"Ape Strike Technique," a name Lu Xuan had never heard before. It didn't sound like a martial arts story, but upon closer examination, it possessed an indescribable charm. Lu Xuan didn't recall such a martial art existing in mainstream martial arts tales. He did, however, encounter the White Ape Sword Technique in "The Sword of the Yue Maiden." But this was definitely not "The Sword of the Yue Maiden." Because Lu Xuan had already practiced it; it was an internal energy cultivation method, completely devoid of sword techniques.
Indeed, this was a Qi cultivation method that Lu Xuan had been desperately seeking for decades without success.
In his previous world, Lu Xuan spent the last eighty years of his life pursuing a sliver of Qi cultivation. But unsurprisingly, he failed. Yet, in the final moments of his life, he vaguely sensed something. Only after arriving in this world did he finally confirm it: he had indeed developed a sense of Qi.
It was a very faint, but very real, sensation of energy. In other words, in the final moments of his previous life, he had actually taken that step. But unfortunately, it was all too late; he couldn't change anything.
In this life, Lu Xuan's first appearance is in this deep, ancient forest. It's a very primitive jungle, teeming with all sorts of ferocious beasts and venomous insects. If Lu Xuan hadn't been exceptionally skilled and well-versed in various schools of thought, he might have met his end somewhere.
However, this deep mountain forest also had its advantages. Lu Xuan felt that the faint aura within his body was slowly growing stronger. This discovery filled Lu Xuan with immense joy.
He even abandoned the idea of leaving the jungle to explore the world, and instead began studying his discoveries within the mountains. He felt that this forest might be the legendary paradise on earth.
Through his continuous experiments, he personally moved through the mountains and forests for nearly a year, finally identifying the area where the energy was growing fastest—the area surrounding this cave. According to the theories of fantasy novels, this should be the core of the entire blessed land's formation.
The person who left the Ape Strike Technique here must have been a master of this art. They chose this location to cultivate and left behind an opportunity for Qi cultivation.
When Lu Xuan first saw this stone wall, he didn't rush into cultivation. He already possessed a unique Qi cultivation method, one that he had painstakingly crafted specifically for his body. Therefore, he had no intention of rashly altering anything.
However, through subsequent research, he gradually confirmed some things. That is, the level of the Ape Strike Technique was far superior to his self-created Qi cultivation method. But this Ape Strike Technique also had a major weakness: it was not meant for ordinary people.
Simply put, to cultivate the Ape Strike Technique, you need to be at least at the level of Lu Xuan, having developed a sense of Qi and entered the basics. This Ape Strike Technique doesn't have a foundational method from scratch. The starting point is to mobilize one's own Qi, connect with the primordial energy of heaven and earth, and then guide it into oneself. Where does an ordinary person get Qi from, and how can they mobilize it?
Lu Xuan's method was different. He was attempting to cultivate from scratch in a world almost devoid of spiritual energy. The twelve Qi cultivation methods he developed were all designed to achieve this goal. As for what to do after drawing Qi into the body, he hadn't even considered it. After all, how could he run before he could even walk?
Thus, Lu Xuan discovered that the Qi cultivation method he had unintentionally created could actually complement the Ape Strike Technique. Once he mastered his own Qi cultivation method and achieved the basics of drawing Qi into his body, wouldn't he be able to bypass the ordinary person's threshold and directly cultivate the Ape Strike Technique?
Of course, mastering Lu Xuan's Qi Refining Technique isn't so simple. It requires at least someone with exceptional talent like Lu Xuan. But it's already far superior to the simple Ape Strike Technique.
If you want to master the Ape Strike Technique from scratch, the required talent is extremely high. You'd probably need to be at least a Buddhist or Taoist disciple, with all your meridians naturally open, perhaps even blessed with great fortune and opportunity from a past life. Of course, there's another possibility: in a true world of cultivation, where spiritual energy is abundant, the requirements would be much lower.
However, Lu Xuan had already confirmed that this world was not a so-called world of cultivation. The spiritual energy content was extremely weak. Even with his talent, he could only barely cultivate.
Even so, Lu Xuan was already very satisfied. He had not only solved the most difficult first step, but also found the path ahead. He spent three whole years combining his self-created Qi cultivation technique with the Ape Strike Technique, ultimately obtaining a complete Qi cultivation method.
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Chapter 181 Leaving the Mountain, to the Miao Village (Second Update, Please Subscribe)
By today, Lu Xuan has been in the mountains for four years. He has completed the basic training of the Ape Strike Technique. He has learned how to use the internal energy to strengthen himself and enable him to do many incredible things.
The previous experiences of falling from a great height, becoming light-footed, running through treetops with the agility of a swallow, and climbing over various obstacles were all simple applications of the Ape Strike Technique. Unfortunately, these were the only applications available.
The Ape Strike Technique doesn't include the magical skills found in fantasy novels. It's simply a pure Qi cultivation technique. Although its simple application already makes one seem like a god to ordinary people, Lu Xuan was still somewhat disappointed. After all, what kind of cultivation is it if you can't use magic?
However, it wasn't entirely hopeless. The final section of the Ape Strike Technique was recorded as an advanced method. It was a method that guided the essence of the sun and moon into the body and could be released at will to fight enemies. However, this final move was extremely difficult, much like the final stage of those peerless divine skills in various martial arts and fantasy stories. For three years, Lu Xuan had been completely clueless about it.
