Start with push-ups to gain experience

Chapter 431 The Path to the Pinnacle of Martial Arts

Fang Cheng meticulously recounted the various changes in his own strength, but his heart was not stirred by much emotion.

Whether it's the "visualization" that propels you to the Grandmaster level, the exciting numbers on your attribute panel, or the vast ocean of true energy within your dantian.

These gains were indeed significant, but in his view, compared to the real opportunities of this trip, they were merely expected "add-ons."

It's like climbing a mountain, steadily ascending the pre-planned stone steps.

While the scenery along the way was delightful, it paled in comparison to the breathtaking sight of the surging sea of ​​clouds and the red sun breaking through the fog the moment you reached the summit.

Inside the water dungeon, darkness remained.

On the rock face, the inscriptions left by our predecessors faintly glow, as if they still retain warmth.

Occasionally, water droplets fall, making a soft, rhythmic sound with a clear echo.

Fang Cheng's pupils shone with an astonishing brightness, his gaze seemingly piercing through the rock wall before him, looking into another dimension.

Then slowly close your eyes, without any deliberate guidance or meditation.

In an instant, consciousness transcended the boundaries between matter and spirit, arriving in another realm.

This is a world shrouded in endless darkness.

The thick fog surged and rolled like ocean waves.

Countless evil thoughts and strange occurrences lurk within, rising and falling with the tide.

They have no fixed form; sometimes they transform into distorted human faces, and sometimes they extend ferocious tentacles.

A silent roar echoed through the mist, spreading chaos and madness, attempting to drag everything back into chaos.

Deeper still in the sea of ​​fog, an indescribably vast outline looms in the distance.

It's like an ancient god slumbering on the edge of the world, waiting for the opportunity to make a comeback.

However, in this dark and desolate world, there exists a pure land suspended in the air.

It is like a blazing sun, radiating countless golden rays.

The dazzling light transformed into countless sharp swords, ruthlessly tearing through the darkness, dispelling the thick fog, and opening up a vast realm of light.

If you get close enough to look closely, you can even see that the light envelops what appears to be real land and buildings.

This place is like a sky island blessed by light, the ultimate bulwark of order.

At this moment, Fang Cheng transformed into the shadow of the sun, standing quietly high in the sky, looking down at the world he had created with his own hands.

Wherever the will of the sun's true fire swept, every inch of land and every grain of dust was presented in perfect detail to the senses.

This is an island with an area of ​​nearly eight square kilometers.

In the real world, it would be considered a tiny place.

But in the realm of the spirit, it already appears exceptionally vast.

The earth was newly formed grayish-brown rock and soil, with a rough and primitive feel, bare and without any trace of vegetation.

A mountain range hundreds of meters high stretches across the land like the spine of a giant dragon, supporting the skeleton of the world.

The mountains are rugged and the cliffs are steep.

The angular rocks had just been squeezed out of the ground, and their surfaces were not even completely cooled, radiating wisps of heat.

A magnificent river originates deep in the mountains, meandering through the landscape, its water crystal clear.

After carving a valley in the barren land, it eventually disappeared at the boundary of the light domain.

That's also the end of the island.

A dazzling curtain of light, formed from the sun's true fire, enveloped the boundary, resembling a natural barrier.

Outside the barrier, chaotic mist, like a raging sea, relentlessly crashed against the island, attempting to erode this pristine land.

But the moment they touched the light barrier, they were incinerated into nothingness.

Light and darkness clash fiercely here.

The soil and rocks on the island's edge were constantly annihilated in this never-ending war, only to be reborn from nothingness under the sun's rays.

This cycle repeats itself, maintaining a delicate dynamic balance.

The sky cast endless light, illuminating the nascent mountains and rivers.

Although the land appears somewhat barren, it is no longer a desolate wasteland, but rather full of vibrant life and endless possibilities.

Fang Cheng is the sun that bestows all life upon this world; he is the only god in this miniature world.

With a thought, his will swept across the earth, and the wind arose in response.

What began as a gentle breeze quickly transformed into a powerful airflow that swept across the land, stirring up clouds of dust.

Then, the wind rippled the winding river surface, spreading out in circles of waves.

The thought quickly shifted again, and the water vapor above the island condensed rapidly into a large patch of dark clouds.

Cool raindrops fell, hitting the newly formed rock and soil, splashing up dust and making a soft 'rustling' sound.

A heavy rain fell, bringing a moist atmosphere to this barren land.

Although he couldn't yet create life, the sense of control he felt—the ability to command the wind and rain and have his words become law—still filled Fang Cheng with a sense of wonder.

At the same time, he also understood that this was the true essence of the "visualization" method.

