Forty Millenniums of Cultivation

by <unknown>

  "This was the principle of training for the qi-trainers in the beginning. After the apocalypse, the land was wreathed in darkness, the demon beasts dominated the planets, and we lost all our heritages. We had absolutely no other options except to concentrate on the training of capillary vessels!

  "The trial turned out to be successful, but in a different way from what we imagined. As our ancestors continued training and broadening their capillary vessels, they discovered eventually that the function of the capillary vessels was to connect the Twelve Essential Veins and Eight Subsidiary Veins!

  "Before, it was commonly believed that the Twelve Essential Veins and Eight Subsidiary Veins were solely connected by the Two Bridge Veins. That was how the theory of becoming an expert of martial arts by breaking through the Two Bridge Veins originated.

  "But right now, as long as the capillary vessels are expanded and strengthened, the Twelve Essential Veins and Eight Subsidiary Veins can better communicate, too!

  "When the capillary vessels get stronger, the Twelve Essential Veins and Eight Subsidiary Veins will be improved, too!

  "In short, the purpose of this training is to transform all the capillary vessels inside your body into new 'Bridge Veins' so that there will be a hundred or even ten thousand Bridge Veins in you!

  "Breaking through two Bridge Veins is enough to make one an expert martial artist. It is not hard to imagine how overwhelmingly strong one will be if they can make ten thousand Bridge Veins in their body!

  "This is our path of training!

  "Look at the pictures on the wall carefully, especially the distribution of all the capillary vessels. Boss Xiong said that you'd done some training sessions before and you were in the 14th level of the Refinement Stage. If so, remembering the pictures is not going to be a difficult task for you, is it?"

  Li Yao shook his head and studied the pictures wholeheartedly.

  Transforming the capillary vessels into the Bridge Veins and breaking through all of them? That sounded rather violent!

  Five minutes later, Fu Dong picked up the training tools that looked like shackles and put them on Li Yao with Wu Mayan's help.

  The set of training tools was made of two handcuffs and two leg cuffs. All the cuffs were black, heavy, and clumsy. There was no telling what they were made of, but each of them weighed more than two hundred and fifty kilograms. Pressure meters, which were full of gears and valves and brought a feeling of messiness and crudeness, had been welded on top of them.

  Li Yao stretched out his arms and legs. Although he was carrying a thousand kilograms of weight, it was not a big deal for him, who had become used to loaded training, and his punching was as fast as previously.

  Seeing that the trainee took the weight for nothing, Fu Dong was slightly surprised. However, he didn't comment on it. "These tools are known as 'True Qi Locks'. They are the best magical equipment to broaden your capillary vessels! As long as they are activated, the hollow syringes in the interior side of the shackles will pierce into your body shallowly and inject hundreds of streams of compressed spiritual gas into your capillary vessels!

  "They will help the expansion of your capillary vessels, and the spiritual gas inside your body will be triggered to launch counterattacks at the intruding spiritual gas!

  "Both the expansion of capillary vessels and the war between the local and foreign spiritual gas are extremely painful and unbearable for most people.

  "Qi-trainers of the Furious Bears Tribe all start their training when they were little kids. They widened their capillary vessels bit by bit, sometimes only working on several of them in a day. Gradually after days and years of hard work, the more dogged and talented ones would make it in the end and become real qi-trainers!

  "Boss Xiong said that you want to participate in the battle against the apocalypse next month and hope to improve your capability as quickly as possible. I don't know whether or not you've received training with True Qi Locks before, but either way, one month is too short!"

  Fu Dong mumbled something to himself and brought over almost twenty True Qi containers together with Wu Mayan.

  Li Yao noticed that the readings on the pressure meters of all the True Qi containers were above 95%, which indicated that these were all high-level True Qi containers that could be used for real battles!

  The True Qi Locks had several holes on them through which the True Qi containers could be docked. However, the airtightness of the gadgets was apparently not very good, as white steam was spurting out nonstop. A moment later, Li Yao was already enveloped in fog.

