Chapter 338

344. Chapter 344 Preliminary Preparations

"We can try."

After listening to Lin Ke's explanation, Li Shuwen pondered for a long time before giving his answer.

Although semi-retired, Li Shuwen still cared deeply about the development of Human Immortal Martial Arts; otherwise he would not have founded the Eight Extremes Martial Hall.

Through Lin Ke's description, plus Li Shuwen's own understanding of Human Immortal Martial Arts, and the origin of Human Immortal Martial Arts—the worship of heaven and earth by ancient and even primordial humans, and the pursuit of longevity, he gained understanding.

Li Shuwen believed that the so-called 'construct' method might be feasible.

If it is truly feasible, the strength of Human Immortal Martial Arts could also experience a great increase.

Even if this increase does not fundamentally raise the potential of Human Immortal Martial Arts, it could still improve its situation somewhat.

Li Shuwen looked down on the Mechanical Martial Arts' abandoning the root for the branches, pursuing external things rather than internal cultivation, yet he had to admit that Mechanical Martial Arts is easier to get into, and thus naturally receives more favor from the court, gets strong promotion, and enjoys protection.

In the practice of Mechanical Martial Arts, qi is not emphasized, essence is slightly emphasized, and spirit is emphasized even more.

Essence represents physical quality, while spirit represents computational ability and fine control ability.

Realms are divided by the number of 'cores'.

The so-called 'core' is an object that can be refined through 'spirit' and absorbed into the brain.

Through such an object, practitioners of Mechanical Martial Arts can control various robots made purely of steel for combat.

One core can control no more than eleven robots, two cores no more than thirty-one, three cores no more than seventy-one, and four cores no more than one hundred fifty-one.

Robots also have grades of high and low.

One core controls grade-one robots, two cores control grade-two, three cores control grade-three, and four cores control grade-four.

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The reason each core controls an odd number of robots is that when practitioners of Mechanical Martial Arts train and fight, they also place themselves inside a special robot.

This special robot has three particularities:

First, the material must be as good as possible, leaving room for upgrades; second, it must be as light, thin, easy to carry, and easy to wear as possible; finally, it can be continually tempered and upgraded.

When Lin Ke first learned about Mechanical Martial Arts, he in his mind gave it a new name: Mecha Martial Arts.

However, Lin Ke believes that the development concept of mecha martial arts in this world has not yet been clarified.

Either they pursue a quantity route, controlling many with one, employing swarm tactics; or they pursue a quality route, controlling one with one, walking the path of mechanical ascension.

As a result, this hybrid mixture now has limited potential.

"How do you plan to begin?"

Li Shuwen ended his long contemplation and spoke up, pulling Lin Ke's thoughts back.

"I plan to go outside Dead Person Valley, capture those who habitually do evil and are utterly wicked, first run experiments; once the technology matures, then within the martial academy, select some disciples and members with poor aptitude for small-scale promotion. After gaining the master's approval, we can discuss expanding the scale."

Lin Ke truthfully stated his plan.

He wants to be independent of witch knowledge, to perfect the Construct system on his own, which requires a large amount of Construct experimental data based on other supernatural systems; first he must forge a path, then consider integrating into the witch knowledge system to found a Construct witch school.

Since the immortal martial arts of this world are suitable for implanting Construct, of course we should do as many experiments as possible, gather as much data as possible, and draw analogies.

With the support of Master Li Shuwen, acting openly and aboveboard is far more effective than doing things sneakily.

"Fine, just keep the scale under control yourself; don't overdo it."

Li Shuwen agreed without even thinking.

"Thank you, Master."

Lin Ke sincerely thanked and performed the rites.

This is both a respect for the master-disciple relationship in this world and a respect for Li Shuwen's strength, which is considerably greater than Lin Ke's at his peak.

Cave Void Realm, when divided by rank, according to the witch world's standard, is somewhat higher than fourth-rank Super Brahma Valley, but slightly weaker than fourth-rank sage.

Immortal martial arts also specialize in combat.

Peak Cave Void Realm martial artist Li Shuwen, in a one-on-one, platform fight or life-and-death battle, could defeat Lin Ke, who has just entered third-rank witch, though there might be some setbacks, but he can definitely do it.

Seeing that the master and disciple had finally finished discussing business, yet never mentioning her own daughter Li Sisi, the master's wife grew increasingly angry.

Originally she was only angry with her husband Li Shuwen, but now she is also angry with the disciple Lin Ke.

"One or two, both are heartless."

The master's wife couldn't help but voice her complaint: "Is Sisi not important at all in your hearts? After chatting about those trivial matters, you don't even care how Sisi is doing now."

