Heavenly Peng Dragon Seizing Physique Chart

At the Su Family Residence. As night fell, the study remained brightly lit. Wang Ping sat upright within, watching the hemp paper in his hand fall into the lamp flame and turn bit by bit to ash. The Heavenly Peng Dragon Seizing Physique Chart. This was Chen Haoyan's most deeply guarded secret, yet Wang Ping had burned it without hesitation—having, of course, already committed every detail to memory with his spiritual sense. "This is truly the safest way." Only after finishing this did Wang Ping relax. Calming his heart and clearing his mind, he turned to carefully contemplating this chart that allowed one to condense internal strength. A physique chart was essentially a painting, rendered in an exceedingly vivid and expressive hand. The scene depicted a colossal Peng bird blotting out the sky as it preyed upon dragons and serpents. The artwork was astonishingly intricate—he could even discern every single feather on the bird's wings as it swooped down to kill its quarry. Stranger still, the painting moved. *It must employ some clever technique where each viewing angle reveals a slightly different image; layered together, they produce a brief animation.* Wang Ping focused his spiritual sense with deepening concentration. Gradually, he spotted characters across the great bird's form. Each feather acted like a brush, tracing out strokes with the creature's movements. Immediately after, a passage of scripture sprang to mind. "The Heavenly Peng seizes the dragon, thriving on devouring, thriving on thralls... What a wicked art!" Soon, Wang Ping had successfully grasped all the principles and essential mnemonics of the Heavenly Peng Dragon Seizing Physique Chart, the blankness on his face shifting to sudden clarity. As the name suggested, the internal strength condensed through this physique chart was known as Heavenly Peng strength. While the name sounded grand and upright, its effects served two main purposes. The first was called "thrall"—which, true to its name, entailed driving internal strength into another person's body to transform them into a servant of the Peng Master! It was an exceedingly sinister and brutal method. Once Heavenly Peng strength entered another person's body, it automatically transformed into a special variant called thrall dragon strength, which possessed immense corrosive power. It functioned like a potent poison. Once a victim was thoroughly corrupted by thrall dragon strength, their every word and action, their very life, was no longer their own, left entirely to the Peng Master's bidding. Even more bizarre was its second function. It was called "devour." In short, the Peng Master could devour the internal strength that a thrall dragon had painstakingly cultivated, using it to nourish himself or even break through crucial bottlenecks. Wang Ping had studied it for a long while before reading between the lines to uncover the core concept of this martial art. Devouring people! At this thought, an unusual notion suddenly popped into Wang Ping's head: did the thrall dragons controlled by Heavenly Peng strength include corpses? If not, then so be it. But if corpses were included, could he kill himself, resurrect, refine his own corpse into a thrall dragon, and finally devour it to boost his cultivation step by step? His pulse quickened at the idea. If that could really be done, his future options would expand immensely. A moment later, he left the room and headed to the stables. When the curly-maned horse saw him coming, it seemed to realize what he wanted. Without needing any assistance, it simply rolled its eyes at him and hoisted its rear. *Plop, plop, plop!* It excreted the pills all by itself. Watching this, Wang Ping felt a prickle of doubt. Wasn't this horse of his getting a bit too intelligent? It hadn't seemed quite like this at the beginning. Soon, however, he put the trivial thought aside, quickly scooped up the dung clumps, and washed them clean with water. Only then did he break the seal and extract the elixir bottles inside. Most of the pills Chen Haoyan had given him had already been consumed during his recent rapid advancement, trading them for martial arts that reached external perfection. Aside from the poison pill and that Heaven's Will Soul-Returning Pill of unknown purpose, only two bottles left in his possession possessed tonic properties. The Heaven-Turning Remaking Pill. The Snow Ginseng Ice Fruit Nectar Dew. "According to my earlier tests, these two pills do not nourish the physical constitution, but rather internal strength. They can help me complete the training of the physique chart at the fastest possible speed." Wang Ping's eyes gleamed. To his knowledge, an internal strength martial master's