  "There's a pressure setting device on the True Qi Locks. Look, you can adjust the triggering level of the spiritual gas by spinning the gear this way.

  "The standard pressure equals to the intensity of a middle-level True Qi container releasing all the spiritual gas evenly in ten minutes.

  "I suggest you train at one third of the standard pressure in the beginning. If it is too much for you, you can change it to one fifth.

  "When your body is used to the True Qi Locks, you can try to increase the pressure to twice the standard pressure, five times the standard pressure, or even ten times the standard pressure. This set of True Qi Locks is prepared for the experts and supports thirty times the standard pressure at best!

  "But remember, don't increase the pressure recklessly. Such a training process is like filling air into your body. You must keep your head in the clearest state and guide the spiritual gas into your veins consciously. If your head turns dizzy because of the pain, the spiritual gas will mess around inside your body. If you are lucky, you might be mentally deranged. If you are unlucky, one of your limbs might explode on the spot!"

  Fu Dong reminded him of the risks seriously.

  Wu Mayan interjected, "If you can hold back the pain, you can train your physical strength with the equipment on the ground. The training effect will be better if you do them at the same time!"

  "Watch your mouth!"

  Fu Dong glared at him and said angrily, "That is a very advanced training method that is only suitable for the real experts. Do you think everybody else awoke their spiritual roots when they were ten just like you?"

  Li Yao nodded his head, showing that he had fully understood the risk.

  Fu Dong extended one of his fingers and said, "For the last time, give me a hint if you can't stand it any longer. I'm going to open the valve now!"

  Li Yao lifted his hands and watched him tranquilly.

  In the room next to the training chamber, Xiong Wuji and Sha Yulan were observing Li Yao through a one-way mirror.

  Beside Sha Yulan was a large box in which various medical drugs were stored.

  She glanced at Xiong Wuji and asked, "I'm here to because someone might need to be saved. What are you here for?"

  Xiong Wuji replied casually, his hands behind his back, "Observation. One can only reveal their true personality when they are in anguish. Our plan concerns the destiny of Iron Plateau. I cannot trust a shy and weak man without knowing exactly what he is.

  "I don't care how much pain he can resist; I only want to see how he resists the pain."

  Sha Yulan suddenly tremored. She said softly, "Big Xiong, have you really made up your mind? Once the plan is initiated, it's very likely that you will turn from the best warrior of the six tribes of Iron Plateau and the well-respected hero into the biggest traitor of Iron Plateau and a rat that everybody spits on!"

  Xiong Wuji was silent for a long time, before he opened his mouth again. "Maybe I haven't made up my mind yet. But now that fate has brought such a guy to me, I can only launch the plan no matter what!"

  Sha Yulan asked, "Are you not scared of disdain and even death?"

  Xiong Wuji took a long breath. He looked at Li Yao, deep in thought, while he replied briefly, "All for survival."

  Sha Yulan smiled bitterly. She lowered her head and said, "Then, let our names rot together!"

  Their hands, one large and the other small, and one dark and the other fair, held
each other tightly.

  On the other side of the one-way mirror, Fu Dong opened the valve on the True Qi Locks brutally.

  Earsplitting shrieks burst out from the joints of the True Qi Locks. Spiritual gas spurted more than ten meters away like white arrows!

  Spiritual gas less than one third the standard pressure had been blown into Li Yao's body!

  Chapter 568: Does It Not Hurt? |

  Wu Mayan and Fu Dong held their breath as they observed Li Yao's reaction nervously.

  For many tall and muscular men in the Furious Bears Tribe, they would already be crying and begging for mercy when one fifth the standard pressure was imposed on them.

  There was nothing but indifference on Li Yao's face. He blinked his eyes and looked back peacefully.

