Chapter 482: Secret Sect

"Coach... you seem different from before..."

Shi Lei, wearing training gear, was attempting the technique Fang Xing had previously taught him.

He approached a punching bag, paused for several seconds, then suddenly roared and threw a punch.

Boom!

The punching bag shuddered violently, leaving a faint fist imprint on its surface.

"Hmm... you've mastered the technique. It proves you have some talent in combat."

Fang Xing crossed his arms, ignoring the earlier question, and assessed coolly: "But unfortunately... this is still merely mortal technique, mortal limits!"

"Mortal?"

Shi Lei felt his coach was about to reveal something real.

He cleverly clapped his hands, signaling the bodyguards and maids to leave.

"Coach! I want to learn!"

Shi Lei stepped before Fang Xing and bowed deeply at ninety degrees.

"Beyond the mortal world lies a deeper, more terrifying forbidden martial path... have you heard of the Extraordinary and the Aether?"

Fang Xing's gaze grew distant.

"I've heard of them..."

As the son of a billionaire, Shi Lei had some vague recollection: "They're said to perform tricks and conduct cruel blood sacrifices... basically just a bunch of disreputable types."

Fang Xing fell silent.

Given the observable power of this world's Extraordinary, facing a squad armed with steam rifles seemed nearly useless—only those who reached the "Illuminator" rank could inspire slight caution.

Unfortunately, every field is a pyramid, even the path of the Extraordinary.

The vast majority are surely peripheral members and wanderers.

The entire world might not have a handful of living demi-gods; the chance of an ordinary person encountering an Illuminator is negligible.

"That's because... they've all taken the wrong path."

Fang Xing sighed: "You've investigated me—do you know why I've changed so drastically in such a short time?"

"Why? Because of the mysterious?"

Shi Lei asked.

"No! Because I encountered the truth of martial arts!" Fang Xing's voice boomed, shaking the air: "Mortal martial arts are merely mortal limits—fighting, sanda, boxing... all childish games. Beyond the mundane lies a greater, forbidden martial art—its name: Secret Martial Arts!"

He would surely not limit himself to just "Mechanical Martial Arts"—there would also be "Blood Martial Arts," "Stone Martial Arts"...

Hence, Fang Xing named it outright: "Secret Martial Arts!"

"Secret Martial Arts?" Shi Lei's breathing grew heavy; he had always been fascinated by combat, and now, hearing of Extraordinary martial arts, his eyes gleamed.

"Precisely! The martial arts of the Secret Sect are Secret Martial Arts! To learn them, you must join my Secret Sect—offer alms, receive initiation, uphold precepts... never betray, or you shall descend into hell!"

Fang Xing spoke: "Can you uphold it?!"

Shi Lei's expression grew conflicted.

This wasn't just hiring a coach—it was equivalent to joining a secret society.

Thump!

Thump!

Shi Lei felt his heart pounding violently, his mouth dry: "Coach... how powerful are Secret Martial Arts?"

He was, after all, a rich heir, with a "no rabbit, no bait" personality.

Fang Xing didn't take offense; he pulled out the Black Snake II and pressed it against his palm.

Boom!

A gunshot rang out.

His palm remained unharmed; in its center lay a flattened bullet.

"Master?"

The bodyguards outside rushed in.

"Get out, all of you!"

Shi Lei roared, driving the bodyguards away, then took the Black Snake II, examined it repeatedly, his eyes burning hotter.

Boom!

Finally!

He no longer hesitated—he slammed his forehead to the ground: "Coach... no, Master, teach me Secret Martial Arts!"

"To learn Secret Martial Arts, you must first receive initiation!"

Fang Xing sat cross-legged, his expression solemn: "Novices undergo the 'Dog-Head Vajra Oral Secret' rite—henceforth, you shall not speak disrespectfully of your master, nor reveal the sect's core secrets... otherwise, you shall be cursed by the Dog-Head Vajra and die a horrific death!"

"Those who achieve minor mastery receive the 'Immovable Wisdom Body Secret' initiation—then they cannot speak of the sect's secrets, nor write them down, nor hint at them physically..."

"Those who achieve great mastery receive the 'Great Sun Tathagata Mind Secret' initiation—they will never even conceive the thought of betraying the sect..."

As Fang Xing spoke, the aura of a secret society surged forth: "As a novice, you shall receive the 'Dog-Head Vajra Oral Secret' initiation... now, reflect carefully, and give your final answer: can you uphold it?"

"I... your disciple, can uphold it!"

Shi Lei's expression was resolute, though such youthful fervor often cools later.

But Fang Xing would not give him a chance to regret.

He placed his palm on Shi Lei's head, and a sliver of the Great Sun Tathagata mantra split off from within his body and entered Shi Lei.

"Ah..."

