Chapter 184: Walk the Path Once: He Lanchan's Road of Arrival

Under the night sky, stars dotted the darkness, and a half-crescent moon hung high above, like a cold, clear eye gazing down upon the earth.

Light filtered through the thick fog, revealing a blurred figure: a long windbreaker with a military sword at his side, wearing a vest-and-shirt-style bulletproof and stab-proof vest underneath, plus a layer of Ju Bao armor confiscated from Secret Sect members.

"Xiao Qin is truly cautious beyond others—such a powerful body nearing the Fourth Limit, yet he takes such steady protection."

Lao Zhang's gaze was like a torch; in an instant he saw through Qin Shi's "full combat gear," and inwardly sighed that he had chosen a fine successor for the Nanhuang Dojo. Clearly it was the age for youthful arrogance and early success, yet he remained so composed.

"Greetings, Teacher Zhang. Greetings, Chief Examiner."

Qin Shi crossed Copper Mountain and arrived at the oasis at the end of the Great Rift Valley, where he saw Lao Zhang in a wheelchair, as well as Chief Examiner Xu Sheng, specially dispatched by the Martial Association.

"Qiu Classmate Qin, this time's Top Hundred champion is well deserved by you. Breaking out of the Outer Area, winning the championship as a dark horse, and even shattering the barrier of the Professional Realm—counting back several hundred editions, your gold content is truly solid."

Xu Sheng spared no words of praise. Although the Martial Association was full of factions, it roughly divided into the Old Martial Arts school and the New Martial Arts school, with both sides contending through various competitions.

And how to judge one's camp could be seen from one's background.

Like the imperial examinations of ancient times, where you stood often depended on who your teacher was and who your classmates were, so that factions could be formed.

Xu Sheng, well, he was an early graduate of Qiguang Heng University's Martial Arts Department, and later smoothly entered the Martial Association to serve as "Inspector."

This position was somewhat special, requiring a degree of independence, so he counted as a neutral party and could stay out of the disputes between Old and New Martial Arts.

"Chief Examiner flatters me. I merely did my best and was lucky enough."

Qin Shi said modestly.

From the other man he "saw" an extremely intense radiance of life, like a rotating asteroid, containing terrifying explosive power.

This should be, apart from Lao Zhang, the strongest top expert of the Martial Path he had ever seen.

"My surname is Xu; just call me Xu Ge."

Xu Sheng's attitude was very friendly.

After all, the potential and prospects Qin Shi displayed were like a growth stock with high growth potential.

Any major client with some savings would have some investment intent, at the very least placing him on an observation list to watch subsequent developments.

This was despite Qin Shi being mixed up in the grudges between the Nanhuang Dojo and the Ying Clan, a situation with a slightly higher risk coefficient.

If he were simply the True Disciple inheriting the mantle of a Grandmaster-level figure, and his family background and conditions were a bit more superior,

he could entirely be regarded as a white horse stock combining growth and stability, and be courted by all forces.

"Xu Ge."

Qin Shi smiled shyly, perfectly fitting his identity as an underage high school student.

"Gentle appearance but ruthless methods, quite bearing the style of an Old Martial Arts senior brother and chief instructor of the dojo from ancient times."

Xu Sheng looked at that harmless boyish face, like the little brother next door, and silently muttered.

This edition's Top Hundred champion really looked too deceptive.

If he hadn't clearly known that the other had gone on a killing spree in the Outer Area, wiping out entire teams at the drop of a hat, showing no mercy to men or women alike!

Creating over ninety percent of the death quota indicators for this Wilderness Trial!

He really had been fooled by Qin Shi's appearance!

"I'll wait for you ahead, Qiu Classmate Qin."

Xu Sheng had good judgment, knowing that the teacher and disciple had things to say, and silently walked away to make space.

"Teacher Zhang, I have not lived up to your expectations."

Qin Shi seriously clasped his hands and performed the ancient Old Martial Arts salute.

"Zhou Yuanchen broke through to the Professional Level ahead of you, yet you still eliminated him."

A smile line appeared at the corner of Old Zhang's eye, very gratified:

"The prestige of the Nanhuang Dojo, you've fought for it! I'm basking in your glory!"

Qin Shi said nothing more. He had received the core inheritance of the Nanhuang Dojo and had a Grandmaster guarding him.

This treatment, others couldn't get even if they begged; one couldn't take the advantage and act coy.

"Let's stop the idle talk."

