Chapter 121: Furnace Under Heaven, Military Campaigns and Battle Methods

Lao Liang lifted his eyelids, set down the North Warehouse Daqu he had just picked up, but did not loosen his palm, gripping the bottle mouth.

Nanhuang Dao Guan?

Trying to poach people from me?

Strands of killing intent swirled in his heart, his Qi perception shot out like lightning, locking onto the figure outside the wall through the wall.

"What terrifying Qi!"

Ren You, standing in the long corridor, trembled, as if cold lightning had passed, feeling as though he were stared at by a prehistoric beast with vertical pupils opened, inexplicably struck with terror before an existence at the top of the food chain.

Fortunately, he was also a full-time Martial Artist, his will firm and undisturbed, and he likewise released his Qi outward.

Like a cluster of scorching magma suddenly radiating, it forcibly pushed back the violent Qi attempting to capture him.

The air suddenly burst with a dull sound, stirring up visible ripples.

Two invisible forces were like bulls locking horns, neither yielding an inch.

"It's all the teacher's fault, forcing me to say such excessive words, claiming that disciples of Nanhuang Dao Guan must be arrogant and domineering."

Ren You silently cursed in his heart; among the disciples, he was one of the few True Disciples who followed the teacher to learn Old Martial Arts.

But his talent was mediocre, past thirty and just barely breaking through to full-time level, never having obtained a Martial Artist Title.

His Qi was like a cluster of burning clouds, with great momentum, but empty inside, not gathered into one.

Facing Lao Liang's Qi, fierce and constricting like a giant python strangling, he appeared at a loss and soon fell into a disadvantage.

"Usually I make you train hard, but you play tricks! You can't even defeat a half-useless cripple, sigh! My Nanhuang Dao Guan, how can you hold your ground!"

The white-haired old man sitting in a wheelchair downstairs sighed heavily, lifting his lowered eyelids, his dim eyes suddenly flashing.

Ren You staggered forward two steps as if kicked from behind, the scorching, surging breath leaping out like a blazing sun, pushing him.

The hot Qi, originally worn down layer by layer, surged more than tenfold in an instant, forcing back Lao Liang's Qi, and gaining the upper hand, it rushed to invade him!

"A master!"

Lao Liang suffered a small loss, the hand gripping the bottle mouth unconsciously tightened, making a "crack" sound.

The blue veins under his skin jumped violently, the terrifying image hidden in his heart about to break free again.

"Teacher Liang. The voice outside sounds familiar; I might know him."

Coincidentally Qin Shi stood up, and the ferocity Lao Liang had pressed deep in his heart was not fully unleashed.

The former opened the door, saw Ren You, and said in surprise:

"Teacher Ren, why have you come?"

"Tai'an has outstanding people and is a land of good feng shui; once you come, you don't want to leave, and once you leave, you want to come."

Ren You smiled awkwardly; he had thick brows and big eyes, a straight nose and wide mouth, looking like an honest person.

It was truly difficult to meet the teacher's requirements, to stand out as the domineering and arbitrary True Disciple of Nanhuang Dao Guan.

"Teacher Ren specifically came to find me?"

Qin Shi was confused; he and this member of the Center City Martial Association seemed to have only met once.

Hearing the tone of the other's words just now, he was actually a disciple of the legendary Nanhuang Dao Guan?

"Qin Classmate, although you haven't reached my teacher's requirements, your talent is outstanding, a rare young hero of the Hengzhou Martial Association, so I am naturally interested."

Ren You spoke with lines prepared in advance:

"Qin Classmate might not know, Nanhuang Dao Guan has already moved to Tai'an, and after reaching an agreement with the Education Bureau, plans to settle in Dangyang East Suburbs."

Huh?

A big question mark appeared in Qin Shi's head.

This news gave a strong feeling of absurdity and strangeness.

What kind of place was Nanhuang Dao Guan?

Hengzhou's first Holy Land of Martial Arts, the last face of the local Old Martial Arts school.

Moving all the way to Tai'an was one thing, but building it on Old Factory Street?

Sounded like a famous car company planning to open a factory and develop a zone in the urban-rural fringe.

"Dangyang East Suburbs is very suitable for the Old Martial Arts school to take root. Tai'an is too prosperous, everything leaning toward Center City, making people's thoughts scattered, unable to focus on training."

