https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-50-The-Pill-is-Forged-Two-of-the-Ten-Delicacies/13688189/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-52-Combat-Technique-and-Combat-Style-Four-Directions-Sword/13688191/
Chapter 51: Great Nourishment Soup – Stepping into Qi Xue Jing
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“Master, you mean…?” Lu Qing asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
“Your constitution has always been a bit frail. To step into Qi Xue Jing, you must first fill the deficiencies in your foundation.”
“Originally, the Blood-Nourishing and Qi-Invigorating Pill could do the job, but using it would be rather wasteful.”
“So your Golden Loach came at the perfect moment. I’ll brew you a medicinal soup with it—just what you need to restore your body’s balance.”
“But Master… I wanted to share the Golden Loach with you.” Lu Qing hesitated.
“Just a spoonful of soup for me later—no need to be so formal,” Old Doctor said with a chuckle, already lifting the fish and heading straight into the kitchen.
Lu Qing followed closely, watching as Old Doctor worked with practiced precision. The fish was cleaned thoroughly—organs removed, yet every drop of blood preserved—then placed into a clay pot. A handful of herbs were added, and the pot was set to simmer.
One full hour passed.
The rich, savory aroma of the soup filled the entire house, making Lu Qing and Xiao Yan both unable to resist licking their lips.
“It’s ready,” Old Doctor declared, turning off the flame. After letting the pot cool slightly, he carefully lifted it and placed it on the table.
With a soft clink, the lid came off.
An overwhelming wave of fragrance burst forth—deep, savory, and intoxicating. Lu Qing and Xiao Yan were practically drooling.
Even Old Doctor inhaled deeply and murmured in approval: “No wonder it’s one of the Ten Delicacies of the World.”
He retrieved three bowls—two large, one small.
He poured two full bowls of soup first, then pushed the remaining contents straight toward Lu Qing.
“Xiao Yan’s still young—her body can’t handle much medicinal strength. A small bowl will be enough. As for me, I’ll just taste it. The rest is all yours.”
“Master…” Lu Qing hesitated.
“Stop stalling. Eat every last drop—no leftovers, not even the dregs.”
Seeing his master’s stern expression, Lu Qing reluctantly took the pot and poured himself a bowl.
One old man, two children—three pairs of hands began sipping the soup.
Lu Qing took a single sip.
A wave of indescribable umami exploded across his tongue, spreading through his entire body like a warm current. His pores seemed to open, each one tingling with vitality.
Beside him, Xiao Yan was grinning from ear to ear, eyes nearly closed in bliss.
Old Doctor took a slow, deliberate sip, savoring the flavor. Then he sighed softly.
“No wonder the wealthy and noble would pay fortunes for these rare fish. Truly, a masterpiece of nature.”
“Brother, this fish soup is amazing!” Xiao Yan bubbled with joy.
Following his master’s instructions, Lu Qing drank one bowl after another. Before long, the entire clay pot was empty—every drop of broth, every scrap of residue, devoured.
After finishing, he sat quietly for a moment—then suddenly felt a wave of heat surge through his body.
His dantian burned with a rising warmth, as if something had begun to stir within.
Old Doctor observed him closely and smiled.
“Good. The medicinal power has taken hold. Now go outside and practice Nourish Body Fist—absorb it fully.”
Lu Qing didn’t need to be told twice. The fire in his core was already making it hard to sit still.
He rushed outside, where the courtyard lay bathed in soft afternoon light.
He calmed his mind, centered his spirit, assumed the stance, and began the first nine forms of Nourish Body Fist.
Old Doctor stepped out behind him, watching silently. He nodded approvingly.
His disciple truly was a prodigy. Even under the intense pressure of medicinal fire, he could still focus so swiftly, so deeply—already lost in the rhythm of the technique.
Inside the courtyard, Lu Qing, once writhing in discomfort from the soup’s potency, now found peace the moment he began the movements.
Memories of the Nourish Body Fist’s principles flowed through his mind like water—clear, natural, effortless.
Without thinking, he began guiding the medicinal energy through the flow of the forms.
Nourish Body Fist was Old Doctor’s life’s work—crafted over decades from a fragmentary combat manual he’d discovered in his youth. It embodied his profound understanding of blood, qi, tendons, bones, and internal organ function, honed through years of healing.
The form consisted of thirty-six movements, with the first nine forming a self-contained sequence—each linked to the next, harmonizing like a perfect circle.
When performed correctly, it nurtured the blood and qi, balanced the breath, and laid a solid foundation for cultivation.
Lu Qing practiced again and again, his movements growing smoother, more precise.
With each repetition, the energy from the Great Nourishment Soup—once wild and restless—began to settle, like birds returning to their nests.
It was drawn into his body, refined, transformed into life essence, and woven into his very core.
He lost all sense of time.
Hours passed—perhaps minutes, perhaps days.
Then, suddenly—his body trembled.
A surge of power rippled through him.
His blood and qi, which had once flowed in scattered currents, now connected as one—unbroken, seamless, flowing at his will.
He felt it—the invisible thread linking every part of him.
He paused, slowly lowered his hands, closed his eyes, and listened.
Inside.
The transformation was complete.
“Excellent,” Old Doctor said, voice filled with quiet pride. “The blood and qi are now linked, flowing freely through your body. Qi Xue Jing—finally achieved.”
A few moments later, Lu Qing opened his eyes.
His body felt light, energized—like he could run for miles without tiring.
He could feel his body more clearly than ever before.
He raised his hand.
With a thought, a crimson glow flared across his palm—blood-red, pulsing with vitality, as if on the verge of dripping.
He released the intent.
The redness vanished instantly. His hand returned to normal.
“That,” Old Doctor explained, “is what Qi Xue Jing truly means. A cultivator who has entered this realm can command their entire blood and qi, purifying their flesh and amplifying their strength.”
“Wherever the mind goes, the blood and qi follow. This allows for explosive power in combat—along with greatly enhanced defense.”
“Even a dozen ordinary strong men, if they tried to hold one who’s reached Qi Xue Jing, would be thrown aside like toys.”
“Their strength and resilience are utterly unmatched. There’s no chance of victory.”
Lu Qing understood now.
That was why his master had said a Qi Xue Jing cultivator could shake off dozens of men with ease.
The difference in power—between ordinary and this level—was not just a matter of strength, but of quality.
“Feeling good?” Old Doctor approached, a rare smile on his face.
“Yes,” Lu Qing replied, beaming. “Master, I finally see why you said warriors are so powerful. I’ve only just entered Qi Xue Jing, and already I feel stronger than ever. I can’t even imagine what someone at a higher level must be like.”
“You have the potential to reach those heights—sooner than you think,” Old Doctor said with unwavering confidence.
Few could go from frail youth to Qi Xue Jing in just days.
Lu Qing’s talent was no less than the legendary prodigies he’d heard of across the land.
“A Qing,” Old Doctor’s expression turned solemn. “Now that you’ve entered Qi Xue Jing, you must understand something important.”
“Please speak, Master,” Lu Qing said, straightening up, his tone respectful.
“There’s a distinction in martial arts techniques—practice methods and combat applications…”
(End of Chapter)
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