C2 Ancient Martial Arts

His eyes felt moist and cool.

"Perhaps some sand got in," Hanyu Xiaotian reasoned, swiftly wiping away the moisture before approaching the dragon-carved stone pillar to begin his self-assigned training.

Bone Forging Fist, Xing Yi Stance, Barbaric Ox Strength...

Hanyu Xiaotian executed each foundational technique for refining the body repeatedly—ten, twenty, fifty times...

In the 300th year of the Milky Way Calendar, the widespread use of gene fluid radically altered human life characteristics.

This led to the exploration of ancient martial arts, gene-modified warriors, colonized armor, special abilities, and other means to enhance human strength.

China, an ancient nation with a storied past and one of the Human Federation's superpowers, has produced countless formidable individuals over thousands of years. They developed myriad unique cultivation methods, collectively known as ancient martial skills.

As human physiques improved due to gene fluid, once arcane knowledge like the dantian, meridians, acupoints, Qi, and mental fortitude became widely understood.

Becoming a Martial Cultivator, however, was no easy feat, as one had to first discover the gaseous sensation.

Only with the cultivation of inner breath, neixi, could one join the ranks of a Level 1 Martial Cultivator, significantly elevating their status and privileges within society.

The Federation of China currently categorizes Ancient Martial Arts training into ten levels:

Levels 1-3 focus on cultivating neixi, significantly enhancing bodily strength, speed, and other qualities.

Levels 4-6 possess substantial neixi and mastery of several advanced Martial Skills, boasting considerable destructive power.

...

Level 10 cultivators bridge the conception and governing vessels, sustaining endless internal strength. Their martial arts become intricate, turning decay into wonder, each movement carrying immense force.

As for levels beyond the tenth, Hanyu Xiaotian knew little.

...

"Dragon Snake Tail Twist, for the hundredth time..."

Sweat drenched Hanyu Xiaotian's slender frame, his youthful form dwarfed by the towering dragon pillar.

After a brief pause, he took deep breaths, then without waiting to fully recover, he sat down cross-legged, eyes slightly closed, fingers interlaced, palms facing upwards, settling into meditation.

Sensing the neixi!

At the peak of exhaustion, the body's latent potential emerges, making it the prime time to perceive the neixi.

Minutes ticked by. "Still not there? Once more!"

Hanyu Xiaotian's eyes snapped open, and without pausing to dry off, he resumed practicing his boxing fundamentals...

Unbeknownst to anyone, the moment his eyes opened, a faint yet dazzling light shimmered in his dark eyes before vanishing just as quickly.

For that brief instance, it seemed as if even the sun dimmed in the sky...

Around seven, a middle-aged couple with refined features, as if lifted from a painting, arrived in the square.

They watched the frail figure drenched in sweat, diligently practicing various ancient martial arts stances, exchanging glances filled with concern and tenderness.

"Tian Er, take a break. Let's go home and have a meal with Mom and Dad."

The couple who had arrived were none other than Hanyu Xiaotian's parents, Hanyu Zhan'an and Xia Xiaodie.

As they walked home,

Hanyu Xiaotian, clutching both his parents' hands, shared excitedly, "Dad, Brother Kong and Sister Xing Er are incredibly strong. I want to grow up and be a formidable Ancient Martial Cultivator just like them."