Chapter 33: Spirit Cultivation in the Fist, Wind Forest Fire Mountain

Am I a fellow disciple of He Lanchan?

Qin Shi's heart jolted; Lao Liang was indeed hiding his abilities.

Connected to the First Generation Ten Greats—could Hong Sheng's background be small?

Those top Martial Artists hailed as giants traveled to the Galaxy Frontier multiple times, fought on the borders, and left legends behind.

Finally returning in glory, alive, they opened the Starry Sky Daoist Arena and stood at the peak of the Star Sea.

Even when a Governor called a Provincial Governor who ruled an Administrative New Star met him,

they would give him three parts of courtesy, bowing respectfully and not daring to slight him.

"What are you thinking? He Lanchan never had a proper master in his life; he ate from many families' tables, and the sects connected to him are countless."

"If one day you leave Old Factory Street, leave Hengzhou, you can go to Jingzhou."

"Then you'll discover that Daoist Halls bearing the name 'He Lanchan' are as numerous as restaurants on the street hanging 'Old Brand' signs."

Lao Liang was speechless; his Disciple was good in every way, except for one thing.

His head was full of thoughts about hugging big thighs and finding a backer.

Completely lacking the enterprising spirit of hard struggle and self-growth.

From ancient times to now, which top Martial Artist

relied on great sect power and wide connections to become a big shot of one side?

Uh, it seems there actually are some.

Lao Liang thought for a moment, and a name burst into his Brain Sea.

The Patriarch of the First Generation Ten Greats, Jiang Bai Chuan!

His father Jiang Wanli was simple and unadorned, the first Half-step Martial God in the Great Reclamation Movement, Supreme Commander stationed at Gouchen Ancient Star.

Elder Brother Jiang Qianliu, Honorary Academician of Dongxia's highest research center, Academic Committee Member selected by the Four Great National Universities, the youngest mountain peak in the Academic Clique world.

Son Jiang Weiyi, said to be watched and blessed by a Divine Spirit from beyond the domain since in the womb, a Chosen One, a New Generation Prodigy with hopes of refreshing Qi Wuxiang's championship record in the Star Cup.

Many busybodies who were both envious and jealous joked privately that Jiang Bai Chuan's life was very simple, very pure.

Probably the trilogy "My Commander Father," "My Academician Brother," "My Heavenly Proud Son."

"Master Liang, it's just the two of us Master and Disciple here, don't hide things."

"Even if I really am a fellow disciple of the Ten Greats, I won't go around blabbering to attract attention."

Qin Shi looked at his Master expectantly, with a feeling of having been poor for over a dozen years since childhood, endlessly expecting his parents to actually be billionaires, waiting only for him to come of age to tell the truth.

These days, if there's a chance to hug a big thigh and eat soft rice, who would willingly struggle bitterly?

He dreamed day and night that Lao Liang was actually an unparalleled expert, with connections reaching the heavens,

merely hiding his name and sinking to Old Factory Street to support the elderly.

Now the ten-year period has arrived, Master Liang crooked his mouth in a smile, the old Dragon King returns!

Just one sentence could get him specially recruited into the Four Great National Universities!

"Read fewer third-rate novels; legendary experiences belong only to protagonists who condense momentum, kid."

Lao Liang looked at his Disciple's expectant expression and sighed helplessly:

"Master really has no special background. You don't think—Hengzhou has been blockaded from the outside for how many years? Every time watching the Star Cup we have to wait for the broadcast; what powerful expert would be willing to stay here?"

Seems to make sense.

Hengzhou New Star really isn't a good place, far inferior to super-first-line Administrative Stars like Imperial Capital and Haizhou.

Qin Shi slumped his shoulders and accepted reality.

The beautiful dream of winning by lying down hugging his Master's big thigh was thus shattered.

"Getting back to He Lanchan, he grew up in the garbage district and suffered from a genetic disease, born with a weak constitution. Later he luckily got an opportunity and set out to leave the remote Yazhou."

The sects he bowed to in this life, the arts he learned, the heads he knocked—no less than a hundred, maybe eighty.

Lao Liang spoke of the idol in his heart, eyes sparkling brightly, like a fanboy:

"Hong Sheng was just one of the places he stayed; he studied for a while under my Master Uncle, barely counting as an unnamed Disciple. To force a connection would only make him a laughingstock."

Qin Shi regretted it; he almost could have called Shi Fo Master Uncle.

"He Lanchan's talent and aptitude were extraordinary to an unbelievable degree. Jingzhou had heroes as numerous as fish crossing the river; Master Uncle was proud and arrogant, never taking anyone seriously. But upon seeing He Lanchan, he wished to hand over all his family secrets."

Lao Liang laughed happily; every time he remembered his Master complaining in a sour tone that Master Uncle was biased and favored outsiders, he couldn't help but chuckle.

"He Lanchan mastered Hong Sheng's Hundred Aspects Refining Momentum in two months; out of gratitude for the teaching, he called my Master Uncle 'Mister.'"

In the Star Cup match where he fought Qi Wuxiang, he once unleashed a heaven-shaking move called 'Myriad Aspects Annihilation,' containing infinite images, as if stars crumbled and sun and moon sank.

Tracing the root, it came from Hong Sheng's Hundred Aspects Refining Momentum; my Master watched the broadcast footage, sat in meditation all night, unable to come out of his trance.

He probably never imagined his own fist art could be carried forward and innovated to this extent.

Besides surprise, he couldn't help but feel melancholy, feeling ashamed before Hong Sheng's ancestral masters of all generations.

Myriad Aspects Annihilation?

One of Shi Fo's five great killing moves created by himself?