He had tried before. But whenever he dared to draw the essence of the sun into his body, he would instantly feel as if his entire body was engulfed in flames. It wasn't actual burning, but a scorching heat that penetrated deep into his soul. In just a few breaths, it nearly cost Lu Xuan his life.
Similarly, the essence of the moon is a cold, yin sensation. Neither yin nor yang is something Lu Xuan can withstand. However, the frustrating thing is that the Ape Strike Technique doesn't mention this phenomenon, let alone how to resolve it. Lu Xuan can only helplessly abandon this aspect of cultivation for the time being. He spends his days diligently drawing qi into his body and expanding his dantian.
To this day, he has achieved the Qi circulation mentioned in the Ape Strike Technique. This means that the Qi accumulated within his body has formed a simple circulation with the primordial Qi of heaven and earth. It can slowly circulate on its own, drawing Qi into his body. This means that even when he consumes Qi while traveling or fighting, it will automatically and slowly replenish itself. Of course, this is only possible if he doesn't consume too much and damage his very essence.
Lu Xuan was exceptionally talented and created his own Qi cultivation method that best suited him. With the advanced Ape Strike Technique and the assistance of his blessed land, it still took him three years to establish a small cycle.
It is clear that cultivating Qi and seeking immortality is a long and tedious process. It's difficult to make breakthroughs in a short time. Therefore, Lu Xuan decided to leave this mountain forest and see the outside world.
This forest was very deep; Lu Xuan had stayed here for four years and had never seen anyone enter. However, he had done a lot of exploration. Although he hadn't seen anyone, he knew of traces of human activity in a certain direction. So he quickly packed a few things and got up to head in that direction.
Over the years, he had acquired quite a few valuable items in these mountains and forests: various precious medicinal herbs, furs, and so on. All of these filled a leather bundle. With the bundle on his back, Lu Xuan, like a fleeing savage, headed towards the edge of the forest.
He walked quickly, covering over a hundred miles in half a day. By this time, traces of human activity could be seen in the mountains and forests. In some places, there were obvious signs of people digging up medicinal herbs. Lu Xuan followed these traces, tracing them backward. Finally, after about thirty or forty miles, he saw a mountain village.
After four years, he finally saw a living person. Lu Xuan was also somewhat excited. However, he did not rush forward, but observed from the side for a while.
Judging from their clothing, these people are likely from a Miao tribe. Their attire is traditional Miao clothing, but the fabrics used are quite sophisticated. Furthermore, their tribe possesses some iron tools. Lu Xuan deduced that this era is likely modern, at least the late Qing Dynasty or the Republican era. This mountain village is extremely isolated; the outside world must be far more advanced.
Having lived three lifetimes, Lu Xuan, despite his initially low emotional intelligence, had honed it over two hundred years. The Miao people were traditionally united but xenophobic. In such a closed and backward village, a sudden intrusion would generally result in rejection. Fortunately, Lu Xuan was carrying many bags and looked like a down-on-his-luck hunter, so it didn't seem too out of place.
After observing for a while, Lu Xuan went outside. A Miao child saw him and shouted, and immediately the entire village erupted in a roar as dozens of men rushed out and surrounded Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan stared at the brat with a pained expression. In his previous life, he had traveled all over China and learned various dialects. He could barely understand this Miao dialect. The kid was shouting, "The bandits are coming!"
Lu Xuan wasn't angry; instead, he almost laughed. After all, the term "bandit" was one of the most frequently heard words during his first transmigration. He had even personally played the role of a bandit more than once.
"I...I'm not...a bandit. I'm a hunter," Lu Xuan carefully chose his pronunciation before answering. The Miao men around him were relieved. After all, there was only one Lu Xuan. And he was dressed in tattered clothes, with only a bow as his weapon, without even a matching set of arrows. He certainly didn't look like a bandit.
“Hunter? I know all the hunters around here. Where are you from?” an elderly man who seemed to be the leader asked.
"I don't know you either. Where am I? I've been lost in the mountains for over half a month. I finally managed to find some people, but I have no idea where I am!"
Upon hearing this, several men around Lu Xuan immediately came forward and gestured for him to put down the bag he was carrying. Lu Xuan did as they asked and placed the bag on the ground. They opened it and found it was full of furs and herbs.
"It's true. It's all herbs and hides. They must be hunters who got lost on the other side of the mountain."
"Hmm." The old man nodded and waved for everyone to disperse.
“Since you’re a lost hunter, rest here for now. When someone from our area comes down from the mountains later, have him take you out.” After saying that, he ignored Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan didn't mind their coldness. He had noticed long ago that the people of this mountain village were extremely hostile to outsiders. Moreover, there were far more women than men, suggesting they had likely experienced something bad. That's why they were so wary. The Miao people were inherently xenophobic; it was already quite generous of them to agree to let him stay.
"Thanks," Lu Xuan said, throwing his bag on the ground and fetching some water from the stream beside the village. Then he took out a small earthenware pot, gathered some firewood, and prepared to start a fire to cook something.
He didn't carry much food, mainly because his current abilities made food too simple. In the jungle, he was practically an invincible hunter; all edible creatures were his food, so there was no need to stock up too much. He only carried half a smoked wild boar leg.
He tore some meat apart with his bare hands, put it into an earthenware pot, and then added some matsutake mushrooms, wild vegetables, and a small amount of salt he had refined himself. He cooked a pot full of meat broth.