[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-sky-fell":3,"chapter-after-the-sky-fell-after-the-sky-fell-chapter-30":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","After the Sky Fell",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2280886,4462,"Chapter 30: Becoming a Disciple","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-30",30,"\u003Cp>Li Yi had now entered a fantasy time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strange thoughts surfaced in his mind; he had experienced too many bizarre events lately, and for a moment he doubted the reality of it all—perhaps he was possessed by a ghost, and everything before him was an illusion?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ge, seeing Li Yi standing frozen in place, cleared his throat softly twice: “Li Mengde, do you think I, Zhao Ge, am not worthy to be your master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mengde?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who is that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, I remember now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mengde is me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi immediately broke out of his fantasy time and hurriedly replied: “Uncle Zhao, that’s not true—you saved my life, and I’m deeply grateful. Besides, you wanting to take me as your disciple is for my own good. I should be thanking you, not questioning your worthiness. I only hesitated because of personal reasons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Zhao Ge immediately understood. He slapped his forehead: “Old man nearly forgot—you come from Ghost Street, and your clothing and appearance are utterly unlike ours. You’re surely not from Xinzhou. You’re unwilling to leave because you’re worried about your affairs back home, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My parents fell into a coma due to certain reasons and have lain bedridden for six years. They still need me to care for them. I can’t stay away too long, or they’ll starve to death at home. I must find a way to leave Ghost Street and return home,” Li Yi said seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t expect you to be such a suffering soul. It’s rare to find such filial devotion. Old man can’t force you,” Zhao Ge sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had originally planned to take Li Yi back to his martial school after this Ghost Street trip, to pass on his arts and inherit his legacy. Though Li Yi’s identity was unknown, to him it didn’t matter—such talent was worth pouring everything into. That’s why he’d acted on impulse, forgetting Li Yi’s burdens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But filial piety comes first. To force him would be wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet watching such a flawless raw gem slip through his fingers, Zhao Ge felt immense regret. He feared he’d lie awake nights, perhaps even on his deathbed, haunted by this loss, dying with lifelong regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Zhao Ge spoke again: “Our meeting in Ghost Street is a great fate. Though we may part here and never meet again, I cannot bear to see such talent wasted. I still wish to take you as my disciple—but I won’t force you. If you refuse, I’ll accept it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his savior speaking so earnestly, for Li Yi to refuse now would be ungrateful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately knelt down, his quick mind recalling a phrase from online dramas: “I, Yi, have wandered half my life, grieving I never met a worthy master. Today, Uncle Zhao does not reject me—I vow to bow before you as master. From this day forth, one day as master, lifetime as father. If I break this vow, may heaven and earth destroy me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Li Yi immediately bowed down and knocked his head three times on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He silently wondered: Was my wording and etiquette correct?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, that’s how master-disciple rituals appear in TV dramas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ge, a martial man, first froze in shock, then tears welled in his eyes. He quickly reached out a trembling hand to lift Li Yi up, exclaiming: “Good, good, good disciple—get up! You’re too straightforward. Why make such a heavy vow? We’re family now. Don’t speak so formally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Zhao Ge, this wasn’t a master-disciple ceremony—it was adopting a father. The rites were too solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Zhao Ge’s world, becoming a disciple didn’t require kowtowing—only offering tea. Vows were taken with utmost seriousness, for breaking them invited dire consequences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So if a disciple kowtowed during the master-disciple ceremony, it meant recognizing you as an adoptive father. If he swore an oath, it meant he could never break it—and the more accomplished the martial artist, the more unbreakable the vow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, when kowtowing and swearing combined, and the master accepted the rites, the disciple’s weight surpassed even that of a biological son. After the master’s death, such a disciple could inherit the family legacy just like a true heir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Li Yi’s words—“one day as master, lifetime as father”—filled Zhao Ge with the joy of an old man finally having a son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi couldn’t understand Zhao Ge’s feelings. He only felt that Zhao Ge had saved his life; out of gratitude and principle, he owed him several kowtows. He might never get another chance to repay someone, and agreeing to the master-disciple ritual was merely to fulfill Zhao Ge’s wish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Qian, watching this, felt joy in her heart. She looked at Li Yi with newfound warmth, as if he were a long-lost elder brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, don’t just rejoice—we can’t linger in Ghost Street much longer. We still have much to do. Don’t waste time,” Zhao Qian said, finally speaking as her father still clung to Li Yi’s arm, overcome with emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ge snapped back to reality. He glanced at the Soul-Guiding Incense—it had burned more than half. It would be gone in an hour at most. Then he’d have to leave Ghost Street prematurely, and his newly acquired disciple would be forced to part ways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too bad time is short. Our master-disciple bond is deep, but our time together is fleeting. In this time, I’ll teach you the essence of martial arts. Mengde, learn as much as you can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After noticing the time, Zhao Ge paced anxiously, wondering what to teach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bone-strengthening, blood-refining exercises?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, no.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too little time. Teaching incompletely would mislead the disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The secret art of controlling blood and channeling force into acupoints?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still no. The disciple hadn’t even entered the gate. Teaching it now would be useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As time slipped away, Zhao Ge, a martial man who mastered blood and qi, broke into a sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Qian, a sharp-witted girl, saw her father’s distress and quickly suggested: “Father, teach Brother Yi to punch. Let him train force through fists. When his force grows strong and his foundation solid, perhaps one day he’ll open his meridians.