High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

Xu Wuyi had anticipated this.

The transformation of his Heart Image from a mountain into a great marsh was, in essence, a profound comprehension and restructuring of the Gravity Rules. This understanding directly catalyzed a leap in his very level of existence.

But understanding was one thing. His body still needed time to adapt.

”Pull up all the medicinal resources on the Federation’s intranet that can stabilize my foundation,” Xu Wuyi said. ”Requirements: prioritize quality. Price is no object.”

He had the means to back it up.

The merit points for the Aquasky Star Realm campaign had already been credited to his account.

In that battle, he had single-handedly cleared the field of over two thousand elite Feathered People, and his merit point evaluation had once again reached S-class.

On top of that, by joining the Dongjiang Battle Group, he also received an additional 10% share, adding over two hundred thousand merit points to his account.

Combined with what he had left over, he now wielded nearly three hundred thousand merit points, enough to redeem for the vast majority of resources on the Federation’s intranet.

Below the Grandmaster level, it was likely that few could match his accumulation of merit points.

After all, merit points weren’t currency. They couldn’t be traded, so they didn’t accumulate the way capital does.

”Filtering criteria have been set,” Anna replied. ”Generating recommended list.”

The list on the light screen refreshed quickly.

[A+-Level Resource: ’Nine Orifice Essence Condensing Pill’ (Single Pill), Redemption Cost: 8,000 Merit Points]

[Effect: Unblocks the body’s nine major orifices, purifies Qi and Blood, and stabilizes the Innate foundation. Applicable to Martial Artists below Life Energy Level 45.]

[S--Level Resource: ’Earth Vein Nectar’ (100ml), Redemption Cost: 15,000 Merit Points]

[Effect: Contains the essence of earth veins, allowing for a deep cleansing of physical impurities. Strengthens the connection between Qi and Blood and the Heart Image, and drastically reduces the instability index.]

[A-Level Resource: ’Star Tempering Body Liquid’ (One Portion), Redemption Cost: 5,000 Merit Points]

[Effect: Simulates stellar radiation to temper the physical body, increasing cellular activity and enhancing the resilience of one’s foundation.]

[S-Class Resource: ’Heart Image Anchoring Stone’ (One Piece), Redemption Cost: 30,000 Merit Points]

[Effect: A rare mineral that can be placed in the sea of consciousness to help stabilize the Heart Image’s structure. Especially effective during the period of instability following a Heart Image transformation.]

The list was long, containing over thirty resources ranging from A-level to S-class, with prices varying from a few thousand to tens of thousands of merit points.

Xu Wuyi scanned the list, his mind already made up.

’Prioritize quality, disregard price. In that case, I’ll choose the best.’

”Anna, analyze how compatible these resources are with my current condition and recommend the optimal combination for their use.”

”Analyzing...”

Blue streams of data scrolled by once more as Anna’s voice reported methodically:

”Based on your physiological data and Heart Phase Traits, the following combination is recommended.”

”First, the core resource should be the ’Heart Image Anchoring Stone.’ Your Heart Image has just undergone a structural transformation. While it has achieved preliminary stability, there are still subtle fluctuations in its internal Rule linkages. The Anchoring Stone can provide a stable ’gravitational source’ to help the Heart Image accelerate its internal integration.”

”Second, for the auxiliary resource, use the ’Earth Vein Nectar.’ Your body has endured numerous high-intensity battles and rapid breakthroughs. While you show no external injuries, there is an accumulation of latent fatigue at the cellular level. The deep-cleansing effect of the Earth Vein Nectar can thoroughly eliminate these hidden issues while also enhancing the conduction efficiency for your Qi and Blood and the Power of Heart Image.”

”Third, for general consolidation, use the ’Nine Orifice Essence Condensing Pill.’ This elixir systematically purifies Qi and Blood and unblocks the orifices. It complements the Earth Vein Nectar, fortifying your foundation from both macro and micro levels simultaneously.”

”Using this combination of three resources, it is projected that within seven to ten days, your instability index will drop below 0.5%, and your Foundation Comprehensive Score will increase to over 95 points.”

