Chapter 19: The Way of Qi Cultivation

"How can one reach the limits of the human body through exercise?"

"It is actually not that difficult—certainly not as hard as sending humans to the moon."

"As long as scientists are willing, and once different disciplines and departments collaborate, they can basically design one set of methods after another to help you rapidly approach the limits of the human body."

"Take bodybuilding, for example. By consuming protein powder and engaging in comprehensive training for several months to a year, it is effortless to turn an originally frail person into someone covered in muscle."

Although such muscle can be a bit "watery," it looks impressive!

"Through the combination of traditional martial arts and modern technology, we have developed this all-encompassing Mimicry Boxing. The core philosophy of this style lies in imitation—mimicking animals. You can simply view it as a new-era version of the Five Animal Frolics."

"There are four sets, or four versions, of Mimicry Boxing. The first version is intended for the elderly and children, so I won't be teaching it to you."

"The benefit of this version is that anyone can practice it, and no matter how they do it, nothing will go wrong. It is balanced and moderate, but progress is slow. Its primary purpose is to strengthen the body and shake off a sub-healthy state. As for relying on this version to reach the limits of the human body, it is basically impossible, because you would die of old age before achieving anything extraordinary."

"The second set of Mimicry Boxing is suitable for the average adult. If you practice it diligently for thirty years, you can reach the human physical limit."

"The advantage of this style is that even if you lack flexibility, even if your muscles are stiff, and even if you were previously very thin or obese, you can still practice it without worrying about causing yourself harm."

The prerequisite, of course, is that the movements must be performed correctly.

In this day and age, there are plenty of people who have ruined their knees just by practicing standing meditation, and it is common for people to destroy their knees simply by jogging.

"In a moment, I will have the chief instructor teach you this set of Mimicry Boxing. Old Wang? Old Wang?"

"Understood, no problem. I have already learned this set of Mimicry Boxing," Wang Zongchao said, standing upright and meticulous.

Even within the Virtual Realm, Wang Zongchao maintained his military bearing. His every movement, whether walking, sitting, or resting, possessed a strong military discipline. He stood as steady as a pine!

"The third set of Mimicry Boxing is for martial practitioners who already have a solid foundation. Many of the movements in this set are very demanding in terms of physical flexibility. If the movements are not performed correctly, you will either gain no benefit or end up injuring yourself; it carries a certain level of danger."

"Like the full-lotus or half-lotus positions in meditation? Some people have extremely stiff leg muscles and cannot even manage a half-lotus, while others can easily sit in full lotus. Then there are the splits, or opening the dragon spine..." Jiang Ju asked curiously.

"You could put it that way," Xiong Yan nodded.

If your physical quality is not up to par, forcing a full-lotus position is a classic way to court disaster! You have no one to blame but yourself if you end up with a fracture!

"The third set of Mimicry Boxing is more efficient. In just ten years, you can reach the perfect human limit—meaning every aspect of your physical fitness will be on par with an Olympic champion."

"As for the fourth set of Mimicry Boxing, the requirements are even higher. You must have talent, a large intake of meat for nourishment, and a nutritional expert who can adjust your diet therapy based on your physiological changes. You must also go to the hospital once a month for scans to monitor the changes in your internal organs."

"The fourth set is highly efficient, taking only one to three years. However, the cost is also quite high, with annual training expenses of no less than two million. Furthermore, it has strict requirements for one's natural aptitude; the average person definitely would not qualify."

Looking at the group lost in thought, Xiong Yan said with a heavy tone, "Our generation has the worst average aptitude."

"We grew up eating gutter oil, drinking melamine, and breathing air filled with car exhaust and waste gases. Therefore, it is most difficult for our generation to achieve anything extraordinary!"

"But in all honesty, the Path of Qi and Blood is the most friendly to ordinary people, because even without any natural talent, one can still walk this path."

"The Path of Qi Cultivation, on the other hand, emphasizes the sensation of 'Qi,' the practice of breathing, mental visualization, and the use of the spiritual essence within Reiki. At the right moment, using the ATP in certain organs of the body as a foundation, one practices to turn the illusory into reality."

"Before achieving the innate realm, the Path of Qi Cultivation is always about turning the illusory into reality, because at that stage, the inner Qi exists somewhere between the unreal and the real. It is invisible to the naked eye, undetectable by X-rays, and highly idealistic."

Is this a path an ordinary person can take?

How many points can you get on the solid geometry section of high school math?

Your brain doesn't even possess basic spatial visualization skills!

"Either your physical aptitude is excellent, allowing you to naturally generate the sensation of Qi and develop true energy, or your cognitive ability is very strong and your IQ is very high."

In short, if you are a poor student, don't bother with Qi cultivation!

If you cannot learn or understand mathematics, economics, politics, or philosophy, and find textbooks written like heavenly scripts, then don't practice Qi cultivation—just stick to body tempering!

"What about us?" Jiang Ju asked the question everyone was most concerned about.

"You are all peerless geniuses, one in fifty or sixty million. The fact that you could awaken your talents within seven days shows that even if your IQ were insufficient, your physical aptitude is outstanding enough."

"At the very least, in terms of perceiving Reiki, you are among the very best of our generation on Earth."

"Therefore, apart from Old Wang and Peng Bing, who have already reached the limits of the human body in reality, I do not recommend that you follow the Path of Qi and Blood."

"But what if we are very interested in the Path of Qi and Blood?" Chu Feng asked instinctively, then glanced at Ye Fan.

Ye Fan didn't want to speak, but seeing the questioning look from his little brother Chu Feng, he took the initiative: "That's right, what if we are very interested in the Path of Qi and Blood? I feel like visceral, fist-to-flesh combat suits me better."

That's because you are the Peerless Holy Body, tough as nails; of course, you would like fist-to-flesh combat!

"Then learn it. After all, this is the Virtual Realm. We can stay here for a month, and it will only be an instant in reality. Learning, experimenting, and innovating—this is one of the important purposes of the Virtual Realm."

"Next, I will teach you the Path of Qi Cultivation. If you have any questions, you can ask Master Changkong. Master Changkong was born in the first year of the Republic of China and has lived in seclusion in the deep mountains since childhood, practicing breathing and Qi cultivation. Although he has not truly achieved anything extraordinary, he has managed to live past one hundred while remaining as mobile as a normal person."

Master Changkong smiled and nodded: "Before I was twenty, I grew vegetables and practiced Qi in a Daoist temple. In my twentieth year, I went to Northeast China to kill Japanese invaders. After two years of fighting, I began to travel across the country..."

"By the time I was forty, I had gained some small success in Qi cultivation, and my appearance became permanently fixed. Since then, I have not aged."

"At eighty, I began traveling to various countries to study modern scientific knowledge. I even once sat on a plane chasing the sun, but unfortunately, there was no so-called 'Purple Qi of the Morning Sun,' let alone a constant stream of it."

"After reaching one hundred, although my face remained young, my Qi and blood began to irreversibly decline, and my physical fitness began to drop. Now, in just ten years, my physical condition has fallen from the level of an Olympic champion at my peak to that of an average athlete."

"If it weren't for the resurgence of Reiki, perhaps in another ten years, my physical fitness would be the same as an ordinary person's. In another twenty years, I would completely age and eventually die."