"Master, could you explain to me the specifics of cultivation realms?" Zhong Lin asked curiously.
Mei Weixuan had answered this question before, but he himself only knew the names without understanding the reasons behind them.
Yin Daoyan smiled slightly and began to speak.
"Realm, as everyone knows, can be divided into Ninth Grades, but how many truly know what these Ninth Grades are? Do not speak of ice to summer insects, or of spring and autumn to mayflies."
"The Lower Third Grades are Body Refining: the Ninth Grade refines the skin, the Eighth Rank changes the tendons, the Seventh Grade refines the bones; completing the bone refining grants the strength of a thousand pounds, making one a local hero with no worries about food or drink."
"The Middle Third Grades are Blood Coagulation, the beginning of the Transcendent: the Sixth Grade is Qi-Blood, the Fifth Grade is Inner Strength, the Fourth Grade is Divine Power. In the Divine Power Realm, one changes blood and marrow, with a long breath, accompanied by the strength of ten thousand pounds in every move, like a dragon elephant."
"The Upper Third Grades are Qi Refinement: the Third Grade is inner breath, the Second Grade is meridian unblocking, the First Grade is pure essence, which is the foundation of Martial Arts, granting a lifespan of three hundred years."
As Yin Daoyan explained, Zhong Lin’s breathing became a bit more rapid, especially when he mentioned that the lifespan of Upper Third Grades reached three hundred years, filling him with a strong desire.
Calculating with the average lifespan of fifty years in this world, three hundred years is six times that of an ordinary person. Even in the previous life, three hundred years would allow one to witness the rise and fall of a dynasty.
"Master, is there a realm beyond the First Grade? Does Martial Arts have an end?"
Zhong Lin asked eagerly.
Yin Daoyan pondered for a moment, then nodded, "Yes, our Sect Master of the Sword Cauldron Sect is beyond the First Grade, but what exactly lies beyond the First Grade is unknown to me. It is a realm that I have never been able to reach in a lifetime."
"As long as it exists, there is hope."
As long as it exists, there is a chance; the fear is having no road ahead.
Yin Daoyan took a small booklet from his bosom and handed it to Zhong Lin, "Read it beside me."
Zhong Lin reached out to take it, but the cover of the booklet had nothing written on it. When he opened it, there were diagrams of various postures, marked with red tadpole-like dots indicating the key points of force.
Below the diagrams were some texts, presumably the Breathing Technique paired with the Pile Skill.
"This is the ’Heavenly Treasure Pile’ practiced by the disciples of our Sword Cauldron Sect. Cultivate it well and strive to reach the Upper Third Grades soon."
"Thank you, Master, for imparting the skill. I will not disappoint you," Zhong Lin said respectfully.
Upon saying this, Zhong Lin lowered his head to study the material carefully.
Compared to the ’Red Sun Stance’, the ’Heavenly Treasure Pile’ was more exquisite, with a full thirty-six stance changes in the Pile Skill, and its Breathing Technique was even more mysterious. Just by slightly changing his breathing, Zhong Lin felt his Qi-Blood start boiling, his face turning red, and his breathing became somewhat rapid.
"Do not rush, begin with the Pile Skill."
After a moment, Zhong Lin stood up and began practicing according to the illustrations in the booklet, with Yin Daoyan occasionally explaining and guiding him on the key points of exertion.
Zhong Lin, having mastered the ’Red Sun Stance’, found that transitioning to the ’Heavenly Treasure Pile’ posed only a few difficulties; after merely two sessions, he had imprinted it onto his System Panel.
Skill: Heavenly Treasure Pile (Beginner)...
Technique: Thousand Mist Swordsmanship (Full Level)...
Misc: Three-dimensional Painting (Full Level)...
"System, enhance my skill."
As an influx of information surged in, Zhong Lin closed his eyes slightly. In an instant, he gained the experience of cultivating the ’Heavenly Treasure Pile’ for decades, fully grasping its intricacies, surpassing even his master Yin Daoyan.
Focusing his mind, Zhong Lin began practicing the ’Heavenly Treasure Pile’ again. This time, compared to his previous awkwardness, his movements were practiced and smooth, infused with a nameless rhythm that was pleasing to the eye.
Upon seeing this, Yin Daoyan couldn’t hide his smile and was increasingly satisfied with Zhong Lin.
"Excellent, excellent, in my twilight years I have found such a genius; with proper cultivation, he will surely become a pillar of our Sword Cauldron Sect."
Yin Daoyan felt great joy internally.
At this moment, Zhong Lin was lost in the wonder of the ’Heavenly Treasure Pile’, his Qi-Blood surging like a river, faintly producing sounds akin to flowing water.
After a while, with a rumbling sound, Zhong Lin felt his Qi-Blood penetrate his arms, spreading throughout his body.
But unfortunately, it only spread a little before he felt a deficiency in Qi-Blood.
Zhong Lin slowly opened his eyes, looking down at his arms, finding them covered with a flush of red.
"Truly a top-notch Pile Skill, Qi-Blood penetrating the arms is a sign of minor achievement. Next comes the legs, and then Qi-Blood will spread throughout the body. At that point, achieving Perfection in Qi-Blood will mean progressing to the next realm."
Zhong Lin was full of joy.
Thinking of this, Zhong Lin was eager to continue his cultivation.
Yin Daoyan interrupted Zhong Lin’s actions.
"The accumulation of Qi-Blood is never accomplished in a single step. Remember that haste leads nowhere. Next, I will teach you the ’Five Animals Qigong’."
"The ’Five Animals Qigong’ was obtained from a relic site. It is a skill imitating the tiger, deer, bear, ape, and bird. Initially, I only regarded it as a health preservation skill, but after several decades of practice, I discovered its effects on body refining and spirit nurturing. With ordinary aptitude, I managed to succeed in Blood Coagulation and Qi Cultivation at the age of one hundred, thanks to it," Yin Daoyan remarked emotionally.
Zhong Lin listened with a bemused expression. Initially, the mention of ’Five Animals Qigong’ seemed abrupt, and the further mention of ’tiger, deer, bear, ape, and bird’ made him furrow his brow.
In the previous world, Hua Tuo’s ’Five Animals Qigong’ was renowned, and he didn’t expect to encounter it in this world. Could there be a mysterious connection between the two?
While pondering, Master Yin had already set up his posture.
"Watch closely, this is the Tiger Play—Tiger Pounce, Tiger Lift."
Seeing Master Yin with palms facing down, fingers spread, and in a curved tiger claw shape, watching his own hands.
Zhong Lin, observing intently, remembered all the movements of the Five Animals Qigong after just one demonstration.
Compared to Pile Skills, the ’Five Animals Qigong’ seemed extremely simple, with each movement being slow and without any offensive power, no wonder many regarded it as a health preservation skill.
Skill: Heavenly Treasure Pile (Full Level), Five Animals Qigong (Full Level)...
Technique: Thousand Mist Swordsmanship (Full Level)...
Misc: Three-dimensional Painting (Full Level)...
With a slight raise of his eyebrows, the memory transmitted from the System’s full-level Five Animals Qigong was indeed different.
Zhong Lin closed his eyes slightly and began to set up his posture.
Tiger Pounce, Tiger Lift.
Bird Stretch, Bird Fly.
Bear Motion, Bear Sway.