"Your place has a high Electronic Blockade Level, and network applications are not widespread, instead suitable as an undisturbed foothold."

Ren You's expression was serious, and he did not show any flaw.

I've been to Old Factory Street, the kids there are pure?

Qin Shi scratched his head, Teacher Ren, you also like soccer?

"Is that Martial Artist inside your master whom you apprenticed to?"

Ren You changed the topic; he indeed came with the teacher today to inspect the dojo reconstruction site.

Because Dangyang East Suburbs was undergoing urban renovation, many shantytowns were to be demolished.

Not to mention Nanhuang Dao Guan, even allocating land to build a gymnasium or a soccer field could be done.

Qin Shi nodded and said:

"Correct, I follow Teacher Liang to learn arts."

Ren You sighed; this good seedling already had an owner.

According to the teacher's temper, he would surely secretly loosen the soil and dig at the wall's foot.

What difference is there between taking someone's mantle and stealing someone's wife?

When conflict arises, there will be fighting again.

Nanhuang Dao Guan's reputation would be ruined like this.

"May I come in and meet him?"

Ren You was quite courteous; after the secret contest of Qi, the Martial Artist inside the dormitory room, regardless of Qi Life Force level, was absolutely not weak in strength alone.

The bloodthirsty killing intent he unconsciously exuded, a fierce, venomous, sinister, and bone-chilling aura, was like mountains of corpses and seas of blood pressing down upon him—truly terrifying.

In present-day Dongxia, there was no better place than the Galaxy Frontier, serving in the war corps of Huai Zhou and Shuo Zhou, to forge a Martial Artist's mind and spirit through blood and fire.

Among them, the sixteen base giant cities were places every "vanguard soldier" selected for the war corps had to pass through.

This person probably had military experience.

"Liang Laoshi, Ren Laoshi of the Nanhuang Dao Guan wants to chat with you."

Qin Shi did not rashly agree, but turned to ask Lao Liang.

"Fine."

Lao Liang put the wine bottle under the table, so it would be a handy weapon later.

The person outside did not look like a good sort.

Qin Shi stepped aside; Ren You entered the room, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

The shabby, plain dormitory room and Lao Liang's unremarkable appearance both surprised him.

Such an expert, actually living in a hovel like this?

"Xiao Shi, go downstairs and buy a pack of cigarettes."

Lao Liang ate fried peanuts, crunching loudly.

"Oh."

Qin Shi answered, and before leaving said:

"Um, does Liang Laoshi prefer strong-flavored or mild?"

Lao Liang waved his hand:

"Pick whatever you like."

Qin Shi smiled:

"Then mild, it can handle the heat and isn't too harsh on the lungs."

Lao Liang's hand, reaching for the wine bottle, paused, then he nodded:

"Fine."

Alas, a disciple who is too clever is not a good thing.

He hadn't even acted yet, but his intentions had been seen through.

Qin Shi closed the room door, thinking:

"If Lao Liang cracks Ren Laoshi of the Nanhuang Dao Guan's head open, can I say I did it myself, using the Temporary Inspection Credential to cover it up? Otherwise, he's just a Physical Education Teacher, beating someone for no reason, and will surely be captured and interrogated by Inspection Personnel."

Alas, a master with too fiery a temper is not a good thing.

Causing trouble, and the disciple has to clean up the mess.

"Nanhuang Dao Guan? Who is your master?"

Lao Liang pinched a peanut, rubbed off the skin with his fingertip, tossed it into his mouth, and chewed crunchily.

"Liang Laoshi has heard of my master?"

Ren You was startled in his heart; this Physical Education Teacher named Liang Zhengxiong actually knew the greatest taboo of the Nanhuang Dao Guan Master in this lifetime.

He disliked being called by name directly!

Quite well-informed!

"I also participated in the Star Cup, of course, only at the level of barely making the Top Hundred, far from Zhang... Predecessor, the kind who can't even see his back."

Lao Liang nodded slightly.

"The Top Hundred is already a hero among men."

Ren You smiled bitterly.

This Liang Laoshi probably did not participate in the Youth Group, but the Young Man Group.

Without the age limit of the former, and with a looser selection range under the latter, the slaughter would only be more intense.

