Chapter 4

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Su Qinnian sighed at the difficulty of martial arts practice. Even the simple act of sitting in meditation contained profound principles. Back in Chang'an, he had once invited a martial arts master from the city's martial arts hall, who had successfully completed the foundation-building techniques, to provide guidance.

Although called a martial arts master, Su Qinnian clearly remembered that the first glance at the master did not resemble a martial artist but rather a scholar well-versed in literature. When Su Qinnian asked the master how to meditate and enter a state of concentration, the master did not demonstrate but instead handed him a Daoist scripture and said these words:

"Scholars know propriety and righteousness, understand the six directions, and naturally have keen senses and a straight mind. When their thoughts reach a certain point, their bodies harmonize with heaven and earth, and their intentions reach the heavens."

The master's meaning was clear: knowledge leads to understanding, and understanding allows one to merge with heaven and earth. By reading more and observing the natural changes in the six directions, one can become more perceptive, calm the mind, and reach a higher level of meditation.

From that day on, in addition to martial arts practice, Su Qinnian daily studied Daoist and Buddhist scriptures, poetry, and music, exploring the wisdom of ancient sages. He even studied some precious private texts that his father, Su Wangsheng, occasionally copied and brought back, taking advantage of his position as a compiler in the imperial armory. Despite this, after a year of martial arts practice, Su Qinnian still remained in the first realm of breath regulation, unable to enter a state of concentration, always feeling that something was missing.

At this moment, the middle-aged Daoist on the shore, Jingdu, glanced at Su Qinnian with a barely noticeable look.

Dozens of people who had already awakened cast covert glances at Su Qinnian, especially the nine groups of people who had arrived at night. They were somewhat surprised to see Su Qinnian awaken at this time.

"At fifteen years old, after only one year of martial arts practice, he has surpassed over thirty people. His meditation skills are already between breath regulation and concentration. At such a young age, he has such insight..."

"I thought he was just surviving by relying on women, but it turns out he has some exceptional qualities."

For a moment, several groups who had previously looked down on Su Qinnian now cast sidelong glances, but most still showed disdain and contempt. Clearly, such a small achievement was far from impressive to them.

Su Qinnian noticed some hidden gazes and realized that he had become somewhat conspicuous upon his arrival.

At this moment, several Daoists from the miscellaneous quarters worked together to move a copper furnace, as tall as a person, to the shore and placed it with a thud. Some people began to rub their hands and stood in front of the copper furnace, assuming the posture of the Turtle-Snake Stance.

"The Daoist furnace for testing strength!"

Su Qinnian's eyes narrowed. In the martial arts world, there are methods to measure the progress of foundation-building techniques, and the methods used by the Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian schools are similar. In Daoism, it is called the Daoist furnace; in Buddhism, it is called the Arhat Bell; and in Confucianism, it is called the Four Directions Cauldron.

Dang!

One person swung a punch, which struck the furnace, producing a deep and resonant metallic sound. As the person withdrew his hand, three more resonant tremors followed, but the fourth sound was slightly rough.

"Four sounds from the Daoist furnace, the fourth level of the Turtle-Snake Technique, with a strength of 390 pounds, not yet perfect," Jingdu said calmly. "Next."

People took turns coming to the Daoist furnace to test their strength, as required by Jingdu, without using the Turtle-Snake Fist they had comprehended, only using their physical strength to measure their own abilities.

Su Qinnian clenched his fist slightly. The Wudang's famous Turtle-Snake Technique was truly unparalleled in foundation-building. From the current situation, completing the first level of the Turtle-Snake Technique could increase one's strength by 100 pounds, and completing the fourth level perfectly would increase it to 440 pounds. The widely practiced Running Horse Technique, adapted for all ordinary people, required a lower standard, and completing the first level would increase strength by 70 pounds.

Completing the seven levels of foundation-building techniques to reach the formal foundation-building stage, which involves opening the dantian and cultivating internal energy, the difference between the two techniques could be as much as 210 pounds.

Here, Su Qinnian carefully noted the foundation-building levels of the nine groups of people who arrived at night, and his mood became increasingly heavy. The nine people, from the second to the tenth thatched cottage, had all completed the fifth level of the Turtle-Snake Technique.

The most advanced among them was the owner of the second thatched cottage, Liu Ziming, who had a thin royal bloodline and could be considered a royal relative. His father, Mingyang Marquis, was a second-rank noble, and the ranks of Duke, Marquis, and Earl in the Han Dynasty were equivalent to first to third-rank officials. Such ranks were granted to royal relatives with profound martial arts skills and to officials who had made significant contributions to the state.

Mingyang Marquis Liu Qing, whom Su Qinnian had heard of while in Chang'an, had martial arts skills surpassing the first-class level. According to rumors, he had cultivated a spirit, ranking among the top, and was famous throughout the region. Later, rumors spread that he had an affair with a princess from the Northern Sea Demon Kingdom, which enraged the current Han Emperor. His rank was stripped, and he was thrown into the imperial prison, with his entire family and servants exiled. This incident occurred eight years ago, and Su Qinnian did not expect that his only son would be in the Wudang Xiaoyao Valley, ranking second among the convicts on probation.

...

