Chapter Forty-One: Encountering a Bottleneck (Part One)

This was the first time such a phenomenon had occurred. The refined vital energy could circulate—besides when Zhao Li was practicing the foundational body-strengthening technique or being attacked and his body instinctively defended itself, this ball of refined energy always obediently stayed within his dantian. The energy flowing through his meridians was usually that produced by his combat techniques.

Now, however, an unprecedented situation had arisen, and even Zhao Li himself could not determine whether it was good or bad. Still, as the refined energy flowed through his meridians, he felt no discomfort, nothing seemed amiss.

It was a strange occurrence. Previously, Zhao Li's dantian simply held two different types of energy; he would call upon whichever he needed. Now, however, both types of energy filled his meridians—one circulating quickly, the other slowly.

Curious to see what would happen when the two energies merged, Zhao Li refrained from actively guiding them, instead allowing the nameless vital energy to complete a full cycle on its own. When it returned to his dantian, it began another circuit, eventually catching up to the slowly flowing refined energy.

At the instant the two energies met, there seemed to be a subtle change, but it was so fleeting that Zhao Li could barely sense it. Then, the nameless energy sped past, continuing its own course unaffected.

Puzzled, Zhao Li rose to his feet and went through his usual motions. With his foundation in combat techniques, he quickly adapted to moving while letting the energies circulate. After a few agile movements, nothing felt out of the ordinary—aside from the automatic movement of the energies, there were no other issues.

He tested every gesture, even performing somersaults and handstands, but everything seemed normal. It appeared he had worried for nothing; perhaps this was simply how the nameless technique worked.

As for its effects, the manual of the nameless technique said almost nothing, perhaps deliberately so, lest practitioners become wary of its domineering nature and shy away at the outset.

On a whim, Zhao Li tried to activate the foundational body-strengthening technique. Instantly, the refined energy that had been circulating elsewhere returned to the dantian, and the nameless energy did the same. Together, they ascended the governing vessel, reached the crown of his head, then descended the conception vessel back to the dantian. All was as it should be—but as soon as he stopped, the two energies again began to circulate along the meridians specified by the nameless technique, one fast, one slow.

Zhao Li tried to halt this automatic circulation, but found no effective way. Unless he was actively practicing the foundational body-strengthening technique, the energies would immediately resume their prescribed paths the moment he relaxed his control.

He could not stop it—in other words, he was now practicing every moment of every day. But to put it another way, it was like a parasite clinging to his bones, impossible to remove.

This perpetual movement of energy was never mentioned in the manual for the nameless technique. Had Zhao Li known beforehand that once begun, it could not be stopped, he might have hesitated. But it was too late for regrets—he could only let the two energies run their course through his meridians.

Moreover, even the refined energy seemed, after practicing this technique, to have acquired a trace of its domineering quality. Wherever it passed, it scoured the meridians as though leaving nothing behind, absorbing every remnant of the nameless energy and leaving the channels completely empty. Only then would his meridians, stimulated by the technique, slowly begin to restore a bit of new energy.

This was the principle by which the nameless energy increased cultivation, but with the refined energy passing through, the effect was even more potent. Even the old warden, knowledgeable as he was, likely could not explain Zhao Li's current condition.

One thing was certain: this energy was so forceful within the meridians that, if unleashed in an attack, it would be even more formidable. Since he could not yet observe the effects in his room, Zhao Li decided to wait until after his shift the next day to test it in the prison's fitness and recreation room.

When Jiang Hao next saw Zhao Li, he seemed startled. Zhao Li quickly checked himself over but found nothing amiss. "What is it? What's wrong?" Jiang Hao's odd expression made Zhao Li uneasy—this concerned himself, after all, so he could not help but be nervous.

"Strange..." Jiang Hao stared at Zhao Li for a long time, frowning as if he couldn't figure something out. "You seem a little different—yet not different at all. It's very odd!"

Could the effects of one night’s practice with the nameless technique have manifested so quickly? Or was there something wrong that he himself hadn’t noticed, but others could see?

"What is it, really?" Zhao Li pressed anxiously, but Jiang Hao seemed lost in thought for a while before suddenly slapping his forehead and laughing. "I was wondering what was off—it’s just this!"

He said it lightly, but Zhao Li had been quite alarmed by his reaction. Seeing Jiang Hao smile, he relaxed considerably and punched him lightly in the chest. "Come on, what is it? Don’t startle people like that—it’s scary!"

"Heh, sorry. I’ve gotten used to seeing you with those panda eyes these past couple of days, and now they're gone. It just feels strange at a glance!" Jiang Hao scratched the back of his head, embarrassed, and explained with a sheepish grin.

Zhao Li was so exasperated he nearly stumbled. "Brother Jiang, Uncle Jiang, Grandpa Jiang—can you please stop startling people like this? You know that can scare someone to death, don’t you?" After a night of self-doubt, Zhao Li was nearly sent into cardiac arrest by Jiang Hao’s not-so-funny joke, but now he could finally relax.

No matter how domineering or powerful the nameless technique, it shouldn’t have caused such a dramatic change in a single night! Zhao Li realized he had just been scaring himself.

During his shift, Zhao Li found his mood had shifted. Since he had already practiced the nameless technique and reached this point of no return, there was no use regretting it. Why not just accept it? He could always consult the old warden when he had the chance—surely it wouldn’t be a major issue.

"You’ve started practicing?" The old warden looked at Zhao Li with curiosity, raising his eyebrows. "How does it feel?"

"Reporting, sir!" Zhao Li considered his words, realizing there was nothing much to report. "Other than the energy circulating on its own, I don’t feel anything else."

"Good. If anything unusual happens, come tell me! You may go now." With a wave of his large hand, the warden cut off any further conversation.

Zhao Li had only taken a few steps away when he heard the warden’s excited voice behind him: "After holding onto it for decades and never daring to practice, at last there’s a test subject." Hearing this, Zhao Li staggered and nearly tumbled down the stairs.

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