Lin Ke laughed and said, "Don't worry, Master's wife, Sisi is fine; she's doing very well now."

The Witch Allure organization's Yun Xinying, acting on the orders of Witch Lord Hu Songqi, plotted to alter Li Sisi's cognition; the evil witchcraft they employed is actually not very sophisticated.

Even Lin Ke, who had not yet recovered much witch knowledge at the time, could see through it at a glance, and naturally could also undo it.

However, forcibly undoing it is far less stable than natural recovery.

Under Lin Ke's guidance, the master's wife sent Li Sisi back to her natal home, the Bright Heart Sword School located in the mountains, which could not be more suitable.

According to his calculations, Li Sisi should have already recovered by now; she is probably feeling too ashamed to face going home.

"Hmph!"

The master's wife gave the master and disciple a fierce glare, then stormed off in utter exasperation.

Does she not know that her daughter is fine?

What she cares about is that neither of the two grown men shows any concern for her daughter.

Li Shuwen is Li Sisi's father, after all, and Lin Ke is the son-in-law she has her eye on.

After the master's wife left, Lin Ke and Master Li Shuwen exchanged a smile, their understanding complete.

"Master, I won't stay longer; I'll return once I have results after a while."

Lin Ke didn't delay and offered his farewell.

"Mm."

Li Shuwen nodded and instructed, "Be careful out there; if you encounter someone oblivious, just kill them. If any trouble arises, Master will back you. In the Southern martial world, anyone who doesn't put me, Li Shuwen, in their eyes is already dead."

Thank you, Master.

Lin Ke didn't stand on ceremony, accepted it, and then left promptly.

Watching Lin Ke's figure suddenly disappear, Li Shuwen slowly closed their eyes.

He began to imagine how to deal with an enemy that could appear and disappear so suddenly.

A moment later, Li Shuwen opened their eyes, humming a little tune as they went to find their spouse.

He didn't want to sleep on the ground tonight.

As for strategy against the enemy, it's nothing more than the three words: fast, accurate, ruthless.

As long as you're fast enough, accurate enough, and ruthless enough, fancy moves don't matter; a single punch is enough.

The claims of mechanical martial artists, and of those who clamor to develop, innovate, and keep up with the times among immortal martial artists, about freeing the body from its constraints and efficiently using energy, are all nonsense.

The body possesses both matter and energy; matter can be converted into energy, and energy can likewise be converted into matter.

No matter what matter or energy, nothing beats landing a solid punch!

Near the provincial capital.

Lin Ke's figure suddenly appeared, yet no one noticed.

Based on the growing industry of the Eight Extremes Martial Hall, the intelligence network established actually has many independent outposts.

These outposts were wrapped in several layers, after more than a dozen hands, thoroughly concealing their connection to the Eight Extremes Martial Hall before being set up.

Lin Ke was about to activate it as an experimental base outpost, and it was exactly one of them.

It is a manor-style building with five underground floors and two above ground, located in a remote area with few people, yet a major road to the provincial capital runs nearby.

Its location is superb.

It is perfect for doing things that cannot see the light of day.

However, Lin Ke didn't rush to go to that manor with abundant supplies; instead, he went straight to the outside of Death Valley.

Death Valley had seen no visitors for years; outside the valley was a desolate wasteland of jagged rocks, tangled weeds, and dense trees.

But now it has changed dramatically.

The chaos, weeds, and trees were all cleared away. One after another, camps of various sizes were set up on the cleared ground.

Martial artists either formed small groups of three to five or gathered in large numbers, waiting outside Death Valley for the first brave soul to venture into the valley.

Lin Ke saw many banners of famous local martial halls, sects, companies, and societies—either immortal martial dao or mechanical martial dao organizations—as well as a few from neighboring provinces.

Believing that in a few days, the forces gathering outside Death Valley will only increase.

After a glance, finding no trace of Senior Brother Shi, Hu Suqi, or Hu Songqi, Lin Ke stopped paying attention to the people and forces gathered outside Death Valley.

They're just cannon fodder; no need to waste precious time.

In a flash, Lin Ke appeared inside the provincial capital.

After carefully sensing, he searched for the location of Hu Songqi's mark.

The other party actually remained in the Lotus Heart Pavilion, and even didn't change rooms.

That's quite interesting.

Is it that they feel emboldened and fearless, or are they simply waiting for Lin Ke to come again?

After some thought, Lin Ke's figure suddenly appeared in Hu Songqi's room.

The awkward part was that Hu Songqi had just finished bathing and was in the process of getting dressed.

Fortunately, the inner undergarments were already on, so it wasn't considered exposing, and naturally not rude.

