NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 103:
Chapter 103: Five Realms of Body Training, Three Realms of Innateness:
The structure of Qi and Blood Martial Arts divides realms clearly. The initial five stages of body building form the foundation and are collectively known as the acquired body training. These stages include:
Opening the Meridians
Strengthening the Tendons
Strengthening the Bones
Strengthening the Marrow
Changing the Blood
These stages temper the warrior’s physical body, pushing it to surpass its natural limits. Through this process, the body generates vast reservoirs of qi and blood, vital for future progress.
Beyond these five stages lies the transition from acquired to innate.
In the innate realms, a warrior’s qi and blood flow like a calm lake at rest and surge like a raging river in motion. Every punch and kick carries potent inner energy, and the most powerful practitioners can walk through the air and unleash devastating strikes from a distance.
The three innate realms—Observing Principles, Containing the Soul, and Seeing the Spirit—are colloquially known as Grand Master, Great Grand Master, and Supreme Grand Master among common folk.
“I’m still too weak,” Xu Xi muttered to himself.
“The later realms are far beyond my reach for now. Even mastering the fifth stage of body forging will take me considerable time and effort.”
“Immortal-level strength is something to think about only in the distant future.”
Inside the modest wooden house, Xu Xi finished his training and exhaled a long breath of turbid air. The breath lingered in the air before dispersing.
The Tongmai Realm, or Meridian Opening, was the first and smallest step in the grand system of Qi and Blood Martial Arts. Even so, stepping into this realm marked him as a warrior, no longer an ordinary mortal.
From this point onward, Xu Xi’s life would no longer revolve around mundane physical labor.
…
[Thanks to your naturally strong qi and blood, you successfully entered the first realm of martial arts. Your qi and blood circulate endlessly within your body.]
[You cannot use Taoism or magic now, but your body has been strengthened like never before.]
[The surging qi and blood exhilarate you. When you clench your fists, the raw power makes you feel capable of defeating a cultivator or magician of the same level with a single punch.]
[But you don’t let this newfound strength make you arrogant.]
[The realms of Qi and Blood Martial Arts span eight levels—from the five realms of body forging to the three realms of innateness. Only by mastering these can one reach the level of a martial arts immortal and witness a more extraordinary world.]
[Currently at the Tongmai Realm, you understand that there is no room for pride. Potential is just potential until it’s realized.]
Packing his belongings, Xu Xi left the crumbling wooden house and quit his laboring job.
[You began practicing martial arts diligently, taking a position as an assistant teacher at a martial arts school to sustain yourself. The steady income allowed you to live comfortably and purchase better qi and blood medicines.]
[By the third year of the simulation, at 18 years old, you left your teaching position.]
[Your persistence bore fruit. Your martial arts evolved beyond the ordinary. You skipped directly from the Meridian Opening Realm to the Tendon Toughening stage, becoming a Bone Forging warrior.]
[Now, your punches carry incredible force. With the added bonus of your abundant qi and blood, you can fight warriors at the Blood Exchange stage.]
[You successfully crossed the class barrier and purchased your own home in Qingniu Town.]
[You chose not to open a martial arts school or join a sect but maintained a stable income.]
[Hearing of your rapid advancement, people visited you, offering gold and silver in exchange for guiding their children.]
[By the fourth year of the simulation, at 19 years old, you reached the Marrow Refining stage.]
Persistence continued to reward Xu Xi. His steady progress offset the disadvantages of starting martial arts training at an older age. However, the final two stages of body forging—Marrow Refining and Blood Exchange—posed significant challenges.
“It’s just a purple-level talent, after all,” Xu Xi reflected.
“The qi and blood bonus helped me break through boundaries, but its effects are slowing down.”
“And persistence alone isn’t enough to ensure rapid progress.”
In his new home, Xu Xi practiced diligently.
His movements were deliberate, his arms circling and stretching as he drew his muscles and bones taut. His control over his body reached the level where flesh seemed to fall away, revealing the structure beneath.
Unlike the earlier realms, the final two stages of body forging delved deeper into the essence of Qi and Blood Martial Arts, demanding significantly more effort.
Marrow is the source of blood, and blood nourishes the body. Concentrating and renewing the marrow leads to a comprehensive transformation of the internal organs, pushing the body toward peak evolution.
As he practiced, Xu Xi contemplated the balance between the Shiwan Mountains and the Daqian Empire.
“The demons here rely heavily on physical strength,” he noted.
“Even a demon on the outskirts of the Hundred Thousand Mountains is this powerful.”
The demons’ scarlet pupils gleamed with a feral light. They had no place in the Daqian Empire’s registry and no familial ties, yet their strength was undeniable.
…
[Your boxing techniques, swordsmanship, and body movements were refined during battles with demons. You have become increasingly proficient.]
[Your skills include Qi and Blood Long Fist, Five Thunder Swords, and Blue Arc Technique.]
Xu Xi raised his sword. With a swift slash, cold steel glinted, and a burst of qi and blood followed, killing a deer-shaped demon.
In the simulation world, even ferocious demons were not invincible. The deer-shaped demon collapsed, its savage light fading from its eyes as Xu Xi’s blade severed its body.
…
Sitting in contemplation, Xu Xi reflected on the nature of strength in this world. Strength dictated respect, a principle that held true even in the magical world.
Dust swirled, and gravel crunched underfoot.
The world of martial arts was primitive and unrefined. Many people lacked access to proper training methods, and even if they could purchase techniques, they were often incomplete or secondhand.
[Frustrated by the slow pace of progress, you decided to venture near the Shiwan Mountains, searching for weaker demons under the astonished gaze of others.]
For Xu Xi, this was the first step toward transcending the limits of the martial arts world.
[You persisted in your daily martial arts practice, steadily improving your skills.]
Unlike the magical world, where associations facilitated the sharing of knowledge and resources, the martial arts world lacked organized systems for mutual aid.
Staring at the demon’s lifeless body and the destruction left in its wake, Xu Xi frowned.
“Is it possible that some extraordinary being within the human race suppresses the demons enough to maintain balance?” he wondered.
In a remote valley near Qingniu Town, Xu Xi continued his search for demons.
[Your persistence paid off. You gained extensive experience in locating and defeating demons.]
The demons here were similar to those in the immortal cultivation world but far more ferocious. Their aggression tested Xu Xi’s limits, yet every battle pushed him closer to mastery.