Chapter Four: Opening the Sea of Qi

Jiang Ming had already stopped.

When the Yin-Yang Fist reached perfection, a strange power surged from deep within his body, sweeping through every limb and bone, cleansing his muscles and refining his marrow. Perhaps because he had experienced this process three times already, the effect was not as pronounced as with the Overlord Fist; still, subtle impurities were expelled from his body. He felt his physique grow stronger, his strength increase, his blood and energy surging even more vigorously.

It was another significant improvement.

Jiang Ming also realized the extraordinary nature of the Yin-Yang Fist. Without the foundation laid by the Soft Fist and the Shaking Fist, it would have been impossible for him to comprehend the essence of the Yin-Yang Fist so swiftly. It would have taken at least twelve or thirteen repetitions to truly master it.

“Old sir, how was that?” Jiang Ming asked with a smile.

“Amazing, your comprehension is truly rare in this world!” the old man exclaimed, his face full of admiration. He then took out a jade bottle from his robe, opened it, and poured out a single pill.

Jiang Ming was momentarily stunned.

The bottle was filled with elixirs.

“These are my snacks. When I don’t feel like eating, I just take one,” the old man said with a laugh, handing Jiang Ming a Nurturing Essence Pill and explaining briefly. He then asked, “You’re a student at Second High, aren’t you? What’s your name?”

“I’m Jiang Ming from Class 4, Grade 3, at Second High,” he replied almost instinctively. Forcing down the waves of emotion in his heart, Jiang Ming couldn’t help but give a thumbs up. “You really are generous, sir. May I ask your name?”

He accepted the pill as he spoke. Instantly, a fragrant aroma reached his nostrils, invigorating his spirit.

“My surname is Tang. Call me Old Tang,” the old man replied.

“Old Tang? I wouldn’t dare. I’m afraid you could slap me to death. Master Tang!” Jiang Ming said with a grin.

“Haha, you rascal!” Old Tang laughed heartily. “Do you dare to take it right now?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I have nothing to lose!” Jiang Ming replied, swallowing the pill immediately.

A warm current flooded his stomach, gentle as water yet immensely powerful.

Bowing with cupped fists, he began practicing his fist technique again.

The Yin-Yang Fist.

His punches stirred the wind and thunder.

As time passed, the power behind his fists grew heavier, shaking the air and causing leaves from the surrounding trees to fall in droves.

His aura grew ever stronger.

Boom...

The air exploded, and sounds came from Jiang Ming’s body—at first faint, but soon deafening, like a dragon’s roar, a phoenix’s song, or thunder crashing down from the heavens.

Bones and tendons sang in unison—it was done.

Jiang Ming did not stop. The medicinal energy had not yet been exhausted.

His great tendons stretched like mysterious cords, his bones ground together like millstones, his blood coursed like a thousand galloping horses, his heart beat like the drum of war.

Old Tang, standing to one side, nodded repeatedly.

“Exceptional perception, outstanding talent!”

“In time...”

“He must have only just awakened his abilities, or else, with such aptitude, he would have at least opened the Energy Sea, if not already reached the third stage of martial cultivation.”

“A true uncut jade!” Old Tang’s praise could not have been higher.

Then his brows twitched, and joy lit up his face.

The sound of Jiang Ming’s bones and tendons resonating grew weaker, finally fading until it vanished completely.

“His strength has been refined into a single cohesive force, utterly under his control, precise to the smallest detail,” Old Tang exclaimed, clapping his hands in admiration. He then spoke aloud, “To improve the body, enhance strength, and temper the bones and tendons—whether through genetic serums or pills—these can all be achieved. But why cultivate step by step?”

No one answered, but he continued, “Because the path of martial cultivation is not merely about gaining strength. The journey is also a process of tempering the will.”

“The resonance of tendons and bones marks the completion of body refinement.”

“To refine one’s strength into a single cohesive force is to temper the will. Only with a strong will can one sense the breath of heaven and earth, or cosmic energy, also known as vital energy or spiritual energy, and draw it into the body, opening the Dantian and the Energy Sea.”

