Chapter 24

Regarding Guoshu...

No, it should be said that for any systematic power system, cherishing one's own secrets is the norm.

Not to mention this kind of extraordinary power or near-extraordinary power where great power belongs to oneself, even for power systems like science that require collective effort, various countries still maintain strict blockades.

Even though Wu Pifu's Tiger Demon Art came easily, and the first shelter random draw he established gave him the full set of techniques—covering raising, training, and fighting—he also knew that a complete set of Guoshu techniques was a secret of each family. It wasn't just the saying that it's passed to sons and not daughters; it was often not even certain if it would be passed to the next generation, and if all else failed, it would simply be taken to the grave.

Lin Heier was prostrate on the ground at this moment, saying she would teach the full set of the Huang Lian Holy Mother Art. Wu Pifu hadn't spoken yet, but Xu Rongyu beside him was already swallowing his saliva repeatedly.

Only people in this world knew what such a complete set of techniques meant.

Wu Pifu was naturally moved. Not to mention anything else, if Lin Heier's cross-legged strike from before was used in a duel, even if he wasn't killed by a punch, he would likely be severely injured. Now he knew this was simulating Dan Jin techniques; this was simply exaggerated.

Ming Jin, An Jin, Hua Jin, Dan Jin, Gang Jin, Indestructible Divine—there is a huge gap between the six ranks of Guoshu, almost an overwhelming gap. Being able to briefly simulate Dan Jin at the An Jin rank is not just a comeback move in battle, but more importantly, it allows one to slowly explore the mysteries of Dan Jin through this simulation. This is its most important value.

It can be said that based on this alone, the Huang Lian Holy Mother Art far exceeds the Tiger Demon Art. The three major techniques of the Tiger Demon Art—raising, training, and fighting—are actually mediocre; only its general outline, which can train the Sleepless Spiritual Sense, is slightly worth looking at.

Wu Pifu didn't answer immediately. He pondered for a moment before saying, "I don't have absolute certainty either. At a height of about fifty meters, even if a tool like a catapult can send me up, whether I can hit it and whether I can break it are both uncertain. After dawn tomorrow, I can work with Amida to build this launcher, but everything else will depend on heaven's will."

Lin Heier was overjoyed. She bowed deeply again and said, "Then there is no time to lose. I will teach Master the secrets of the Sitting Lotus Jin now."

The two then went to the side hall. Xu Rongyu watched with envy and sighed repeatedly, "My big brother really has reached his opportunity. This is the Huang Lian Holy Mother Scripture, a secret-level technique..."

Unfortunately, the two people listening to him came from the Third and Fourth Wars respectively and had no idea what he was talking about; it was truly playing the lute to a cow.

That night passed without incident. Early the next morning, everyone came out of the main hall and saw Wu Pifu sitting slightly in the courtyard outside, his legs slightly crossed. Although it wasn't Lin Heier's sitting lotus form, it carried a flavor of Qi and Jin being mixed and unified.

The so-called Dan Jin is actually the gathering of Qi in the dantian, moving the human body's Qi and blood to the dantian to form a mixed and unified whole.

The saying "Only after swallowing a golden pill into the abdomen do I know my fate is up to me, not heaven"—in the context of Guoshu, this refers to Dan Jin. This is truly the beginning of the door for the human body to start another evolution, from which the human body begins to gradually step into the realm of the physical body becoming extraordinary and holy.

"... Truly gifted."

Lin Heier was guiding Wu Pifu beside him. Seeing him finally sit and cross his legs, she couldn't help but mutter this sentence.

At this time, the others also walked out. Amida couldn't help but say from the side, "This is different from the Guanyin Sitting Lotus posture you had yesterday."

Lin Heier's pretty face turned red, and she immediately said angrily, "What nonsense are you talking about! That's called Sitting Lotus Jin, not some Guanyin Sitting... Bah! Truly a barbarian!"

