Chapter 137: It

Palms rotating!

But no matter if it was the Water Cloud Palm or the Clear Wind Palm, the speed of the strikes was getting slower and slower.

The cold air entering his body brought Lin Chen a sensation of pain.

This was because the cold air had reached a terrifying degree, to the point where Lin Chen could no longer feel the cold.

The Qi and blood within his body also became sluggish as this surge of cold air poured in.

The Clear Wind Palm swung.

Lin Chen could clearly feel the trajectory of his Qi and blood circulation.

It was like a slow-motion scene; the circulation of Qi and blood in his body had been slowed down tenfold.

The moment he prepared to strike, the Qi and blood in the fourteen acupoints around his body began to converge toward his abdomen, then flowed from his abdomen to his chest, then to his shoulder joints, and finally gathered in his right hand.

The Clear Wind Palm was like this, and the Water Cloud Palm was the same.

Before this, although he could also perceive the Qi and blood circulation trajectory within his body when executing the Clear Wind Palm and Water Cloud Palm, that process was too fast—so fast it was hard to capture.

At his current stage, when striking normally, the speed of Qi and blood flow was like an electric current; he knew where it started, he knew where it finally gathered, and he even knew the trajectory of the flow, but he could not see the entire process clearly.

Right now, this cold air entering his body had created this moment for him.

Once, twice, three times...

The Qi and blood circulation trajectory within his body when executing the Clear Wind Palm and Water Cloud Palm was deeply imprinted in his mind.

When these two palm techniques were executed, the starting point and the end point of the Qi and blood circulation were the same.

It was just like two buses in a city with the same starting point and terminal station; the difference lay in the intermediate stops along the route.

Therefore, if he wanted to fuse these two techniques, he should start by changing the subtle aspects of the Qi and blood circulation when these two techniques were executed.

It was easy to say, but extremely difficult to do.

He could find ways to change the Qi and blood flow, but a technique could not be created just by relying on Qi and blood flow.

Changing the Qi and blood flow was easy, but maintaining the power was hard.

The reason why ranked techniques like the Clear Wind Palm and Water Cloud Palm could stimulate more of one's own power the higher the proficiency, especially from Mastery to Perfection, was that the change lay in the fact that as one understood the true essence of the palm technique, the speed and direction of Qi and blood circulation during execution would also change.

No...

This logic didn't hold up!

There was a blood-red hue in Lin Chen's eyes. Why should merely understanding the true essence be able to change the speed and direction of the Qi and blood circulation within the body?

Where was the connection between the two?

Before today, Lin Chen had always believed that the reason why the higher the proficiency of a technique, the stronger the power, and even later on, from Mastery to Perfection, one didn't need to practice but only needed to understand, was because of this.

It was just like a firearms expert who had trained in shooting for years and mastered the techniques of shooting, but was still a little bit away from hitting the bullseye every time.

What was missing was the fusion of the person and the firearm; to use a cliché, what was missing was the unity of person and firearm.

Once this point was understood, one could hit the bullseye every time and hit whatever one aimed at.

Before today, Lin Chen had held this same idea about martial arts techniques.

But now, borrowing this chill, which allowed him to see clearly the Qi and blood flow trajectory within his body when striking, he realized he had thought too simply.

The change between Mastery and Perfection was far from just understanding the true essence, which then allowed the explosive power to increase several times over; there was a key point in this.

After Perfection, the Qi and blood circulation trajectory was different from that of Mastery.

Whether it was the Clear Wind Palm or the Water Cloud Palm, this was true for both.

But how did this difference actually appear?

The Qi-guiding mantras for the Clear Wind Palm and Water Cloud Palm had not changed from beginning to end; it was like this at the Initial stage, at the Mastery stage, and at the Perfection stage.

Was it "Mind-Only" Martial Way?

Because I understood the true essence, so it would change?

Although he was in a world where the Martial Way was incredibly powerful, Lin Chen still felt that this was not the case; there must be something here that he did not understand.

"Not good, why is his Qi and blood suddenly so chaotic?"

Jiang Kui and Ji Feng saw Lin Chen's eyes turn blood-red, and both of them showed expressions of disbelief.

This was a sign of Qi deviation!

When this thought popped into his mind, Ji Feng himself found it hard to believe; even ranked martial artists rarely encountered this situation, yet now it appeared in an Open-Acupuncture Stage student.

