Chapter 51: Great Tonic Soup, Stepping into the Blood and Qi Realm (Please follow on Tuesday)

“Master, what do you mean?” Lu Qing asked.

“Your constitution has always been somewhat weak. If you want to step into the Blood and Qi Realm, you must first make up for the deficiencies in your foundation.”

“Normally, consuming Blood-Nourishing and Qi-Boosting Pills would have such an effect, but doing so would be a bit too wasteful.”

“That is why your timing in catching this Golden Loach is perfect. With it, I can brew a pot of medicinal soup for you, which will exactly compensate for your deficiencies.”

“But Master, I intended to give this Golden Loach to you so we could enjoy it together,” Lu Qing said with some hesitation.

“I’ll just have a bowl of your soup when the time comes; there’s no need to be so particular.”

The old doctor acted immediately, picking up the Golden Loach and heading straight into the kitchen.

Lu Qing followed him inside and watched as the old doctor skillfully prepared the fish.

Aside from removing the internal organs, even the blood was kept and placed into a clay pot.

The old doctor then added some medicinal herbs and began the simmering process.

The brewing lasted for an entire hour.

During that time, as the aroma of the medicinal soup developed, a savory and fragrant scent filled the entire house, making both Lu Qing and Xiao Yan unable to stop themselves from swallowing.

“It’s ready.”

The old doctor extinguished the fire, let the clay pot cool slightly, and brought it out to place on the table.

As the lid was opened, a rich fragrance wafted toward them, causing the saliva in the mouths of the Lu siblings to increase even further.

Even the old doctor, upon smelling it, could not help but praise: “As expected of one of the Ten Great Delicacies, a truly wondrous fish.”

The old doctor took out three bowls: two large and one small.

First, he ladled out two bowls of soup.

Then, he pushed the remainder of the clay pot directly toward Lu Qing.

“Xiao Yan is still young and cannot handle much medicinal potency; one small bowl is enough for her. As for me, I will just taste it for the flavor. You, eat the rest.”

“Master...” Lu Qing hesitated.

“Don't be so indecisive. Remember, you must finish it all—don't leave even a single scrap of the medicinal residue.”

Seeing his master’s stern expression, Lu Qing could only take the clay pot and pour himself a bowl of soup.

One elder and two children began to drink the soup.

As Lu Qing took a sip, he felt an indescribable savoriness spread from the tip of his tongue, so intense that it felt as if every pore in his body were opening up.

On the other side, he saw that Xiao Yan was also drinking very happily, her eyes squinting with delight.

The old doctor took a sip, savored it carefully, and then swallowed.

With a slight sigh, he remarked, “Truly one of the Ten Great Delicacies of the world. No wonder those nobles and wealthy elites are willing to pay exorbitant sums to acquire these wondrous fish.”

“Brother, this fish soup is so delicious!” Xiao Yan said, full of joy.

Following his master's instructions, Lu Qing drank bowl after bowl. Before long, he had finished half the pot, consuming even the medicinal residue.

After finishing the soup and sitting for a while, Lu Qing began to feel a heat spreading through his body. In his dantian, a surge of hot air seemed to be churning.

Seeing his state, the old doctor smiled and said, “It is time. The potency of the medicinal soup has begun to take effect. Go outside now and practice the Body-Nurturing Fist to fully absorb this medicinal energy.”

Hearing this, Lu Qing hurried outside. He was already feeling so burned by the medicinal potency within him that he could hardly sit still.

Once in the courtyard, he focused his mind, calmed his spirit, took his stance, and began practicing the first through ninth forms of the Body-Nurturing Fist.

The old doctor followed him out. Seeing how quickly Lu Qing entered the state, becoming completely immersed in the practice of the fist technique, he nodded repeatedly.

His disciple was indeed a martial arts genius of extraordinary talent; even with the medicinal potency burning through his body, he could still rapidly enter a state of cultivation.

In the courtyard, Lu Qing, who had previously been feeling uncomfortable due to the heat of the medicinal soup, suddenly found his mind becoming tranquil the moment he began practicing the fist technique.

