I've become the emperor of humanity, and only now is spiritual energy reviving?

[Hou Tu Nourishing Qi Method (Beginner 0/100)]

[Grade: Mid-grade D]

[Effect: Refines one's own Qi and blood, forging the primordial Qi that flows from the mouth.]

[—Houtu cultivates Qi, taking oneself as the foundation, refining essence into Qi. This method was created by the brilliant founding emperor of the Great Jing Dynasty. It is hoped that everyone in the world can cultivate this method and become like a dragon.]

The moment the progress bar in front of him filled up, An Sheng felt a wealth of knowledge related to the "Hou Tu Nourishing Qi Method" appear out of thin air in his mind.

The number of non-existent memories is rapidly increasing...

The feeling of suddenly gaining unfamiliar knowledge into one's memory is truly novel and strange.

But in contrast...

In just a few seconds, An Sheng completely understood the "Hou Tu Nourishing Qi Method," which would normally take an ordinary person about half a month or even a whole month to barely memorize.

The Houtu Nourishing Qi Method, as an introductory Qi cultivation method for the Great Jing Martial Arts, has no outstanding special effects and the cultivation speed is relatively slow.

But its strength lies in its balanced and moderate approach, making it suitable for everyone.

It is also much clearer and more complete than the family traditions of many remote rural martial arts families.

Its cultivation method is also exceptionally simple.

Simply imagine yourself standing on the ground and then silently recite the mantra while breathing.

If one can cultivate a breath of innate "primordial energy" from nothing within the body, one has already stepped halfway into the threshold of martial arts.

If one goes a step further, cultivating true qi to a great extent and spreading it throughout the body, and then passes the three stages of [mind], [body], and [skill], one can be considered a true martial artist.

With a single step, one can cover several meters; with a mere wave of the hand, one can easily split a stone tablet.

Afterwards, by circulating true qi throughout the four extremities of the body, forming a complete cycle within the body, one can become a rare martial artist even among the most powerful beings.

By then, breaking through a battle formation of dozens of cavalry with bare hands would not be a difficult task.

As for what happened next, the "Hou Tu Yang Qi Fa" (后土养气法) doesn't mention it.

It is generally intended as a foundational method, to prevent practitioners from becoming too ambitious.

Without a doubt, even those "martial artists" who sound like nobody's minions have already created a fundamental gap between themselves and real-world fighting champions.

They entered the realm belonging to Superman.

The realm of smashing a concrete wall with a single punch doesn't seem so far away.

In addition, the sound of illusory gold coins landing, representing the activation of "Gate of Babylon," once again reached his ears.

Ding-a-ling~

Moreover, it seems that there will be two more gold coins landing this time.

[The Gate of Babylon has activated, granting you an extra reward—the skill "Fragment of the Heavenly Netherworld Divine Art"!]

[Fragment of the Imperial Heavenly Netherworld Divine Art: 1%...2%...]

"So this adds another skill to the specialization of mental cultivation?"

An Sheng couldn't help but lick her dry lips.

The effects of Gate of Babylon are truly amazing; it's like getting a free engine.

If he had chosen "Lostbelt Walker" back then, he'd probably be making a fortune somewhere by now.

He glanced around the bustling classroom again, and thinking that since there was still time, he couldn't wait to close his eyes, silently recite the incantation, and test the true value of martial arts cultivation.

"The earth is the mother, and the soil is the root..."

An Sheng quickly forgot about the noisy classroom environment.

Even when the furious head of discipline shouted at the door, "Your class is the noisiest in the whole grade and the whole building. I can hear you arguing even in my office," they didn't hear it.

In the midst of anticipation and silence, An Sheng only felt a slight sense of disorientation before he silently recited the entire set of mantras for the Hou Tu Nourishing Qi Method.

Then, the lower abdomen area felt warm.

"True Qi...is there?"

An Sheng opened her eyes in a daze.

He touched his abdomen and clearly felt as if a small, hot, and warm fireball, about the size of a thumb, had appeared there.

No, how come the true qi just appears on its own after I just casually recited it once?

Is that correct?

The saying goes, "Practice makes perfect," meaning that those with ordinary talent need to train hard for years, and even those with exceptional talent need to train for months or days.

[Newly born emperor, your talent is astonishing! Your first cultivation session is equivalent to several years of hard work for an ordinary person. Houtu Qi Cultivation Method +100!]

[Hou Tu Nourishing Qi Method (Proficiency 0/300)]

[Effect: By harmonizing with one's own Qi, one can refine one's Qi and blood, strengthen one's foundation and nourish one's vital energy.]

[Physical Strength 0.6 → Physical Strength 0.7]

A familiar yet more intense warm current surged from my abdomen once more, penetrating every corner of my body, making my muscles stronger, my bones more solid, and my nerves more sensitive...