Shi Lei suddenly felt heat! Intense heat!

Terrifying temperatures erupted within him, as if his soul were being scorched!

His heart pounded wildly; his veins no longer flowed with blood, but with superheated steam!

"Having received my initiation, you may now channel the Aether and transform it into Extraordinary power..."

"Now, contain this force—or you will be burned alive!"

Fang Xing's cold voice echoed. At the same time, Shi Lei felt something shoved into his mind.

It was a system of Secret Martial Arts: Steam Breathing Method, Mechanized Mind, Iron Body...

"Mechanized Mind!"

In an instant, Shi Lei understood what to do—he first made his mind as cold and mechanical as a machine, no longer feeling pain or fear...

Then, he rapidly activated the "Steam Breathing Method," attempting to control the "valves" of his pores.

Whooosh!

Minutes later, all his pores opened, releasing torrents of steam mixed with sweat.

"Huh... Master, I succeeded."

Shi Lei was panting, but his eyes gleamed, utterly different from before.

It was as if a lump of raw iron had been forged into steel!

"Secret Martial Arts... I understand."

Shi Lei stood, walking to the earlier punching bag.

Whoosh!

A fist blurred past—the entire punching bag exploded, sand spraying everywhere.

"Ha! Ha! This is the martial art I wanted! This! Overwhelming power!"

Shi Lei laughed wildly.

'Hmm... has sudden power already twisted his mind?'

Fang Xing silently assessed the scene.

A strong mind requires a strong body to support it—and vice versa.

Suddenly becoming immensely powerful makes the mind restless, irritable... prone to solving problems with brute force.

Eventually, it may lead to bloodlust.

'The resonance... has strengthened slightly...'

Fang Xing sensed the Aether swirling around him and nodded.

Shi Lei had never before touched the Aether plane; his sudden surge was due to Fang Xing's infusion of a sliver of the Great Sun Tathagata mantra's power.

Thus, as Shi Lei progressed, grew stronger, and broke his limits, at least ninety percent of his Aetheric resonance would be retained by Fang Xing—this had been planned from the start.

And yet... such forced growth carries harm.

"How do you feel?"

Fang Xing's eyes were devoid of emotion as he looked at Shi Lei.

For some reason, the man now looked gaunt, almost emaciated.

"Stronger than ever before... and hungrier than ever before!" Shi Lei closed his eyes and answered.

"Having received my initiation, you now carry a sliver of Great Sun fireseed. Your immediate Extraordinary awakening came from the fireseed burning through all your body's nutrient reserves—and this burning will continue. If you wish to avoid being burned alive, you must break your First Limit within one hundred days!"

Fang Xing spoke coldly: "After breaking your limit, you may become an 'Upper Master' or 'Protector,' granting initiation and precepts to other disciples..."

He would not withhold rewards from those who diligently taught disciples.

This hidden benefit of the Secret Sect need not be mentioned yet.

Now that I think about it... those great figures in the mysterious world who reached the "Illuminator" level, busily building power and spreading secret texts... aren't they merely a form of "influence"? But their effect is inferior to mine—they lack the Great Sun Tathagata mantra.

'And given the bloody rituals of secret societies, many high-rank Extraordinary likely dare not take students—or even harbor ill intent.'

'Only I am different: I fear no disciple's betrayal, nor do I harm them intentionally... as long as they spread Secret Martial Arts, they do me great good!'

……

"Young Master… are you alright? Should we call a doctor?"

After leaving the training hall, several bodyguards couldn't help but speak up.

Shi Lei now looked even more emaciated, his arms as thin as bamboo poles.

Yet strangely, he gave off a sense of "strong sinews and bones"; facing him felt like facing a tiger.

"No need for a doctor—I need high-calorie food, bring it immediately!"

Shi Lei exhaled deeply, and the surrounding temperature seemed to rise noticeably: "I'll wait at the nearest restaurant…"

"Understood, Young Master."

The bodyguards nodded and went about their tasks.

Not long after.

At the Iris Restaurant.

Shi Lei nearly shoved plate after plate of food into his mouth, chewing even chicken and beef bones a few times before swallowing them whole.

Beside him, empty plates piled up like mountains.

This scene terrified the waiters and the manager.

Fortunately, the bodyguards cleared the area promptly and tossed a stack of black bills onto the table: "Do your jobs… and no one else must know about today's events. Understood?"

"Understood."

The manager pulled out a handkerchief and wiped away his sweat.

He knew full well that a rich young master like this could crush him as easily as crushing an ant!

"Phew…"

After eating for several hours, Shi Lei stood up contentedly and patted his stomach.

Despite consuming so much food, his stomach still looked flat; instead, his face and limbs had gained more muscle.

Now, his physique was perfect—not bulky, but radiating a lean, formidable energy.

(End of Chapter)