Leiming's breathing technique was incredibly unique. Unlike the usual human breathing controlled by inhalation and exhalation, it involved condensing the breath and resonating it with the qi throughout the body before releasing it all at once, which required regulation of qi even through the pores. To master Leiming's breathing, which involved blending dozens or hundreds of different flows and pulling them up to the forehead, required considerable practice.
For the first month, I devoted myself to practicing Leiming, sparing no time even for sleep. Li Guang, unusually, taught me Leiming with bloodshot eyes, and I practiced concentration by stripping off my shirt and standing under a waterfall. The effort was to control and not disperse the natural qi, aiming to create a perfect flow of thunder qi.
I threw myself into this with all the focus I could muster, driven not just by passion for practice but by the intuition that this might be the only chance to learn Leiming, the ultimate technique. It was a rare coincidence that moved Li Guang to teach me the true essence of the technique, but there was no guarantee that such an opportunity would arise again even after hundreds of attempts. I had to make the most of this opportunity, which I had obtained through ten reincarnations.
I devoted myself to practice day and night, even employing the Xiantian Gong method. The results became apparent after about four months.
Rumble!!
' It worked!'
For the first time, I felt Leiming's breath envelop my entire body. Unlike when Li Guang performed it naturally, it required a full ten minutes of concentration, but it was my first successful attempt. Li Guang, who had been watching from the side, said:
"Finally, you've mastered it. Well done."
"I'm sorry for taking so long."
"No, now that you've mastered it, most opponents won't be a match for you. If you continue to practice calmly, you'll reach the next level."
Swoosh...
When I released Leiming's breath, I felt an enormous amount of internal energy drain from my body. Despite maintaining it for only 30 seconds, it felt like I had lost 10% of my total internal energy. As I examined my body, Li Guang asked:
"How do you feel? Can you maintain Leiming for a while?"
"Maybe a little over half a minute."
"Your internal energy is monstrous. Most people can't even last 10 seconds on their first try..."
Li Guang looked genuinely impressed. After a moment of thought, he said:
"Try maintaining Leiming until your internal energy is depleted."
"Yes."
Rumble!
Following Li Guang's command, I maintained Leiming's breath until my internal energy was completely drained. In this state, my reflexes and movements were extremely fast, making the world seem to slow down. Moreover, the movement of true qi was incredibly agile, allowing me to execute any technique with precision.
Crack
Just after half a minute, I felt my internal energy deplete and blood vessels appear on my skin. At that moment, the internal energy hidden in my dantian surged, allowing me to hold on a bit longer. It felt as if my internal energy was rising on its own. Ultimately, I managed to maintain Leiming for just under an hour before I could release it.
"Huff... Huff..."
"......"
Li Guang looked shocked as he watched me, exhausted after maintaining Leiming for nearly an hour. He muttered in a trembling voice:
"Maintaining Leiming for an hour... Truly, you have the greatest internal energy in the world. You're almost at the level of the Tianling Pill."
"Huff... Huff... Master... What is the Tianling Pill...?"
I asked, gasping for breath.
"You always mention the Tianling Pill... Please explain what level it represents..."
"The Tianling Pill signifies the opening of the Zhong Dantian. When the qi accumulated in the Lower Dantian overflows, it penetrates the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and even affects the surrounding space. At that point, the accumulated qi begins to form a pill (丹) and becomes a semi-permanent internal energy that never runs out."
"......!!"
"But you're not quite at the level of the Tianling Pill yet. To reach that level, you need to go through a special process with your own qi. The evidence of the Tianling Pill is infinite internal energy and a complete transformation of the body (換骨脫態)."
"Huan Gu Tuo Tai?"
"Rejuvenation is part of Huan Gu Tuo Tai. After going through this process, you either become younger or maintain the peak physical condition of your prime. Since you haven't gone through this process, you're not a complete Tianling Pill yet."
My heart raced as I realized that the legendary realm of Huan Gu Tuo Tai was within reach. If his words were true, it meant I could shed my mortal coil and attain the perfect body! However, I was also puzzled.
