393: Chapter 393 Mastering the Truth Known as "Power"

Inside the living room of the high-rise apartment.

Two figures, one still and one moving, formed a bizarre yet harmonious picture.

In the corner, Xiao Sa sat cross-legged with his eyes tightly closed and his brows slightly furrowed, having already entered Meditation.

His expression was solemn, and fine beads of sweat oozed from his temples, slowly sliding down the contour of his cheeks.

He was clearly immersed in the Visualization of the Great Sun Burning Body Art, engaging in a difficult communion with that "Great Sun" in his spiritual world.

In the center of the living room, Fang Cheng stretched his posture, practicing his Palm Technique as smoothly as flowing water.

He occasionally pushed lightly and turned his wrist; palm shadows flickered, and energy ebbed and flowed.

At first glance, this looked like practicing a set of health-preservation exercises.

But under the traction of his palm momentum, the surrounding air became as viscous as water, forming an invisible vortex.

Every palm push and turn carried a mysterious, elusive charm.

Occasionally, when his fingertips slashed through the air, it would emit a slight "chi" sound.

As if sharp threads were cutting through satin.

Then it turned into a crisp "pop" sound.

Like a palm striking a drum surface, the energy was dense and condensed, with astonishing explosive power.

Along with the alternate practice of these three types of energy: Silk-Reeling Energy, Spiral Energy, and Elastic Shaking Energy.

Fang Cheng became increasingly handy with the operating method of Qi energy Fusion.

At this moment, the majestic True Qi in his body was no longer in the crude state of the past, rushing blindly forward like a breached river.

It had transformed into countless trickles, driven by his mind to precisely coil around every bone and penetrate into every muscle fiber.

The muscles, bones, and flesh of his entire body were exerting force in coordination, and strength gathered and condensed toward his arms and fingertips.

Suddenly.

Fang Cheng's figure paused, his right hand's five fingers joined like a Knife-hand, and he suddenly slashed towards the empty space ahead!

The movement seemed casual, but the instant the Knife-hand slashed down...

A visible pale blue light about five centimeters long gushed out from the edge of his palm.

This light was as condensed as substance, carrying a sharp hiss that tore through the air, leaving a fleeting afterimage in the air.

Fang Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly, filled with realization.

The True Qi external projection attacks he had figured out in the past were like flood-releasing river water—grand in momentum but hard to gather.

Not only was the form scattered, but the consumption was also extremely staggering.

Just like when he fought that experimental subject back then, relying on his Blade Technique skills, he had only cast Blade Storm a few times before his body could barely sustain it.

But now, under the constraint and guidance of this energy-exerting method, the True Qi was highly compressed and condensed.

Much like refined steel tempered a hundred times, it turned into an incomparably fierce blade light, becoming sharper and more efficient.

Fang Cheng's mind moved slightly, and that pale blue Qi continuously changed according to his will.

At times lengthening like a short sword, at times contracting into sharp claws, at times as swift as lightning, and at times as soft as cotton.

"Qi follows the heart, energy goes with the will, and wherever the will reaches, Qi arrives."

At this moment, this supreme martial arts principle once held as the golden rule by Dong Yunchuan, Ma Jianguo, and others...

For Fang Cheng, was no longer some profound and empty theory.

Instead, it was a truth named "Strength" that he could genuinely hold in his palm.

At this time, the sky outside the window was already fully bright.

Thick smog lingered in the sky, and the newly risen morning sun appeared and disappeared among the cloud gaps.

Sunlight passed through the crevices between the high-rise buildings, casting flickering and flowing light and shadows, making this steel forest appear much more vibrant.

Ding-dong—

The crisp doorbell broke the peace inside the room.

Xiao Sa's body trembled slightly while in Meditation, as if he was forcibly dragged out of a hearty dream.

He slowly opened his eyes and looked around in a daze.

Those pupils appeared exceptionally bright at this moment, reflecting a lingering golden halo.

It seemed he was still savoring that incomparably wondrous Realm from before.

For some reason, he could clearly feel that the effect of today's Cultivate was better than any time in the past.

Ding-dong, ding-dong.

The continuously ringing doorbell pulled his thoughts back to reality.

The confusion in Xiao Sa's eyes quickly faded, he wiped the sweat from his face, got up reluctantly, and ran to open the door.

"Hello, the breakfast you ordered has arrived. Please sign for it."

The delivery worker stood at the doorway holding two huge bags.

"Okay."

Xiao Sa efficiently signed for and paid, picked up the two heavy large plastic bags, and returned to the living room.

As he placed the breakfast items one by one on the table, the alluring aroma of food quickly occupied the entire living room.

Fang Cheng exhaled a long breath of white Qi, withdrew his stance, and stopped practicing.

At the same time, in the air before his eyes, a few rows of translucent prompt information emerged sequentially:

[You practiced diligently, deepening your understanding of Qi energy. Tai Chi experience +15]

[Tai Chi lv1 (220/250)]

[You practiced diligently, deepening your understanding of Qi energy. Palm Technique experience +15]

[Palm Technique lv0 (65/100)]

[You practiced diligently, deepening your understanding of Qi energy. Qigong experience +30]

[Qigong lv2 (219/500)]

Looking at the jumping information on the panel, Fang Cheng's eyes couldn't help but light up.

