Chapter 17

With his fingertips slightly drooping and his limbs in a semi-relaxed and semi-tight state, Chen Ang held his breath and focused his mind, slowly pushing out his palm. The speed was not fast, but it exuded a grandmaster's demeanor, as if he were standing firm as a mountain.

Although Qu Feiyang was young, she had been in the martial arts world for quite some time and had a keen sense of martial arts aura. When she saw Chen Ang's back as he practiced, she felt a sense of disbelief. It was clearly a set of Five Animals Play, a form of exercise that only some doctors would learn, but in Chen Ang's hands, it had the flavor of Master Chongxu's Tai Chi.

She had once seen a master of the Great Sage Pihua Fist, who moved and sat like a large monkey. However, the Five Animals Play in Chen Ang's hands subtly merged with the surrounding environment, creating a smooth and flowing sensation, as if the movements were a natural extension of the human body.

Seeing his martial arts, one would not think of animal movements but rather the stretching and contracting of the human body, which was even more impactful. The well-defined, solid muscles on Chen Ang's body moved smoothly with his actions, creating a harmonious and beautiful scene.

It was a realm, a kind of insight! Qu Feiyang found it hard to express in words, but she could imagine the perfect state of extreme health. From head to toe, no part was the strongest, but together, they formed the pinnacle of health and perfection, the peak of human condition.

If there was any shortcoming, it was the excessive vigor in Chen Ang's eyes, which disrupted the harmonious feeling. However, compared to the previously overwhelming brilliance, this was an improvement.

Chen Ang guided the internal energy within his body through the ordinary Five Animals Play, subtly adjusting the human body in a high-frequency state, making the flow of internal energy more natural. He did not force the internal energy to run in the most optimized way but let it flow naturally, in harmony with the seasons, using the body's movements to drive the internal energy.

This method of cultivating energy, known as "guidance" by the ancient Chinese, was no longer used by martial artists, who preferred the more efficient "meditation." However, some famous doctors who did not enter the martial arts world still used this method to exercise.

Chen Ang, however, was particularly fond of this method of regulating the body and mind. Although it was not efficient, it was more in line with the natural state of the human body, cultivating a balanced and harmonious internal energy that effectively replenished the body's vital energy.

Generally, meditation to cultivate energy would make people feel tired, as internal energy comes from the body's vital energy. Transforming vital energy into true energy would naturally make people feel fatigued, which is why experienced martial artists always emphasized the need to proceed gradually and not rush. They feared that young people would consume too much vital energy, damaging their foundation.

However, this method of guidance not only did not harm the body's vital energy but also had a nourishing effect. After a set of exercises, not only did the internal energy improve, but the vital energy was also more abundant, and the spirit was better. This is why internal martial artists often referred to it as a health-preserving and spirit-nourishing form of exercise.

"Indeed, internal energy, no, it should be called 'Qi,' is of paramount importance in the human body. My overly strong spirit was oppressing my physical body, making it unstable, but with the regulation of 'Qi,' it has improved significantly. I feel my body becoming healthier, and my spirit, instead of being a burden, is now nourishing and regulating my physical body through 'Qi.'"

"Vital energy, spirit, and Qi are the three treasures of the human body, the three talents of humanity. Indeed, they are not just empty words. My current body, supported by 'Qi' and 'vital energy,' can now withstand the daily high-frequency state!"

Chen Ang's eyes turned slightly blue but quickly returned to normal, just a bit more spirited, with a piercing gaze.

"The pressure of the second-level high-frequency state is no longer a problem for me. The issue of mental energy leakage still exists, but it is now controllable. Although I have intentionally slowed down the cultivation of internal energy, with the replenishment of mental energy, in just one month, I have reached the level of a third-rate expert who has practiced for thirteen years."

Chen Ang shook his head; this was not a good thing. If this continued, the rapid development of 'Qi' would push the rapid development of the spirit, and in less than six years, he would enter the third-level high-frequency state, with 30% of his brain activated. At that time, he would face the problem of imbalance between vital energy, spirit, and Qi.

"Alas!" Chen Ang sighed slowly. Others worried about slow progress, but he feared rapid advancement. Before he could fully develop himself, he might be forced to become a god. At that time, without emotions or desires, with his self excessively diluted, he would become a truly emotionless and desireless deity.

