Blood Qi

As Elder Feng and Yi Tian set foot in the threshold of the revered Serene Relic Chamber, a palpable sense of sanctity washed over them. Elder Feng, with a profound reverence etched on his face, nudged the ancient wooden doors adorned with intricate carvings of celestial beings and legendary warriors. As the creaking doors gradually gave way, an intoxicating aroma of aged parchment and medicinal herbs filled the air, signifying centuries of wisdom that were safely enshrined within.

Embarking on their journey through the labyrinthine corridors, they finally arrived at a vast chamber, a grand library of sorts, teeming with an assortment of timeworn books and scrolls. The spines of these sacred texts bore golden characters that glowed like soft embers under the muted light, narrating silent tales of times forgotten. The chamber walls, a canvas of intricate diagrams depicting the human anatomy, meticulously portrayed the enigmatic flow of life energies, unraveling the mysteries of existence.

"Tian'er, choose a desk and make yourself comfortable," Elder Feng proposed gently, his arm sweeping across a collection of polished wooden desks. Each desk, worn with time yet echoing a profound dignity, bore silent testimonies of countless scholars who had sought enlightenment within these hallowed walls.

Yi Tian, heeding Elder Feng's suggestion, chose a desk nestled in a serene corner of the chamber, offering an all-encompassing view of the expansive room. The plush velvet of the cushioned chair seemed to embrace him warmly as he settled in, while Elder Feng, a veritable sage, bustled about, gathering a select set of books and scrolls.

"Before you attempt to harness the power of your Blood Qi, it is paramount to unravel its enigmatic nature," Elder Feng asserted, his voice carrying the weight of countless years of experience, as he placed the selected texts on the desk.

As he seated himself across Yi Tian, he asked, "Do you remember our discussion about how Blood Qi circulates within our bodies?"

A nod of affirmation from Yi Tian followed, "You spoke about its movement through our meridians and dantians."

"Indeed, but that's merely the surface of a profound ocean," Elder Feng remarked, unfurling a scroll that showcased a detailed diagram of the human anatomy. His gnarled finger traced over three distinct points on the diagram, "There are three dantians," he elaborated.

"One is nestled in the lower abdomen, which is the primary one. The next one is ensconced within the chest, and the final one resides within the forehead," Elder Feng elaborated, his voice carrying a tone of authority and reverence.

He then unveiled another scroll, this one portraying the human body crisscrossed with myriad lines, akin to an intricate web. "These lines represent the meridian pathways, the conduits for the flow of Blood Qi."

Handing over a worn-out textbook to Yi Tian, Elder Feng instructed, "This book delves deep into the nature and applications of Blood Qi. Study it thoroughly."

As Yi Tian immersed himself in the profound knowledge contained within the book, Elder Feng opened a hefty tome filled with detailed illustrations, each accompanied by insightful annotations. "The primary function of dantians is to harbor and store Blood Qi, but they also have other crucial roles. For instance, the main dantian located in the abdomen correlates to our physical strength. Strengthening it enhances overall vitality."

Intrigued, Yi Tian queried, "Old Man, how does one fortify a dantian?"

"To fortify a dantian, you first saturate it with Blood Qi, then circulate the Qi in a circular motion within it. This process gradually expands the dantian, thus fortifying it. However, one must exercise caution and mindfulness regarding the extent to which a dantian is fortified, as there exists a distinct threshold," Elder Feng elucidated.

"Threshold?" Yi Tian echoed, curiosity flashing in his eyes.

"The threshold is a measure of how much one can reinforce their dantians. This limit is dictated by the number of Blood Qi points in your body. The more you strengthen a dantian, the more strenuous it becomes to maintain a smooth circulation of Blood Qi through it. The process grows exponentially more taxing, eventually reaching a point where it becomes nearly unmanageable. The number of Blood Qi points in your body governs the force you can apply on your meridians, which in turn dictate the amount of force that can be effectively channeled through the dantians," Elder Feng clarified, his tone conveying the gravity of this knowledge.

With a gentle flick of his wrist, he reopened the scroll depicting the meridians, his finger pointing to the minute dots that punctuated the intricate web of energy pathways. "There are 236 Blood Qi points in the human body. If you are fortunate enough to be born with all 236 points seamlessly interconnected to the meridian pathways, then you are considered to possess a physique perfectly attuned for martial arts," Elder Feng further explained.

"I recall you mentioning that the presence of these Blood Qi points will be revealed when my Blood Qi is unlocked," Yi Tian inquired, his eyes never leaving the diagram before him.

"Indeed, it is known that our bodies house 236 of them. However, whether these points are connected to the meridian pathways can only be revealed at the point where one unlocks their meridians and dantians," Elder Feng explained. "Additionally, Blood Qi points serve another purpose. You see, there are tiny veins known as meridian veins that sprout out from the junctions of Blood Qi points and meridian pathways. These veins encase the Blood Qi points and can be strengthened themselves. Once these veins have attained the strength of the meridian pathways, it can be said that its Blood Qi point has been solidified."

Intrigued, Yi Tian asked, "What is the purpose of solidifying Blood Qi points?"

"The purpose of doing this is to increase the amount of force that they can channel Blood Qi, thereby making the martial artist stronger and expanding their storage capacity for Blood Qi," Elder Feng explained. "However, this process should ideally be undertaken after a martial artist has fortified their three dantians to their fullest capacity."

"Why is that a prerequisite?" Yi Tian questioned, the curiosity in his eyes growing brighter.

"Well, it's not that you can't strengthen your meridian veins right after unlocking Blood Qi. It's just that doing so will increase the difficulty and time it takes to strengthen your dantians. You see, the rewards of fortifying your dantians first are greater. The difficulty of continuing to strengthen a dantian is significantly lower than solidifying your Blood Qi points, and the latter process also takes considerably longer," Elder Feng explained, reopening the diagram of the dantians. Elaborating further, he said, "As I mentioned before, there are three dantians. The main one is located in the lower abdomen and is involved with the physical strength of your body. The next one, in the chest, correlates to the organs of the body, primarily the heart. Lastly, the one located in the forehead relates to our senses."

"The books I've given you will delve more into this, but for now, understand this: each dantian has a membrane around it. When you fill the dantian, it expands this membrane. Once you expand it to the maximum, typically twice its original size, you can start to circulate Blood Qi. This will slowly contract the dantian back to its original size, fortifying its membrane. Once you reach a point where the membrane is set in place, it can be said that you have strengthened your dantian once."

Absorbing the flood of information, Yi Tian nodded in understanding, "I comprehend."

A warm smile adorned Elder Feng's face as he rose from his seat. "Study the books I've bestowed upon you; they will give you a head start on this arduous journey. I'll take my leave for today. Tomorrow, we shall delve into your techniques."

As Elder Feng's figure receded into the ancient hallways of the Serene Relic Chamber, Yi Tian was left in the silent company of the sacred texts, his mind brimming with newfound knowledge and a deeper understanding of the path he was about to tread. The flickering light from the hanging lanterns reflected in his determined eyes, illuminating the resolve that this martial journey had kindled within him. He knew this was just the beginning of an arduous but enlightening journey that would test his limits and shape him into a true martial artist.