In the Great Xia Kingdom, on the branch of Longji Mountain in the Qinglong Mountain Range, there is a large canyon that is hundreds of miles long, called Longwen Gorge. The mountains on both sides of the canyon are steep, with ravines crisscrossing, dangerous cliffs standing everywhere, towering peaks like clouds, cliff walls with jagged rocks, and covered with vines and grass.
The Longsui Creek runs through the valley bottom, with rapid currents and roaring sounds. The banks are covered with dense vegetation, towering trees, exotic flowers and plants, and lush greenery. Rare birds and animals can be seen from time to time. The area is rich in animal and plant resources and is known as the "Natural Medicine Valley."
At this moment, on a steep cliff, a slender, agile young man in plain clothes was picking medicinal herbs. He was as light as a swallow and looked like a nimble monkey. His fingers were like hooks and his feet were like rivets. He regarded the cliff as a flat ground. His body was nimble and he kept climbing and jumping between the cliffs. His expression did not seem to be working, but rather as if he was intoxicated.
The young man's name was Xia Feng. His origins and the identities of his parents were unknown, at least his master had never mentioned his origins. Since childhood, Xia Feng had lived with his master in this deep mountain valley, unaware of the world outside. It could be said that Dragon Pattern Gorge was the entire world he knew, and his master was the only two creatures in this world, apart from the flowers, plants, birds, and beasts.
Xia Feng had no idea why his master had become his own, as his master never spoke to him about his past. He only knew his master's name was Xia Qingyun, and that he was a master of martial arts and medicine, but also had a strange and changeable personality: sometimes elegant, sometimes crazy, sometimes furious and cursing, and sometimes silent and lonely.
But no matter what the master's personality is, to Xia Feng, Xia Qingyun is his only relative.
From a young age, Xia Feng began learning to read and practice martial arts under Xia Qingyun's guidance. As early as the age of ten, with the help of Xia Qingyun's homemade medicine and ten years of uninterrupted practice of the "Washing Marrow and Strengthening Tendon Fist," Xia Feng had already broken through the strength training stage. According to Xia Qingyun, the strength training stage is divided into nine levels, primarily based on strength. Level one is 100 kilograms of strength, and so on to level nine. Breaking through after reaching 900 kilograms is extremely difficult. Xia Qingyun once told Xia Feng that many people do not achieve perfection in Qi training at the ninth level. Generally, after a few months of boxing and kicking, they begin to gather internal energy and enter the Qi Condensation stage, the realm of ancient martial artists. After that, they rarely practice strength training anymore. After all, the next level, the Tongmai stage, is about opening up the meridians, tempering the body, and exponentially increasing strength and speed. Xia Feng still remembered that when he said this, Xia Qingyun warned him with disdain that these people who took shortcuts had no idea about the secret of perfect strength training. But even if some people knew the secret, in order to break the limit of 900 kilograms, if they were asked to practice hard for several years, there would probably be few who could persist.
After his breakthrough, Xia Qingyun wasted no time in teaching Xia Feng the method of concentrating his internal energy. Simply put, it involved seeking a location where the energy of heaven and earth was abundant and pure. With five hearts facing heavenward, one silently recited a mantra, maintaining a peaceful mind and focusing on the Dantian. Xia Feng's aptitude had been exceptionally well-trained, and given the lack of external influences in the deep mountain valleys, within a few days, Xia Feng felt a warmth rising from his abdomen. Then, it seemed as if the warmth permeated his bones, muscles, and veins. Ten years of training had absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, which now resided within his body. Along with the internal energy, it began to be absorbed and circulated through his meridians. Gradually, the warmth grew clearer and clearer, flowing more freely through his body.
Xia Feng felt an indescribable sense of comfort throughout his body. Finally, his lower dantian cracked, as if something had broken. Xia Feng knew it was the opening up of his dantian. Then, streams of internal energy began to accumulate within his dantian, slowly growing stronger with subsequent practice.
This practice of gathering internal energy in the Dantian continued for three years. Ten years of consistent practice of the "Marrow Cleansing and Tendon Strengthening Fist" had already made Xia Feng's meridians incredibly broad, strong, and powerful.
