Chapter 23

Seven Great Limits of the Flesh?

This was the first time Qin Shi had ever heard this term.

He thought carefully; Lao Liang had started him off with Meridian Opening and Bone Cleansing, then passed on the Amateur Eighth Rank, Nine Joints, Grasping Qi Sensation, and other cultivation steps.

Huh, it seems they all match up!

"What are the Seven Great Limits of the Flesh, Liang Laoshi? The textbooks on the 'Martial Artist' profession at Xin Yi High School never mention them."

Qin Shi displayed curiosity right on cue.

Right now he was like a one-in-a-thousand sports student seedling, spotted by a former City Team Coach.

Naturally he had a bit of bargaining leverage and qualification!

"Qin Shi, can you tell me how long Dongxia has existed?"

Lao Liang suddenly posed a common knowledge question that anyone who hadn't slipped through the cracks of Nine-Year Compulsory Education could answer.

"Since the name 'Dongxia' was established, unifying the Ancestral Star, it has been nine hundred millennia. During this period it experienced several great upheavals and transformations, turning the ancient Feudal System into history and sweeping the parasitic Noble Class into the garbage heap.

It buried incompetent and tyrannical Emperors, and executed ambitious rebels; if we set aside the vast ancient history that a single Library couldn't hold, and only discuss the current 'Dongxia Republic'.

Then it is very young, only nine millennia old, still a 'child' that hasn't grown up."

Qin Shi's reply was quite perfect, belonging to the standard answer of a History Exercise Book.

Lao Liang nodded:

"I haven't studied for many years, I'm ignorant about these things. The reason I ask you is because the specific origin of the Seven Great Limits of the Flesh involves some mysteries of past history.

The First Martial God of Dongxia was named 'Yan Haishan'; he is the acknowledged Founder of Old Martial Arts, and the founder of the Martial Artist path.

But few people know that he was also the first human to completely open the Seven Great Limits of the Flesh and step into the legendary realm."

Hiss!

Qin Shi couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.

Such a tremendous background?

Connected to the First Martial God?

He promptly revealed a look of shock and alarm, providing ample emotional value to encourage Lao Liang to continue.

"And Yan Haishan himself said more than once that he merely discovered the 'Seven Great Limits of the Flesh', rather than originating them. As for the specific details, they were never spread to the outside world.

Later the Old Martial Arts Era flourished fiercely, reached its Peak, and gradually gave rise to a saying. The Ancestors of Dongxia were born with powerful Tendons and Bones and long Lifespans, nearly equal to Divine Spirits.

But under the scouring of time and the changing of eras, the originally noble and exalted True Dragon Bloodline grew thin, extraordinary talent faded away, and they gradually became Weak."

Lao Liang spoke this segment of a bizarre story that sounded very much like street-stall nonsense quite seriously, his eyes flashing with a touch of longing.

"Never mind the truth of this saying; anyway, many Old Martial Arts Experts of extraordinary talent firmly believed the Seven Great Limits of the Flesh are a Shackle binding the Mortal Body.

As long as one breaks the restrictions through Secret Techniques, one can Refine the First Bloodline of Dongxia's Ancestors and Transform into the Holy Buddha of myth!"

So in the end, the Old Martial Arts faction is superstitious about this Ancestor Worship business?

Think the older it is the stronger? Wouldn't everyone go dig up Civilization Ruins then?

No wonder it got replaced by New Martial Arts.

Qin Shi realized.

The Education Committee could hardly have schools organize students to carry iron shovels and hoes everywhere looking for Tomb Copies.

The Art Style is weird just thinking about it!

Looked at this way, Old Martial Arts is destined to be buried in the History Corner.

While New Martial Arts rising, being promoted, and becoming universal is an unstoppable Trend.

"You're a Top Student who received New Martial Arts Education; I understand what you're thinking. But existence has its reason; Old Martial Arts is indeed outdated, but it once had Glory, and even produced several Half-Step Martial God Level Lives.

Moreover, New Martial Arts isn't without Defects; currently Drug Abuse is rampant, Supplements flood the market, regulation is lacking, and large Pharmaceutical Companies profiting from this is an undeniable fact."

Lao Liang sighed:

"I don't force you to become an Admirer of Old Martial Arts; I only hope you try walking this path. Those expensive Cultivation Halls, potent Energy Liquids — no student on Old Factory Street can Afford them. Old Martial Arts is the only viable Option."

Qin Shi didn't decide rashly; he considered for a long time, then slowly asked:

"Liang Laoshi, what does Old Martial Arts breaking limits require?"

"Body Tempering, Accumulate Foundation, and Fierce Battle and a bit of Luck."

Lao Liang held out Four Fingers.

"You possess the talent for Body Tempering; good Physique, solid enough. You also have outstanding talent in fighting methods; this is especially rare.

As for Foundation and Luck, I'll find a way to solve the former. Four Possessions Two — that qualifies as a Genius!"

