RNP Chapter 38 Adaptation
Chapter 38 Adaptation
Having resolved the imminent energy crisis, Xu Mo felt somewhat relieved looking at the mountain of compressed biscuits, energy bars, and high-energy nutritional pastes piled up in the storage room. These seemingly mundane yet real "fuels" that could be converted into qi and blood power were the foundation for him to maintain his Bull Skin Realm cultivation and even continue to advance.
However, with the food problem solved, another deeper worry, like a ghost, kept surfacing in Xu Mo's mind—the terrifying scene of his blood and qi frantically drawing out his life essence during his breakthrough still made him shudder to this day.
That was not just a consumption of energy, but a direct overdraft of one's own vitality, or rather, one's "lifespan"! If it weren't for the fact that there were ginseng, deer antler, and other highly nourishing substances of sufficient age at that time to forcibly fill that "black hole," the consequences would have been unimaginable.
"External forces are easy to obtain, but the root cause is difficult to repair." Xu Mo deeply understood this point.
Ordinary food can provide the energy needed for daily consumption and exercise, but when it comes to deeper nourishment of vital energy and replenishment of life potential, we must rely on precious medicinal materials that contain the essence of heaven and earth.
Therefore, after having sufficient food reserves, Xu Mo shifted his focus of looting "the door" back to pharmacies.
Moreover, Xu Mo's goals were very clear—his first choice was ginseng, deer antler, cordyceps, and other medicinal herbs that were widely recognized for their ability to replenish vital energy, nourish blood, and strengthen muscles and bones. Secondly, he would consider consumables needed for daily cultivation, such as safflower oil, plasters, and internal medicines for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.
Xu Mo was no longer satisfied with the random scavenging he used to do, but began to build up his reserves in a planned and targeted manner.
Every time the 48-hour cooling-off period ends, unless there are other more urgent needs, Xu Mo will make or use the previous "pharmacy" sign and push open the door that connects to the treasure trove of medicine.
As the dim light faded, the familiar aroma of medicine filled the air. Xu Mo rushed in like a cheetah, his gaze sweeping past the sections for ordinary cold medicines and anti-inflammatory drugs, precisely targeting the Chinese medicine counter and the glass cabinet storing high-end tonics.
"Bang!" Xu Mo smashed the lock with his fist, ignoring the beautifully packaged health products, and went straight for the individually wrapped, best-looking wild ginseng. He found two boxes labeled "Forest-grown Ginseng, 15 Years Old" and immediately stuffed them into his backpack. Next were the deer antler slices, choosing those with the highest wax content. Cordyceps and top-quality Polygonum multiflorum—he didn't miss any opportunity to buy them.
At the same time, Xu Mo didn't forget about external medicines. He quickly swept across the complicated shelves and stuffed more than a dozen bottles of safflower oil, dozens of plasters of different brands, as well as various medicinal wines and oral liquids for relieving muscle tension and promoting blood circulation into another large bag.
Sixty seconds later, he returned with a bountiful harvest. His spoils mainly consisted of two boxes of ginseng, one box of deer antler, a small amount of cordyceps and he shou wu (Polygonum multiflorum), and a large quantity of external medicine.
The second time, the third time...
Over the next ten days or so, Xu Mo, like a diligent herb gatherer, continuously accumulated his "vital energy reserves" through the "door".
Each "pharmacies" they entered were slightly different in detail; sometimes they were large chain pharmacies, and sometimes they were just ordinary pharmacies. Xu Mo's methods became more and more skillful, his targets were extremely clear, and his efficiency was extremely high.
After about ten days, Xu Mo's box, which he used to store medicinal herbs, had become heavy and overflowing with various items. Inside, there were not only enough external medicines for him to use for a long time, but also ten branches of wild ginseng that were about ten years old and had been growing in forests for over ten years, eight branches of wild ginseng that were thirty years old; several boxes of deer antler slices rich in wax and blood, as well as two original deer antler branches with skulls attached; several boxes of cordyceps, and some commonly used tonic herbs such as astragalus, angelica, and wolfberry. Xu Mo also took quite a few of these herbs, preparing to try making medicinal wine in the future.