What on earth was this kid thinking about in his mind right now?

After his shock, Ji Feng felt helpless; he didn't know whether he should interrupt Lin Chen.

According to the rules, as recorders, they were not allowed to interfere with the actions of any student in the Thousand-Step Mist, but if they didn't interfere, if this continued, Lin Chen would definitely suffer Qi deviation.

"The situation is special, we must interrupt."

Jiang Kui gave Ji Feng a look, preparing to speak out to wake Lin Chen, but before he could open his mouth, an old man's figure appeared in front of the two.

"Retreat."

Hearing the voice, although the two didn't know who this figure with their back to them was, being able to appear in the Thousand-Step Mist and make them unaware without a sound, they must be some mysterious expert of the special training ground.

"Yes!"

The two responded respectfully, looked at each other, and walked toward the exit of the Thousand-Step Mist.

"You two are going in the wrong direction!"

The old man's voice came out again. Ji Feng and Jiang Kui were stunned and subconsciously confirmed the direction. It was correct.

This side was the exit.

"You should walk back."

Walk back?

Wouldn't walking back mean going back?

"What, do you need me to say it a second time?"

As the old man's voice fell, Jiang Kui and Ji Feng only felt a terrifying aura lock onto them. The two...

"An Open-Acupuncture Stage student wanting to fuse techniques, what great ambition, only I didn't expect him to be a fool."

The old man who appeared looked at Lin Chen, whose entire skin was beginning to turn red. A bamboo staff appeared in his hand at some point, and he lashed it mercilessly onto Lin Chen.

Crack!

This staff landed on Lin Chen's chest, and the flush on Lin Chen's skin instantly dissipated.

"Th... thank you, Senior, for your help."

Lin Chen, who had fallen into a chaotic train of thought, was like someone trapped in a quagmire; the more he thought, the deeper he sank, but he found he couldn't stop.

Just as his entire body was about to be submerged in the quagmire, a bamboo staff suddenly appeared above him. Lin Chen didn't hesitate at all and grabbed the bamboo staff with both hands.

The moment he was pulled out of the quagmire by the bamboo staff, Lin Chen felt incredibly relaxed, and at the same time, his sanity was completely restored.

The moment his eyes cleared, seeing the old man standing before him, although Lin Chen didn't know what he had just encountered, he knew it definitely wasn't anything good, and the one who saved him was precisely this old senior in front of him.

"Overconfident kid, you can't even walk steadily, yet you're thinking of flying. Being overconfident is one thing, but you're also incredibly stupid."

Lin Chen didn't expect that what awaited him was this old senior's sharp tongue.

Even though he had a thick skin, he was incredibly embarrassed at this moment.

"Don't you realize that any technique, from the moment it was created, was already perfect? The reason why there are those previous stages is just to make it convenient for fools like you to understand it bit by bit."

The old man's tongue was like a spring, and he said unhappily, "Haven't you ever thought that those stages before Perfection are actually, damn it, because you fools haven't found the correct way of Qi circulation?"

Lin Chen's mouth twitched. This remark seemed to be scolding not just him, but all martial artists.

For any martial artist, martial arts techniques started from the Initial stage and went step by step to Perfection.

It was impossible to take a look at a technique and be able to enter the Initial stage.

"What, still not convinced?"

Lin Chen said in a deep voice, "Disciple is not unconvinced, but according to what Senior said, the Qi-guiding methods before Perfection are all wrong. Then why not give us the correct Qi-guiding method from the start?"

The most important thing was that he had a panel.

The panel displayed it this way; could it be that even the panel was wrong?

"That's because you're stupid. If I gave you the correct Qi-guiding method, you wouldn't even be able to persist for a single cycle."

Lin Chen:...

"I really don't know how you kid qualified to come here. The people sent by the Martial Administration Office are getting worse with each generation. Tell me, which powerful family's descendant used connections to get here?"

Although this old senior had just saved him, these groundless suspicious words made Lin Chen frown: "Senior, Disciple came here in accordance with the Martial Administration Office's genius regulations, and Disciple comes from an ordinary background, not a powerful family."

"Ordinary, tell me then, how ordinary?"

The old man's face held sarcasm: "Are you the son of a fisherman, or the son of a farmer, or perhaps the son of a peddler?"

"Disciple's father is indeed just an ordinary fisherman in Poyang County."

This time, it was the old man's turn to be stunned. After a long while, he said, "You are a student from Poyang County? Which Martial Hall did you enter?"