“With a weak will, you cannot sense the world.”

“If your strength is not cohesive, you cannot connect with heaven and earth, nor receive the breath of the universe.”

“Without the harmonious resonance of tendons and bones, without inner and outer strength, you cannot withstand the wild energy of heaven and earth.”

“The path of martial cultivation is an ascent to the heavens, yet the road lies at your feet. Whether genetic serums or elixirs, they are mere aids.”

Old Tang had thoroughly explained the secret and the threshold of the first stage of martial cultivation.

“After reaching this subtle state, one must sense the world, seize the vital energy in the void—whether by swallowing it like the great Kunpeng, or pulling it in like a black hole, or opening a convenient door for guests to enter—and then, with refined strength and a powerful body, draw it into the Dantian, opening the Energy Sea.”

Old Tang had revealed the key to breaking through to the next realm.

The teacher had covered this in class, but never with such vivid metaphors.

He looked up at Jiang Ming.

At this moment, Jiang Ming had already reached this step.

After the resonance of bones and tendons, he continued to cultivate, fully refining his strength; the vibration between fasciae also gradually faded, returning to the body.

This was the process of mastery and returning to simplicity.

When the resonance of bones and tendons vanished completely, it meant his strength was thoroughly refined, utterly under his command, precise to the smallest detail.

A single Nurturing Essence Pill had fortified his foundation.

His powerful insight brought with it a formidable mind, granting him a degree of self-mastery far beyond ordinary people.

Having reached this subtle state, there was almost no difficulty left.

At this point, one could break through, or pause to continue refining and preparing for the next stage.

Jiang Ming, however, was still unsatisfied; his fists did not cease.

Listening to Old Tang, his thoughts intertwined with his power, naturally merging with the world itself.

He began to sense the breath of the universe—or rather, the primordial energy of the world, or the power of the cosmos.

Vast and boundless, immeasurable.

A mere ripple of it could crush him to nothing.

Jiang Ming pictured himself as a black hole, drawing in all things, using his will as a guide, trying to draw this cosmic energy into his body. But the immense force was dauntingly stable.

He did not lose heart.

His fists continued, wielding the Yin and Yang, blending hardness and softness. His steps shifted, and to his surprise, the fallen leaves around him began to swirl in a perfect circle.

“Aura of the Dao!” Old Tang gasped when he saw this. To achieve such a feat at the Bone Tempering stage was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

Yet he witnessed it with his own eyes, and this technique had just been learned.

“His talent is beyond imagination. Perhaps, he really will draw in the world’s energy in a single effort, opening his Dantian and Energy Sea.”

Anticipation shone in Old Tang’s eyes.

Buzz...

At that moment, the void trembled.

Jiang Ming seemed to transform into the very image of Yin and Yang, embodying the way of hardness and softness. One Yin, one Yang; hardness and softness combined, forming a unique aura of the Dao.

With his intent, he finally drew a thread of the world’s energy, guiding it through the Baihui point, passing the Heavenly Gate, descending the twenty-four levels, and arriving at the Dantian.

“Don’t hesitate, do it in one go!” Old Tang’s voice rang out again.

Jiang Ming’s fists never stopped, but his expression grew grave.

The energy he had drawn was wild and fierce, almost impossible to contain. Fortunately, his mind was strong, his body resilient, and his strength cohesive; he managed to bear, contain, and guide it down to his Dantian.

“Success or failure, all depends on this moment!” Jiang Ming’s will was firm as he directed the energy inward.

Boom...

In an instant, it was as if chaos exploded, the world cracking open; a thunderous roar echoed in his mind as his Dantian burst forth and rapidly expanded.

At the same time, wave after wave of mysterious power surged through him, sweeping from head to toe.

This energy was so strong, so pure, that it surpassed the cleansing effect of the perfected Yin-Yang Fist by more than tenfold.

It was utterly astonishing.