Chapter 21

Every boy, when he was young, had a hero dream, wanting to become an unparalleled master, robbing the rich to help the poor, and wandering the world with a beautiful companion.

For example, like Zhang Wuji, Yang Guo, Li Xunhuan...

But as time passed and they grew up, they gradually realized that the hero dream was getting further and further away.

Especially when the pressure of life weighed heavily on them, they would feel that the hero dream was too distant.

Even a bit ridiculous.

But, it cannot be denied.

No matter when, no matter where, no matter how old, no matter what environment they were in, even if they knew the hero dream was very illusory, they still looked forward to it.

What if?

What if one day they had a strange encounter and became a master?

That way, they could soar to the sky, change their current situation, and reach the peak of life!

Ye Qiu was no exception.

He grew up with his mother, living in poverty, and was often bullied by classmates when he was in school. From that time on, Ye Qiu had a dream.

He must become strong!

Strong enough that no one would dare to bully him!

He had also fantasized many times that one day he could be like the main characters in martial arts dramas, protecting his family and serving the country and the people.

However, after growing up, he realized that TV dramas were all lies; in this world, there were no great heroes, and no one had the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.

But today, the words of the Dragon King and Zhao Yun opened his mind.

Although there were no Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms in this world, there were martial arts masters, it's just that he didn't know about them.

There were also the Tiger List, Dragon List, and Divine List...

All of which sounded very appealing.

Especially the champion, Xiao Jiu, who had become Ye Qiu's goal to chase.

Once a person had a thought in their mind, they couldn't help but think about it.

The more they thought, the more excited they became.

Ye Qiu immediately started looking for martial arts manuals in the inheritance.

However, there were tens of thousands of martial arts manuals in the Ye family's ancestral inheritance, and Ye Qiu was overwhelmed by the choices.

Just as he was unsure which manual to choose, a thin booklet caught his attention.

On the cover of the booklet, there were a few seal script characters, giving a sense of ancient simplicity.

"Ninefold Divine Dragon Technique!"

Ye Qiu took a while to recognize the seal script characters.

"This name sounds pretty powerful!"

Ye Qiu flipped it open and saw that the first page had notes from the Ye family's ancestor.

"This cultivation technique was discovered by chance, with an unknown origin and creator. According to my research, this technique is very mysterious. If cultivated to the extreme, it might transcend all of history."

"However, only those without cultivation can practice it."

"I had already achieved great success when I obtained it, so I could not cultivate this technique, which is a great regret."

After reading, Ye Qiu was delighted.

"Ancestor said that only those without cultivation can practice this technique, and I fit that description perfectly."

Ye Qiu flipped to the second page.

This page provided a detailed introduction to the Ninefold Divine Dragon Technique.

After reading it, Ye Qiu felt that this technique was very suitable for him.

Generally, martial arts practice starts with standing桩 (zhuang) and horse stance, and it takes decades of practice to achieve some success.

But this technique was different. Whether one could successfully cultivate it depended entirely on talent. Those with high talent could make great progress with less effort, while those with low talent might never understand the first level in their entire lives.

"I wonder what my talent is like?"

Ye Qiu was eager to try.

According to the introduction, the Ninefold Divine Dragon Technique had nine levels, with the first level being the Body Refinement Stage.

The first step in the Body Refinement Stage was to guide the innate qi to open the Ren and Du meridians. The second step was to sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and use it to refine the body.

As the spiritual energy accumulated, the practitioner's physical strength would gradually increase. When the strength of both arms reached 3,000 pounds, it was considered a great success, and they could then cultivate the next level.

Strangely, after Ye Qiu read the introduction and cultivation method for the first level, he found that he couldn't flip to the next page.

The thin paper was as heavy as Mount Tai.

What was going on?

After pondering for a while, Ye Qiu understood.

"If I can't comprehend the first level, then I won't be able to see the subsequent levels. This technique is a bit tricky!"

Regardless, he decided to give it a try.

Ye Qiu followed the cultivation method, sat cross-legged on the bed, placed his hands on his knees with palms facing up, closed his eyes, and carefully sensed the qi within his body.

According to the introduction, everyone had a "qi" hidden in the Baihui point at the top of their head, called innate qi.

Only by sensing the innate qi and guiding it to open the Ren and Du meridians could one take the first step.

Fifteen minutes passed.

Ye Qiu gained nothing, sensing nothing.

"Could my method be wrong?"

Ye Qiu carefully reviewed the cultivation method again, confirming that he hadn't made a mistake. He was puzzled as to why he couldn't sense the innate qi.

"Let me try again."

Ye Qiu continued practicing.

After half an hour.

Ye Qiu opened his eyes, still with nothing to show for it, which made him doubt himself.

"Could it be that my talent is not good enough, and I am not suitable for the Ninefold Divine Dragon Technique?"

Ye Qiu didn't know that many people spent their entire lives without sensing the innate qi.

Besides, he had only practiced for less than an hour.

"This technique must have a reason for existing. There must be something wrong with my practice."

Suddenly, Ye Qiu remembered what Zhao Yun said: eating a hundred-year-old ginseng could make one a master.

Thinking of this, he took out the hundred-year-old ginseng, didn't even wash it, and started eating it.

In less than three minutes, a warm current rose from his dantian, and Ye Qiu felt his whole body heat up.

Ye Qiu immediately closed his eyes, carefully sensing the warm current, and practiced according to the cultivation method.

Another half an hour passed.

Suddenly, Ye Qiu's mind jolted, and he clearly felt a cool current spreading down from the Baihui point at the top of his head.

"Innate qi!"

Ye Qiu suppressed his excitement and, according to the cultivation method, guided the current toward the Ren and Du meridians.

But unexpectedly, the Ren and Du meridians were like a wall of copper and iron, and the innate qi couldn't break through.

Ye Qiu didn't give up and continued to try.

Until dawn, with a "crack," the innate qi finally broke through the Ren and Du meridians.

Instantly, Ye Qiu felt his whole body filled with strength. The feeling was incredible.

Moreover, after a night of cultivation, he didn't feel the slightest bit tired; instead, he felt a sense of lightness.

Getting out of bed and going to the window, he looked at the rising sun, his face filled with strong confidence.

"If one day I can become someone like Xiao Jiu, I will make my mother's family kneel and beg her to come back!"

"I will find my biological father and make him kneel before my mother to repent and apologize!"

"I will make those who look down on us forever look up to me!"