Chapter 59

Breaking the Second Limit!

A hint of longing showed in Qin Shi's eyes; he had already tasted the sweetness of the path of the Seven Great Limits of the Flesh.

You must know, Life Force Development has never been achieved overnight.

Like a game's point allocation and level-up, one strike crits for 999, the experience bar instantly maxed out.

Normally speaking, even a Martial God would find it difficult to rapidly increase their life force in a short time.

Especially to suddenly surge and break through the Hundred Point Threshold from a mere seven or eight points of ordinary standard.

This is something that defies common sense.

Because for the Martial Artist Path, the physical body is the foundation of everything.

Forcibly infusing power that does not originally belong to it into the body is like pouring the water of a pond into a water jar.

It will only burst the Mortal Body, causing it to gradually collapse and crumble!

That is why Old Martial Arts speak of the Seven Great Limits of the Flesh.

Through gradual tempering, breaking the seven shackles, casting off the fetters of the human body!

According to the Ancient Era's Buddhist teaching, this is called "firming one's own destiny, forging a precious raft to ferry the world, hoping to cross the sea of suffering and reach the other shore."

"The benefits brought by each limit breakthrough are not merely the current rise in life force. When you were young, your Tendon Gate first broke, and you already gained Mang Force; later you can advance two more steps, temper and polish, and seize 'Jiao Force', 'Dragon Force'."

Lao Liang looked at Qin Shi sitting beside him with expectant eyes, as if admiring a rare treasure nearing perfection:

"The more Great Limits you break open, the greater the Mortal Body Transformation; ultimately, layer upon layer accumulates, deep accumulation leads to sudden release, pushing you toward a higher level of life — that is, the likes of 'Saint', 'Buddha', 'Immortal', 'Dragon' from the Ancient Era."

Seeing Lao Liang speak freely of the future after breaking limits, Qin Shi couldn't help but show a yearning expression; born on Old Factory Street, since childhood he had listened to the radio and watched TV, learning the names of the First Generation Ten Greats from them, learning the legendary deeds of those figures who were like the Sun.

"Who would have thought that one day I would also walk the same road as them, an ancient road leading to the highest point of the Star Sea, almost straight to the gates of the Martial God Hall."

This feeling of a dream shining into reality truly makes one happy.

These days Lao Liang had been pondering constantly, considering for his own Disciple how to find an opportunity for the Second Limit of the Physical Body.

He slowly spoke:

"Jin Ti Huo Jin is a common ancient method in the Old Era Martial Arts World. It just so happens I know Lao Gu, and know he has a few bottles of authentic Tianzhu goods hidden away, so this gate is easier to break.

The next few Great Limits, the difficulty rises; the relatively easier ones to complete should be the 'Bone Gate' and 'Skin Pass'.

The old saying goes: externally train tendons, bones, skin. If you can break through these three gates in succession, the Hong Sheng Sect's most extraordinary 'Dragon Tendons Tiger Bones Kirin Strength' will be considered achieved."

Tendons, Bones, Skin!

Burning Tendons to break the First Limit has already let my life force surge by a large margin.

If I blast open three gates in a row like this, won't I take off?

Qin Shi couldn't help but want to rub his hands, puffed out his chest and showed a resolute look:

"Master Liang, just rest assured and train me hard; absolutely don't go easy on me just because I'm young!"

Lao Liang was helpless; his own Disciple's talent and Xinli might not dare claim to be unparalleled in the world, but in terms of a positive, enterprising attitude, it could absolutely be called unique.

Truly too eager to improve!

"Look, rushing again. Body Limit Breakthrough cannot be rash; preparatory work must be done thoroughly, otherwise you waste mental effort and squander potential in vain, instead affecting the height of future achievements."

Lao Liang instructed.

Qin Shi obediently nodded.

This aspect of Old Martial Arts is reassuring; the Master is reliable enough, no fear of taking the wrong path.

"Wait a few days, I'll search around a bit more, prepare a few portions of 'Materials' for you."

Lao Liang rubbed his Lame Leg while pondering which old friend to mooch off of.

Raising a Disciple is even more worry, effort, and money than raising a Young Child!

As a poor teacher at Zi Fu No. 9 Middle School, a few bottles of Jin Ti Huo Jin were enough to clean out his family savings.

Let alone other good things.

Either spend big money searching the building, or run everywhere picking up leaks.

Neither is an easy matter.

"Master Liang, I still have some money on hand..."

Qin Shi spoke up on his own.

Although Lao Liang's face is written all over with "I have a story," one estimates he was indeed glorious in his youth, but a hero doesn't mention past courage; past glory cannot be eaten as rice.

With just that dead salary from Zi Fu No. 9 Middle School, plus the extra income from running a Tutoring Class, it might not even cover his own expenses.

Heard that in the Old Era, learning arts as an apprentice meant three years doing odd jobs, two years helping with labor, seven years of service, enduring hardship, resentment, beating, and scolding, doing Cow and Horse work for over a decade before being accepted.

