Chapter 217: Chapter 214: 214: The Beginning is the Hardest

By the sixth day, even Li Xiaobin had noticed something was amiss.

She found Feng Jun and quietly inquired, “What’s wrong with these two, coming every day without a word, and… their mood seems abnormal?”

Unexpectedly to Feng Jun, she had observed this, and in a few more days, wouldn’t more people pay attention?

With determination, he resolved to himself: It’s time to force the issue a bit and help them along.

That evening, he kept the two of them back: “Let me guide you in finding the sensation of Qi.”

Wang Haifeng hesitated for a long time before asking, “Master Feng, are we too dull that you have to lend a hand?”

“That’s not it,” Feng Jun shook his head, “Actually, it’s easier to find the sensation of Qi with some guidance.”

Indeed, especially since he was now a High-Rank Martial Master, guiding two beginners to find the sensation of Qi… Would that even be a challenge?

Wang Haifeng wanted to continue asking, but dared not, and could only glance at Xu Leigang.

Upon seeing this, Fatty Xu braced himself and ventured, “Then why wait six days to start guiding us? If we’re too dull, you can criticize us.”

Why ask so many questions? Feng Jun scratched his head, thinking that taking acquaintances as disciples really does come with many inconveniences.

However, he wasn’t about to get angry over such a trivial matter so he simply put it straightforwardly, “Those who can find the sensation of Qi on their own may achieve higher successes in the future, whereas those who need help might achieve less… Of course, this is just a possibility.”

Indeed, in the world of mobile phones, methods to guide Qi sensation discovery aren’t all that rare, but most people wouldn’t do this as it’s truly more harmful than beneficial for beginners.

A Cultivator who can find the sensation of Qi independently has greater potential for development, which aligns with natural laws and also serves as a form of selection.

Moreover, those Cultivators who barely qualify, even if they practice forcibly, often just waste resources, and aside from those from wealthy families, no one is willing to squander resources so wastefully.

Xu Leigang and Wang Haifeng both looked dejected: “So our future achievements… sigh.”

“That refers to when you are youngsters!” Feng Jun shook his head, half laughing and half crying, “Starting martial arts training at your age, you should be grateful for whatever you can learn. The ceiling might be lower, but it’s not certain you’ll reach it… Don’t think too much.”

Wang Haifeng hesitated, then mustered the courage to ask again, “Then, are there many people who practice this during their youth?”

Feng Jun shook his head and answered frankly, “In Huaxia, I haven’t heard of such people.”

Pausing for a moment, he added, “Even I started practicing when I was a bit older.”

Their eyes brightened slightly upon hearing this, and they were eager to continue asking questions.

Feng Jun frowned slightly, showing a bit of impatience, “No need for so many questions, do you two want the guidance or not?”

Seeing him getting ruffled, they quickly behaved. In fact, they weren’t against receiving guidance; as adults faced with choices, they simply preferred to understand their situation more fully.

In this regard, those simple disciples who only obey their masters’ commands do tend to be less trouble.

Guidance methods for finding Qi sensation are briefly mentioned in many Cultivation Technique Manuals. There’s one in the manual Feng Jun received that is quite detailed. Plus, now that he’s a High-Rank Martial Master, his micromanagement skills are quite impressive.

He first attempted to guide Wang Haifeng, but when his hand touched the other’s Dantian point and he slowly exhaled Inner Qi, Coach Wang’s meridians naturally accepted the flow of Inner Qi, just as they had when he was treated for injuries.

This phenomenon… doesn’t seem quite right. Feng Jun slowly released Inner Qi, pondering in his mind; with such compliance, it would be hard to stimulate autonomous awareness, when would they be able to find Qi sensation?

About five minutes later, the reaction within Wang Haifeng’s body became even more harmonious, and Feng Jun began to guide him according to the sequence of Tun Na exercises, helping him feel the movement of the breath.

Immediately, he could tell that the flow of breath had slowed down a lot and had also become sluggish and awkward.

He increased the output of Inner Qi slightly, and Wang Haifeng’s cheeks started puffing out, clearly clenching his teeth.

After repeating this process three times, Coach Wang finally could not bear it, clenching his teeth and letting out one word, “Itchy~”

He wasn’t afraid of a bit of pain, but this itchy sensation, like ants crawling and biting, especially inside his body, was truly unbearable.

“Hmm,” Feng Jun stopped releasing Inner Qi, noting the other’s forehead was already beading with sweat, and he withdrew his hand, “Alright, let’s stop there for now. Take a rest.”

Wang Haifeng also slowly ended his practice, sweat on his forehead not diminishing but increasing, as large droplets continuously rolled down.

He cautiously asked, “Master, is this… a good sign or a bad one?”

“Don’t overthink it,” Feng Jun waved his hand dismissively and spoke softly, “Go move around a bit, don’t catch a chill. Call Lei Gang in.”

Guiding the breath for Xu Leigang was much smoother. Around half an hour later, a tiny thread of Inner Qi, as slender as a silkworm’s filament, was born within Xu Leigang’s Sea of Qi.

