Chapter 4: Testing Medicine and Beginning Physical Training

While adjusting his breathing, Shi Xuan endured the uncomfortable itch, sensing the strength of various parts of his body and maintaining a state of overall balance. In this state, any elements that disrupt the body's equilibrium and pose harm are expelled as the body transitions back to balance (there are limits to this process, which is why harmful components in medicines must be used in moderation. This is one of the valuable aspects of a prescription). Thus, the harmful components in external medicines are gradually expelled from the body, and during this expulsion process, harmful substances deep within the body, such as those in the bones, are also eliminated. Meanwhile, the beneficial components in the external medicines replace these substances, nourishing the body.

At that moment, the other two dogs appeared to be in a state of high spirits, their eyes red, and they began to bark without any apparent issue. However, after a short while, the yellow dog suddenly exerted itself and surprisingly broke free from the binding spell. It then started to run wildly around the yard; had the walls not been so high, it likely could have jumped out directly. Shi Xuan observed for a moment and was just about to approach to compare with the remaining black dog when the yellow dog began to slow down, ultimately whimpering and collapsing to the ground, motionless.

As each move of the boxing technique was executed, Shi Xuan felt the heat flowing in conjunction with his fist's momentum. Often, with each strike, the areas of his muscles that were most tense and exerting force gathered more heat. Under the pressure of internal and external forces, the impurities within his body were expelled through the pores, in harmony with the boxing technique and the flow of heat

After a day of physical training, Shi Xuan felt the strength of his body and soul before sleep. He preliminarily assessed that if he continued to practice twice daily, he would be able to enter the Qi Nourishing and Soul Strengthening stage in five months. At the same time, the strength of his body would far exceed its original state. After all, the Ten Dragons Subduing Demons Fist and this prescription are significantly superior to what he had before, allowing him to train in areas he could not reach previously, and the effectiveness of training the same areas as in the books would also be much better. Truly, it is the content of the supreme great method. However, while practicing the Ten Dragons Subduing Demons Fist, he felt that he had not yet grasped the essence of this martial art and needed to put in more effort.

After the momentum of Shi Xuan's fist slowed to an extreme, it began to accelerate again. In the end, when he threw a punch, the sound of the wind whooshed, and the sounds of his joints were as dense as popping beans.

In the midst of the itch, Shi Xuan maintained this state of breath regulation. This intensity of practicing "Qi" also has certain benefits for the soul. After half an hour, as the effects of the medicine gradually faded, Shi Xuan emerged from the vat, dried his body, and felt an overwhelming lightness, an unparalleled comfort, a sense of spiritual clarity, heightened perception, and a slight enhancement in the strength of his soul. At the same time, a minor internal injury he had previously sustained had surprisingly healed. It is worth noting that it was originally assessed that it would take half a month to recover. This is the benefit of practicing "Qi".

Shi Xuan was becoming increasingly exhilarated, his spirits lifting as if a surge of energy was about to burst forth from within. As the golden dragon swayed its tail, he pulled with his left hand, turned his body, and exerted all his muscles. His right hand struck downward with the force of Mount Tai, executing the move known as "Heavenly Dragon Descends."

Shi Xuan confirmed the efficacy of the medicine, feeling a sense of reassurance in his heart. Today, he would begin his training to strengthen his body.

The human body and soul share a mysterious and close connection, which is why it is often observed that those with robust physiques tend to have better spirits, while those with frail bodies exhibit a lack of vitality. Cultivating the body and nourishing the soul involves practicing various external techniques to strengthen the body, thereby replenishing the soul. When the body is exercised to a certain limit, internal energy naturally arises, and at the same time, the soul transcends its boundaries, entering a phase of nurturing energy and strengthening the soul.

A night without conversation

At this moment, Shi Xuan felt the medicine he had consumed transform into a surge of warmth that spread throughout his body and into every corner of the *illustration* and *book*. He assumed the proper posture and began to practice the initial stance of the Ten Dragons Subduing Demons Fist as recorded in the "Treasure Record".

Since the medicinal materials used in the medicinal bath formula and the oral formula are the same, only the proportions differ, we can now finalize the medicinal bath formula. However, caution is paramount, so we will first test it on the remaining dog.

