After reaching the Entry Tier, the Qi flows into the Initial Acupoint and continuously nourishes the body. Su Tu could feel a burning sensation beneath his heart from time to time.
That acupoint is the Initial Acupoint. The Qi that previously wandered aimlessly inside his body seemed to have found a home and source. If the original Qi was like a rootless duckweed drifting along with the blood flow and meridians, now it had a source and veins.
Like a stream or river, once it finds its source, it flows endlessly.
Moreover, Su Tu discovered that after reaching the Entry Tier, when he continued practicing the Basic Skill, the Qi seemed to have a target. While cleansing the body, it vaguely headed toward an acupoint.
But before he could think further about it,
a sudden and indescribable scorching sensation erupted in his body.
His skin reddened at a speed visible to the naked eye, and his body continuously emitted steam-like gas.
Su Tu felt as if he were in a sea of fire, unbearably hot, the tendons scorching, the blood sizzling, as if he were a whole roast.
Feeling his body's changes, Su Tu endured the pain while a term popped into his mind.
"This feeling, could it be that I've gone into Qi deviation!"
In the martial arts novels from his previous life, Qi deviation was depicted in this way.
His chaotic thoughts hadn't fully dispersed before Zhou Wuliang appeared before him. Bringing his two fingers together, Zhou Wuliang pointed at various places on Su Tu's body, then gently kneaded with his palm.
That burning and searing sensation finally subsided.
"Haste makes waste. The Basic Skill requires hard and slow cultivation. The stronger the Basic Skill, the greater the restrictions. Once you exceed that line, your body won't be able to bear it, causing your Qi and blood to surge like a blazing flame engulfing you."
"When cultivating the Basic Skill, you must grasp the proportion: when to be diligent and when to rest. It's all a learning experience."
Zhou Wuliang advised.
Su Tu nodded earnestly in agreement.
He mused to himself, "Cultivating the Basic Skill is like running or weight training; you need to progress gradually and slowly increase the exercise time."
Just like in the beginning, when he first obtained the system, his physical capability was very limited. Running a kilometer or two left him gasping for air, but as his training time increased and his Strengthen Body level rose, now Su Tu could comfortably run thirty kilometers in one go.
This is the power of the system. When Su Tu mastered a Skill, it became deeply imprinted in his body, improving as his Skill Level increased.
"How does it feel to reach the Entry Tier?" Zhou Wuliang looked at Su Tu, growing more delighted as he observed him.
High talent, good character, and on top of that, he's so handsome he almost matches how I looked in my youth. Who wouldn't like such a student?
"The Qi in my body now has a source and no longer rushes about wildly. Moreover, the flow of Qi seems to have developed a certain regularity, unintentionally striking out in a certain direction..."
Su Tu felt the changes within himself and expressed his impressions.
"That's correct. Once you enter the acupoint, the Qi finds its home, naturally making it at your disposal and roaming throughout your body in a way that complements your nature. The impact you're feeling is the Qi trying to penetrate the next acupoint."
"Is it really so fast to strike the next acupoint?"
Su Tu knew that the first-tier practice required refining all 108 acupoints with Qi, but he didn't expect it to happen so fast. Having just entered the Entry Tier and opened one acupoint, he was already breaking through to the next, which seemed quite at odds with Zhou Wuliang's previous mention of hard and slow cultivation.
Zhou Wuliang noticed Su Tu's confusion. He chuckled before explaining.
"The body's 108 acupoints are like a map of mountains and rivers. Each acupoint is like a mountain. Previously, not entering the acupoint meant being at the foot of the mountain and unable to see the whole range. Entering the acupoint is like standing atop a peak, gazing forward and seeing the mountains before you, as the Qi will naturally forge ahead."
Upon hearing Zhou Wuliang's explanation, Su Tu immediately understood.
So the Qi is like a tour group, sensing the next acupoint and approaching it with a 'we've already come this far' mentality, wanting to try entering it.
After understanding, Su Tu wanted to say something to Zhou Wuliang.
But when he looked up, he saw Zhou Wuliang's mouth twitching up and down as if having a cramp, no less than six times.
"That's a bit abstract..." On the surface, Su Tu remained calm, but internally, this thought popped up.
No matter the perspective, Elder Zhou appears to be a solemn and revered Grandmaster, his aura attesting to this fact.
But ever since Su Tu arrived at the martial arts hall, Zhou Wuliang often did inexplicable things.
If anything must be said, this old man seems to be... making up the numbers.
Su Tu thought of their first meeting when the elder drank seven cups of tea, forcing seven frowns, and the six mouth twitches just now. If counted as smiles, plus the one he laughed at now, exactly seven...
"Although I know your lucky number is 7, padding the numbers like this...." Su Tu was momentarily speechless.
Zhou Wuliang said, "Now that you've reached the Entry Tier, later the old man will teach you a Technique. Whenever you're free, practice it. This technique aids not only in killing but also in a refining body, adding to your foundation."
"Alright, Teacher."
