Chapter 214: Chapter 151: Contention

The Dantian Qi Sea is of utmost importance to Inner Martial Artists.

Only by Opening the Dantian and Qi Sea could a practitioner store power, preventing them from easily becoming exhausted in battle. They could also rely on the power accumulated in the Qi Sea to break through cultivation bottlenecks and further enhance their strength.

Although Dragon Elephant Power came from one’s bloodline or blood, any power generated by the physical body—no matter which layer of flesh it originated from—would eventually lead to exhaustion. Recovery required regulating one’s breath with a Breathing Technique.

The Dantian Qi Sea, however, could not only store Qi Power but also, with the help of an Operation Technique, unleash that power in an instant during combat. The resulting might was far beyond what even multiple streams of Dragon Elephant Power could compare to.

Ever since witnessing Liu Wan demonstrate the utility of the Dantian Qi Sea at the academy, Chu Lingguang, Emperor Yue Xuan, and even Yan Chengdu and the others had all been fantasizing about it.

They dreamed of one day Opening the Dantian and Qi Sea like Liu Wan, becoming true Inner Martial Artists and transitioning from external to internal cultivation.

Liu Wan, Li Dayao, Eunuch Liu, and even Yang Shaorong had all already transitioned from external to internal arts. The Qi Power in their Dantian Qi Seas was vast and continuous, and the might they could unleash with a single breath was something mere Dragon Elephant Power could never hope to match.

「On that day, at the academy’s Martial Arts Arena.」

Eunuch Liu, using his Soft and Flexible Technique, had left a clear Palm Seal on a wall dozens of meters away with a single strike from a distance. This was a testament to both the profoundness of the Soft and Flexible Technique and its inseparable connection to the Dantian Qi Sea.

Had he only been an external practitioner, even if he had cultivated the Soft and Flexible Technique to its absolute peak, the power he could unleash with a palm strike could not compare to the might an Inner Martial Artist could generate by fully activating their Dantian Qi Sea in the most direct way possible.

Such was the gap between the external and internal arts.

One could say the Dantian Qi Sea was the indispensable cheat code of cultivation. Only by mastering this ’cheat’ could one’s strength reach the pinnacle of perfection.

Now, under Chu Lingguang’s Introspection, he saw a Qi Vortex forming in his abdomen.

In that instant, a tremor ran through him. He was incoherent, even feeling a sense of vertigo.

Ever since witnessing Liu Wan’s abilities, he had constantly heard other students at the academy discussing the Dantian Qi Sea. The well-traveled and knowledgeable Emperor Yue Xuan had once said that Opening the Dantian and Qi Sea began with the very first Qi Vortex.

’Could it be that this Qi Vortex in my abdomen is the foundation for Opening the Dantian and Qi Sea?’

In other words, he had somehow achieved an epiphany and, without realizing it, had condensed this Qi Vortex, causing it to settle in his abdomen.

In his state of Introspection, although the Qi Vortex was faint, Chu Lingguang felt he could see it clearly.

He suppressed his excitement and tried to control the Qi Vortex.

WHOOSH!

Like a startled snake, the Qi Vortex suddenly vanished, entering Chu Lingguang’s blood vessels. He felt a faint, warm current appear in his bloodstream.

Just as he was about to focus on it, the warm current disappeared, completely swallowed by the power within his blood.

His focus returned to his abdomen.

He discovered that an imperceptible power from the various acupoints in his blood vessels was automatically gathering to form a brand-new Qi Vortex.

This Qi Vortex was just as faint as the first; if Chu Lingguang hadn’t awakened his ability of Introspection, he would never have been able to sense its existence.

’How can I strengthen this Qi Vortex?’

Chu Lingguang was puzzled.

Through Introspection, he could clearly see that the Qi Vortex was formed from the condensed power within his blood vessels. He tried to circulate the power in his blood, hoping to strengthen the vortex.

But while the power in his blood could flow freely, he couldn’t control it enough to make it stop in his abdomen and strengthen the Qi Vortex.

’Chen Jin said the foundation of the Dantian Qi Sea is to first retain the “first breath.” Could this Qi Vortex be that first breath? When I tried to control it just now, I ended up circulating it into my bloodstream, where it was immediately swallowed by the power there. To strengthen it, not only do I need to make it flow freely through my blood, but I also have to prevent it from being swallowed.’

’But how am I supposed to do that?’

’I’ll just have to wait for my master to return and ask him. He’ll definitely know how.’

’Does this count as me having Opened the Dantian and Qi Sea?’

’Even if it doesn’t, just forming a prototype is an incredible achievement for me.’

’I absolutely cannot let this Qi Vortex disappear.’

’I must use it to successfully open a Dantian Qi Sea.’

Chu Lingguang’s determination was set.

He was slow-witted, and his current good fortune was entirely due to the blessings of fate. Now that he had, with great difficulty, obtained this Qi Vortex from an epiphany, he had to do everything in his power to help it grow strong until it formed a Dantian Qi Sea.

However, he knew full well how difficult it was to open a Qi Sea, and that he couldn’t rush things.

Now that he had finally managed to accumulate a Qi Vortex, he absolutely could not let impatience destroy it.

He decided to wait for Guo Wei to return and ask him what he should do.

So, he deliberately shifted his focus and took out the old Skin Shaft Mr. Liu had given him.

He undid the clasp on it.

Lighting a candle, he spread the Skin Shaft out on the table and began to examine it carefully.

Before he knew it, the night had grown deep.

Chu Lingguang’s hearing and sight were sharp.

With the help of the candlelight, the words on the Skin Shaft were clearly visible. He read it word for word from beginning to end. After he had finished reading all the text on the Skin Shaft, Chu Lingguang sat on his stool. An indescribable feeling washed over him; it was as if he had absorbed nothing at all.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep