I don't know if the theories of Qigong will apply when mapped onto the Dou Qi (Battle Qi) system of the Fama Continent, but based on the initial tests, cultivating Dou Qi using Qigong methods hasn't presented any issues. Unlike my previous life, where I could only purely sense a localized, extreme reinforcement of the body due to the strengthening of qi, in the Fama world, the energy of Dou Qi vastly surpasses that of Qigong. Consequently, its power manifests more intuitively and is infinitely more breathtaking.

I attempted to unleash Dou Qi using the Iron Fist breathing technique from my past life. With just a slight shift in intent, I felt a substantial, fluid energy rapidly move down from my waist, reach my shoulders, and then swiftly concentrate into my right arm, finally gathering directly onto my clenched right fist.

Roar! Feeling the Dou Qi energy coalescing in my right fist, I casually threw a punch.

Bang! A white streak of qi instantly shot past the surface of my fist, piercing straight through a black maggot charging at me, causing it to instantly explode and die on the spot.

Good heavens, what terrifying power. I touched my right fist with a sense of disbelief—this external projection of Dou Qi is truly formidable. Compared to the previous life’s simple sensation of hardness and swelling, this exhilarating feeling of projecting qi externally filled me with immense joy. I never thought I’d see this day; in my past life, this was something I wouldn't even dare to dream of. While Qigong cultivation reaching a very high level could indeed achieve the effect of projecting internal qi externally, this was only possible for a handful of top masters, requiring at least two decades of accumulated practice. I suspect if I returned to the modern world with my current skills, I would absolutely be a top-tier master.

But then I realize that in the Fama world, warriors like myself are a dime a dozen. There’s nothing to be proud of, and a shadow of disappointment falls over me. To stand out in this Fama world teeming with experts, I still have a long road ahead. Moreover, this world's Daoist arts, magic, and martial skills have evolved and been passed down for over ten thousand years; the profound essence contained within their martial arts is hardly something a novice like me, who has only dabbled halfway, can comprehend. Nor do I truly believe that the national martial arts inherited from China’s five thousand years are inherently superior to this world's martial civilization. Furthermore, my understanding of martial arts in my previous life only amounted to that of an amateur hobbyist—I was hardly a master. Trying to forge a shortcut and create an attack method different from this world’s is far easier said than done.

However, I am also acutely aware that if I continue to cultivate according to the traditional martial arts progression of this world, although my progress will be significantly faster than that of ordinary people, the paucity of my knowledge base dictates that the martial realms I can ultimately grasp will only be a mere fraction of what this world offers. I know clearly that the highest level most Rangers attain in this world is only the Crimson Moon (Chiyue) tier. The skills these Rangers can cultivate are limited to those recorded in the Ranger Guild and widely circulated across the continent. For warriors, these skills are categorized into novice, intermediate, advanced, and Crimson Moon levels. This means that once I break through the advanced warrior barrier, the highest I can achieve is the Crimson Moon Warrior level. To advance further is simply impossible, because for the warrior class, the recorded martial skills in the Ranger Guild cease after the Blazing Fire Sword Technique (Liehuo Jianfa). To improve beyond that, one must rely solely on personal comprehension and continuous exploration, which may not even lead to success. This doesn't mean there are no skills beyond the Crimson Moon level; it just means these skills are held exclusively by the Royal Family, and only members of the Royal Family can cultivate martial arts, Daoist arts, or magic that surpass the Crimson Moon level. These martial arts cannot be grasped through mere monster grinding; otherwise, these skills would not be the secret manuals treasured by the royalty.

Above the Blazing Fire Sword Technique, there exists the legendary Lion's Roar, and even the more mystical Dragon Shadow Sword Technique (Longying Jianfa), capable of fighting ten thousand foes single-handedly. However, these are just legendary skills; ordinary Rangers have no way of knowing if they truly exist. But I suspect, if this world shares the same established framework as Legend (Chuanqi), then the existence of these skills is certain, and compared to them, the Crimson Moon Warrior's Blazing Fire Sword Technique is truly child's play. Yet, this is the limit of what I can cultivate. Thinking of this fills me with crushing frustration. Although my ultimate goal isn't to become the world's number one master, I at least need to possess the strength to freely enter and exit the Crimson Moon Canyon and defeat the Crimson Moon Demon—otherwise, how can Mother’s throat ever be healed? But achieving that goal with the strength of a Crimson Moon Warrior seems far too difficult.

