Chapter 7 The Path of Power

The Way of Power lies in the mastery of Qi, the opening of meridians, the cultivation of the Five Elements, the harmonizing of Yin and Yang, and ultimately, the creation of Chaos. Though the path may seem simple, throughout the ages, only a handful have ever reached its pinnacle.

Qi, also known as true energy, is the essence of life itself. When Qi gathers, life flourishes; when Qi is abundant, health is strong; when Qi weakens, the body falters; and when Qi disperses, life ends.

Qi resides in the Dantian and flows through the meridians. When Qi manifests, it exhibits characteristics of penetration, fluidity, piercing, adherence, relaxation, resilience, cohesion, and firmness.

Said Tong, gas shun also; Said through, gas shun also; From then on, he had no trouble communicating with him.

Said to wear, gas also; Said stick, the collaterals of gas also. Wear stick, cross and vertical connection is called also, cross and vertical connection is affixed, is Yang stretching tendon pulling force, to just firm condensation means also.

Yue pine, gas fisherman, soft extreme also. Say fierce, gas also. Tough man is very strong, very healthy, Qi-blood knot is also called. Cover the soft can help the tough, the tough can help the soft.

Yue, one of the gas also; Say firm, gas can also. He who is united, the whole body is one; Firm, horizontal and vertical oblique winding is called also.

When Qi gathers, it forms; when Qi disperses, it returns to the Great Void.

At the beginning of human life, one gathers the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth and the essence of the sun and moon. At this time, one's Qi is at its peak. If one knew how to cultivate at this stage, they could transcend life and death. However, at that early stage, human intelligence has not yet developed, so the concept of cultivation does not exist.

As a person continues to grow, Qi is required both to sustain physical growth and to support bodily activities, which constantly deplete Qi. Eventually, as life draws to a close, the Qi within the body is entirely consumed, and life ends like a lamp extinguished.

Thus, the human body is always in a state of surplus loss and Qi deficiency. The way of martial cultivation lies in enhancing the Qi within the human body. When cultivated to the extreme, one can possess the power to split mountains and calm seas.

A warrior senses Qi, a martial master gathers Qi; a martial grandmaster strengthens Qi, a king rides Qi to fly, and an emperor transforms Qi into matter, possessing the power to traverse mountains and seas, split the earth, and destroy cities."

Nasser Reza and Abbas silently recited these words in their hearts, gradually gaining understanding. They closed their eyes slightly, focusing inwardly, carefully contemplating and comprehending the essence of the teachings.

After a long time, they suddenly opened their eyes and looked at each other, seeing the hint of joy in the other's eyes.

"Did you feel it?" Abbas asked.

"Yes," Nasser Reza replied.

Nasser Reza and Abbas nearly simultaneously sensed the existence of Qi within their bodies—ethereal and elusive, almost impossible to grasp.

Sensing Qi meant they had officially stepped into the ranks of warriors, taking their first steps on the path of martial arts.

Suddenly, they both noticed a slight chill in the surrounding air. Upon closer inspection, they saw wisps of cold air emanating from Hina's body. A thin layer of frost formed on her eyebrows and hair as the coldness radiated from her, spreading throughout the area.

However, Hina showed no signs of discomfort; instead, she appeared somewhat content. The two realized that Hina had likely gained some insight from reading the blue book and was now experiencing the effects of her newfound understanding. Not wanting to fall behind, they each picked up a book and began studying intently. Being outpaced by Hina would be a blow to their pride.

Nasser Reza chose to study Bull Strength and Sunset Finger, while Abbas delved into the most complex and challenging book, Wind Scroll Art.

The sky outside remained dark, and the rain continued to fall. However, within this secluded cave, Nasser Reza, Abbas, and Hina quietly took the most crucial step of their lives. Their fates began to change, setting them on a path of transformation.

There is a poem cloud:

Born in troubled times, the heart is bitter, turbulence and threesome.

The golden scale is not in the pond, once the wind and cloud will transform the dragon.

Nasser Reza picked up the Bull Amulet and Dusk Amulet books. He chose the Bull Amulet because it seemed the easiest to understand; after all, when first dealing with something as elusive as energy, it was best to take things slowly. The Dusk Amulet, on the other hand, resonated deeply with a sensitive nerve in Nasser Reza's heart.

The setting sun, like blood, weeps silently, and behind its crimson hue lies a heart growing colder with each passing moment.

Nasser Reza opened the Bull Amulet book and began to read it attentively.

The Bull Amulet technique consists of twenty levels, focusing on tempering the body and nourishing energy through blood. It emphasizes that as long as blood flows, energy remains inexhaustible, and it is renowned for its tremendous strength. Upon reaching the fifth level, one could possess the strength of a thousand pounds, with each subsequent level bringing about a rapid increase in power.

However, the practice of the Bull Amulet places exceptionally strict demands on the meridians.

Meridians are essential to life and the formation of energy in the body. They traverse deep within the flesh, invisible to the eye. There are twelve principal meridians, referred to as the hand and foot Yin channels and the hand and foot Yang channels. Additionally, there are eight extra meridians, known as the Du, Ren, Chong, Dai, Yin Qiao, Yang Qiao, Yin Wei, and Yang Wei. Beyond these, there are countless collateral and minor branches of meridians.

Nasser Reza's expression suddenly brightened with joy when he discovered that all the meridians in his body were inexplicably unblocked.

He recalled the two key phrases from the Way of Martial Arts:

"Tong: The smoothness of qi; Tuo: The flow of qi. 'Tong' and 'Tuo' indicate unobstructed passage from one place to another."

"Chuan: The connection of qi; Tie: The network of qi. 'Chuan' and 'Tie' describe the horizontal and vertical connections, with 'Tie' referring to the horizontal network and 'Chuan' to the vertical linkage, embodying the stretching and strengthening of muscles with a sense of firmness and solidity."

