Xia Chuan sensed the transformation unfolding within him—his inner qi rapidly evolving into innate qi. The difference was staggering. Innate qi held a strength far surpassing ordinary inner qi, like steel compared to tofu.
A single strand of innate qi could overpower dozens of inner qi strands. This unparalleled might was why golden-rank warriors, known as innate warriors in the micro world, stood as the pinnacle of martial strength.
With a single thought, Xia Chuan lightly punched the air. Instantly, a surge of innate qi burst forth from his pores, forming a terrifying wave of energy.
The impact rippled through the room, and the distant wall trembled under its force. A visible fist mark appeared before the wall crumbled into pieces, obliterated by the sheer power of Astral Qi.
This was the might of innate qi.
Golden-rank warriors had reached a realm where they could kill with the mere force of their qi. A simple leaf in their hands could become a deadly weapon, capable of ending an enemy's life in an instant.
However, for Xia Chuan, the true marvel of Astral Qi wasn't just its destructive force—it was its ability to temper his internal organs and propel his body's evolution.
At the silver rank, the fragile nature of internal organs made them untouchable. Reckless attempts to temper them would lead to severe injuries. But innate qi was different. It was ten times stronger than inner qi and carried a healing essence that quickly repaired any damage while making the organs even sturdier.
It was for this reason that golden-rank warriors, or innate warriors, possessed bodies of unparalleled resilience, their internal organs devoid of flaws.
"It can even temper the internal organs. The power of innate qi is extraordinary," Xia Chuan murmured, awe-stricken.
He felt waves of innate qi surging from his acupoints and meridians, flowing seamlessly into his five viscera and six bowels. With each cycle, his organs grew tougher, stronger.
Legends spoke of warriors whose organs were so powerful they could digest steel, their stomachs capable of breaking down iron and gold as easily as rice. Xia Chuan felt himself inching closer to such an extraordinary state.
But then, something unexpected stirred within him.
"Wait… my soul, aptitude, memory, and comprehension—they've all improved dramatically," Xia Chuan realized.
The changes were undeniable. His memory and comprehension had reached an unprecedented level, granting him an almost divine clarity of thought. He casually picked up a book nearby, flipped through its pages once, and committed its entire content to memory.
It wasn't just memory. Xia Chuan found his comprehension soaring as well. He could now grasp the depths of knowledge with astonishing ease.
"This isn't just extraordinary memory," he whispered, stunned.
He recalled his struggles with advanced mathematics and programming during his college days. Functions, geometry, the Euler equation, and integration now seemed as simple as breathing. Programming languages like C and Java flowed through his mind as though they were second nature.
Knowledge that once felt like an insurmountable mountain had now become a simple path, cleared of obstacles. What he once understood vaguely had become perfectly clear, as if he had ascended to a doctoral level of expertise.