Old Zhang turned his wheelchair and raised a hand, pointing beyond the oasis.

Qin Shi strained his eyes and vaguely saw a ruined temple that had endured long ages.

It was shrouded in mist, exuding a trace of ancient and mysterious meaning.

"That is the Xu Kong Ji Tan opened up by Qin Shuai when he first arrived in Hengzhou. Its original function was to cooperate with Star Torches, set navigation nodes, guide spaceships, and indicate their position."

A look of expectation flickered in Old Zhang's eyes as he said softly:

"It's been too long, lacking maintenance, and has been scrapped. The Martial Association treats it as a cultivation resource, drawing in worldly heavenly light, bathing and baptizing, tempering the mortal body."

"In the past, the Old Martial Arts school of Hengzhou sprang up like bamboo shoots after rain, precisely relying on the existence of these altars, which greatly helped the Old Martial Arts school break limits and strengthen their bodies. I used it once or twice back then, with excellent results."

Qin Shi's eyes lit up. So this was the greatest reward of the Top Hundred Competition?

One must know, breaking limits was not easy.

He seemed to do it easily, time and again seizing the opportunity of the Seven Great Limits, connecting smoothly, and guaranteeing progress.

It was because his accumulation was deep enough, and his cultivation resources were supplied endlessly.

Under such prerequisites, one also had to consider the bonus of talent and aptitude, as well as cheating.

For an ordinary Old Martial Arts practitioner, breaking through the four limits of the flesh in this lifetime was already not easy.

"Drawing in worldly heavenly light—such an opportunity is rare. Even the highest levels of the Martial Association get only a few indicators each year; the cake isn't enough to go around."

"You must cherish it well..."

Old Zhang suddenly lowered his voice and instructed:

"He Lanchan came to Hengzhou. He seemed to be searching for something, and finally went into seclusion for a while at the Xu Kong Ji Tan in the Great Rift Valley. You inherited his 'Xu Kong Meditation Method'; perhaps you can gain some benefits from it."

Did Old He also enjoy the Heavenly Light Baptism of the Xu Kong Ji Tan?

But back then he should already have been a top expert of the Professional Realm, perhaps even close to breaking through to Grandmaster.

This opportunity should be of no use to He Lanchan.

Why would he still need to enter seclusion here?

Doubts popped up one after another in Qin Shi's mind.

His thoughts diverged and his mind fluctuated, yet his expression remained calm as he said lightly:

"Alright, Teacher Zhang. I'll do my best to seize the opportunity and step into the Fourth Great Limit."

What?

The Fourth Great Limit?

Old Zhang looked at Qin Shi with the eyes one would use for a monster, gazing up at him, and his chicken-claw-like withered hand suddenly lunged forward.

As if the breath of a roaring furnace of the Star Sea seeped into flesh and blood, like a radar scan.

"The Fourth Great Limit has indeed loosened!"

Old Zhang's face showed excitement:

"Skin Pass! Mortal body, tendons and bones, skin membranes—you've opened the Three Great Limits, and just one more time will forge a perfect fleshly body!"

Qin Shi felt Old Zhang's furnace Life Flame, as vast as the Star Sea, simply overwhelming; compared to it, he was as small as dust.

"After you accept the Baptism of Transcendent Heavenly Light, I'll properly settle accounts with you."

Old Zhang excitedly slapped the wheelchair armrests, and many plans surfaced in his mind.

Nanhuang Dojo, the most powerful and famous place.

Was the Forging Body!

After talking with Old Zhang, Qin Shimai walked toward the ruined temple hidden in the mist.

Xu Sheng stood waiting ahead with his hands behind his back, walking and saying:

"Little Qin Classmate, the path you now walk has been walked by many predecessors of the Hengzhou Martial Association, and even the First Generation Ten Greats."

Xu Sheng pointed to the stone steles along both sides of the road, which bore names.

The one at the very end bore three large carved characters.

He, Lan, Chan!

"Hmm."

Qin Shi looked carefully:

"The momentum is impressive, but is this character too ugly? Like chicken scratches."

Qin Shi followed Xu Sheng's footsteps and slowly approached.

He suddenly turned back, looking toward the small path covered in thick fog, as if seeing a familiar figure standing behind him.

"Where He Lanchan walked, I have walked too."

His calm Consciousness Sea stirred with ripples; the altar condensed by the Xu Kong Meditation Method he cultivated trembled slightly, emitting a trace of strange light.

(Chapter End)