Chapter 25: Mental Force Part 1

“Which cultivation art should I learn?”

After the initial excitement brought by the advancement had died out, Luo Ling began planning on his subsequent path ahead.

Iron Muscles Steel Veins Body Forging Exercise only had three levels which corresponded to the three stages before Martial Master. At the first level, the body-forging exercise focused on strength training. When a practitioner successfully learned to coordinate all their muscles and lift objects as heavy as an adult human, they attained the rank of a 3rd-rate Martial Warrior. Once this level was fully mastered, a 3rd-rate Martial Warrior could effortlessly lift objects more than twice the weight of an adult human.

The second level of the Iron Muscles Steel Veins Body Forging Exercise brought attention to stamina. When a 3rd-rate Martial Warrior’s stamina outlasts an average human being while performing the same task at least two times, that’s when they could announce themselves as a 2nd-rate Martial Warrior.

While a 2nd-rate Martial Warrior might not always be able to defeat multiple 3rd-rate Martial Warriors at once, their endurance far surpassed them. In a one-on-one scenario, a 2nd-rate warrior could consistently outperform ten 3rd-rate Martial Warriors, sustaining their strength long after others had faltered.

The third level of this body forging exercise focused on Speed, like any other body forging exercises out there in the Murim world. A 1st-rate Martial Warrior trained their speed, reaction time, and dexterity. And unlike a 2nd-rate Martial Warrior, a 1st-rate Martial Warrior could easily dispatch dozens of 2nd-rate Martial Warriors without breaking a sweat.

All body-forging techniques circulating in the Murim world followed this progression, but the grade of each technique determined the ultimate upper limit a practitioner could achieve.

The Iron Muscles Steel Veins Body Forging Technique was one of the higher-grade methods Luo Ling had learned from a Buddhist monk. This technique’s upper limit offered him twice the potential compared to the one he had practiced during his Martial Warrior days. Thanks to that, he easily subdued the man who ambushed him near his training spot.

Luo Ling knew that once he mastered the third level of this technique, he’d be at least twice as fast as he had been when he was a Martial Warrior back in the Murim World.

His current foundation was far sturdier than what it had been in his previous life.

Having already tasted the sweetness of a higher-grade martial technique, Luo Ling naturally wanted to pursue the same for his Martial Master stage.

Light Wheel Swordsmanship came to his mind in a flash. But he pushed it to the side for the time being. That was not the best Martial Cultivation technique he knew, but it was the most compatible with him.

The martial school he attended followed the path of absolute strength, believing in brute strength triumphing over all tactics. But such brutish ways didn’t appeal to Luo Ling. Thanks to his extraordinary talent, the school's master made some sacrifices in exchange for a set of cultivation techniques from another martial school. And that was how Luo Ling got a hold of the Light Wheel Swordsmanship.

“Mountain Moving Fist… is good, many times better than Light Wheel Swordsmanship, but I’m not suitable for it. Practicing its Inner Breath Meditation could make my mental force robust and heavy. Mhm… that’s indeed a problem. I like mine agile and quick.”

Luo Ling kept mumbling under his breath as he went through his memories for a suitable martial cultivation art. Many came to his mind, but none he was particularly satisfied with.

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After several minutes of fruitless wondering, he gave up, regretting that he had never sought out better martial cultivation techniques while he was at the peak of his power. He could have easily acquired a few exceptional ones.

Since a martial artist could only practice one type of martial cultivation technique in their lifetime, Luo Ling had never bothered to seek another. How could he have known he’d die one day and receive a second chance through reincarnation?

“Light Wheel Swordsmanship it is then,” Luo Ling chewed on his words, and his face looked determined. “Eventually, I’ll learn to cultivate immortality. It doesn’t matter if I choose the same martial cultivation again.”

Once his mind was made up, Luo Ling got down to work. Sitting down cross-legged, he closed his eyes and breathed in a specific pattern. Deep and slow inhale, then hold it in for a few seconds, followed by a quick and sharp exhale.

