30 Chapter 30 - Introductions
After a whole day of explaining and drawing formations, mom tiredly laid and rolled around on the jade bed.
"Good work. It has been hard on you." Dad came into the room and sat beside mom.
"Uuuuuuuughhhhhh... Who knew explaining and drawing formations would be so tiring..." Mom playfully whined.
"Well, carrying Yan'er the whole time probably, didn't help." Dad commented while patting mom's head.
"Muuu~ Yan Yan wants to learn, so of course I will teach!" Mom pouted.
"...Of course. As you say, if Yan'er wants to learn alchemy or fist arts, I will be glad to teach her." Dad agreed, not stopping his hand the whole time.
"Since mommy worked very hard, Daddy should reward her~! Why don't you give mommy a massage all over her body, and I will go to the living room and read some books." I helpfully suggested while withholding the teasing smirk that is tugging at my lips.
'Mommy is just so fun to tease~ Her reactions are very kewt~'
"Eh...? I-if, you're fine with it..." Mom stuttered, a light flush starting to spread across the skin exposed from beneath her fluttery dress from rolling around on the bed.
"O-oh-of course, I'm fine with it. Let me reward you for your hard work..." Dad replied, starting to blush a little
"O-oh, right... I also haven't made it worth your while for earlier this morning..." Mom trailed off, her voice getting softer and softer.
"Okay then, I will leave you 2...(lovebirds) alone and go to the living room and read my books~" I informed them as I casually pushed open the door and walked out of the room, whispering the 'lovebirds' part to myself under my breath.
*creaaaak* *thunk*
******
The couple just blushingly stared at each other, and stayed where they were, with the wife lying on the bed back facing up, and the husband sitting nearby with his legs crossed.
"S-so, will you r-reward me...? I will definitely pay you back well, plus this morning's too..." The wife shyly mentioned after a while of staring at each other.
"O-of course, I should reward my hardworking, tired wife with a massage..." The husband gulped.
The husband crawled over to the wife's side, and started massaging her tired muscles all over her body, and the wife guided him to the muscles that are more fatigued.
******
"Ummmmmmmmuh~ That feels so comfortable~ There, that spot~ Yes~" Mom flirtatiously called out with delight.
'Hehehehe, some fun couple private time...'
*haaaaaaiz*
'Why am I getting myself depressed for? I can just find a nice partner in this life! I hope...'
I shook my head and silently walked over to the bookshelves, thinking to myself with mom's elated voice as my backdrop.
'Today was rather interesting. I got to saw and learn about many different materials, and how formations were made. Mom drew 3 different types of formations :
Qi Gathering Formation,
Protection Formation,
and Cushioning Formation.
The last one, in particular, she drew a few copies of it, at the floor just outside the house, and the 4 sides of the house. Mom mentioned that it was usually drawn on all sides of boxes carrying fragile goods, so the goods will be in pristine condition even after bumpy rides.
She said it was for me, so that I wouldn't get hurt when I fall from high places or knock into the wall. She also warned me about looking where I go, so I don't knock my head or body on something.
The Qi Gathering Formation was drawn right outside the Cushioning Formation surrounding the house, and just beyond that formation, is the Protection Formation. So three layers of formations drawn just outside the house, with 4 more on the walls of the house. That's a lot of formations.'
"Well, at any rate, I can finally read my books now! Time to binge read and go in full throttle~!" I happily hummed as I skipped over to the bookshelves.
"Let's see... I think I begin from where the dictionaries are. It should be where all the 'entry-level' stuff is right?" I pondered as I browsed the titles of books written on the spine.
'Introduction to the Human Language, Further Studies of the Human Language, Human Language for Dummies!, Lul wut, why is there the for dummies series even in another world?? Hehehe.
But If they put it like that, does it mean that Chinese is the language of the human race in this world? Interesting. Looks like the other races will have different languages as well.
Profoundities of the Human Language, Human Language, hUman Language blablabla, Aha! Found one! Finally. The titles for the human language was starting to get repetitive...
Introduction to Body Tempering. Hmm. Definitely useful. I'll take that one.
Introduction to Forging. Yes Please.
Introduction to Alchemy. Definitely.
Introduction to Medicine. Absolutely necessary.
Introduction to Formation. Useful.
Introduction to Talisman. Probably convenient.
Introduction to Cooking. Yessssss. Good, delicious food is a must!
Introduction to Taming. What's life without a few pets....or at least companion?
Introduction to Botany. Plantssss. I'll need to study plants for their specialities.
Introduction to Divination. Heh. What's cultivating without acting cool like you can see everything.