One day, Xia Qingyun pulled out a porcelain bottle containing over ten pills and told Xia Feng that these were the internal energy pills used by warriors. The pills had a smooth surface, a clear color, and a delicate fragrance. They were clearly extremely pure and were the perfect remedies for breaking through the Tongmai stage.
As expected, after taking the medicine, as time went by, the effect of the medicine spread, and the amount of pure internal energy condensed in Xia Feng's dantian became more and more. Finally, it surged and quickly filled up the dantian. When it covered the entire dantian, he finally achieved perfection in internal energy.
Xia Feng silently recited the formula for internal qi circulation, guiding the energy upward, following the centerline of the Ren and Du meridians, and flowing along various acupuncture points. The internal qi rushed into the meridians, causing a pain like a needle prick, but the always resolute Xia Feng did not retreat, and held on stubbornly.
The sound of "click, click" continued. After who knows how long, or how much suffering, the Ren and Du meridians were finally opened. Xia Feng also entered the stage of the "Open Meridians" stage, the Small Circulation of the Heaven. His Dantian expanded considerably, and internal energy slowly flowed through the opened meridians, repairing any imperfections and nourishing them, making them wider and stronger.
After entering the Body Refining Stage, Xia Qingyun did not wait to guide Xia Feng to continue his breakthrough as he had in the past. This was because he knew better than anyone that the stability of the Meridian Opening Stage would allow Xia Feng's martial arts cultivation to go higher and further.
Xia Feng settled down and began learning various medical techniques from his master. Xia Qingyun also shared all the medical texts he had memorized. He also taught Xia Feng various techniques for identifying acupuncture points, identifying herbs, and collecting them, as well as the properties, pharmacology, and preparation methods of various medicinal herbs. Xia Feng was gifted with exceptional intelligence, perseverance, and diligent study, and at the age of fifteen, he already possessed the demeanor of a true healer.
Although he did not deliberately seek a breakthrough, Xia Feng continued to strengthen the condensation and precipitation of internal energy in his dantian under the guidance of his master, and used the medicinal herbs carefully refined by his master to speed up the tempering of his muscles and meridians.
At the age of fifteen, Xia Feng already felt his internal energy overflowing and flowing freely. Combined with the miraculous "Follow the Wind" footwork taught by his master, he could be described as light as a swallow and swift as flying. Cliffs and steep slopes were as easy for Xia Feng to walk on as flat ground, and streams and waterfalls were like a dragon swimming in the water, moving with ease.
The most obvious change was Xia Feng's body. Since entering the Tongmai stage, his body had grown rapidly, like a seedling after rain. At only fifteen or sixteen, he already stood tall and erect, nearly 185 cm tall. His body was as solid as cast steel, his muscles firm but not exaggeratedly bulging, giving him a sense of perfect streamlined form. Most strikingly, this body seemed to be imbued with boundless explosive power.
Of course, Xia Feng also had his own concerns: the immense, majestic, and astonishingly thick cock between his legs. Not only was it a massive, nearly 25 centimeters long, but it also possessed a white, pinkish sheen. Even more remarkable, this jade-like shaft often exuded a delicate, medicinal fragrance.
As for why he bothered, it was because Xia Feng had accidentally seen his master's genitals and noticed they were quite different from his own. At least, he didn't have the lush black hair on his abdomen, and the purple-black color of his penis was completely different from his own snowy jade-colored pink. What puzzled him most was that his master's genitals were much smaller than his own, which puzzled him deeply. Wasn't it natural for this area to be larger as people got older? He didn't know if it was innate or due to the long-term medication he'd been taking from his master. Xia Feng was baffled, but he was too embarrassed to ask his master, so he often felt depressed by himself.
Time flew by, and when Xia Feng turned sixteen, Xia Qingyun finally informed him that he could proceed to the next stage of his training, the final stage of transforming internal energy into internal strength—the Internal Strength Stage. According to Xia Qingyun, the internal energy within Xia Feng's Dantian was already abundant, and his physical condition, both in terms of physique and the width and strength of his meridians, had reached the stage for the formation of internal strength.
