Chapter 41: On the Realms of Cultivation

“A-Qing, do you know what one must possess to become a good physician?”

Hearing his master's question, Lu Qing hesitated for a moment before answering, “Excellent medical skills?”

“That is only one part of it,” Old Doctor Chen said. “In addition to that, an excellent physician should also possess a calm mind in the face of change and a healthy physique.”

“A calm mind in the face of change, and a healthy physique?” Lu Qing murmured.

“Correct.” The old doctor nodded. “As a physician, a calm mind is very important.”

“Because as a doctor, you will inevitably encounter all sorts of different kinds of patients in the future.”

“Some patients will be in unbearable pain, wailing loudly; some will be at death's door, gasping for their last breaths; some will have terrifying and gruesome symptoms; and there are even those with violent temperaments who might try to curse or strike you at any moment.”

“When encountering such patients, if you do not have a calm and composed mind, it will be difficult to accurately diagnose their condition and treat them to save their lives.”

“So remember, once you have mastered your medical skills, no matter what kind of patient you encounter, you must maintain a calm composure. Only then can you better help treat them.”

“This disciple will keep it in mind,” Lu Qing said respectfully.

“As for a healthy physique...”

The old doctor paused for a moment before continuing.

“As I said just now, as a physician, you will always encounter difficult patients.”

“Some patients are not only ill-tempered themselves, but their family members are equally unreasonable. Sometimes, at the slightest dissatisfaction, they will fly into a rage and even take their anger out on the physician.”

“In such moments, a physician should stop thinking about saving lives and instead focus on self-preservation.”

“In that regard, a healthy physique is essential; otherwise, I fear you won't be able to deal with those unreasonable patients and their families.”

As the old doctor spoke, an indescribable expression surfaced on his face, as if he were recalling some unpleasant memory.

*It seems Master has encountered quite a few medical disputes in the past,* Lu Qing thought to himself.

The old doctor shook his head, shaking off the unpleasant memories, and continued.

“Besides dealing with difficult patients, a physician's daily tasks—such as entering the mountains to gather herbs or traveling far and wide—all require a good body to accomplish.”

“Therefore, while medical skill is certainly important to becoming an excellent physician...”

“A calm mind and a strong physique are equally vital.”

“Then Master, how can I train to develop a strong physique?” Lu Qing asked humbly.

“Now you've hit the nail on the head,” Old Doctor Chen smiled.

“Do you remember the set of boxing techniques I performed when you first came to see me?”

“I remember.”

*More than just remember,* Lu Qing thought, *I almost managed to mimic it.*

This was the first time his master had proactively mentioned cultivation, and his heart couldn't help but race with excitement.

“That boxing set was something I stumbled upon in my youth. It is precisely because of it that I can still maintain a decent physique at my age.”

“Since you have already entered my discipleship, it is time I taught you this boxing set.”

“Master is going to teach me martial arts?” Lu Qing looked pleasantly surprised. “So Master knows martial arts as well?”

“I only know a little. Your constitution is somewhat weak. In the future, whether you want to enter the mountains for herbs or travel the world, you must exercise more. As physicians, we must not only know how to treat illnesses but also how to regulate our own bodies and strengthen our health.”

“If you are sickly yourself, how can you be in the right state to diagnose and treat others?”

Old Doctor Chen knew that someone as bright and perceptive as Lu Qing would never give up on seeking the truth behind his parents' deaths.

He had no reason to stop his disciple.

After all, as a son, wanting to know the truth behind his biological parents' passing was only natural.

Since that was the case, the best he could do was provide his disciple with some means of self-protection.

Returning to the courtyard, the master and disciple stood in the center, while Xiao Yan sat at a nearby stone table, happily eating snacks while watching them.

“A-Qing, before I formally teach you the boxing techniques, I must first explain some common knowledge regarding martial arts cultivation,” Old Doctor Chen said with a solemn expression.

“Yes, Master.”

Lu Qing suppressed the excitement in his heart.

*Finally, I can learn about cultivation!*

“So-called martial arts cultivation is divided into several realms by those in the martial world,” Old Doctor Chen began to explain.

“The major realms are divided into the Pre-natal and Post-natal realms.”

“As for the minor realms, the Post-natal realm alone is divided into three stages: the Qi and Blood Realm, the Bone and Sinew Realm, and the Internal Organ Realm.”

“In the Qi and Blood Realm, beginners primarily focus on stimulating their Qi and blood and regulating their breathing.”

“Once the Qi and blood are active and the breath is smooth, the body naturally becomes stronger, strength increases, and vitality flourishes.”

“Thus, a martial artist who has reached the Great Completion of the Qi and Blood Realm is physically robust and possesses astonishing strength; even if three or five grown men try to hold them, they can easily shake them off.”

“In the Bone and Sinew Realm, practitioners begin to intentionally temper their bones and sinews.”

“By using various secret methods and mental cultivation techniques, they temper their bones and sinews, achieving the effect of stretching tendons and reshaping bones—a complete transformation.”

“A martial artist at the Great Completion of the Bone and Sinew Realm possesses strength far beyond the Qi and Blood Realm; they can pull a galloping horse or throw a bull with their bare hands, which is quite terrifying.”

“As for the Internal Organ Realm...”

The old doctor paused before continuing: “At this stage, a practitioner's Qi, blood, bones, and sinews have reached a peak and are difficult to break through further. Therefore, they begin to seek a deeper physical transformation from the outside in.”

“And this transformation lies within the internal organs.”

“The five viscera and six organs of a human have always been fragile; even slight damage can be life-threatening.”

“However, a practitioner of the Internal Organ Realm can cultivate their internal organs to be exceptionally powerful. With their internal and external selves becoming one, their breath becomes long and their endurance becomes immense.”

“A master of the Internal Organ Realm possesses such powerful internal breath that they can run for a thousand miles and still have strength left, or stay underwater for hours without running out of breath.”

“Martial arts practiced to this level far exceed common imagination, reaching the human limit of the Post-natal realm.”

“Those who can reach such a realm are truly one in ten thousand, worthy of being called the dragons and phoenixes among men. Therefore, those who reach the Great Completion of the Internal Organ Realm are honored by the martial world as Grandmasters.”

This explanation left Lu Qing both exhilarated and shocked.

The cultivators of this world were even more powerful than he had imagined.

Pulling galloping horses, throwing bulls with bare hands, running a thousand miles...

These feats were practically superhuman.

No wonder he had felt such intense pressure from that Master Ma before.

It turned out he possessed such formidable power.

“Master, if the Post-natal realm is this incredible, what about the Pre-natal realm?” Lu Qing asked impatiently.

“Even I do not know the power of the Pre-natal realm,” the old doctor said, shaking his head. “The experts of that realm are like elusive dragons; some prefer to wander the world freely, while others are supreme figures guarding entire nations. Ordinary martial artists find it difficult to even come into contact with them.”

Lu Qing’s eyes darted around, and he asked, “What about you, Master? What realm are you in now?”

“Hahaha!” The old doctor laughed heartily. “I am old and my body is failing; it doesn't matter what realm I am in. Besides, I am merely a physician. I only care about treating illnesses and saving lives, not about competing for dominance. Whether a realm is high or low is irrelevant.”

*Alright,* Lu Qing thought, *the old man doesn't want to reveal his cultivation level.*

“However, although I cannot fight, I can certainly teach you some methods to strengthen your body.”

“You must study this boxing set I am about to teach you very carefully.”

(End of Chapter)