Chapter 1: The Brave and Mighty Continent
Then take your time, when you have some free time, come over to Auntie's house to sit and have a meal
Each title is further divided into nine levels, and the assessment of what constitutes a strong individual depends on the quantity of internal energy they possess. An ordinary person can be considered a postnatal warrior as long as they can sense the existence of internal energy. When a postnatal warrior seeks to advance from the title of warrior to that of innate warrior, the primary requirement is to first reach the ninth level of postnatal warrior. Only by breaking through the obstacles posed by the meridians and other factors within their body can they attain the next level. An ordinary person can be considered a postnatal warrior as long as they can sense the existence of internal energy. When a postnatal warrior seeks to advance from the title of warrior to that of innate warrior, the primary requirement is to first reach the ninth level of postnatal warrior. Only by breaking through the obstacles posed by the meridians and other factors within their body can they attain the next level
"You little rascal, what are you shouting about so early in the morning? ... ... Huh? Did you catch some game again? Let me see, is it a pheasant or a hare?" An old man, reeking of alcohol and with a face full of wrinkles, swayed as he appeared at the kitchen door.
After visiting a few neighbors, the young man glanced at the sun and thought, "Hmm, it's about time. The matters that needed to be taken care of are all done. I should return to my cultivation. The techniques given by that old man are indeed difficult to practice." He took out a tattered and worn book from his pocket and looked at it, pondering.
Yes, when I have time, I will get more from the old man and ask at the pharmacy in Ziyun City how much it is worth. If I can sell it for a good price, I will be able to escape poverty in the future. I just don't know how much the old man still has. The determined youth thought to himself, his imagination had already flown to a world of yellow and white. In fact, the youth did not realize that this seemingly ordinary green healing potion would cause a tremendous shock if taken out.
A gentle breeze swept by, carrying with it a fragrance that penetrated the heart and mind. Among the pear blossoms, tender green leaves peeked out, their white and green hues complementing each other beautifully
Upon returning home, the young man did not see the old man. "He must have gone out to find some alcohol again," the young man thought to himself, shaking his head as he walked into his own room
No need, ma'am, I am not tired
Alright, you said not to be polite, since I am going up the mountain anyway, I will help you bring down two bundles. My uncle is not in a position to do so, should I let you go up the mountain to chop firewood?
"Old man... old man... come out quickly," the young man shouted. "This old codger, all day long either drinking or sleeping, can't he do something else?" The young man mumbled as he walked towards the kitchen
Every day you wake up early to help me chop wood, I truly feel sorry for you, Auntie. If it weren't for you, Old Master Chen would need assistance to walk now, but... sigh...
Ignoring the old man's shouting, the young man walked straight ahead, leaving the old man at the door chuckling to himself, muttering under his breath: "Little brat"
Hiss... it really hurts... this old man is quite ruthless, showing no respect for the elderly or care for the young
Xiaodang Mountain is vast and quite famous in the Feiyun Empire, primarily because a prominent family, the Mo family, resides at the summit of Xiaodang Mountain
"Ah, finally finished. The harvest this morning is quite good; a wild rabbit will be perfect for the old man to enjoy with his drink," the young man murmured, looking at the bundles of branches and the wild rabbit at his feet.
After a while, the young man slowly opened his eyes and shook his head with a hint of helplessness. "Sigh... why can I still not feel my 'inner energy'? Could it be that I really lack the talent for cultivation? Let me try again; the heavens reward diligence. Without effort, how can there be any return?" With this thought, the young man returned to his previous state.
What is internal energy? The youth certainly knows about this; internal energy is extremely important on the continent where he lives. The strength of the powerful individuals on this continent is judged solely based on their "internal energy".
Uncle Liu
Having spoken, the young man silently shouldered the few bundles of branches at his feet and walked towards the foot of the mountain
Xiaodang Mountain, located in the northern part of the Feiyun Empire, is several hundred miles away from the imperial capital. Geographically speaking, it is neither far nor close. At the foot of the mountain, there are dozens of farming households that lead a life of tranquility and simplicity throughout the year
In the early morning, the mountains stand tall and refreshing, with light clouds and a gentle breeze. The sunlight spills over the modestly elevated Xiaodang Mountain, where the dense forests and blooming flowers on the mountain joyfully bask in the warmth brought by the rising sun, exuding vibrant vitality
However, seeking to break through obstacles is not an easy task, as the difficulty of advancement is extremely high. Once a failure occurs, the consequences will be quite severe, with the originally ninth-level internal energy content being directly reduced to eighth-level. Cultivation is akin to rowing upstream; if one does not advance, one will regress. Every strong individual seeking a breakthrough will be exceptionally cautious at such times, and without adequate preparation, they will never attempt to challenge the barrier lightly.
In addition to the aforementioned cultivation practices, there is also the practice of sitting cross-legged on the bed, as the youth is doing now, and quietly experiencing the "internal energy" as described by the elder
If one wishes to achieve success in advancement, it is not impossible. As long as you possess the right elixirs and advanced mental techniques, you will achieve twice the result with half the effort. Coupled with your own hard work, you can successfully overcome the challenges. However, these two elements cannot simply be purchased with money from hetushu.com. At times, it also requires a certain degree of opportunity.