...Eh? Where's Puppeteering? There isn't an introductory book? But then why was a toy given for that particular job if it wasn't included...?' I commented as I happily stacked the books in my hands.
"Oohoof... Did I take too much? 10 books really block your vision huh?" I said in a self-deprecating manner as I struggled not to drop the books and walked over to the carpet.
'Hmm... Mom and dad should be 'pretty busy' for a while, perhaps even all night. I might as well read these thoroughly. While training.'
『Truth Seeker』, 10% activate!
With the usual effects of『Truth Seeker』accompanying my vision now, I carefully made my way to the carpet, dropping the books on the carpet.
"Whew~!" I wiped my forehead and looked at the books scattered on the floor.
"...I should probably organize this." I said to myself and started stacking the books in order.
"So divination at the bottom, then botany, taming, cooking, talisman, formations, medicine, alchemy annnnnd forging. I'll read the body tempering one first." I thought out loud as I separated the Introduction to Body Tempering book from the pile.
'Hmm... I see a very tiny amount of extremely faint light green Qi on the books... Is this the Wood Qi from the wood used to make the paper...?' I mused as I opened the book and caress the pages.
'Welp. First things first.'
『Ascendance』,100% Activate!
With my perception of time slowed down, I began to read the contents of the book.
Introduction to Body Tempering.
Everything you need to know to ace the Body Tempering Realm and set a solid foundation for your path ahead to immortality like the genius you are!
'Pfffffffft~! What the hell is this! HAHAHHAHAHAAAHA THIS SOUNDS LIKE SOME SHADY AD!'
*Wheeeeeeeeezzzzeeeee*
'Oooh. Right. I should refrain from saying anything or overreacting... It's just so awkward to hear everything in slow motion...
Anyway. Ahem Ahem. Serious now. Back to the book.'
The Body Tempering Realm is usually done early in a child's budding years, before every child's growth spurt happens. This is because a child's body is the most pliable.
'Ahem... Feels a little off-putting... or is it just me...?'
Training, for a child, easily improves their body's physical aspects, giving twice the results for half the effort. After the growth spurt ends, wanting to train the body truly is more difficult for the typical adult, only giving half the results for twice the effort.
'Is the author showing off his extensive knowledge of idioms?? To kids?'
The stages of Body Tempering has been passed down since ancient times. It is separated into 3 large phases, each with their own minor stages.
The First, is Strength Training. The human body, when born, is naturally weak. It was made that way by the Primordial Gods, but that is another story. However, the human body, though weak, was made to be very adaptable. Hence, a system of training was set up to improve the physical capabilities of the human body.
The Strength Training Phase is about making the muscles stronger by placing burdens on your muscles, by doing strenuous activities, like running for your life, or hunting for your life, and the like.
'Pffftt. The author is like purposely making jokes or something. Most kids have low attention spans unless they are interested, soooo, makes sense, I guess. Assuming kids even get the joke.'
The Strength Training Phase, like many other realms, is split into 3 minor stages, and a peak. Early, Middle, Late, and then Peak. The Peak is a very special, so-called minor stage, as it is used to describe a maximum, of sorts.
When you begin strength training, you officially enter the beginning of Early stage Strength Training Phase. At this moment, an average 5 years-old kid would be able to lift 10 jins, depending on how old you are.
'Jins? If I'm not mistaken... 1 jin is half a kilogram, so 10 jins is 5 kg... that is pretty good, I guess.'
When you have trained enough, you would slowly move into the actual Early stage of Strength Training Phase. By now, an average kid would be able to carry about 50 jins, which is when you would officially enter the Early stage, or, 1st stage of Body Tempering Realm.
When you can carry about 100 jins of weight to above your head, it is a sign of you truly entering the peak of Early stage Strength Training Phase.
Since I have explained the gist of it, I will shorten my words and proceed to the goals to aim for. Your strength will incrementally increase with training, and when you become able to lift a certain weight above your head with your arms straight, is signs you've reached a certain level.
'Is the author getting lazy? I mean, he has to write it with hand sooo, maybe? No printing press? I mean the words I've seen so far are all written by hand, with each having their own various quirks.'
At the peak of Middle stage Strength Training Phase, the 2nd stage of Body Tempering Realm, you should be able to lift about 200 jins above your head.
At the peak of Late stage Strength Training Phase, the 3rd stage of Body Tempering Realm, you should be able to lift about 300 jins above your head.
At the peak of Peak stage Strength Training Phase, the peak 3rd stage of Body Tempering Realm, you should be able to lift about 400 jins above your head.