"Disciple's situation is relatively special; I am considered a student of the Jing Shui Martial Hall, the Zhen Yue Martial Hall, and the Qing Feng Martial Hall."

"You are a student of the Qing Feng Martial Hall?"

The old man's expression changed uncertainly. After a few breaths, he let out a long sigh: "Forget it, for the sake of the Qing Feng Martial Hall, I won't scold you anymore. Take this token; from now on, I will instruct you here."

The old man threw a token over casually. Lin Chen caught it subconsciously. Did the meaning in this old senior's words imply a connection with the Qing Feng Martial Hall?

Could it be that this old senior also walked out of the Qing Feng Martial Hall?

"Senior, you..."

"Once you arrive at this place, you are just students, students belonging to the entire Jiangnan Dao. No need to ask about other things."

The old man interrupted Lin Chen's attempt to ask, but his eyelids blinked slightly. Lin Chen caught this and understood the old senior's meaning.

Some things, just guess them yourself; don't speak them out loud.

"Disciple understands." Lin Chen also returned a smile; everything was understood without words.

"Just keep it in your heart. Walk forward in a moment. After you get out of this mist, show this token directly when you see people. If anyone asks you, just say your Kong Kong Guanzhu gave you this token before you came."

The old man's expression became serious: "I am helping you like this, which is considered a violation of the rules. According to the rules, based on your score in this test, you are only at the lower level and are not qualified to see me."

"Thank you, Senior, Disciple understands."

"Hmm, go."

Lin Chen bowed and began to walk forward. Although there was only a short distance left, that chill was still there, and he was still walking very slowly.

Dozens of breaths later, watching Lin Chen's figure disappear into the depths of the mist, the old man's face revealed a mischievous smile.

"This time I really picked up a treasure. Damn it, he's a Limit Martial Artist, and he can even fuse techniques. Not handing such a student to me for guidance is simply a waste of heaven's gift. Those few guys only know how to give guidance by the book; they don't know a damn thing about the Martial Way."

The old man had completely changed his face at this moment. Fortunately, fortunately, he had seen the fireworks and had a whim to come and take a look at this generation of students. He didn't expect to be given such a big surprise.

Damn Qing Feng Martial Hall, I don't know a damn thing about the Qing Feng Martial Hall...

At this moment, Jiang Kui and Ji Feng, who were walking back, were also talking as they walked.

"Jiang Lin Shixiong, who do you think that adult was just now?"

"Lin Lin Shidi Ji, you didn't recognize them, so how would I?"

Jiang Kui was responsible for receiving those students to come here every time, and then spent more time responsible for the peripheral arrangements of the special training. He had spent far less time in the special training ground than Ji Feng.

"It's really strange, why did that adult want us to walk back? According to the rules, after Lin Chen walks out of the Thousand-Step Mist, I would also hand the recorded paper to the adults, and finally, they would give Lin Chen a score for this test."

Ji Feng frowned. This was something he hadn't figured out until now. Didn't that adult's action break the rules?

"What's wrong with that? Since that adult has appeared, they must have taken a fancy to Lin Chen and are preparing to instruct Lin Chen personally. Your record has lost its meaning."

Jiang Kui didn't think there was any problem. Based on what he knew about Lin Chen's situation, once he entered the special training ground, he would definitely be taken a fancy to by some adult.

"Taken a fancy to Lin Chen directly?"

Ji Feng looked at Jiang Kui in confusion: "Jiang Lin Shixiong, don't joke. In the past, even for those who could walk out of the Thousand-Step Mist completely, those adults would have to deliberate."

"Others are others, Lin Chen's situation is different." Jiang Kui had a look of certainty on his face: "Lin Chen was able to walk a thousand steps, plus his situation, those adults would definitely be willing to instruct Lin Chen."

"Jiang Lin Shixiong, what is so special about this Lin Chen? Isn't it just that he practiced the Clear Wind Palm to Perfection within three months?"

"This is the problem brought about by the lack of timely updates on news."

Jiang Kui sighed: "On the way here, I saw at a glance that Lin Chen's Qi and blood were vigorous, and it seemed that he could use more than fourteen acupoints."

"Lin Lin Shixiong can see this too?"

Ji Feng was a bit skeptical. After the Open-Acupuncture Stage, Qi and blood would not show on the surface. Unless there was physical contact, it couldn't be seen from the outside.