Qin Shi grinned, and casually asked:

"Then if all four are present, what's it called?"

Lao Liang lightly spat Two Words, Decisive:

"Prodigy!"

Wonder if I can snag a "Prodigy" title by unlocking Achievements via the Stela, and give Lao Liang a nasty Surprise?

Qin Shi's Eyes Brightened, harboring Longing.

"Advise you to dream less of Spring and Autumn Dreams. Foundation — this thing is Destined from Birth. The First Generation Ten Greats: Shi Fo He Lanchan was praised as Highest Talent, while Great Demon King Qi Wuxiang was Highest Achievement.

Why didn't He Lanchan beat Qi Wuxiang? The reason is simple: the former grew up in the most remote garbage district of Yazhou, and before Age Twelve he still had to worry about eating his fill.

While the latter was the Direct Grandson of the Qi Family of Haizhou; he never went Hungry in this life.

Tenth Birthday, the Gift he received was a rare Twin Treasure Tree, an exotic Strange Object from outside the domain, capable of nurturing vitality and extending lifespan."

Lao Liang seemingly greatly admired Shi Fo He Lanchan, treating him as an idol; every time he finished praising him he had to drag down Qi Wuxiang:

"If the two's circumstances were swapped, whether there would still be the Four Crowns Qi Star King is hard to say.

But without a doubt, Dongxia would absolutely produce a He Martial God who horizontally suppresses his contemporaries!"

Unless the "Qin" in your name is the "Qin" of that Marshal of Dongxia.

Otherwise, you'd be better off doing good deeds daily and accumulating some Sun Virtue Luck for yourself — that's far more practical.

The Dongxia Republic has only Nine Marshals in total; that Marshal Qin ranks third and eyes the second seat, truly like a Pillar Holding Up Sky, a Pillar Holding Up Sea, propping up Half of Galaxy.

Counting back hundreds of generations, you might not even reach the Edge.

Qin Shi pouted, indifferent to Lao Liang's Cold Water:

"Let's still talk about the Topic, Liang Laoshi. You said before that Old Martial Arts injure the body and shorten life, easily accumulating Chronic Illness and leaving a Root of Disease.

If I follow you down this Body Limit Breakthrough Road, I won't die young and fail to live past Twenty-Eight Years Old, will I? Old Qin's Family Line has only me as a Male Heir; I'm needed to carry on the Qin Family Incense Continuation."

Lao Liang Smiled:

"Among the First Generation Ten Greats who walked the Old Martial Arts Road, quite a few are still alive and Breathing today, only most are Unwilling to Surface publicly.

Even some Top Martial Artists have turned to Cultivate Anew New Martial Arts, hoping for Further Progress. Between New and Old, they do not Contradict; on the contrary, they Coexist.

As for what I said before about injuring the body and Consuming Life... you should also think: why is the Body Lock called the 'Great Limit'?"

Qin Shi savored the Profound Meaning in Lao Liang's words and asked Tentatively:

"Can breaking the Limit extend life?"

Lao Liang nodded lightly:

"The First Martial God Yan Haishan has already Confirmed it: Break the Great Limit, Knock the Body Gate, and you can achieve a massive increase in Qi Life Force, letting a person Return to Youth, Withered Tree Meets Spring.

As long as you can break the Shackle, all the potential consumed by Physical Consumption will be replenished at that moment."

It gives the feeling of someone gambling their life as the stake, going all-in on Intensity!

So the Old Martial Arts faction are all big shots who Burn Life?

Others develop Qi Life Force by Burning Money; they just Play Life directly?

No wonder the Dongxia Education Commission and Martial Association want Reform!

Qin Shi's Face Twitched, yet he no longer Hesitated:

"Please Teach Me, Liang Laoshi!"

Old Martial Arts places even greater emphasis on Master-Disciple Inheritance; its weight sometimes exceeds even father and son.

Answer to "Master" once, be called "Disciple" once, and from then on it is Indissoluble, Passing the Torch.

After Qin Shi finally Agreed with Difficulty, Lao Liang instead Hesitated:

"Aren't you afraid you'll fail to Break the Great Limit, Waste Years, Waste Life, and Never Recover from then on?"

Qin Shi Shook his Head. He stood on the Stand; below lay layer upon layer of solid concrete steps, Morning Wind blew across the empty Playground, pressing down Dry Yellow Weeds.

"Liang Laoshi, I heard you're from the Leiyun Electronics Factory Area, attended Children's Fifth Middle School? Then you should understand, Old Factory Street has an acknowledged principle.

The Path was never ours to Choose. Like Brother Yuan, Cheng Ge and them — aren't they afraid of mixing with Gangs, that one day they might be hacked to death by Random Knives, or Take the Blame for the boss and rot in Prison?

On this land beneath our feet, life is never worth money; Opportunity is worth money! Opportunity must be Strived for with one's own hands; life, too, must be changed with one's own hands!"

(Chapter End)