Chapter 44: If Successful, Bring Prosperity to the World

"Do you know what a Breathing Method is?"

Under the moonlight, Fang Shi stood on the rooftop, holding a long sword, with the cold moonlight cascading down upon his body.

Like an immortal isolated from the world.

Zhao Wenjun hid at the rooftop stairs and replied respectfully, "Master, I do not know."

Fang Shi said, "In fact, the Breathing Method is an internal cultivation technique."

"First, it strengthens the lungs, then the heart. After gaining the ability to control the heartbeat, it accompanies the blood flow throughout the body, putting all muscles and internal organs under strain, equivalent to an anaerobic workout."

"In fact, this is very difficult. Most people can only strengthen their lungs and gain slight control over their heartbeat, after which they can no longer proceed."

"This is not due to a lack of talent, but because the Breathing Method requires coordination with dynamic exercises. Practicing the Breathing Method alone will never lead to internal cultivation in a lifetime."

Zhao Wenjun listened thoughtfully and asked, "Master, does this mean you intend to teach me the dynamic exercise method?"

Fang Shi did not answer, but asked instead, "What are your six attribute values?"

Zhao Wenjun suddenly felt a bit embarrassed: "My attributes are a bit strange; they are all 13."

"That's fine. I don't care about your other attributes; your Perception being 13 is enough."

"Master, is there some mystery behind this?"

"No rush. Let me show you something."

"Whoosh!"

The steel sword thrust out, a flash of light passed, and a fire-winged bird diving down died directly on the rooftop.

"Pierce attack activated."

"Target received fatal damage."

"You dealt 27.5 damage to the target."

"Target dead."

"Extracting target's soul energy. You gain 30 experience points and 3 Survival Points."

Fang Shi slowly sheathed his sword: "Do you understand now?"

Zhao Wenjun was greatly shocked; before, he had only heard others say that Fang Shi had the strength to single-handedly kill a fire-winged bird.

But those were all secondhand accounts, completely different from seeing it with one's own eyes.

He hadn't even seen the attack motion clearly before the fire-winged bird was dead.

The gap between them was just like when they faced the fire-winged bird.

For them, the fire-winged bird was one peck per person, while for Fang Shi, it was one sword strike per bird.

Is this the master's strength?

Is this the strength after cultivating the Fang Shi Breathing Method?

Zhao Wenjun's heart burned with passion. Originally, he had a slight reservation about taking a young man younger than himself as a master.

But now he cast all that aside; in learning, there is no priority of time, only the accomplished as master.

The master is so strong and willing to teach his cultivation method; it is truly a fortune earned through three lifetimes of merit.

If I still fail to appreciate this, I would have no gratitude in my heart.

"I cannot see clearly; Master's sword is too fast, I cannot make it out."

"It is correct that you cannot see clearly."

"Ah... what is the reasoning behind this?"

"Do you know how many points of Strength your master has?"

Zhao Wenjun estimated in his mind: "Master's Strength must be at least 18 points or more."

Fang Shi smiled slightly: "No, my Strength is only 15 points."

Zhao Wenjun was startled in his heart: "Is this the effect of the Breathing Method?"

"Not entirely, but this is what I want to tell you: the Breathing Method after the apocalypse has the effect of changing the essence of life."

Zhao Wenjun was very intelligent and immediately grasped the key information: "Master, does your burst technique require cultivating the Breathing Method to use?"

"And is the Breathing Method after the apocalypse different from the one before the apocalypse?"

Fang Shi nodded in satisfaction; he still appreciated Zhao Wenjun's intelligence.

Just as teachers all like smart students who understand with a single hint and need no repeated instruction.

"Exactly. After the apocalypse, even though the Blue Star's primal force is scarce."

"Due to the connection with the Otherworld, part of the Otherworld's primal force has flowed into the Blue Star."

""

"And the Breathing Method after the apocalypse utilizes the strengthening effect of primal force on individual organisms to conduct more effective internal cultivation."

"In ordinary exercise, the utilization rate of primal force is 1; with the Breathing Method, the utilization rate is 10."

"This is why the Breathing Method is superior to ordinary exercise methods."

"And better Breathing Methods have certain requirements for Perception."

"Those with high Perception can finely control all muscles throughout the body, thereby indirectly controlling the five internal organs, six viscera, and blood flow."

"Thus, they can also indirectly control the primal force entering the body, conduct oscillations at a certain frequency, change the essence of life, and draw in external primal force."

"This is why I asked about your Perception."

"If your Perception is too low, I will teach you the Breathing Method and the dynamic exercises. Later, when your Perception improves, I will teach you the complete version."

Fang Shi's words answered Zhao Wenjun's doubts.

He thought for a moment, gritted his teeth, and said, "Master, can you teach me both Breathing Methods?"

"Oh?" Fang Shi saw through Zhao Wenjun's thoughts at a glance and said indifferently, "You want to teach them to others."

"Yes, Master. I want to strengthen their strength. However, I will only teach the one that requires coordination with dynamic exercises."

Zhao Wenjun forced himself to speak, his heart filled with unease, wondering whether Fang Shi would agree to such a treasonous request.

Yet he had no choice but to bring it up; he was not the master, lacked the ability to go it alone, and needed teammates to cooperate.

The stronger the teammates, the safer he himself would be, and conversely, the teammates would be safer as well.

Fang Shi said indifferently, "It makes no difference. You can transmit both Breathing Methods; there is no problem. I do not mind such a small matter."

To be honest, Fang Shi truly did not care about the dissemination of the Breathing Methods.

It was the apocalypse; some things need not be hoarded selfishly. Strengthening humanity's power a bit was a good thing.

