Chapter 147: Chapter 117: Third Layer Mystic Barrier
Winter had come. Wealthy, influential families would light charcoal in their homes for warmth. Good charcoal burned smokeless and lasted the entire day.
In Chen Ku’s backyard and within his room, it was very warm.
Chen Ku’s elderly mother and his wife, Xu Lan, were sitting on the kang bed. One was sewing insoles, and the other was knitting a sweater.
Not far away, a servant was lulling Hu Zi to sleep.
The mother and daughter-in-law were chatting leisurely.
"This charcoal isn’t cheap, is it? There isn’t a wisp of smoke. It’s a lot better than the quality of the charcoal burnt at Second Wu’s house in our village."
Gazing at the charcoal brazier before the bed, the old woman, her words starting to flow more freely, bit off a thread and said, "Although our second boy has earned some money, we still need to be frugal. Add more charcoal to your brother-in-law’s room."
"Yes, Mother."
Xu Lan gave the servant a look, signaling her to pick a few pieces of charcoal from the brazier.
However, the servant said, "The Master’s room is warm without charcoal; he doesn’t let us add any."
Xu Lan, aware that her brother-in-law practiced martial arts and was strong, added, "That’s true."
The old woman glanced at the charcoal brazier again but then turned her gaze toward the cold world outside the window, sighing, "Just a little snow today. I fear we’ll lose seventy percent of our harvest from the fields..."
"Yes, the villagers might find the coming year hard to endure." Xu Lan continued to knit the sweater, chatting sporadically with her mother-in-law.
「...」
Chen Ku was in his room practicing breathing exercises, feeling his body brimming with Inner Qi.
This is what Full Qi, Inner Qi Great Perfection feels like, he mused to himself. Now, with my Inner Qi full and abundant, I don’t feel the slightest hunger.
Medical texts from his past life stated: "When the essence is full, one does not crave sexual pleasure; when Qi is full, one does not crave food; when spirit is full, one does not crave sleep."
He once thought this was just deceptive terminology used by practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine and cultivation in his previous life.
Unexpectedly, it was indeed real.
With my current Inner Qi, I could probably go ten days to half a month without eating. In a sense, this is akin to the ’Fasting’ state that those ancient Taoists longed for.
Chen Ku felt the transformations that the growth of his physique brought him.
But this is just the prerequisite for sustaining life, he thought. I couldn’t engage in combat or expend Qi Power on martial practice, as both would consume Qi Power. Once I do, the Qi Power would be depleted, and I would feel hungry again.
This is why there are stories in novels about masters being able to consume an entire cow after a fight.
Having achieved Inner Qi Great Perfection, the next major realm is the Mystic Barrier Realm of the Martial Path’s Second Realm.
Chen Ku had not yet been taught the Cultivation Technique for the Mystic Barrier Realm, but from the exchanges between his master Yang Luochen and Yang Shaoqi, he had gleaned some information about it.
The Mystic Barrier Realm is said to involve a special acupoint in the human brain, also known as the ’Mystic Portal.’ This area is considered the most mysterious and fragile part of the human body. The cultivation method involves directing Inner Qi to the brain. This nurtures the brain with Qi, leading to mental clarity, unlocking the brain’s various potentials, enabling detailed spiritual introspection, and ultimately, completely enhancing their life’s constitution...
Chen Ku remembered the time he had struggled to kill Liang Shi, an old servant of the Zhao Family; it was then he had sensed the formidable Life Force of a Mystic Barrier Realm master.
Strikes with tens of thousands of catties of force to the temple could not immediately result in death.
And that was without using Qi to protect the brain.
The Mystic Barrier Realm.
It was indeed like stepping into a brand new world.
Chen Ku walked out of his room.
I should go ask Master directly, he thought.
So he made his way to Medicine King Hall, within Jinshi Academy.
Upon arriving at Jinshi Academy, he saw his senior brother Yang Shaoqi practicing with a staff, his face beaming. Upon seeing Chen Ku, he excitedly said, "Junior brother, come, come, spar with me for a bit."
Chen Ku was surprised.
His senior brother had not wanted to spar with him for the past month or two. Had the sun risen in the west today?
A thought crossed his mind, as if he had guessed something.
"Senior brother, have you made a breakthrough?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Shaoqi couldn’t help but lift his chin proudly and said, "Indeed! Seven days ago, I entered the Great Perfection Realm, and today I’ve finally stabilized it. Ah, junior brother, come, come, let me show you the Qi Power of Inner Qi Great Perfection."
Chen Ku was about to say something when his senior brother stepped forward and reached out his hand toward him.
It seemed there was no choice but to engage.
Yang Shaoqi looked at Chen Ku’s extended hand and grasped it. He chuckled, eager to test Chen Ku’s Qi Power.
But upon contact, despite pouring all his Qi Power of Inner Qi Great Perfection into his grip, he couldn’t move Chen Ku’s hand at all.
Yang Shaoqi’s expression changed. "Junior brother? You didn’t break through as well, did you?!"
"To be honest with you, senior brother, I indeed have," Chen Ku smiled, ready to pull his hand back.
Yang Shaoqi stood there, agape.
Monster!!
He had been preparing for Inner Qi Perfection two to three months ago. Back then, Chen Ku was merely at Sufficient Qi. Unexpectedly, after a month, he reached Robust Qi... and now, another month later, he had actually reached Full Qi and Inner Qi Great Perfection.
Yang Shaoqi, however, felt somewhat invigorated. "Junior brother, show me your strength. I’m curious to know how much power you have after achieving Inner Qi Perfection."
"Really?"
"Use... all your strength... AHH!"
「...」
Yang Luochen was startled from inside his room by a scream like that of a slaughtered pig. Stepping outside, he saw Yang Shaoqi continuously shrieking, "It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! Let go, let go..."
Yang Luochen just took one look, his ears twitching slightly.
He could sense the rhythm of Chen Ku’s and Yang Shaoqi’s breathing. It was identically long and forceful, with both having reached more than ten sections. Only at this level could their Qi be readily available for use. This, too, was another sign of ’Full Qi’.