All of the stages were connected—different breathing techniques, postures, and energy circulation methods.
Normally, understanding this level of detail would have taken months of painstaking study.
Yet somehow, it was all instantly clear in my mind.
"This… this is really amazing!"
I muttered, awe and disbelief coloring my voice.
My chest tightened with anticipation.
I didn't know how much stronger I could become, but the thought of trying these techniques made my heart race.
I reached back into my inventory and pulled out the second item: Life-Essence Flowing Scripture (High-Grade).
"This is…!"
Unlike the first manual, this one looked ancient and fragile.
The pages were torn and barely tied together with thick, rough thread.
Each page was heavier, denser than any paper I had ever seen.
The cover smelled faintly of herbs and old ink—a testament to its age.
I opened it cautiously.
Just like the first manual, the letters were in an unknown language.
I leaned closer, squinting, trying to decipher them.
Then… the same thing happened.
The letters began to glow bright golden, lifting off the pages as if alive.
They swirled around me, forming a miniature whirlpool of light before surging toward my forehead.
"No—wait!"
I tried to stop it, but it was too late.
The knowledge of the scripture poured into my mind all at once.
Another wave of pain slammed into my head, sharper than before, accompanied by visions of energy flows, vitality patterns, and techniques I could feel thrumming inside my body.
I gasped, clutching my temples, teeth gritted against the headache.
The information wasn't just knowledge—it was physical. I could feel my own life force reacting, almost as if the scripture was waking something dormant inside me.
By the time it stopped, I was drenched in sweat, panting heavily.
My mind was buzzing with new techniques—healing flows, vitality enhancement, and methods to strengthen yang essence.
Thankfully, I gritted my teeth and endured the pain it inflicted.
Every pounding headache, every burst of knowledge searing through my skull—it was worth it.
As I went through the technique now fully formed in my mind, I began to grasp just how extraordinary it was.
The Life-Essence Flowing Scripture wasn't just another martial or body-tempering manual—it was an internal cultivation art that prioritized Yang essence above all.
The scripture guided the practitioner to draw life energy into the meridians, refine it through precise yang-based breathing patterns, and circulate it through the three crucial "Gates of Essence":
Lower Dantian – Source of Essence: the core reservoir of vitality.
Solar Meridian – Furnace of Vitality: where the raw energy is purified and strengthened.
Heart Palace – Seat of Spirit: where refined energy integrates with consciousness, nourishing both mind and body.
Once the circulation cycle was perfected, the body became constantly bathed in a warm, clear yang current—the Life-Essence Stream.
With prolonged training, the benefits were immense: accelerated regeneration, resistance to fatigue, enhanced organ robustness, and overall lifespan extension.
According scripture, dual-cultivators treasured this scripture so highly.
A practitioner with a strong yang essence could recover faster, endure longer, and synchronize more effectively when paired with a yin-based partner.
As the full scope of its potential sunk in, a thrill ran down my spine.
In other words, this technique could improve my endurance and vitality in sexual activities, reduce fatigue, and even enhance sperm quality and quantity.
I muttered to myself without realizing, "It can also strengthen organs… does that mean it can increase my… dick size?"
The thought made me pause, a mix of disbelief and curiosity surging through me.
If it could, that would be… incredible.
The regeneration aspect was just an added bonus—a natural consequence of properly cultivating the Life-Essence Stream.
Despite my eagerness to begin immediately, the knowledge in my mind clarified one thing: to practice this scripture, a practitioner must have reached at least the first stage of body tempering.
Until I reached the seventh stage, I could only cultivate the Essence Awakening (Entry Stage) of this technique. The scripture was demanding, but the rewards promised to be extraordinary.
I should start practicing Ratchasa Vajra Body right away…
I pushed myself off the bed and walked to the center of the room, taking a deep breath to calm my body.
Feet shoulder-width apart, I planted myself firmly on the ground.
I inhaled very slowly through my nose—four to six seconds—imagining that I was drawing warmth and energy into my skin.
I held my breath briefly for two seconds, letting the energy settle within me, then exhaled through my mouth even more slowly—six to eight seconds—picturing a thin layer of yang energy spreading over my body, just as the manual instructed.
Next came the stance.
I planted my feet firmly, toes slightly pointed inward.
My knees were relaxed, not locked; my back straight, shoulders dropped.
Fists rested on my hips, thumbs facing forward, chin slightly tucked, forming a posture of absolute immovability—like a wall rooted into the earth, unshakeable and resolute.
The final requirement: to feel and visualize a spark of warm energy in my Lower Dantian.
At first, maintaining this stance while keeping my concentration was manageable.
But as minutes stretched on, sweat began pouring down my back.
My mind wavered, refusing to stay focused.
My muscles trembled under the strain, not from pain like a regular workout, but from the intense internal pressure building in my body.
Every fiber of my being screamed, yet I gritted my teeth and forced myself to endure.
I closed my eyes, feeling as though an eternity had passed, yet I still struggled to find the warm energy in my lower abdomen.
No matter how hard I concentrated, the Dantian described in the manual remained elusive.
The only things I could sense were the food I had eaten earlier digesting at an incredible pace, and my muscles trembling and weakening under the strain.
Every fiber of my body screamed in exhaustion.
Finally, when I could hold on no longer, I collapsed onto the bed, panting heavily.
Glancing at the clock, I froze.
"Pant… only ten minutes have passed?!"
Looking at my shaking limbs, disbelief washed over me.
This… this is really hard! mentally!
My stomach rumbled with emptiness, but I knew I wouldn't eat at this hour.
It was already 7:30 PM, and I had to maintain my schedule.
After lying down for around twenty minutes, I forced myself back into the posture, following the same breathing, same stance, and same concentration.
This time, I felt a faint warmth in my lower abdomen.
Before I could pinpoint it exactly, my focus scattered, slipping away entirely.
I sighed, abandoning further practice for the night.
It was already 8:00 PM, and I knew I needed to sleep soon—my routine was strict: sleep before 10 PM and wake at 6 AM, ensuring at least eight hours of rest per day.
Despite the struggles, a small spark of hope flickered in my chest.
I can feel it… it's starting. I just need more patience.
"Huh?"
I stepped out of my room and froze. Eri was sitting on the sofa, tears streaming down her face as she sniffled and wiped them away.
I walked towards her.
Crouched slightly to meet her eyes and gently placed my hands on her shoulders.
"What happened? Is something wrong?"
Before I could even react further, she suddenly threw herself into my arms, hugging me tightly.
Shock coursed through me.
What just happened?!
Through her sniffles, she whispered, "I… I called my father… he told me never to call him again… never… sniff…"
I froze.
Fuck.
The advice I gave her, meant to calm her down, had clearly backfired.
Why would her father say something like that?
Was he… too afraid of the government?
Or was it something else entirely?
I had no way of knowing what they had spoken about or why he responded that way.
Seeing her trembling like that, hesitation gnawed at me.
I slowly returned her hug, patting her back in what little comfort I could offer.
God… this world really is messed up…