An Sheng clenched his fist, touched his body where the muscle lines had become more defined, and felt the concentrated power within, as if it were an extension of his own arm.

He felt his body become "lighter" again, the pull of gravity so weak it was as if he were floating in water.

Am I really a genius?

It's just that he was previously distracted by ordinary studies and the desolate place of Terra that his unparalleled talent has not yet been revealed.

An Sheng couldn't help but sigh.

—I have such a powerful cheat code, yet my talent is still so "explosive"—that's just too unfair!

Without thinking too much, An Sheng's curiosity quickly shifted to the small ball of true qi in his abdomen.

What is the purpose of this little gadget?

According to the Hou Tu Nourishing Qi Method, consuming true qi can dispel evil spirits, strengthen the body, and restore physical strength; it is almost a panacea.

Of course, there were no evil spirits or ghosts around the classroom for him to practice on.

After thinking for a moment, An Sheng had no choice but to focus his attention on the cheap playing cards that were still unopened in Gu Mingsu's drawer.

He picked up the playing cards and then somewhat awkwardly channeled all his vital energy into his right index finger and thumb.

tear up.

Then, An Sheng slowly tore the entire deck of cards in half with just two fingers.

"That grip strength is pretty strong."

Without making a sound, An Yi put the broken playing card back in its original place and clenched his right hand fingers as if he was still not done.

Even if a physical fitness level of 0.7 is roughly equivalent to that of a national first-class athlete, tearing an entire deck of cards apart with two fingers is still a bit beyond the realm of common sense.

Even the world grip strength champion might not be able to do it.

It can only be said that it is all thanks to the true Qi.

This power, originating from within the human body and unrelated to spiritual energy, is indeed very useful and has already transcended the realm of "reality".

After the experiment was over, An Sheng realized that the once bustling classroom had become completely empty.

He glanced at the clock hanging behind him and realized that more than half an hour had passed. Most of his classmates had already gone downstairs to warm up and line up for the physical fitness test.

The An Sheng sensation had only lasted two or three minutes.

"Cultivation knows no time; it seems that's really true..."

"—Xiao An! They've already started taking attendance downstairs. If you don't go soon, the teacher will scold you."

A loud, carefree voice came through.

An Sheng looked over upon hearing this.

A girl with striking red hair, wearing a sweatshirt with the words "Not Allowed to School" printed in large print, and completely covered up, leaned against the classroom door.

She looked around, and after confirming that no one was in the corridor, she took out a crumpled bag of Furongwang cigarettes and a lighter from her pocket, and immediately started smoking.

An Sheng didn't say anything, but simply pointed to the surveillance camera outside the corridor.

"Damn, I almost forgot."

Lu Jin stuck out her pink tongue and put the cigarette and lighter back in: "It's a good thing you're here, Xiao An. You know, a good student's brain really works..."

An Sheng asked, "Ah Jin, don't you have to do a physical exam?"

"Screw you!"

Lu Jin rolled her eyes dismissively: "You guys would be exhausted like lapdogs after running 800 meters, and this silly school doesn't even provide a bottle of water..."

Hey, I can run 5,000 or 10,000 meters in a flash, but I won't run.

"What, this lousy school is going to expel me for something so trivial?"

Lu Jin, An Sheng's childhood sweetheart.

The two were neighbors since childhood, and were in the same class from kindergarten to high school.

The two have had a very good relationship since childhood, even closer than best friends.

However, something went wrong after Lu Jin moved.

The once well-behaved girl transformed into a red-haired sports student who secretly smoked and drank, and was rumored to hang out with teenage girls outside of school.

His academic performance plummeted.

However, even though Lu Jin no longer seemed like a good girl, it did not affect their strong childhood friendship in the slightest.

Lu Jin pursed her lips, her hand on her hand. Seeing An Sheng walk past, she snapped her fingers and grabbed his wrist: "An Sheng, tell me honestly, have you grown taller?"

"It might be because I changed to new shoes."

"..."

The more Lu Jin looked at it, the more something seemed off, so he skillfully groped it all over.

The girl's pupils contracted sharply the next moment.

They didn't even notice the demonic claws that had been unleashed beside their hands.

Lu Jin discovered that her fingers were no longer uncomfortable from the bones as before; instead, they were nestled in slightly elastic, soft muscle.

Thick trapezius muscles, powerful pectoral muscles, six-pack abs, and prominent scutes on the sides of the ribs...

Absolutely perfect muscle definition!

Wait, are you kidding me?! Is this really the same skeleton soldier Xiao An who gets out of breath just climbing a few stairs?

"Holy crap, Xiao An, you've really got some skills!"

Lu Jin was shocked, and her little hands couldn't help but squeeze a few more times.

It feels so good to squeeze.

She licked her lips and couldn't help but daydream.

—If my snow-white breasts were to be vigorously pounded by Xiao An, who is all muscle, wouldn't I feel like I was flying to heaven?