could ask him.

You should at least have a clear understanding of what's going on in this kind of thing.

"This is not a concept..."

After hearing what Yan Qing said, Steward Cao paused slightly, then put down his teacup before slowly explaining:

"In fact, before Gang Jin, Ming Jin, An Jin, and Hua Jin, it is all a process of marrow cleansing."

"Ming Jin training the bones: the harder and stronger the bones, the greater and stronger the explosive force and power the body can generate."

"The external three harmonies are about physical integrity and harmonious appearance, with the four limbs acting like a single arm. Only by cultivating the external three harmonies can one avoid being merely a showy display."

"The more robust and resilient the tendons are, the stronger the hidden power that can be unleashed in an instant."

"The Inner Three Harmonies is the initial stage of divine control, where intention leads to power, no longer relying on sight, and also strengthening the control of power."

"Transforming energy and refining marrow, energy flows throughout the whole body and circulates within the body. It can be used to listen to energy, protect the body, and neutralize energy."

"The above are the various stages that a martial artist needs to go through before reaching the peak of the Transformation Realm. There is no particular difference in strength between the three: Manifest Realm, Anjin, and Transformation Realm. The only difference is the degree of difficulty in cultivation."

"But the three stages of marrow cleansing from the perfection of the Transformation Realm to the ultimate Transformation Realm are the most crucial in the entire martial arts cultivation."

"The first stage is the cleansing of the marrow and the breaking of the bones. The force is used to flush out the bone marrow, crack the bone blockage, and make the bone marrow like mercury, which is constantly regenerating. Once this stage is completed, the body's self-healing ability will be greatly increased."

"The second stage is to cleanse the marrow and lighten the body, washing away the turbidity in the muscles and bones, making them appear clear and empty, and removing all the dregs and burdens."

"The third stage is the Marrow Cleansing and Spiritual Connection, the core of which is the perfect harmony of divine movement, where not even a feather can be added. Before the brain even issues a command, the body will automatically and perfectly respond when it senses the 'killing intent,' which is the so-called 'not even a fly can land.' At this point, the Marrow Cleansing is complete, the limit of Transformation Force is reached, and one can then knock on the door of Gang Force."

Chief Steward Cao first gave a detailed explanation of each stage before the Gang Jin (罡劲) stage.

Previously, Yan Qing had a concept of each stage in mind, but no clear explanation.

But now, Steward Cao has given a detailed explanation in the most accessible way, which has given Yan Qing a sense of sudden enlightenment. Things that he previously only vaguely understood now have a clear concept.

"If that's the case, wouldn't practicing all four techniques together be more beneficial for marrow cleansing?"

However... in just a moment, Yan Qing discovered the blind spot in the marrow cleansing process that Steward Cao had mentioned.

If what Steward Cao said is true, Yan Qing has now used Bajiquan to train his bones to the point of being strong and resilient.

Using Baguazhang (Eight Trigrams Palm) to train muscles to be as flexible as a bowstring, the power generated is supple and can injure people invisibly.

Finally, Tai Chi connects with the divine, allowing the body and energy to flow freely both internally and externally.