Chapter 4: Testing Medicine and Beginning Exercises
As Shi Xuan hurried towards the kitchen, he suddenly thought about the possibility of encountering airborne toxins later. He quickly stopped in his tracks, enduring the pain in his muscles as he applied an Earth Armor Talisman to himself. Activating it, he saw the ground ripple and soil crawl up from his feet to cover his body, giving him the appearance of a terracotta warrior. He then cast a dust removal spell on his face before continuing towards the kitchen.
Upon stepping into the kitchen, a pleasant herbal scent greeted Shi Xuan's nose, indicating that the three medicines were safe and harmless.
Shi Xuan labeled three jars with the words A, B, and C respectively. He then found three bowls and labeled them with the same letters. Placing a dust protection symbol on a tray and activating it, he carefully poured the liquid medicine into the corresponding bowls. Shi Xuan thought proudly to himself, "Even though it's ancient times without a laboratory, sterile procedures can still be followed. Magic truly is amazing."
Carrying the tray into the courtyard where four dogs were tied up in a corner, Shi Xuan set the tray down and began casting spells. With a series of movements and incantations, he used a Paralysis Spell to immobilize the dogs. He quickly fed the three bowls of medicine to two black dogs and one yellow dog and then stepped back to observe their reactions.
After a few breaths, one of the black dogs suddenly began convulsing, foaming at the mouth and bleeding from its eyes. It struggled briefly but soon became still, held by the Paralysis Spell without collapsing. Sweating, Shi Xuan thought to himself that with successful experimentation, he might be able to sell this as a potent poison in the future. As for why he wouldn't use it personally, he believed that its effects were only suitable for dealing with ordinary people and martial artists, unlikely to affect skilled practitioners.
The other two dogs appeared energized, with red eyes and barking loudly, seemingly unaffected. However, after a while, the yellow dog managed to break free from the Paralysis Spell, running wildly around the courtyard. Observing closely, Shi Xuan noticed that the dog slowed down gradually before collapsing with a whimper.
Checking on the dog, Shi Xuan found it had merely fainted, exhausted from excessive energy consumption. The medicine seemed more like a stimulant, harmful rather than beneficial to the body.
Returning to the corner, Shi Xuan observed the remaining black dog until the Paralysis Spell wore off. The dog only excreted a dark substance from its body and seemed lively once the spell faded. Shi Xuan now had a better understanding of how the medicine worked but decided to observe the remaining two dogs overnight before making any final conclusions.
Because the herbs used in the bath and the internal medicine are the same, just in different amounts, we can now confirm the recipe for the bath. But it's better to be cautious, so let's first try it on the remaining dog.
The results of the experiment pleased Shi Xuan greatly. The yellow dog that had the bath didn't show any bad symptoms, just scratched its bones as if itchy, but by evening it was back to normal. Shi Xuan thought this was a sign of the medicine seeping into the skin.
Running around all day, busy and tired, Shi Xuan felt exhausted. After dinner, he meditated for a moment and then fell asleep.
The night passed quietly.
The next day, Shi Xuan woke up early. Both dogs that had the medicine were doing well, but the yellow dog that had the suspected stimulant seemed much older, lying in a corner looking listless.
Shi Xuan confirmed the effectiveness of the medicine. Feeling determined, he decided to start his own physical training today.
The body and soul of a person have a mysterious and close connection, so it's often seen that those with strong bodies have better spirits, while those with weak bodies feel down. Nurturing the soul through physical training is about strengthening the body to nourish the soul. When the body is pushed to its limits, internal energy naturally arises, and the soul breaks through to a higher level, entering the Period of Strengthening the Qi and Soul.
If the physical training doesn't reach its limit and one forces to practice the secrets of internal energy, it may cause injuries as the body can't handle the energy consumption. Severe cases may deplete the body, leading to illness. Even during the Qi Strengthening Period, one must replenish nutrients daily to compensate for the energy used, or various illnesses may arise from the body losing resources. Therefore, martial artists need a lot of resources. Without money or backing, it's hard for warriors to master high-level martial arts.
After lunch, Shi Xuan looked at the bowl of medicine in front of him, took a deep breath, drank it all in one go, then took off his robe, bare-chested, and walked into the courtyard.
