Chapter 44

"I finally understand Master's state of mind back then. Living alongside a monster, watching them effortlessly attain results I poured my heart and soul into achieving — it truly brings a keen sense of defeat, as if I've lived most of my life for nothing."

Lao Liang has endured too many blows tonight; he's already nearly numb.

One piece of good news after another, smashing into him until he's dizzy and dazed.

Not even in my wildest dreams did I dare imagine I could bring back a Xiao He Lanchan as a disciple!

Both an Old Martial Arts root seedling, and spiritual field power breaking convention, and entry-level Spirit Cultivation Technique...

In Qin Shi's words, it's like losing ten games straight, then getting a Little D three times in a row, directly synthesizing a three-star five-cost piece.

Luck exploding to the point of doubting life itself!

"If eating a few pages of paper lets one comprehend the Spirit Cultivation Technique without tempering, through sudden enlightenment.

Then why did I spend years reciting and copying day and night, recognizing secret texts even in my sleep and dreams!"

Lao Liang smiled bitterly; he didn't understand where Qin Shi's talent came from — simply like a divine spirit's blessing.

His broad palm stroked the ancient manuscript Master Uncle had hand-copied; no Qi Rhyme remained on it at all.

Hong Sheng transmitted the Old Martial Path, not the method of cultivating the heart.

That novel trope where a later generation comprehends a divine skill from a secret manual generations later — it's almost impossible to happen.

"Could it be that Xiao He is also a good Esper seedling, possessing Divine Revelation Aptitude?"

Lao Liang's gaze held wonder, his mind filling in the blanks.

Looking at Qin Shi, with Qi Sense circulating and completing the Zhou Tian Cycle.

Seems my own luck is about to turn!

He thought this.

As one of Dongxia's three main professional paths, aside from Martial Artists who are relatively like normal people.

The other two mostly carry a touch of the mysterious.

Take Mechanics — people call them "Oil Geezers".

They believe steel is pure, machinery sacred, and are extremely obsessed with technical innovation and flesh-and-blood upgrades.

They favor rationality, appreciate logic, detest all redundancy and dealing with people.

Specifically manifested as: liking the smell of machine oil, making explosions, collecting gear components unearthed from ancient ruins, and dating non-flesh-and-blood life forms.

Espers are relatively solitary, like being alone, and love things with rich aesthetic value.

They often possess a "Divine Revelation Aptitude" steeped in mysticism.

Perhaps never having touched painting or music, they naturally master that art, possessing an understanding far beyond ordinary people.

In the Old Era buried by history's dust, there even appeared a remarkable painter.

Without having stepped onto a supernatural path, relying solely on the naked eye they observed deeper layers of the world, and committed it to fabric with pigments and brushes, creating works that spread through the world.

It sounds rather literary, but in reality they're a high-incidence group for persecutory delusions, split personalities, and mental distortion.

Producing madmen, geniuses, warmongers, and schemers in abundance.

Rated by Tomorrow Group's best-selling "Watch Weekly" as "the profession least welcomed by other supernatural paths".

"Master Liang, the Hundred Aspects Refining Momentum turns out to be a Contemplation Method, and the Spirit Cultivation Technique is the key to unlocking it."

Qin Shi slowly sat down, a look of sudden realization flashing in his eyes.

After the Spirit Cultivation Technique's secret text was broken down, it became a visualization pattern containing "Momentum/Force".

He recalled just now — the strange sensation of his mortal body merging into the air current, transforming into a gale.

It was as if his body had become light and agile, making one involuntarily intoxicated.

After eating those few sheets of paper, it seemed countless streams of information were poured into his consciousness.

Originally incomprehensible, chaotic symbols whose meanings couldn't be known were broken down and scattered, then recombined and condensed into ancient, profound, strange patterns.

Wind! Dense streams of Qi converged into winds of every form!

Breeze, gale, warm wind, cold wind, hot wind, whirlwind, hurricane... countless wind forms, endlessly changing, deeply branded into his brain sea.

Just a thought, a meditation, and he could capture strands of rotating air currents.

