A faint green light emanated from the old monster's body, flowing like water from his right palm towards Chen Nan. He frowned slightly and said, "My internal organs are all injured, and my cultivation is damaged. If no peerless master comes to my rescue, my life is in danger."
A bright light shone from the edge of the forest, completely enveloping Chen Nan and the old monster in a watery green glow. It was quite a while before the old monster stopped. But then he lifted Chen Nan up again, tossed him into the air, and began striking his entire body repeatedly with his palms. Waves of green light surged into Chen Nan's body through his acupoints.
After a quarter of an hour, the old monster placed Chen Nan on the ground.
As dusk settled, Chen Nan groggily opened his eyes, instantly becoming fully alert. He quickly leaped to his feet. The three masked men were nowhere to be seen, and the old monster stood silently watching him from a distance.
Chen Nan was startled and involuntarily took two steps back. Only then did he realize that his severely injured body was actually fine. He had forcibly gathered his strength at the cost of his body without leaving any aftereffects. At this moment, apart from being extremely tired, his body was as strong as ever, which overjoyed him.
"Senior, did you use your magic to save me?"
The old monster nodded and said, "Today I returned from the depths of the mountains, just as you were chasing an enemy and fell to the ground, unable to get up."
Chen Nan bowed deeply to the old monster and said, "Thank you for saving me, senior. Otherwise, my life would have been in danger." At this moment, Chen Nan was extremely grateful to the old monster. He relied on the old monster's profound skills. Otherwise, even if his life was saved, he would probably have lost a large part of his skills.
"Hehe, no need for formalities." The old monster smiled faintly and said, "I only saved you because I saw that your injuries were too severe. Otherwise, if you had been able to rely on your own cultivation to slowly heal your injuries and recover your damaged power, I think you might have gained a lot."
Chen Nan smiled wryly, "It's easier said than done. Without your guidance, my cultivation level would have dropped significantly. It would probably take at least a year and a half to recover."
The old monster said, "The path of martial arts cultivation is inherently full of hardships. We are defying the heavens to cultivate ourselves, and we will inevitably encounter various tribulations in the process. But if we can overcome each tribulation with our own strength, our strength will only make our strength shine brighter."
"Senior, I have learned a lot."
The old monster continued, "Some things should be viewed from a long-term perspective. Don't let the illusions before your eyes cloud your judgment. On the path of cultivation, there are peaks and valleys; there will always be ups and downs."
Chen Nan knew that the old monster was instilling some martial arts concepts in him. The old man in front of him had already connected martial arts with life, and had risen from martial arts techniques to martial arts principles.
His father, Chen Zhan, used to talk to him about martial arts principles. Although he only vaguely understood the martial intent of that realm, he knew that the cultivation level of those who studied martial arts principles had reached a level that was unimaginable to ordinary people.
Without a doubt, the old monster has reached the True Martial Realm. According to the current classification of cultivators' realms, the sixth realm of Eastern martial artists is undoubtedly the True Martial Realm.
Chen Nan had always felt that the old monster was unfathomable and remained wary of him. However, the old monster's act of saving him this time greatly increased Chen Nan's goodwill towards him.
"Senior, I would like to ask you some questions about martial arts."
"Sure, go ahead and ask."
"A few months ago, I entered the realm of sword qi projection in Eastern martial arts, reaching the initial third level. However, no matter how I cultivate over the past few months, why hasn't my cultivation progressed at all?"
The old monster said, "Eastern martial artists will encounter several difficult hurdles during their cultivation process. Here, I only want to talk about the hurdles you have already encountered. The first hurdle is the numerous obstacles encountered when transitioning from an ordinary master to a high-level master. You have already experienced this hurdle, and I think you must have a deep understanding of its experience."
Chen Nan nodded. He had indeed encountered many obstacles when he was advancing towards the realm of a master.
The old monster continued, "The second level has a very interesting name: Trapped Dragon. As the name suggests, the third level is a very big hurdle. Some people have entered this level very early, but they have never been able to break through it in their entire lives and have been stuck here forever."