Amida scratched his head and said, "Is there any difference?"

Lin Heier naturally refused to say anything more to Amida. Xu Rongyu pulled Amida aside and said, "This Guanyin Sitting Lotus is a term for men and women... how can it be used for martial arts? And when martial arts reach a high level, they require spiritual resemblance rather than formal resemblance."

Amida still didn't understand. He was a veteran of the Third War, and his head was full of a complete set of scientific war knowledge. He asked curiously, "Do you understand standardization? The error of every screw cannot exceed one nanometer. They don't even have the same movements, and you tell me this is the same set of martial arts? I think this little lady is just fooling Wu Pifu."

Lin Heier considered herself a master. Although she was ashamed and angry at this moment, she didn't say a word. Xu Rongyu wasn't even considered a Ming Jin martial artist; he had only heard some martial arts principles from his father, so he could say it required spiritual resemblance rather than formal resemblance, but he didn't know why, so he naturally couldn't explain it.

Instead, Wu Pifu, while squatting and gathering Qi, actually had the energy to speak: "Because everyone's body structure has subtle differences. Guoshu initially requires following the book, but when practiced to a high level, it needs to be adjusted according to one's own subtle structural differences. I am a man, so naturally, I cannot sit in that deep squat lotus posture. After changing it, my Sitting Lotus Jin is in this form."

When it came to this, Amida understood, because during the Third War, there was also biochemical technology used for the development of combat power on the human side, and because everyone had different genes, heights, bloodlines, aptitudes, etc., the parameters required for biochemical strengthening were also different.

Lin Heier circled around Wu Pifu in surprise. She sighed again, "Truly gifted. Your Qi and blood are so thick that you don't seem human. Even while gathering Qi in the dantian, you can still speak without hindrance..."

Wu Pifu just smiled and didn't explain. While practicing, he said to Amida, "You can start making the launcher. There are only two requirements: the first is to throw me toward the twisted humanoid, and the second is that the throwing height must not be lower than the twisted humanoid. As for other things like accuracy, I will solve them."

Amida didn't care either. He turned and walked toward the warehouse, and the others went about their own business. Xu Shilan went to make breakfast, and Xu Rongyu went to check the torches, oil, and patrol the several buildings of the righteous manor. Not to mention Amida and the other, even Xu Rongyu, the original hostage, was actually willing to contribute at this time.

On the other side, Wu Pifu practiced the Sitting Lotus Jin wholeheartedly. The more he practiced, the more he felt its mysteries were endless.

Using the An Jin rank to realize the mystery of the Dan Jin rank, the various aspects were simply wonderful.

The most critical thing was that he had a guide!

Although Wu Pifu had obtained the complete version of the Tiger Demon Art's three methods from the main brain—raising, training, and fighting—they were, after all, just information poured into his head, lacking an understanding of some subtle points. This actually required a master or a guide.

For him to practice blindly on his own, and with such a dangerous weapon, not only did he not die suddenly, but he also practiced to the An Jin level. I don't know if I should say he is a fool with a fool's luck, or if he is truly gifted.

At this time, with Lin Heier's dedicated teaching, even if it was all about the explanation of this Sitting Lotus Jin, it gave him a systematic combing of the entire Guoshu system, which could be said to have laid a deep foundation for his future achievements.

That day, those paper effigies disappeared without a trace, but everyone's mood was heavy. By nightfall, there were sparse ghost cries again, but these ghost cries were much less than before. It seemed that the paper effigies were about to devour all the ghosts in this righteous manor.

Everyone slept in fear all night. The next day, Amida continued to make his launcher, and the others did what they had to do. By dusk, everyone suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves and screams from afar. Xu Rongyu was originally helping Amida tighten the vines, making a tool similar to a catapult. After hearing the sound, he immediately jumped up and shouted loudly, "Brother Wu, save me! Brother Wu, save me!"

