Chapter 9: Skin Respiration

The toad aspires to eat swan meat, Su Xiang, what do you consider yourself? Murong Xin'er’s silhouette also gradually faded away

"Young Master Su, I understand that this notion may seem rather mysterious, but there truly exists an inexplicable force in the universe. Some masters of internal martial arts are able to resonate with this energy and can enhance their cultivation by drawing upon this power," said Zhang Sanfeng, stroking his beard.

"Inner strength?" Su Xiang's eyes suddenly sparkled with joy, "Teacher Zhang, does inner strength really exist?"

"Young Master Su, I know a method to cultivate internal energy, which is quite perilous, and one might even say it is a matter of life and death. " Zhang Sanfeng said with a serious expression, "If successful, the results will be twice as effective with half the effort, and you will become a master of internal martial arts. However, if you fail, you will surely die—"

However, Teacher Zhang said that the method of cultivating internal energy is fraught with peril, and if one is unfortunate, one might die in the process

"Teacher Zhang, I wish to possess inner strength; please help me," Su Xiang said firmly, looking at Zhang Sanfeng, enunciating each word clearly.

However, Zhang Sanfeng showed no mercy as he held Su Xiang down, refusing to let him surface.

Is death more terrifying than living a mundane life

Dad ... ... Mom ... ... Xin'er ... ... why have you all left me! I don't want to be useless, I refuse to be useless!

Su Xiang wanted to pursue, but Murong Xin'er’s figure transformed into a phantom in the sky

To live as a remarkable person, and to die as a heroic spirit

Su Xiang's soul, in a fit of anger, wanted to slap that uncooperative person in the water, but his hands passed right through his own body in the water. The soul, having exerted too much force, stumbled and unexpectedly fell into the water.

Su Xiang inexplicably inhaled a trace of oxygen, and he greedily breathed it in, feeling his entire being lighten. His consciousness gradually became clearer.

The spiritual energy between heaven and earth? Su Xiang felt that Zhang Sanfeng's statement resembled more of a manual from a cultivation novel than a method for practicing internal martial arts

No, I am not, I am not worthless!" Su Xiang was pale as he defended himself

I do not want to fail, I want to obtain a scholarship, and I do not want to disappoint my parents

I want to be wealthy and powerful, and not be seen through by others

Skin breathing? What should I do, how can I make my skin breathe?

"No, Teacher Zhang, I have already made up my mind; I can start at any time." Su Xiang looked firmly at Zhang Sanfeng

Is that person me

Is this what it feels like to die

I cannot die like this! I must survive, I must survive!

I do not want to live such a mundane life

Teacher Zhang, what should I do

Brother, you must think carefully. A trace of concern also flowed in Xiaodie’s eyes

Skin breathing? Can the skin also breathe? Su Xiang asked in confusion. He only knew that the nose could breathe, and when the nose was overwhelmed, the mouth could lend a hand, but he had never heard of skin breathing.

The intense desire for survival surged within Su Xiang's body like a volcanic eruption, continuously accumulating and bursting forth

Yes, I really feel useless

Su Xiang's soul, through the rippling water surface, gazed at the fragmented sky, where scenes flashed by, revealing the faces of many people: father, mother, Chen Hu, Zhang Jie, Ye Chao, Murong Xin'er ... ...

He gradually lost the strength to resist, his limbs floating weakly in the spring water. From the partially open position of his mouth, a continuous stream of bubbles was gurgling up. The oxygen within him was nearly depleted, and he could no longer find joy in life

In vain

According to Xiao Die, the Tenglong Growth Assistance Device and the * Picture * Book training can be divided into three stages: the Basic Training Stage, the Growth Training Stage, and the Expansion Training Stage. Once his physical fitness meets certain requirements, he can undergo various trainings in the Growth Training Stage, during which he will learn many useful skills, such as stock trading, hacking techniques, basketball, gambling skills, Jeet Kune Do, karate, taekwondo, and so on, which is truly exhilarating to think about

As Su Xiang felt his strength gradually fading away, he continued to think this way, and in his unfocused pupils, an unwavering belief still radiated.

Su Xiang only felt a rush of wind by his ear, and then he was forcefully pressed underwater. He opened his mouth to call for help, but the spring water rushed into his mouth, forcing him to tightly close his lips

Skin ... ... breathes, does the skin breathe?

Zhang Sanfeng nodded slightly, his expression revealing a hint of melancholy: "Of course there are. Over two thousand years ago, and even earlier, martial artists were able to cultivate internal energy. However, in today's universe, most methods of cultivating internal skills have been lost. Only a few ancient martial arts families and some techniques for internal cultivation remain."

Su Xiang had always believed that internal power, this mysterious concept, was something invented by Mr. Jin Yong. He never expected that Zhang Sanfeng would actually claim that internal power truly exists, which left Su Xiang feeling indescribably excited

"You, are you not worthless? Have you ever brought us any pride from childhood to now? The children from the Lao Xu family are the same age as you, and they receive the 'Three Good Student' award every year, winning scholarships in college. What about you? Have you ever received a single certificate of merit from childhood to now? You even failed a subject in college! Well... you are a genius, we do not have a son as talented as you!" The angry faces of the parents faded away into the sky

Zhang Sanfeng carefully discerned Su Xiang's gaze, which was particularly resolute, not resembling that of a momentary impulse. He sighed and said, "Alright, Young Master Su, I will help you"

Um... um... um...