Upon entering the kitchen, a fragrant aroma of medicinal herbs wafts through the air, suggesting that all three types of medicine are non-toxic and harmless

Having placed the tray in the yard, he stopped at the corner where four dogs were tied up, set the tray on the ground, formed a hand seal, stepped out in the Seven Stars formation, and murmured incantations to mobilize the energy within his body. After a moment, he cast a binding spell to immobilize the four dogs. Shi Xuan hurriedly administered three bowls of medicine to the two black and one yellow dog, then stepped aside to await the effects of the medicine.

Shi Xuan stepped forward to examine carefully and found that the person had merely fainted, but their body was weak, as if they had exhausted a great deal of energy. It appeared that this prescription resembled a stimulant, being harmful rather than beneficial to the body

Gradually, Shi Xuan entered a state of clarity, as if he could see both his soul and body. The soul resided within, while the body was external. With each punch he threw, it felt as though both the body and soul were striking together, while the vital energy of the body continuously nourished the soul from within, causing the soul to gradually grow stronger

After a day of running around and being busy, Shi Xuan was quite exhausted. After going out for dinner, he returned, meditated for a moment to adjust his breath, and then fell asleep.

As Shi Xuan hurried to the kitchen, he suddenly recalled the possibility of encountering some air-borne deadly poison. He quickly halted his steps and, despite the pain in his heart, applied a Dust Absorption Talisman on himself. Once activated, he felt the ground beneath him writhing, as yellow earth began to crawl up from his feet to envelop him. In the blink of an eye, he was covered in a layer of yellow earth, resembling a Terracotta Warrior. At the same time, he cast a Dust Removal Spell on his face before continuing his way to the kitchen. The yellow earth crawled up from his feet, and in an instant, he was covered in a layer of yellow earth, looking just like a Terracotta Warrior. He then cast a Dust Removal Spell on his face and proceeded to the kitchen.

With a single punch, the strength from his entire body and the surging energy within him seemed to be released through that fist. A crisp sound echoed through the air, and unexpectedly, a gust of wind was generated that snapped a slender branch of a tree two zhang away.

After lunch, Shi Xuan looked at the bowl of medicine placed before him. After a moment of calm reflection, he drank it all in one go, then took off his robe and walked into the courtyard with his upper body bare

Shi Xuan thus hurried to the well, drew a bucket of water, and found a cloth to wipe away the dirt from his body, feeling refreshed. Since the medicinal bath was prepared at the right time, it was just perfect now. Shi Xuan entered the kitchen, stepped into the tub, and sat cross-legged. He felt that as the temperature rose, the medicinal properties seeped from his skin into his muscles, and there was an increasing tendency for it to penetrate into his bones. Following the teachings of the "Bao Lu," he began to regulate his breathing, sensing his body as a whole in a balanced and interactive state, which is essentially one meaning of the "qi" in qi cultivation. He felt that as the temperature increased, the medicinal properties seeped from his skin into his muscles, and there was an increasing tendency for it to penetrate into his bones. Following the teachings of the "Bao Lu," he began to regulate his breathing, sensing his body as a whole in a balanced and interactive state, which is essentially one meaning of the "qi" in qi cultivation, controlling and coordinating the strength of various parts of the body to eliminate harm and restore balance.

Shi Xuan labeled the medicine jars with the characters A, B, and C, and then found three bowls, also marking them with A, B, and C on their edges. He then placed a dust-proof talisman he had previously drawn on the tray and activated it, subsequently forcing the medicinal liquid into each corresponding bowl. Shi Xuan thought to himself, "Although it is ancient times and there is no laboratory environment, it is still possible to perform aseptic operations. The Dao is indeed marvelous."