"Haha, Lin Lin Shixiong has received many students over the years, and my judgment of people is still very accurate. This Lin Chen gave me a different feeling than other students. After some questioning, I learned that Lin Chen not only practiced the Clear Wind Palm to Perfection within three months, but also practiced the Water Cloud Palm and the Iron Bone Art, and these two techniques have also reached Perfection!"

"Lin Lin Shidi Ji, three techniques at Perfection, you don't need me to tell you what that means, right? Would those adults not be tempted by this kind of comprehension?"

"Three techniques at Perfection, the path of Limit Martial Way!"

Ji Feng gasped: "Lin Lin Shixiong, you're not joking with me?"

"Lin Lin Shidi Ji, what's the point of me joking with you?"

"Then I've been tricked!"

Crack!

Ji Feng couldn't help but slap his own thigh, his face becoming flustered: "No, I have to rush back immediately."

"What's wrong, Lin Lin Shidi Ji?" Jiang Kui was very puzzled to see Ji Feng's anxious look.

"That adult deliberately let me walk back just to send me away, wanting to take Lin Chen as a disciple. And the other adults don't know that Lin Chen is walking the path of Limit Martial Way; they only know that Lin Chen's Clear Wind Palm is at Perfection, and they haven't seen Lin Chen's record in the Thousand-Step Mist, so they might treat Lin Chen as an ordinary student and let it go."

"Ah!"

Jiang Kui was stunned; he really hadn't thought in this direction.

"Paper can't wrap up fire; those adults will know about Lin Chen's situation sooner or later, but by then, I'm afraid the wood will have become a boat, and the other adults will be helpless. This anger will fall on me by then."

After dropping this sentence, Ji Feng turned around and returned, disappearing in a few blinks.

Jiang Kui:...

The moment he walked out of the mist, the pain and pressure around his body dissipated, and Lin Chen also let out a long sigh of relief.

Looking up, there were mountain peaks in front and on both sides.

This was a valley deep in the mountains, which was the special training ground of the Martial Administration Office?

Before Lin Chen could finish looking around, a young man appeared in front of him, glanced at the mist behind Lin Chen, and had doubts in his eyes. Where were Lin Lin Shixiong Ji and Jiang Lin Shixiong?

"Name."

Not seeing Lin Lin Shixiong Ji's figure, the young man held a booklet in his hand and asked in a deep voice.

"Lin Chen."

The man flipped through the booklet and stopped at the page for Raozhou Prefecture, his gaze falling behind the two characters "Lin Chen": Student from Poyang County, Raozhou Prefecture, practiced Clear Wind Palm to Perfection in three months.

Three months to Perfection in the Clear Wind Palm was nothing here. What he was curious about was how this Lin Chen walked a thousand steps, and why it took so long to come out after walking a thousand steps.

Lin Chen watched the other party looking at him constantly, and thinking of the old senior's instructions, he took out the token from his bosom.

"This adult, before Disciple came, the Kong Kong Guanzhu gave Disciple a token, telling Disciple to show this token after arriving here."

Seeing this token, the man's pupils contracted. Wasn't this Senior Zhao's token?

The Kong Kong Guanzhu of the Martial Hall where Lin Chen was located let Lin Chen enter the special training ground to find Senior Zhao?

Thinking of Senior Zhao's style of doing things, Xue Yun's eyelids couldn't help but jump a few times, and the look he gave Lin Chen carried a trace of sympathy.

Had this Lin Chen offended his Kong Kong Guanzhu?

However, since Lin Chen had taken out the token, Xue Yun didn't dare to delay: "Since you have Senior Zhao's token, I will take you to see Senior Zhao. Also, I can't be called an adult. My name is Xue Yun, a student who came here in the previous generation. You can call me Lin Lin Shixiong."

Seeing Lin Chen's puzzled look, Xue Yun explained: "My potential is not good enough, and I failed to satisfy the instructors, so I was left here by the instructors."

A repeating student?

Seeing that there was no look of shame on Xue Yun's face, Lin Chen understood that he had guessed wrong.

This Lin Lin Shixiong Xue must be highly regarded to be able to stay behind.

……

……

Just as Xue Yun brought Lin Chen into the valley entrance, Zhao Canghu's figure appeared.

"Senior Zhao."

Xue Yun hurriedly bowed. Zhao Canghu stood with his hands behind his back, his footsteps halting: "What is it?"

