https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-25-Channeling-Energy-Challenging-the-Gym/12619650/
Chapter 24: Forbidden Elixirs, Ancient Martial Arts, and Transcending the Dragon's Gate
"Canglong Dojo?"
Xueheng raised an eyebrow.
He was familiar with this dojo.
When he had first awakened his panel and decided to embark on the path of martial arts, he had looked up the tuition fees for the various major dojos in Qingcheng. Canglong Dojo was among the most expensive.
However, it wasn't the high fees that had caught Xueheng's attention.
Rather, it was the fact that Canglong Dojo had an extremely poor reputation online... with countless negative reviews complaining that the instruction quality did not match the price.
Xueheng's expression turned slightly awkward.
Cat licked her paw and yawned, then said, "Canglong Dojo has a terrible reputation... but that's just the opinion of outsiders."
"In the true martial artist community, no one underestimates Canglong Dojo, especially the old master, Li Qi."
Cat stretched out her front paws and arched her back, her butt sticking up in the air.
"He is one of the few who have succeeded in transcending the dragon's gate and breaking through human limits without resorting to 'forbidden elixirs'. He is a powerful master of the ancient martial arts."
"In his prime a few decades ago, he was renowned even in the Inner Ring City, famed alongside 'Golden Vajra' and 'Ashura Chen'. He was known as 'Dragon King Li'."
"Although he's just an old man in a wheelchair now, he's more than capable of teaching you martial arts."
Xueheng reached out and picked up Cat, placing her on his lap as he asked curiously, "Forbidden elixirs? Transcending the dragon's gate? Ancient martial arts? What do these terms mean?"
He felt like a whole new door was opening before him, leading to the world of martial artists.
Cat seemed sleepy, her eyes half-lidded as she curled up on Xueheng's lap. He gently stroked her back, the familiar comfort lulling her to sleep.
"Forbidden elixirs are made from special products found in boundary areas," Cat explained drowsily. "They have a powerful stimulating effect, causing the user's body to undergo various transformations and gain inhuman physical abilities."
"For example, there are elixirs that can change the nature of one's skin, making it as tough as steel. Some elixirs can even cause people to grow extra limbs, turning them into six-armed monsters..."
"Ever since the emergence of these elixirs, the path of martial arts has taken a completely new direction..."
"Those who refuse to take forbidden elixirs and insist on pursuing the limits of the human body using their original physical form are known as practitioners of the 'ancient martial arts'."
Cat yawned again, "As for transcending the dragon's gate, it's something you don't need to concern yourself with yet, perhaps not even in your entire lifetime... so you don't need to know too much about it for now."
With that final effort, Cat's eyes closed, and she curled up in Xueheng's arms, breathing softly as she fell asleep.
Xueheng slowly stopped petting her back and gently picked her up. He carried her back to his room and placed her on his bed, covering her body with a thin blanket, leaving only her head exposed.
He then tiptoed out of the room and headed to the bathroom for a shower. After changing into a pair of pajamas, he put his bloodstained uniform into the washing machine. Finally, he took his phone and went out to the balcony.
It was already 10:30 in the evening. Xueheng turned on his phone screen, unlocked it with his fingerprint, and opened the dial pad.
He had a rather peculiar habit—he never saved his family members' contact names in his phone. That way, even if he lost his phone, others wouldn't be able to scam his family by pretending to be him.
Although the chances of that happening were slim.
Xueheng entered a number and made the call.
It didn't take long for the call to connect, after three or four rings.
"Hello, hello, woof woof woof?"
A cheerful and pleasant voice came through the receiver.
When they were younger, Xuejing often played fighting games with his sister, Xiewan. They would often wager something, be it a piece of candy or a small amount of pocket money.
Xuejing would obediently pay up when he lost, accepting his defeat. However, Xiewan would frequently welsh on her bets, so they added a new rule: 'Welching makes you a dog.'
And so, one day, the world lost a person but gained a dog.
"Sis, are you asleep?" Xuejing asked with a smile in his voice.
"Do you hear yourself right now?" Xiewan replied irritably. "Why are you calling at this hour? And no, I don't have any money, so don't even ask."
"You wound me, sis," Xuejing said. "Do you really think I only call when I need money?"
"If that's not the case, then what is it?" Xiewan asked. "Spit it out."
"I want 50 V-bucks," Xuejing said.
The call was abruptly ended with a series of beeps.
Xuejing laughed and redialed.
"Make it quick, I'm trying to sleep," Xiewan said, resigned.
After a moment of silence, Xuejing spoke softly, "Sis, did something upset you?"
Xiewan paused for a moment, then said with a mix of laughter and tears, "What could possibly be wrong with me? I'm doing just fine. You're overthinking things."
Xuejing thought for a moment, then continued, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm fine..." Xiewan teased, "But you seem to have a bit of a sister complex there, bro. That won't do. Your future girlfriend will get jealous."
Xuejing breathed a sigh of relief, sensing no unusual tone in her voice. "Mom's been worried about you, all alone in Fengcheng for university..."
...
It had been a long time since they last met, so Xuejing and Xiewan had a lot to catch up on. They chatted for a while.
By the time Xuejing hung up, it was already 11:00 p.m.
"She's probably fine," Xuejing muttered to himself.
Xiewan hadn't seemed out of sorts earlier, so his mom's concerns were likely unfounded.
He stretched lazily and walked back inside the house. Instead of returning to his bedroom, he went to the living room and sat cross-legged on the sofa.
He began practicing the basic breathing technique.
One hour later...
Xuejing sat on the sofa, eyes closed, feeling dizzy and lightheaded. His body was radiating heat as if he had a fever due to the accelerated blood flow from the breathing technique.
After a while, he opened his eyes and checked the panel.
[You have practiced the breathing technique once. Fitness Experience +16]
[You have practiced the breathing technique once. Fitness Experience +16]
[You have practiced the breathing technique once. Fitness Experience +16]
[You have practiced the breathing technique once. Fitness Experience +16]
With the increase in skill levels, the enhancement to his physical condition, and his gradual adaptation to the breathing technique, Xuejing had managed to complete four full cycles of the breathing technique in one go.
"Power..."
Xuejing extended his right arm and felt his elbow with his left hand, a thoughtful look on his face.
While practicing the breathing technique, he seemed to have touched upon a critical node. In that instant of breathing, the muscles in his right arm had twitched.
He tried to recall that feeling and replicate it, but after several unsuccessful attempts, he gave up.
He wasn't worried; if he couldn't do it, it simply meant he wasn't ready yet.
Pouring himself a glass of water, Xuejing returned to his room, lay down on the bed next to Cat, and closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep.
...
(End of Chapter)
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