Chapter 10 - Martial Arts Library(2)

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  As Gu Xuan sat down, Elder Yan who was originally minding his own business looked in his direction for a moment, to be specific, at the 3 books he chose, and after a while, he turned back to the book that he was reading while muttering the words, “This new disciple has good tastes. He didn’t choose those manuals with eye-catching titles and actually chose books that will help with his foundation. Good disciple.”

  Gu Xuan, who couldn’t hear Elder Yan’s soft words from afar, began reading the book “The Theory of Qi Control.”

  ‘What is spiritual qi? Spiritual qi is a mystical energy that exists in heaven and earth. It is both abundant and scarce because everything has spiritual qi but if the concentration is too low, a cultivator might not be able to absorb it, let alone a mortal who has no foundation in cultivation. Most mortals would never be able to feel it, let alone utilize it. Only when the mortal pathway of a mortal is adapted to spiritual qi and is turned into a spiritual pathway would they be able to barely access this energy. The spiritual pathway is the bridge between heaven and earth that spiritual qi passes through and after it is absorbed and refined into the dantian, it’s then termed… inner qi.’

  Although the book’s content was interesting, Gu Xuan found it quite uncomfortable to read upright so he rested his elbow on the table and put his fist to his cheek as he turned the pages of the book with his other hand.

  ‘However, at this level, one has simply stepped one foot into the path of cultivation. When they utilize inner qi at this level to boost their bodies, it will either result in injuries, specifically internal injuries that will affect the speed in which they absorb spiritual qi so it’s not advised for them to use inner qi unless they have broken through the first layer of Qi Gathering Realm wherein a certain phenomena will take place. When the dantian is filled with spiritual qi, something akin to that of a shackle is broken, and the body and the senses are strengthened by at least 10 times the strength of an average adult. Not only that, the dantian is enlarged twice its original size. As a person breaks through further, the 2nd and 3rd layer, the physical body wouldn’t improve but the spiritual qi will double each time one fills the dantian.’

  Gu Xuan then turned to the next page and there was no information that answered his curiosity so he couldn’t help but frown, muttering, “What about the 4th Layer?”

  “That’s not something a newly-advanced disciple like you should worry about.”

  Gu Xuan felt goosebumps all over his body as he heard a sudden voice coming from behind.

  He turned quickly and saw that it was Elder Yan with an indifferent face so he calmed himself down and nodded, “Yes, Elder Yan.”

  Elder Yan who went over put two books on his table and said, “Read these too, it will be helpful for your cultivation. And if you’re choosing these kinds of books, it’s better for you to just read in the library, as for what you’re going to bring out, the silent step footwork is more than enough.”

  “I see, thank you for your recommendation, Elder Yan..”

  Gu Xuan acknowledged, meanwhile Elder Yan who went over to give him some books to read, walked away.

  Gu Xuan turned his attention to the books that he was given and as soon as he saw their titles, he was immediately hooked.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  The titles of the two books were as follows, “The Limits of a 1st Layer”, and “Medicinal Herbs Vol. 1.”

  Although he was hooked, he went back to reading “The Theory of Qi Control”. After all, he wasn’t done yet.

  After tens of minutes, Gu Xuan had read through the “Theory of Qi Control” and thought, ‘The keypoint of the book is basically to use inner qi again and again until it’s second nature. A while ago, when I showed my inner qi to strengthen my body in front of the guards, it took me at least 2 seconds. According to the theory of qi control, there are 3 levels. My current level is only at the Entry Level, basically a beginner. The next level is the Expert Level wherein a cultivator can activate it within a second. The last level is Master Level where the practitioner can activate it within a millisecond, changing the usage of spiritual qi throughout battle. Furthermore… they can focus it on a certain part of the body, not only is it efficient, but it also reduces the amount of inner qi consumed.’

  Gu Xuan raised one of his palms and focused. He started channeling his inner qi to his hand, and into his palms. Combined, it took him 3-4 seconds.

  ‘This is so interesting.’ Gu Xuan couldn’t help but chuckle as an itch he couldn’t seem to reach was scratched slightly.

  The logic was simple, the more one uses inner qi, the more one can activate it faster, meaning adaptation again just like how he had adapted his mortal pathway to spiritual pathway but this time, in terms of skill.

  Experience was far more important than he thought, it was only right to stop in cultivation at this moment to hone a skill.

  He put his inner qi away and opened the book he was given, “The Limits of a 1st Layer.”

  It mostly talked about the amount of inner qi in a body and how long a 1st Layer Qi Gathering Realm can continuously strengthen their bodies and the limits of strengthening.

  ‘I’ve never tested it before, but this book is very useful. The author experimented a lot and after observation, a 1st Layer can strengthen their bodies 5 times stronger than usual continuously for 10 minutes. According to ‘The Theory of Qi Control’, when a cultivator breaks through the 1st Layer, one has strength that is at least stronger than average by 10 times? Then with inner qi strengthening it’s increased by 5 times more?’

  Gu Xuan shuddered at this thought, ‘I’ve never thought about it too much since it’s still the early levels of cultivation and I focused on cultivation but even then, it’s already so terrifying?’

  Unlike in the cultivation novels he had read, it took lower realms too lightly but now that he’s cultivating himself, it indeed fits the term, “Going against the heavens.”

  Gu Xuan closed the book he was reading, stood up, and put all the books into the shelves before taking out two books with him.

  The two books he took were, “Medicinal Herbs Vol. 1, and Silent Step Footwork.”

  He went over to Elder Yan and said as he put the two books he chose on his table, “I’ll take these two books, Elder Yan.”

  Elder Yan looked at the books and then at Gu Xuan, asking in curiosity, “I remember that you also took a book about swordsmanship, you’re not gonna read it?”

  “I thought what I took before was just enough but it seems like it was already too much. I’m gonna test first how strong I can be at full power, and work on my qi control before I train in Silent Step Footwork. As for other things, I’ll think about it in the future so that I don’t bite more than I can chew.”

  Elder Yan nodded in satisfaction, “Wise choice, you can leave first, I’ll log it for you. You can keep the books for a year, it’s not like other disciples are interested in boring books like that, they like books with domineering titles more.”

  Gu Xuan was a little surprised but cupped his fist, “Then, Thank you to Elder Yan for his care.”

  “Um.” Elder Yan just nodded before going back to reading his book and Gu Xuan saw this as a sign to walk away after taking the two books he chose to go out with.

  Elder Yan couldn’t help but look at Gu Xuan’s receding figure from behind but then, a figure appeared beside him that made his nerves tense, ready to go far but then heard the voice was familiar so he stopped.

  “Isn’t he interesting? He’s very mature for his age.”

  It was Liao Weimin.

  Yan Wen, as a fellow elder, of course, recognized him, “That’s true, he didn’t bite more than he could chew. He made very mature choices as well in terms of martial arts techniques, as long as time allows, our sect will give birth to another expert at our level.”

  “Aren’t you scared he’ll surpass you?” Liao Weimin teased.

  Yan Wen nonchalantly replied, “If others surpass me, it just means that they are more talented, more hardworking, or have an edge over me one way or another and I can’t do anything about it. Why would I be scared of someone growing stronger than me? I’ll only fear when I can no longer get stronger.”

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