Chapter 3: Methods for Cultivating Body and Mind

“Speak! What have you been doing these past few days?” The old man asked in a stern voice, staring at Rod with a cold expression. At that moment, Knight Rod could even clearly see a glimmer of icy flames in his eyes.
“Cough, cough, cough… You old bastard! Why do you care so much? I was just wandering around like before! What else could I do? You said I had no money to go to school, that I wasn’t suited for martial arts, and you wouldn’t let me go out and make a living. What else is there for me to do but waste my time?”
For some reason, at that moment, Rod felt an inexplicable anger surge within him, pushing him to shout loudly. All the previous panic had vanished.
“You little wretch! I’ve raised you for nothing all this time. If I had known earlier, I would have thrown you into the toilet to drown you—so you wouldn’t have to suffer like this every day! You…” Knight Rod’s words made the old man gasp for breath as he glared with his bell-like eyes and roared loudly.
“Isn’t that right? If you had agreed to let me go to the academy back then, maybe I’d still be at the Holy Light Academy now. Would that happen?” With a cold smirk, Rod spoke in a low voice—it was a pain in his heart.
“Damn it… Forget it. Be more careful next time. Watch your opponent when fighting. Don’t force yourself if you’re not sure!”
Rod’s words silenced the old man. After a long silence, there was a silent sigh, followed by the old man turning and walking away slowly.
The change came so quickly that it even surprised Rod. After a moment of shock, he realized it was over. Yet, for some reason, at that moment, he felt the old man’s back appear weak and aged. It seemed as if the old man had aged significantly in an instant, and his slightly hunched back gave rise to a sense of sorrow.
“Damn it! Don’t underestimate people. One day, I’ll make you see me in a new light! One day, only I will be able to bully others—no one will be able to bully me!”
Taking a deep breath, Rod stood there and muttered to himself. Yet his gaze was sharp, shining with intensity, making it hard for others to look into his eyes.
Watching the old man leave, he stood there for a long time before returning to his bed. Remembering the cultivation techniques given to him by Xuanyuan, he couldn’t help but start flipping through them.
“Qi Cultivation Techniques?” Suddenly, those complex characters appeared in his mind again—the set of techniques left to him by Xuanyuan Jian yesterday.

“‘Self-Cultivation’?” Rod murmured to himself after reading it once. Indeed, the name of this set of cultivation techniques was precisely “Self-Cultivation”! It was divided into three volumes: the first volume focused on calming the mind, the second on physical training, and the third on nurturing energy. He could tell that this method of energy cultivation was merely an introductory stage, a basic approach to training! It could even be said not to truly qualify as a technique for cultivating energy but rather as a guide to health preservation!

However, he didn’t care. He knew that since Xuanyuan had asked him to practice this, it must be correct. For some reason, he already felt a great deal of trust in it—perhaps influenced by something called “blood ties.”

Moreover, Rod was well aware that his current condition was poor, and he indeed needed to start with the basics. Taking care of his body first was the most important thing! After all, health was the foundation of everything!

Upon careful study, the first thing Rod learned was knowledge about cultivation, which might be essential. After studying it in detail, he gained a basic theoretical understanding before daring to move on to the rest of the content.

“Huh… It seems cultivation isn’t an easy task… But it’s fine. Hehe, at least I’ve started now! I believe things will get better!”

After finishing reading “Self-Cultivation,” Lin Feng smiled bitterly in resignation. Indeed, the content was written in classical Chinese, and just understanding it had taken him a tremendous effort, let alone those strange and unfamiliar concepts. Yet, he wasn’t entirely unproductive—at least now Rod had a general understanding.

According to what was written there, he knew he could cultivate all three volumes simultaneously! The first volume wasn’t really about cultivation at all but focused on refining the mind—cultivators should prioritize mental cultivation! It emphasized maintaining a proper state of mind. His own set of techniques required him to be honest, calm, and free from constraints, doing what needed to be done without hesitation. That was roughly the idea. It was quite different from what he had imagined—living a life of simplicity and detachment. This made him breathe a sigh of relief; he didn’t want to become someone who led a monotonous life like a monk. There were still many things in this world waiting for him to explore and adventure.

As for the second text on self-cultivation, it mainly focuses on the principles of physical training, emphasizing the strengthening of the entire body from head to toe, from inside to outside, as well as the self and even the mind. What Rod valued most was, of course, physical exercise as an urgent means of survival.

The other three texts deal with basic qi cultivation techniques, focusing on the eight meridians, five zang organs, and six fu organs, with an emphasis on qi. The goal is to concentrate the mind and gather energy, then ensure that the five zang organs and six fu organs are well-ventilated, the muscles, bones, skin, and flesh are also properly aerated, and there is proper exchange of qi both inside and outside the body. Simply put, it prepares one to lay a solid foundation and enter the ranks of cultivators for future practice.

Perhaps Rod didn’t realize just how unique the cultivation method of this set of techniques was. At least no other techniques allowed for practicing all three texts simultaneously. He hadn’t imagined how much help this set of techniques would ultimately bring to him.

Reading the descriptions, Rod gradually became immersed in it. Eventually, he even forgot about the outside world. After understanding it, he eagerly plunged into this unfamiliar yet fascinating new world and quickly became captivated by it. By now, he was obsessed with these techniques, because in the past, when he was still Lin Feng, he had never dared to dream that he would one day have access to cultivation!

Now not only had he gained access to it, but he was also experiencing it firsthand. How could he not take it seriously? How could he give up such an opportunity, even if it was just basic qi cultivation?

His mind gradually calmed down as he silently followed the mantras in the first text on mental training. Soon, Rod entered a state of clarity, his entire being extremely peaceful.

By the time he opened his eyes again, it was already late in the evening. Unconsciously, he had practiced all day. Although there seemed to be no immediate achievements, Rod felt that his mind was incredibly calm, bringing him a sense of tranquility.

“Damn, time really flies!” he said with a wry smile after taking a deep breath and getting out of bed, feeling a slight pain. Yet deep down, he still felt a hint of excitement. At least from today on, he had stepped into the realm of cultivation—a thing he had never dared to imagine before. His heart was filled with anticipation and longing, as if a little deer was jumping inside it nonstop.

Thinking that he could start formal training the next day, a faint smile appeared on Rod’s lips as he spoke softly. Yet, a sense of itching slowly grew in his heart.
Getting up and heading to the bathing area had seemingly become an unbreakable rule. Strangely enough, every time he took a bath in that disgusting water, his body would feel refreshed, to the point where Rod wondered if there was something wrong with the water.
Frowning, he approached the large wooden tub and, looking at the dark water, jumped in with a hint of resignation. The burning sensation and itching on his skin during each bath filled him with bitterness.
However, he could never resolve his doubts, as every time he asked the old man what that water was, the old man would explode in anger and scold him harshly.