Scripture of Days Past

After the pill lesson came Yang Ling’s martial arts lesson.

Chu Qiguang could see four thick tentacles protruding out of Yang Ling’s shadow, clinging to his legs.

Four tentacles? Chu Qiguang thought. This seems to have something to do with cultivation. Could it be that the more advanced one’s cultivation base, the more tentacles they’ll have?

The focus of this lesson was still on battle footwork, but it leaned more toward the practical application of footwork in battle, specifically what types of footwork ought to be used in different combat scenarios.

Yang Ling demonstrated the importance of footwork in combat, and then he split everyone up into pairs for sparring.

”Practical combat experience is more important than just about anything else as a martial artist. Yesterday, I taught you the basic battle footwork. Today, you’re going to be using that footwork in sparring matches.”

After over an hour of sparring, Yang Ling addressed the trainees on a one-on-one basis, instructing them in their cultivation and answering any questions that they had for him.

He intentionally instructed everyone else first and left Chu Qiguang for last.

”Have you had a chance to work on the Primordial High Zenith Qigong and the Heavenly Demon Vanquishing Palms yet?” he asked with a smile.

Chu Qiguang nodded in response, and then he immediately raised some questions that he had on the two cultivation arts.

Yang Ling was very pleased to hear these questions, as it was clear that Chu Qiguang had invested a great deal of thought and effort into them.

”We have some time today, so I’ll instruct you in the Primordial High Zenith Qigong,” he said as he gave Chu Qiguang an encouraging pat on the shoulder. ”As soon as I first saw you, I could immediately tell that you had the makings of an exceptional juggernaut.

”As long as you’re willing to pursue these two cultivation arts diligently, I’m sure you’ll surpass me someday.”

”Thank you, Instructor Yang,” Chu Qiguang replied, putting on a grateful facade.

Yang Ling regarded Chu Qiguang with a benevolent smile, but inwardly, he was sneering in disdain.

Ideally, he wanted Chu Qiguang to become completely invested in the Primordial High Zenith Qigong and the Heavenly Demon Vanquishing Palms, so he was going to provide him with as much instruction and encouragement as possible.

With that in mind, he led Chu Qiguang away from the training ground before taking him to a secluded courtyard in the villa.

The two brick houses in the courtyard had mostly collapsed due to disrepair, and the ground was covered in snow and weeds. At the very center of the courtyard was a giant boulder that stood over five meters tall.

Yang Ling brushed off some of the snow covering the rock. ”The Primordial High Zenith Qigong is a cultivation art that sends one’s qi and blood into their skin and flesh, granting them enhanced physical resistance and durability. In order to master this cultivation art, some external stimulus is required.”

Yang Ling stripped off his upper garments, revealing a chiseled and muscular physique. The audible sound of flowing blood rang out from him, and his skin quickly turned bright red. It also gave off palpable waves of heat.

The coloration of his skin changed once again; this time, he took on a green hue.

”As you progress in this cultivation art, your body will begin to display changes,” Yang Ling added. ”There are a total of four levels in the Primordial High Zenith Qigong, and with each level, your skin will take on a green, purple, black, and golden color.”

A resounding boom rang out as Yang Ling crashed into the giant boulder like a cannonball, and in that instant, it was as if he had turned into a meat grinder.

His shoulders, arms, fists, chest, back, abdomen... Every single part of him was used in succession to attack the giant boulder. Under the relentless pummeling, a series of fine cracks soon appeared on the boulder.

After concluding his demonstration, Yang Ling remained completely unharmed, and his skin gradually returned to its normal color.

Even though he hadn’t sustained any injuries, striking a rock with his bare body had still been a very painful process.

Of course, the main reason for this was that his mastery of the Primordial High Zenith Qigong was still only on a very rudimentary level.

Progress was far too difficult and slow to come by in this cultivation art, so Yang Ling had given up after reaching just the first level.

This gray granite boulder really is much harder than the average rock. I don’t know why the head instructor went out of his way to transport such a massive piece here, but this will be a perfect training aid for Chu Qiguang.

Even for me, it would take at least a year to smash such a large boulder of gray granite. For him, it would surely take over ten years. In any case, he’s never going to fully master that cultivation art before he reaches the fifth state, and this place is so secluded that no other instructors are going to come and offer him guidance.

With that in mind, Yang Ling was very pleased with himself.

”This is the Primordial High Zenith Qigong,” he declared. ”Once you reach the first level, your body will become as hard as a rock, and ordinary punches and kicks won’t be able to harm you even in the slightest.”

”That’s amazing!” Chu Qiguang praised, playing the role of the naive and impressionable trainee.

”Today, I’m going to teach you how to practice the Primordial High Zenith Qigong,” Yang Ling continued. ”After that, you can come here every day on your own to practice on this boulder.”

Just like that, Chu Qiguang began practicing the Primordial High Zenith Qigong under Yang Ling’s instructions. He sent his qi and blood to different parts of his body before striking the boulder.

After just two hours, Chu Qiguang was already perfectly capable of practicing the Primordial High Zenith Qigong on his own without any further assistance or supervision.

”Well done,” Yang Ling praised. ”I knew you had exceptional talent for the Primordial High Zenith Qigong!”

The Primordial High Zenith Qigong is really easy to pick up, but any progress is extremely difficult to come by, so it’s perfect for giving someone false hope!

Chu Qiguang rubbed his shoulder as he grimaced, ”This rock is a little hard, Instructor Yang.”

”This is just an ordinary rock!” Yang Ling immediately said with a stern expression. ”A martial artist must be willing to embrace adversity and hardship!”

He threw a few punches into the boulder while doing his best to maintain a straight face, even though his fists were throbbing with pain.

”You see? Just a few casual punches from me were enough to crack the rock. Don’t try to make up excuses for your own lack of mental fortitude!”