In. Out. In. Out.

The clock ticked away, and one second turned to one minute. Then ten. But Luo Ling was not aware of it. His entire focus was invested in maintaining this breathing frequency.

His heartbeat skyrocketed, and his blood surged like a raging river during the flood as it coursed through his veins. It had been many years since Luo Ling was at this stage, and despite his familiarity with the steps, it felt like a novel experience.

This accelerated blood flow went everywhere in his body, from the tip of his toes to the last of the nerves in his brain.

Luo Ling persisted until he felt a hint of discomfort spreading through his body, particularly around his heart. Slowly, he shifted his breathing pattern back to normal, allowing the chaotic blood flow to gradually settle.

Feeling faint, he dropped to the ground, hugging it without a care for personal hygiene.

He failed to awaken Mental Force or Inner Breath, but it was all right. He was not disappointed. Stimulating the part of the brain, the Frontal Lobe, responsible for extraordinary power, Inner Breath, was not something that could be achieved in a single day.

In his previous life, it had taken him fifteen days to awaken his inner breath. This time, Luo Ling was confident he’d achieve it by the fifth day. With a wealth of experience and the knowledge of a former Martial Transcendent, he understood human anatomy down to the finest details. Unlike the last time, he was no longer a newbie to martial arts.

A muffled thud caught his attention, and he opened his eyes. Tilting his head, he saw Xiao Ru stepping through the door into the backyard, dressed in her white training attire.

“You probably don’t sleep at night, do you?” Even before she arrived, Xiao Ru’s soft voice reached Luo Ling’s ears, carrying her accusations.

Luo Ling chuckled and turned his head away, opting to close his eyes and relax. “I had a good few hours of sleep.”

“Yeah right,” She snorted.

A brief moment of tranquility settled over the backyard, broken only by an awkward cough.

Luo Ling opened his eyes, turning toward the girl with a faint smile. “You can start whenever you’re ready. I’ll let you know if you make any mistakes.”

“Thank you, big brother Ling.” The girl’s flushed face lit up. Luo Ling could tell she was doing stretching exercises just now.

Luo Ling wasn’t the first to claim the open yard behind the orphanage as his training spot. Long before he claimed it his, Xiao Ru had been using it for that very purpose.

At first, they minded their own business, doing their respective sets without disturbing the other. But as days progressed, Luo Ling was unable to endure the obvious mistakes she was making and approached to correct her. From that day, when she practiced, she would often seek his guidance.

Pleased by her diligence and willingness to learn, the transmigrator indulged her request. He would point out her errors, and oftentimes, correct them himself. Over the week, she had warmed up a lot and began calling him ‘big brother,’ an obvious improvement from the simple ‘brother’ she used to call him in the past.

Half an hour later, she was lying flat on the ground, sweating and panting. Her chest rose and fell unevenly, and thick beads of sweat clung to her small face.

Luo Ling looked down at her and shook his head. “You really ought to work on your stamina, Ru,” he remarked in a tone gentle but firm. “Half an hour of high-intensity training is all you can manage, and that’s not nearly enough to reach the goal you’ve set for yourself.”

“I am trying, big brother.” Xiao Ru pouted.

Luo Ling’s eyes switched to the sky and sought out the position of the sun. The day only just started, and it’d be a long time before it was time for lunch.

“How many days have you got before your first inspection?” He inquired, settling his gaze on the girl on the ground.

“Tenth of the next month… err… fifteen more days.” Xiao Ru answered, parting an eyelid open to look at Luo Ling. “Why do you ask?”

“I got a way to rapidly increase your stamina. But, it’s a bit spartan. Want to try?” Luo Ling asked.

“What does spartan mean?”

Luo Ling’s lips split into a wide grin after hearing the girl’s innocent inquiry.

“Well, spartan is…”