"Senior Zhao, this Lin Lin Shidi has your token."

"Has my token? Let me see it, old man."

Seeing the puzzled look in Senior Zhao's eyes as he looked at him, Lin Chen mentally gave the other party a thumbs-up for his acting skills.

He really is an old veteran actor.

If it weren't for the fact that he had received instructions from this old senior in the clouds and mist, he would have suspected whether this old senior was a twin, or if he had met the old senior's brother just now.

"Disciple Lin Chen greets Senior Zhao. This is the token the Kong Kong Guanzhu gave to this disciple, saying that I should participate in the special training and hand the token to a senior."

Zhao Canghu took the token Lin Chen brought over. There was a look of nostalgia in his old eyes, as if he were recalling something, and the expression on his old face changed unpredictably.

Is Senior Zhao reminiscing about the past?

Xue Yun guessed in his heart. Looking at it this way, the relationship between Lin Chen's Kong Kong Guanzhu and Senior Zhao must be extremely deep.

But a martial hall master is generally under forty years old, while Senior Zhao is already in his seventies. With such a large age gap, could it be……

Xue Yun imagined a grand family emotional drama in his mind……

"Forget it. I promised the owner of this token back then that if the token holder met me, I could fulfill one wish for them. Speak, what business do you have seeing me with this token?"

The main event is here!

Lin Chen bowed and said solemnly: "This disciple wants Senior to provide guidance on Martial Way cultivation."

"No."

Zhao Canghu waved his hand: "This does not conform to the rules……"

But halfway through his sentence, Zhao Canghu seemed to sense something, and his tone shifted: "But I am a man who keeps his promises. Forget it, I will break the rules for you once!"

Swish!

Xue Yun only saw Senior Zhao flick his right hand, grabbing Lin Chen's arm, and then the two figures turned into afterimages and disappeared before his eyes.

Three breaths later!

"Xue Yun, where is Lin Chen?"

"Lin Chen was taken away by Senior Zhao." Xue Yun looked at Ji Feng, who had rushed out from the clouds and mist, and said hurriedly.

"It's over!"

Hearing Xue Yun's answer, Ji Feng's face turned pale: "No, I still have one last chance."

The next moment, Ji Feng took out a firework from his bosom once again. Perhaps feeling that one was not enough, he took out a second one.

Whoosh, whoosh!

Two fireworks rose into the sky, blooming with brilliant flames in mid-air, visible to the entire valley.

"Is... is Lord Ji crazy?"

Seeing Ji Feng's actions, Xue Yun only felt that Lord Ji had gone mad.

These fireworks can only be lit after a student has walked a thousand steps, but there are no students in the thousand-step mist right now. When their own instructors arrive in a while and find no students, Lord Ji will definitely have a miserable time.

Swish swish swish!

However, in just ten breaths of time, six figures appeared on the scene.

"Ji Feng, what is going on?"

The six middle-aged men arrived full of anticipation. Lighting two fireworks at once—the last time this happened in the special training grounds was over a dozen years ago.

"My lords, that... that Lin Chen was taken away by Senior Zhao."

Lin Chen?

The six looked at each other; the name was somewhat unfamiliar.

"Is it that Lin Chen from Poyang County who cultivated the Breeze Palm to perfection in three months?" Finally, one of them remembered who Lin Chen was.

"It's not just the Breeze Palm that is perfected; Lin Chen also cultivated the Water Cloud Palm to perfection, and even cultivated the Iron Bone Art to perfection. Not only did he walk several thousand steps in the thousand-step mist, but he also cultivated his techniques inside."

Facing the terrifying pressure of the six lords, Ji Feng roared it all out in one breath.

Xue Yun's mouth hung slightly open as he listened. Was the Lin Chen that Lord Ji spoke of the same Lin Chen recorded in his booklet?

Just as he was about to watch the reactions of his instructors, he looked up, but there was no sign of the instructors anymore; they had all disappeared.

PS: Six thousand words delivered. It's been 8 days; everyone should be ready to cast their monthly tickets. I'm asking for monthly tickets. Also, I sincerely ask for follow-up subscriptions. I just asked the editor, and the next recommendation won't be until after the 20th. I need to maintain three thousand follow-up reads these days, and the backend is still short two hundred latest follow-up subscriptions. Everyone, please don't hoard the book, I beg you.

(End of chapter)