Looking at these "foundations," Xu Mo's anxiety caused by the breakthrough crisis gradually subsided. These medicinal herbs were his "life-extending elixir," his greatest source of confidence to continue his vigorous progress on the path of cultivation.
Besides scavenging medicinal herbs, Xu Mo has devoted more of his energy to adapting to and mastering the newborn power over the past ten days or so.
Every day, the dull sounds of striking and the sharp whistling of wind can be heard in the training room on the first floor.
Xu Mo began more refined strength training, no longer simply lifting heavy objects, but trying to complete the same movements with different amounts of force.
For example, you can use one finger to support part of your weight and control a machete to make millimeter-level precision cuts, or you can use the lightest possible force to slap a wall, trying to leave only a palm print without cracking the surrounding wall plaster.
At first, this control was extremely difficult. Strength was fleeting; it was either overused or not at the right level. But long-term self-training made Xu Mo extremely patient, trying again and again, carefully feeling the subtle movements of muscle fibers and the rhythm of blood and qi flowing through his limbs.
Xu Mo combines stance training with strength control. When practicing stance training, he no longer only pursues the flow of qi and blood and the stability of the body, but also deliberately guides the qi and blood to be evenly distributed throughout the body, especially the fingertips and toes, to feel the subtle state of "power penetrating the fingertips" and "lifting heavy objects with ease".
As time went on, Xu Mo's control over his own power improved at a visible rate.
Now, his daily actions are no different from before his breakthrough, and he no longer suffers the embarrassment of accidentally damaging things. Only when he needs to unleash his full power will Xu Mo display that inhuman strength. This state of complete control over his power signifies that he has basically adapted to the Bull-Skin Realm's strength.
However, as his mastery of power improved, another principle of cultivation began to emerge.
After a period of rapid improvement at the beginning of the Thirteen Protectors' external martial arts training, the progress inevitably entered a period of stability.
In the first few days after his breakthrough, Xu Mo could feel his blood and qi becoming more vigorous almost every day, his skin becoming more resilient, and his strength gradually increasing. It was a period of rapid growth, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, as his body adapted and explored new horizons in all aspects.
However, as time went on, this feeling of significant improvement in strength gradually disappeared.
Despite his daily rigorous training—standing meditation, patting, and weightlifting—Xu Mo could still feel the activity of his Qi and blood and the strengthening of his body. However, the progress he made became somewhat smaller, like a stream flowing into a great river, making it difficult to detect the rise in water level.
Xu Mo knew this was normal. The path of cultivation was inherently a ladder-like process. Breaking through a major realm brought a qualitative leap and a period of rapid growth, followed by a long phase of accumulation and refinement, building up strength for the next qualitative change. The "Taobao Realm" was not the end, but merely a new beginning. To reach the "Iron Bone Realm," where "bones and muscles resonate, and ordinary swords and blades are hard to harm," the required accumulation was far more profound than breaking through from nothing to the "Taobao Realm."
Xu Mo was not impatient. With ample supplies, a clear direction for cultivation, and precise control over his own power, he could calm down and embark on this long "marathon".
Xu Mo made minor adjustments to his daily training plan, reducing the time spent on pure brute force and increasing the practice of power generation techniques, movement, circulation of qi and blood, and switching between extreme bursts. At the same time, he began to try to combine the use of cold weapons with the power generation methods of the "Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training" more deeply, pursuing the realm of instantly unleashing all the power of the body onto the blade.
The days passed by in this fulfilling and regular process of cultivation, exploration, and consolidation.
Winter showed no signs of ending; the snow on the roads was already about a meter deep. It had snowed all day yesterday, which made Xu Mo sometimes wonder if spring would ever come in this apocalyptic world.