Wu Pifu was currently practicing with a kitchen knife under Lin Heier's explanation.

"A punch is like a spear, a claw is like a knife. In martial arts principles, empty-handed martial arts actually have the same principles as knives, spears, and sticks."

Lin Heier pointed out Wu Pifu's knife techniques while saying, "I have seen three grandmasters. Mr. Sun Lutang, the 'Tiger-Headed Shaobao', learned the most widely and had the highest martial arts. Mr. Du Xinwu, the 'Hero of the North and South', learned the most miscellaneous and had the most peculiar martial arts; although he is younger than me, he is a Transformation Power grandmaster. The last one is Mr. Li Shuwen, the 'Divine Fist No Second Strike', who learned the most refined and had the most fierce martial arts. I once asked the three of them what the result would be if they fought the other two. The three gave the same answer: Mr. Li Shuwen would be injured, and the other two would die. This is because Mr. Li Shuwen combined fist principles with weapons into one; a long spear is invincible within ten meters."

"And what you learned is the Tiger Form in Xingyi, but it has variations. The moves are fierce, and there is a feeling of a mad demon and a mad tiger. In this case, it is best for you to practice claws and knives together, seeking refinement within refinement. Coupled with your physical gifts, your future achievements will be limitless..."

Just then, Xu Rongyu's shouting came. The two looked over at the same time. At the same time, they also heard the sound of horse hooves, crying, and occasional gunshots from outside the righteous manor.

Xu Rongyu rushed over while shouting, then knelt on the ground and shouted loudly, "I beg Brother Wu to save my father!"

"It arrived so fast!?" Wu Pifu also knew the situation was urgent. He immediately ran to the righteous manor's courtyard, grabbed two torches, and rushed out of the righteous manor.

Lin Heier followed closely, then Xu Rongyu, while Amida and Xu Shilan guarded the righteous manor.

There were more horse hooves and gunshots. Undoubtedly, this was the team of Xu Rongyu's father, Xu Zhenshan, and also the largest group of horse bandits in the Xuanhua area and outside the pass.

Xu Rongyu said anxiously while running, "I came to Xuanhua Prefecture this time on my father's orders to see the Red Lantern Society's Head Senior Sister. After I set off, my father would also lead a team to set off, for the purpose of participating in the grand event, to support the Qing and destroy the foreign devils together with the Head Senior Sister. So the news of me being kidnapped was sent back; there was no need to return to the mountain valley. My father could know halfway. Calculating the time, if he hurried, he could arrive within three days."

Today was the third day Wu Pifu and the others arrived in this Dream World, and it was dusk, so the person coming might really be Xu Zhenshan's team.

The three ran forward, but after running for seven or eight minutes, there were only roads, woodlands, and the vast front ahead.

Wu Pifu stood still suddenly, then roared to the sky. The roar was like thunder and whistling. In an instant, the front suddenly opened up. Less than a hundred meters in front of the three, more than a hundred horses were tossing and turning, and more than a hundred people were crying and howling. More than a dozen paper effigies were flying around among these hundred people. Anyone who came into contact with them either died on the spot or their bodies gradually turned into paper.

And in the middle of these crying and howling horse bandits, a middle-aged strong man was surrounded by four paper effigies, pressing his limbs with paper scissors, paper mallets, paper pitchforks, and paper hoes, and then the paperization began from his limbs.

With Wu Pifu's roar, these remaining horse bandits seemed to see the situation around them clearly, each screaming even more miserably. Those missing arms and legs wanted to run to Wu Pifu and the other two.

"Father!" Xu Rongyu's eyes were splitting, and he roared as he rushed forward.

And that middle-aged strong man was Xu Zhenshan. He seemed to have just woken up from some kind of illusion at this time, but before he could do anything, the four paper effigies carried him and floated into the depths of the woods.

The three waited to chase, but the next second, the front turned into a vast expanse again.

They couldn't see anything.

(End of chapter)