Eternal Life: I Have the Favor System-Chapter 213 - 150: Epiphany (Part 2)

Chu Lingguang wasn’t entirely sure if he had now awakened the full capabilities of the Day and Night Breathing Technique. It was also possible that this Introspection phenomenon was a result of the Day and Night Breathing Technique combining with his other cultivation techniques—like the Turtle Breath Technique, the Tidal Breathing Technique, or even the Basic Breathing Technique—merging together to reach his current state.

But one thing was certain: choosing to first raise the Day and Night Breathing Technique to the Perfection state had been the wisest decision.

He thought about how Guo Wei had gone to find Feng Zhiwen to help him awaken his Dragon Elephant Power, all to increase his odds of winning against Samba. After some consideration, Chu Lingguang decided to spend his remaining Favor Points on the Chang Chun Pile Skill.

Both Guo Wei and Li Dayao had said that combining a Pile Skill with the Day and Night Breathing Technique was an effective way to awaken one’s Dragon Elephant Power. Since Feng Zhiwen was coming specifically for that purpose, Chu Lingguang saw no reason to spend his Favor Points anywhere else.

As for the Great River Operation Method, while profound, it was clearly not the most pressing upgrade option.

The panel information changed again.

Favor Points: None

Chang Chun Pile Skill (217/2000)

Circulation Operation Skill (191/1000)

Great River Operation Method (0/4000)

(Remaining Lifespan: 120 years)

Pile Skill was one of the Basic Techniques of cultivation.

Not only did it play a role in awakening Dragon Elephant Power, but it also aided in the circulation of one’s bloodline and the execution of various Martial Arts during combat.

A person with profound mastery of a Pile Skill had a solid foundation. With every step, advancing or retreating, they seemed to take root in the ground. Their punches were powerful, their blade strikes took form, and they projected the imposing air of an impenetrable, one-man army.

Back when Chu Lingguang fought Boss Zhuang at the blacksmith’s shop, he had managed to withstand Boss Zhuang’s explosive power. At the time, Guo Wei had mistaken this for the effect of Chu Lingguang’s solid Pile Skill.

This just went to show the importance of a Pile Skill in a fight.

Fortunately, before becoming Guo Wei’s disciple, Chu Lingguang had learned a basic Pile Skill at the Guo Wei Martial Arts Hall. He used to practice it alongside the Iron Mountain Fist. Although he never managed to generate Fist Force with his Iron Mountain Fist, his Pile Skill had become quite decent.

Now, with his experience from the basic Pile Skill, the value for his Chang Chun Pile Skill had clearly changed.

Following the cultivation method for the Chang Chun Pile Skill, Chu Lingguang began to walk around the room. Each step seemed light and airy, but in reality, contained the secret to taking root in the ground.

When he practiced the basic Pile Skill before, Chu Lingguang had simply thought that Guo Wei wanted them to have a solid base so they wouldn’t be easily knocked back or stumble during a fight.

But now, with his cultivation advancing, his perspective broadening, and the aid of this Chang Chun Pile Skill, Chu Lingguang had a sudden realization. When a Pile Skill was cultivated to a certain level, it wasn’t just about your feet taking root and your body becoming as immovable as a mountain. It was about your Bloodline Power taking root and sprouting within you.

Every strike, every surge of Qi, could be traced back to its source. With the help of the Pile Skill, the ethereal power within his bloodline evolved, crisscrossing his body like the gnarled roots of an ancient tree. A gentle surge of power felt as if it was drawing upon the strength of his entire bloodline, allowing a force of one hundred pounds to instantly become a thousand, all without any change in energy consumption.

This discovery left Chu Lingguang dumbfounded.

’I never imagined a Pile Skill could be so impactful! No wonder it and Breathing Techniques are hailed as the Basic Techniques among Inner Cultivation Methods.’

WHOOSH!

At this moment, the Chang Chun Pile Skill made Chu Lingguang’s feet feel rooted to the ground. His blood vessels felt like a network of crisscrossing branches, seemingly forming a direct link to the earth beneath him. As the power in his bloodline circulated, it was as if it were protected by an indestructible barrier. It felt as though the power within his body could now be unleashed to its full potential.

He opened his mouth and inhaled.

Air rushed in through his orifices, his nose, and his mouth, creating a light breeze in the room.

He had not yet opened his Dantian and Qi Sea. But with the enhancement of the Pile Skill, his bloodline was strong and vigorous. The connection to the earth below made his every breath not only turbulent and powerful, but also visibly condensed a force in his abdomen.