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That won’t work. Without blood and qi to support it, punch-force won’t penetrate. It’ll fade quickly, useless and weak,” Zhao Ge instinctively objected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Train fists first by training qi; train qi first by nourishing blood. Blood and qi—the foundation of all martial arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi was a complete novice. Without refining blood and qi, he couldn’t hold a proper stance. In a life-or-death fight, he’d be nothing but a showy dummy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Qian said: “Father, forget not—Brother Yi is naturally immensely strong, his physique robust. Even without refining blood and qi, he can still develop punch-force through sheer power. If we meet again in Ghost Street someday, you can teach him blood-refining then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Zhao Ge was instantly enlightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>?ttkΛn?￠O\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes, yes! Ordinary martial artists build foundation first, then learn fists. Mengde has dragon sinews and tiger bones, natural strength—his foundation is already immense. Such a foundation can support him in developing punch-force. Good. Teach fists.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ge stilled his thoughts, halted his pacing, and turned to Li Yi: “Mengde, are you willing to learn fists?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whatever my master teaches, I will learn,” Li Yi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good child,” Zhao Ge was moved again. This boy truly trusted him—his vow had clearly been sincere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day as master, lifetime as father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would doubt their parents?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But time was urgent. Zhao Ge had no time for lectures. He said: “To train fists, you must first begin. I’ll show you punch-force first, then teach you how to stand Zhuang  and feel force.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced around, picked up a stool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his hand as a blade, he sliced off the stool’s legs, leaving only a thick wooden plank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watch closely,” Zhao Ge said, tossed the plank, then threw a punch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dull, muffled explosion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strangely, the plank didn’t fly away or crack—it stuck to Zhao Ge’s fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This defied all logic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ge removed the plank and revealed a clear fist imprint on its surface: “This is punch-force. An ordinary man’s punch sends the plank flying or shatters it—his force is scattered. A martial artist’s force is twisted into one unified stream, concentrated, not scattered. His punch delivers force like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If my punch advanced another inch, this plank would be pierced clean through. Such force cannot be deflected—it kills with one strike.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he demonstrated, he explained clearly, distilling the essence in mere words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was true transmission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Amazing,” Li Yi widened his eyes, stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the punch seemed simple, it was profoundly deep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mengde, though you possess immense natural strength, your force is loose and useless—your skin, sinews, and bones aren’t unified. But no matter. I teach you fists to mobilize your entire body’s force. Once you master it, fists, legs—all become interconnected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watch my stance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ge then assumed a slight crouch, arms raised, fists clenched. His posture looked relaxed, yet brimming with latent power—almost mystical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Force rises from the ground—feet, knees, waist, spine dragon, arms, elbows, finally to the fist. Feel the force transmit layer by layer, then explode in an instant. That’s how your punch-force forms.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now begin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ge finished, gesturing for Li Yi to start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi, having cultivated and awakened his spiritual medium, had enhanced memory. He closed his eyes, thought briefly, then immediately mimicked Zhao Ge’s stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, your waist is crooked. When you exert force, your lumbar vertebrae will be damaged. Over time, this will leave hidden injuries. When you grow old and your blood and qi weaken, your lower body will paralyze.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Straighten your knees more—otherwise force won’t rise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Raise your fist higher. Your gaze must align with your fist—otherwise your punch will be off-target.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ge instantly spotted all Li Yi’s flaws and immediately adjusted his stance with his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This direct, hands-on teaching was worth months of solitary practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi learned quickly and corrected swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In less than three minutes, his stance was nearly identical to Zhao Ge’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Your stance is correct. Hold it. Let your body remember.” Zhao Ge looked at Li Yi, his eyes filled with complex emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how gifted, time was still needed to refine. Though Li Yi had now assumed the correct stance under his guidance, without Zhao Ge’s correction next time, the stance would collapse. And Li Yi himself didn’t even know where his errors lay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he learned wrong, practicing would make him sick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d have to rely solely on brute strength to endure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Zhao Gu felt guilt. Was he teaching his disciple—or harming him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, how long must I hold this stance?” After several more minutes, Li Yi asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ge snapped back: “If time weren’t urgent, you could stand as long as you like. But now—I don’t know how long you should stand. You must feel when your body has memorized this state.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But never longer than half an hour. I only have this much time to teach you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi scratched his head: “I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mengde, why did you drop your stance?” Zhao Ge glared. “In this little time, your body hasn’t memorized it—your effort is wasted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, Master. I wasn’t paying attention. I’ll resume immediately.” Li Yi sank into the stance again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhao Ge’s eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi’s stance now perfectly replicated the previous state—perfectly balanced, utterly precise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This—had his body already memorized it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A complete outsider, who hadn’t even begun refining sinews and bones, could assume the stance in moments?\u003C\u002Fp>",1928,"2026-06-20T01:26:56.586Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8def66bb3d643adf26a83785f8044d1a0c85ff55db2d9166f8c9e2a19459e496","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-31","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-29",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-sky-fell-cover.jpg"]