Set a goal, and the system takes over the body.

"When did Xiu Yuan reach such a level in the Five Elements Stance Technique?"

Qi Qingshan was somewhat surprised.

The Five Elements Stance Exercise consists of sixty forms. Every movement of Qi Xiuyuan, such as sinking the hips, twisting the waist, and reaching out the hands, is so precise that it seems as if it has been measured with a ruler. The rhythm of opening and closing the muscles and bones is just right.

Even someone like him, who has been immersed in this field for decades, could only manage this much.

But he clearly remembered that he had accidentally seen his son practicing martial arts half a month ago. Many of his movements were still unsatisfactory, far inferior to the formal disciples of the martial arts school, and even inferior to a few nominal disciples with solid stance training.

How long has it been?

At this moment, Qi Xiuyuan's Five Elements Stance Technique was not only performed with standard movements, but also with a sense of selflessness and tranquility. His aura was incredibly stable, as if he had been practicing for decades.

Could it be that he has finally had an epiphany?

In the path of cultivation, if one cannot sense the flow of qi and blood, one will never be able to cross the barrier of qi and blood that stands between ordinary people and martial artists. No matter how long or how hard one practices, it will only strengthen the body and not make one a true martial artist.

However, if one can overcome this hurdle, one can enter the realm of Ming Jin and gain double the strength.

"I have made great progress in the Five Elements Stance Exercise, and the possibility of sensing Qi and blood will also increase. I hope Xiu Yuanzhen can succeed."

Qi Qingshan stood outside the wall for a while, but ultimately decided not to disturb them and turned to leave.

In the courtyard, Qi Xiuyuan continued his cultivation practice, seemingly unaware of fatigue.

Sweat had long since soaked through his clothes, and was even dripping down his hair, leaving a small wet patch on the bluestone slabs beneath his feet.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

The formal disciples living in the martial arts school got up one after another and headed to the training ground.

As they passed by the side courtyard, someone glanced into Qi Xiuyuan's yard and froze on the spot.

"No way? Senior Brother is still practicing?"

"That can't be... Maybe they got up early and just started practicing?"

"What do you mean 'just started practicing'! Look at his clothes, the same ones from yesterday! And look at those sweat stains—he's clearly been practicing all night!"

Several people gathered outside the courtyard wall, their eyes wide with disbelief.

"That's incredibly dedicated!"

"Our senior brother isn't very talented, but he's putting in this much effort. It's obvious he's doing this for the Tianfu Martial Arts Tournament in three months. Meanwhile, we're tired after only two or three hours of practice each day, and we even have the nerve to slack off... I really want to slap myself twice."

"Slap! Slap!"

Two crisp sounds.

"No, Junior Brother Chen, you're really going to smoke?"

"Alright, alright, stop watching and get back to practicing! Let's see who still has the nerve to slack off today."

Their faces flushed, and they clenched their fists as they hurried toward the training ground.

At this moment, Qi Xiuyuan's body was still cultivating, his eyes were open, and he was calmly looking ahead, but his consciousness had fallen into a deep sleep in the latter half of the night.

By the time he was fully conscious, the sun was already high in the sky, and the sunlight was making his back feel hot.

He instinctively wanted to yawn and stretch.

But after the thought crossed his mind, his body didn't react at all. His face, hands, and waist remained in the same position as before, completely still.

"As expected, it's still practicing. This system is really easy to manage; it doesn't even interfere with my sleep."

Qi Xiuyuan smiled to himself, not in a hurry, and waited quietly.

In the blink of an eye, ten hours had passed.

The final stance is to bring the feet together and the hands to slowly sink back to the lower abdomen.

In that instant, Qi Xiuyuan regained control of his body.

"hiss!!"

He almost collapsed to the ground.

I was drenched in sweat as if I had just been pulled out of the water. A wave of soreness and numbness surged up in my waist and legs, and my bones felt sore and swollen. My legs felt as soft as cotton.

Immediately afterwards, a strange feeling rose up from within my body.