After half an incense stick, it was finally Su Qinnian's turn. He looked at the red copper Daoist furnace in front of him, which had cloud patterns engraved on its surface. The bright furnace body was uneven, bearing the marks of years of punches.

Taking a deep breath, Su Qinnian calmed his mind, moved his feet, and gradually regulated his breathing, making it almost imperceptible, like an old turtle that had been hibernating for years.

Turtle-Snake Stance!

This was the foundation of the Turtle-Snake Technique, the basis for the seven levels of the technique. If one cannot stand steadily, how can they practice? The Turtle-Snake Stance teaches one to be as calm and stable as a hibernating old turtle, ensuring that the body is not a rootless floating weed, allowing strength to flow through every part of the body.

Beside the Daoist furnace, the middle-aged Daoist Jingdu watched calmly as Su Qinnian solemnly swung his fist.

Dang!

A deep and resonant metallic sound, followed by a second tremor, which was slightly hoarse and fleeting.

"Two sounds from the Daoist furnace, the second level of the Turtle-Snake Technique, with a strength of 160 pounds, not yet perfect. Next."

...

At noon.

After another meal of demon tiger meat and tiger bone soup, Su Qinnian awoke from his meditation, feeling full of energy. His qi and blood had fully recovered to their previous peak and even exceeded it.

"The second level of the Running Horse Technique is complete, with a strength of 140 pounds. I have been practicing the Turtle-Snake Technique for less than half a day, and my strength has already increased by 20 pounds, and when I complete the second level, it will increase by another 40 pounds or so."

Su Qinnian clenched his fist, and a slight crack sounded as the scabs on his wrists broke off, revealing new, tender red flesh.

"Three meals a day, each meal consisting of demon tiger meat, keeping my qi and blood full and overflowing. My martial arts practice will progress rapidly, but unfortunately, it is only for three days."

By noon, Su Qinnian realized that not everyone received demon tiger meat as a supplement. Besides the fixed morning meal, the noon and evening meals were only provided if the daily herb collection quota was met. If the herbs collected were sufficient, one could even receive personal guidance from Jingdu, a third-rank Daoist and an outer court official.

Three days!

Including today, Su Qinnian had only three days left. These three days were the adjustment period for new convicts on probation. After three days, they would join the other convicts in the deep 400-mile Wudang Mountains to collect herbs, using the demon beast meat to enhance their foundation-building techniques.

Even three months or three years might not be enough. The nine groups of people represented the top nine positions among the convicts on probation in the Xiaoyao Valley. The weakest among them had completed the fifth level of the Turtle-Snake Technique, with a strength of 500 pounds, and had years of experience in comprehending the technique, likely mastering several of the seven Turtle-Snake Fist techniques. The foundation-building techniques become increasingly difficult as one progresses. According to the historical records Su Qinnian had read, the fastest person to reach the fifth level of the Running Horse Technique took three and a half years.

"Is this what the Buddhists call a calamity? My family has fallen to this point, and I, Su Qinnian, have come to the Wudang Xiaoyao Valley, facing great difficulties. However, complaining is useless; everything here depends on oneself."

Su Qinnian thought about this and began to assess his own strength. The nine groups of people were not easy to deal with. After three days, no matter which group he chose, he would offend the other eight. These people came from families that once held high positions and had seen countless power struggles. In comparison, his family was only an eighth-rank official in Chang'an, a minor position, and even less influential than a wealthy merchant family. Attempting to manipulate these people to achieve his goals would be too naive, and it would not only fail but also anger them, leading to various traps and schemes that could endanger his life within five years.

After much thought, Su Qinnian realized he had no way to resolve the situation. The power disparity was too great, and there was no external force to rely on. In the Wudang Mountains, he was a newcomer, and he did not know any of the convicts on probation.

Wait!

Suddenly, a mysterious passage flashed through Su Qinnian's mind, and he shuddered, his eyes shining.

The Great Hypnotic Technique!

This martial arts technique was hidden in a discarded Daoist scripture, "Yin," recorded on a page of a precious transmission scroll. It was a rare mental martial arts technique in the martial arts world, focusing on cultivating mental strength in the ancestral brain rather than internal energy.

"The Turtle-Snake Technique is too profound, containing the essence of Wudang's yin-yang principles. Without guidance, it is difficult to break through to the third level in a short time. Mental strength, however, is different from internal energy and is not an internal skill. The martial arts master who taught me once said that before reaching the second-rank level, where the dragon and tiger converge, martial artists generally do not easily touch the level of mental will. Some techniques in the Great Hypnotic Technique, such as the Soul Seizing Technique and the Green Soul Arrow, can be attempted if I can cultivate a bit of mental strength. This might help me overcome this crisis."

This was the only variable. When in dire straits, one must change; when one changes, one can find a way through. Perhaps it was a glimmer of hope in the midst of darkness.

With renewed spirit, Su Qinnian immediately began to recall and study the over a thousand words of the Great Hypnotic Technique, trying to understand its essence.

The opening of the Great Hypnotic Technique is a Daoist question: "The way of heaven reduces excess and supplements deficiency, while the way of man reduces deficiency to serve excess. How can the void overcome the solid? How can the weak overcome the strong?"

This question asks how the way of heaven balances excess and deficiency, while the way of man does the opposite. How can one maintain balance? (Please vote and add to your bookshelf!)