Everwood Palace. Serenity Peak. Martial World Sharang.
The soft morning light cast a golden glow in the surroundings.
Dressed in his usual dark-brown long-robe attire, Aksai exuded an air of quiet confidence, his demeanor poised and collected despite the anticipation bubbling within him.
Moments later, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the courtyard, signaling the arrival of Master Jin Jolan.
Aksai turned to greet him, his expression warm and welcoming as he extended a respectful bow.
“Master Jin Jolan, it is an honor to have you here,” Aksai said, his voice carrying a note of respect.
Master Jin Jolan returned the greeting with a nod, his own presence commanding yet approachable. “The pleasure is mine, Young Master Aksai,” he replied simply.
The pleasantries and formalities were soon over with before the actual tutoring began.
“Alright, Young Master Aksai, let’s start with the basics of Qi Flow Arts,” Jin began, his voice calm yet authoritative. “Qi Flow Arts is all about harnessing the energy within your body and concentrating it into your legs to enhance your movements and techniques.”
Aksai nodded, eager to learn more. “Master Jin Jolan, please enlighten me.”
Jin nodded before continuing in a serious tone.
“You told me you practiced a subpar martial art and used it to break through the late stage of the Bronze Body Realm, right? If that is so, then I’ll simply skip the basics related to the qi and get on the main topic right away.
The Qi Flow Arts starts with proper breathing and visualization,” he explained. “Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Feel the qi within you, flowing with each inhale and exhale.”
Aksai followed Jin’s instructions, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. He felt a sense of calm wash over him as he focused on his breathing, his awareness shifting inward.
“Now, visualize the qi flowing down your body, from your head to your toes,” Jin continued. “Imagine it gathering in your legs, ready to be unleashed with each movement.”
As Aksai visualized the energy coursing through his body, Jin moved to demonstrate the first exercise. “Now, let’s practice some basic leg movements,” he said, stepping forward gracefully.
Aksai watched intently as Jin performed a series of fluid kicks and footwork patterns, his movements effortless yet powerful. “Pay attention to the flow of qi in each movement,” Jin instructed. “Let it guide your actions.”
With Jin’s guidance, Aksai began to mimic the movements, feeling the qi within him as he executed each kick and step. He stumbled at first, but with Jin’s patient encouragement, he soon found his rhythm.
As they continued to practice, Aksai felt a sense of exhilaration wash over him. With each movement, he felt more connected to the qi within him, his movements becoming more fluid and precise.
“Very good, Young Master Aksai,” Jin praised, his eyes gleaming with acknowledgement. “You have a natural talent for Qi Flow Arts.”
Jin was naturally surprised by how well Aksai picked up on the moves and the qi control he had taught him not too long ago.
Though Aksai’s foundation in the body cultivation realm was relatively shallow despite his late-stage Bronze Body realm, he made up for it with his exceptional comprehension ability.
What Jin Jolan didn’t know was that Aksai had his Spirit Sense and neural link fabric to help him comprehend the martial arts at a rapid rate.
The otherworldly Spirit farmer simply used his Spirit Sense to keep tabs on Jin and asked the neural link fabric to record Jin Jolan’s movement patterns as well as his qi flow in a real-life-sized three-dimensional rendition.
Aksai then only needed to fine-tune his moves according to the 3D rendition of Jin Jolan’s previous moves that only he could see.
Whenever he did something wrong or ill-optimized his moves even on a minute level, the neural link fabric would tell him, allowing him to make necessary changes.
***
What was Qi Flow Arts?
It was a martial arts discipline designed to optimize leg strength, agility, and kicking power through the manipulation of qi energy. It was introduced as a holistic approach to physical development, emphasizing the harmonization of blood and qi to achieve optimal performance.
The practice of Qi Flow Arts involved a series of specialized exercises aimed at enhancing the practitioner’s leg abilities. These exercises included stretching routines to improve flexibility, a set of qi flow patterns, dynamic movements to promote agility, and targeted strength training to build power in the legs.
Additionally, practitioners engaged in qi circulation drills to channel energy efficiently throughout the body, enhancing coordination and balance.
Key components of Qi Flow Arts training also encompassed various kicking techniques tailored to develop precision, speed, and impact force.
Practitioners focused on executing kicks with fluidity and control, mastering footwork patterns that optimized mobility and defensive maneuvers.
Through consistent practice and dedication, individuals cultivated heightened combat skills and overall physical prowess, embodying the principles of Qi Flow Arts both on and off the training grounds.
***
How one could make progress in the martial arts? What were the parameters related to it?
Qi Flow Arts, or rather, any well-balanced martial arts in the Martial World Sharang, consisted of four levels or stages of progression: foundation, intermediate, advanced, and lastly mastery.
Each successive level was built upon the skills and knowledge acquired in the previous level.
Advancement in Qi Flow Arts was marked by proficiency in techniques, physical conditioning, and understanding of qi energy principles.
At the foundation level, practitioners focused on mastering fundamental techniques, developing basic strength and flexibility, and understanding the principles of qi flow. Advancement was achieved through consistent practice, refinement of technique, and adherence to proper form and posture.
