Chapter 24: Experience
Fang Lingjue took back the flash drive. "Only White Crane Sect's disciples can cultivate the White Crane Fist."
Even though there were still plenty of people who secretly learned the technique, he was a disciple of the White Crane Sect and couldn't pass the technique to Li Pin just because he thought well of him.
Fang Lingjue rummaged through his drawer again and quickly took out another booklet. "These are the notes I've concluded with regard to my experience in pursuing Core Formation. I hope that it'll be useful to you."
Li Pin didn't refuse this time.
"Thanks."
What Li Pin couldn't accept was the relationship that came with having a lifelong master, not an exchange of favors. While many people may not put much weight behind a relationship like that and could easily cut off ties with their masters, Li Pin couldn't bring himself to do the same.
"You are really…." Fang Lingjue shook his head. "If you can be more slick in your interaction with others, your future path may be a lot easier."
"I know," Li Pin responded. "The world keeps teaching people to act slicker, be thick-skinned, be merciless. Everyone is trying to polish themselves to adapt to how the world works. However, they gradually forget that the world has never been so complicated intrinsically."
His expression was calm as he continued, "The greatest righteousness shows the greatest slickness. The greatest talent is naturally formed and not made. The greatest sound is silent. The greatest image cannot be seen. [1]"
Fang Lingjue didn't argue with Li Pin.
He could only say… that it was good to be young.
"Although you have great talent, Core Formation isn't something that is easily achievable. The process is extremely dangerous and if you aren't careful, it can be life-threatening. Yet, you're unwilling to…."
"Humans follow the laws of the earth, the earth follows the laws of the heaven, the heaven follows the laws of Dao, and Dao follows the laws of nature. My martial arts stem from gathering the strengths of various schools and techniques, to begin with. I should be able to find the right direction if I browse through more arts and techniques," Li Pin said, "What's best is what suits one the most."
Fang Lingjue wanted to rebut. He felt that Li Pin thought too simply of Core Formation. However, thinking back on Li Pin's aptitude… he decided not to.
It was really infuriating to talk to geniuses like him.
Fang Lingjue stayed silent for a while before he said, "Core Formation is no joke. No matter how talented you are, don't act recklessly. Even without a master to teach you in person, you should get yourself a Core Formation legacy before you attempt it. The path of attaining the Core was built on the experience of countless people's studies and sacrifices since ancient times."
Li Pin nodded. He agreed with Fang Lingjue on this. Therefore, he planned on spending the next five months studying Core Formation.
However, at this moment, Fang Lingjue decided to say something after much thought. "The martial arts circle in Zanglong City is neither considered big nor small. Some top-notch fist arts and techniques are protected by copyrights. Precious resources like the Dragontiger Pill and red sage are not allowed to be put up for sale in the market either."
He added, "People with connections and status would naturally have their ways to gain access to these things, but there are also people who want them, and who are rich enough to buy them, but don't have sufficient connections to do that. With demand, there'd be supply. As time passes, markets that are kept under wraps form in each city."
"The black market?"
"Heh, don't make it sound so crude. We should call it a private offline market." Fang Lingjue smiled. "Since you don't wish to acknowledge a master but want to get a complete art for Core Formation, you can only try your luck in the private market. Core Formation arts aren't that precious."
He took out a pen and scribbled an address. "Every Friday night, Fangzheng Street, Luo Family Compound."
Li Pin had an impression of this place. There was a large-scale flower market next to the Luo Family Compound. Back then, many students living in dormitories would buy succulents from there.
"There are all sorts of people attending such private markets and the same goes for the goods sold there. There will be a lot of counterfeits. It will be up to the individual parties on the sales and purchases. However, the advantage is that there's an influential person backing this private market and the local authorities will not investigate the place."
Fang Lingjue smiled and continued, "This place isn't a bad option to consider when you want to purchase items that are unavailable in public markets. If you also have any resources that you find difficult to sell in official channels, you can sell them there."
"An Influential person? Who is it?" Li Pin asked.
"Who do you think it is that one would refer to as an influential person in Zanglong City?" Fang Lingjue asked.
Li Pin understood.
It was an Astral Cultivator.
"Therefore, as long as you don't stand out too much, your safety is pretty much guaranteed," said Fang Lingjue.
Li Pin nodded.
Fang Lingjue then shared more things that Li Pin should take note of.
