Chapter 88: Internal Energy Cultivation Technique
Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Yangling said seriously, “I’ve never learned internal cultivation techniques before. I only know some martial arts. If you want to learn them, I can teach you at any time.”
Mu Yangling didn’t think that her martial arts skills were all that great considering this was a world where top pugilists and internal cultivation techniques existed. Case in point, Qi Haoran could jump ten meters high, but she couldn’t.
At the end of the day, all she could rely on was her innate divine strength and her archery skills. However, it was useful on the battlefield. In the martial arts world where opponents could be skilled in qinggong and internal energy cultivation techniques, she could be destroyed in minutes.
When she heard Qi Haoran say that after mastering his technique, it’d be like wearing a bulletproof vest all the time, it wasn’t that Mu Yangling wasn’t tempted. She just wasn’t confident that she could master it. Most importantly, she didn’t have anything of equal value to exchange with him.
Qi Haoran didn’t believe it. Mu Yangling was so strong. How could she be born like this without cultivating her internal energy? If she was a boy, he might have believed her, but she was clearly a girl.
Hence, when Mu Yangling had gotten a little better, Qi Haoran came to look for her excitedly. “Let’s exchange internal energy cultivation techniques first. Your wounds are almost healed now, so you can meditate and cultivate.” As he spoke, he sat cross-legged opposite Mu Yangling and looked at her expectantly. “I’ll go first. Then, you can teach me your cultivation technique.”
Mu Yangling looked helpless. “Young Master Qi, I really don’t have an internal cultivation technique.”
Qi Haoran tilted his head. “Is it because your family forbids you from imparting your cultivation technique to outsiders?” Qi Haoran was very conflicted and upset. After pondering in silence for a long time, he gritted his teeth and said, “Fine, I won’t learn it in that case. But it’s fine to spar, right? I’m willing to teach you my cultivation technique for free.”
Fan Zijin, who was eavesdropping outside, felt that Qi Haoran was too silly. It was obvious to him that Mu Yangling was simply unwilling to teach him.
Mu Yangling was silent for a moment before pulling Qi Haoran out. Fan Zijin immediately stood up straight and opened the fan in his hand. The moment the door opened, a smile appeared on his face. When he saw Qi Haoran, he smiled even more vibrantly. “What a coincidence. Is Miss Mu feeling better?”
As Mu Yangling’s hearing was better than ordinary people, she had long heard Fan Zijin’s footsteps. It was just that she didn’t want to expose him. Nodding, she smiled. “I’m much better. Thank you for your concern, Young Master Fan.”
Having learned internal cultivation techniques since he was young, Qi Haoran’s senses were even more sensitive than Mu Yangling’s. When he heard this, he rolled his eyes, but he didn’t expose him out of consideration for their friendship.
Mu Yangling pulled Qi Haoran into the garden. Fan Zijin naturally followed closely behind.
Mu Yangling stood in front of a rockery and said to Qi Haoran, “I really haven’t learned any internal cultivation techniques. My grandfather is half-Hu. My great-grandfather was the number one warrior of their tribe and had immense strength since he was young. However, my grandfather didn’t inherit his father’s divine strength. Furthermore, because he looked no different from a Han person, he was ostracized by the Hu tribe. That’s why my grandfather left the grassland and came here. My father has been strong since he was young and I’m even stronger than my father. Before I even weaned, I could already smash a table with a wave of my hand.”
The disbelief on Qi Haoran and Fan Zijin’s faces remained.
Mu Yangling said with a straight face, “If this didn’t happen to me, I wouldn’t believe it either.” Then, she turned around and hugged the rockery with both arms. Under Qi Haoran and Fan Zijin’s widened eyes, she slowly raised the rockery.
Qi Haoran’s mouth was so wide open that one could probably stuff a big duck egg into it. He pointed at Mu Yangling and then at the rockery that was as tall as two people and as wide as three people lying horizontally. How heavy must this be?