Please note that there may be discrepancies depending on age, gender and body size. A younger, female, with small body size, at the peak of Peak stage Strength Training Phase, may only be able to lift 350 jins above their head, which is good, considering all factors. Females are usually weaker in strength compared to males. It is a natural difference in bodies, and is nothing to be ashamed or sad about.
A male at the same age with the same body size, as well as at the peak of Peak stage Strength Training Phase may only be able to lift 300 jins, or 375 jins. It varies a lot from human being to human being, so just train hard, and you will be rewarded.
'Hmm... The author is very decent. Quite objective. Perhaps, it was written by a true seeker of knowledge similar to I. I see little of the usual male superiority and stuff commonly found in worlds of 'less advanced civilizations' in this introductory book.'
The second phase of the Body Tempering Realm, is the Bone Forging Phase. This phase is about forging your bones, so that your bones can withstand the impact of the fights you will have, whether with other humans, or beasts, brought forth by the strength of your stronger muscles.
Thanks to stronger bones, your body will slowly loosen its natural restrictions on your muscle strength, that prevents your body from getting too injured, and that results in more power your body is able to use freely.
At the peak of Early stage Bone Forging Phase, the 4th stage of Body Tempering Realm, you should be able to lift about 500 jins above you head.
At the peak of Middle stage Bone Forging Phase, the 5th stage of Body Tempering Realm, you should be able to lift about 600 jins above your head.
At the peak of Late stage Bone Forging Phase, the 6th stage of Body Tempering Realm, you should be able to lift around 700 jins above your head.
At the peak of Peak stage Bone Forging Phase, the peak 6th stage of Body Tempering Realm, you should be able to lift about 800 jins above your head.
The third and final phase of Body Tempering Realm, is the Tendon Transformation Phase. The tendon is the final restriction the body has on the muscles. It is what connects your muscles to your bones. If the tendons are not strong enough, the muscles will tear the tendons apart when using too much strength. Once the tendon is strong enough, the body will release almost all of the potential power hidden within the human body.
At the peak of Early stage Tendon Transformation Phase, the 7th stage of Body Tempering Realm, you should be able to lift about 900 jins above you head.
At the peak of Middle stage Tendon Transformation Phase, the 8th stage of Body Tempering Realm, you should be able to lift about 1000 jins above your head.
At the peak of Late stage Tendon Transformation Phase, the 9th stage of Body Tempering Realm, you should be able to lift about 1100 jins above your head.
At the peak of Peak stage Tendon Transformation Phase, the Peak stage of Body Tempering Realm, you should be able to lift about 1200 jins above your head.
Finally, I would like to say that all of these numbers are from a study on children of 10 years-old. All of the same age, with various body size, and all of the body sizes each have equal amounts of male and female children. All of these children's results are then compiled and averaged out, to obtain the number you see. It was difficult to find many children of age 10 at the peak of Peak stage Tendon Transformation Phase, as such children have gifted bodies to be able to reach such levels of strength after a mere 10 years of living in this world.
Being able to use 1200 jins of strength at 10 years old is absolutely amazing, and it means that you have already entered the Peak stage of Body Tempering Realm, and have successfully fulfilled the hardest requirement, besides waiting until 10 years old for the dantian and meridians to mature properly, to be able to immediately try to sense Qi and enter the Qi Cultivation realm, the first step on the extremely long road to immortality!
'Phew. That wasn't too bad. Very informative, but doesn't say anything about methods to temper the body...But the 10 years old thing was interesting. So to sense Qi and enter the Qi Cultivation realm, requires waiting until 10 years old. Seems strange, considering I could sense Qi like, when I was just born...
It was short compared to the dictionaries, but then again, each page of the dictionaries are filled with words. This book is probably aimed at children, if they can sit down and read.
However, I feel like this Body Tempering Realm is missing a lot... The whole human body certainly does not just constitues the muscles, bones and tendons... What about the organs?
Since it was mentioned that these methods were passed down from ancient times, perhaps it was because the bodies of ancient humans were more formidable, due to the abundant amounts of Qi of Heaven and Earth. The wanton usage of Qi is probably dwindling the supply of Qi faster than the real Yin and Yang cycle can produce...
Sigh. Wherever I go, intelligent life will never be considerate of their surroundings, will they? Maybe a few, rare enlightened ones, but the majority probably don't think about it. Due to many reasons, but perhaps they just have too much on their plate just surviving. This should be a rather cruel world due to the dwindling resources.' I carefully mused and contemplated over the contents of the book.
『Ascendance』, deactivate.
*Haaaaaaaaaa*
"Seems like I really have my work cut out for me...To think I would need to create a few more things just because the known path is lacking... I am both tired and excited!" I excitedly thought out loud, lost in my own world...