After all, not everyone achieves success in youth, rises suddenly, and soars to the sky.

Why was Qi Wuxiang called the Demon King? Because this person was invincible in youth, invincible in young manhood, and even in old age, still invincible among his peers, suppressing a whole generation.

Such legendary deeds akin to mythology would be hard for any successor to achieve.

"Is the Nanhuang Martial Hall interested in Xiao Shi?"

Lao Liang sipped his wine, with no intention of pouring a cup for Ren You.

Among the Old Martial Arts sects, fighting over disciples was not uncommon.

Since ancient times, it has been hard to study under a famous master, and equally hard to pass down one's mantle.

In the martial arts world of the Old Era, many predecessors who had gained fame, because they never found a True Disciple to their liking, left behind the words "not to be passed on, not to be passed on" on their deathbeds, taking their skills to the grave.

"My teacher has extraordinary vision; all his life he only wanted to find a seedling comparable to He Lanchan. Qin Classmate, for now, except for his hair not being white, is basically like a reincarnation of the young Shi Fo."

Ren You said sincerely.

The dashing figure of He Lanchan with white hair in his youth is still imitated by many New Martial Arts juniors to this day.

They just like to dye their hair white and wear long robes.

"Hope I give him up? Let him to your Nanhuang Martial Hall? Although the Hong Sheng signboard is not famous, it is not extinct; there is still me, this good-for-nothing fellow."

Lao Liang raised an eyebrow, drained the cup, and said crisply:

"You are no match for me. How about this: bring out Zhang Qianbei, kill me, and take the disciple. What do you say? The Nanhuang Martial Hall's 'Universe Furnace Secret Canon' is renowned; I would love to learn a thing or two."

Ren You was speechless; if that were really the case, let alone whether Qin Classmate was willing to accept the Nanhuang Martial Hall, his teacher's already meager reputation would probably be completely ruined.

After all, bullying the weak with the strong, killing a master to steal a disciple—wherever it spread, it was not glorious.

In the ancient era of Hundred No Taboos, this too counted as Mo Dao Xing Wei.

Inside the dormitory, the atmosphere once again froze.

As Old Ren was at a loss, a humming sound like a great bell suddenly crashed into the room.

As if a giant stone wrapped in a gale, it exuded fierce momentum, shaking the bowls and chopsticks on the table into trembling.

"This old man does not know what crime you committed to be punished with twelve Forbidden-Class Fire Punishment Nails.

This thing injures your origin, like boring a hole through your five viscera and six bowels, causing severe loss of Qi Life Force and leading to a serious decline in your Physical Ability.

This old man can help you pull them out one by one, as the price for accepting Qin Shi as a Jinmen Dizi. How about it?"

Twelve Forbidden-Class Fire Punishment Nails?

Old Ren nearly cried out in alarm.

This was simply too shocking to hear!

The so-called Fire Punishment Nail is a kind of implanted object.

Through a method similar to surgical operation, they are driven into a person's four limbs, spine, even skull and heart.

Originally designed during the Turbulent Era by Dongxia as an inhumane path to enhance combat power for the cannon fodder corps formed for exiled people.

It can to some extent offset pain, and through the cruel means of constantly stimulating the human body, promote the condensation of Qi Life Force.

Later the Dongxia Republic abolished it, but some war corps still chose to implant Fire Punishment Nails as punishment for "traitors" who committed heaven-toppling great crimes.

Twelve nails represented that Liang Zhengxiong's four limbs, spine, and even heart might all have been implanted with Fire Punishment Nails.

And Forbidden-Class was the highest specification of that type.

Meaning enough to suppress a Professional Level One Segment Martial Artist, that is, the so-called Jiang Jun-level Strongman.

"I voluntarily accepted the implantation of Fire Punishment Nails."

Old Liang gave a shocking-to-all answer in a light and carefree manner.

Now even the white-haired old man transmitting sound from afar fell silent.

"Such Xinli, such will, you absolutely have a chance to cross the step of 'Enfeoffing a King.' Jiang Jun is not your end."