"In fact, martial artists, cultivators, and mages all encounter the 'Dragon-Trapping' barrier when they reach the third tier of cultivation. As a cultivator progresses from the first to the third tier, their strength increases quantitatively. Although there are differences in strength between cultivators at different tiers, the differences are not too significant. However, once a cultivator breaks through the third tier and overcomes the Dragon-Trapping barrier, their strength will experience a qualitative leap. While there is no world-shaking difference between cultivators at the fourth tier and those at the first three tiers, they are clearly much stronger."
"Martial artists, Taoist cultivators, and magicians have different cultivation methods, but they all pursue the application of power. Human physiology is the same, and the amount of power one can use and withstand should be roughly the same. That's why different cultivators face the same 'dragon-trapping' challenges. Your current stagnation in cultivation is not an isolated phenomenon; everyone who reaches this level encounters the same problem. To break through at the third tier, one needs not only diligent practice but also various opportune moments. The most effective method is to constantly engage in life-or-death battles, comprehending martial arts, the Tao, and the laws in near-death situations, in order to achieve a breakthrough. This is why some people are exceptionally obsessed, constantly seeking out opponents for duels."
Chen Nan pondered, as if he had gained some insight.
The old monster continued, "Regardless of the type of cultivator, the body is the vessel for bearing power. Among all types of cultivators, mages have the weakest bodies. They focus on spiritual cultivation, primarily utilizing external power, and their bodies only bear power for a fleeting moment. In comparison, martial artists have the strongest physiques. Although martial artists can manipulate the power of heaven and earth when they reach a high level, their fundamental power still originates from themselves, so they must have a strong physique. Cultivators have always been mysterious. In addition to cultivating their own power, they also possess Taoist arts similar to magic. Those who achieve mastery in cultivation are truly terrifying."
Chen Nan nodded repeatedly, sensing something.
The old monster said, "Cultivation involves not only physical cultivation but also mental cultivation. Martial artists focus on physical cultivation in the early stages, but once they enter a higher realm, they must begin to cultivate their mind, otherwise it will be difficult to make further breakthroughs. In fact, the process of cultivation can also be described as a process of evolution, which is to continuously change one's physique, break through various shackles of the human body, and evolve one to a perfect state."
Chen Nan exclaimed in surprise, "Evolution?! Human evolution?!"
"Yes, it's about evolution, self-sublimation, elevating the body and mind to a perfect state. Do you know that many powerful gods and demons died ten thousand years ago, but why are there still gods, immortals, and demons ten thousand years later? It's not only because some gods, immortals, and demons escaped that unknown disaster, but also because many mortals cultivated themselves into gods, immortals, and demons. When a cultivator's cultivation reaches its ultimate level, he is not far from becoming a god, immortal, or demon."
Chen Nan gained a lot from his long talk with the old monster. After bidding farewell to the old monster, he returned to the inn in the City of Sin.
Recalling his experiences today, he felt a bit scared. If the old monster hadn't intervened at the last moment, he probably would have lost his life in the woods outside the city.
After washing up, he began to meditate on the bed, his inner energy circulating continuously through his meridians. The course of today's battle flashed through his mind, the movements of Leng Feng and the three masked men gradually slowing down, replaying in his heart.
Chen Nan closed his eyes and pondered, his body radiating waves of light, which spread outwards like ripples of water, filling the entire room with a soft glow.
He opened his eyes after a long, long time, the fatigue from the battle completely gone. He went to the courtyard, lay down on a wicker chair, and gazed up at the stars in the night sky.
Today's two battles, though seemingly a setback for him, served as a wake-up call to his recent life of ease. He had already considered this while practicing his internal energy; if he wanted to improve his cultivation in the future, he could no longer continue with his methodical approach.
While circulating his profound energy, he noticed that the true energy within his body seemed to have become much more solid. Perhaps it was really as the old monster said: once one's cultivation reaches the third level, one has already reached the hurdle of being trapped like a dragon, and the most effective way to cultivate is to find someone to engage in a life-or-death battle.
