CHAPTER 22: DOING PUSH UPS CAN MAKE ME STRONGER?

Jin Li couldn't help but ask a question that had been nagging her.

Jin Li: Tell me, is there any quick way to increase one's strength in this world?

Quickly becoming stronger?

Qi Yuan immediately thought of a few answers.

Eating a devil fruit? Being enlightened by a grandmaster? And then... doing push-ups.

However, there were no devil fruits or anyone bestowing instant enlightenment in this world.

Qi Yuan gave an earnest reply.

Qi Yuan: Doing push-ups can make you stronger. I know someone. He's just an ordinary, mediocre guy. But he kept doing push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups every day. Before long, he became strong, albeit he also went bald.

Jin Li was completely puzzled.

Jin Li: Training... push-ups? Sit-ups? Pull-ups? What are those? Is it some kind of supreme cultivation technique?

Qi Yuan was a little surprised.

Qi Yuan: So, you're a girl who doesn't like exercising. Let me teach you how to work out.

Jin Li thought Qi Yuan was about to pass her some supreme cultivation art.

Jin Li: This is improper, isn't it?

Qi Yuan: Don't worry, this is common stuff. Very simple.

Qi Yuan then spent about ten minutes teaching Jin Li those exercises.

Jin Li found it inconceivable.

Jin Li: This... Can this really increase my strength?

The movements were plain and ordinary, without any flairs. However, she then recalled how carrying a ladder allowed one to enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone. She thought it could be plausible.

Qi Yuan: Uh-huh... actually, not really. Maybe if you train for ten years, you could defeat a wolf?

Jin Li froze for a moment, then smiled.

Jin Li: At least, these methods could be taught to ordinary soldiers.

Qi Yuan: Though... it's not impossible.

Qi Yuan took out the Divine Brush, about to alter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone's rules again.

Qi Yuan: Let's just add this rule to the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone. Exercising can increase one's cultivation level.

After thinking a bit, Qi Yuan wrote down that push-ups, sit-ups, and other exercises would grant cultivation. Once finished, he became thoughtful.

It works, but it seems like there are side effects? Like hair loss? So, even when I change the rules, it's still limited by my knowledge? No, I shouldn't overthink this. I need to use my brain sparingly.

Qi Yuan felt a headache coming and quickly stopped digging into the logic.

Afterward, he made sure to let Jin Li know.

Qi Yuan: Practice the exercises I taught you in the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone to rapidly boost your cultivation. Bring more people, clear the levels faster, and then help me farm this dungeon.

Jin Li was dumbfounded.

Jin Li: Can doing those things in the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone really enhance strength?

Qi Yuan: Of course. Why would I lie to you? Oh, but keep in mind that if you overdo it, you'll lose hair.

Jin Li was still confused. Deep down, she trusted Qi Yuan's words, but logic and reason told her that he was spouting nonsense.

As for the side effects of hair loss, she didn't care much. What was that in the face of gaining cultivation? After thinking for a moment, she bit her red lip with her pearly teeth.

Jin Li: Thank you.

Qi Yuan: I am going to log off now, it's late.

Jin Li: Where are you going?

Qi Yuan: The Seven-Colored Peak. I'm a disciple of the Divine Radiance Sect.

Qi Yuan then logged off and went to sleep.

Jin Li, however, memorized the place he mentioned. She murmured to herself, "Divine Radiance Sect... Seven-Colored Peak? What kind of place is that?"

Then, she thought of the method Qi Yuan had taught her. Though ridiculous and absurd, she still chose to believe and act upon it.

"Come, let's go to the Great General Mansion!"

***

Night gradually fell.

A carriage stopped outside the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone. Inside were Jin Li's trusted aides and Aunt Qin. They'd traveled nearly a full day and night without stopping, sleeping in the carriage when tired.

Alighting from the carriage, Jin Li faced the thirty-plus people before her, her expression solemn. "Do you remember what I told you?"

These thirty were her true confidants, loyal followers willing to die for her. They all nodded, showing no resistance.

Aunt Qin held a ladder in her hands, lost in thought. "Your Majesty, did you obtain the Emperor Medicine from the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone? It seems Your Majesty has found a way to enter it."

She stared at the forbidden zone, forming her own speculations. Nevertheless, she was curious about exactly how one could get in. Would holding this ladder really work?

"Everyone, carry your ladders and enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone together. Remember, no matter what happens, you must not let go of the ladder!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Though puzzled, the trusted aides did exactly as told. They stayed silent, but their expressions were full of question marks.

Hua Xian saw this and chuckled softly. The first time she entered, she'd been completely baffled as well. When they enter, their reactions would surely be amusing!

Sure enough, when they could just walk into the forbidden zone, even the most disciplined guards couldn't help but cry out in shock. Hua Xian smiled pridefully.

Jin Li commanded. "A friend told me that carrying a ladder allows you to enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone. Do not leak this secret to anyone!"

The confidants all understood the gravity of the matter. "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Regardless, they were still stunned.

The Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone had been sealed for tens of thousands of years, with no one gaining entry. But all we need is a ladder? Why? Has no one tried this in all that time? Then again, which emperor would be so idle as to carry a ladder into the forbidden zone? Still, why does it work? Does carrying a ladder symbolize something special?

They simply couldn't figure it out. Once inside, they ventured deeper into the zone.

Jin Li said, "Keep carrying your ladders. Do not let go. On the way here, I taught you some movements. Have you memorized them?"

"Yes."

"Good. Get ready. We'll do those exercises here."

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Aunt Qin also asked, "Your Majesty, why must we do these?"

Jin Li stared at her seriously. "Aunt Qin, do you not trust me?"

"Your Majesty, of course I trust everything you say."

Jin Li raised her head to the sky. "Doing these movements in the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone will rapidly increase your cultivation."

"What?"

"Increase cultivation?"

If Jin Li weren't an empress and they were not her trusted aides... In Qi Yuan's previous world, internet trolls would already be flooding the comments with words like joke and idiot.

Her confidants wore expressions of deep confusion, with Aunt Qin being no exception. This was even harder to accept than the ladder trick. If it were really that simple, the world would be crawling with high-level cultivators by now.

Naturally, Aunt Qin didn't truly believe it. "This method of cultivation is certainly... interesting. May I ask where Your Majesty learned it?"

Jin Li didn't hide it. "It was that same friend who told me."

Aunt Qin muttered, "That senior must surely be an expert playing around with the mortal world."

Nevertheless, she held on to her ladder and began doing push-ups. "Let this old body test the results first."

Meanwhile, everyone else paused to watch her.