Had it not been for the restrictions of the Soul Contract, he would have spread it proactively long ago.

Fang Shi was not afraid of others threatening him after obtaining the Breathing Methods.

The composition of his strength was not as simple as just a Breathing Method.

"Then, I shall begin teaching you the Fang Shi Breathing Method now."

"As for my special force-generation technique, I will teach it after you change the essence of your life."

Early the next morning, the energetic Zhao Wenjun led a group of people who waited respectfully at Fang Shi's door.

Last night, no, in the early hours of today, Fang Shi had fought until the Fire-Winged Birds dared not appear again.

Zhao Wenjun had accompanied him the entire time.

Even so, because of practicing the Breathing Method, Zhao Wenjun felt not the slightest fatigue.

Although he had not yet entered the gate, with the assistance of numerous energy cores, he had absorbed a large amount of primal force.

Yes, numerous.

Fang Shi directly handed over the task of dissection entirely to Zhao Wenjun.

Moreover, he stated clearly that he did not need these, telling Zhao Wenjun to keep them as he pleased.

"Listen well: after the master wakes up, those of you with high attributes will go with me to clear new land under the master's lead."

"The rest will continue processing the Fire-Winged Bird corpses, then eat more meat and exercise more, raising your body attributes as quickly as possible."

"With such a perfect start, anyone who does not know how to cherish it and dares to slack off will go clearing new land together tomorrow."

"I believe that under the master's leadership, we will definitely rebuild human civilization."

After Zhao Wenjun finished speaking, his subordinates led the applause.

Xiao Xi and Zhai Yan were also mixed in among them, becoming Zhao Wenjun's subordinates.

However, the look in Xiao Xi's eyes as he watched Zhao Wenjun was filled with jealousy.

The news that Zhao Wenjun had become a disciple of Fang Shi last night was spread by Luo Bowen.

Everyone was envious; those who had survived until now understood clearly.

In the apocalypse, everything else is false; only strength is real.

Without strength, one truly cannot take a single step, unable even to get out the main gate.

They all guessed that before the apocalypse, Fang Shi must have been a practitioner of Wu Gong.

Moreover, he had learned authentic Hua Guo martial arts, which was why he possessed such strength.

After all, in the hearts of Hua Guo people, Hua Guo martial arts held a certain mysterious quality, and people believed one could cultivate into a superhuman.

If Fang Shi knew their thoughts, he would absolutely burst out laughing.

Although Hua Guo martial arts were miraculous, the root of the Fang Shi Breathing Method was Hua Guo martial arts.

But they would absolutely not surpass human limits, nor would they possess Fang Shi's current reactions and perceptions.

They could not even Activate Second Layer force.

Those capable of surpassing human limits were all further creations after the apocalypse.

Anyway, in the cognition of Zhao Wenjun's subordinates, Zhao Wenjun, having received Fang Shi's inheritance, would see his strength soar to the skies.

Pity they did not know that Zhao Wenjun had already planned to teach the so-called inheritance to everyone.

Had it not been that he himself had not yet mastered it and did not wish to mislead others, he would have spread it long ago.

"Zhai Yan, why do you think Daoist Priest Fang did not take me as a disciple?" Xiao Xi whispered to Zhai Yan, his voice somewhat aggrieved.

Ever since Fang Shi said his name was Fang Shi, everyone knew Fang Shi's name.

But they could not address him directly by name; that would be too impolite.

Yet for a moment, they did not know what title to use.

Until someone suggested that Fang Shi was an ancient term for Daoist Priest, and it was no surprise that a Daoist Priest would know Wu Gong.

Since Fang Shi's name was Fang Shi, it was highly probable he was a Daoist Priest, so addressing him as Daoist Priest was perfectly appropriate.

Zhai Yan had some guesses in his heart, but he did not wish to embarrass Xiao Xi: "Probably because the Daoist Priest's inheritance is for the Yang Dao, and does not accept the Yin Dao."

But Xiao Xi simply could not understand; clearly I came first, so why is it like this!

Inside the room, Fang Shi had already risen.

However, he was still performing his morning exercises, practicing the Fang Shi Breathing Method.

This was Fang Shi's habit, carved into his instincts.

Although acquiring a powerful specialization early would immediately bring a huge boost to combat power.

But the Breathing Method relates to the improvement of base attributes, and base attributes are the foundation of everything; they cannot be easily abandoned.

Investing even more time was worth it.

As long as the Breathing Method could advance further, Strength, Constitution, and Agility would undergo a massive transformation of +1.

As for the commotion outside, under Fang Shi's perception, it was perfectly clear.

Even Xiao Xi's whispered murmur, Fang Shi heard clearly.

He was very satisfied with Zhao Wenjun's handling of things.

The reason Fang Shi took Zhao Wenjun as a disciple, besides seizing the chance to teach the breathing method.

There was another reason: to draw the future Ancheng gathering place into his own faction.

And the proxy for that faction would be Zhao Wenjun.

Taking a disciple was a way to maintain this connection, as long as Zhao Wenjun was not a cold and ungrateful person.

The Ancheng gathering place would always be of help to Fang Shi.

And now was the first step for Zhao Wenjun to begin building his faction.

Next, under Fang Shi's lead, his faction would expand further.

Establishing the Ancheng gathering place faster than before rebirth.

"In poverty, cultivate oneself alone; in prosperity, benefit the whole world."

Fang Shi looked at his own spotlessly white hands, brimming with explosive power.

When I could casually kill a Fire-Winged Bird, did that already count as having "arrived"?

No, still not enough!

I will become even stronger—strong enough to end the apocalypse.