cultivation was essentially a process of constantly perfecting one's physique. The more complete the physique, the stronger the martial master. And this process actually consisted of only two steps. The first step was for the physique to accommodate the twelve regular meridians. This was the lesser heavenly circulation physique, where internal strength formed an initial circuit within the martial artist's body, bringing a qualitative transformation in power. The second step was for the physique to accommodate the eight extraordinary vessels. This was the greater heavenly circulation physique, which provided massive bonuses to the output, total volume, and special effects of one's internal strength. "The vast majority of physique charts cannot even complete the first step. After all, the twelve regular meridians encompass the three yin and three yang of the hands and feet, yet most physique charts can only cover one part of them. Wanting to encompass all of them is simply unrealistic... At the very least, ordinary superior martial arts cannot achieve it, requiring one to cultivate other arts concurrently." Wang Ping grew increasingly energized. He had discovered that the Heavenly Peng Dragon Seizing Physique Chart was of extraordinarily high caliber, containing all twelve regular meridians and lacking only the eight extraordinary vessels! *Incredible.* *Just where did Chen Haoyan obtain this physique chart? It's downright overpowered. Could it have been excerpted from some peerless martial scripture?* After a moment of silence, Wang Ping took out the Black Hornless Dragon Bow. This was a restricted item from the county yamen's armory. Though still a common weapon, it was only a single step away from the higher rank of sharp weapon. "It's just right for breaking through." *Whoosh!* The wind howled, the candlelight went out, and the room plunged into darkness. Wang Ping sat cross-legged on the floor, all six common weapons already equipped on his body. Besides the Black Hornless Dragon Bow and the oxtail saber, he wore a dark gold soft armor, an armor-binding linglong belt, and a tiger-head chest mirror—all retrieved from the Su Family Residence. Fully equipped now, they resonated with his martial arts, emitting faint flickers of light in the dark. Next, he held the two elixir bottles in his hands. *Gulp.* The pills went down, feeling as though a bomb had detonated. A violent surge of medicinal heat erupted from his lower abdomen, circulating through his meridians and instantly flooding into his four limbs and entire skeleton. *Condensing a physique is actually fraught with great peril.* *After all, everything happens inside the body, invisible to the naked eye, yet a single misstep can damage the meridians or even leave behind irreversible trauma.* For this reason, the vast majority of martial artists proceeded with utmost caution when condensing a physique, often spending ten or twenty years taking each step with agonizing care. Those who truly lacked patience often gave up after condensing a lesser heavenly circulation physique, unwilling to continue walking the tightrope. Furthermore, whether one possessed a lesser heavenly circulation physique or a greater heavenly circulation physique, both theoretically held the potential to become a titled martial master and earn a place on the Weapon Register. The real difference lay in the Grandmaster Realm, where a greater heavenly circulation physique offered greater promise. Yet what of it? Even if a greater heavenly circulation physique helped in charging toward the Grandmaster Realm, it only increased the odds by less than ten percent, which seemed utterly meaningless to most people. Not to mention that ninety-nine percent of martial artists under heaven, let alone becoming grandmasters, were one in hundreds of thousands just to reach the final threshold before it. In that case, why make things hard for oneself? "Just thinking about it reveals how difficult it is." Wang Ping sighed. Such was the martial path: the higher one climbed, the harder it became, and those who reached the end were without exception peerless heroes of their era. And someone like him, who swallowed a massive amount of internal strength-nourishing pills in one breath while simultaneously condensing his physique, could hardly be described as walking a tightrope. He was practically dancing on one! "The rampant medicinal power won't give me any chance to react. Before I can even figure out the right path, it will shatter my meridians." Condensing a physique within one's body was akin to crossing a river by feeling for stones in the pitch black. Others ground away slowly over time, the water shallow and clear; but seeking rapid success in a short period was like facing a monstrous flood. Being swept away by the current and ending up in the bellies of fish was nearly unavoidable. Any other martial artist here would probably have pronounced their own death sentence. *What? I'm an immortal cultivator? Then never mind!