Chapter 738: The Nine Body Techniques of the “Body Cultivation Secret Classic”
“Alright! Of course, I have to give it a try!”
Initially, when I first encountered body techniques, I naively thought they were purely skills for killing.
After gaining the Self-Awakened Body Cultivation, I nearly forgot about body techniques.
At that time, after Sister Bai became an instructor, I actually had plans to learn body techniques in my heart. However, I got so busy that I didn’t have the time, mainly because Sister Bai was really not treating me as a teaching assistant!
But now~ Sister Bai is still obediently teaching me.
The ritual dance I practiced back then could barely be considered a body technique, but it was aimed at enhancing physical fitness, and it required alchemical items to strengthen the body during practice.
However, general body techniques do not need supplementary items.
Sister Bai began to share with me information about body techniques. This information was basic yet quite dull. While she spoke, she shared this information with me through the Great Knowledge Seed, saving me a lot of time.
“The initial body technique is simply a way to exercise the body, aimed at optimizing the body’s overall state. The body is a complex system, and its complexity determines that a person’s body is not always suitable for combat. One of the adaptation processes in body techniques is adjusting the body to reach a state of readiness at any time…”
According to Sister Bai, if a normal person without any extraordinary means wishes to embark on the path of body cultivation, practicing body techniques is the most basic method to strengthen oneself.
There are almost no extraordinary traces involved, which differs from magic cultivation, making it feel a bit more dull.
At least in magic cultivation, after meditation, one can constantly feel their mental power, and once they gather it, they can initially interfere with the realm of extraordinary energy.
But that’s not the case with body cultivation.
Moreover, there are too many paths in body cultivation. Different worlds may give rise to different paths, but there is no absolute orthodoxy in body cultivation.
Only those body techniques that align best with the rules of a world or the characteristics of a race are the best methods.
However, techniques corresponding to magic cultivation, akin to basic attacks in spells, will definitely not be overlooked.
Even in the Five Senses Body Cultivation that Sister Bai and I chose, the path of the Five Senses corresponds to a type of body technique.
Take the “Body Cultivation Secret Classic” as an example; it contains nine branches of body techniques, with the technique corresponding to five senses body cultivation being “Five Senses Communication,” which relates to the “Perception” branch of body techniques.
This is not surprising, as magic spells also have variations like attack spells, defense spells, and perception spells.
Body techniques also distinguish between attack and defense branches.
Generally speaking, the inherent impression brought by body techniques might just be attack and defense. However, this is indeed not wrong, as these common body techniques are also the most abundant.
After all, if there are options in the cultivation system, most sensible individuals would choose magic cultivation and leave body cultivation to those who are more muscular, so the derivation and development of body techniques have not been as glorious as spells.
Although there are many types, they mostly adhere to the same fundamental principles.
It’s somewhat like how the fireball spell has derived into techniques like fire snake, explosion, and double fireball.
Many people distinguish different “schools” using various body techniques, with different schools developing distinct styles.
According to Sister Bai, these styles, as they develop, will eventually become cognitive limitations that confine one’s body cultivation potential. This is an inevitable result of social comparison driven by objective realities. Being unaffected by school styles ultimately remains just theory, as fighting still requires understanding of humanity.
I feel that I have perfectly avoided the ending where “one must practice body techniques upon embarking on the body cultivation path, ultimately being influenced by the school of body techniques” after gaining self-awakened body cultivation.
Moreover, the “Body Cultivation Secret Classic” that Sister Bai mentioned belongs to a body technique system without any bias. At least currently, no one dares to claim that the Body Cultivation Secret Classic is exclusive to any particular faction; it resembles a collection of body techniques that circulate most freely in the void, without significant stylistic bias.
For instance, among the most representative attack branch techniques — “Breaking Heavens Force.”
It is an expected result of an individual’s understanding of attack during the development of body techniques.
The most direct form of attack and the clearest description is to punch through the shackles of heaven and earth, which is roughly what this technique aims to express.
The other body techniques contained in this body cultivation secret classic are similarly aligned.
Representing defense is “Protective Body.”
Representing speed is “Shadow Step.”
Representing counter-attacks is “Bone Piercing Strike.”
Representing self-healing is “Healing Breath.”
Representing perception is “Five Senses Communication.”
Representing extraordinary resistance is “Soul Cleansing.”
Representing extraordinary energy is “Breaking Heavens Force.”