And on every festival one must pay filial tribute, serve the Master like one's own father, otherwise don't even dream of learning the true skills.

In contrast, myself: one, never paid tuition; two, even White Eating Nutrient Paste.

Even the money for buying Jin Ti Huo Jin was mostly paid by Lao Liang.

Mainly playing the Filial Support card!

Even Qin Shi felt a bit embarrassed; he should take out some Deposit.

Lest Lao Liang ruin his family fortune and use up his own pension.

"Count you, brat, as having a conscience. However, many things cannot be bought just by Spending Money, especially with Hengzhou blockaded for so many years; rare items that can develop life force basically do not circulate on the market."

Lao Liang smiled with gratification:

"Have you ever seen Energy Liquid, High-grade Mineral Elements sold in the Urban Circle's Malls? Nutrient Paste, High-Energy Food, and whatever other Supplements, Medicines — they are all sold as 'Health Products' or 'Civilian Version'; they may have some effect, but compared to the truly special-supply Top-grade Special Products, they are still far too inferior."

Qin Shi was thoughtful; from Lao Liang's words, the richest external Zi Liao in Dongxia are most likely all controlled and monopolized by colossi like the Martial Association, Academies, and even the Three Departments and Nine Bureaus.

To obtain sufficient Resource supply, one must join them, become a part of the system.

This is also the main reason why countless students in Hengzhou all hope to test into the Four Great National Universities.

"Digressed too far. Materials for Breaking the Second Limit needn't worry you, won't cost me much money.

The Bone Gate is also known as the Blood Pass; the first step of refining bones is nourishing the blood—only when blood and Qi are sufficient can the bones grow strong.

Lao Liang seemed to have thought of a solution, pulling up the corners of his mouth to reveal a smile:

"In the Old Era, buying seven or eight hundred jin of tiger bones and ox bones would be quite expensive.

These days, livestock breeding is well developed, and prices have long been driven down.

It just depends on how big your appetite is, kid, and how much you can eat."

Eat?

Qin Shi was a bit confused—does breaking the Bone Gate limit depend on how much you eat?

"A sturdy physique is an indispensable talent for passing the Tendon Gate.

A big appetite and the ability to eat are an advantage for entering the Bone Gate."

Lao Liang smiled faintly, taking a steel bar from the four-wheeled cart:

"But before attempting to break the limit, you must first learn our Hong Sheng's most signature killing move."

He propped the wrist-thick steel bar on the cement floor, raised his right palm, and asked:

"Back then, how much Qi Life Force do you think it takes to sever this thing with just your physical quality?"

Qin Shi glanced at it; if he mobilized his Qi Sense, integrated the Qi Jin throughout his body, and erupted suddenly, bending and snapping it wouldn't be difficult.

But without exerting force, doing so would be quite challenging.

Lao Liang said softly:

"The Qi Life Force value and combat strength are not directly linked. For example, Espers who cultivate the heart usually have decent physical quality, but facing a Martial Artist of the same level without any defense, they would be killed in a single exchange."

Martial Artists use practice methods to increase Qi Life Force, while fighting methods are meant to fully squeeze out the body's potential, especially those 'killing moves' that come at the cost of harming the flesh.

You have reached Entry Level in Spirit Cultivation and can already initially comprehend 'Its Speed Like Wind Momentum'; next, I will teach you how to Refine this momentum and use it as an Attack Method.

Open your eyes wide, watch closely!"

As he spoke the last seven words, Lao Liang's voice was like a great Clock, like an angry roar and violent shout.

The sound waves deeply shook Qin Shi's eardrums, making them ring.

He unconsciously widened his eyes, staring fixedly at Lao Liang's raised right palm.

Immediately, he saw strands of 'Wind' being drawn, gently swirling and circling.

The palm seemed to hold one after another infinitesimal wind eye.

Immediately after, the blue veins on the surface of Lao Liang's palm bulged, like small green snakes climbing and biting, stimulating blood flow, making the skin fuller and plumper; at first glance, it seemed to have swelled by half a circle!

Suddenly, the airflow shook, and the wind howled!

Qin Shi's vision blurred; Lao Liang's palm was like a cleaver slicing horizontally, passing over that sturdy steel bar.

He could feel that this hand strike had not used much force.

But with Hundred Aspects Refining Momentum, the drawn airflow rotated at high speed.

Strands of 'Wind' attached to the edge of the palm, like a sharpened weapon.

In a sudden Intersection, the steel bar snapped at the waist, the cut smooth and even.

"Hong Sheng's most signature killing move..."

Qin Shi was slightly amazed; this was a fighting method far beyond fist and foot strikes.

Moving the palm like a knife, Killing Intent was chilling, every strike aimed at taking life and destroying existence.

"Hundred Aspects Refining Momentum, Swift as Wind, First Form."

Lao Liang withdrew his palm, his tone full of emotion:

"—Killing Whale Hand!"

(Chapter End)