Chapter 8: Coming Of Age [3] (2/2)
Ju Feng continued the training of his upper body strength without resting. His strength level was unbelievable for such a young age. Twice, his grandfather added more stone mass that surpassed his grandson's age level, but his grandson kept on practicing the technique without stopping under the weight.
”His strength is rather high for his age. So much strength. By the time...”
Zhang Li Qiang trailed off smiling as he nodded his head in acknowledgement. All their past efforts were coming to fruition. It had been costly and time consuming but worth every bit of it. After training for four hours, Zhang Li Qiang stopped his grandson and gave him one Bloodroot medicinal pill. Since he had not started sensing and gathering Chi, the blue crystalline would not make any difference on his strength recovery.
As soon as he consumed the medicinal pill, soothing energy from the medicinal pill flowed through his body, replenishing and strengthening his body. He felt like he could carry the whole world on his head after his exhausted body had been fully restored.
”Grandpa, my body! I don't feel tired anymore.”
”Hehehe, let's continue your training for a bit more time then.”
After training for another two hours, his grandfather gestured for him to stop.
”We'll stop here for today and continue tomorrow. For daily balance, you need to train with your grandmother and mother.”
”Okay, grandpa. Thank you.”
Cupping his hands, Ju Feng bowed to his waist in deep respect to his grandfather and martial master. Zhang Li Qiang only smiled and nodded his head in satisfaction with his grandson frame of mind. If a mind was on the right path then cultivation would be easier and faster.
They made their way back to the cave, where Zhang Wang Jing and Zhang Xiu Ying were preparing the goat milk for sale at the market. Zhang Li Qiang made his way to his chamber, leaving Jufeng with his mother and grandmother. After finishing with the milk, Zhang Xiu Ying left for the market while Zhang Wang Jing took Ju Feng to the pool side, since it was her turn to train her grandson.
The pool was in its peaceful state and the area sorrounding it was quiet too. She did a quick spin-around and smiled brightly. All forms of nature are wonderful. Looking at her grandson, she gleamed happily as she recollected the memories of the past. She had thought she would never have a child in her life, but somehow, she did. And when she had believed she would never set her eyes on a grandchild, here stood one in front of her. How could nature not be wonderful?
”Mystical arts are essence fundamentals. Do you know what that means, Jufeng? It means without essence, there would be no mystical arts. Essence is the ultimate nature of any existing entity. Simply, it's your life-force and you cannot exist without it. Since you cannot practice mystical arts without your Chi essence, I will tell you more about it.”
”Due to the laws of creation regarding incarnation, mortal soul is always in a limbo. Because of this, the essence energy is scattered all over the body and because of this, it continuously leaked out of the body into the surrounding. The only way to stop this essence leakage and the short existence of the mortal body, was to gather this essence together in a place in your body called the dantian. This will also gradually bring your soul out of limbo into manifestation.”
Zhang Wang Jing, who had been gesturing with her hands, pointed a finger at her grandson who tried to remain calm with great difficulty.
”There is Chi in your body, Ju Feng. But it's not organized. This is because you are still a mortal and not a cultivator. But now that you have started on the path of cultivation, you will soon be able to gather your Chi into your dantian. This is a step into knowing the power of essence and you will be able to form a nascent soul in time. In the world of cultivation, cultivators strive to form a nascent soul which was the true stage of immortality. Unless somebody or something kills you, you will live for eternity.”
Zhang Wang Jing observed her grandson as she contemplated.
”Now Ju Feng, I will explain to you how Chi essence which is your life-force, connects to mystical arts. There are elements in our Chi essence and these elements are used to produce mystical arts. Although we manifest different types of these elements, there are four basic elements from which others stemmed out. These four are the primary states of matter. Do you know what the four elements are, Ju Feng?”
”Fire, air, terra and water.”
Came the answers in quick succession from Ju Feng who continued to look at his grandmother with a grim seriousness.