madnovel Chapter 3 [Different Paths, Same Destination]
Chapter 3 [Different Paths, Same Destination]
What can you do with three silver dollars?
The food and clothing for a family of three for more than ten days, the hard-earned money for a day's work as a rickshaw driver, and a dose of tonic to strengthen their blood and qi...
Before practicing martial arts, Chen Qing was a rickshaw puller. He would run from morning till night and might not even earn three silver dollars a day, enough to buy a dose of tonic.
Now that he's invested all his savings in martial arts, he's practically penniless. How could he not be tempted when the owner of this house casually pulls out so much money?
It's just practicing martial arts. He practices every day, whether in front of others or in private, there's no difference.
As for whether the other party will steal the martial arts skills from the boxing gym?
There's no need to worry.
Firstly, although the martial arts school strictly prohibits the dissemination of martial arts skills to outsiders, it allows the teaching of Xingyi Gong at the beginner level, which is convenient for attracting students.
Secondly, the Xingyi technique has made a name for itself in the big city of Tianjin, and it's not something that just anyone can learn by watching a few glances.
It took him two and a half years and countless hardships to achieve what he has today.
This young man in front of me, I have to admit, is quite rich, but being rich doesn't mean having the right qualities or background.
"Please look, sir. What I am demonstrating is Xingyi Gong. This skill is divided into internal strength training and combat techniques. The former has twelve forms. The first three forms are fixed-step breathing and following the steps with intention and energy, and flowing movements..."
Seeing this, the other two naturally didn't want to be left behind, and they quickly set out to demonstrate as well.
Fang Qi ate the purple grapes that Jia Si fed him, watching with great interest.
......
Sunset.
"The difficulty of cultivating inner strength, and the first major hurdle encountered by more than 90% of martial arts practitioners, is the smooth flow of qi and blood throughout the limbs and bones. To achieve this, one needs to accumulate qi and blood..."
After Chen Qing and the other two practiced Xingyi Gong several times and explained some of its intricacies, they returned to their respective posts to guard the gate and the courtyard.
Fang Qi took a bath and changed clothes with the help of Jia Si and Jia Nian. He ate a table full of hearty dishes such as stewed chicken and roast duck, and then drank three doses of tonic medicine to refine his qi and blood. Only then did he begin to ponder the "Xingyi Gong" practiced by Chen Qing and the other two.
The martial arts of this Republic of China era world are indeed similar to the physical cultivation of the immortal cultivation world, which involves refining one's qi and blood, tempering one's strength, and strengthening oneself.
The cultivation of the Ming Jin stage mainly involves circulating Qi and blood throughout the limbs and bones. Each time Qi and blood are circulated through a bone, one's strength increases by one point.
"Standing posture similar to that of the Three-Body Problem, hands clenched into fists, breathing with abdominal breathing, inhaling while drawing the breath down to the dantian, exhaling while mentally guiding the breath to the extremities..."
Fang Qi got into position and practiced several times. Then, with a thought, he connected with the [Nine Heavens Mysterious Mirror] deep within his soul.
As the treasure mirror flashed with golden light, the spiritual energy within the dantian instantly boiled like water. The evaporating spiritual energy, in strands, simulated the power of qi and blood, flowing from the dantian into the limbs and bones.
The Nine Heavens Mysterious Mirror currently possesses two major abilities.
The first is "time travel," which needs no further explanation.
The second is "different paths leading to the same destination," which can simulate spiritual power into any form of energy, such as the qi and blood of this world.
He didn't know how long it would take to practice Xingyi Gong and how much hardship one had to endure to achieve smooth flow of Qi and blood.
All the master surnamed Fang knew was that his extraordinary talent and the power simulation of "different paths leading to the same destination" were quite easy to learn.
"Oh, Ming Jin is here."
Fang Qi grabbed a bowl of potent tonic and gulped it down, striking while the iron was hot.
As the saying goes, "Everything is difficult at the beginning." Taking the first step is nine-tenths of the way to success. With the birth of the first burst of energy, the subsequent cultivation will be much smoother.
In just one hour, he stabilized his skills.
He threw a single punch.
Bang!
The wooden stake in front of him exploded instantly.
"The power of this punch is about the same as that of a first-level Qi Refining cultivator using the 'Minor Fire Separation Technique'..."
Hearsay and firsthand experience are completely different.
If even a beginner possesses such power, the martial arts of this Republic of China era are truly not to be underestimated.
According to Chen Qing, Ming Jin is fierce and outward-facing, with power that can shatter rocks and break wood, and its destructive power is similar to that of the early and middle stages of Qi Refining.
The hidden strength is subtle and concealed, with its power hidden and internal energy generated. It can strike through mountains and penetrate internal organs, which should be equivalent to the middle and late stages.
"The energy transforms into a smooth and penetrating flow, borrowing force to strike back, not being bound by objects; the energy flows from within to without, cleansing the tendons and marrow, transforming the body, and laying the foundation for martial arts..."
"It's probably already equivalent to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, or even Foundation Establishment!"
Fang Qi looked excited.
In the world of cultivation, progress through physical cultivation is extremely difficult, but here, it's a broad and easy path.
Feeling the qi and blood slowly emerging in his body, the old man surnamed Fang drank all five doses of the potent tonic that Jia Si and Jia Nian had just prepared in one go.