In reality, what Xia Qingyun hadn't told Xia Feng was that the transition from internal energy cultivation to internal strength was a huge hurdle, akin to a chasm. Many warriors were stuck at this point, unable to advance for extended periods. For some, the time it took to advance from internal energy to internal strength was far greater than the combined time it took for an average mortal to reach the Tongmai stage. And corresponding to the difficulty of this breakthrough was a significant increase in strength.
Xia Feng's physical condition is now fully met. With the guidance of his master and the accumulation of basic attributes, breaking through the internal strength stage is no longer a difficult task for him.
Xia Feng sat quietly on the ground, and the air around him seemed to be frozen.
The densely packed pores on his skin seemed to have a life of their own, like a person breathing, constantly opening and closing to exhale, each breath filled with rhythm and melody. And with each breath, wisps of black air emanated from each pore, like plumes of black mist, a truly magical sight.
This black mist was the impurities that lay deeper within Xia Feng's body. Unlike before, these impurities had now been atomized. His breathing became increasingly prolonged, often lasting several minutes, and with each breath, his pores vibrated.
Gradually, Xia Feng's whole body seemed to be covered with a layer of light black smoke, and he looked like a dug-out piece of coal.
Xia Feng held his mind in his arms, closed his eyes and concentrated, sitting quietly in cross-legged position, but his body was already filled with turbulent clouds and raging waves.
Suddenly, Xia Feng's body trembled, and the black mist clinging to his skin suddenly cracked. Streams of invisible, colorless power shot out from these cracks, leaving traces in the air. Powerful and sharp, condensed and fierce, this invisible force swirled around Xia Feng's body, its sharp edge exposed.
When Xia Feng opened his eyes again, he was seen finishing his breathing exercises, with a hint of excitement on his face after his success.
The internal energy is restrained, and the internal strength is complete! Xia Qingyun, who was watching on the side, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Xia Feng slowly stood up, and crackling sounds came from all over his body. This was the sound made by his newly strengthened muscles and bones.
Xia Feng felt even more relaxed, as if there was a surge of power in his body that made him feel as if he was free to move.
"sieve!"
Xia Feng suddenly threw a punch, the speed was several times faster than when he was using internal energy, the strong wind was blowing, and there were bursts of sounds of breaking through the air!
"The body with internal energy is indeed strong!" Xia Feng was secretly happy.
"Don't be too happy too soon!" Xia Qingyun, as if understanding Xia Feng's complacency, immediately poured cold water on him, saying, "You have to know that you have just entered the Internal Strength Stage, and this realm has ten levels. There are many masters in the world today. Although those above level eight are rare, there are many masters above level five. You, a rookie, must not get carried away!"
"I understand, Master." Xia Feng lowered his head in shame, and his previous ecstasy turned into a hint of frustration.
"Of course, you shouldn't underestimate yourself. After all, it's a great achievement for you to break through to the internal strength stage at such a young age. Master just wanted to remind you that there are always people better than you. Your current achievements are not enough for you to face any challenges. You still need to work harder and strive to achieve perfection as soon as possible." Seeing his disciple's disappointed face, Xia Qingyun couldn't bear it after all, so he encouraged him with a few words.
In reality, Xia Qingyun was already deeply shocked. In all his years of martial arts experience, Xia Feng was a miraculous figure. Reaching the internal strength stage before the age of twenty-five was rare, and that was only possible with the vast resources of an entire family. Disciples who could achieve such an opportunity often possessed exceptional talent, and how many such gifted individuals could be found?
"Master, don't worry, Feng'er will practice hard and live up to your efforts." Xia Feng said solemnly.
Xia Qingyun then took out his family's unique technique, the Suifeng Heart Method, and taught Xia Feng how to practice it. This was a supreme manual of internal energy, coincidentally divided into ten levels. Xia Qingyun also clearly explained to Xia Feng that successfully practicing each level represented the completion and breakthrough of each stage of internal energy cultivation. Therefore, when the Suifeng Heart Method was fully mastered, it meant that the practitioner had reached the great perfection of internal energy.
Two years had passed in a flash. Eighteen-year-old Xia Feng, through his own perseverance and the careful guidance of Xia Qingyun, had completed the fifth level of the Suifeng Heart Method and was on the verge of breaking through to the sixth level. To achieve this breakthrough, he needed the medicinal aid of "Qingxin Grass," which was why Xia Feng appeared on the cliff.