Feng Jun didn’t rush to end the session, as if he hadn’t noticed that trace of Inner Qi. He continued to methodically lead the other’s Qi, tirelessly setting the pace.

Xu Leigang’s thread of breath was completely unaware, hazily following along with Feng Jun’s Qi like a little tail, or like a child trailing behind an adult.

Another twenty or so minutes passed, and Feng Jun’s palm slowly left the other’s Sea of Qi acupoint.

Xu Leigang faintly felt that the master’s Qi was growing weaker, but it was only when the master truly withdrew his hand that he opened his eyes in surprise and conveyed a silent question with his gaze: “?”

“Continue,” Feng Jun uttered simply, slowly standing up.

Xu Leigang didn’t dare say much. He lowered his eyelids and made an effort to follow the feeling and direction he had just experienced, slowly circulating his Qi.

This time, as he circulated his Qi, he noticed something different, “Hmm?”

Wang Haifeng had rested for a while and was now watching from a distance. Seeing this scene, his heart was scratching like a hundred claws.

He wanted to ask Feng Jun if Xu Leigang had found his sense of Qi, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud, and his heart was incredibly twisted.

But Feng Jun knew what he was thinking, walked over to the side, and quietly commented, “You two are different; don’t compare this.”

Hearing this, Wang Haifeng’s heart grew even colder, “So he really did find his sense of Qi? Then what about me…”

“If you continue with this mentality, it is not suitable for cultivation,” Feng Jun cut him off, his voice low but decisive, “The Cultivation Technique you are practicing is higher-ranked than his, understand?”

It’s just how it is being a teacher; you need to learn how to discipline people and also how to encourage them—even if it means bluffing, “Lei Gang is progressing a bit faster now for a variety of reasons. Once you find your sense of Qi, I naturally have other methods to motivate you.”

That night, under Feng Jun’s guidance, Xu Leigang finally cultivated a sense of Qi and spent two more days consolidating it.

On the third night, Wang Haifeng finally found his Qi sense as well, after enduring no small amount of itchy torment and gritting his teeth through it.

It took much longer for him to consolidate his sense of Qi than Xu Leigang did because his Inner Qi was minute and sluggish, sometimes there and sometimes not, taking a full five days to stabilize.

As Feng Jun allowed them to discuss the broader aspects of cultivation, Coach Wang learned about the huge gap between himself and Fatty Xu. His confidence was crushed into the ground once again, nearly to the point of giving up hope.

At that moment, Feng Jun finally spoke up, “Hmm, get familiar with each of your first diagrams and start memorizing the second one, especially Lei Gang, as your first figure is three diagrams.”

Early on the third day, he took them to the attic of the villa and gave each one a Pill, “Maintain the meditative posture, and each of you take half first, then work hard on your cultivation.”

Pills? Wang Haifeng’s eyes lit up, feeling a sense of relief after enduring hardship.

But the next moment, his sentiment was overwhelmed by a different emotion as he heard Xu Leigang beside him wail, “Ah? Can I still cultivate after taking it?”

Fatty Xu recognized the Pill; he had taken it himself, and Yuan Youwei had taken it too—it was a Body Tempering Pill.

He wasn’t opposed to taking it and knew its primary function was to assist in cultivation, but he was all too aware of the agony of Tempering the body with a Body Tempering Pill. He was very doubtful that he would have the spirit to meditate after consuming it.

Wang Haifeng, however, couldn’t help but give him a sideways glance, “You know this Pill?”

Fatty Xu nodded decisively, “I don’t know, but I’ve seen the Master use it. That kid who took the Pill looked incredibly pained; they even had to bind him up… and that was when he had only taken a quarter.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Oh,” Wang Haifeng relaxed and waved his hand nonchalantly, “It’s normal for a child… Don’t be afraid of difficulty; it’s so small, I don’t think the pain will be much.”

Soon, he regretted his words. No sooner had he taken half a Pill than his body shook violently, and he gasped for air, “Ssst… this thing.”

Xu Leigang’s reaction was somewhat better. He had resigned himself to maintaining a less effortful posture, struggling through half an hour, but to his surprise, this Pill actually wasn’t all that painful.

He could maintain his meditative posture! For a moment, he was curious: What was going on?

Feng Jun watched them cultivate and couldn’t help but nod inwardly: Lang Zhen was right, the Body Tempering Pill indeed suited cultivators who had developed a sense of Qi.

Compared to Xu Leigang’s pain, Wang Haifeng’s was more intense as it was his first time taking the Body Tempering Pill, and he had relatively more impurities in his body. This sensation was also new to him.

But Coach Wang was really not half-hearted. Hearing Fatty Xu make no complaint, just his breathing getting slightly heavier, a competitive spirit was ignited in him. If you can endure it, I certainly can too!

Not only did he grit his teeth and endure, but he also withstood the pain and tried to force himself through the Tun Na breathing exercise and circular Qi movement.