Thus, to gain the strength necessary to defeat the Crimson Moon Demon, I must possess power vastly exceeding that of a Crimson Moon Warrior. This is the source of my distress. Back in Ginkgo Village, due to my physical condition, reaching the Crimson Moon Warrior goal felt incredibly challenging, so I didn't feel distressed then. After all, I hadn't even made a proper start, so how could I worry about the path beyond the Crimson Moon Warrior level? But during these recent days of training outside, my cultivation progress has far exceeded my expectations. A goal once considered unreachable is now just a step away, and I’m confident I can reach the Crimson Moon Warrior level within a year. But what then? Where do I go next? How do I continue my cultivation? How do I keep improving my strength? All these questions were immediately thrust upon me after mastering the Assassination Sword Technique (Cisha Jianfa). Without a clear plan, the road ahead will be incredibly hard.

After careful thought, I concluded that the only thing I can rely on is the common sense I possess that is alien to this world; I hold the civilization of another world. However, my knowledge from my past life offers extremely limited help, at least on the path of martial cultivation. Although using the Hundred Battles Saber (Baizhan Dao) has accelerated my progress far beyond the Rangers of this world, and the Fencing Sword Technique (Jijian Jianfa) gives me the capital to contend with opponents a level higher than me, I don't believe these little tricks will carry me unimpeded in this world. I suspect if I encountered a true master of this world, my Hundred Battles Saber or Fencing Sword Technique wouldn't be fit for polite company. Ultimately, this world respects overwhelming power. The speed I rely on is only effective against opponents of the same level or one level higher. But once that range is exceeded—for instance, I can currently challenge Crimson Moon level warriors above my rank—if I face a Royal Heavenly Demon Warrior, who is one level above a Crimson Moon Warrior, I probably won’t even get a chance to strike. The disparity in strength cannot be compensated for by simple techniques; the previous encounter with the Half-Beast Commander was the best proof of this. Only when possessing corresponding power can speed become the trump card I rely on; otherwise, it's all for naught.

But how do I enhance my power? This will be the greatest problem I face from now on. If I cannot resolve this, even reaching the Crimson Moon Warrior level won't allow me to achieve my wish.

I carefully recalled all the martial technique training methods I knew from my past life: Fencing, Hard Foundation Qigong (Yingqi Gong), Jeet Kune Do, Tai Chi, Hung Gar, Muay Thai, Boxing, etc. However, I only had a general understanding; I wasn't proficient in any of them, making it difficult to find anything truly worth borrowing from. Among these, Fencing was what I was best at, and in this world, it has become my last resort for survival. As for Hard Foundation Qigong, frankly, its power is inferior to my current Dou Qi punch, but its circulation principles are worth referencing. I also have some familiarity with Jeet Kune Do, having practiced it for a while, driven by my admiration for the martial arts grandmaster Bruce Lee, so I put considerable effort into it. However, Jeet Kune Do focuses more on the application of force, emphasizing combat efficiency, and offers very little on how to enhance one's own power, making it seemingly useless for me at this stage. Then there is Tai Chi. To be honest, I can hardly vouch for the practical combat value of Tai Chi. I only practiced it for fun; perhaps due to my temperament, I felt a dizzying urge when faced with those seemingly slow, soft movements. I quit after only a week. My understanding of Tai Chi remains limited to the common saying: "Use softness to overcome hardness, ceaseless and continuous." But can softness truly overcome hardness? I'm uncertain; at least, I cannot do it. In contrast, I prefer Hung Gar. Hung Gar is arguably the boxing style I am most adept at, particularly the Iron Wire Fist (Tiexian Quan) of Iron Bridge Three, which I practice almost daily. Of course, in my past life, I wasn't a violent person. It might be unbelievable, but the biggest reason I initially practiced the Iron Wire Fist was for health reasons. Sitting at a computer for long periods resulted in cervical spondylosis and periarthritis of the shoulder at a young age, causing aches all over my body after sitting for too long. Seeking traditional Chinese massage only provided temporary relief, and soon the pain returned, troubling me for two full years—a truly agonizing and incurable affliction. It wasn't until a classmate returning from Guangdong taught me a few movements from the Iron Wire Fist—actions my friend called Bridge Hand movements—that my periarthritis and cervical spondylosis showed significant improvement after practicing for only a short time. This sparked my great interest in the Iron Wire Fist, so I persistently pleaded until he taught me the entire form. The biggest benefit I gained from the Iron Wire Fist was a marked improvement in my physical condition, which is related to its unique methodology. It uses posture combined with special vocalization, exhalation, and breathing regulation to adjust internal qi and thereby enhance the body's constitution, making it very suitable for young people. However, I am unclear about its practical combat value, as I only practiced the forms in my past life and never had the chance to use it in a fight.