' I've eaten the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng and Black White Lotus seven times. No one in the world has consumed more medicinal herbs than me. Han Bai Ling has already achieved Huan Gu Tuo Tai and rejuvenation. If I have more internal energy than Han Bai Ling, why is there such a difference?'
Huan Gu Tuo Tai doesn't seem to occur simply because one's internal energy is high. I asked for more details:
"Why can't I achieve Huan Gu Tuo Tai naturally?"
"How should I know? But I have a guess... It might be faster to ask someone who has already achieved it."
Suddenly, Li Guang summoned a wooden spear from the other side of the room using a qi technique. He pointed the spear at me and said:
"Try using Leiming again. This time, I'll let you feel its power."
"Huh?"
"I know your internal energy is recovering on its own. Try to focus and use it, even for a moment."
Reluctantly, I mustered my strength and activated Leiming's breath. As a pale lightning enveloped my body, Li Guang unexpectedly launched a strike (刹) with the wooden spear. His strike was incredibly fast and ruthless, and I usually couldn't avoid it.
But this time, I saw it.
I dodged it.
Crack!
For a brief moment, I managed to avoid Li Guang's strike while using Leiming. I also moved a half-step to a safer position.
"Whoa."
Li Guang laughed, surprised by something I couldn't do before.
"That's the power of Leiming. Your reflexes, reaction speed, and the movement of true qi all increase explosively. While maintaining this state, the world will seem to slow down."
"That's right."
"If you can maintain Leiming for an hour, there's nothing more to ask for. The time it takes to activate Leiming is separate from the internal energy consumed by other techniques, so you won't fear anyone for an hour."
"Indeed...!!"
I realized why this was called the ultimate technique. With such a skill, my chances of survival and victory in battle would significantly increase. Although it consumes a lot of internal energy, it's a great advantage.
For the next year, I received more detailed guidance from Li Guang on the Leiling Eight Techniques and practiced the basic techniques of Lanna Cha until my palms were bruised. Strangely, each time I practiced, the basic techniques felt like completely different techniques, making the learning process enjoyable.
Occasionally, I saw Li Guang disappointed by my slow progress, but he seemed determined to teach me. This meant he had a clear 'purpose' in teaching me, unlike before.
On the day I had been practicing spear techniques for a year, Li Guang said:
"I will now grant you the license for the Leiling Eight Techniques."
"What does that mean?"
"I will allow you to learn the Tianlei Wujigun and the Wansheng Jianjue."
My heart raced.
The Tianlei Wujigun is the most powerful secret spear technique of the Leishen School, and the Wansheng Jianjue is an advanced sword technique of the Leiyin Sword Method, known for its incredible versatility and speed. Mastering these two techniques would qualify me as a true successor of the Leishen School.
Jin So-chung, who had been watching my practice, said:
"Isn't it a bit too early?"
"It could be, but we need to consider the time it takes to teach the six techniques of the Tianlei Wujigun. We have no choice but to try."
"......"
From their conversation, I realized that my spear skills had only reached a passing grade, not a level that satisfied them. I had barely passed, which hurt my pride, but I had no choice but to remain silent. Li Guang then began teaching me the Tianlei Wujigun.
"Let's start."
Time flowed like water.
I practiced and practiced.
It took me three years to master the form of the Tianlei Wujigun and another year to enter the initial stage of the Wansheng Jianjue. After about five and a half years at the Qinglong Martial Hall, I finally succeeded in learning the advanced techniques of the Leishen School.
However, during those nearly six years, I suffered so much that I was in constant pain.
"Ah... Should I commit suicide..."
I sighed deeply and sat down in the training ground. Although I had come to the training ground reluctantly today, the thought of Li Guang's fierce glare made my legs tremble.
I still remembered his roar at that time:
"Damn it! I've been drained by such a dullard! What a waste of time! Aaaaaah!!"
Over the years, Li Guang was so frustrated by the three years it took me to learn the Tianlei Wujigun that he couldn't stop lamenting. If