  Wu Mayan looked at Fu Dong in bewilderment. He then stood on his toes so that he could check the pressure meter on Li Yao's shackles and hear the shrieking spiritual gas from the joints of the tools. He remarked confusedly, "There's nothing wrong. It is one third the standard pressure. What's going on? Uncle Sand Scorpion. Do you not feel anything?"

  Li Yao shook his head.

  No, that was not entirely true. He felt like ten thousand feathers were brushing his body and making him itch. They were like dragonflies stopping by the surface of a pond and had dispersed before he had enjoyed enough.

  Fu Dong made up his mind and span the gear again to change the standard pressure!

  Li Yao frowned. He finally sensed clearly that feeble currents were flooding into his body from his wrists and ankles and roaming among his internal organs and his twenty major veins.

  However, the air currents were too weak. He felt that somebody was gently tickling him. He was unfulfilled, and the eagerness deep in his blood was aroused.

  "Still nothing? Does it not hurt?"

  Wu Mayan was dazed. He remembered what had happened to him when he was faced with the standard pressure for the first time. He had felt that he was being skinned and almost jumped up and crashed into the ceiling!

  Fu Dong was somewhat surprised, too. "Breathing and heartbeat are normal. Eyes are clear, too. You must've received training with True Qi Locks before, right?"

  Li Yao shook his head emotionlessly, showing that he had forgotten everything.

  Wu Mayan's eyes suddenly shone. He exclaimed, "That must be the case! Uncle Sand Scorpion is probably an expert of one of the other tribes and has received training with True Qi Locks before. That's why you can hold back the pain!"

  Is this pain?

  Li Yao did not think so at all.

  In Ou Yezi's memory fragments, to practice the ancient arts of refining, he had ruthlessly tortured himself countless times.

  The Thousand Fingers Soft Bones Technique alone, which was for the purpose of improving the nimbleness of fingers, required breaking one's fingers repetitively, shattering them and restoring them with secret medicines.

  Some of the other training techniques even demanded that he put his hand in boiling medical drugs until they were cooked, and they were boiled again and again after they recovered. Only in such a way could the freshest skin and flesh be created, and the sensation of the hands be maximized.

  His Thousand Tempering Hundred Refining technique had also been improved many a time when he was practicing with Ding Lingdang. Ding Lingdang had never showed any mercy when she was in a fight, and it was often terribly painful for him.

  To further improve the speed and sensation of the hands, he had even conducted the cruelest training with the Purple Ring Sword Ants!

  They would often say that fingers were connected to the heart, but for him, the pain of dozens of Purple Ring Sword Ants biting him simultaneously was something that he could only vaguely feel.

  He had thought that such pain was not thrilling enough and fed virulent poison to the Purple Ring Sword Ants in order to increase the pain.

  The more pain he was in, the faster he would improve!

  The standard pressure felt like stinging from a grass tip for Li Yao. It was absolutely not worth mentioning and felt more like itching than aching.

  He did not like itching.

  Therefore, he simply extended his hand and span the gear hard. The switch was set to five times the standard pressure immediately.

  Hiss—

  Wu Mayan and Fu Dong both gasped, but there had been no time for them to stop him. They were beaming with amazement.

  Li Yao grunted. He felt that the spiritual gas was crowding into his body like scorching magma and finally caused some pain for him.

  He had tasted pain of exactly the same degree every time he was warming up before a training session. The familiar feeling made his lips curl, and he grinned in satisfaction.

  Now we're talking.

  Li Yao squinted, as if he was enjoying a delicious meal. He continued adjusting the valve and increased the pressure of the spiritual gas to six times, seven times, eight times…

  In the observation room next door, Xiong Wuji and Sha Yulan were both dumbfounded. Their faces were almost kissing the glass, and they failed to come up with any remarks for a long time.

  Wu Mayan and Fu Dong did not know Li Yao's background. They thought that he had received True Qi Locks training before, and therefore, could still accept everything they saw, however shocked they were.