Actually comes from Hong Sheng's inheritance...?

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

Xin Yi High School teachers once played highlight reels of past Star Cups in the computer room; this first battle between He Lanchan and Qi Wuxiang is a classic that can rank in the top five.

"A Martial Artist seeks the path of truth, and also the path of crossing over."

Everyone who steps onto this path must find the 'Momentum' most suited to themselves.

I told you before, practice methods include Body Cultivation and Spirit Cultivation.

Hong Sheng's Hundred Aspects Refining Momentum passed down is precisely a Spirit Cultivation method that uses the heart as a furnace to plunder the images of all things.

Once cultivated, beasts and birds, wind forest fire mountain—none fail to take form, none cannot be used.

Lao Liang's tone was even, his words clear:

"Speaking purely of conception, it is indeed lofty; otherwise there would be no way to enter He Lanchan's Fa Eye.

But the flaw lies in the equally high Threshold — the Seven Great Limits of the Flesh, of which the Spirit Gate is the hardest to cross.

Since ancient times, cultivating Spirit and cultivating Qi have been far more difficult than training tendons and training strength.

Not to mention anything else, Hong Sheng's own Inheritance contains only four kinds of 'Momentum/Force' in total.

Named Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain.

My Master Uncle took eight Disciples; my Master was the most outstanding, yet he only refined three kinds.

As for me, I fall short of my Master, and cannot even catch up to my Master Uncle."

Understood.

The Founding Ancestor's ability was great, his Realm high, but he didn't consider that later generations' disciples would be useless!

He taught General Relativity, but the disciples could at most understand Calculus!

Qin Shi pondered silently, then asked again:

"Then, how many kinds has He Lanchan refined?"

Lao Liang smiled bitterly:

"He studied under Master Uncle at the Dao Guan, and mastered all four of Wind Forest Fire Mountain. Later he campaigned in the Star Cup, made his name in the Star Sea; it is said he cultivated the Eight Thousand Eight Hundred Powers — from the Natural Power of water dripping through stone and plants withering yellow, to the Destruction Power of mountains crumbling and the Milky Way hanging inverted, encompassing the infinite.

Why do He Lanchan's supporters still refuse to acknowledge Qi Wuxiang as the number one of the Ten Outstanding? Because in that first battle, if the Star King Qi hadn't had the Twin Treasure Tree save his life and block the killing blow, his legendary career of ten years and Four Crowns would have ended before it even began."

What?

Eight thousand eight hundred kinds!

Just how terrifying is that Shi Fo's 'Spirit'?

To actually be able to contain such vast and chaotic 'Momentum/Force'.

And to have refined every last bit of it, making it his own!

Qin Shi couldn't help but click his tongue, finding it somewhat unimaginable.

This group of First Generation Ten Greats who left their names in the Star Sea are truly too monstrous.

No wonder the new generation's heaven's favorites, such as Yu Li, Fu Zhao, Jiang Weiyi, and others.

Even if they rise up one after another, displaying extraordinary talent, and receive massive promotion from the Martial Association, they still cannot gain the recognition of the 'Ancient Fans'.

No way around it!

The predecessors are simply too dazzling, making those who come after pale in comparison.

"The vast Star Sea, billions of living beings, over thousands of years only one He Lanchan has emerged.

Eight thousand eight hundred kinds of Momentum/Force sounds grand, yet it also started from Wind Forest Fire Mountain, gradually accumulating Foundation, then soaring in a single leap.

Young Master need not aim too high too far; the boundless Star Sea, the Path is underfoot — heaven cannot be reached in a single step."

Lao Liang solemnly admonished, giving guidance.

"Wait until your Qi Life Force breaks through the Twenty Points Barrier, then I will transmit the true Spirit Cultivation method to you.

Right now, you have just broken through the Tendon Gate Great Limit, and only possess the Qualification to understand 'Momentum/Force'."

Qin Shi hurriedly sat up straight, studying seriously.

With Lao Liang's lucid explanation, he began to understand.

The so-called 'Momentum/Force' is using 'Heart Intent' to encompass 'Heaven and Earth'.

It is not unique to the Old Martial Arts faction.

Precisely the opposite.

The New Martial Arts faction is the main force that carried it forward, simplified and popularized it.

For example, the renowned Military Boxing contains very dense 'Momentum/Force'.

Many generals and colonels famous for slaying enemy commanders and capturing flags have comprehended killing techniques from within it.

Like 'Heavy Cannon Style', 'Battle Axe Style', 'Tank Cannon Fist', 'Warplane Soaring Body Technique' — all are well-known signature moves of the New Martial Arts faction.

Even in many street-stall magazines, half-truths circulate about one of the East Xia Twin Gems, Qin Shuai.

Who once, relying on a single move 'Million Soldiers Cross the Great River', defeated an extraterritorial Divine Spirit, opened up territory, and established a hundred-generations merit.

"Swift as Wind, Gentle as Forest, Invasive as Fire, Immovable as Mountain..."

Qin Shi digested today's insights and casually asked:

"Master Liang, which kind of Momentum/Force are you best at?"

"I have a crippled leg, just dragging out a wretched existence."

Lao Liang chuckled:

"Haven't exchanged blows with anyone in many years; a whole body of fighting skill has long since been lost seven or eight parts out of ten."

Qin Shi immediately fell silent, obediently helped his Master up, and put his short-sleeved shirt back on by himself.

Today breaking through the Tendon Gate Great Limit, his Qi Life Force should have made great progress.

His gaze condensed slightly.

The Stele Panel's Growth Degree.

Quietly reached 【0.010%】

"Ten Points, Entry Stage achieved!"

(Chapter End)