* Wang Ping channeled his spiritual sense, instantly locking onto the twelve regular meridians in his body, and then guided the medicinal power into them. The entire process could hardly be called arduous; it was, at the very least, effortless. *Rumble!* Gradually, Wang Ping's breathing grew resonant, as if thunder were brewing in the dim study, or a mighty river were surging forth. Right then, the door was pushed open. *Creak...* Having just finished Chen Haoyan's burial ceremony, Madam Su froze upon returning home, her gaze helplessly drawn to the figure in the room. His appearance had not changed in the slightest, yet for some reason, despite sitting in the shadows, he seemed to glow, radiating an intense presence. The next second, Wang Ping abruptly opened his eyes. *Flash!* A streak of lightning seemed to flash through the dim room, casting a fleeting glare of white before swiftly fading into gloom, startling Madam Su into a stumble. She nearly fell, but before she could, a large hand reached out in advance and firmly supported her frail, willow-like frame. "Are you alright, Madam?" Wang Ping asked with a straight face. "Ooh..." Madam Su covered her face. The thought that she had treated him with cold disdain only days ago, yet now lay in his arms, filled her with unspeakable shame. Yet she felt reluctant to pull away. She could only console herself, continuing to use the excuse of "I am being coerced" to convince herself, yielding half-heartedly as she leaned into his embrace. However, Wang Ping was in no hurry to make a move. Instead, he supported her upright with complete propriety, then guided her to the adjacent kitchen and showed her a table brimming with dishes. "Did... did you make this?" Madam Su asked in astonishment. "Er, Madam overestimates me." Wang Ping looked slightly embarrassed. "It's tonic nourishment from Yuelai Tower; I had them deliver it. Since you've recently begun practicing martial arts, you cannot neglect your nourishment." "Eat up." At these words, Madam Su pressed a hand to her vermilion lips, overflowing with an indescribable joy. After all, she had seen clearly just now that Wang Ping was deeply immersed in cultivation, yet he had still remembered her and prepared such a full table of tonic food. Recalling all these past years, it had always been her arranging tonics for Chen Haoyan, terrified of missing the hour and delaying that bastard's training, which would only bring a severe beating. At this thought, an impulse surged within her. By the time Madam Su came to her senses, she was already hugging Wang Ping tightly, standing on tiptoe, wishing she could melt her entire being into his. "Madam, you—!?" "Don't speak..." ............ Several hours later. The kitchen dining table had mostly collapsed, and pots, bowls, ladles, and basins were strewn across the floor, yet the food had been eaten completely clean. Madam Su lay utterly limp in Wang Ping's arms. "I'm full," she whispered. The warmth of a satisfied stomach spread through her belly, accompanied by an incomparable sense of happiness and contentment, leaving her unwilling to lift even a finger. Seeing this, Wang Ping breathed a sigh of relief. If his earlier actions had been for Chen Haoyan's martial arts manuals, this was now purely about indulging Madam Su, for which he had exerted considerable effort. Still, there was no helping it. Now that things had progressed to this point, he couldn't just pull up his trousers, disavow everything, and sever ties with her. How would that make him any different from Chen Haoyan? Besides, she was a woman of bitter misfortune; if he were to abandon her now, she would likely take her own life. Deep into the night, utterly exhausted, Madam Su had fallen into a deep slumber. After settling her in, Wang Ping stepped out of the room into the courtyard, then channeled his spiritual sense to perceive the condition within his body. Through his spiritual sense, the three yang and three yin of the hands and feet—all twelve meridians—were brimming with internal strength. They formed a mutual circulation and expanded into a vast network covering his entire body. Though many minor gaps remained, it was largely complete, pulsing rhythmically with his every breath. The twelve regular meridians were fully perfected: a lesser heavenly circulation physique! "This is too fast..." Wang Ping felt somewhat astonished and could not help glancing toward the Youshen Temple. The methods of those court-certified thaumaturges and fangshi were truly