Xu Wuyi didn’t hesitate after hearing the analysis.

”Make the exchange. One Heart Image Anchoring Stone, two hundred milliliters of Earth Vein Nectar, and three Nine Orifice Essence Condensing Pills.”

”Redemption confirmed.” Anna paused for a second. ”Only two Heart Image Anchoring Stones remain in stock; one has been reserved for you. The inventory for Earth Vein Nectar and Nine Orifice Essence Condensing Pills is sufficient. Total cost: 84,000 merit points.”

Eighty-four thousand merit points.

For an ordinary Innate Martial Artist, accumulating such a sum would require over half a year of desperate fighting on the front lines.

Xu Wuyi, however, spent it without feeling the slightest pinch.

’Merit points are meant to be spent. Exchanging them for concrete improvements in strength is the proper way to use them.’

”The items will be delivered within an hour,” Anna added. ”Additionally, it is recommended that after the resources arrive, you enter a seven-day period of deep conditioning. During this time, avoid high-intensity combat, reduce the external release of the Power of Heart Image, and allow your body to focus on absorbing the medicinal effects.”

Xu Wuyi nodded. ”Got it.”

He closed the light screen, walked to the old locust tree in the backyard, and sat down cross-legged.

The winter sun filtered through the branches, warm on his skin. From the streets in the distance came the sporadic crackle of firecrackers; the New Year’s atmosphere hadn’t entirely faded.

Xu Wuyi closed his eyes and performed Introspection, his awareness sinking into his sea of consciousness.

The dark golden great marsh was placid, without a single ripple. Yet with his current level of perception, he could ”see” the subtle, not-yet-fully-integrated ripples of the Rules beneath its surface.

It was like a pool just filled with water, calm on the surface, but with undercurrents slowly adjusting their direction below.

The role of the Heart Image Anchoring Stone was to give this pool of water a stable ”center of gravity,” allowing all the currents to naturally revolve around it, eventually reaching a state of absolute balance.

As for the Earth Vein Nectar and the Nine Orifice Essence Condensing Pill, they were meant to support the process on a physical level.

The Heart Image and the physical body were two sides of the same coin.

If the Heart Image was unstable, the body would feel un-tethered; if impurities built up in the body, it would in turn interfere with the Heart Image’s function. He had to address both simultaneously.

”Ah Yi, time for lunch!”

His mother’s voice came from inside the house.

Xu Wuyi opened his eyes, called out in acknowledgment, and rose to head back inside.

...

Halfway through lunch, the doorbell rang.

Xu Wuyi got up to open the door. Outside stood a staff member in a military logistics uniform, carrying two silver-gray sealed cases.

”Martial Artist Xu, the resources you redeemed have been delivered.”

Xu Wuyi took the cases, thanked him, and returned to the living room.

”Buying more things?” Mrs. Xu glanced at the cases.

”Yeah, they’re for consolidating my foundation,” Xu Wuyi said. ”Dad, Mom, I’m going into closed-door conditioning for the next seven days. Aside from meals, please try not to disturb me.”

Father Xu and Mrs. Xu looked at each other and both nodded seriously.

”Don’t worry, we won’t let anyone disturb you,” Father Xu said.

Xu Wuyi carried the cases back to his room and locked the door.

Two sealed cases, one large and one small.

The large one contained an irregularly shaped, grayish-black ore about the size of a fist.

Its surface was covered with naturally formed spiral patterns. It felt heavy in his hand, weighing at least fifty kilograms.

This was the Heart Image Anchoring Stone.

In the smaller case, two Crystal tubes and three jade vials were placed side by side.

Inside the Crystal tubes was a viscous, amber-colored liquid—the Earth Vein Nectar. In the jade vials were three dark-gold, longan-sized elixirs with nine-orifice patterns on their surfaces—the Nine Orifice Essence Condensing Pills.

Xu Wuyi first placed the Heart Image Anchoring Stone in his palm and closed his eyes, extending his senses toward it.