Cloud Ascension Physique

As I ambled along the bustling main road, I found myself lost in thought, mulling over the words of wisdom Elder Feng had shared with me. Our conversation had meandered through the realms of alchemy, medicine, and the pill recipe he was in the process of refining. In the course of our discussion, I had gleaned some insight into the mysterious concept of blood qi. It was the vital essence martial artists harnessed to fortify their bodies and sharpen their minds, coursing through their meridian and dantian systems like life-giving rivers.

Though not everyone was born with these pathways, most members of my family were among the fortunate few. For commoners blessed with such a gift, wealth was easily attainable, as martial artists were highly sought after and handsomely rewarded for their services. The talent one possessed in martial arts was determined by the number of concentrated points, or blood qi points, that ran along their meridian veins.

In this world, people matured at a startling pace compared to my previous existence. At the age of 18, individuals were regarded as full-fledged adults, their growth complete. With this accelerated development came hastened aging, and commoners typically had a life expectancy of around 65 years. However, martial artists could live for extraordinary lengths of time; some legends even spoke of warriors who had lived for 300 years.

The age of 18 was considered the prime time to open the meridian and dantian systems. At this stage, the body was at its peak, and when a martial artist began to circulate blood qi through their veins, these vessels proved robust enough to withstand the flow. Not only did this lead to rapid progress, but it also laid the groundwork for a solid foundation. During the initial movement of blood qi, it would accumulate in the points, revealing them in the process.

As I approached the grand entrance to my courtyard, the guards bowed respectfully. The heavy gate creaked open, and I sauntered in. Instead of heading directly home, I decided to make a detour to my personal training area. The path I followed soon opened up into an expansive stone-tiled square, large enough to accommodate a dozen people training comfortably.

Positioning myself at the center of the square, I concentrated on the first form of the Willow Breeze Dance: the Whispering Wind Form. With a slow, deliberate movement, I slid my wooden sandal across the smooth stone tiles. Then, in a sudden burst of speed, my body lunged forward, my sandal clapping against the ground as I halted abruptly.

The sensation was peculiar yet strangely familiar. My only frustration was that my body lacked the strength to move as quickly as I desired. Nevertheless, I attempted the technique once more.

Crouching low, I sprang into the air and executed a series of impressive mid-air maneuvers, propelling myself to the side. Just before landing, I tapped the ground with the very tip of my sandal, using the momentum to launch myself back to my original position. I was slightly out of breath, and while I could perform this technique without blood qi as Elder Feng had suggested, I couldn't shake the feeling that incorporating blood qi would allow for greater speed and endurance.

Taking a break to reassess my physical condition, I realized that despite my improved strength, executing the technique remained challenging. It was true that my recent performance had surpassed even Elder Feng's demonstration, but I sensed ample room for further improvement. Intrigued, I retrieved the second manual, the Cloud Ascension Physique, and pondered its implications.

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, casting a warm, pinkish-orange glow across my face and the surrounding gardens, I settled into a cross-legged position in the middle of the square, ensuring the fading sunlight illuminated the manual. Upon opening it, I was greeted by an eloquent description of the technique: The Cloud Ascension Physique emphasized flexibility, agility, and fluidity in movement, much like clouds drifting effortlessly through the sky. This technique trained practitioners to harness their internal energy and channel it throughout their bodies, imbuing them with enhanced physical capabilities.

The technique was divided into five forms: Drifting Cloud Form, Thunderbolt Force Form, Boundless Sky Form, Wind's Embrace Form, and Ascending Heaven Form. Turning the page, I was met with stunning illustrations of the first form. I studied them intently, allowing the silence to envelop me once again.

As I absorbed the knowledge, a sudden gust of wind caressed my face, and my body felt as if it were plummeting through the air. I twirled and spiraled, falling endlessly. Then, as if guided by an unseen force, my eyes snapped open, and my limbs spread out. I surveyed my surroundings, appearing to free fall from the heavens. Clouds whisked past me at breakneck speed, and I continued my descent, the ground nowhere in sight, obscured by a seemingly infinite sea of clouds and haze. Gradually, my velocity decreased until the clouds ceased their frenetic dance, and I was no longer falling but floating. I had grasped the essence of the first form, Drifting Cloud Form.

As the once-bright clouds darkened, they swirled around me, as if I were caught in the eye of a mighty tornado. Suddenly, a thunderbolt struck. It hit me in the stomach with a force I was sure could topple a building, yet I remained unharmed. Another bolt followed, striking my arm; this one felt equally powerful but less uncomfortable. A third slammed into my face without consequence. As the thunderbolts continued to strike without causing harm, I acquired a deep understanding of the second form, Thunderbolt Force Form.

As the clouds dispersed, I found myself adrift in an empty sky, captivated by its boundlessness. Unconsciously, I entered a state of profound calm. My breathing steadied, and my heart rate slowed to a mere few beats per minute. Time seemed to accelerate as the sky shifted rapidly between darkness and light. Emerging from the trance-like state, I was left with a newfound comprehension of the third form, Boundless Sky Form.

The winds gradually picked up, transforming from a gentle breeze to a powerful gust. I felt heat radiating from my body, unsure if it was the wind or me that was in motion. The heat intensified, igniting my clothes and reducing them to ashes. A blinding light obscured my vision, and when it finally subsided, I found myself hurtling through clouds so swiftly that they were mere blurs. Eventually, I came to a gradual stop. I had mastered the fourth form, Wind's Embrace Form.

With my body suspended and motionless in the boundless sky, I assumed a cross-legged position. Clouds gathered in a vortex above me, darkening once more. A colossal thunderbolt struck, but this time, it lingered. Instead of delivering force, it seemed to conduct energy throughout my body, altering it in ways I couldn't yet comprehend. As the bolt dissipated, a revelation dawned upon me. I had unlocked the secret of the fifth and final form, Ascending Heaven Form.