Ordinary people definitely can't drink this much. Not to mention the risk of their bodies exploding and dying, damage to their bodies is inevitable, and they won't be able to absorb it.
But Fang Qi is a cultivator, so there's nothing to worry about.
He can not only drink five doses of potent tonics at the same time without any harm to his body, but also efficiently refine the medicinal power and cultivate his qi and blood.
As his Qi and blood increased, Fang Qi's eyes suddenly lit up at one moment.
The energy that was infected by the golden light of the [Nine Heavens Mysterious Mirror] was actually transformed into spiritual power in wisps and strands.
With another thought, the spiritual energy transformed into qi.
"Simulation is merely a preliminary application of the principle of 'different paths leading to the same goal.' If one masters and becomes familiar with a certain energy, it's even possible to achieve the mutual transformation between this energy and spiritual power?!"
"In other words, I have two blue bars!"
"Okay, okay!"
Fang Qi's anticipation for the martial arts of this world grew even stronger.
They practiced until late at night.
Mr. Fang felt a bit tired, so he stopped to think about things other than martial arts practice.
The Ming Jin level of Xingyi Quan has twelve forms, but Chen Qing only practiced the first three forms, which are the introductory moves of Ming Jin. If he wants to learn the rest, he has to go to a martial arts school.
Furthermore, after entering the Ming Jin realm, one's own Qi and blood increase, requiring more medicinal power. The efficacy of ordinary Qi and blood medicine gradually declines, and even if one refines it efficiently through cultivation methods, fatigue will gradually appear.
However, the higher-quality Qi and Blood elixirs are tightly controlled by the major martial arts schools and are strictly forbidden from being passed on...
It seems that the only way to improve is to go to a martial arts school.
Let him go to the martial arts school, just give him some money, but do you expect a cultivator to kowtow three times and nine times to acknowledge a master?
Fang Qi's eyes narrowed slightly, and he called over Jia Si and Jia Nian.
"Master..." The two women blushed and undressed, climbing onto the edge of the bed.
A soft murmur drifted from behind the curtains.
A night of in-depth yet easy-to-understand discussion.
As dawn broke, Fang Qi regained his composure and devised a plan.
"Spread the word that the Fang family will be holding a martial arts competition at the beginning of next month. All martial artists who participate will receive one silver dollar. The top ten will receive ten silver dollars, and the top three will receive thirty silver dollars. Those who are interested can serve as assistants in the Fang family, with a monthly salary of fifty silver dollars."
In Tianjin, martial arts are highly valued, and martial arts competitions are the best place to showcase the results of martial arts skills. They are also the main way for many powerful and wealthy people to select retainers and bodyguards.
Fang Qi didn't care about any outstanding talents; he held the martial arts competition mainly to find some "talents".
"Yes, sir."
After a night of conversation, the two women were not tired at all. On the contrary, thanks to the slight spiritual energy released by Fang Qi, their faces were as beautiful as peach blossoms and their skin as smooth as jade.
"Oh, right, call Chen Qing and the other two over."
Martial arts competitions are a way to acquire martial arts skills and secret medicines for replenishing qi and blood. Chen Qing, a walking Xingyi Gong master, also needs to be "friendly" communicated with.
However, just like yesterday, this guy held his chin very high.
"The fourth to twelfth forms of Xingyi Quan?" Chen Qing had just finished his morning practice and was all muscle, as if he were cast in bronze and iron.
His face, like his muscles, was taut and tense.
This "young master" who looks even younger than him, who seems to have appeared out of nowhere, is far too ungrateful.
He clearly stated yesterday that Xingyi Gong can only teach the first three forms at most, and the rest must be learned by apprenticing at a martial arts school.
If he dares to teach in private, not only will you, the "young master," be captured by the martial arts school, but he, the instructor, will also be severely punished by the school.
Moreover, have you learned the first three moves that were taught yesterday?
I want more!
"Practicing martial arts is like building a house. A tall building starts from the ground up. You need to lay a solid foundation first and proceed step by step. Being impatient and rash is a big taboo."
Chen Qing was displeased, but he wouldn't openly contradict the master who gave him the silver dollars.
Fang Qi rubbed his temples, calmly waved his hand, and Jia Nian took out ten silver dollars.
Is that enough?
Chen Qing and the other two, with six eyes, instantly lit up.
"If Master Fang truly wishes to learn martial arts, I can make an introduction, and I guarantee that you will..."
Before he could finish speaking, Fang Qi took out five more pieces.
Fifteen silver dollars were laid out before them, and Chen Qing and his two companions secretly swallowed their saliva.
However, reason ultimately prevailed over greed, and after a struggle of their minds, the three of them still did not dare to take that step.
They can earn money slowly, but they can't afford the consequences of privately teaching martial arts.
"Alright..." Fang Qi waved his hand, dismissing the three.
It was just a test, a way to create a feeding area and give the fish a chance to bite.
The three people, Chen Qing and his companions, who left the compound, were indeed unable to calm down for a long time.
"Senior Brother Chen, this mansion only houses Master Fang and two women."
"On the left," He Jun suddenly said.
"Those two women are just ordinary people. This old man seems mysterious, but he keeps asking us about martial arts, which means he doesn't know any martial arts."
Hou Bai, on the right, also spoke up.
Upon hearing this, Chen Qing's expression changed rapidly.
"What do you two junior brothers mean?"