Chương 61: A World-Shocking Genius, Cultivating Both Body and Spirit

Ning Chongli recited the mantra and demonstrated the method, passing on the "Dragon's Shocking Transformation" technique to Cang Lian without reservation.

As the incantation entered his ears, Canglian's eyes gleamed with wonder.

This movement technique is truly exquisite. It is no longer limited to changes in the direction of footwork, but directly targets the essence of the human body—the major tendons.

By controlling the sprung, springing, contraction, and extension of the major tendons, extremely unpredictable explosive and directional forces can be generated.

"The human body is a huge treasure, and various martial arts are undoubtedly the key to unlocking this treasure," Cang Lian thought to himself.

"Once this key is inserted into the right hole, the terrifying potential hidden in the human body will be released, and that will be a power that subverts common sense."

After being amazed, Cang Lian immediately began practicing.

He held his breath and focused his consciousness into his body, trying to sense the key tendons that Ning Chongli had mentioned.

He has a cheat code called "Visible Improvement". As long as he takes the right path, a prompt will pop up on the panel and he will gain proficiency.

This gives him a strong confidence to try and fail.

However, the initial process did not go smoothly.

On the open ground of the cultivation room, Cang Lian's figure looked rather comical.

Sometimes he would leap up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, but then lose his balance and stumble and fall; other times he would try to twist his waist muscles, but ended up contorting himself into an odd position, unable to move.

Sometimes it would twitch uncoordinatedly like a puppet, and other times its body would twist into strange angles due to excessive force.

Three hours passed, and his whole body seemed to become uncoordinated. His proficiency in "The Dragon's Shock" on the panel remained at zero, without any change.

Ning Geng, a middle-aged man watching from the side, couldn't help but grin and said in a low voice, "Second Uncle, I think the young master is probably like us, unable to get started anytime soon. After all, there are thousands of tendons in the human body, and they are very complex. It is already extremely difficult to control just one, let alone achieve full-body coordination and resonance."

Ning Geng shook his head and sighed, "After all, humans aren't machines. How can they achieve such precision? I really don't know how my Ning family ancestor created this movement technique. It's simply heaven-defying. Just how precise must one's control over their body be?"

"Yes." Ning Chongli also sighed slightly, his gaze distant.

"I have also cultivated diligently for decades, and I have only just entered the initial stage of mastery. I am still a long way from the perfect state! This movement technique tests one's talent too much."

Seeing that Cang Lian's movements were comical, but his expression was becoming increasingly focused, as if he had entered a state of complete absorption, he waved his hand and said, "Alright, everyone go. Don't disturb the young master's cultivation. Ning Ke, you stay and guard the door, taking care of the young master at all times!"

"Okay, Grandpa!" Ning Ke replied crisply.

The group quietly slipped out, leaving Cang Lian a quiet space.

……

Silent all night.

The next day, at noon, the sun was blazing.

Ning rushed into the room, panting, and without even bothering with etiquette, grabbed Ning Chongli's hand and ran outside, shouting, "Grandpa, Third Uncle, Little Xing, come quick! Come to the cultivation room!"

"What happened? Is something wrong with the young master?" Ning Chongli was shocked and rushed towards the training room with the others in an instant.

However, the sight before them when they pushed open the door to the training room completely shocked them.

Inside the spacious training room, a figure was seen moving swiftly.

At this moment, Cang Lian's figure was no longer comical, nor did it show the slightest hesitation.

He seemed to have no bones; during his high-speed sprint, his body could fold and change direction in ways that defied the laws of physics.

The feeling was like a dragon tumbling in a sea of clouds, sometimes up, sometimes down, sometimes left, sometimes right, so agile that it was impossible to predict its next move.

"This... this is 'The Dragon's Shocking Change'?!"

Ning Geng's eyes widened, his mouth gaped open enough to fit a fist, and he stammered, "He's mastered the basics in just one day? How is that possible?!"

Ning Xiaoxing was also stunned. He had almost broken his thigh tendon while practicing this thing and still hadn't mastered it. And the young master had already mastered it?

"A genius, a true genius, a prodigy!" Ning Chongli's eyes shone, his breathing became rapid, and his body trembled slightly with excitement.

Only he, who has been immersed in this art for decades, knows how difficult it is to cultivate this movement technique!