Shi Xuan felt the medicine he drank spread through his body like a warm force, he adjusted his posture and started practicing the starting posture of The Ten Dragon Subduing Demon Fist from the "Treasure Record" book.
Since Shi Xuan was already familiar with the ten moves of The Ten Dragon Subduing Demon Fist in the morning, he smoothly performed the moves from the starting posture of the Fierce Dragon Turning Waist to the Blue Dragon Suppressing Waves, all the way to the ending move of the Golden Dragon Swaying Its Tail and the Celestial Dragon Descending.
With each move of the fist technique, Shi Xuan felt the warm energy flowing along with his punches. As he executed each move, the heat gathered more in the tightest and most powerful muscles. The combination of internal and external energy forces caused the impurities in his body to dissipate through the pores along with the punches and heat flow.
The more Shi Xuan punched, the more exhilarated he felt. He repeated The Ten Dragon Subduing Demon Fist several times, slowly and methodically, almost like practicing Tai Chi in future times. However, Shi Xuan found this slow pace enjoyable at this moment, with the help of the medicine, he felt vibrations starting in the neglected corners and deep muscles of his body.
If someone were to observe at this moment, they would see steam rising from Shi Xuan's body, as if he were shrouded in a thin mist. The hottest point above his head appeared to release white smoke upward. There seemed to be an invisible wind swirling around him, blowing a circle of about ten feet on the ground.
After reaching the slowest point in his fist technique, Shi Xuan's speed began to increase again. Towards the end, the sound of wind whooshed as his fists flew out, and his joints crackled intensely like popping beans.
Gradually, Shi Xuan entered a clear state, as if he could see his soul and body separately - the soul inside, the body outside. With each punch, it felt like the body and soul were striking together, with the body's energy continuously nourishing the soul, making it grow stronger.
As Shi Xuan punched with increasing joy, his spirit and energy improved. It felt like there was a burst of energy ready to erupt. After performing the move of the golden dragon swaying its tail, a swift turn with his left hand, and a powerful push with his right hand downward, executing the move of the celestial dragon descending.
As he punched, it seemed like all the energy from his body and the surging vitality in his heart were released through the punch. A sharp sound cut through the air, and a gust of wind unexpectedly snapped a thin branch of a tree two yards away.
After throwing the punch, Shi Xuan stopped and felt happy. His muscles were sore but full of strength. He was sweating a lot and had dirt on his body, which made him uncomfortable.
Shi Xuan quickly walked to the well, filled a bucket with water, found a cloth, and wiped off the dirt from his body. He felt refreshed. As the herbal bath was prepared at the right time, he went to the kitchen and sat in the tub, feeling the medicine seeping into his muscles and even into his bones. Following the instructions in the "Treasure Record," he controlled his breath, balancing and coordinating his entire body, a concept known as Qi Refining. This control helps the body eliminate harmful elements and restore balance.
While enduring the itching sensation, Shi Xuan maintained the balanced state, controlling the forces in his body to prevent any harm. Harmful elements present in the external medicine were slowly expelled as the body aimed for balance. These harmful elements were replaced by beneficial components, nourishing the body.
Normally, it's difficult to expel harmful elements deep in the bones during Qi Refining. This can only happen when the body becomes significantly stronger. It might take Shi Xuan reaching a higher level or two to achieve this.
Shi Xuan continued the breathing exercises amidst the itching sensation, benefiting his soul. After half an hour, as the effects of the medicine waned, Shi Xuan emerged from the tub feeling light, refreshed, spiritually uplifted, and with heightened awareness. Surprisingly, minor internal injuries had healed sooner than expected - a benefit of Qi Refining.
At bedtime, Shi Xuan assessed his physical and spiritual strength, estimating that if he continued practicing twice a day, he would reach the Period of Strengthening the Qi and Soul in five months. His physical prowess would exceed previous levels due to the effectiveness of The Ten Dragon Subduing Demon Fist and the herbal remedy. However, mastering this martial art required more effort.
In the following months, Shi Xuan secluded himself, spending most of his time practicing The Ten Dragon Subduing Demon Fist in the yard. He also revisited techniques he had learned before, experiencing significant physical and spiritual growth. He prepared himself for future adventures while recalling the teachings of Old Taoist Xu.
