Ranking

External techniques focused on developing and enhancing one’s body and physiological functions, and were suited for close-range fights. Internal techniques focused on Qi refining, and allowed the cultivator to grow stronger by cultivating the aura in their dantians. They were more suited for long-range fights.

Comparatively, Qi refining was much more difficult. Not only did one need to have strong willpower, but they also needed extraordinary talent

Inner Strength
Inner Qi cultivation was a long process. It all began with the “Inhale Qi” that every human knew. After you inhaled Qi, you’d need to practice “Entraining Qi” and direct that Qi into the dantian. After that was “Refine Qi,” and after you could refine Qi with ease, then you’d have a chance to step into Stage One Inner Qi and become a martial artist. After you became a martial artist, then it was the time to “Control Qi.” You could control the Qi in your dantian to strengthen your physical body, alter your bodily functions, or even use it in a battle to kill people. Stage Four Inner Qi was a dividing line in Inner Qi cultivation. You’d need to practice “Control Qi” over and over again before entering Stage Four Inner Qi. Once you could control the Qi in your body with high precision, then you could break through this bottleneck and step into the realm of Stage Four Inner Qi and become a truly powerful Inner Qi expert. This was because starting from Stage Four Inner Qi, the Inner Qi expert would learn “Discharge Qi,” which was a legendary technique—discharge Inner Qi, hit the cow behind mountains! [TN: The phrase “hit the cow behind mountains” is a legendary Chinese martial art that could defeat a person from a distance with a palm strike or punch, without actually touching that person.]

Stage 1 to Stage 9 inner qi was the very foundation of cultivation. One broke into the realm of comprehension and started cultivating true essence after mastering all nine stages of inner qi. After that, the level of true essence cultivation was yet again divided into nine stages which required the cultivator to master all nine stages of true essence to reach the immortal realm.