Chapter 25: Warrior of the First Realm

Within the nine realms of martial cultivation, only after one has discovered the flow of vital energy and unblocked their meridians can they be considered to have truly entered the path of cultivation. This is the task required of those in the first realm. The meridians themselves are divided into the eight extraordinary channels and the twelve principal meridians, which serve as conduits for the circulation of blood and qi, bridging the limbs, bones, organs, and viscera.

Each realm in the martial path is comprised of five stages. Take the first realm, for example: finding the flow of vital energy marks entry. To advance further, one must channel this energy through four meridians, each breakthrough elevating one's stage.

In a locked room...

Liu Shen stood in a horse stance, perusing "Child's Foundation Arts" to grasp the basics of martial cultivation, pondering when he might finally sense the elusive flow of energy described in the book.

The "Child's Foundation Arts" documented three types of stance training to seek out vital energy: horse stance, chair stance, and nine-palace stance. Each stance included three techniques—stretching, breathing, and guiding—alongside both dynamic and static practice methods. Altogether, these variations led to dozens of possible postures.

"Ten parts of force in a punch, force comes from qi; moving qi requires slowness, using qi requires urgency. The art lies in the interplay of slow and swift, all within a single breath..."

Liu Shen had worked at the docks for four years, hauling sacks daily and performing hard labor. Not only had he developed sinewy muscles, but his foundation was solid.

He once believed stance training was merely about a stable foundation—that as long as his footing was firm, mastery would follow naturally...

Yet after practicing the stretching, breathing, and guiding techniques, he realized it was not so simple. He could barely manage half an hour of stance before sweat drenched him and his body felt aflame.

When mealtime arrived...

The spot where Liu Shen had trained was a pool of sweat. He felt utterly exhausted, depleted as if he’d been wrung dry. Hungry and fatigued, he gulped down several ladles of water, refreshed himself, and then mustered the energy to head to the canteen.

His appetite was always hearty, and stance training further depleted his strength. He entered the canteen like a ravenous ghost, clutching his bowl and devouring food beside the fish and crab, replenishing what he had lost.

Suddenly, the bustling canteen fell silent...

Liu Shen looked around in confusion, only to see a young nobleman enter at the door.

The Scarlet River Gang had established a branch at the docks, so the canteen served not only the dock laborers but also had an inner hall reserved for gang members.

Liu Shen had seen some members of the Scarlet River Gang before. To put it kindly, they were gang members; more bluntly, they were a bunch of former river bandits who, despite their attempts at respectability, still carried the air of outlaws.

But the young man now entering was brazenly arrogant, showing not the slightest restraint.

Hu Dahai, seeing Liu Shen’s bewildered gaze, assumed he didn’t know who the newcomer was. He leaned in and whispered, “That’s the Water Dragon Head.”

Zhang Shichen had been at the docks only a few days before earning the nickname "Water Dragon Head" among the crew; even when dining, he was flanked by several hangers-on.

Compared to his initial brutality, his complexion and mood had improved. The reason was simple: though conditions at the docks were harsh, the place was teeming with people from all walks of life, and as the young master of the Scarlet River Gang parachuted in, there were plenty eager to curry favor.

Moreover, no one here dared to restrain him, so he indulged himself more wantonly, more perversely, and with greater abandon...

“What a sin.”

Hu Dahai’s expression was clouded, sighing softly, “Yesterday I saw Foreman Xu carry a moving sack to the branch hall. He called me later to deal with something; I thought it was just work. Turned out it was a girl who’d been abused to death, her body torn and mangled. Truly a tragedy.”

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“……”

Liu Shen silently took in the words, knowing the event had left Hu Dahai troubled, with few confidants to share his burden.

He offered comfort: “Don’t dwell too much. Helping to lay the dead to rest is a great merit; you did a good deed.”

“Ah…” Hu Dahai sighed, wanting to say more, but seeing Zhang Shichen approach, his face changed and he held his tongue.

Liu Shen continued eating, unconcerned.

Zhang Shichen was merely passing by, but noticing someone hungrily clutching a bowl caught his eye. He sneered, muttering, “A real glutton.”