Chen Nan lightly raised his right hand, and a golden sword aura pierced the air, scattering petals from the nearby flower bushes. He was startled; his internal energy seemed to have indeed grown stronger, and its circulation was much smoother.
He raised his hand again, aiming at a sycamore tree a few meters away, and sword energy shot out from his fingertips. Under the night sky, the golden sword energy connected the sycamore trunk and his arm, like divine light.
His arm swung continuously, sending wood chips flying, and two characters appeared on the tree trunk: Wu Wu. The two characters were like iron hooks and silver strokes, vigorous and powerful.
Chen Nan was overjoyed. He had gained a lot from the two life-or-death battles he had fought today. In the past, if he had used his sword energy to carve words on a tree trunk, he probably would have already pierced through it. But now he could control the sword energy at will, and the sword energy emanating from his body was as natural as his own arm, with his intention and strength perfectly aligned.
It took him a long time to calm down and begin to ponder how to cultivate in the future.
The stars twinkled, and the moonlight was as clear as water.
Chen Nan lay on the wicker chair, a sense of tranquility washing over him as he pondered the essence of cultivation. Using the body as a vessel, one accumulates, withstands, and manipulates internal or external power to break through physical limitations and achieve self-transcendence…
He suddenly sat up and said, "Cultivation is about changing one's physique and bringing the mind and body to a perfect state. If you understand it this way, cultivation can be either difficult or easy. Finding a master of the same level to fight in a life-or-death situation and fully unleashing the body's potential can indeed make it easier to make a breakthrough. This is indeed a shortcut, but it is not the only one."
Chen Nan got up from the rattan chair, slowly paced a few steps in the courtyard, stopped and muttered to himself, "Pushing myself into a desperate situation, breaking through barriers in a dangerous situation, and improving my cultivation."
A crazy idea formed in Chen Nan's mind, and he decided to take the risk. He turned and went into the house, sitting cross-legged on the bed to begin meditation. He circulated his family's secret martial arts, allowing his internal energy to flow through all his meridians. Only when he felt completely relaxed and a surge of power filled his body did he carefully separate a faint strand of his internal energy to explore the unknown areas of his meridians.
The meridians of the human body are distributed throughout the body. There are twelve major meridians, including the three Yang meridians of the hand, the three Yin meridians of the hand, the three Yang meridians of the foot, and the three Yin meridians of the foot. These are all called the "main meridians" of the human body.
In addition to the normal meridians, the human body also has eight extraordinary meridians, including the Governing Vessel, Conception Vessel, Penetrating Vessel, Belt Vessel, Yin Wei Vessel, Yang Wei Vessel, Yin Qiao Vessel, Yang Qiao Vessel, and Extra Meridians.
Most Eastern martial artists can open the main meridians that connect the major acupoints in the body, namely the twelve regular meridians. Only martial artists who have reached a certain level can open the eight extraordinary meridians.
The Ren, Du, and Dai meridians are the most important among the eight extraordinary meridians. If these three meridians are unblocked, the other five extraordinary meridians will also be unblocked. When the meridians are unobstructed, the Qi and blood are abundant, the true Qi circulates continuously, and the internal strength is profound and continuous.
Besides the twelve regular meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians, there are many unknown meridians. In addition, even among the known major meridians, there are many subtle connections between them.
The meridians outside the twelve regular meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians are generally blocked, and only martial artists with profound cultivation dare not easily attempt to open them. This is because the variables are too great and the risks are extremely high.
Generally speaking, the higher one's cultivation level, the more meridians one can open. This process is gradual, and no one dares to force their way through.
Today, Chen Nan wanted to make a bold attempt. He wanted to separate a small portion of his true energy to forcefully impact the unknown meridian area, using his powerful true energy to break through and open up some meridians that he did not understand but that truly existed.
The chest is a concentrated area of the meridian network, where the three Yin meridians of the hand and the three Yin meridians of the foot, as well as the eight extraordinary meridians, are densely distributed.
Chen Nan, incredibly audacious, gathered a wisp of true energy in his chest and pushed it towards the ends of the major meridians, exploring the unknown territory. Points of light emanated from his chest, bathing the room in a hazy glow.