And representing meditation is “Realm Heart Insight.”
If it weren’t for Sister Bai’s introduction, I wouldn’t even have known that there are so many branches in body techniques.
Among them, there are many concepts that I find intriguing, such as “Five Senses Communication,” which is the most basic of five senses perception, and the fact that body cultivation includes meditation, which I hadn’t anticipated. However, upon seeing the name “Realm Heart Insight,” I can roughly guess that it possibly represents a sixth sense above the five senses.
As for why there are no corresponding body techniques for the seventh and eighth senses… perhaps the thresholds are simply too high.
Or maybe Realm Heart Insight itself represents the perception beyond the sixth sense?
After all, the sixth sense is built upon the understanding of five senses perception, while the seventh sense is founded on the control stemming from heart sense understanding.
Sister Bai particularly emphasized the body technique “Breaking Heavens Force,” as this branch of body technique is also known as the ” spell” within body cultivation, which contrasts with the “enhance physical quality spell” in magic cultivation aimed at increasing melee power.
However, to me, “Breaking Heavens Force” seems to align more with another concept: “Body Technique Energy.” This technique appears to be a craft that continuously develops the body’s energy.
I must say these nine body techniques are quite characteristic. The novelty they bring me is no less than that of my first encounter with spells.
However, this novelty quickly faded.
Because body techniques involve a monotonous and repetitive training process, constantly tormenting the body to adapt.
This learning has continued for several days.
Even after these many days, I am still practicing “Breaking Heavens Force,” the first attack branch of body technique.
The difficulty of practicing body techniques exceeds my expectations, especially starting from the basics, which requires a long time.
And this is still my main focus, alongside my secondary focus on meditation “Realm Heart Insight,” practiced together with the daily routine of the Witch Meditation Method.
“Xiao Han, are you still holding up?” Sister Bai supported me, who was already panting, and asked with concern.
“I’m… I’m fine… Hu~ Hu~” I gasped as I got up, utilizing the self-healing body technique “Healing Breath” to adjust my breathing and repair the damage caused by intense practice of body techniques.
“I’m feeling… better now… I didn’t expect the cultivation of body techniques… to be so physically exhausting…”
“That’s for sure. Different levels of physical strength need to match the corresponding intensity of cultivation; otherwise, there will be no effect. Xiao Han indeed needs to practice more!”
“I know~” After adjusting my state with “Healing Breath,” I began to rehydrate.
Using my self-awakened body cultivation, I started to reverse-adjust my body to accommodate the body techniques.
Self-awakening body cultivation is my advantage.
All strong practitioners of body cultivation can only rely on body techniques to influence their bodies, then passively influence their life essence through the body.
However, I’ve been able to self-control my life essence right from the start, aligning it with body techniques.
So, in just a few days, I’ve nearly reached a level that others might take years or even decades to attain!
However, regarding the understanding of body techniques, this experiential comprehension may not quite match up to those purely focused body cultivators.
But Sister Bai reassured me not to worry.
Because long-term accumulation forms rigid thought patterns. Although these accumulated experiences do indeed make one stronger at this level, these solidified thoughts could also become shackles to future breakthroughs.
What Sister Bai said rings true: body techniques are a means to express the power of body cultivation, or in other words, a tool, rather than the only path in a person’s lifetime.
Yet, Sister Bai and I share the same sentiment; we still admire those masters who have made a body technique their sole path in life, but I will absolutely not tread that path.
A short-lived species has a brief span, which is often their only choice to achieve their life goals, standing as a monument to their fleeting lives. However, the long-lived species does not need to behave that way.
Although it’s quite pragmatic, lifespan really does affect a person’s worldview.
Sister Bai is also working on transforming both my and her own perceptions, which is something every witch who has been promoted to an extraordinary witch must experience.
In the intermission of our training, I took out a fruit from my storage equipment, then took a bite, letting the abundant juice flow down the corner of my mouth.
This fruit is called Elf Holy Fruit. It’s clear just by the name that it’s a good item from Aphhemia Academy. Although it doesn’t come from the fruit of their World Tree seedling, it is still a very precious good item.
In short, it enhances physical quality.
Many of the good items distributed to me by Principal Mei are related to body cultivation, such as items that assist in practice and fruits that enhance physical fitness.