The [Palm Technique] skill had been unlocked for less than a day, yet the progress bar was already more than half full, and it looked like it was about to level up again soon.

The reason for such rapid improvement was mainly because his previous accumulation in martial arts was profound enough.

Not only had he mastered the Knife-hand technique of Karate, but he had also learned traditional kung fu such as White Crane Fist, Baguazhang, and Eagle Claw Kung Fu from several elders of the Martial Arts Research Association.

Now, drawing on the strengths of various families and comprehending the operating methods of Qi energy, it could be described as storing up and bursting forth.

Because of this, the experience values of the [Palm Technique] and [Qigong] skills skyrocketed, which was completely a matter of course.

What surprised Fang Cheng a bit was that the [Tai Chi] skill also gained a lot from this, similarly close to leveling up.

Come to think of it, all martial arts principles were interconnected.

In the future, he could also try applying Qi energy to other combat arts, mutually verifying and complementing each other to exert even greater power.

After reviewing all the skill gains from today's morning exercise, Fang Cheng nodded slightly with satisfaction and didn't continue exercising.

Next, fierce battles could erupt at any time, and he had to keep both his body and mind in the best condition.

If at a critical moment, physical stamina issues affected his battle performance, the losses would outweigh the gains.

Walking into the bathroom, he turned on the showerhead.

Warm water poured down from the top of his head, washing over his skin, taking away the sweat oozing from high-intensity practice, and also bringing a refreshing sense of comfort throughout his body.

Amidst the misty water vapor, Fang Cheng silently summarized in his mind the three methods of Qi energy mastered today.

"The core of Silk-Reeling Energy lies in 'sticking' and 'coiling', combining hardness and softness."

"When executing grappling and claw kung fu, it can be like bone-attaching maggots, silently invading the opponent's body, disrupting their center of gravity, locking their joints, and making it difficult for them to exert their strength."

"The core of Spiral Energy lies in 'drilling' and 'penetrating', with the strongest penetrating power."

"It can be combined with Moves like Spear-hand and straight punches to condense the whole body's strength onto a single point, piercing through the opponent's defense and inflicting fatal internal injuries."

"The core of Elastic Shaking Energy lies in 'bursting' and 'springing', both offensive and defensive."

"It can not only be used in close-quarters combat, but it is also the basis of the so-called 'lightness kung fu' in traditional martial arts, which can greatly enhance the ability to jump, change directions, and dodge."

Fang Cheng continuously scrubbed his body with both hands, and his thoughts in his mind became increasingly clear.

Until the water became a bit cool did he snap back to reality, turn off the showerhead, quickly dry his body, and change into a dry and refreshing set of clothes.

When he came out of the bathroom, the dining table was already piled high with a small mountain of food.

Fifty steaming fresh meat buns with distinct folds.

Three large bowls of fresh shrimp wontons with clear soup, thin wrappers, and full fillings.

Ten deep-fried, golden and crispy dough sticks, and ten egg-stuffed pancakes brushed with rich sweet bean sauce, wrapped with crispy tenderloin and crunchy lettuce.

There were also two cups of warm soy milk, plus six 1-liter cartons of pure milk.

Xiao Sa, like a professional and considerate butler, had already pulled out a chair for him and respectfully stood aside waiting.

"Let's eat together."

Fang Cheng nodded at him without standing on ceremony, and after sitting down, he started eating directly.

Picking up a meat bun in each hand, he swallowed them down with almost no chewing.

Immediately followed by the second one, the third one...

The speed was astonishingly fast, as if his throat was a bottomless black hole.

Xiao Sa watched from the side with a palpitating heart, secretly swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

It was not his first time witnessing the President's appetite, but every time he watched, he still felt a sense of awe originating from biological instinct.

Watching a cage of buns disappear at a lightning speed, Fang Cheng picked up a bowl of wontons, soup and all, and with a few loud slurps, the huge bowl bottomed out.

Then, he picked up a dough stick, washed it down with soy milk and milk, and solved one in two or three bites like eating cookies.

There was no pause throughout the whole process, as if he wasn't enjoying Gourmet food, but executing a precise program.

Replenishing the necessary fuel for the machine that was his body.

Xiao Sa didn't dare to think too much and also picked up an egg-stuffed pancake to munch on silently.

Only he ate somewhat absent-mindedly, his eyes constantly glancing at the food mountain that was rapidly "collapsing", fearing that if he spaced out for a moment, even this table would vanish into thin air.

Fang Cheng had no intention of restraining himself.

Since Xiao Sa had followed him, he would sooner or later have to adapt to the various extraordinary traits on his body.

After all, in the future, as he stepped into the unpredictable dark world, he would witness more things that transcended the mundane and were unimaginable.

