CHAPTER 379: CHAPTER 168: UNLOCKING THE OLD SHACKLES OF THE PAST, TODAY I FINALLY KNOW MYSELF_6

After several encounters, he could tell Zhang Beixing harbored some resistance towards the military. Unless Huo Honghao initiated contact, the kid would definitely not call first.

Now, Zhang Beixing had actually taken the initiative to call, which must mean he needed something.

Zhang Beixing, not at all embarrassed that Huo Honghao had seen through his intentions, said frankly, "Yes, there’s something. I just finished the national competition and had quite a few insights. I’m thinking of finding a quiet, undisturbed place for secluded cultivation. So, I wanted to ask if you, Brother Huo, knew of any suitable locations. Of course, if not, it’s no problem; I’ll just find another way!"

Seeking seclusion in the military—this was a decision Zhang Beixing had come up with on the road.

His requirements for seclusion were twofold: one, it had to be quiet; two, it had to be undisturbed. After thinking it over, Zhang Beixing realized the military was the perfect fit! To avoid disturbing the lives of ordinary citizens, military bases are typically established in remote locations, often on the distant outskirts of cities, where one might not see another soul for miles. Moreover, military discipline was strict; a single order would ensure no one dared to disturb him. And most importantly, if he went into seclusion within the military, even food and accommodation would be convenient! He wouldn’t have the same hassles as on West Yin Mountain, needing to go down the mountain periodically to shop, cook for himself, or procure various necessities. As long as his skin was thick enough, freeloading three meals a day off the military was entirely doable! As for the possibility of Huo Honghao refusing? If he refused, so be it. It wasn’t a big deal; Zhang Beixing would simply take the trouble to find Su Dakai or Wang Fengyi. Did they really think he, Zhang Beixing, had been making connections all this time for nothing? He had connections, after all!

Obviously, Huo Honghao understood this too, knowing that Zhang Beixing had many connections and wasn’t someone he could easily manipulate. So, after some thought, Huo Honghao decided to go with the flow. He would use this opportunity to do Zhang Beixing a favor, which would also make it easier to invite him as an instructor later. He said, "No problem, I’ll have someone find you a place for seclusion right now. When will you be coming?"

"Right now," Zhang Beixing replied. With such matters, the sooner, the better.

"Alright, then find a place to rest for a bit. Our people will contact you when they’re ready to leave!"

"Great, Brother Huo, thanks a lot!" Zhang Beixing said cheerfully, then found a nearby café to sit and wait.

In the meantime, Zhang Beixing sent a group message to his family, Lin Siqi, and Liu Yi, telling them he was back and would be going into seclusion for a while, so he might be unreachable.

He also called the school to extend his leave of absence.

Afterward, he sat and played on his phone for a bit. When the call from the military district came, he boarded their vehicle and headed to the Shishi Military Sub-district.

He exchanged some pleasantries with Huo Honghao at the military district.

Zhang Beixing was taken to his temporary residence—a small wooden cabin on the back mountain of the Shishi Military Sub-district.

Although the cabin looked small, it was equipped with all the necessities.

After Huo Honghao showed him around the immediate vicinity and the general environment of the military district, Zhang Beixing, having shamelessly scrounged a meal off him, returned to the small wooden cabin and unpacked his luggage.

He pulled out the two notebooks, crammed full of his meticulous notes, and began his research.

The Great Grandmaster realm. This was currently the highest known state in Martial Arts. Of course, the Transcendent realm was an exception. For Zhang Beixing, who possessed a System, the existence of a ’Transcendent’ state was known. Although no one had achieved it from ancient times to the present, he was different—he had a cheat, his System. The Transcendent realm was another world entirely, far above that of a Great Grandmaster, a dimension Zhang Beixing currently understood nothing about. As for the Great Grandmaster realm, it could be understood as the limit of human close-quarters combat prowess, something still explainable within the scope of science. The Transcendent realm, however, completely surpassed this scope. It didn’t belong to science and leaned more towards mystical Cultivation. Of course, it was still too early to talk about the Transcendent realm. The first step was to reach Great Grandmaster! And this realm, throughout history, had only been reached by a mere handful of people. The publicly acknowledged method to break through to Great Grandmaster was to achieve ’Master of All and create an Ultimate Skill’!

Previously, Zhang Beixing had never truly understood this. He didn’t understand why becoming a Great Grandmaster necessitated achieving Master of All and creating an Ultimate Skill, especially upon learning that breaking through to Great Grandmaster could extend one’s lifespan and bring about a leap in physical functions! This had left Zhang Beixing deeply puzzled. In his opinion, no matter how powerful the Ultimate Skill one created, at best, it only proved one’s profound attainments in Martial Arts. But what on earth did the depth of one’s attainments have to do with the physical body?

However, as time went on, Zhang Beixing read more and more Secret Manuals, and his attainments in Martial Arts deepened. Gradually, Zhang Beixing began to understand why. It was because creating an Ultimate Skill was merely a catalyst. Its true purpose was to force you, during the process of creation, to integrate everything you had learned in your entire life, and then to discard it! Through this, one would ’realize the true self,’ affirm one’s own dao, walk the path one wished to walk, and find the path that suited one’s own body! To describe it in one sentence: ’Shatter the old shackles of yesterday; only today do I know that I am I!’

All the Martial Arts Zhang Beixing had learned so far were, without exception, shackles! They bound him firmly to the paths established by predecessors, making it impossible to break free. And to create an Ultimate Skill, to become a Great Grandmaster, one had to shatter these shackles! One had to crush them, thoroughly understand them, and assimilate them into one’s own being. Then, from that, one could forge one’s own path, create a new martial philosophy, and thus reach another level that others could hardly aspire to. Only then could one become a Great Grandmaster!

Zhang Beixing sat cross-legged, murmuring to himself, "But why does it feel like after breaking the shackles, my mind is empty, devoid of anything? No, this isn’t right. This is definitely not right; I feel like something is missing! I’m lacking something absolutely crucial! What on earth is it? This Ultimate Skill, this path... how can it be different from those of the predecessors? How can I forge my own direction?"