These are not only from Aphhemia Academy; for example, in Abyss Demon Academy, there is bl**d Refinement Essence, a good item that strengthens one’s flesh and bl**d body, enhancing the vitality and self-healing abilities of the flesh.
Although one can generally guess how bloody the production of this thing is, it… is not derived from human bl**d or flesh essence.
This is information I obtained through Earth Vein Identification Technique; otherwise, if it truly were what I imagined, I definitely wouldn’t want such a thing… mainly because of my squeamishness. Why should I use something that disgusts me when I clearly have better options?
Fortunately, it is not; this is made from a life form with powerful extraordinary powers and is a type of flesh creature specially raised by Abyss Demons.
Well… although it still sounds a bit gross, I plan to use this last, prioritizing the good items first.
“Slow down eating; look, juice is running down from the corner of your mouth!” Sister Bai reached out and wiped the juice flowing down the corner of my mouth, then put her finger back in her mouth and gently slurped, “It really tastes good. You can feel the strong life aura. If others find out you’re wasting it like this, they’re going to scold you.”
“Even if they scold me, that’s just the impotent rage of the incapable~” I said dismissively, “Sister Bai, do you want some? I still have a big basket of this kind of fruit!”
“Better you save it and eat it slowly.”
“Really not going to eat? You know my physical quality; if I eat half of this fruit, it won’t really have a big effect on me. Afterward, it would just taste nice!” I explained again.
Although I clearly understand Sister Bai’s inclination to save all the good things for me, some things really aren’t necessary!
“Alright, then I’ll have half~” Sister Bai was finally persuaded; as long as it doesn’t affect Xiao Han, she’s fine with anything.
“Half? What kind of request is that?” I wiggled the half-eaten fruit in my hand, quickly realizing Sister Bai’s true intentions.
“Eh heh heh~ Sister Bai wouldn’t want… this, right~” I waved the fruit I had bitten, with marks left by my teeth, the broken opening glistening with juice, possibly mixed with my saliva.
“Giving it?” Sister Bai asked bluntly.
“Sure, I’ll feed you.”
I brought the bitten fruit to Sister Bai’s lips, and she unceremoniously took a big bite, leaving just a little bit behind.
“Eh? With you gnawing like that, I can hardly hold it!” I said, pinching the remaining bit of fruit that was left.
But the next moment, Sister Bai took another bite, along with the seed, flesh, and my finger all into her mouth.
Those soft, slightly cool lips, carrying the fruit fragrance and moisture, soaked my fingertips.
Sister Bai seemed to savor some earthly delicacy, her nimble tongue casually brushing over me.
“Eh?” I widened my eyes in disbelief; it was only until I reacted that Sister Bai’s lips firmly pressed together.
As if she wanted to s*ck the last drop of juice off my fingertip clean!
“Sister Bai, what are you doing?! Taking advantage of me, are you?” I quickly pulled back my hand to scold her.
“The taste is really good~” Sister Bai looked as if she was reminiscing, but I couldn’t tell what she was referring to in the flavor.
Then she spat out a seed.
“I’ve just finished training body techniques; I don’t have the strength to argue with you, hmph~”
“Then that means you’re not going to argue, right?” Sister Bai sat down beside me with a smile.
“Pretty much.” My gaze rested on the seed Sister Bai was playing with, “By the way, Sister Bai, do you think we can grow this seed? After all, we have a World Fragment lying around; planting a tree should be fine, right?”
“You want to grow this?” Sister Bai asked with a smile while playing with the seed.
“Is that not possible?”
“Most likely not. I’ve also dealt with some knowledge of extraordinary plants; the higher the level of extraordinary plants, the more they have lost their ability to naturally germinate after extraordinary induction.” Sister Bai explained.
“Then… what about this seed?” I pointed at the one in Sister Bai’s hand.
“This can only be considered the original fruit structure of this fruit. After extraordinary induction, it retains its form, but it cannot grow into this kind of extraordinary plant.”
“Eh? That’s so cunning?”
“Of course, it’s to prevent the fruit from spreading. Only those that have undergone special techniques to germinate can be planted. Xiao Han, you still need to accumulate more common knowledge.”
“What kind of common knowledge is this!” I retorted.
However, after carefully searching in the Great Knowledge Tree, I discovered that my knowledge reserves did indeed mention this concept… but I hadn’t realized that such operations existed.
It’s so contrary to common sense!
No wonder there are so few extraordinary plants in nature; the higher the level, the fewer there are.
