"It's normal. If you succeeded in one go, that would be strange. Do you feel any mental fatigue?"
"No."
Luo Guanyun nodded.
"It's good that you don't feel fatigued. Your willpower even impresses me, enough to sustain your concentration for a long time.
The master guarantees that you'll get the basics today without any problem."
As he demonstrated, he said:
"Look at my palm. Where does the Five Elements Qi come from in the world? It is concealed within all things of heaven and earth.
With the exercise of breathing, gather it in the center of my palm and let it travel along the meridians throughout the body. This is the Qi Eating Skill.
"Focus your will, the second step is to feel it as it flows into the body from the outside world.
Then try to guide it to converge through the five viscera. Nourish the liver with Wood Qi, the heart with Fire Qi, the spleen with Earth Qi, the lungs with Metal Qi, and finally the kidneys with Water Qi. These associations must not be in error, lest it causes harm!
Finally, once you have nourished your body thoroughly, let it concentrate at the Qi and Blood Gate, activating the hidden powers in the body's apertures, transforming into endless Qi Blood strength. That completes a cycle of the Five Qi of the Viscera method."
Meng Chuan tried once. Since he had internal training from the Armor-Piercing skills before, he gradually found a way to nourish the five viscera with the Five Elements Qi.
Seeing that his disciple was getting the hang of it, Luo Guanyun continued teaching:
"When you first start with the Qi Eating, you don't have to stand like I do.
Extend your arms, inhale slowly as you stretch upwards, and feel the Qi surge in through your fingertips until it fills your arms and chest, then slowly lower your arms and exhale.
At this moment, guide the Five Elements Qi entering and moving through the body; your success rate and efficiency will be higher."
Luo Guanyun explained it in a very down-to-earth way. Meng Chuan tried moving his arms, and it really worked well.
This is the advantage of having a Three Limits master. Ordinary martial artists can only practice according to the boxing manual; they don't get this kind of treatment.
Meng Chuan continued to try nourishing his viscera, heading towards the Liver Wood position.
Luo Guanyun stood beside him, guiding Meng Chuan to correct his actions hand-in-hand.
After one cycle, Meng Chuan's movements were quite standard.
Every time he extended his arms to gather Qi, it was as if the corrections he made himself would not be wrong.
Luo Guanyun clicked his tongue in amazement, thinking to himself.
"Chuan's trait is truly amazing, able to learn boxing and practice Body Refinement..."
He never thought about it; this is the effect of multiple traits overlapping.
Because this rule, in Great Chu, is as obvious as drinking too much water makes you want to pee, it's a truth about the human body!
"Individual traits can have multiple effects, but one can only have one trait."
Now, Meng Chuan was guiding the Five Elements Qi to flow within his body.
This was indeed hard to control, with even a slight distraction letting it drift away or even dissipate.
Once controlled, he had to split it and use the inner Qi Blood to guide it to the corresponding organs.
Meng Chuan was stuck at this step, as this step was similar to threading a needle, where one wrong move would let it go astray.
He understood now why Master Luo said that the Five Elements Qiankun Fist has high requirements for Qi Blood.
Without enough Qi Blood to guide it, you can't get through the earlier steps even if you try two or three times; you'll never get started.
Luo Guanyun comforted him from the side:
"Don't rush; this is refined work. The more you rush, the less it enters."
His Thunder True Qi eyes could introspect and see the progress of Meng Chuan's Qi movement inside.
But at this step, he couldn't help Meng Chuan at all; hitting it with Thunder True Qi would probably scatter all the Five Elements Qi...
To inspire his disciple's fighting spirit and lift his spirits, Luo Guanyun added:
"Once you successfully guide the Five Qi of the Viscera, you can truly begin the practice of Five Elements Qiankun Fist.
Stimulate Metal Qi from the lungs to execute the Armor-Piercing Heart-Piercing Fist; once mastered, you can sever a tempered steel blade barehanded!
Stimulate Wood Qi from the liver to use the Silk Binding Fist; fight for three nights without showing fatigue, and broken bones and tendons will heal on their own in seven days!
Stimulate Water Qi from the kidneys to perform the Overlapping Waves Shattering Rock Fist; hit a cow through a mountain, shattering a wine jar ten feet away without toppling it!
Stimulate Earth Qi from the spleen to execute the Mountain-Breaking Earth-Shaking Fist; penetrate three feet beyond, with footwork as stable as if rooted, immovable by even ten war horses pulling!
Lastly, stimulate Fire Qi from the heart to use the Flame Burst Fist; at full power, the mere breeze from your fist raises a thousand-degree temperature, with your fists and feet becoming a raging firestorm!"
Master Luo's words thoroughly motivated Meng Chuan. A single boxing skill with five different fist strengths—such an impressive skill must be learned!
Four hours had passed, and Meng Chuan successfully completed the first cycle of the Five Qi of the Viscera.
As the Five Elements Qi concentrated at the body's apertures, the newly generated Qi Blood slowly flowed into every part of the body and then reached the area of the meridians.
Meng Chuan internally realized the profundity of it, instantly feeling how profound a top-tier boxing skill is, indeed incomparable to second- or third-rate ones.
Luo Guanyun was extremely happy; his disciple truly was a genius in boxing skills!
"Come, next I'll teach you how to guide these five types of Qi to perform different fist strengths; once you learn them, you've gotten started."
"Alright!"
At this moment, Meng Chuan was also excited. He recalled what Luo Guanyun had said and silently pondered over nourishing the viscera once again, then said loudly.
"Master Luo, let's begin!"
Starting with his most skilled Fire Attribute, feeling the gathering of Heart Fire Qi within, Meng Chuan moved along with his master.
Facing a new iron-core wooden post, Meng Chuan began to box against it.