"Correct. The core of Hundred Aspects Refining Momentum lies in 'heart as furnace, all-encompassing', then 'nourish spirit, refine momentum, take for own use'.

It is an 'Inner Skill', taking life force as foundation, feeding back the spirit, making both advance side by side."

Lao Liang said with a smile:

"To a certain extent, you're very suited to walk this path.

He Lanchan, who deduced and sublimated Hundred Aspects Refining Momentum to the supreme realm, is similar to you — also Spirit-Flesh Unity."

No wonder he could refine over 8,800 kinds of Momentum/Force — turns out he's the ultimate grind emperor who desperately stacks numbers!

Qin Shi felt admiration; this First Generation Ten Greats member sounds a bit like the Sword God of Ten-Mile Slope, just stubbornly lying low to develop and grind skill levels, patiently waiting for the opportunity to amaze the world with a single brilliant feat and make his name known in the Star Sea.

Same age — Qi Wuxiang at nineteen looked down on all heroes, at twenty won the championship, then at twenty-eight won again consecutively.

In contrast, He Lanchan endured until thirty-six before reaching the Star Cup finals.

Before that, he had almost no reputation.

Result: this dark horse overturned the unstoppable momentum of Qi Wuxiang, stopping the Star King Qi's three-peat legend.

"Master Liang, comprehending 'Its Speed Like Wind Momentum' made my Qi Sense circulation route completely different.

Why is that?"

Qin Shi voiced his confusion.

When he first started Grasping Qi Sensation, that heat current rushed up and down, limited to the chest cavity and trunk.

After several burning tendon sessions like nectar pouring on the crown, only then did he open the four limbs' joints and complete a simple cycle.

As he ate Master Uncle's manuscript, completing the ingestion, and comprehended 'Its Speed Like Wind Momentum'.

The ever-growing Qi Sense naturally converged toward the soles of his feet.

"A Martial Artist's 'Momentum' is the process of the 'Qi' within the body distributing from inside to outside.

In Old Era wuxia novels, it was called 'External Release of Inner Force', 'Hundred-Step Heavenly Gang'."

Lao Liang picked up the porcelain bowl, inverted it on the table, and ran his finger lightly around the bottom of the bowl.

With a 'skrrt' sound, he gouged out a 'bracelet' big enough to fit a wrist.

Qin Shi widened his eyes; this was the first time he had seen Lao Liang reveal his true skill.

"The Old Martial Arts path: Practice Methods and Combat Methods.

Practice Methods cultivate Body and Spirit; Combat Methods fight formations and kill enemies.

Fists and feet are arena methods — back and forth, evenly matched, life and death not so clear-cut.

But on ancient battlefields, it was kill or be killed, life hanging by a thread — that's when you relied on weapons."

Lao Liang chuckled:

"As the old saying goes, 'Qin' is dead, 'Na' is alive; only when Qin-Na is mastered do you advance to weapons.

Weapons are extensions of the limbs; man and weapon as one, killing as easy as cutting grass!

Even placed in today's times, there are still quite a few war regiments driving Divine Machines who like to forge blades, swords, and long spears from exotic metals, breaking formations alone.

Right, don't learn this before becoming a Martial God — easy to get your battleship blasted to slag."

I'm not stupid!

How could I possibly do something as stupid as using my flesh body to tank a railgun!

Qin Shi pondered; Lao Liang had rambled on for half a day, the gist being that 'Momentum' provides an enchantment effect, increasing an individual's lethality.

Qi is the blue bar, Momentum is the ultimate!

"Hundred Aspects Refining Momentum — Swift as Wind! As the name implies, speed-focused!

As long as you keep comprehending, you can evolve from it the 'Trait' most suited to you.

Such as 'Severing', 'Keenness', 'Agility', 'Infiltration', and the like.

What I just demonstrated for you was condensing Wind Momentum at the fingertips, forming a spiraling sharp force.

Never mind a porcelain bowl — even steel plate can be sliced and snapped."

Lao Liang spoke leisurely, and Qin Shi listened with his emotions rising and falling.

He longed for it: if he mastered Swift as Wind Momentum, could he be like the masters in Old Era wuxia novels — lightness skill soaring, flying heaven and tunneling earth?