A thin stream of heat was slowly sinking down from the spleen, then along the spine towards the kidneys, warm and gentle like a tiny warm current.

Qi Xiuyuan held his breath.

He tried clenching his fist, and the heat actually moved with his will, flowing down his arm to his fingertips. It was warm and a little swollen, and his strength increased dramatically.

With a whoosh, a pale blue light screen popped up.

Name: Qi Xiuyuan

[Cultivation Level: Qi and Blood Realm (Early Stage, 1/100)]

Martial Arts: Five Elements Stance Training (Beginner, 100/200)

"I've done it! I've become a martial artist!!"

Qi Xiuyuan's face instantly lit up with ecstasy, and his fingertips trembled uncontrollably.

It's been ten years!

The original owner trained for a full ten years, from an ignorant child to a teenager, experiencing hope and disappointment time and time again, and had long since engraved the words "hopeless in this life" into his bones.

Just now, he truly felt the flow of qi and blood within his body.

The barrier of qi and blood that separated ordinary people from martial artists has been broken!

Qi and Blood Realm, also known as Ming Jin!

By using Qi to stimulate blood and generate power, those who succeed will have pulses like the sound of a drum, and the flow of Qi and blood in their bodies will double. They will not easily get tired from labor or long periods of martial arts practice, and will quickly widen the gap in physical fitness between themselves and ordinary people.

Qi Xiuyuan felt the ever-expanding power within his body and grew increasingly delighted.

Even though I knew all along that I would succeed.

But now that it's really successful, I can't help but feel a surge of excitement.

But he quickly took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed his excitement.

"Junior Brother Lin Hu was ambushed and had all his bones crippled because he was too talented and reached the peak of the Strong Realm at the age of twenty. Although we have not been able to find out who did it, it must be related to several other martial arts schools in the city."

"After all, with Junior Brother Lin Hu crippled, they are the biggest beneficiaries."

"Although it takes me ten years to sense my Qi and blood, even if people find out, it won't attract much attention, and it might even become a laughing stock. There's no need to make trouble for myself."

Qi Xiuyuan secretly made up his mind to keep this a secret for the time being.

The safest approach is to develop quietly.

"System, set your goal. I want to win first place in the Tianfu Martial Arts Tournament in three months."

[Target detected: Win first place in the Tianfu Martial Arts Tournament in three months]

[Method 1: Arrive at Xiling Snow Mountain two days later, hunt down the Snow Demon at Daxuetang, and refine its Ice Heart Crystal Soul into Ice Heart Pill. After consuming it, supplement with cultivation techniques and cultivate with complete absorption. After seven days, break through to the Inner Strength Realm. Then, observe the fierce tiger in Qingcheng Mountain and cultivate the Tiger Form. You can obtain the essence of the Tiger Form in one month and succeed.]

[Method 2: Before 3:45 PM today, arrive at stall number B7 in the West Market of Tianfu City. Spend two taels of silver to buy a small bronze figure covered in rust. Solve the mechanism to obtain a fragment of the Fengshen Finger Manual. Cultivate it to a minor level to succeed.]

Please select a method to complete the objective.

Method 1 was immediately ruled out by Qi Xiuyuan.

Just kidding. Even those at the Bone-Reaching Realm would think twice before going in to be a Snow Demon. For a newbie like him who just entered the Blood Qi Realm, going there would be like sending himself to his death.

"Hmm? Picking up a fragment of the Investiture of the Gods?"

Qi Xiuyuan's gaze fell on Method Two, and he immediately became interested.

Finding a bargain is satisfying enough in itself.

Not to mention that even a mere fragment of the manual, once mastered to a minor degree, could help him win first place in the Heavenly Palace Martial Arts Tournament, which shows just how powerful the Divine Finger Technique is.

This is a steal, why not take advantage of it!

"It's still early, around 3:45 PM. There's one more use we need to test."

Qi Xiuyuan's eyes narrowed slightly, and his fists clenched slightly.

"My goal is to find the murderer who killed my second junior brother, Lin Hu!"