Boom!
A sensation of explosive contact came, with a faint heat feedback in his palm; he felt the high temperature of the flames!
Meng Chuan's foundation in Fire Attribute boxing was excellent; he found his way in the first strike.
Following Master Luo's movements to complete a full set, having perfected this super trait before, Meng Chuan didn't need to look at the boxing manual and remembered the entire process by heart.
After finishing and standing still, the warmth in his palm lingered.
While the iron post in front already had slight molten traces!
"Strong!"
Meng Chuan's excitement made his body tremble.
The martial arts of the human body surprisingly give birth to extraordinary fiery power; this is the true Martial Arts!
No wonder there are no words against feudalism, against superstition of gods and Buddhas in this world.
Why believe in others when you can focus on oneself; martial arts itself can attain divine communication and prove the dao!
Luo Guanyun saw Meng Chuan and was reminded of when he himself first encountered extraordinary power.
His heart was filled with immense satisfaction, and seeing Meng Chuan's delighted expression, he couldn't help but pat him on the head.
"This is the true gate of Martial Arts. Only one in a thousand martial artists has the chance to step through it, congratulations, my disciple!"
To be able to master a top-tier fist skill, at the very least, one must break through the eighth Qi and Blood Gate, being considered among the best of martial artists is not an exaggeration.
"Come, I know you can master it with just one practice; let's strike while the iron is hot and master the remaining four elements one by one!"
Six hours passed, and now the crescent moon hung high in the sky.
From within the Earth Qi of the spleen, a mysterious power arose, and Meng Chuan used the double peaks piercing the ears to drive the Earth Qi, striking hard on the now-deformed iron core stake.
The substantial iron core showed multiple cracks!
The last form, the Spleen Earth Fist, was complete!
Luo Guanyun felt deeply comforted, although still far from the complete state of Mountain-Breaking Earth-Shaking, it was already a step in the right direction.
Meng Chuan also felt a response, due to the depletion of spiritual power from the Qi Eating Skill, he only took a brief glance at the panel.
The Five Elements Qiankun Fist had entered the beginner level.
"Master, I feel like I've entered the gate."
Luo Guanyun nodded, explaining the key difficulties several more times before stopping.
At this moment, Ren Ping walked over with the soup medicine prepared long ago.
Luo Guanyun explained:
"This is the Five Elements Soup, concocted with rooster blood, essence of century-old pine needles, cold iron essence powder, deep-layer volcanic ash, and mud from the Yellow River."
Meng Chuan listened to his master's list of ingredients with a strange fear in his heart...
"No worries, I drank it during my training, too. It doesn't taste weird, and this soup helps solidify the five Qi, best to drink a bowl daily."
Meng Chuan nodded; unless it was something inherently harmful, he feared nothing if it could make him stronger.
With that thought, he raised his head and drank it all.
The soup rolled down his throat, and with difficulty, he swallowed it.
Luo Guanyun spoke with satisfaction:
"Good, as expected of my disciple, you're determined indeed!
Your teacher-mother prepared a month's supply of powder for you. After each practice, just mix it with water to drink.
Of course, you could also eat it dry..."
Meng Chuan instinctively shook his head, fearing eating it dry might lead to death.
"If you can continue consuming it, buy ready-made ones in the medicinal section of the Martial Arts Association, and mix it at home.
Again, if money is tight, just let me know."
Luo Guanyun was unaware that Meng Chuan had bought two protective suits and assumed he had ample funds, yet said this nonetheless.
Meng Chuan nodded with a smile. After carefully keeping the medicine pack, he listened as his master continued:
"I will depart for Japan tomorrow, and I don't know how long I'll be gone.
You're disciplined, but remember to balance work and rest; relaxation is also a form of practice, and then..."
Meng Chuan had rarely heard his master speak so much at once and listened patiently.
"Lastly, even if I'm not in Yong'an, no one can bully you; I've spoken with Long Jiu and Principal Yang..."
Luo Guanyun, like an old father about to go on a long journey, nagged on endlessly.
A moment later, he said with a hint of reluctance:
"Alright, Chuan, go back and rest early; there is practice again tomorrow."
Meng Chuan nodded vigorously, solemnly saying:
"Take care, Master."
There was no need for more words, to prevent turning the farewell into a theatrical scene.
"Practice well. I've only scratched the surface of this fist; let me see the power of the Perfection state of the Five Elements Qiankun Fist in the future!"
Ren Ping also patted Meng Chuan's shoulder.
"Your teacher-mother will help you, just focus on cultivating with peace of mind."
"Alright!"
Meng Chuan replied, turning back.
From tonight onwards, the gates to extraordinary Martial Arts had been knocked open.
...
After returning, Meng Chuan still couldn't sleep.
Standing on the rooftop loft, he practiced the fist skill barefoot several more times.
Underfoot was a home mat specifically for martial arts, which wouldn't disturb the sleeping uncle and aunt below.
Meng Chuan had already grasped the key in practice; the Five Elements Qiankun Fist requires external Qi to be guided into the body, then transformed into Inner Qi after passing through the five internal organs to empower fists and feet.
This fist skill consumes a lot of energy, and after another half an hour of practice, he was already drenched in sweat.
He dared not continue striking fists lest he trigger the Rainbow Light awakening the body, affecting the next day's hard skills training.
After sitting cross-legged and operating the Five Qi of the Viscera several more times, Meng Chuan went downstairs to prepare for sleep.
Five Elements Qiankun Fist: Entry (1%) → (2%) Waiting to Break Limit
Limit Breaking Trait: Five Qi Chaoyuan
"Something seems off?"
Meng Chuan once again focused his mind, carefully examining.
"Why is there no primary, medium, high-level indicator after Five Qi Chaoyuan?"