Various insights regarding the Body-Nurturing Fist flowed through his mind, and a moment of enlightenment rose within him.

Subconsciously, he began to use the Body-Nurturing Fist to guide the medicinal potency within his body.

The Body-Nurturing Fist was a technique the old doctor had perfected over most of his life, derived from a fragmented manual he had stumbled upon in his youth.

It condensed his decades of understanding of the human body's blood, Qi, muscles, bones, and internal organ functions gained through his medical practice.

It possessed remarkable effects for nourishing the physical body and strengthening one's health.

The Body-Nurturing Fist consisted of thirty-six forms in total. Among them, the first nine forms constituted a small, self-contained system, interconnected and echoing one another.

A single complete cycle could nourish blood and Qi and regulate one's breath, making it an excellent method for Blood and Qi cultivation.

Lu Qing immersed himself in the practice, performing the first nine forms of the Body-Nurturing Fist over and over again.

As he practiced, the medicinal potency transformed from the highly nourishing soup acted like birds returning to their nest, being rapidly gathered by him.

He slowly refined it, merging it into his blood and Qi, transforming it into life essence to strengthen his physical foundation.

Lu Qing practiced the fist technique selflessly, losing all sense of the passage of time.

After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly felt a tremor run through his entire body.

The blood and Qi throughout his body seemed to break through a certain threshold, instantly connecting into a single whole. His Qi moved with his intent, circulating throughout his body without resistance.

With a sudden flash of intuition, Lu Qing began to slowly withdraw his stance, closing his eyes to quietly feel the changes within his body.

“Good! The blood and Qi are connected and circulating throughout the body. The Blood and Qi Realm is finally achieved!”

Seeing this, the old doctor praised aloud.

After a moment, Lu Qing opened his eyes.

At this moment, he felt a sense of lightness throughout his body, as if he possessed inexhaustible strength.

His control over his own body had also increased significantly.

He extended his palm, and with a mere thought, a layer of blood-qi instantly condensed upon it, turning his palm a deep crimson as if it were about to drip blood.

As his thought dissipated, the blood and Qi also dispersed, and his palm immediately returned to its normal appearance.

“The so-called Blood and Qi Realm refers to a martial artist's ability to control the blood and Qi throughout their entire body to cleanse the physical form and enhance their strength.”

“When the intent is directed, the blood and Qi of the entire body connect. Not only can this burst forth with powerful strength, but physical defense is also greatly increased.”

“Therefore, even several ordinary strong men would be no match for a martial artist who has stepped into the Blood and Qi Realm.”

“Whether in terms of explosive power or defensive capability, the gap is too wide; there is simply no chance of victory.”

It was precisely through stepping into the Blood and Qi Realm and feeling the various changes within his body that these realizations arose in Lu Qing's mind.

No wonder his master said that a martial artist in the Blood and Qi Realm could easily fling off several large men even if they were being held.

Compared to ordinary people, the explosive power of a Blood and Qi Realm martial artist was indeed extraordinary.

“How is it? How does it feel to have stepped into the Blood and Qi Realm?”

At that moment, the old doctor walked over.

“It feels wonderful,” Lu Qing said joyfully. “Master, no wonder you said martial artists are powerful. Just having entered the Blood and Qi Realm, I feel my strength has increased significantly. I truly cannot imagine how powerful those high-level martial artists must be.”

“With your aptitude, reaching that level in the future is only a matter of time.”

The old doctor had immense confidence in Lu Qing's martial talent.

After all, one had to ask: how many people could step from a physically weak youth into the Blood and Qi Realm in just a few short days?

The martial talent Lu Qing displayed was by no means inferior to the young geniuses he had heard of while traveling the world.

“A-Qing, since you have already stepped into the Blood and Qi Realm and become a true martial artist, there are some things you also need to understand.”

The old doctor's expression suddenly became solemn.

“Please speak, Master,” Lu Qing said, his heart tightening with respect.

“There is one thing you must know: among the techniques martial artists cultivate, they are usually divided into 'Practice Methods' and 'Combat Methods'...”

(End of Chapter)