At the foundation level, a single kick from a martial artist practicing Qi Flow Arts could generate a force of up to 400 pounds per impact in a fraction of a second.
In the intermediate level, practitioners expanded their repertoire of techniques, including more advanced kicks, combinations, and defensive maneuvers. Training intensified, incorporating higher-intensity workouts, endurance drills, and sparring sessions to build stamina and resilience.
At this level, a single kick could convey a force of 800 pounds.
Advanced-level practitioners demonstrated mastery of a wide range of kicking techniques, exceptional agility, and precision in execution. They possessed a deep understanding of qi flow dynamics and could harness qi energy to enhance their martial prowess.
Advancement to this level required dedication, discipline, and continuous refinement of skills through rigorous training and study.
And lastly, came the mastery level!
The mastery level was already considered the limit for most talented martial artists practicing the body cultivation technique in the Bronze Body Realm for decades on end.
The mastery level represented the pinnacle of achievement in Qi Flow Arts. Practitioners at this level exhibited extraordinary proficiency in all aspects of the martial art, demonstrating flawless technique, fluidity of movement, and profound internal strength.
Merely working hard and practicing diligently was not enough to reach the level of mastery in Qi Flow Arts.
Even for the most gifted martial artists, unlocking this level was heavily reliant on the use of medicinal solutions to immerse one’s legs, as well as various forms of tonics and supplements to enrich one’s qi.
At this level, a Qi Flow Arts user could generate a force of up to 1400 pounds with their kick for a fraction of a second. This kind of force would destroy metal poles and dent thick metal sheets, capable of crushing mortal bones and mangling flesh into pulp.
By the standards of Aksai’s pre-reincarnated world, this level of impact was comparable to being struck by a car traveling at 60 miles per hour. It represented a devastating level of force achievable by a human body at rest.
The peak power of a martial artist at the mastery level, when utilized correctly, could even surpass most low-level Spirit spells in potency.
As such, this level of force posed a significant threat even to low-stage Spirit cultivators who had adopted defensive measures.
What made martial arts particularly dangerous was their sustained effectiveness; unlike Spirit spells, which were explosive but short-lived, techniques executed by mastery-level martial artists could be sustained for extended periods without causing excessive fatigue.
***
An individual could be said to have entered the foundation level in Qi Flow Arts if they could consistently deliver a kick force of up to 400 pounds for an extended period without getting tired or injured.
The impact weight criterion would increase as the martial artists progressed forward in the Qi Flow Arts. at the mastery level, the weight impact criterion would increase exponentially, representing the pinnacle of most martial arts found in Martial World Sharang.
Jin Jolan had reached the mastery level of Qi Flow Arts after practicing it for more than three decades and using various types of elixirs on himself. The mastery level was considered the peak of most martial arts in Martial World Sharang.
Only the Martial Compendiums enabled practitioners to go beyond the mastery level and enter the realm of supernatural powers.
According to the rules of Jin Jolan’s martial arts school, the School of Flowing Winds, acquiring the foundation level made someone an outer disciple of the school.
Advancing to the intermediate level turned practitioners into inner disciples.
Breaking into the advanced level of Qi Flow Arts elevated practitioners to the status of core disciples of the School of Flowing Winds.
If disciples were to reach the mastery level in Qi Flow Arts, they would be considered successors, allowing them to compete for the position of school head.
Of course, unlocking levels of martial arts was also heavily dependent on one’s body cultivation realm.
For example, it was a well-established assumption that one needed to achieve the mid-stage Bronze Body realm to advance their martial arts to the intermediate level.
Usually, only late-stage Bronze Body practitioners could unlock the advanced level of their martial arts.
As for mastery level martial arts? That level of expertise was reserved for only Bronze Body Perfection practitioners—meaning those who were at the peak of the 1st realm in the body cultivation path.
There were some exceptions to these rules and standards. However, for most body cultivators, this was their reality.
Plus, it was not guaranteed that one would be able to achieve progress in their martial arts just because they advanced in their body cultivation path. Many late-stage body cultivators were yet to take their martial arts to the advanced levels.
The number of Bronze Body Perfection practitioners was even less to begin with. As such, those who could unlock the mastery level of their martial arts often earned wealth and prestige within their social circles.
Jin Jolan and other tutors Aksai had hired for his private lessons were in this category.
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AN: Before anyone comments on the car impact force stats mentioned in this chapter, I want to clarify that I’ve referenced the Car Crash Force Calculator available online for a fair comparison. These stats are not my own, but rather derived from the calculator. I take no responsibility for their accuracy.
Regarding the kick impact force, I’ve also referred to data found online and stats generated by professional martial artists performing at various events. However, I’ve taken some liberties due to the fantastical element of qi.
While some readers may find this chapter a bit overloaded, I believe it’s necessary for Aksai to establish his foundation in martial arts. Please bear with me through these descriptions as we prepare for the more exciting parts of the storyline. 🙂