Speaking of unarmed combat, I still lean towards Jeet Kune Do. In a sense, Jeet Kune Do is very similar to Fencing in technique: launching a fatal strike against the opponent by combining swift footwork and movement with speed and instantaneous explosive power. The difference is that Jeet Kune Do is unarmed, while Fencing uses a sword. Furthermore, unlike Fencing, Jeet Kune Do does not shy away from close-quarters fighting; rather, it unleashes its powerful attack capabilities best during close grappling, as Jeet Kune Do evolved from Wing Chun. It inherited Wing Chun's terrifying short-bridge, inch-force explosive power while incorporating the agile footwork of Western Boxing and the sharp leg techniques of Muay Thai. It can be said that Jeet Kune Do is the most suitable skill for unarmed combat. Additionally, Jeet Kune Do's nunchaku is also quite famous, but I personally never trained with it. Frankly, I am a bit afraid of exotic weapons that are easy to hit oneself with.

Lost in thought, my mind once again became a tangled mess. I forced myself to calm down and re-sort the skills I knew. After careful analysis, I felt that the circulation principles of the Iron Wire Fist could indeed be borrowed. As for Muay Thai and Boxing, I only have a vague understanding and never trained in them; I don't believe either style offers much help to me now.

After this reorganization, I managed to straighten out my thoughts. It seems that in the future, besides maintaining a sufficient cultivation speed, I must also strengthen power training. The specific viable method is practicing the Iron Wire Fist; through its unique sound-and-form integrated methodology, I can enhance my body's strength so it can contain the more profound and powerful Dou Qi energy. Furthermore, after completing my daily cultivation tasks, I will begin power training. Internally, I will circulate Dou Qi using the principles of Hard Foundation Qigong and the Iron Wire Fist. For offensive techniques against enemies, I will select Jeet Kune Do, which is the strongest for unarmed combat. I believe that fighting opponents bare-handed is the most suitable way to enhance strength and comprehend the application of Dou Qi.

With a clear direction in mind, I felt significantly more relaxed. Before Long Xin returns, I don't plan to venture deeper into the Centipede Cave to challenge the Pincer Worms. I decided to put away the Hundred Battles Saber and circulate Dou Qi throughout my body according to the circulation principles of Hard Foundation Qigong. However, instead of pursuing the ultimate reinforcement sought by Hard Foundation Qigong, I didn't channel all the Dou Qi energy as protective aura. Instead, I drew out about thirty percent of the Dou Qi and formed a faint golden aura around my body. This way, although the defensive strength isn't very high, it doesn't consume too much Dou Qi energy to maintain the aura’s intensity. More importantly, my body won't become rigid, always retaining a degree of flexibility. Following this, I decided to challenge the mutated creatures in the arena bare-handed.

Swish! Swish! Swish! Several centipedes rushed towards me rapidly, stopping five meters away.