extraordinary. A mere few pills had saved him at least ten years of bitter cultivation! Did they have more? At this thought, his gaze toward the Youshen Temple flickered slightly as he licked his lips, though he quickly suppressed the greed in his heart. "I can't let it get to my head." "Though I'm now an internal strength martial master, the martial art I practice is the same as Chen Haoyan's. It might pass muster in a small county seat, but out in the wider world, it won't be enough." He still needed to keep a low profile. Right then, Wang Ping's heart gave a sudden lurch. He raised his head, looking toward a figure dashing toward him through the night. "Who's there!" "It's me." A voice called out. It was Liu Ye. The veteran constable's face was flushed with excitement, and upon seeing Wang Ping, a teasing grin appeared: "Well, look who it is—little Wang." "How come you're not staying next door and moved into Madam Su's room instead?" Wang Ping's expression did not waver. "Madam extended a warm invitation, so I could only accept with deference. Sigh, I truly have no interest in such matters." Liu Ye: "..." Utterly shameless! At this late hour, Liu Ye couldn't be bothered to waste words. Rolling his eyes at Wang Ping, he got straight to the point, flicking his wrist to toss a manual directly over. "This is...?" Wang Ping froze. "Broaden your horizons, boy." Liu Ye smiled triumphantly. "To tell you the truth, your elder brother here has secretly gained the magistrate's favor." "A few days ago, the magistrate not only personally bestowed an empowerment upon me, but also imparted a peerless true art. Now, I am a bona fide internal strength martial master, and the post of chief constable has long been decided in my favor. The county yamen competition next month is just going through the motions... So, what do you think? Impressive, isn't your old brother?" Empowerment? A true art? Wang Ping looked down at the manual Liu Ye had tossed over, while the latter kept babbling: "Don't say your brother doesn't look out for you; I thought of you right away." "This is the true art the magistrate passed down to me." "I specifically asked the magistrate for permission to pass it on to you in private. Study it well when you get back, and later on, I'll promote you to be my deputy..." Liu Ye continued rambling on about his grand visions for the future. Meanwhile, Wang Ping had stopped breathing altogether. The moment he laid eyes on the manual, all his thoughts froze, leaving him scarcely able to think. The next instant, Liu Ye's voice rang out: "Right, this is the internal strength I cultivated after the magistrate's empowerment. Take a look..." Hearing this, Wang Ping snapped his head up, only to see a faint glow light up in Liu Ye's hands, the surging strength emitting a dragon-like roar under the night sky. Wang Ping knew only too well what this was. *Thrall dragon strength!* In an instant, like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, or a butterfly landing on a spiderweb, a crucial node was touched. Inside Wang Ping's body, the newly formed Heavenly Peng strength stirred. This was entirely beyond his control. Heavenly Peng strength and thrall dragon strength were two sides of the same coin; within a certain distance, resonance was inevitable. Normally, this would not be a bad thing. The moment his Heavenly Peng strength fluctuated, Wang Ping clearly sensed the state of Liu Ye's internal organs, qi and blood, muscles and bones, and every bodily function; with a mere thought, he could cause those functions to collapse instantly. This was only natural. After all, he was the Peng Master, while Liu Ye had been reduced to a thrall dragon—an unwitting puppet who posed zero threat to him, whose life and death hung on his whim. The problem, however, was that this county seat harbored another Peng Master. *Not good!!!* At this realization, Wang Ping's expression changed drastically. He sprang backward without hesitation, trying to put distance between them, only to halt all movement in the end. For one simple reason: it was already too late. "It truly was you." A calm voice drifted through the night, tinged with deep surprise. "In just a few days, you've not only completed your physique, but your internal strength is also remarkably profound." "It seems the physique chart I imparted to Chen Haoyan has fallen into your hands." "And that batch of pills has been largely devoured by you." "You killed Chen Haoyan." "Are you one of the White Lotus Sect?" Before the voice finished, a figure materialized out of thin air within the courtyard of the Su Family Residence. Dressed in official robes, he exuded an aura of authority without anger—Longxing County's venerable upright lord. Magistrate Xu Bingzheng.