87: Xu Heng

“Do you want to open the Newbie Gift Pack?”

“Open it!”

Since I bought it, of course I’m going to open it!

“Opening Newbie Gift Pack”

“You have obtained Tiger Emperor Fist.”

“You have obtained Overlord Exploding Roar Fist.”

“You have obtained Qi Blood Circulation Method.”

The Qi Blood Circulation Method, like the Xuheng Breathing Body Refinement Technique he cultivated, is a cultivation method, but they do not conflict.

They can be cultivated simultaneously. The Qi Blood Circulation Method can even accelerate the effects of the Xuheng Breathing Body Refinement Technique, making the refinement of the physical body and internal organs more efficient.

Yi Xin was very satisfied with this cultivation method.

Down-to-earth cultivation is what the Xu Heng people value most; effort yields results.

For the Xu Heng people, cultivation is not only about refining the body but also about tempering the will.

The Tiger Emperor Fist and Overlord Exploding Roar Fist are two ways to use Qi.

For Yi Xin, the more such martial arts techniques, the better. The more he cultivates, the more he will know, drawing on the strengths of many schools.

As martial artists, the Xu Heng people are dedicated to “mind, body, and technique.”

Cultivation lies in tempering the will and refining the body, while practicing martial arts is about bringing one’s will and body into play.

In other words, it is about unleashing the strongest martial arts technique with a powerful will combined with a strong body.

This “strongest” does not mean invincible; it refers to one’s own capabilities.

Before reaching the Entry Level, Xu Heng people generally only practice a few simple martial arts techniques for basic training and tempering. More time is spent on cultivation. After reaching the Entry Level and generating Qi, they will formally begin practicing martial arts, pursuing both simultaneously.

Yi Xin felt that he had learned two martial arts techniques instantly; the system’s power was indeed formidable!

It saved him the effort of tempering martial arts.

Moreover, there were no side effects whatsoever. It was as if he had practiced these two martial arts countless times; they were truly his own, not just knowing their form without understanding their essence.

This made Yi Xin pay attention to source points.

“Let nature take its course!” However, Yi Xin, with his strong will, was not “bewitched” by it.

Instead, he restored his mindset and let things happen naturally.

Seven days passed in a flash.

Day after day, Yi Xin continuously cultivated the enhanced version of the Xuheng Breathing Body Refinement Technique - Enhanced: Qi Blood Circulation Method.

His cultivation progress increased several times over, which made Yi Xin even more engrossed in cultivation.

Being able to clearly feel his own growth and strengthening was something addictive, like a drug.

At the same time, Yi Xin also designed a combination of moves, or combos, based on his current situation.

He integrated what he had learned into his own fighting style and approach.

“Yi Xin!” A man of the same age as Yi Xin walked over.

“Hu Qiao? What’s wrong?” Yi Xin stopped his cultivation and looked at the other person in confusion.

“Tomorrow is the Martial Arts Tournament. Are you participating?” Hu Qiao asked.

“Of course!” Yi Xin nodded. Although he had been focused on cultivation these past few days, he had not forgotten this.

The Martial Arts Tournament is a fixed event in Xu Heng.

It is hosted by Xuheng Country, and the prizes are generally various martial arts techniques.

There are martial arts competitions of various levels, but tomorrow’s competition is a monthly-level event, meaning it happens once a month.

The most important is naturally the annual Martial Arts Tournament, followed by the monthly Martial Arts Tournament, and then various “local martial arts competitions,” which have irregular times, venues, and prizes.

These are generally held by the common people.

The official martial arts competitions held by Xuheng Country are the annual and monthly ones, as well as grand events like the “Number One Under Heaven Martial Arts Tournament” held every three years.

Yi Xin naturally also signed up for the monthly Martial Arts Tournament.

As an Entry-Level martial artist, he naturally participated in the Explorer group.

When you participate in a competition, for grouping, you can only go higher, not lower. That is to say, at the very least, you participate in the group of your current level. But if you feel you are very powerful, invincible among your peers, and want to gain greater fame and better rewards, then you can cross levels and participate in a higher-level group.

“I’m so envious!” Hu Qiao said enviously. He and Yi Xin were “same-grade” martial students, meaning students of Xu Heng Academy.

However, Yi Xin had already reached the Entry Level, while he had only just barely become a formal martial artist and had not yet cultivated Qi.

He could only participate in the Formal group.

Well… the rewards for competitions in the non-Entry Level groups… how should I put it, they are really not much.

At most, one or two martial arts techniques, plus some cultivation resources for body refinement, or some equipment for Formal-level martial artists, etc.

Martial arts techniques that are not Entry-Level do not have Qi circulation methods. Most of these techniques use the “physical body” and also have body-refining effects.

Although after you have Qi, adding it can greatly enhance their lethality.

But how can they compare to specialized “Qi” martial arts techniques?

The Crushing Rock Fist and Crushing Bone Kick that Yi Xin currently knows are “Body” martial arts techniques, while the Tiger Emperor Fist and Overlord Exploding Roar Fist obtained from the Newbie Gift Pack are “Qi” martial arts techniques.

“It’s just Entry Level; you can do it too!” Yi Xin said with a smile. No one in Xu Heng cannot reach the Entry Level!

Xu Heng people are naturally “Martial Bodies.”

At the very least, they can reach the Entry Level! Of course, for most people, the limit might just be Entry Level, having Qi in their bodies, but that’s as far as it goes.

However, being able to reach the Entry Level and become a professional has already surpassed the vast majority of ordinary people.

Xu Heng people can already be considered “blessed by nature.”

“Sigh! I guess this is as far as I’ll get~” Hu Qiao shook his head. He knew his own talent; he couldn’t compare to Yi Xin at all. If by the age of 18, which is two more years, he still couldn’t cultivate Qi, then his upper limit would probably only be Entry Level.

Explorer Level… perhaps he would never be able to advance further to the Pioneer Level in his lifetime. Of course, if he had some lucky encounter, maybe he could glimpse it?

“Alright, instead of wasting time, you might as well cultivate properly!” Yi Xin said with a smile.

“You’re just a cultivation maniac!” Hu Qiao shook his head helplessly and said, “By the way, have you prepared your equipment? Do you need me to prepare some for you?”

Although Hu Qiao’s talent wasn’t great, his family background was impressive. Both his parents were Pioneer-level martial artists, and his relatives and friends were also well-off. His family’s businesses were quite extensive and even involved ores.

Yi Xin, on the other hand, was the standard “protagonist identity”: parents deceased, has a sister and a house… oh no, no sister and has a house.

He was an orphan, with only a two-bedroom, one-living room apartment, about eighty square meters.

Being alone, he lived quite freely.

Because his family members were “soldiers” who died in a conflict war between Xuheng Country and a human country on Guixu Continent, the pension was substantial.

Here, it needs to be added that Guixu Continent is not only inhabited by humans. Xu Heng people are not purely human but Xu Heng people.

Otherwise, how would the so-called “Martial Body” come about? Xu Heng people are born with bones and muscles different from ordinary humans.

They are uniquely gifted in martial arts; they only refine their bodies and Qi. However, Xu Heng people have absolutely no talent for other cultivation systems like elements, magic, summoning, etc. One could say they are completely incompatible.

There are pros and cons; this is also a characteristic of the Xu Heng people.