In the Ming dynasty, qigong was incorporated into the study of martial arts and the cultivation of "internal" strength became a prerequisite to the study of the jian. With sufficient internal strength, anyone could be a Zhang Wuji. Gradual realization becomes sudden realization. Going further, what was tangible becomes intangible.
明朝後，氣功被引入武學，內力成為練劍的絕對條件，有了強大的內功，人人都可以是張無忌，從漸悟一轉而為頓悟，再往上精進，由有形以至無形，終於「精氣所致，草木皆可為刃」。