I Will Grind My Way To Godhood

Xue Jing: ""

"Let's hear the details."

Xue Jing was uncharacteristically eager for gossip.

Li Qi rubbed his shiny bald head, with a humble expression, "Oh, it's nothing much, really. Back in the day when I was young and somewhat good-looking—maybe just as much as you are now—I had my fair share of temptations.

In those days, I was young and full of life, drawn to the excitement of fights and brawls, so I managed to sneak into a well-known sect called the Dragon Sect. At that time, Ning girl’s grandpa wasn't the leader yet. He and I were as close as brothers, and I'd often visit his home..."

Li Qi's eyes filled with nostalgia.

"The first time I met his wife, her hips..."

Xue Jing sat down, intently listening, afraid to miss even a single word.

But then, Li Qi smacked his lips, "Ah, not much to say. Those are memories best left unvisited."

Xue Jing was getting anxious, "Come on, master, do go on."

Li Qi glanced at him, "Are you here to learn martial arts or listen to stories? Young people shouldn’t meddle in the affairs of the past generation."

Xue Jing moved his lips, barely holding back a curse.

Damned cliffhanger!

"Alright then, we can revisit these tales sometime later. Let's focus on business," Li Qi suggested.

Xue Jing calmed himself and nodded, "Yes."

"Come here. Let me check your bone structure," Li Qi beckoned him over.

Xue Jing stepped forward obediently.

"Extend your hand," came the instruction.

Xue Jing followed without question.

Li Qi's hand, though aged and thin, grasped Xue Jing's wrist with surprising strength, shaking it as if testing the tensile strength of noodles!

A tremendous, unstoppable force surged through Xue Jing's body from his wrist, making him feel like a small boat in turbulent seas, his body responding instinctively with a series of popping noises from his joints.

"Hmm... what?"

Li Qi explored Xue Jing's physical condition through the feedback from his touch, initially puzzled, then surprised.

"Kid, what have you been doing for exercise?" he inquired skeptically.

"Just running, mostly. Nothing too special," Xue Jing replied.

Li Qi murmured, "Impossible. Is this really possible?"

He lifted his head, and the elder's once murky eyes now shone with a surprising intensity. "You boy, do you have any idea what's up with your body?"

Xue Jing felt a bit uneasy under the penetrating gaze, and asked in confusion, “What is it, Master? Is there something wrong with my body?”

“Wrong?” Li Qi shook his head, as if amused.

"Not wrong, too right — to an almost impossible degree."

"Your body, it's like it was sculpted by a god with an obsessive-compulsive focus. Every muscle, every bone, every organ... all perfectly balanced to a frightening level."

Li Qi marveled, caressing the muscle on Xue Jing’s forearm, as though he was handling a rare treasure.

"If I wasn’t certain that I have nothing worth coveting, I might suspect you were a man-made genius, created by some big corporation using advanced technology."

"Who would've thought there existed such a perfect human physique in this world..."

Xue Jing narrowed his eyes.

Ever since activating the skill panel, especially after unlocking the "Combat" skill, his body had transformed into this state.

In some sense, he truly was the 'man-made genius' Li Qi spoke of.

"Xiao Jing,"

Li Qi’s gaze towards him had grown more fervent.

"Without a doubt, you are the most suitable person in the world to cultivate in the Hidden Dragon style."

"If it's you, I'm sure you can master the most perfect Hidden Dragon Style's Gongti."

"Gongti?" Xue Jing's eyes twitched with curiosity.

Another new term caught his attention.

Li Qi chuckled and explained, "The so-called 'Gongti' refers to the physique developed after mastering a whole set of martial arts from a school.

"Each school's martial arts training and fighting techniques differ, emphasizing various aspects, be it agility and speed or explosive power. Ultimately, practitioners develop a physique that adapts to their specific martial arts.

"Just like a sprinter's leg muscles are more developed, or how a fighter's muscle structure differs entirely from that of a basketball player. This body adaptation to various disciplines is what we call Gongti."

"Take, for instance, the Golden Wind Dojo you're familiar with. Their school is known as the Golden Wind White Rainbow Sword. When they've achieved the ultimate Gongti, the internal structure of their bodies is entirely different from ordinary people, producing razor-sharp force. Striking someone with a fist is like slicing with a knife, tearing off a chunk of flesh; using the edge of their hand, it's not difficult to decapitate someone."

Xue Jing listened with glowing eyes, "So what are the characteristics of our Hidden Dragon Style's Gongti?"

Li Qi smiled wryly, "You could say our Hidden Dragon Style has characteristics, or you could say it has none."

Xue Jing: "Huh?"

Li Qi, somewhat smug, said, "Hexagonal Warrior, ever heard of it?"

"The core philosophy of our Hidden Dragon Style is captured in eight words—hide the dragon within, nurture the dragon in your heart."

"Once the Gongti is fully realized, it's as if an entire true dragon resides within you. It can expand or contract, ascend or hide. It encompasses agility, speed, power, defense, penetration—there's nothing it lacks, no situation it cannot handle. It boasts five major killer moves and three ultimate techniques, devoid of any weaknesses."

Then he sighed, "Of course, excelling in everything usually means you're average in everything. The Hidden Dragon Style demands extremely high innate talent. Those without it will find themselves mediocre if they attempt to practice it."

“Even your senior brothers and sisters don't all possess enough talent. While they also practice the Hidden Dragon Style, each has devised their own methods to adapt the cultivation process, developing a skillset that accentuates different aspects.”

Li Qi patted Xue Jing's shoulder, saying, "Your physical potential is something I have rarely seen in my lifetime. It's so well-balanced that it seems unreal, making it the perfect match for the Hidden Dragon 'Hexagon' concept physique."

Sounds impressive...

Xue Jing eagerly said, "Please, Master, teach me."

Li Qi smiled, "Very well, there's no time like the present. Today, I will begin by teaching you the Static Stance of the Hidden Dragon Style's two principal postures — the Dormant Dragon Technique."

He grasped Xue Jing's hand, giving a subtle shake. A wave of power flowed through his palm into Xue Jing's body, guiding his movements.

Uncontrollably, Xue Jing spread his legs, leaned his torso to the left extremity, and clenched his fists beside his ears. His entire body resonated with a cracking of bones, taking on the posture of a dragon lying dormant.

“Memorize this posture, as well as the corresponding breathwork and the tremors of energy through the body's different nodes,” Li Qi instructed.

“The Dormant Dragon Technique aims to 'cultivate dragon energy'. By envisioning the dragon's stance and imitating its form, you nurture an imposing dragon spirit within.”

“Once you master this stance, I will teach you the Dynamic Stance called 'Shaking Armor Technique' for 'training dragon force’.”

Xue Jing didn't respond, focusing entirely on committing to memory the internal and external transformations he was experiencing.

(End of Chapter)