  But Xiong Wuji and Sha Yulan knew clearly that Li Yao was a Cultivator from space. How could he endure such pain on his first try?

  Seeing that Li Yao had set the valve to more than ten times the standard pressure, Xiong Wuji was greatly stunned. He glanced at Sha Yulan in confusion and asked, "Didn't you say that the training methods of the Cultivators in space are all very mild and orthodox? But I seriously doubt his training was 'mild and orthodox'. His face seems to suggest that he is quite enjoying the suffering!"

  Sha Yulan was as befuddled as him. She mumbled, "I don't understand. I've never seen such a weird Cultivator before!"

  Hu—

  Li Yao finally stopped at thirteen times the standard pressure. He took a long breath and exhaled in content. A mouthful of white steam dashed out like an arrow that was as swift as the spiritual gas escaping from the joints of the magical equipment!

  This was not his limits yet. But since this was only his first try, he would like to take it slowly and progressively.

  The muscles all over Li Yao's body protruded out. His thick veins appeared like raging blue dragons. Yet, his countenance was as indifferent as before. Except for the occasional twitching of his eyes, there were absolutely no signs that he was in excruciating pain!

  Li Yao reflected on the pictures of capillary vessels that had been etched to his brain just now wholeheartedly. He then observed his body with his soul while his spiritual threads extended and guided the spiritual gas charging into his body precisely toward where the capillary vessels were located.

  Increasing the capacity of spiritual gas by building a thousand Bridge Veins!

  Wu Mayan was truly shocked.

  He was also able to withstand fifteen times the standard pressure now. However, beyond ten times the standard pressure, the agony that felt like ten thousand ants biting his heart was still too much for him. Even if he could concentrate his attention, he would still be grimacing and screaming during his training, his face twisted, and would in no way be nearly as tranquil as Li Yao was right now.

  The little monster, who had always considered himself to be a resolute man, shouted in disbelief, "Uncle Sand Scorpion, do you not know what pain is?"

  Li Yao was not bothered by him, and he was focused on the thousands of streams of rampant spiritual gas inside his body. He felt that he still hadn't enjoyed enough yet, and therefore simply walked to the corner of the chamber where the training equipment was placed.

  He had his own daily work-out plan and did not require the supervision from other people.

  He warmed up himself at first with 800-kg barbells casually before he ran at the highest speed for three minutes. When Li Yao felt that his
body had been woken up, he started the real training.

  Swoosh!

  His left arm turned into a grey shadow and thrashed forward like an iron whip, immediately raising the sound of air being ripped apart. A small swirl appeared right in front of the first, before two fulminations echoed on the target, the first being the explosion of the swirl and the second resulting from the actual collision!

  Pa! Pa!

  The gap between the two noises was very brief, as if two serial Wolf Fangs had been detonated simultaneously. The earsplitting noises resonated inside the spacious training chamber and did not die down for a long time.

  My capillary vessels have been filled with spiritual gas. When I punch, I feel that a tide is surging out together with my fist. The feeling is quite marvelous!

  Li Yao grinned. He recalled the agonizing days in the outdated training field of the Crimson Nimbus Second High School where he had been sweating and training with the special vest under the guidance of Mister Sun Biao.

  The insufferable days in the past were more vivid than ever today. He felt that he was drinking a cup of cold beer that became the most gratifying stream when it entered his stomach!

  One punch. One punch. Another punch.

  Carrying more than a thousand kilograms of weight, with untamable spiritual gas savaging his body, Li Yao started his daily training.

  After each punch, his muscle fibers and capillary vessels were torn apart, but they were quickly mended by the spiritual energy the very next moment. The feeling of getting stronger gave him ultimate pleasure.

  Without him knowing anything, the iron target in front of him had been left with two deep traces of fists.

  Li Yao took a long breath and finally stopped. His fists had no protection, so they were now soaked in blood and sweat, which were dripping to the ground steadily.