"Young Hero Lin, this habit of yours is truly peculiar."

After not seeing each other for a few days, Hu Songqi actually dared to speak to Lin Ke in a sarcastic tone.

Are they planning to just give up?

Lin Ke always felt that after unlocking the secret of instant movement, he took a liking to this way of traveling for a reason.

However, that part of the memory remains sealed, so it's not clear why he likes this mysterious comings-and-goings style of movement.

"Is the news about Dead Person Valley something you spread?"

Without responding to Hu Songqi's remark, Lin Ke muttered to himself.

"It's me."

Hu Songqi slowly put on her outer robe, sat at the dressing table, and began to comb her hair, saying, "Young Hero Lin, are you here to confront and accuse me, or to force me, the chief culprit who ruined Young Hero Lin's plan to explore Dead Person Valley?"

Lin Ke could finally confirm that Hu Songqi had truly given up.

I don't know what stimulus she received these days, but she underwent such a great change.

"Neither."

Lin Ke denied Hu Songqi's guess, then said, "I've come to give you an opportunity; I just don't know if you're willing to seize it."

"What opportunity?"

Hu Songqi, applying the flower-shaped forehead decoration to the mirror, asked seemingly offhand.

"An opportunity for transcendence."

"Transcendence? What is transcendence?"

"You can understand it as the legendary ascension, but better than ascension, without needing to discard the physical body."

"Oh? If so, why don't you, Young Hero Lin, leave this opportunity to your master and master's wife, and instead come to me, a villain who has targeted your senior sister?"

"Did I say there's only one opportunity for transcendence?"

"I see."

After a few exchanges, Hu Songqi inevitably fell into silence.

To occupy her thoughts and prevent random musings, the makeup she was applying also stopped on its own.

Hu Songqi blankly gazed at her reflection in the mirror, pondering, weighing the pros and cons.

You don't trust me?

Lin Ke, seeing this, proactively asked about Hu Songqi's concerns.

Don't trust.

Hu Songqi nodded without hesitation.

She indeed has this concern, and it's strong.

Judging others by oneself.

Hu Songqi thought that Lin Ke throwing out such a big bait, wanting her to do something, must not be simple.

The more complicated the matter, the dirtier it is, the easier it is to be silenced after success.

Such matters, Hu Songqi has done many herself, and seen many others do.

So...

Hu Songqi worries that she won't live to see the day she can transcend.

Then forget it.

Lin Ke threw down a sentence and turned to leave.

In a rush, it's not a deal; initiative is important.

Lin Ke won't indulge Hu Songqi.

Wait.

Hu Songqi indeed couldn't hold back; although knowing Lin Ke was doing this as a ploy, seeing Lin Ke walk to the door, she still couldn't help shouting.

Those who practice ancient witchcraft or evil witchcraft pursue two things.

One is powerful sorcery, the other is ascension.

The transcendence Lin Ke spoke of, even if just empty talk, but backed by Lin Ke's strength that is strong to the point of eeriness, inexplicably full of appeal.

How could Hu Songqi possibly let herself miss such a good opportunity?

Moreover, she has always been someone who dares to think and act.

Otherwise, she wouldn't dare risk the high risk of being beaten to death by Hu Suqi, after Hu Suqi decided to withdraw from the 'Witch Charm' organization, she rushed in and seized the position of Witch Lord from those members leaning toward evil witchcraft.

Moreover, she wouldn't dare, when wanting to dig up a fundamental secret manual of evil witchcraft from Death Person Valley, to consider the idea of the Divine Spear Li Shuwen.

You promise not to trick me, not to discard me after use, and I'll work for you.

Turning to look at Lin Ke, Hu Songqi bit her lip and made a request with almost no binding force.

To be frank, setting aside position, setting aside notions of good and evil, setting aside the fact that the other party once harmed Li Sisi, Lin Ke truly appreciates Hu Songqi's this vigor.

He seemed to see some shadow of Lan Ni. Tai Le on Hu Songqi.

Rest assured, I never trick those who work for me.

Lin Ke quickly came to his senses and said lightly.

Good.

Hu Songqi nodded and asked, "What do you want me to do?"

Outside Death Person Valley, so many martial artists gather; I want you, without causing a big commotion, to capture each day a few martial artists who have done evil deeds and send them to this place.

As the words fell, the address of the manor that would become an experimental base was engraved on Hu Songqi's dressing table.

Remember.

Lin Ke emphasized, "What I want are those martial artists who have done evil deeds. Good people won't do, nor will mechanical martial artists. Understand?"

Understood.

Hu Songqi replied in a faint tone, "I can definitely do it, but..."

Hope you keep your word.

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