Great Wilderness Demon Lord

In late June, meat trading at the border market gradually increased.

The centaur brought twenty dried hind legs, the gray-horned deer brought thirty catties of smoked deer jerky, and several smaller tribes brought bits and pieces of dried milk and dried meat, totaling about a hundred catties.

Manager Wu recorded all of this in the inventory and allocated a portion to the kitchen every day so that the new recruits could have some meat every few days.

Xiao Yunlan asked Zhao Meng to slightly increase the training intensity.

The drill practice was extended from half an hour to a full hour, and physical training was expanded to include running and weightlifting.

The new recruits initially complained, but when they found that the food was indeed better than before, their complaints gradually decreased.

That evening, Xiao Yunlan was in his study looking through the "Secrets of Military Strategy" that he had brought from the capital.

The book is incomplete, with some pages damaged, but the section on "Qi Refining" is still relatively intact.

He observed carefully.

The military method of cultivating Qi is indeed rudimentary. It lacks those mysterious formulas and complex meridian diagrams.

With just a simple breathing technique and a few fixed movements, practicing it day after day can draw Qi into the body and strengthen muscles and bones.

The book says that this method originated from ancient military units, in order to give ordinary soldiers some ability to protect themselves.

I don't aspire to become a master; I only hope to withstand one more blow and run ten more miles.

Xiao Yunlan closed the book, having made up his mind.

The next morning, he summoned Zhao Meng, Tieshan, and Shi Biao, and also asked Xiao Yu to invite several of the most senior soldiers in the camp.

Once everyone was present, Xiao Yunlan said, "I have something to discuss today. You've all come from the Shuofeng Plains, and you all possess martial arts skills. I want to ask, have any of you practiced Qi?"

The veterans exchanged glances. One of them, surnamed Zhang, said, "General, we've practiced it. Back when we were soldiers at Zhenhuang Pass, the old instructor taught us. It was just some basic breathing techniques. We practiced for over ten years, and that's about it."

Xiao Yunlan asked, "How was the result?"

Old Zhang thought for a moment and said, "A little stronger than an ordinary person. A bit stronger, a bit faster, and able to withstand a knife wound for a little longer. But not by much. Without further training methods, this is the best you can do."

Xiao Yunlan nodded. This matches what was said in the book.

He then asked, "Are there many people in the military who practice Qi?"

Old Zhang said, "Most veterans know a little bit. New recruits are not so sure; it depends on whether the instructor is willing to teach them. Some instructors are secretive, afraid that if they teach their apprentices, the apprentices will starve, so they only teach them drills and not this."

Xiao Yunlan didn't speak, but looked at Zhao Meng.

Zhao Meng said, "General, in our camp, all thirty-seven veterans know the Qi Refining Technique. The new recruits haven't been taught it yet. Mainly... we haven't had time."

Xiao Yunlan said, "Starting tomorrow, the new recruits will begin learning Qi cultivation. Let the veterans be the instructors, each leading a dozen or so new recruits. After each day's drills, they will practice breathing exercises for an extra half hour."

Zhao Meng was taken aback: "General, this... according to imperial regulations, even though the Qi Refining Method is rudimentary, it cannot be taught casually. What if a new recruit learns it and then runs off to another place..."

Xiao Yunlan waved his hand: "Even if they run away elsewhere, they're still soldiers we trained. The three thousand soldiers of Wangbei Fort will all be our soldiers in the future. If they're strong, we're strong. If we're afraid they'll run away, then we'll find a way to make them not want to run away."

He paused, then added, "Besides, even if this Qi Refining Method gets out, it won't harm the imperial court. The truly valuable things are all in the hands of aristocratic families and military clans. What we've passed on is enough for them to improve their health."

Zhao Meng thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "The general is right. We'll get started tomorrow."

Xiao Yunlan added, "Let Xiao Yu and Xiao Duo go and help out as well. They've been practicing Qi since they were young, and although their skills are still shallow, they're better than the veterans and can offer some guidance."

Xiao Yu agreed from the side.

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Starting from the second day, the new recruits had an additional activity after their afternoon drills—Qi cultivation.

Xiao Yunlan went to see it for the first time in person.

At the east end of the drill ground, the new recruits sat cross-legged on the ground, forming more than a dozen small circles. In each circle, a veteran was teaching them breathing techniques.

The group led by Zhang Laozu had the most people, so Xiao Yunlan walked over and stood to the side to listen.

Old Zhang's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear: "When you inhale, don't use your mouth, use your nose. Inhale slowly, inhale as much as you can, feel the air going down to your lower abdomen. Hold it, count to five. Then exhale slowly, also through your nose, exhale completely. It's that simple."

A new recruit raised his hand: "Instructor, what does it feel like when your breath goes downwards?"

Old Zhang thought for a moment and said, "It's like this... when you inhale, you should feel your stomach bulge, not your chest. When your chest bulges, that's panting; when your stomach bulges, that's deep breathing. Try it."

The new recruits tried it out. Some had bulging bellies, some had bulging chests, and Old Soldier Zhang corrected them one by one.

"You, belly, don't stick your chest out."

"You, hold it in, don't rush to exhale."

"Yes, that's it, take it slow."

Xiao Yunlan watched for a while, then walked to another circle.

Xiao Yu was the instructor in this circle. He explained things in more detail than the veterans, going on and on about "dantian," "meridians," and "qi sensation." The new recruits were confused, but they did follow the instructions.

Xiao Yunlan stood to the side for a moment, waiting for Xiao Yu to finish speaking before saying, "Don't talk too much. They won't remember it. Just teach them breathing, and we'll talk more after they've mastered it."

Xiao Yu blushed and nodded quickly.

Xiao Yunlan went to check on the circle that Xiao Duo had brought. Xiao Duo had learned his lesson; he only had the recruits sit and breathe while he walked around, correcting anyone whose posture was incorrect. Simple and direct, the recruits were able to keep up.

After completing his lap, Xiao Yunlan returned to the sidelines. Zhao Meng followed him and whispered, "General, how long will it take to see results with this kind of training?"

Xiao Yunlan said, "It will take at least half a year, and at most one or two years. Qi cultivation is not something that can be accomplished in a day or two; it requires daily persistence. We don't expect them to become experts; as long as they are stronger than ordinary people and have a better chance of survival on the battlefield, that will be enough."

Zhao Meng nodded.

Xiao Yunlan added, "The food needs to be kept up. Qi cultivation is very energy-consuming; if you're not well-fed, it's all for nothing. Manager Wu, you need to expedite the meat procurement."

Zhao Meng agreed.

From then on, every evening, a group of figures would sit cross-legged at the east end of the drill ground. Their breathing rose and fell, like the wind blowing through a pine forest. At first, the new recruits couldn't sit still; their backs ached and their legs went numb, and they wanted to move after sitting for a while. The veterans watched them, scolding anyone who moved, and after being scolded many times, they became obedient.

Two weeks later, some people started to get the hang of it.

A young recruit ran up to Zhao Meng and said that when he inhaled, he felt a warm sensation in his lower abdomen, like a small fire. Zhao Meng took the recruit to Xiao Yunlan, who had him practice on the spot, and he did indeed feel some of the energy.

Xiao Yunlan asked Xiao Yu to write down the man's name on paper, and also instructed Zhang Laozu to keep a close eye on him and see how things progressed.

A few days later, seven or eight more people reported experiencing a sense of Qi. Xiao Yunlan instructed the veterans to write down the names of these people and to add an extra incense stick's worth of practice time each day.