When that force had condensed to a certain point, Chu Lingguang opened his mouth and exhaled sharply.

A jet of turbid, yellowish-white air shot from his mouth.

PUFF!

It shattered the paper window three meters away and shot out into the courtyard.

Previously at the academy, when Chu Lingguang had forcefully exhaled, he was left completely drained and weak. But now, with his Day and Night Breathing Technique at Perfection, his bloodline was strengthened with every circulation of breath, and his power was climbing. When he exhaled that breath, not only did he not feel drained, but with the help of the Chang Chun Pile Skill, it felt as if a stream of power from his bloodline had erupted outwards. It was a satisfying and comfortable release, like expelling a thick wad of phlegm that had been stuck in his body.

Chu Lingguang walked to the window.

He carefully examined the wooden frame around the torn window paper and saw faint tear marks left by the gust of air. Although they were tiny, he knew that in a fight, spitting a breath like that into an opponent’s eyes or at their vitals could have a significant effect.

’That day, Mr. Liu’s single breath of turbid air knocked a dustpan off a wall thirty meters away. It wasn’t just because he’s an expert who has opened his Dantian and Qi Sea. I think it also had to do with his mastery of a solid Pile Skill.’

’A Pile Skill doesn’t just root your feet to the ground and make your body as immovable as a mountain for powerful attacks. More importantly, it consolidates your Bloodline Power and your Dantian Qi Sea.’

’When I just exhaled that breath, even though my strength was diminished, my feet and bloodline felt like they were firmly protected by a force. I couldn’t be easily knocked down, and I could quickly circulate my body’s power. In combat, a Pile Skill truly is a crucial source of strength.’

Chu Lingguang muttered to himself again and again.

Before, when his strength was weak, the power in his bloodline was imperceptible, and he was far from achieving the Hundred Rivers Operation. Back then, the basic Pile Skill was enough to provide protection as his Qi Power circulated.

But now that he had awakened the Blood Dragon Elephant and the Bloodline Dragon Elephant, and his Breathing Technique was growing stronger, Chu Lingguang’s power was transforming. The original basic Pile Skill could no longer offer adequate protection.

If he didn’t switch to a more advanced Pile Skill, then even if he awakened more Dragon Elephant Power, he would feel unstable in combat, unable to unleash its full potential.

It would be like a skyscraper on the verge of collapse.

Only now did Chu Lingguang realize why Liu Wan, Li Dayao, and Guo Wei had all repeatedly stressed the importance of Pile Skills. And why the academy gave an additional Zhenyuan Pile Skill as a reward to students who entered the rear courtyard for cultivation.

Clearly, the true purpose of the Zhenyuan Pile Skill wasn’t just to help awaken Dragon Elephant Power. It was to place a protective ’lock’ on that power, preventing the user from feeling unstable, weak, and shaky during combat.

’In the path of Martial Arts, all cultivation skills are interlinked. The idea of relying on a single peerless technique to defy heaven and change your fate only exists in novels. To go far on the path of Martial Arts, you can’t rely on just one Kung Fu. You have to master and integrate all of them, combining them to produce the greatest power.’

’Pile Skill combines with Breathing Technique.’

’Breathing Technique merges with Operation Technique.’

’The three layers of Skillful Force: Spring and Vibrate, Entangle and Enter, Seize and Penetrate.’

’Breathing in unison with vibration, Qi Blood resonating with the Long Spear, Qi Power resonating with the bloodline.’

’The focal point of the Unity of Man and Gun is also the resonance between man and Potential Energy.’

’Even awakening the Blood Dragon Elephant is about finding a response from within the blood, using Breathing and Exhaling to make the Qi in your body resonate.’

’So, cultivation isn’t just about walking a single path to the end.’

’It’s about the resonance of a hundred rivers! You fuse different powers together, find their points of resonance, and achieve the state where the sea accepts a hundred rivers. That is how you open the Dantian and Qi Sea!’

The more Chu Lingguang thought about it, the more excited he became.

With his Breathing Technique reaching Perfection and gaining the ability of Introspection, it was as if he had a moment of epiphany, a feeling of his Thoughts Reach Far and Wide.

Things he couldn’t understand before seemed to unravel one by one at this moment.

Just then, Chu Lingguang felt a warm current appear in his abdomen.

As he spoke the words—’the resonance of a hundred rivers, finding their points of resonance, achieving the state where the sea accepts a hundred rivers, and opening the Dantian and Qi Sea’—his body seemed to open a great celestial aperture.

Under Introspection...

...he saw an infinitesimally small Qi Vortex coalescing in his abdomen.