After a while, he said, "Seeing that you aren't even willing to acknowledge a master, you probably don't plan on taking the political path through martial societies or joining the military either, right? I was planning to introduce you to Zanglong City Martial Society."
"I don't mind, but I might not stay in Zanglong City for too long," Li Pin replied.
Fang Lingjue's eyes widened. "Good lord, you...."
Fang Lingjue didn't know what to say. However, when he recalled how Li Pin had relied on himself to reach the stage where he was able to unleash Core Force, he suddenly didn't find it that odd. After all, as long as a genius like this didn't die, Core Formation definitely wouldn't be his final stop. Aura Force, or even Spirit Force Martial Saints—that would be his final goal.
Spirit Force Martial Saints aside, even Aura Force Grandmasters could be counted on two hands.
Li Pin's future definitely wouldn't be restricted within the small Zanglong City.
After thinking through this, Fang Lingjue let out a bitter laugh. "I feel that I should open my branch to Jiang Province City. With you as a living signboard, I won't need to fear that our martial hall won't be able to establish a standing in Jiang Province City."
"Sure. Haven't we signed a contract? I'll help you take care of the place then," Li Pin replied with a smile.
Fang Lingjue only brought this up to test the waters. However, after hearing Li Pin's reply, he took it a little more seriously. "You agree to this? Does that mean I can go and check out the potential locations?"
Li Pin smiled and nodded. "Mmhmm."
Fang Lingjue instantly became spirited.
***
In his apartment's training room.
Li Pin closed the book that recorded Fang Lingjue's Core Formation experience.
"Condensing the qi to form a core...."
For this realm, the most important factor was to control the qi and blood within the body, allowing the qi and blood to become flawless and uniform, to the point where it wouldn't leak easily.
After completing this step, as long as a martial artist wasn't engaged in intense exercise or physical combat, the constant circulation of the qi and blood would scour through their body. It would strengthen the person's physique and boost the qi and blood, thereby allowing the individual's strength to rapidly make a breakthrough to 30 points.
Humans had limits.
Running athletes on Blue Planet, for example, might find it easy to shorten the duration to complete a 100-meter dash from twelve seconds to eleven seconds. However, the difficulty level would be raised exponentially to shorten the duration from eleven seconds to ten seconds, and eventually to nine seconds.
No one had succeeded to date.
The same applied to strengthening the qi and blood.
Martial artists relied on Force to temper their bodies, and it was very easy for one's qi and blood to break through 20 points. It would also rapidly rise to 25, 26, and 27 points. As for the 28 and 29 point threshold, one would have to grind through their training to reach there.
For one to reach 30 or 31 points in their qi and blood at the Force Cultivation stage, the difficulty would be comparable to running a 100-meter dash in nine seconds.
However, once Core Formation is completed, the body would complete another round of evolution. The way the qi and blood circulated would change and the rise in the qi and blood would enter a rapid phase, just like how it'd be when ordinary people managed to manifest Force.
One would be able to increase their qi and blood level to 32, 33, or 34 points within three to five months. However, the rate of increase would slow down after 34 or 35 points. Thereafter, one's qi and blood level would only be able to scale up to 37, 38, or even 39 points after they had successfully reached Aura Force and their internal organs were strengthened.
"I've always had a general idea of how to achieve Core Formation, and I am just short of putting the theory into practice. However, to reach Aura Force…."
There was yearning in Li Pin's gaze.
On Blue Planet, Core Force Masters were a rare sight. However, they could still be seen once in a while. However, Aura Force Grandmasters were considered legends and were completely non-existent.
Li Pin had been training in martial arts for over ten years but had not met a living Aura Force martial artist.
This was also why, on multiple occasions, he had been in awe of how martial arts flourished in this world.
"After reading through Hall Master Fang's experience on Core Force, my understanding of consolidating qi to form a Core has become even clearer. I only need to continue to work on Core Force.... I'll stimulate my qi and blood repeatedly, turning them into a flawless whole. I'll then turn them into Core Force and unleash them. When this is repeated multiple times, I'll naturally be able to succeed in consolidating my qi to form a Core…."
Li Pin did a slight calculation. "It'll probably take..."
Very soon, he obtained extremely detailed figures.
"Come on out, my statistics window."
[Core Formation: 0/514]
1. An interpretation of an extract from Tao Te Ching. ☜
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