The white-haired old man felt great pity; he deeply knew that war corps produced many strongmen, but those who could truly walk to Enfeoffing a King and become Corps Commanders, peerless heroes, were still as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

"Senior Zhang, how about it, want to consider letting me witness your famed Star Sea Universe Furnace Secret Canon? Dying under such a Perfected Old Martial Arts Inheritance, I am quite willing."

Old Liang was rather indifferent, seemingly not taking his own life too seriously.

"Forget it, forget it, it is fated that your Hong Sheng rises. I have also heard of your Master Uncle Lei Hongsheng's reputation; he counts as an Old Generation Senior worthy of respect.

Just consider it destined but not meant to be! Anyway, the people this old man lost in this life, taken out individually, are not disgraceful; I accept it!"

The white-haired old man's voice was desolate, as if his interest had waned.

Even if proud of a peerless body and unrivaled under heaven, what could it amount to?

Just like the Old Generation Seniors of the Old Era, taking his skills to the coffin, dying with regret beneath the Nine Springs.

"Zhang... Senior, I heard from others that your Universe Furnace Secret Canon can repair and mend all innate and acquired injuries, ensuring that after promoting to Professional Level, the body is pushed to one hundred percent—is that true?"

Old Liang seemed curious and asked on his own initiative.

"Not this old man boasting of himself. Among the Ten Great Old Martial Arts Inheritances, setting aside Yan Haishan and Ning Yuanhai, Martial Gods who reached the end, even He Lanchan's Void Meditation Method and Qi Wuxiang's Sun Moon Heavenly Net Ten Thousand Gods Mantra, in terms of body tempering, are not as good as this old man's Universe Furnace Secret Canon."

The white-haired old man answered proudly.

"Senior is considering the young one as a candidate for Jinmen Dizi?"

Old Liang asked again.

"Of course. This old man has already accepted nine disciples; if no suitable root stock can be found again, I will completely give up."

The white-haired old man sighed, feeling his luck was too poor; after searching countless Administrative Stars, he still had not found a Good Seedling to his liking.

"If Senior you are willing to swear an oath and fully impart the Universe Furnace Secret Canon to the young one, I can persuade him to accept the Nanhuang Dao Guan's Yi Ban."

Old Liang closed his eyes to ponder for a moment, then opened them and said.

"Are you willing to part with him?"

The white-haired old man was surprised.

To speak frankly, this child Qin Shi, in terms of talent, was also not a once-in-an-ages prodigy, unrivaled under heaven.

But he excelled in being well-rounded in all aspects, with no shortcomings, an excellent choice for forging a body!

It could be said he was naturally suited to the Nanhuang Dao Guan's final inheritance.

"To be honest, I have always been hesitating; Hong Sheng's Hundred Aspects Tempering Momentum is a slow method, showing no great effect in three or five years, and He Lanchan only reveals his power in the late stage of cultivation.

And besides that, I only know a Combat Method learned from the military, the Soldier-Attack Combat Method. In my personal understanding, the life domain formed by the Soldier-Attack Combat Method can be called the strongest; I feel it is very suitable for the young one!"

The white-haired old man understood in an instant, knitting his brows and said:

"So you come from the Fourth War Corps; the Soldier-Attack Combat Method created by Qin Shuai is indeed the simplest of the Great Dao, but its drawback is that it consumes potential and accumulates injuries and sickness, almost unable to forge a body, exactly needing the Universe Furnace Secret Canon to harmonize. You have put in great effort."

Old Liang lowered his head and smiled, touching his Lame Leg:

"I have no skills, cannot exchange for resources, nor can help the young one much; if he wants to go far, the road will be rough.

If a peerless expert like Senior could give some guidance and some protection, I could rest easy."

The white-haired old man felt the same; Old Martial Arts Inheritances were not easy, lineage after lineage like a fire's spark continuing, and if not careful, might go out.

"Done! This old man has always been taught by the world to do things, but I strangely refuse to be taught, insisting on going against it! Even the path He Lanchan could not make work, I might not be unable!"

The white-haired old man was full of spirit; that decrepit appearance of being old and feeble all seemed Spirited.

Qin Shi, who had gone downstairs to buy cigarettes and returned, saw the old man on the wheelchair twitching all over, thought it was Yang Jing acting up, and hurriedly pushed him to run:

"Grandpa! There is a clinic nearby, bite something and endure it..."

(Chapter End)