If physical training does not reach its limits and one forcibly practices the internal cultivation techniques during the energy nurturing phase, it may lead to hidden injuries due to the body's inability to withstand the consumption of refining essence into energy. In severe cases, it can deplete the body, resulting in tuberculosis. Naturally, even after entering the energy nurturing phase, it is essential to supplement a large amount of nutrients daily to compensate for the consumption of refining essence into energy; otherwise, the body will experience various ailments due to a lack of intake. Therefore, martial artists must expend considerable resources, and those without financial means or powerful support find it challenging to master advanced martial arts. Naturally, even after entering the energy nurturing phase, it is essential to supplement a large amount of nutrients daily to compensate for the consumption of refining essence into energy; otherwise, the body will experience various ailments due to a lack of intake. Therefore, martial artists must expend considerable resources, and those without financial means or powerful support find it challenging to master advanced martial arts.

The results of the experiment greatly satisfied Shi Xuan. The yellow dog did not exhibit any adverse symptoms after the medicated bath; it merely rubbed against things as if its bones were itchy. However, by evening, it had returned to normal. Shi Xuan speculated that this was a manifestation of the medicinal properties penetrating the skin

It is important to understand that during regular breathing exercises, the harmful substances deep within the bones are difficult to expel. This is because these harmful substances have not reached a level that threatens the body's balance; they can only be eliminated when the body becomes significantly stronger. Only when the "qi" reaches a very strong level can some of these substances be expelled, and this level may only be achieved by Shi Xuan after one or two more realms.

After delivering this punch, Shi Xuan halted his movements, feeling an immense sense of satisfaction within. His muscles ached all over, yet they were filled with strength. However, he was drenched in sweat and covered in a layer of black grime, which made him feel somewhat uncomfortable

If there were onlookers, they would notice that at this moment, steam was rising from Shi Xuan's body, enveloping him as if he were shrouded in a thin mist. The area above his head, where the steam was most concentrated, resembled white smoke rising upwards. It was as if a breeze surrounded him, creating a circle of about one zhang on the ground.

Because Shi Xuan had already familiarized himself with the ten techniques of the Ten Dragons Subduing Demons Fist in the morning, he was now quite proficient, smoothly transitioning from the initial move of the Barbarian Dragon Waist Turn, through the Azure Dragon Subduing Waves, all the way to the concluding moves of the Golden Dragon Tail Sweep and the Celestial Dragon Descending to Earth

In the following months, Shi Xuan remained reclusive, only going out for meals and to buy medicine. He spent the rest of his time in the courtyard and with books, practicing the Ten Dragons Subduing Demons Fist twice a day. During his spare time, he reviewed the various techniques he had learned in this body, resulting in significant improvements in both his physical and spiritual aspects. At the same time, he recalled the knowledge and experiences shared by Old Daoist Xu, preparing himself for future travels in search of immortals and wisdom.

The next day, Shi Xuan got up early. Both dogs that had taken the medication were still alive and well, but the yellow dog that had ingested what was suspected to be a stimulant appeared to have aged significantly, lying in the corner listlessly.

Shi Xuan felt increasingly exhilarated as he practiced the Ten Dragons Subduing Demons Fist repeatedly, from beginning to end and then back again, performing it over a dozen times. Moreover, he found himself moving slower with each repetition, eventually resembling the practice of Tai Chi in later generations. However, at this moment, Shi Xuan appreciated the slowness, as the medicinal effects combined with his movements made him feel the corners of his body and the deeper layers of his muscles, which had not been exercised before, begin to tremble in response to the force of his punches

After a few breaths, one of the black dogs suddenly convulsed all over, foaming at the mouth, blood in its eyes, struggling yet unable to move. In less than a moment, it fell silent, merely standing there due to the effect of the immobilization spell, not collapsing. Shi Xuan was drenched in sweat; fortunately, we conducted the experiment. Perhaps this substance can be sold as a highly toxic secret formula for a good price in the future. As for why I wouldn't use it myself later, it is mainly because, judging by this effect, it neither turned into a puddle of blood nor emitted a plume of yellow smoke. It seems capable of dealing with ordinary people and martial artists, but it is hard to say it would have any good effect on cultivators with a certain level of skill.

Shi Xuan returned to the corner, continuously observing the remaining black dog until the spell's power dissipated. The black dog merely expelled a layer of black substance from its body, and after the spell's power faded, it appeared lively and energetic. At this point, Shi Xuan had a clear understanding of the prescription, but to be cautious, he decided to wait another night and assess the condition of the two dogs tomorrow.