Roar! Seizing the opportunity, I executed an Electric Step (Dian Bu), followed by a side kick. My right leg shot out, striking the centipede squarely in its abdomen.

Thump! The speed of this kick was so fast that the moment it connected with the centipede's body, it seemed to pierce through the creature's outer layer. I felt like my right foot had plunged into a pool of mud. Looking closely, the centipede's massive body had already wrapped around my right lower leg.

Damn it! It can fight like this! Startled, I quickly vibrated my strength, simultaneously yanking my right leg free.

Squelch! Woo! With a miserable shriek, the centipede immediately collapsed onto the ground. I was left shaken, but thankfully, when I kicked, I had imbued my leg with potent Dou Qi energy, so the centipede's guts and blood didn't touch my leg, though it certainly gave me a scare. It seems too much power can sometimes be troublesome!

But the other centipedes, or rather, the Leaping Stingers, didn't give me a moment to pause. Almost simultaneously, they swarmed toward me.

Roar! I showed no weakness and met their charge head-on with a six-punch combination. Every punch successfully struck one of the monsters. However, having learned my lesson from killing the first centipede, I paced each punch, using only fifty percent of my power, but still infusing it with Dou Qi energy.

Bang! Bang! Bang! . . . A series of blurred thuds echoed as the six monsters were simultaneously sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground, unable to move again.

Swish! A sharp scraping sound cut through the air from my flank.

Hmph! It’s a black maggot; I knew just from the sound. It was moving quickly towards my back.

Swish! Without even turning to look, I executed a Divine Dragon Tail Whip (Shenlong Baiwei), spinning around, kicking backward, and subconsciously increasing my power to seventy percent. After all, the black maggot's defense is much stronger than the centipedes. Naturally, I increased the force used against it by two-tenths.

Thump! Like a giant soccer ball, the black maggot was kicked flying a long distance the instant it was struck, crashing directly into the wall.

Thud! It then fell from the wall back onto the ground, completely lifeless.

Hoo! Ha! I took a moment to slightly regulate my somewhat chaotic breathing, carefully sensing the changes in the Dou Qi within me. Everything seemed normal. It seems that Jeet Kune Do, when augmented with Dou Qi energy, possesses astonishing power.

Over there!

"What madness is that guy having now!" Long Zhan stared at Xing Chen in the center of the arena, completely bare-handed, filled with confusion.

"He probably has some new idea brewing," Long Qi remarked.

"An idea?" Long Zhan was perplexed. "That's truly bizarre, fighting monsters bare-handed to cultivate."

"Heh heh," Long Qi chuckled. "I told you that guy is a monster; how could a monster's thinking be grasped by ordinary people?"

".........." Long Zhan was left speechless and returned to his own hard work. Since Jin Hong and Long Xin had gone down the mountain, the Triangular Killing Formation was gone. The two of them had no choice but to lure the monsters one by one and then eliminate them.

However, watching Xing Chen batting the mutated creatures around and leaving them incapacitated with just his bare hands made them feel a little indignant. They could only grit their teeth and charge fiercely toward the group of monsters.

Hoo! After spending the entire morning bare-handed, I had actually managed to kill a good number of mutated creatures. Meanwhile, Long Qi’s side looked quite grim. After a morning, they had only cleared the open space near the north wall, roughly estimating only about five thousand kills—less than half of what was usually accomplished. It seemed Jin Hong and Long Xin's temporary absence wasn't as simple as a 4-minus-2 equaling 2 for them, who were accustomed to group combat. In contrast, although I was fighting bare-handed, my efficiency hadn't dropped much. This was naturally due to the powerful Dou Qi energy within me. Now, even without a weapon, I could instantly kill those monsters with a single move. This meant my efficiency was hardly different from before. The greatest gain from fighting unarmed was that I could control the Dou Qi energy within me with much greater fluidity. Although I hadn't reached the level of complete spontaneity, I was very satisfied with this result.

And so, during the three days Long Xin was gone, the three of us buried ourselves in practice. The only difference was that I no longer used a saber.