Zhang Sanfeng's footsteps gradually faded away, and Su Xiang leaned against the metal wall of the nutrient chamber, lost in thought

A sorrowful emotion quietly enveloped his heart, and Su Xiang suddenly felt an inexplicable sadness. His soul seemed to sink into the water, where he could clearly see the face of a drowned person, struggling in pain, gradually losing vitality.

Su Xiang nodded in a seemingly understanding manner and curiously asked, "Teacher Zhang, what should I do to allow my skin to breathe?"

Gradually, Su Xiang's struggling limbs became increasingly exhausted, making even the slightest movement extremely difficult. A buzzing sound began to fill his mind, and his consciousness slowly detached from his body

Young Master Su, this is not included in the training program. You may take some time to think it over before responding to me

"Mom and Dad, I am not worthless, I truly am not!" Su Xiang shouted hoarsely, but the faces of his parents dissipated like smoke

The method I know is called skin respiration method

I am not afraid!" Su Xiang said firmly

Death... Is death frightening

Su Xiang suddenly stood up from the nutrient chamber, disregarding the wet nutrient solution all over his body. After asking Xiao Die where Zhang Sanfeng was, he dashed outside.

"Good, Young Master Su! Please close your eyes, take a deep breath as much as possible, and do not open your eyes without my instruction," Zhang Sanfeng advised, slowly walking to Su Xiang's back.

"Country bumpkin, you are not useless yet, who is useless... Do you have money and power? Are you good at studying? You are nothing but a worthless thing!" Chen Hu, Zhang Jie, and Ye Chao cast a disdainful glance at Su Xiang and turned to leave.

The skin on Su Xiang's chest appeared to have been pricked with tiny needles, with fine pores surrounding the *illustration* accompanied by delicate, hair-like bubbles. Upon closer inspection, it was nearly impossible to discern them.

Su Xiang's soul cried out hoarsely, as if it were being drawn by something into a deep vortex, akin to falling into an abyss. He kept plummeting, plummeting...

Xin'er... Su Xiang gazed at Murong Xin'er's gentle face, and a wave of warmth surged in his heart

Su Xiang opened his eyes as if experiencing a moment of clarity, with no time to ponder the nature of his recent soul's detachment. Instead, he was desperately trying to think of how to breathe through his skin

Suddenly, the faces of those people became grotesque, each one looking at the dying Su Xiang in the water and laughing heartily: "Su Xiang, you are nothing but a waste!"

Um... um!''

Young Master Su, skin breathe, skin! Breathe! The voice of Zhang Sanfeng, like a sudden enlightenment, penetrated through the eardrum straight into the depths of the soul

Su Xiang tightly grasped the pebbles at the bottom of the water, the veins on his hands bulging. He did not know how to perform cutaneous respiration; he only knew that he had to survive, he must survive!

Su Xiang instinctively pushed his hands against the ground, trying to rise from the water, but could his strength surpass that of Zhang Sanfeng? No matter how hard he tried, it was all in vain; he remained firmly pressed underwater, gradually depleting the last remnants of air in his lungs.

For Su Xiang, internal strength is undoubtedly a tremendous temptation, as the effects of training are greatly amplified, allowing for the early acquisition of substantial knowledge

"Young Master Su, are you really sure you want to do it that way?" Zhang Sanfeng said with a serious expression, "I am not joking with you; that method is truly fraught with peril. If it fails, you will really die!"

The air in Su Xiang's chest has been exhausted, and it feels as if a massive stone is pressing down on his heart, heavy and suffocating

I want to become a prince charming, able to stand proudly in front of Murong Xin'er

Su Xiang's face also displayed an expression of regret

Su Xiang suddenly felt a strange sensation, as if his soul had detached from his body and was gazing down at himself in the water from a high vantage point

"Young Master Su, is your decision not a bit hasty? I did not deceive you; that method is truly fraught with peril. You may want to reconsider, do not act on impulse," Zhang Sanfeng said, frowning.

"I really feel useless and disappointing." Su Xiang looked at his own face in the water with disdain, suddenly overwhelmed by a surge of anger.

I want to survive

Zhang Sanfeng, dressed entirely in white, stood with his hands clasped behind his back by the stream.

The skin can indeed breathe, but the extent to which humans rely on their skin for respiration is relatively low, resulting in most of the body's pores becoming clogged and losing their ability to breathe. Zhang Sanfeng explained, "There are two sources of internal energy: one is through personal cultivation, which, to my knowledge, has been lost; the other is by absorbing the spiritual energy from the universe. The skin breathing method involves cultivating internal energy by drawing in the spiritual energy from the universe."

The air between his lungs was running out, and Su Xiang felt a heaviness in his chest, twisting his body as if in a moment of reflection, wanting nothing more than to push Zhang Sanfeng away from him

Su Xiang's soul looked at his own face in the water with a bitter smile, as if it were both present and absent. On that face, there seemed to be a hint of a mocking smile, as if saying: Su Xiang, you are useless; this is all you can achieve in this lifetime.

Su Xiang took a deep breath as Zhang Sanfeng suddenly moved. His hand, like an eagle's claw, gripped the back of Su Xiang's neck. With a leap, he pulled Su Xiang into the spring water. A hint of hesitation crossed his face, but recalling Su Xiang's resolute gaze, he immediately pressed Su Xiang into the water without any hesitation