Pathway

Chapter 8: Coming Of Age [3]

"Martial arts."

Zhang Li Qiang clasped his arms behind his body as he stood firmly on the ground, contemplating the difficulties and obstacles that a cultivator would face to become a true martial artist. His gaze was unwaveringly fixed on his grandson who was standing in front of him, bare-chested and with a display of absolute seriousness on his face. He knew about the massive effort and energy that martial arts really required.

Total tranquility and control of the inner aggression, pain and even fear, were needed by a cultivator in order to become a true martial artist. This was the reason why the Dao principles of martial arts placed greater importance on complete tranquility and control.

Emotions and reactions were major problems facing a martial artist. That was why martial arts had been regarded as a mental sparring competition with the inner opponent. Once a martial artist was able to control the emotions and reactions in a rational way during combat, the opposition's variant attacks would be much more easier to face. The Dao principles of the martial arts included moral ways that showed these principles as a way of life for all martial artists.

"These are guides you must follow when you are preparing for a combat, and during a combat. They have been arranged in systems that will make it much more easier to learn. Ju Feng, you must know one important thing about martial art. All these systems, although they made it easier, martial arts still demanded complete control and focus."

Zhang Li Qiang observed the state of his grandson keenly before nodding his head in approval. He turned towards the direction of the combat dummies that were stationed on the right and sighed softly, before continuing his talk.

"In combat, they will let you understand and determine how to take full advantage of any situation, when it's necessary. And they will also help you to avoid inflicting harm on yourself and others when practicing."

Zhang Li Qiang raised up three fingers as he glanced at his grandson.

"There are three Dao martial arts principles. Any martial artist who has not trained in all of these three principles is not considered as a complete or true martial artist."

With his raised fingers, one after the other, Zhang Li Qiang indicated the numbers.

"They are spiritual principle, mental principle and physical principle. Although they are divided into basics, forms, weapons, stances, meditation, Chi and applications, they must be learned together. For you to be a true martial artist, your body must learn the physicality while your soul must learn the mental and spiritual aspects of it. Martial arts must flow freely without you being conscious of it. A true heart of martial art, a true heart of Dao. That's the level I want you to reach, Ju Feng."

Zhang Li Qiang who was walking towards one side of the training ground, suddenly turned around sharply.

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"Back to the basics!"

He stared at his grandson who was readjusting himself to stand firmer and be more focused.

"The basics are the beginning steps and very important part of any martial training. You cannot progress to the more advanced stages without them. They will enhance your upper body, lower body and core strength. In turn, these enhancement will help you to improve your punching power, kicking power and others."

Zhang Li Qiang walked up to his grandson and put a hand on his shoulder. The moment a child was born in the world of cultivation, that was the moment a heavy load was placed on his or her shoulders. He just had to try his best not to allow the load to become unbearable for his grandson.

"You will start with the basics."

Jufeng nodded vigorously with his focused eyes on his grandfather who looked at him with an easy smile.

"You have great strenght in your body, we will start by gradually bringing out your true strength. You will be using the general trueworld bodyweight technique. And today, we will focus on your upper body strength training since it will help your upper body to generate stronger punches and grappling power. Let's start."

Zhang Li Qiang taught his grandson the trueworld bodyweight technique. He started his grandson on his body mass as the source of weight, before gradually increasing the weight by adding external masses of stones to his body weight.

"This will strengthen the muscles in your chest, shoulders, back and arms."

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.