The inner world is not only a fortress for protecting the spirit, but also a training ground for deducing all laws.

In the future, whether it is practicing martial arts or comprehending cultivation techniques, I can completely simulate conditions that are difficult to achieve in reality here, and the efficiency will be far greater than before.

As his thoughts wandered, Fang Cheng's gaze swept across the newly formed world, finally settling on the magnificent palace in the center of the island.

It is entirely constructed of dark gold boulders, with walls reaching tens of meters high, making it exceptionally magnificent.

That was originally his own memory palace, but now it has become part of his inner world.

From a high altitude, the outer area of ​​the palace appears uneven, with scattered pebbles and clods of earth.

It resembles a huge building that has just been completed and whose site has not yet been cleaned up.

Fang Cheng's mind stirred slightly.

Rumbling--

The ground surrounding the palace, covering tens of thousands of square meters, began to shake violently.

The raised mounds were smoothed out by an invisible force, and the sunken pits were completely filled.

Immediately afterwards, square pieces of obsidian emerged from the soil.

They automatically calibrate their positions, splice together, and embed themselves into the ground seamlessly.

The whole process was like an invisible construction team laying the floor with unimaginable efficiency.

Fang Cheng descended from the sky, his feet landing on the first black floor tile that had just been created, and strode towards the palace gate.

With each step he took, the road beneath his feet stretched and extended forward.

When Fang Cheng arrived at the gate, a wide and flat black stone road had already taken shape.

At the end of the avenue, dozens of steps ascend in layers, seamlessly connecting with the entrance to the palace.

Fang Cheng reached out and pushed open the golden palace door that required a giant to budge, and suddenly felt a sense of openness and tranquility.

Unlike the pitch-black scene of the past, the hall is now bright and magnificent.

Sunlight streamed through the dome and the intricate stained-glass windows on either side, casting dappled shadows and illuminating the magnificent, thousands-of-square-meter hall in a dreamlike state.

Dozens of huge columns support the towering vaulted ceiling, giving it a solemn and dignified appearance.

Those arched gates lead to the secluded side halls, inspiring contemplation.

At the deepest part of the hall, a throne made entirely of gold stands silently, gleaming brightly.

Fang Cheng walked forward step by step and sat down calmly.

The instant he touched the throne, an indescribable feeling surged through his mind.

It was as if I had completely merged with this world, and every grain of sand on the island and every drop of water in the river became an extension of my will.

Even the thought of establishing a connection with all the "believers" flooded into his mind in an instant.

Fang Cheng closed his eyes and concentrated, his fingertips tracing the cold armrest, enjoying this omniscient and omnipotent experience.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes and looked toward a corner.

There was a door there, emitting a soft white light, its spatial fluctuations slightly different from the surrounding environment.

With a slight thought, Fang Cheng appeared before the portal and stepped inside.

The scene before them suddenly changed. The magnificent palace vanished, replaced by a tiny bedroom of only a few square meters.

On the old desk, there were stacks of eye-catching academic works, and the quilt on the single bed was folded neatly.

This is my home on Old Factory Street, my own bedroom.

Clearly, the interior world inherits the original concept of the "memory palace".

This place is both the initial anchor point and the origin of one's own soul's memories.

Immediately afterwards, Fang Cheng sensed another new spatial fluctuation.

With a slight thought, he vanished from the bedroom in an instant.

The next second, they found themselves in complete darkness.

The surrounding area consists of slippery rock walls covered with dense, ancient characters.

A sliver of light quietly pierced through a crevice in the rock wall overhead.

This place was none other than the water dungeon where he was currently in seclusion.

The entire scene was almost perfectly replicated.

Unlike reality, the pool has been filled with water again.

Fang Cheng instantly understood.

The experience of breaking free from shackles and rebuilding oneself in this secluded place to seek enlightenment is also deeply imprinted on my soul.

Thus, it became the second memory anchor point in the interior world, after the bedroom.

As his consciousness returned to the sky, overlooking the entire island bathed in light, Fang Cheng felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.

The most important result of this long period of seclusion and intensive training was not the improvement of attributes or skills.

Instead, it created a near-realistic inner world, and by chance, it experienced the unity of heaven and man, successfully condensing its "true self".

The so-called "true self" is not simply a visualization of a false projection as an embodiment of the inner world.

It is closer to the "Yang Shen" in Taoism and the "Dharmakaya" in Buddhism.

It is a highly unified entity of essence, energy, and spirit.

It is the embodiment of a martial artist's "Tao" and "Principle" forged through countless trials and tribulations.