At that time, what difference would there be between the original 'Chen Ang' and death?

"Loneliness!" Thinking of this future, which was far from bright, Chen Ang sighed. The path of cultivation, is it real or fake? Transcending the mundane to become a immortal, is it just a legend? Can a human body truly reach the heavenly way, unbreakable and indestructible?

The internal energy in his body seemed to open a spring, nourishing him and providing endless energy. Compared to martial artists, Chen Ang's internal energy was more like a part of his existence, always in motion, without the need for exertion or energy mobilization.

Looking at the clear blue sky, Chen Ang suddenly felt an impulse to touch it.

He lightly tapped his toes, and his whole body seemed to lose gravity, rising about ten feet. The internal energy infused his wide sleeves, and with a gentle shake, he vanished from sight. The small courtyard below turned into a palm-sized gray shadow.

Feeling the wind, the wide sleeves flapped loudly.

Chen Ang followed the wind, rising high, as if he were riding on it. His eyes flashed blue, and he clearly perceived every detail of the wind. Using the internal energy to control his sleeves, he utilized every bit of the wind's power, like a giant kite, flying high.

Chen Ang let his body float in the vast sky, watching the scenery below rapidly shrink, and the earth at the horizon quickly approach. The sensation of weightlessness grew stronger, and a swift swallow darted past him. Chen Ang reached out to grab it but only touched the air it disturbed.

Qu Feiyang below was stunned. She stood in the courtyard, staring at Chen Ang, her lips trembling. "This, this, this, I haven't woken up yet! Am I dreaming?" She muttered, then pinched herself hard.

"Ouch!" She bent over in pain, looking at the black dot in the sky with disbelief, and shouted, "Immortal, Immortal, please take me! Take me with you! I can wash clothes and cook, Immortal, can you hear me?"

She knelt on the ground and shouted, "Master, I bow to you!"

"It's no use! This is just a lightness skill, and a unique one at that. Even if I taught you, you wouldn't be able to learn it!" Qu Feiyang's vision blurred, and she saw Chen Ang slowly land in front of her. Before she could react, Chen Ang floated several yards away, leaving behind the words, "I'm going to the library, you can play by yourself!"

Flying was indeed humanity's earliest dream. Chen Ang held a copy of the Yongle Encyclopedia, sitting high on a flying eave, the excitement in his heart still not subsiding. Fortunately, the version of the "Great Yi Xiangshu Gouchen Tu" in his hands was a long-lost edition, and Chen Ang quickly calmed down, carefully pondering and savoring it.

In recent days, his study of Daoist texts had deepened. Chen Ang spent a large amount of time reading and thinking, and also debated with the Daoists invited by Liu Zhengfeng. Now, few could match him in Daoist studies. A Quanzhen Daoist even tried to persuade Chen Ang to serve as a Daoist in the imperial court.

Chen Ang really considered it. Aside from the 22,977 volumes of the Yongle Encyclopedia, which were highly tempting, he decided to wait until he had a fast storage device to record these treasures!

The vast collection of books and the martial arts skills of hundreds of martial artists made Chen Ang feel a constant spark of wisdom. Every day, he had countless inspirations and gains, which, in an indescribable way, accumulated and transformed from knowledge into wisdom, from accumulation into depth.

Chen Ang had long deduced the "Purple Star Divine Skill," but he did not practice it. Instead, he let the wisdom represented by the "Purple Star Divine Skill" sink into his depth, transforming into his martial arts cultivation. He still practiced a basic method combining breathing, guidance, meditation, and mental cultivation, but it had more to it.

If Zhang Sanfeng were still alive, he would recognize the shadow of his Tai Chi in it. Similarly, any martial arts master who had deeply internalized their skills would see the shadow of their ultimate techniques in Chen Ang.

The wisdom derived from the Black Tiger Fist, Rapid Stream Sword, Wudang introductory sword techniques, the Five Mountains Sword School's internal energy methods, Hong Fist, Iron Head Skill, and other widely known third-rate martial arts, combined with a deep cultural foundation, brought Chen Ang closer to the sages, giving a basic cultivation method the grandmaster's aura of embracing all rivers.

This allowed him to continuously improve his understanding of 'Qi' every day.