With his breathing rhythm, the light filling his body seemed to transform into inner Qi.
It was a layer of cool inner Qi.
A seemingly endless sensation of Qi emerged from a certain place in the abdomen, flowing gently through the meridians as recorded in the "Yunyuan Health Care Scripture," under Zhang Jian’s control.
When encountering mountains, open them.
When encountering water, build bridges.
The once-blocked meridians were completely opened under the circulation of the cool inner Qi.
"Celestial Pool, Jade Mansion, Divine Palace..."
The meridian chart memorized by Zhang Jian floated vividly in his mind, and he felt greatly astonished.
Zhang Yi had mentioned.
Qi sensing is the first hurdle; once the first trace of inner Qi appears, you’re considered to have entered the path. Next is Water Grinding Skill. According to each sect’s Meridian Secret Technique, one unblocks the meridians, ultimately forming a Circulation. Inner Qi must circulate to continuously condense.
Water accumulates into a depression.
This process is part of an Inner Cultivation Martial Artist’s Life Technique.
This process is prolonged.
Many skilled in Inner Cultivation are stuck at this step, unable to achieve a full Circulation, thus failing to develop significant combat power.
This process may take several years or even decades to complete.
But Zhang Jian felt that, with each breath.
The hundreds of subtle meridians infused in the "Yunyuan Health Care Scripture" were driven by breath, with the inner Qi now rolling like beads, no longer mere wisps and threads.
The three-dimensional meridian chart in his body appeared completely illuminated, generating a peculiar effect.
At this moment, Zhang Jian’s eyes seemed to flicker with red fire and lightning, vibrating.
With each breath, it was as if forcibly drawing on some power wandering in heaven and earth, though certain critical valves around his body had not yet mastered the open and close method, making absorption impossible.
But even so, it was extremely terrifying.
Zhang Lu stood by, directly gazing into Zhang Jian’s opened eyes, sensing an internal heat that made him instinctively lower his head and feel as if surrounded by fire, nearly fainting from the scorching sensation.
He regained his clarity after some time, slowly inspecting everything around him and finally relaxing when he found himself unharmed.
"The Circulation is fully opened, beginning to cycle. I didn’t expect to break through to the Strengthening Body stage so soon!"
Zhang Jian sensed the rich inner breath flowing in his body, his eyes shining with amazement.
He raised his hand, and jade-like light appeared in his eyes, seeing through the concentrated inner breath beneath the flesh and blood.
Body Forging has five stages: Bone Forging, Yijin, Bone Marrow Cleansing, Refining the Organs, and Grandmaster.
Inner Cultivation also has five stages: Qi Sensing, Strengthening Body, Nourishing Essence, Innate, and Grandmaster.
Although the two paths are very similar, martial artists who follow the Inner Cultivation path possess little combat power during the Qi Sensing stage.
But at the Strengthening Body stage, they begin to acquire some self-preservation ability.
Once inner Qi completes the Circulation and cycles endlessly, that marks the Strengthening Body stage.
At this moment, Zhang Jian clearly perceived the vigorous health-preserving inner Qi inside his body.
This inner Qi circulated continuously within the internal organs, refining them, nurturing the whole body like spring rain, indeed very nourishing.
However, his health-preserving inner Qi lacked any attributes, making it less destructive.
Still, it was markedly different from Qi Sensing.
During the Qi Sensing stage, the Circulation was unachievable. Mental energy might be a bit better, and physical strength a bit higher, but compared to skilled Body Forging practitioners, they possessed limited ability to resist.
At the Strengthening Body stage, martial artists’ divine phenomenon gradually became apparent, as nourishing the internal organs with inner breath enhanced their strength; hands and feet became agile, hearing and sight sharpened, and the breath of inner Qi extended.
However, forming significant destructive power typically occurs at the Nourishing Essence stage.
Zhang Jian’s eyes radiated a strong light.
Completing Qi sensing in one day gave him immense confidence.
Following Strengthening Body requires continuous inner breath to refine the internal organs and break through more Great Circulation Meridians and critical points. Ultimately, amplifying the inner breath to the extent it bursts forth externally as Qi force signifies success.
In martial arts, this is fundamentally a process from internal to external, culminating in Unity of Heaven and Man.
Zhang Jian felt that this process would proceed quickly for him.
After eating the Fire Apricot, he felt as though his body was penetrated by the fire within, having very few impurities. Blocked meridians were already opened; only mastery over the ’valves’ governing the meridian flow remained required.
"Just one Fire Apricot brought so many benefits; I should visit the ancestral shrine more, not to reap benefits, but to honor the ancestors!"
Zhang Jian’s heart was filled with enthusiasm.
After thinking for a while, Zhang Jian went to see the family elder.
"Father, I’ve heard that the area around Fengyang County has gone through several months of drought, and refugees have begun coming towards Fengxi. I wish to set up porridge stalls outside the city to help the common people using my modest strength."
Zhang Yi looked at Zhang Jian, feeling a bit strange but also nodding.
The Zhang Family is one of the foremost local families, possessing over ten trading caravans, with wealth to boot. Establishing porridge stalls is not a major issue.
"Hm, I will instruct the steward to handle this! You don’t need to go!"
"These days, roving bandits have arisen around Fengxi County. Your fourth uncle is currently involved in bandit suppression; it’s not safe! If you go out, make sure you take family attendants and manor guests with you."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian nodded. The current times are not a splendid age; after Daqian went through several touching power shifts, national power began to decline.
There are no few roving bandits.
Zhang Jian naturally wouldn’t be careless.
Zhang Yi looked at his eldest son with satisfaction. Intelligent, having achieved accolades early on, but rarest of all, he possessed a heart of reverence, indeed a remarkable successor.
Laying aside the account book, his expression became more concerned, and he continued:
"I heard you recently started practicing martial arts with Uncle Yi? Practicing martial arts is a good thing, especially in times like these, but do not compel yourself. If it doesn’t work out, know where to make concessions!"
"In the current age, the imperial examination is the proper path. Even if personal martial strength is great, it remains limited. The world is vast, filled with unknowns; you see why civil servants in our Daqian always dominate the mainstream, and comprehend its rationale!"
Zhang Jian nodded at these words, reflecting inwardly.
With the Zhang Family’s support in widely establishing porridge stalls to aid refugees, Zhang Jian once again focused on refining inner breath.
His progress remained rapid at this stage, and within approximately three days, he felt the inner breath became full, both internal and external Great Circulation reaching perfection, only a step away from breaking through the inner breath bottleneck and releasing Qi force externally.
However, upon reaching this point, the "Yunyuan Health Care Scripture" had reached its limit, with no further progression.
"Eunuch?"
Zhang Jian carefully reviewed the "Yunyuan Health Care Scripture," and indeed found no further breakthrough methods.
This inner cultivation method was indeed a health preservation Dharma Gate...