Chapter 44: Chapter 41: Dynamic and Quiet Qi, Real Combat Training with Meng.
Looking at "Meditative Visualization" on the panel, Xue Jing felt the changes happening within himself.
His mind felt like a long-dusty pearl that had finally been cleansed, shining light that could pierce through mountains and rivers.
This was a truly wondrous feeling where every thought in his consciousness raced like lightning, almost without hindrance.
'Is this... an increase in wisdom? No, it must be the concretion of the spirit, able to exclude any unrelated thoughts.'
No sooner had a doubt surfaced in his mind than Xue Jing immediately and firmly deciphered its cause.
'"Meditative Visualization," its effects must be the enhancement of "thought control capability," "emotional control capability," and... also the enhancement of "imagination"?'
Xue Jing tried to visualize a dragon in his mind.
In just an instant, a true dragon with huge wings on its back and five claws on each of its four feet was sketched out vividly, every detail lifelike, down to each mane hair and golden scale.
Then, with a shift of his thoughts, his whole person entered the dragon's body, transforming into the true dragon, stretching its massive body, its muscles rolling like waves, its golden scales flashing dazzling light.
In the training room, Li Qi watched in astonishment as Xue Jing, standing in the center, radiated an inexplicable majestic aura.
"Just the first time doing meditative visualization... and you've directly cultivated 'Dragon Qi'?"
Xue Jing exited the meditative visualization, his body's 'Dragon Qi' dissipating, and looked towards Li Qi, puzzled, and asked,
"Master, what exactly is 'Dragon Qi'?"
Perhaps influenced by his prior transformation into a true dragon in his consciousness, his voice sounded much deeper than usual, carrying an indescribable weight and authority.
Li Qi smiled warmly and began to explain, "The so-called 'Dragon Qi,' to put it simply, is a kind of emotion."
"Humans are quite miraculous creatures, extremely susceptible to emotions, like an angry person whose punches are definitely heavier than usual. You must have heard of stories like 'an old grandmother, in a burst of desperation, lifts a car off her grandson,' right?"
"Killing intent, fighting spirit, confidence, anger, greed, willpower... these unseen, intangible, abstract mental forces, when combined in certain ways, can gather to form an 'emotion' that positively influences the physical body."
"Mimicking a dragon's posture in Coiling Dragon Art and visualizing a dragon using the Visualization Method, if sustained over time, will cultivate a strong 'Dragon Qi' that makes you see yourself as a dragon. When you throw a punch, it will naturally carry the powerful momentum of a dragon, unleashing the mighty force of a true dragon."
Xue Jing suddenly understood.
Li Qi continued to explain, "We martial artists refer to the stirred-up emotions as 'Dynamic Qi' and the ability to control emotions as 'Quiet Qi'."
"Without Dynamic Qi, how forceful can your punch be in a fight if your heart lacks spirit? Without Quiet Qi, if you let emotions control you, you'll just end up being manipulated by others."
"Every qualified Martial Artist must learn to cultivate Quiet Qi and accumulate Dynamic Qi. By using quietness to control activity and combining stillness and motion, one can be invincible in all situations."
Xue Jing nodded earnestly and said, "Disciple has learned much."
Li Qi, pleased, said, "Generally speaking, disciples who have just cultivated Dragon Qi, because they see themselves as dragons, tend to act more wildly, which shows a lack of Quiet Qi."
"But you are as usual, not at all affected by the Dragon Qi, which clearly shows pretty good talent in Quiet Qi as well."
Xue Jing simply glanced at the "Meditative Visualization" on the panel.
Yet another divine skill...
It enhanced imagination and thought control capabilities, essential for activating 'Dynamic Qi.'
It also strengthened emotional control capability, meaning that 'Quiet Qi' would be improved synchronously...
After a string of skills related to physical talent, he had finally obtained a skill related to mental and consciousness talent.
"Let's stop here with Coiling Dragon Art for today. Your progress has exceeded my expectations, and it's time for you to start learning 'Fighting Skills.'"
Li Qi said, taking out a cell phone from his pocket, fiddled with it for a moment, then put it down again.
"Fighting Skills? How do I practice that?" Xue Jing was invigorated.
Li Qi chuckled and said, "Martial arts practice comprises simply these four activities: 'Cultivating, Training, Fighting, Killing.'"
