Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Nourishing Method, Body-Nourishing Art

"My techniques can’t be taught to anyone who isn’t my formal disciple. I’ve modified a body-nourishing method to serve as an introduction. It was originally for your brother.

"Since he can no longer practice it, you can have it. Use it to nourish your body."

Xie Yuan dazedly took the small booklet from the Daoist’s hands, not quite processing what was happening.

’Internal fist? A body-nourishing method?’

’Isn’t that a nourishing-type Inner Power technique?!’

’It’s a treasure that no one in the entire Iron Shirt Sect possesses! A technique that only the direct lineage of a Major Sect can practice!’

Xie Yuan’s heart suddenly began to pound in his chest, and his mouth went dry.

"Thank you... Daoist, for bestowing this technique upon me."

He was completely unable to utter any pleasantries.

The booklet’s cover was blank. Xie Yuan opened it and saw it was filled with illustrations for a Fist Manual and text, all handwritten in fresh ink. It had clearly been transcribed recently—or as the Daoist said, newly created.

Seeing no title for the Cultivation Technique, he asked respectfully,

"Daoist, does this technique have a name?"

The Daoist waved his hand dismissively.

"It’s just something I threw together. Just call it ’Nourishing Body Skill’."

Hearing this, Xie Yuan’s attitude became even more respectful.

’To be able to casually modify and create an Inner Power technique, and then just give it away...’

’This Daoist... just what is his level of strength? What is his identity?’

The Daoist was still wearing the same simple blue robe, with the same wooden hairpin in his hair, and his expression was just as placid.

But in Xie Yuan’s eyes, the Daoist now seemed completely unfathomable.

’A master who has unified the internal and external...’

The Daoist stood quietly for another moment before speaking indifferently,

"If one is a piece of rotten wood, even a Divine Skill will be as incomprehensible as scripture from the heavens.

"Now that I’ve given you the Cultivation Technique, the fated master-disciple bond between myself and your brother is concluded. How much you can practice is all up to your own destiny."

The Daoist looked up, let out a long, inscrutable sigh, and began to walk away.

Xie Yuan respectfully clasped his hands in a salute.

"Farewell, Daoist!"

When he looked up again, there was no longer any sign of the Daoist.

"That Daoist... it seems he was heading into the mountains?"

Xie Yuan murmured to himself.

Luoling Ridge stretched for a thousand li, a range of rolling hills. Only the local mountain folk ever wandered its lower reaches; he had never once heard of a traveler crossing the entire range.

’This Daoist is truly mysterious.’

He turned his head to look at the stone tablet, and his nose suddenly stung with unshed tears.

He clutched the booklet tightly in his hand.

"Big Brother, are you still helping me...?"

「Back home」

Xie Yuan shut the courtyard gate and the door to his house tightly.

Sitting on a stool made from a stack of wood, he held the booklet, slowed his breathing, and began to read.

"A nourishing method, Inner Power! Cultivating both internal and external arts is the true path of the Martial Dao. In a fight between equals, it’s far superior to a Martial Artist who only cultivates external techniques.

"Most importantly, it can nourish the body and make up for my deficiency."

Xie Yuan was incredibly excited. This was a way to treat the root of the problem.

He never would have imagined he would obtain a rare and highly sought-after Inner Power technique just like this.

’The Daoist is mysterious, and the origin of this Cultivation Technique seems questionable... but is someone like me even worth entrapping with an Inner Power technique? I’m not even as valuable as the technique itself. It would be a waste of energy!’

Xie Yuan only pondered for a moment before recognizing his own worth—or lack thereof—and casting his worries aside.

"The stances in this Fist Manual are drawn so vividly! The postures are very easy to imitate!

"But these breathing methods, Qi circulation routes, and technical terms... ’Xuanpin Sect,’ ’Dragon and Tiger Association’... they feel like Daoist jargon. What does it all mean?

"I don’t get it. I really don’t get it!"

Xie Yuan felt helpless. His understanding of Daoism came almost entirely from the cultivation novels he’d read in his previous life. Trying to read a real Daoist classic was like trying to decipher scripture from the heavens.

’So that’s what the Daoist meant with his last words.’

Xie Yuan frowned, thinking for a long time.

’I don’t dare ask anyone about it... I guess I’ll just practice the postures first and figure out a way to look up the classics later.’

