Early morning, in the small courtyard.
Chu Ming got up early. After achieving Great Success in Tiger and Python Strength, he felt much stronger and more energetic.
After eating the meat porridge brought by Little Shan, he practiced the Slapping Wind Palm in the courtyard.
[Progress (Great Success): 89]
90...91...92....99
[Progress (Perfection): 1/100]
"The power of a Perfection level Palm Technique is several times stronger than that of Great Success..."
With just one palm strike, Chu Ming's face lit up with a smile.
"Let's practice the Tiger and Python Strength a bit more."
[Tiger and Python Strength]
[Progress (Great Success): 23/100]
23...24...25...
Most of the day quickly passed. Chu Ming practiced in the courtyard while Little Shan stood by, serving tea, handing water, and wiping sweat.
While practicing, he activated the Sword Gourd Spirit to observe his inner self.
"Ever since achieving Great Success in Tiger and Python Strength, a deep red warm current, as thick as a silver needle, has appeared in my blood. It seems to be condensed from qi and blood..."
"Under the nurturing of this deep red warm current, my recovery is becoming more and more apparent. The speed of breaking through clogged meridians has greatly increased, and the meridians are also being widened invisibly."
After observing for a while, he exited from the inner vision state.
"I'll ask Housekeeper Fang about it when he returns."
He speculated that this was the Qi and Blood Power, which wasn't harmful to the body, but it was certainly wise to ask the person who taught him about it.
When evening came, Fang Xiao returned from outside.
"Little Shan, take these herbs and boil them into a soup."
"Okay, Grandpa Fang."
Little Shan left, and Fang Xiao looked at Chu Ming, "Young master, is there any move you've forgotten that you need the old servant to demonstrate?"
"No need." Chu Ming put away the moves of Tiger and Python Strength, walked to a stone bench, and sat down to rest, "Housekeeper Fang, what's the origin of Tiger and Python Strength? In the past few days, I always feel a warm current flowing through my blood during cultivation."
Fang Xiao's face just showed a smile upon hearing the first half of the sentence, but at the latter half, particularly at 'warm current flowing through the blood,' his expression suddenly changed.
"Young master, what did you just say?"
"What's the origin of Tiger and Python Strength?" Chu Ming said leisurely.
"Not that sentence!"
"A warm current flowing through the blood?" Chu Ming asked in confusion.
"Yes!" Fang Xiao exclaimed, as if he had heard something extremely shocking, "Young master, did you truly feel a warm current in your meridians?!"
"Yes."
"..." The calm reply made Fang Xiao's facial wrinkles twitch uncontrollably, "Young master, the appearance of a warm current in the meridians signifies Tiger and Python Strength's Great Success!"
Tiger and Python Strength's Great Success?
Chu Ming's heart stirred. Sure enough, the panel showed that Tiger and Python Strength had reached Great Success.
But even so, there was no need for the housekeeper to be so startled.
Fang Xiao took a deep breath to calm the shock within his heart: "The young master may not know that Tiger and Python Strength is actually the foundational technique of Tiger and Python Body Refining Technique. Achieving Great Success means you will feel the warm current in your blood, which is also known as Qi and Blood Power among martial artists."
"Oh?" Chu Ming showed interest upon hearing this.
It really was Qi and Blood Power!
The things taught by this housekeeper turned out to be the foundational methods of Body Refining Technique.
Although he didn't know how powerful Tiger and Python Body Refining Technique was, the housekeeper's astonished expression suggested he might have entered the entry-level?
He had read a lot about Qi and Blood Power in travelogues, which are related to the strength of a martial artist.
Combining his past life experiences, he also understood the exceptional nature of Qi and Blood Power.
But as for the specifics of this world, he knew very little.
"In just ten days, the young master achieved Great Success in Tiger and Python Strength and condensing Qi and Blood..."
Fang Xiao wanted to remain calm, but as he thought of this seemingly impossible event happening before his eyes, his blood boiled with excitement.
Is this the genius who can comprehend a palm technique just by striking the air?
But, the young master's achievements can't even be described as genius.
He believed he had encountered many outstanding martial artists, but compared to the young master... there was no comparison.
Just take this Tiger and Python Strength, it is the Body Refining Technique used to intimidate the Tiger Armor Army of Xirong County. This Body Refining Method has been passed into the army for over a hundred years, yet the fastest Great Success in it was in a month's time.