"call--!"

In the arena, Cang Lian's figure suddenly stopped, instantly shifting from extreme movement to extreme stillness, with the faint sound of a bowstring snapping emanating from within his body.

After finishing his set of movements, he stood still, not speaking immediately, but falling into deep thought.

"Spirit and martial arts seem to be inseparable."

Cang Lian muttered to himself, reflecting on his breakthrough just now.

At first, he was indeed at a loss, but he soon discovered that everything changed when he used his extraordinary mental strength to "introspect".

His mental energy spread like mercury over his entire body, and in his perception, the texture of every tendon and muscle in his body was clearly visible.

The subtle tremors and vibrations of the tendons were all clearly perceptible to his mental senses.

"I used my powerful mental strength to introspect my physical body, and with the feedback from the 'Visual Improvement' cheat, I could correct any mistakes almost in real time. This allowed me to cross the threshold that ordinary people would struggle to overcome in decades in just one day and directly enter the realm of enlightenment."

The more Cang Lian thought about it, the clearer it became.

"No wonder ancient texts record that the intent of the fist and the will of martial arts often only appear in the later stages of martial arts. Because spiritual power is too difficult to cultivate. Sitting in oblivion, contemplation, and meditation—to cultivate even a trace of spiritual power is as difficult as ascending to heaven."

"In worldly cultivation, if one follows the path of a sorcerer, focusing solely on spiritual cultivation, the physical body will become weak; if one follows the path of martial arts, focusing solely on physical cultivation, one cannot simultaneously cultivate the spirit. The spiritual growth of ordinary martial artists is merely a natural result of the strengthening of their qi and blood, which then nourishes their physical body—an extremely inefficient process.

Therefore, only in the later stages can a martial artist barely condense their martial will."

Thinking of this, Cang Lian subconsciously touched the area between her eyebrows.

"But I'm different. I have the 'Heaven and Earth Pearl.' Every night it absorbs moonlight to strengthen my spirit—it's simply a heaven-defying blessing! A strong spirit feeds back into martial arts cultivation, and a strong body can bear even more spirit. How come I feel that this Heaven and Earth Pearl is already so perfect that it's almost flawless?"

Cang Lian felt more and more that this treasure was extraordinary. It truly lived up to its name as a divine artifact. It seemed to be paving a path of dual cultivation of body and mind that was unprecedented for him.

At that moment, he also noticed the rapid breathing of the people at the door, and his thoughts instantly returned to reality.

He turned around, looked at the stunned group of people, smiled slightly, and sincerely praised, "Elder Ning, the 'Dragon's Shocking Transformation' technique you taught me is truly amazing. After I gained initial control over the Great Tendon, I feel that my speed, agility, and reaction have all been greatly improved. If combined with the Eight Formations of Military Array, its power will at least double."

Hearing this, Ning Chongli finally snapped out of his shock.

He strode forward, looked at Cang Lian's young and calm face, and suddenly did something that no one expected.

This once powerful Dan Jin expert, who had also been a local strongman, straightened his clothes and bowed deeply to Cang Lian, his expression both excited and solemn: "Young Master, you are the most talented person I have ever seen! Even the sages of ancient times were no more than you! It is truly an honor for the four of us from the Ning family to be able to follow you!"

At this moment, Ning Chongli seemed to see through Cang Lian's current back view the birth of a future terrestrial immortal, no, even a human immortal or a martial immortal!

Cang Lian was taken aback by Ning Chongli's sudden and grand gesture. She quickly stepped forward and supported Ning Chongli's arms with both hands, helping him up.

"Elder Ning, what are you doing? Please get up quickly. Elder Ning, you flatter me. There are countless geniuses in the world. I am just a little talented, and I can make up for my lack of talent with hard work."

"Young Master, you are too modest." Ning Chongli rose to his feet, but the fervor in his eyes remained undiminished. His tone was resolute, "Young Master, from now on, whatever your orders, even if it means going through fire and water, we, the Ning family, will never hesitate!"

"Now, all you need to do is take good care of your health and get well soon!" Cang Lian smiled and patted Ning Chongli's hand.

"Yes, young master! We will get better as soon as possible and share your burdens!" Ning Chongli raised his head, his eyes as firm as iron.