He stood up and began to slowly practice the moves from the Fist Manual.

As he practiced, Xie Yuan suddenly felt that this Fist Manual was somewhat similar to the Tai Chi he had practiced in his previous life.

’Daoist body-nourishing techniques probably all differ in form but share the same spirit. They emphasize embracing the origin and guarding the one, balancing yin and yang... Let me think, what were the principles of the Tai Chi I used to practice?’

He continued to practice the moves while trying to recall, and gradually, he started to get a feel for it.

Suddenly, his vision blurred.

[Internal Fist Skill, from inside to out, consolidates the foundation and nourishes the body. You have reached an epiphany.]

[Nourishing Body Skill · 1st Layer: (1/1000)]

Countless insights flashed through Xie Yuan’s mind, and he suddenly understood what the Cultivation Technique’s terminology meant, along with the breathing methods and Qi circulation routes.

"So that’s how it is!"

An excited look appeared on Xie Yuan’s face.

"Inner Power requires aptitude? With my comprehension, it’s not that difficult.

"With the help of this Cultivation Technique, I can replenish my Qi and Blood, become a true Martial Artist, and reach new heights. It’s only a matter of time!"

He immediately began practicing the "Nourishing Body Skill," over and over again. Gradually, his movements went from clumsy to proficient, and from proficient to fluid...

「Ten days passed.」

[Nourishing Body Skill · 1st Layer: (179/1000)]

Xie Yuan stopped practicing and nodded as he looked at the numbers.

Over the past few days, thanks to his relentless practice day and night, he had become increasingly adept at the Nourishing Body Skill.

His physical condition had also clearly improved. After finishing his practice, a warm feeling would spread through his body, similar to drinking a medicinal soup, but the effect was more enduring and lasted longer each time.

’After a little more time like this, my constitution will improve dramatically. I’ll no longer be a weakling.’

’Once I break through the 1st Layer, I might be able to completely solve the problem of my body’s deficiency.’

But no matter how good the Nourishing Body Skill was, he couldn’t practice it from morning till night. Going too far was as bad as not going far enough.

As his energy grew more abundant, Xie Yuan gradually tried to resume his training of the Iron Cloth Shirt.

It only took him three days, with his level of comprehension, to go from tentative, shallow attempts to gradually mastering a kind of balance and learning to cultivate both internally and externally.

Without hindering the Nourishing Body Skill’s ability to replenish his Qi and consolidate his foundation, his progress with the Iron Cloth Shirt also began to speed up, gradually catching up.

[Iron Cloth Shirt · 1st Layer: (301/500)]

In his spare time, Xie Yuan didn’t forget about his source of income. He went into the mountains to fell that yellow nanmu tree.

Although he was now coordinating his internal and external cultivation and no longer needed to save money to cure his underlying ailment, cultivation was always an expensive path. Dietary and medicinal supplements weren’t necessary right now, but having them would make his efforts twice as effective.

Besides, in the ten-odd days since his progress had skyrocketed, Xie Yuan’s appetite had exploded, nearly scaring Sister Orchid.

’Even eating costs so much money...’

His appetite scared Li Lan, and the cost of food scared himself. Even when exhausted, Xie Yuan chopped the tree with vigor.

But cultivation was time-consuming, after all. In ten-odd days, he had only found the time to haul out half of the processed yellow nanmu.

Still, that wasn’t too bad.

He hadn’t been to the martial hall in some time. Even as just a registered disciple, he was supposed to check in according to the rules.

So, Xie Yuan pushed his handcart and delivered the yellow nanmu to Boss Wan’s shop in Panlong Town, telling him there was still another half to come next time.

Boss Wan was delighted. He immediately gave him seven taels, with two taels serving as a deposit for the other half.

Xie Yuan hadn’t expected him to be so generous. It seemed he really was in need of this nanmu wood and was quite sincere.

With the slightly heavy pouch of silver, Xie Yuan arrived at the Iron Shirt Sect. As he entered, he saw Tao Jelin and others from his batch whom he hadn’t seen in a long time. He smiled and greeted them.

"Brother Tao, long time no see."

When Tao Jelin saw him, he forced a smile that looked more like he was about to cry.

"Brother Xie, you’re finally here."