"Of course you can, but best not in the Urban Circle; if you trigger airspace monitoring and set off air defense alarms, that'll be trouble.

Back in the early Dongxia New Calendar, when the Republic was first established, quite a few Martial Artists didn't put the law in their eyes, strutting high and mighty in Central City and the Urban Circle; more than a few death-seekers got concentrated-fired into sieves, their corpses not even left intact."

Facing his Disciple's vigorous curiosity, Lao Liang gave a well-meaning reminder.

Many Old Martial Arts factions yearn for the chaotic era of warlord melees and collapsed order.

A large part of the reason lies in unbounded freedom, free from control.

In those days, Martial Artists with Life Force breaking through the Hundred Point Threshold drove Divine Machines roaming Ancient Stars, defeated rampant space pirates, escorted passing civilian spaceships, met noble daughters of great Imperial Capital clans... the chivalry and romance found only in storybooks.

Those things indeed once attracted countless young people to step onto the Old Martial Arts path.

"Kid, don't be too impatient either, obsessing over Refining Momentum. Life Force under Twenty Points, over-practicing the Nourishing Spirit Technique, easily damages flesh potential."

Lao Liang reminded him verbally, but in his heart he was thinking how to get his hands on high-grade Energy Liquid that enhances Flesh Vitality.

Push the last four points of Life Force up, achieve Perfection of Rebirth Transformation!

Good stuff like Energy Liquid has a market but no price; the higher-ups control it strictly, extremely little circulates on the open market.

The more outstanding Qin Shi's displayed talent, the more his heart could not stay calm.

Fine talent and beautiful jade falling into his hands and being buried and delayed — wouldn't that be a sin?

The next day.

Lin Yunqing's Han Hai Conqueror drove into Qiguang Heng University's school gate.

She wore relatively casual sportswear, black long hair draped over her shoulders, quite possessing a young female teacher's radiant charm.

"Brother! Little sister brought you a love lunch!"

Lin Yunqing didn't even knock, walking straight into the General Affairs Director's Office.

Secretary Xu sitting outside recognized this Lin Family Eldest Miss, so she didn't stop her either.

"How many times have I told you! In school, during my working hours, you must use my title!"

Lin Xiaohan felt a headache coming on; this sister of his was especially incorrigible, never letting the family rest easy.

Showing up on her own initiative — mostly no good deed!

"Got it, Brother."

Lin Yunqing carried a pink cat-themed takeout bag, grinning as she leaned in:

"Little sister personally cooked, specially made a love lunch for Director Lin! By the way, completing the check-up task Sister-in-law assigned!"

Lin Xiaohan's mouth corner twitched:

"Where did I offend you recently, that you have to poison me to death?"

Lin Yunqing's Dark Cuisine — besides Old Dad who could rely on solid Life Force to tank it, the rest of the family had no fortune to consume.

"Just earned a bit of small money, so I have to properly thank you, Brother."

Lin Yunqing said with a smile:

"Went to the Youth Palace today; early this morning a guy named Qin Lihao sent someone to deliver a latest-model Thunder series sports car, saying it was an apology to me."

Lin Xiaohan's brows furrowed slightly:

"Quite the generous hand — a ten-million-plus sports car gifted just like that. How did you handle it?"

He wasn't worried his sister would be blinded by such petty gain.

Lin Yunqing nodded:

"Of course! You don't know how badly I need money! After taking that car, I immediately opened the 'EarnEarn APP' and had someone come to the doorstep to recycle it! Face-to-face settlement, extremely high efficiency!"

Selling a new sports car secondhand?

Sounds like something his sister would do.

Lin Xiaohan said with a serious expression:

"Don't keep stirring up trouble either. The Yincheng Qin Family — heroes and outstanding figures, benevolence righteousness propriety wisdom — famously fierce and sinister."

Lin Yunqing raised an eyebrow:

"I don't have time to deal with them, as long as that lecher Qin Zhijie stops loitering in front of me... Brother, let's talk business, has your Qiguang Heng University's special recruitment started this year?"

(Chapter End)