Chapter 104: Second Realm – Tendon Cultivation
Chapter 104: Second Realm – Tendon Cultivation (Seeking Monthly Votes)
Lin Qi nodded, listening intently.
Today had been eye-opening—learning secrets he’d never known before, including the existence of the Vermin Race.
If he were still an ordinary student, he wouldn’t even have the qualifications to hear such information.
“But you can rest easy, Lin Qi,” Sun Manager said with a smile.
“Even if you become an S-Rank, they won’t put you on their assassination list.”
“Why not?” Lin Qi asked, puzzled.
“Because you haven’t awakened a Special Ability.”
“The Vermin Race only targets geniuses who’ve awakened Special Abilities. Even if you’re an S-Rank Prodigy with an extraordinary innate physical talent, they still wouldn’t care.”
“So it’s because they don’t see me as worth the effort,” Lin Qi muttered, expressionless.
“Exactly,” Sun Manager chuckled. “You’re safe—for now. But once you awaken a Special Ability, everything changes.”
Yue Feng sat back down, continuing, “Our Xia Kingdom has satellite defense systems and surveillance networks monitoring the entire city in real-time. For the Vermin Race, assassinating someone here would be extremely difficult.”
“You don’t need to worry too much. What you should focus on now is learning Primordial Energy Martial Arts. Once you break through to the Second Realm, you’ll finally be able to start cultivating.”
“Absorb the free-flowing Primordial Energy in the air to temper your body and increase your Vital Energy stat.”
“As for the recent Disaster Beast Tide, some geniuses performed exceptionally well—even surpassing your achievements.”
“I received news yesterday that Chen Li, the top-ranked student in Cang Province from Egret City, appeared at Cube Plaza’s Disaster Beast Tide. He defeated 23 Disaster Beasts in ten minutes!”
“Among them were 21 first-tier beasts, two second-tier beasts, and even briefly confronted a third-tier Grayspine Wolf.”
“And like you, it was his first time fighting Disaster Beasts.”
“The Abyssal Maw Martial Arts Gym is ecstatic—they might even offer him an S-Rank contract!” Yue Feng added calmly.
Lin Qi’s heart pounded. Twenty-three Disaster Beasts—eight more than he’d slain. Even fighting a third-tier Grayspine Wolf?
Was this the strength of Cang Province’s number one genius?
By that measure, Chen Li was indeed slightly superior.
But given more time, Lin Qi’s power would grow even faster. Overtaking Chen Li was only a matter of time.
He clenched his fists, feeling a surge of pressure.
Minutes later, Lin Qi and Sun Manager left the gym director’s office. Yue Feng watched their figures disappear down the hallway.
“Lin Qi… work hard. Don’t let Abyssal Maw’s genius steal Cang Province’s top spot,” he murmured.
Outside, Lin Qi spoke first.
“Sun Manager, do you have any recommendations for choosing a Martial Art?”
Sun Manager replied slowly, “Human Martial Arts are fundamentally about evolving life itself.”
“Primordial Energy Martial Arts are the foundation. They allow us to absorb the Primordial Energy leaking from other realms, triggering physical transformations.”
“The sophistication of a Martial Art determines how efficiently you absorb Primordial Energy. The more refined the technique, the higher the absorption rate—and the greater the cultivation efficiency.”
“So the choice is simple—just pick the most refined Martial Art.”
“But only if it’s compatible with you.”
“If the compatibility isn’t there, it’ll only hinder your progress.”
“For example, the Red Emperor’s Martial Art is the best, but it’s not suitable for everyone. Never forget that.”
“I understand!” Lin Qi nodded, committing the advice to memory.
Half an hour later, in Room 306 of Tianhai City First People’s Hospital.
Fang Huiyi sat up, stretching her arms and laughing as she looked at Lin Qi and Lin Zhen.
“All the toxins are gone. I feel so much lighter, and my arms have regained their strength.”