“Indeed, indeed…” Foreman Xu, trailing behind like a sycophant, echoed obsequiously, “Young master, don’t let these peasants spoil your mood.”

“Lowly rabble, what could they possibly affect?”

“……”

As their voices faded, Liu Shen sat quietly with his bowl, his gaze calm and inscrutable, lost in thought.

Hu Dahai glanced back, seeing Liu Shen holding his chopsticks but not eating, nudged him with his elbow, cautioning, “Shen, you’re still young. Don’t let these trifling matters trouble you.”

“I won’t, not at all…”

Liu Shen smiled faintly, resumed eating, replenishing his strength, though a trace of fierceness lingered in his eyes.

After his meal, he returned to his room, locked the door, and resumed stance training.

Three days passed in this manner.

By day, Liu Shen worked as a porter at the docks, practicing the techniques of stretching, breathing, and guiding even while hauling sacks.

Dock work was grueling, and combining it with stance training left him drenched in sweat, his legs trembling.

He was even teased by fellow laborers: “Shen, why are you so weak these days?” “Did you overexert yourself last night?” and so on.

Liu Shen merely smiled, unconcerned.

Though exhausting, stance training brought him a sense of exhilaration. He gradually came to relish the feeling of fire burning within his body.

On the first day, after hauling sacks and practicing stance, his legs trembled and he collapsed into bed after dinner, utterly spent.

On the second day, his legs were still weak from training, but after dinner he had enough energy to continue practicing stance in his room.

By the third day, he had grown accustomed to combining stance training with his work, and after dinner returned to his locked room to practice.

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Late at night, when the world was silent...

Liu Shen closed his eyes, practicing breathing and guiding techniques. His chest rose and fell, and though his body was drenched in sweat, he had never felt so invigorated.

He sensed, vaguely, that tonight was the night he would discover the flow of vital energy!

Tonight, he would officially step into the ranks of the first realm martial practitioner!

In that mysterious moment, Liu Shen seemed to sense something, and suddenly opened his eyes, an irrepressible excitement flashing within them.

He could clearly feel a thread-like flow of energy moving within his body!

He had succeeded!

He recalled the records in "Child's Foundation Arts," which stated that when a martial artist first senses the flow of vital energy, their body and energy are at their most sensitive. They must seize this fleeting opportunity to unblock their meridians.

Liu Shen understood the urgency. He immediately guided the energy down to his abdomen, then to the perineum, and from there up the centerline of his body to beneath his lips, unblocking the Conception Vessel!

Then, once more, he guided the energy down to his abdomen, then to the perineum, and up along his spine to the crown of his head, passing through the space between his eyes and reaching the upper palate, thus unblocking the Governing Vessel!

The Conception Vessel governs blood, the Governing Vessel governs qi; these are the principal channels of the body's meridian system.

Though unblocking the Conception and Governing Vessels was not as dramatic as described in popular tales, it did indeed enhance physique, strengthen sinews and bones, and promote internal circulation.

Liu Shen was about to press on and attempt to unblock a third meridian, but the flow of energy within him slowed, as if restrained.

He knew this meant his body and energy had passed the initial “sensitive period.”

“To only unblock the Conception and Governing Vessels on my first attempt—among martial artists, that’s rather unimpressive…”

Liu Shen spoke humbly, yet his joy was undiminished, clearly unconcerned.

He also knew from "Child's Foundation Arts" that a child's body was highly malleable, which was why many began martial training young.

Some martial prodigies, under the guidance of renowned masters, could, upon first sensing energy, unblock all eight extraordinary channels and twelve principal meridians, advancing directly to the second realm!

He, at seventeen, had only begun training after his bones had matured, missing the optimal age for martial arts. That he had achieved this much was a stroke of fortune.

If the Conception and Governing Vessels are open, the eight channels follow; if the eight channels are open, all meridians follow.

Now that the principal vessels were unblocked, the remaining eight extraordinary channels and twelve principal meridians would be a matter of gradual effort.

Furthermore, "Child's Foundation Arts" focused on strengthening the foundation, improving aptitude.

Liu Shen understood that he had merely started late. If he diligently cultivated the "Child's Foundation Arts," there was no reason he couldn't catch up and even surpass others in the future!

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