With a body just recovered from a serious illness and damaged foundation, having read it only twice, reaching Great Success in Tiger and Python Strength in less than ten days without much assistance from herbal decoctions!
Fang Xiao looked at his young master, the disbelief in his eyes almost spelled out across his face.
No, it wasn't even disbelief anymore, but akin to witnessing an inexplicable miracle.
"With Tiger and Python Strength's Great Success and condensing Qi and Blood, one can thus practice the Tiger and Python Body Refining Technique, further condensing more Qi and Blood, tempering the physical body, and even repairing the young master's damaged foundation."
"Damaged foundation?" Chu Ming's eyebrows rose, realizing something.
"The young master probably guessed it. Due to that serious illness some days ago, although the young master survived, the damage to his foundation was severe. If the situation continued as it was, at most half a year, that's all the time left to live. This is also the reason why the old servant was reluctant to let the young master train in martial arts."
"But Madam in heaven was blessing you; the young master overcame adversity and achieved Great Success in Tiger and Python Strength with a broken body!"
Broken body… why does that sound a bit strange...
"Please wait a moment, young master; the old servant will retrieve the Tiger and Python Body Refining Technique immediately."
In a moment, Fang Xiao returned excitedly holding a cultivation technique book, placing it solemnly in front of Chu Ming: "Young master, this is the Tiger and Python Body Refining Technique. In my younger days, I was a member of the Tiger Armor Army in Xirong County."
"Tiger Armor Army of Xirong County?" Chu Ming looked at Fang Xiao with slight surprise.
The Great Qin Dynasty has thirteen counties in total, and the Tiger Armor Army of Xirong County has been battling at the border for years. Every member of this army has experienced brutal battlefield slaughter.
The fact that this old housekeeper managed to retire alive demonstrated his extraordinary strength.
"The Tiger and Python Body Refining Technique is a dominantly fierce Body Tempering Method used in the army. The Tiger Armor Army needs to pair it with specific herbal soups when practicing."
"And Tiger and Python Strength is merely the entry-level method of the Tiger and Python Body Refining Technique. The young master, having just condensed a strand of Qi and Blood, should maintain practice. Once reaching Perfection, the strand of Qi and Blood in the blood becomes stronger, making it safer to train in the Body Refining Technique."
"When Tiger and Python Strength reaches Perfection, it signifies the entry-level of the Tiger and Python Body Refining Technique, with the first complete Qi and Blood condensed within."
"Upon reaching that step, young master can use Qi and Blood to repair his body's foundation and further strengthen his physical body, thereby officially stepping into the ranks of martial artists."
Can you be considered a martial artist with complete Qi and Blood?
Chu Ming's eyes flickered, asking in a deep voice: "How is a martial artist's strength classified?"
"It's still dependent on the number of Qi and Blood condensed," Fang Xiao said with a gentle laugh: "Practicing Tiger and Python Body Refining Technique allows one to condense a total of twelve strands of Qi and Blood, thus reaching the Blood Circulation Realm."
"A martial artist at the Blood Circulation Realm will have a body that strengthens as more Qi and Blood are condensed. The first three strands of Qi and Blood enhance the martial artist's strength, while the fourth strand can increase their resistance to blows. After the ninth strand, the body's strength, speed, and other attributes improve comprehensively."
"What is beyond the Blood Circulation Realm?"
"Young master, no need to hurry, let me have a sip of water first." Fang Xiao, after downing a pot of tea, continued: "Successfully condensing twelve strands of Qi and Blood means the Tiger and Python Body Refining Technique is also perfected. By that time, to progress further, a more advanced Body Tempering Method is required—the Strong Bone Technique."
"Qi and Blood Power is extraordinarily mysterious. The Blood Circulation Realm focuses on strengthening the body, and once the twelve strands are condensed, the extra Qi and Blood Power can be used to reinforce the martial artist's bones, leading to the Strong Bone Realm."
"A martial artist at this realm is nearly impervious to conventional weapons."
"Strong Bone Realm..."
Chu Ming appeared contemplative; this world's division of martial artist strength was quite easy to understand.
"Is organ refining after strong bone?" He ventured to ask.
"Hehe, the young master is correct. The realm following the Strong Bone Realm is indeed the Refining Organ Realm. Martial artists at this level possess extremely resilient life force and can resist most poisons."
"And after organ refining?" Chu Ming inquired further.