If anyone knew that Chen Nan dared to be so audacious, they would be astonished and gape in disbelief. Forcibly breaking through the meridians and acupoints in the chest is undoubtedly knocking on the door of death.
At first, Chen Nan did not feel anything unusual, but as time went on, he experienced sharp pains in his chest, as if his meridians were being torn apart.
He considered backing down several times, but he forced himself to stay. Although he knew it was extremely dangerous, he was ultimately unable to overcome the madness in his mind.
The path of cultivation is full of hardships. Many peerless masters have taken risks and died in their pursuit of breaking through their own limits.
Chen Nan's forceful breakthrough had yielded some results; he could sense that some meridians seemed to have been slightly unblocked. However, at that moment, his keen spiritual sense detected a dangerous aura.
Before he could react, his body jolted violently, his chest felt as if struck by lightning, and the intense pain contorted his features. Blood gushed from his mouth, the powerful jet of blood even piercing the wall near the window.
Chen Nan felt countless stars flashing before his eyes, his eyelids heavy as Mount Tai. He longed to close his eyes, but feared he might never wake up again.
He mustered his strength and withdrew the true energy he had used to forcefully break through and explore the unknown territory. Then, he repeatedly circulated his family's secret technique, allowing the true energy to flow through his familiar meridians.
The pain in his chest gradually subsided, as did the drowsy feeling, but it was replaced by a tingling sensation. He felt himself gradually losing sensation below his chest and abdomen.
Chen Nan was shocked. This was a sign of qi deviation, something many senior masters had experienced during their training. Although anxious, he did not panic and gradually calmed down.
His family's secret martial arts circulated continuously, and he gradually entered a meditative state, his mind at peace. In the moment when he lost himself in the world, the primordial energy of heaven and earth surged towards him like waves, slowly seeping into his body through the pores.
After absorbing a significant amount of spiritual energy from heaven and earth, Chen Nan's body slowly regained sensation, and the numbness gradually disappeared. He hurriedly got out of bed and stretched his muscles and bones in the room.
"That was close! I almost suffered a qi deviation. It seems there really are no shortcuts on the path of cultivation."
He took a deep breath and felt that his chest and abdomen were no longer a problem. Although he had forced his way through and opened up some weak and small meridians, Chen Nan did not feel any changes in his body, and there was no sign of any progress in his cultivation.
He smiled and muttered to himself, "I was too impatient. Opening up a few insignificant meridians is negligible in the overall health of the body and certainly won't bring about any noticeable changes. If I opened up a little every day, perhaps some unexpected changes would occur in my body soon. But this one time almost cost me my life. If I did this every day, I would definitely die."
Chen Nan dared not gamble with his life again, but he was still somewhat unwilling. After careful consideration, he decided to change his approach and use one of his fingers as a test subject.
Although the meridians connecting the fingers, the three Yang meridians and the three Yin meridians of the hand, are already unblocked, he firmly believes that the human body is the most mysterious, and even a single finger must have many tiny, unknown, and strangely small networks of meridians.
He had an idea: imagine that the entire middle finger of his right hand was covered with a network of tiny meridians, and that he would concentrate his inner energy to impact that middle finger every day. He firmly believed that by impacting his right middle finger in this way day after day, he would surely open up those mysterious, undiscovered micro-meridians.
Although doing so might severely damage his right middle finger, it would not be life-threatening. Chen Nan was eager to know what would happen after the veins in his entire middle finger were completely unblocked.
It's safe to say that the vast majority of people wouldn't do this, nor would they even consider it. Martial artists emphasize balanced development during their training and would never want to develop an unusual finger. This is because focusing solely on the meridians of a single finger could very likely cause that finger to become uncoordinated with the others.
However, Chen Nan became increasingly excited as he thought about it. The process of cultivation was a process of evolution. If he could successfully "modify" this finger, it might eventually transform into a "divine finger" or a "demon finger." Perhaps in the end, he could use the "divine energy" or "demon energy" of this finger to change his physique.
Of course, anything can change, and this was just his wishful thinking, but he was determined to successfully "modify" this finger.