A hint of anticipation rose in Su Tu's eyes.
This was the method to improve his Fighting Proficiency. Previously, he thought he'd have to rely on Correct Fist and incrementally hone his Fighting Skills.
Now, it seems there might be a better way.
"Everyone, gather round!" Zhou Wuliang's voice was low as he spoke, yet when the sound emerged, it was as if everything stilled, the deep voice resonating clearly in everyone's heart.
The students quickly converged.
Su Tu also mingled into the crowd. Nearby, Tang Yangwu lifted his brow in a greeting acknowledgement, and Su Tu nodded with a smile, after all, that man just gifted him something.
"Brother, be honest with me, are you some kind of deity reincarnated?"
The tall, slender boy standing next to Su Tu inquired in a hushed tone.
His name was Baru, a bit of an eccentric, frequently reading novels, and often sharing them in group chats, along with comics.
Hearing this, Su Tu couldn't help but smile wryly, not understanding how far-fetched the other's imagination could be.
"Oh, stop spouting nonsense. I reckon Su Tu is a descendant of some hidden family, hiding on the Ancestor Star. Even our families can't trace his lineage. Wow! Could you be from the Ten Celestial Martial Race?"
The nearby chubby boy also began to exclaim.
This chubby lad went by Zhuge, but he never fully revealed his name, everyone just called him Zhuge, akin to a descendant of Marquis Wu. The surname Zhuge seemed to have an added intelligence factor, and Su Tu once thought this guy might possess wisdom akin to a demon.
However, after interacting more, Su Tu found this chubby Zhuge didn't have the diabolical intelligence of the Marquis Wu but an imagination that was extraordinarily fanciful, able to connect heaps of things together in seemingly logical ways.
"What are you even saying," Su Tu opened his mouth helplessly.
"Whoa, brother, it's truly astonishing, do you realize the concept of entering the tier in a day? For 17 years, I gulped all kinds of supplements and medicine, yet it still took me a year to enter the tier. Luo Fan and Mo Ya, geniuses from New Star, also took a month to enter the tier, but you did it in a day, just starting with Martial Arts Dao!!"
"If you were born on New Star, people would be crying to invest in you for martial arts training. Now that I've seen this, there's gotta be a better way."
"Your method for gaining Fighting Proficiency is quite something. I thought you'd just use a series of punches to slowly hone your Fighting Skills."
According to a tall, thin boy standing beside Su Tu, who spoke in a low voice.
His name was Baru, with a quirky personality and asking in a low voice.
The other plump man chimed in loudly from the side.
This one's name was Zhuge, and he never ceased to amaze with his uncanny wit. Su Tu figured this guy was wise beyond measure.
But from the very start, since Su Tu entered the martial hall, this old man had a habit of doing inexplicable things.
Insisting, this old gentleman seemed like a... an odd-number savorer.
Recalling the first encounter, the old man had seven cups of tea, forced himself to frown seven times, and just had his mouth twitch six times earlier. If he counted the one smile just now, it rounded up to seven times...
"I know your lucky number is 7, but such exact counts...." Su Tu found himself momentarily speechless.
Now, you have achieved entry tier. Later, I'll impart you a technique. When you have time, hone yourself more with it. Not only will the technique aid your combat, but also temper your body and enhance your foundation."
"Okay, teacher."
A wisp of anticipation appeared in Su Tu's eyes.
Here's a way to enhance my fighting proficiency. I initially thought I would rely on Correct Fist to gradually polish my fighting skills.
Apparently, there's a better way now.
"Everyone, come over!" Zhou Wuliang spoke lowly, but his voice, once heard, seemed to reverberate clearly in every heart.
All the students quickly gathered.
Su Tu merged into the crowd while Tang Yangwu raised his eyes to greet him with a knowing nod, which Su Tu reciprocated with a smile, considering he had recently been gifted something special by Tang Yangwu.
"Hey buddy, tell me the truth. Are you a reincarnated deity or something?"
asked a lanky boy standing next to Su Tu in a hushed voice.
His name was Baru, a quirky character by nature.
Unable to control his thoughts, Su Tu found himself suppressing a grin and thought,
"Go away with your nonsense, I think your lucky number is 7. But counting like this...."
At that moment, Zhou Wuliang said, "Well, now that you've entered the tier, the old man will pass on a Technique. When you have time, you should hone it. The Technique not only enhances your fighting capacity but also tempers your body and adds depth to your foundation."
"Alright, teacher." Su Tu's eyes shone with a hint of expectation.
This was just the method he needed to enhance his fighting skills. Initially, he thought he would gradually grind his Fighting Skills up through straight punches, little by little.
Now it seems there's a better way into it.
"Everyone, come here!" Zhou Wuliang spoke softly, but as soon as he did, it was as if everything silenced, and his deep voice rang clearly in everyone's heart.
The students quickly gathered around.
Su Tu also mingled into the crowd, while Tang Yangwu lifted his gaze towards him, acknowledging his presence, and Su Tu smiled back, especially since the other had just given him a gift.