Chapter 66

In previous combat training sessions.

In sparring matches between Bruce and Song Mo, Bruce always won.

And Bruce was deliberately feeding Song Mo techniques, each time only slightly stronger, giving him the feeling of an unfathomable depth.

So, during this bout.

Song Mo gave it his full concentration.

From the first exchange, Song Mo gained the upper hand.

He could feel that their combat skills were nearly equal, and Bruce was still slightly stronger than Song Mo.

But Song Mo's physical attributes were far superior to Bruce's.

This was even without Song Mo using any of his internal "Qi"—otherwise, the fight could have ended instantly, Bruce being obliterated in a single strike.

After fifty exchanges.

Song Mo had fully gauged Bruce's true strength.

And Bruce grew more and more alarmed with each strike.

Song Mo's combat skill was now entirely equal to his.

Yet his strength was greater, his speed faster…

And as a sudden surge of power erupted from Song Mo, Bruce was flung backward, his arm numbed by the shock.

"This…"

Bruce's eyes filled with shock.

He stared at Song Mo, his wide eyes making it clear he now saw him as a monster.

Song Mo wore a mysterious smile.

The unfathomable one had now become him.

Bruce's gaze turned fervent—he had just felt an immensely powerful force, one that surged from within, surpassing Ming Jin and An Jin, an inner power.

He suddenly remembered the Chinese novels he had read.

"Internal Energy."

And the ancient martial secrets he had learned about.

The legendary Qi Gong Masters.

Bruce suddenly recalled Song Mo's earlier confidence—the absolute, unshakable assurance.

Before, he had thought Song Mo was just youthful arrogance; now he realized he himself was the ignorant fool!

In an instant!

Bruce's heart burned with intense passion.

His body trembled, his emotions surged, his state bordering on madness.

"Wu wu wu…"

Bruce cried and laughed at once.

All these years he had relentlessly pursued martial arts, seeking the truth of Martial Dao, believing he had already seen the path of its development, glimpsed its truth.

Everything was based on reality: nothing more than muscle training, technique refinement, and force control!

But Song Mo descended like a celestial deity.

He shattered all of Bruce's beliefs.

Told Bruce:

Wrong! You're all wrong!

In this world, the legendary Martial Dao still exists—Internal Energy still exists!

No one knew Bruce's inner ecstasy.

No one could comprehend the storm raging in his heart!

It was the pure, fervent heart of one who hears the Dao in the morning and dies content at night—burning with devotion!

【Hmm, did I just make him cry?】

【Should I comfort him?】

Song Mo hesitated, looked at Bruce lying on the ground, sobbing like a child, and extended his hand.

Bruce seized Song Mo's hand, felt a tremendous force, and was effortlessly pulled to his feet—he was a two-hundred-plus-pound behemoth!

Song Mo tapped his fingers lightly and smiled as he asked Bruce:

"Bruce, I told you before—I intend to inherit Li Xiaolong's legacy, to spread Huaxia martial arts far and wide, and to become the man standing atop the peak of Martial Dao."

"You didn't believe me then. How about now?"

Bruce's gaze suddenly turned solemn.

His body, just risen from the ground.

In one swift motion, he knelt down again!

"Song Mo, take me as your disciple!"

Bruce was an absolute martial fanatic.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have traveled the world, even entering Shaolin Temple in Huaguo to train.

In his devotion to martial arts, he held the same piety as a Christian holds for God.

"I know your Huaguo customs: once a master, always a father!"

"Don't worry, Song Mo—if you accept me as your disciple, I will strictly follow all sect rules: whatever you order, I will do! Just teach me your secret to becoming stronger!"

Song Mo was startled by Bruce's sudden action.

But after fully hearing his words, a faint look of thought crossed his eyes—though the man was foreign, Bruce truly was the best possible disciple.

Taking Bruce as a disciple would maximize Song Mo's benefits.

First, Bruce was a fairly famous combat fighter; although he had no presence at all online, that was only because he kept a low profile.

In the world's martial arts circles, Bruce was absolutely a celebrity. Many Martial Dao practitioners and combat fighters had crossed hands with Bruce, and his reputation as a martial arts fanatic was widely circulated in the circle.

If Song Mo took Bruce on, it would be the equivalent of a dazzling calling card, saving him a great deal of effort in introductions.

Second, Song Mo had originally intended to establish a sect and school; only in this way could personal influence be maximized. Why was it, for instance, that Kongzi was able to become a sage across all ages? Why did his name still resound throughout the world thousands of years later?

The main reason was precisely that Kongzi had three thousand disciples beneath him, with seventy-two among them being virtuous men. Almost every feudal state of the time had Kongzi's disciples present, and they were serving as officials.

And his thought had been passed down as well, so it continued to exert a profound influence in later generations.

Song Mo deliberated for a while.

He looked at Bruce, who was already middle-aged, yet without the slightest hesitation, kneeling and kowtowing to a young man like himself, requesting to take him as his master.

Song Mo weighed the matter in his heart.

If word got out, perhaps this too would become a fine tale?

In the end, Song Mo made his decision.

"Bruce, are you truly certain you want to take me as your master?"

Hearing this, Bruce raised his head, his eyes reflecting a look of wild joy.

"Of course!"

Song Mo's expression also grew solemn.

"Let me state in advance: taking a master is no child's play."

"Under my roof, there are three rules."

"First, in taking me as your master, you take Huaxia as your master. From now on, apart from your own homeland, Huaxia is also your second homeland. No matter whom you see harming or endangering Huaxia, you must step forward."

"Second, in taking me as your master, you may not bully the weak, may not seize by force, you must honor your teacher and revere the Dao, and in all things you must uphold righteousness."

"Third, the martial arts you have learned from other places I will not concern myself with, but the martial arts you learn from me may never be passed on at any time! Even to your own son, you absolutely may not teach it, unless your son also joins the sect."

"Can you agree to these three conditions?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Bruce knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily three times to Song Mo.

"Master!"

His gaze was extremely resolute.

Song Mo understood Bruce's determination.

He could not help but be somewhat moved.

Although he himself was stronger than Bruce, he had to admit that the other man was the most devout believer in the Martial Dao.

"Come with me. Taking a master still requires a ceremony."

"Moreover, it must be announced far and wide."

(End of chapter)