After finishing an egg-stuffed pancake and drinking a bowl of soy milk, Xiao Sa already felt half full.

He picked up a bun in his hand, munched on it leisurely, and habitually walked to the window, overlooking the movements outside from a high vantage point.

The view here was extremely open, and the scenery of the entire bustling commercial street was almost completely unobstructed.

Sunlight penetrated the clouds, gilding the traffic and pedestrians below with a layer of gold.

In the distance, the sci-fi silver-gray building of the Noah Group stood quietly, like a steel behemoth dormant in the morning light.

Suddenly, his pupils constricted, the bun in his hand nearly dropped to the ground, and he blurted out:

"President, that bus is here!"

Hearing Xiao Sa's cry, Fang Cheng did not get up immediately.

He sucked the last mouthful of wontons and soup in the bowl into his stomach, and wiped his mouth unhurriedly with a napkin.

Only then did he stand up and stride over to the window.

Downstairs, a deep blue luxury bus with the simple LOGO of Noah Pharmaceuticals printed on its body was parked steadily by the roadside.

After the bus doors opened, a group of staff wearing uniforms and employee badges filed down, merging into the stream of people heading towards the building's entrance.

Fang Cheng watched calmly, his vision resembling a high-precision scanner.

Filtering out all useless information, waiting only for the single target to enter his field of vision.

Until a lovely figure with shoulder-length hair came into view.

"Notify them immediately."

Fang Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly as he commanded Xiao Sa.

"Yes, President."

Xiao Sa quickly picked up the walkie-talkie on the table, pressed the call button with his thumb, and gave instructions in a steady tone:

"The target has appeared. Prepare to execute the plan. Remember, you must be natural and never blow your cover!"

A brief response came from the walkie-talkie:

"Received."

In front of the entrance plaza of the Noah Building.

A-Fei and A-Bao were wearing brand-new security uniforms, leaning against the edge of the flowerbed, looking like they were lazily basking in the sun.

A-Fei yawned, rubbed his eyes, and complained to A-Bao beside him:

"Damn it, this gig is even more tiring than watching the turf before; we have to stare constantly, and our eyes are getting blurry."

"Cut the crap and keep a close eye!"

A-Bao lowered his voice, his eyes vigilantly scanning the crowd getting off the bus:

"Brother Xiao Sa is the Crown Prince, the future head of our Red Tiger Gang. If we mess up the task he assigned, instead of buttering him up, both of us will be kicked out."

"Hehe, rest assured, the two of us are famous three-handed master thieves on the street. Slipping a note is just a piece of cake."

A-Fei curled his lips, full of confidence.

Their appearance and deportment looked no different from the real security guards at the building's entrance.

Laziness carried a hint of professional vigilance, perfectly blending into the environment.

Right at this moment, Choi Suyoung's figure appeared.

Today she was wearing a decent white suit skirt, carrying a black briefcase in her hand, and her expression was as icy as ever.

Walking in the crowd, yet it seemed as if she was separated from everything around her by an invisible barrier, forming a world of her own.

A-Fei and A-Bao exchanged a glance, instantly understanding each other.

A-Fei first straightened his body, stretched, as if to loosen his bones, and inadvertently took two steps toward the direction Choi Suyoung was walking from.

Just as Choi Suyoung stepped up the stairs and passed by him in an instant.

A-Fei "accidentally" tripped under his feet, his body staggered, and he happened to bump into Choi Suyoung's shoulder.

"Ouch!"

He cried out exaggeratedly and almost tumbled down the stairs, acting quite vividly.

Choi Suyoung's figure swayed from this bump, and the briefcase in her hand flew out of her hand.

No sooner said than done, A-Bao, who had been following closely beside, took a stride forward and agilely caught the leather bag in mid-air, avoiding its fate of crashing to the ground.

The whole process happened within a few seconds, just like a most ordinary accidental collision on the street.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Young Miss, are you alright?"

A-Fei immediately stood firm, apologizing repeatedly with an apologetic face.

A-Bao held the briefcase with both hands, respectfully handing it back to Choi Suyoung with a professional smile on his face:

"Young Miss, your bag."

Choi Suyoung's brows slightly furrowed, her cold gaze sweeping across their faces, as if trying to figure something out.

But what she saw were just two ordinary security guards with nervous and apologetic faces.

She didn't speak, then reached out to take the briefcase and checked it.

After confirming that nothing was lost, she nodded faintly and walked briskly into the building.

From beginning to end, she didn't seem to notice that the moment A-Bao handed the bag back to her.

A tiny folded note had already silently slipped into the compartment on the side of the leather bag where the access card was placed, following the movement of his thumb.

Watching Choi Suyoung's back disappear behind the revolving door, A-Fei and A-Bao exchanged glances once more, both seeing a sense of relief in each other's eyes.

A-Bao then turned around, facing away from the camera at the building's entrance, raising his hand to pretend to adjust his collar.

In fact, he was speaking into the miniature microphone hidden in his collar, saying in a voice inaudible to others:

"Brother Xiao Sa, it's okay!"

(End of Chapter)