“Mom, I bought many medicinal supplements for you. Soon, you’ll be able to resume your martial arts training,” Lin Qi said, handing her a vial of restorative elixirs.
Fang Huiyi drank the elixir and nodded. “I need to get stronger too. Otherwise, I’ll just be a burden when facing Disaster Beasts.”
An hour later, Fang Huiyi had fully recovered and was discharged.
The family returned home together in their car, which had remained undamaged in the underground parking garage.
Back home, Lin Qi immediately headed to the Crimson Vault Martial Arts Pavilion’s B123 Room.
Changing into his training uniform, he took stamina-boosting elixirs and applied Crimson Blood Healing Balm to his body.
He assumed the Harmony Stance, beginning his training.
Half an hour later, his body burned like a furnace, face flushed, sweat drenching his clothes.
Chest lowered, back straightened, shoulders dropped, elbows hanging loose—his breath sank to his dantian.
Every movement of the Harmony Stance was perfectly executed, maximizing the effectiveness of his Pillar Stance.
Vital Energy surged through his body like tiny snakes, flowing through his tendons, refining them.
“Haaah!”
After an hour and a half, Lin Qi exhaled a thick cloud of stale air, rising from his stance. His gaze locked onto his Status Panel.
[Your rigorous training has led to a breakthrough—Vital Energy Stat increased by +0.01]
Lin Qi frowned at the panel. The refining efficiency was too low.
Since breaking through to the Second Realm, relying solely on stance training had slowed his Vital Energy growth to a snail’s pace—even with his innate talent.
Other cultivators must be even worse off.
Yes, it was time to shift focus to directly absorbing Primordial Energy through Martial Arts.
Picking up his long spear, he began practicing spear techniques.
Unlike the static Pillar Stance, spear techniques required dynamic movement. Even after mastering three techniques to their Third Killing Moves, he still felt vast room for improvement.
Swish! Swish!
He grabbed the repaired Thunderhorn Longspear, its fifty-pound weight perfectly suited to his thousand-jin strength.
The resistance strengthened his arm muscles, improving his wrist power and control over the spear techniques.
As energy surged into his weapon, he became completely immersed.
The Next Day
Morning.
Lin Qi, Jiang Tao, and Li Zhou arrived at the Crimson Vault Martial Arts Pavilion for a television interview.
Thanks to his and Li Zhou’s innate talents, combined with restorative elixirs, both appeared fully recovered.
The three endured the interview mechanically, reading from pre-prepared scripts without deviation. Lin Qi had no intention of improvising.
The session continued smoothly until afternoon.
That Night
Lin Qi changed into his training uniform, facing a middle-aged man of immense, bear-like stature, his face scarred.
His martial arts instructor—Zhang Cheng.
“I’m sorry to trouble you, Teacher Zhang,” Lin Qi apologized.
Zhang Cheng waved him off. “No need for apologies. Just one evening of my time.”
Grinning, he added, “You really broke through to the Second Realm? I heard you cultivate Five Elements Boxing.”
“Your innate talent is far beyond what I imagined.”
“You’re the true number one genius of our Second High School.”
“My time isn’t important—but for someone like you, even a single day’s delay could be a huge loss.”
Lin Qi shook his head. “Teacher Zhang, you flatter me.”
“Enough talk. Let’s begin,” Zhang Cheng said, crossing his arms and organizing his thoughts.
“Martial Arts have Nine Gates—the First Gate corresponds to the First Realm.”
“The First Realm focuses on Flesh Cultivation, while the Second Realm centers on Tendon Cultivation.”
“Your muscles have already reached a stage where further refinement yields diminishing returns.”
“You must now shift focus to your tendons and fascia. During Tendon Cultivation, your strength and Vital Energy gains will accelerate.”
As he spoke, Zhang Cheng removed his shirt, arms spread wide, fists clenched.
Crack! Crack!
His muscles swelled instantly, veins bulging like thick ropes.
“Now, let me explain what Tendon Cultivation truly means!”
(End of Chapter)
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