Mu Yangling gently put down the fake mountain and said calmly, “Now you should believe me, right? No matter how powerful an internal cultivation technique is, it’s impossible for a nine-year-old child to lift this rockery. If you still don’t believe me, I can let you check my meridians. There’s not a trace of internal energy in them.”
Qi Haoran’s eyes lit up. “You can check the meridians? Teach me.”
Fan Zijin was also full of interest, and their attention was instantly diverted.
Mu Yangling, on the other hand, was a little embarrassed. She asked shockingly, “Can’t you people with internal energy check other people’s meridians? Isn’t that how it’s written in books?”
As soon as these words were spoken, Qi Haoran and Fan Zijin felt deflated. Waving his hand, Qi Haoran said, “That’s all nonsense. How can you believe it? You can’t even check your own meridians, let alone check someone else’s.”
Mu Yangling immediately asked curiously, “Then how do you know if your internal energy has improved?”
“You can sense it.” Qi Haoran said righteously, “The internal energy is stored in the lower dantian. When you’re cultivating internal energy, the dantian is as warm as spring. Even a minor improvement will turn it as hot as a flame. One can feel the internal energy flowing through their meridians, but it’s impossible to look inside.”
Mu Yangling’s eyes sparkled. “Does that mean I’ll be able to practice qinggong after cultivating internal energy?”
Qi Haoran sized up Mu Yangling and shook his head after a while. “You’re not suitable to practice qinggong. Your lower body is too heavy.”
Mu Yangling was disappointed for a moment before asking, “Then do you think I’m suitable to practice internal cultivation?”
“Anyone can practice internal cultivation.” Qi Haoran said, “The key is to nourish one’s health and temper one’s internal organs to achieve the effect of strengthening one’s body. If you want to learn it, I’ll teach you.”
“Can one become as powerful as the people in the pugilistic world?” Mu Yangling asked curiously.
Qi Haoran said disdainfully, “Internal cultivation is meant to strengthen one’s body. Coupled with moves, it’s used for self-defense. However, the people in the pugilistic world use it to fight and seize territory. Why are you competing with them? You’re a girl and you’re strong. It’s enough for you to learn some internal cultivation to strengthen your body. Unlike me, I want to protect the country and become a general in the future, so I have to improve my martial arts.”
Mu Yangling and Fan Zijin: “…”
Fan Zijin turned his head and smiled at Mu Yangling. “Miss Mu, if you want to learn internal cultivation, why don’t you learn the set that Haoran is learning now? Although this set of cultivation techniques is not easy to practice, mastering 10% is already enough to serve you plenty. You’re a girl, so there’s no hurry.”
“Since this cultivation technique is so difficult, why did Young Master Qi choose this one?”
‘Well, it’s because he’s stupid and overambitious.’
Fan Zijin cursed inwardly, but Qi Haoran already said proudly, “Of course it’s because I’m talented. No matter how difficult an internal cultivation technique is, it won’t be a problem for me.”
Fan Zijin turned his head away, while Mu Yangling was amused by his proud look.
Qi Haoran said, “I’ve already cultivated to the third level. Don’t doubt me. Although it’s only the third level, I can already withstand 120 moves from my brother.”
‘That’s only because Cousin went easy on you.’
Worried that Qi Haoran’s bragging would get out of hand, Fan Zijin quickly changed the topic. “Miss Mu, I’ve seen the traps you laid in the forest. Some of the traps don’t seem to be targeted at wild beasts, right?”
Mu Yangling was stunned for a moment before admitting with a smile, “Yes, that’s targeted at people.” To be precise, it was targeted at the Japanese, but she had borrowed it.
“Did Uncle Mu teach you those traps? I wonder if you can teach them to us. I’ve checked and there are two very intriguing traps among them.”
“No problem. I’ll draw the picture later and write down the sort of situations it’s suited for. You’ll figure it out slowly.” Since the other party was even willing to impart to her his internal cultivation method, there was no reason for her to hoard information.