Fang Hao relaxed for a week or so, and started drinking the spirit liqour he had saved up. His Alchemical Toxicity (Mild) status effect had resolved itself, and he wanted to be in the best mood before practicing his brand new cultivation method. This entire week other than eating, sleeping, drinking and his chores he did not cultivate at all. Even though all the information of the first layer of the Aura Fist Manual was etched in his mind, he was still cautious as ever while proceeding. He thoroughly familiarized himself with the different aspects of the cultivation manual.

The Aura Fist Manual followed the general outline of the other two he had practiced (Sublime Qi manual, Divine Vajra Body Scripture). It also consisted of a physical pose, Qi circulation routes and mnemonic chants...but each of the three components were quite different. The first layer of the Aura Fist Manual's cultivation method was to keep his hands outstretched sideways at shoulder level, and then to spin like a top from left to right while simultaneously reciting the mnemonic chants and exercising control over his Qi. It was exactly this Qi control that was differing greatly from the other Cultivation methods he had practiced. While the other cultivation methods focused on circulating Qi relative to his body, the Aura Fist manual's focus was keeping the Qi Static relative to the earth.

'In some ways, I can see that this Aura Fist manual is sort of a mesh between Qi Cultivation and Body Refining. This has dynamic body movements like the Divine Vajra Body Scripture and unlike the relatively static postures of the Sublime Qi Manual. And while the mnemonics and Qi control might focus on keeping the Qi in the Dantian static relative to the earth, the Qi is actually rotating relative to my body motion! Once all these aspects are synchronized and I have sufficient Qi, I can breakthrough to the Qi Condensation stage.'

After this week of contemplation and pondering, Fang Hao was confident enough to start cultivating the 1st layer of the Aura Fist Manual. He spent another fortnight till he could practice the cultivation method to satisfaction. Finally, when three weeks had passed after he had received the Aura Fist Manual, he was prepared to breakthrough to the Qi Condensation Stage! That midnight, he was prepared with four saved jugs of spirit wine and his rewards consisting of 5 Qi condensation pills and 1 spirit stone.

Fang Hao had a serious look and determined glare in his eyes as he disrobed completely becoming naked under the moonlight. He wanted to be free of any distractions during his breakthrough attempt, and not to mention that he felt comfortable naked in the mild chilly breeze. He selected one jug of wine and crushed a small silvery pill between his fingers and dissolved it into the wine. The pill he dissolved was precisely one of the Qi Condensation Pills!

A pill which significantly increased the chances of a breakthrough would definitely have potent medicinal properties. Instead of being overwhelmed by ingesting the pill in one go, he had decided to dilute it with his spirit wine and adjust his intake of the wine according to his Qi requirement. And he also liked getting drunk. Besides, being relaxed during a breakthrough was supposed to be a good thing...wasn't it?

Having such thoughts, Fang Hao took a sip of the spirit wine which had the Qi condensation pill dissolved in it. He felt a surprisingly strong surge of Qi flowing towards his dantian which caused all the Qi in his dantian to tremble. 'These Qi condensation pills are quite potent. If I use the Sublime Qi manual then one jug of wine with two of these pills should be more than sufficient for a breakthrough. But compared to the Sublime Qi Manual, keeping my Qi still relative to the earth is actually more difficult.' thought Fang Hao as he tried to exert control over his Qi.

Essentially breakthrough to the Qi Condensation stage meant using an appropriate cultivation method to create a cyclone of large amounts of gaseous Qi in the dantian, with the desired outcome being condensation of the Qi into a liquid state. The cultivation of the Aura Fist manual had a more stringent requirement of Qi Control than the Sublime Qi Manual. It was much more easier to pop pills to pump Qi and let it turn into a cyclone in his dantian as compared to pumping Qi and keeping it still. 'Obviously, the more difficult ti is...the better it should be right? Whatever, I made all the preparations I could. It is now time to cultivate!!'

In high spirits Fang Hao took a large gulp of the fortified spirit wine and chanted the mnemonics of the Aura Fist manual as he exerted control over his Qi to stop it from rotating. He felt his Qi pulse periodically in his dantian. As he took another gulp of spirit wine, he felt the Qi pulse a bit more erratically, just barely in his control. 'Hmm keeping the Qi completely stable sure seems hard. But it seems to pulse almost like a heart...why don't I try to sync it with my heartbeat? After all the mnemonics focus on controlling the rotation of the Qi...and not the pulsing!'

Seemingly enlightened, Fang Hao fortified his jug of spirit wine with yet another Qi Condensation pill. For good measure he fortified another jug of spirit wine with two Qi condensation pills and placed the last Qi Condensation pill under his tongue. Holding a jug of double fortified spirit wine in each hand, and a pill under his tongue. He was loaded with resources as he started practicing the Aura Fist Manual earnestly.

He started rotating slowly as per the Aura Fist manual, as a steady stream of Qi was generated from the slowly melting pill under his tongue. He found that controlling the Qi's rotation was much easier while he himself was rotating. And according to his earlier epiphany, instead of suppressing the Qi pulses, he harmonized his pulsing Qi with his heartbeat. Periodically he would slow down his rotation to take a few sips of double fortified wine and then speed up his rotation again. Unknowingly, even his rotational speed pulsed, though his average speed of rotation increased over time.