The young boy is wearing a gray top, his clothes completely soaked with sweat. His gray trousers are rolled up by three inches, exposing his calves. The straw sandals on his feet are in such a state of disrepair that they can no longer be worn; they are held together by a single piece of grass rope threaded through the sole and tied around his ankle.
Madam Chen, I have placed your firewood in the courtyard
Ah... what a good child, but this fate... this fate is truly unfortunate, Aunt Chen muttered to herself.
Aunt, I am leaving now. If you have any tasks, just call for me. We are not far apart, so if you need anything, just give me a shout.
Ah... Xiao Ran has arrived, is there something you need?
Is that so? Alright! I will take a look later. Thank you!
Over two hundred years ago, a remarkable figure emerged from the Mo family: Mo Tianxing, one of the four Martial Saints of the Feiyun Empire. At the age of nineteen, when he first started his career, Mo Tianxing was already a powerful martial artist at the Master level. With his spear, the "Setting Sun Halberd," he made a name for himself by slaying the notorious trio of the Southwest, who were known for their heinous deeds. He was recruited by the empire's great general, Zhuo Yi, to serve as a vanguard, participating in numerous battles, both large and small, totaling over a hundred, and achieving great military merit.
This morning I went up the mountain, and the traps you set for catching wild boars have broken. You should go take a look!
Since the old man had the youth begin practicing martial arts, it has been over three years. Every day, the youth must engage in nearly six hours of training. In addition to basic stances and practicing fundamental techniques, the youth also has to endure nearly two hours of what the old man calls "intense training." The old man claims that this is to strengthen the youth's physique, asserting that the first step in martial arts training is to forge one's body to be as strong as steel. Naturally, the youth scoffs at this notion.
"Eat, eat, all you know is to eat. Well, today there are only wild rabbits; you can roast them yourself. I still need to go to Aunt Chen's house to deliver firewood." Saying this, the young man dropped the wild rabbit he had caught and shouldered two bundles of firewood as he walked out.
Oh dear... Xiaoran, thank you for your hard work, quickly go inside and have some water, take a rest
At the age of twenty-six, Mo Tianxing successfully advanced to the eighth level of martial arts mastery. Subsequently, for reasons unknown, he resigned from his official position and retreated to Xiaodang Mountain. Seventy years later, when he reemerged, he had already firmly established himself at the second level of martial sage. From this point on, the Mo family of Xiaodang Mountain was recognized as one of the eight great families, gaining fame throughout the Feiyun Empire
"It's nothing, this physique of mine was built by my old man. If I don't get a bit tired, I wouldn't feel comfortable! Auntie, please don't be so polite." The young man said, patting his chest.
With these checks and balances in place, the number of true strong individuals on the continent of Courage and Valor is exceedingly rare. In the Flying Cloud Empire among the five great empires, there have only been four figures like the Martial Saint Mo Tianxing in nearly three hundred years. As for the Martial God, that is an even more elusive existence. It is said that a Martial God-level powerhouse can cause mountains to collapse and the earth to quake with a mere wave of their hand, changing the colors of heaven and earth, and can transcend life and death, truly embodying a god-like presence.
Whenever I think of the old man's actions over the past three years, the youth can't help but scratch his head in confusion: "What has the old man been up to lately, making me practice this and that martial art? If I have to practice, why not do it like in the martial arts schools in Ziyun City, where everyone stands in neat rows, striking in unison? It seems that the training methods have been upgraded recently; the old man's intensity has increased significantly compared to before. Every day, I end up with my body covered in bruises and welts"
"Stop right there, you little rascal. Every time I ask you to roast some game, you act so impatiently. Go on, but make sure to come back early. You haven't completed today's task yet. If you can't withstand three more of my moves, heh heh... you'll be going hungry tonight." The old man shouted at the young boy.
Entering his room, the young man knelt down, sitting steadily on the bed. He brought his hands together, formed a peculiar hand gesture, and then slowly placed them on his knees to begin meditating.
The continent where the youth lives is known as the "Continent of Valor and Might." In the center of this continent, there are three powerful empires, each occupying its own territory. As soon as someone is able to cultivate internal energy, they will immediately be regarded as a strong individual by ordinary people. The strong individuals on the continent can be classified into eight titles according to their levels: Acquired Warriors, Innate Warriors, Martial Guardians, Martial Masters, Martial Sovereigns, Martial Madmen, Martial Saints, and Martial Gods.
The sound of chopping wood, crackling and echoing, came closer and closer. In the forest, a frail figure swung an axe with all his might, chopping down trees one after another. Large beads of sweat rolled down his gaunt face and fell to the ground
The old lady knows that you have a good heart, but you are only ten years old. You are so young and yet doing such heavy work; how can you possibly manage it? The old lady is also concerned for you.
The young boy took a small bottle out of his pocket. The bottle contained a light-colored liquid that appeared crystal clear and quite beautiful. Looking at the bottle, the boy muttered to himself, "However, speaking of which, this thing is really good. After being beaten by the old man, applying it made me recover in less than an hour, and I feel stronger than before. This should be worth a lot of money in the city, right"