Nasser Reza felt a surge of joy as he realized that all the meridians in his body were completely unblocked. The qi flowed freely within his meridians, allowing him to master the concepts of Tong, Tuo, Chuan, and Tie effortlessly. This understanding explained why he was able to leap and strike a giant serpent with a single sword strike, possessing power and speed far greater than ordinary people.

However, he was puzzled as to why he had achieved such a rare feat, as breaking through the meridians was generally a difficult challenge for any warrior. He remembered that since emerging from the cave behind the waterfall in the mountain gorge, his strength and speed had suddenly increased dramatically. It dawned on him that this must be connected to the round, pill-shaped object he had swallowed.

Nasser Reza glanced at the blood-red long sword beside him, wondering if it might conceal some astonishing secret. However, he quickly refocused on his task, deciding to start practicing the first layer of the Mighty Bull Talisman.

Each layer of the Mighty Bull Talisman corresponded to a specific meridian. Following the mantra, Nasser Reza directed his qi to circulate through the "Hand Taiyang" meridian of the twelve primary meridians. The qi flowed slowly through the meridian, completing one full circuit, and then gradually increased in speed. He could feel the qi slowly absorbing the essence of his blood.

The Mighty Bull Talisman emphasized nourishing and boosting blood, allowing the qi to be enriched by the blood.

"Shh… shh…"

The qi moved rapidly like a dragon through the "Hand Taiyang" meridian, invigorating his entire body.

"First layer completed," Nasser Reza rejoiced, and immediately began practicing the second layer of the Mighty Bull Talisman. His qi slowly circulated through the "Hand Taiyin" meridian.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the qi completed one full circuit through the "Hand Taiyang" meridian, marking a minor success in the second layer of the Mighty Bull Talisman.

However, just as Nasser Reza was about to start on the third layer, he was suddenly struck by a wave of dizziness and weakness. His face turned pale, as the excessive depletion of his blood essence had reached its limit. Given the vitality of his blood, reaching the second layer had been the maximum he could manage.

Nasser Reza stopped the circulation of qi, realizing that continuing further would have drained him completely.

Even so, Nasser Reza was quite satisfied. According to the Mighty Bull Talisman, reaching the second layer already classified him as a second-tier warrior.

At the same time, a warm current began to flow slowly from his abdomen throughout his body, easing the dizziness significantly. Although he didn't understand where this warmth came from, it was a relief to him, so he chose not to dwell on it.

Nasser Reza opened his eyes and looked at Hina and Abbas. Both were still deeply immersed in their training.

Looking over at Hina, he saw that her delicate body was surrounded by a layer of cold air, and the ground around her was covered in frost. The chilling aura became even more intense, and when he reached out a finger towards her direction, he felt an icy coldness running up his arm, causing him to shiver involuntarily.

Nasser Reza clicked his tongue, thinking that this woman is truly formidable. Originally, he and Abbas had ventured to the battlefield to find powerful techniques to become stronger, but it seemed that Hina had gained the most from their efforts.

At this moment, Abbas was struggling intensely. His brow was furrowed deeply, his face was flushed red, and sweat poured from him as if he had been pulled from the water. His body trembled uncontrollably, as though he was enduring excruciating pain.

Seeing Abbas in such torment, Nasser Reza felt a pang of worry and helplessness, not knowing how to assist and only able to watch.

Suddenly, Hina's tightly closed eyes snapped open, cold light flashing within them. Her body then shuddered, and the surrounding cold air was absorbed into her form.

A trace of delight appeared on Hina's face, but when she saw Abbas in such agony, the joy on her face abruptly froze.

"What's wrong with Abbas?" Hina asked urgently.

"I don't know," Nasser Reza replied. "I opened my eyes, and Abbas was already like this. I have no idea what happened."

Hina bit her lower lip anxiously and quickly went to fetch a damp towel. Cold air swirled around her hand, making the towel incredibly cool. She gently wiped the sweat from Abbas's forehead, her brows furrowed in deep concern and worry.

Seeing Hina tenderly wiping away Abbas's sweat, Nasser Reza couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy.

If I were to end up in a situation like Abbas's one day, would Hina care for me in the same way?

The cool, damp towel placed on Abbas's forehead did not improve his condition. His body continued to tremble more violently, and his brows were almost fused together. Seeing Abbas in such a state, both Nasser Reza and Hina felt as though a heavy weight was pressing down on their hearts.

As Abbas's trembling reached its peak, he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of crimson blood.

"Abbas!"

"Abbas!"

Nasser Reza and Hina cried out in alarm.

In the next moment, Abbas's body fell weakly backward. Nasser Reza quickly reached out to support him, gently easing him onto the bedding.

Abbas finally opened his eyes, but they were dim and bloodshot, and his breath was faint and weak.

"Abbas, what happened to you?" Hina's voice trembled, with tears welling up in her eyes.

"Heh, it's nothing. Just a little mishap with the flow of energy through my meridians. It's not a big deal. I just need some rest," Abbas said, forcing a weak smile.

Nasser Reza took Abbas's hand and began to channel the energy from his own "Hand Taiyin" and "Hand Yangming" into Abbas's body. Gradually, Abbas's complexion improved slightly, and his weakened energy began to recover.

"Not bad, Nasser Reza. Your internal energy has already reached this level," Abbas said gratefully, looking at Nasser Reza.

Nasser Reza looked deeply at Abbas and said, "Abbas, you should realize that among the techniques we found, the 'Wind Roll Decision' is the most complex and difficult to understand. Since we're just starting to get familiar with energy, it might be better to begin with simpler techniques, like the 'Mighty Bull Charm.'"