"Coiling Dragon Art is to cultivate Dragon Qi, Armor Shaking Skill is to train Dragon Force, killing techniques are for later, and as for Fighting Skills... it's all about self-perception."
Xue Jing asked, puzzled, "Self-perception?"
"Fighting Skills refers to the methodology of battle, including your personal habits, strategies, instincts... It's an entire fighting system that you need to build gradually on your own."
"The only way to practice Fighting Skills, naturally, is to fight!"
"Fight fiercely, continuously, and the Fighting Skills will gradually take shape on their own."
Li Qi said with a smiling expression.
It seemed to coincide with Li Qi's words that, as soon as he finished speaking, the door of the training room was pushed open.
A woman with short, cold-featured hair and a curvaceous body dressed in black training attire walked in.
She was holding a handheld pancake, nibbling on it continuously. As she moved forward, the impressively sized areas of her body stretched the usually loose training garment tight, as if it were about to split open at any moment, creating a heart-stopping sight.
Xue Jing was stunned, "Sister Meng..."
Hidden Dragon Dojo's fourth direct disciple, Meng Qingjiao.
The daughter of the eldest senior brother, Meng Boshang.
And she was the woman with the best figure Xue Jing had ever seen in his two lifetimes, bar none.
"..."
Meng Qingjiao didn't speak, but just nodded her head with a cold expression, came over to Xue Jing, and with her other hand that wasn't holding the pancake, she touched his head.
Was she trying to express affection and closeness?
Xue Jing was somewhat unsure, but he didn't resist either.
"Qingjiao's control over her energy is the best among the disciples, even her father, Boshang, can't compare with her," Li Qi said leisurely.
"Let her be your opponent in training your fighting skills."
Xue Jing hesitantly looked at Meng Qingjiao's 'World Cup.'
This was much bigger than Wu Youqing's 'European Cup,' and Zhu Shanying's 'Asian Cup.' Wouldn't this be inconvenient?
However, he soon cast aside his distractions, took a deep breath, and said with a fist salute towards Meng Qingjiao, "Please teach me, senior sister!"
Since the girl herself hadn't made much of it, he felt it wasn't right to be overly sensitive himself.
"..."
Meng Qingjiao didn't speak and still just nodded her head coldly. Then, she quickly gobbled down the pancake in her hand in two or three bites, her cheeks puffing out like a hamster's as she chewed continuously and soon swallowed it down.
Then, with one hand behind her back and the other gesturing an 'invite,' with a bit of pancake crumbs still on the corner of her mouth.
Her tall figure was as straight as a pine, exuding a faint Grandmaster presence. However, her figure was too attractive, round and lustrous, which somehow felt a bit provocative...
Fortunately, after Xue Jing activated "Meditative Visualization", his mental control greatly improved, quickly shaking his head to clear away all distractions and his gaze became serious.
"Be careful, senior sister."
As soon as the words fell, Xue Jing pushed off the floor, shooting towards Meng Qingjiao like an arrow released from a bow!
"Bang!"
Xue Jing merely felt a blur before his eyes and was struck by a burst of soft power in the chest, involuntarily flying backward onto the solid wood floor.
"Your intentions were too obvious," Li Qi commented from the side.
"Don't consider Qingjiao's female identity, you can't afford that in real combat. You must try every possible way to win, be it despicable or malevolent. In martial arts, standing means victory, lying down means defeat, regardless of the methods."
"Engage your mind, use any means, just focus on winning without any reservations!"
Xue Jing nodded, quickly got up in a carp flip, and prepared himself again, continuing his charge towards Meng Qingjiao.
This time, he didn't avoid the sensitive key parts, hitting wherever he saw gaps, but after only two moves, he was again sent flying back.
He didn't say much, just stood up and continued.
In that manner, he kept initiating challenges, but also kept getting defeated.
Every time he was sent flying away, Li Qi pointed out his shortcomings, and like a sponge, Xue Jing absorbed the fighting knowledge, gradually getting better.
From being thrown away upon contact to lasting two moves, and then ten moves, it took Xue Jing one hour.
To last twenty movements, Xue Jing took three hours.
As the sky gradually darkened and the crescent moon hung high, Xue Jing could no longer keep up, only managing a few steps before his legs gave out and he collapsed onto the ground.
...