It is also a manifestation of the simultaneous breakthrough of will and body to reach the peak and achieve perfect fusion.

It can be said that the surge in various physical attributes is, on the surface, the result of digesting the flesh and blood of the Crimson Eye and absorbing a massive amount of life essence.

But in essence, it is in the process of condensing the "true self" that the soul governs the physical body, forcibly pushing the level of life to be improved, thereby completing a complete transformation.

Through this retreat, the essence, energy, and spirit were thoroughly integrated and condensed into a perfect whole.

The true fire of the sun in the inner world can continuously refine external energy and transform it into the purest true qi.

The abundant true energy nourishes the physical body at all times, making the physique and spirit stronger day by day.

The powerful physical body and spirit, in turn, support the stability and expansion of the inner world.

The three are mutually supportive, forming a continuous cycle that creates a perfect closed loop that can evolve and thrive endlessly.

Fang Cheng had a vague feeling.

Even if I stop doing any high-intensity exercise from now on, and only meditate and contemplate every day.

The body's strength, agility, and physique will also be continuously improved in a subtle and gradual way.

This is the true foundation rebuilding.

While this kind of improvement is not as rapid as consuming the flesh and blood of the Crimson Eye in one go, it has the advantage of being long-lasting and constantly occurring at the microscopic level.

You might not see much change in just a few days.

However, if the timeline is extended to a yearly scale, the resulting benefits will be incredibly substantial.

"Refining essence into qi, refining qi into spirit, refining spirit to return to emptiness..."

"True essence forging the cauldron, condensing the true self, inner vision manifesting outwards..."

Fang Cheng silently recited these mantras in his mind, integrating Ma Jianguo's teachings with his own insights.

In the past, he constantly trained, practiced his skills, and improved his level, all for the vague and general goal of "becoming stronger".

Like a traveler groping in the dark, only able to barely see the path beneath their feet, yet unaware of where it ultimately leads.

But now, everything is different.

These were once steps that sounded mysterious and esoteric.

At this moment, in Fang Cheng's eyes, they had transformed into crystal-clear road signs, pointing out the direction to go.

A vast, endless road to heaven finally unfolded before him.

That is the path that belongs only to martial artists.

It can also be called—Martial Arts!
........................

despair.

despair.

A few more drops of water fell from the cracks in the rock wall.

It hit him squarely in the face.

Fang Cheng's eyelashes trembled slightly, and he opened his eyes.

A flash of lightning suddenly appeared in his two cold, star-like eyes.

He raised his head, ignoring the obstruction of layers of rocks, and stared directly at the narrow crevice above him.

Beyond the crack, the sky was dark.

Thick, dark clouds were gathering, seemingly brewing a torrential downpour.

Faintly, a muffled rumble of thunder could be heard.

it's raining outside.

The moment the thought crossed my mind, a strong thirst rose from the depths of my throat like a raging fire.

Fang Cheng subconsciously licked his lips, feeling his mouth dry and parched, as if it could spark.

This is not because the power of the Crimson Eye is still at work.

Instead, the several-day retreat, especially the final stage of visualizing the true fire of the sun, caused too much water to evaporate from the body.

Immediately afterwards, a very clear "gurgling" sound came from my abdomen.

In the silent water dungeon, the sound seemed exceptionally loud and utterly jarring.

Fang Cheng looked down at his well-defined abs and gave a helpless, bitter smile.

My stomach was already rumbling with hunger, completely empty.

He looked inward at his dantian, where the newly opened and vast sea of ​​qi contained a boundless ocean of refined true qi.

But upon closer inspection, the water level was barely halfway up.

Previously, he had focused on the true fire of the sun to create an inner world, which almost exhausted all the life energy he had accumulated.

Thanks to the flesh and blood of the Crimson Eyes as a supplement, the goal was successfully achieved.

After all, physical transformation and spiritual breakthroughs are both built upon massive energy consumption.

"We need to get out of here quickly."

Fang Cheng muttered to himself, "Let's find a place to have a good meal and a good drink first."

The thought of sizzling, oily steaks and chilled cola intensified my hunger.

He then leaped off the stone platform and was about to stride toward the exit when he suddenly stopped and looked down at himself.

Muscles bulging, lines flowing smoothly, brimming with power and beauty... and, incredibly, smooth skin...

His clothes, which had been decent when he came in, were completely reduced to ashes the instant the true fire of the sun erupted, leaving not a trace.

"Fortunately, we were prepared."

Fang Cheng slapped his forehead, remembering the backpack he had left on the stone steps at the entrance to the water prison.

After walking a few steps to the entrance, I saw the familiar blue canvas shoulder bag.

(End of this chapter)