CHAPTER 135: CHAPTER 136 SOUTHERN GUARDIAN (3000 WORDS)

The firearms instructor shrugged and said, "They think firearms will make their Martial Path impure, making it difficult to advance in the end."

The lieutenant expressed a bit of admiration, "If one could balance both, a Martial Arts Family using modern firearms weaponry could match an entire camp."

"Come on, even our military department’s guy doesn’t touch firearms at all, claiming it would obstruct his spirit, saying it would give his mind something to rely on, thereby diminishing his will to advance bravely."

The firearms instructor muttered, "The deeper those from the Martial Arts Family pursue their path, the more mystical they become."

"That’s not entirely true, we’ve completed eighty percent of the analysis of Martial Arts Boxing, the remaining twenty percent..."

The firearms instructor continued, "The remaining twenty percent is the spirit, but the most important is this twenty percent of the spirit, from one perspective, it’s somewhat inexplicable and hard to understand, isn’t it?"

The lieutenant shrugged, "The spirit will change the body, the body is limited while the spirit is infinite. I understand, that’s what our instructor keeps sighing about when he sees us practicing boxing... It’s so frustrating."

...

...

"Remember, the body is limited while the spirit is infinite. The human body is finite, the human spirit is infinite. Do not be confined by your body. The truly extraordinary Martial Taoist Family in the Bright Awakening Realm are those who resonate in mind and body, using the mind to lead the body, breaking the shackles of limits, which is referred to as Limit Breaking in the Martial Arts Research Institute."

During the Security Department’s martial arts class, Lu Ren saw for the first time that extraordinary Martial Taoist Family in the Bright Awakening Realm, as this Southern Guardian, Li Changming, said.

A week had quietly passed since the death of Ksitigarbha. His body had already healed, and he was adjusting his peak state.

Knowing that there was an extraordinary Martial Taoist Family in the Bright Awakening Realm giving a lecture in the Security Department, Lu Ren would not miss this opportunity, yet after listening, he felt somewhat drowsy.

Lu Ren was somewhat helpless about this. Every time his Fist Technique Level advanced to a new tier, the Fist Realm, fist techniques, and energy manipulation methods of that tier would be fully revealed, allowing Lu Ren to observe and master, with the true intent of the fist technique and Martial Path comprehension being perfect. The system even kindly fills in some flaws.

Li Ziqing once said that Lu Ren’s comprehension of the Fist Realm might be deeper than that of the founder of the Phoenix Falcon Fist, as if it was Lu Ren who created the Phoenix Falcon Fist.

Such an evaluation is enough to show the exaggerated extent of Lu Ren’s mastery of the Phoenix Falcon Fist, even making Li Ziqing astonished as a Celestial Being.

As for the one speaking passionately above, it’s Li Changming, the master of the Southern Imperial Domain of the Taoist Sect, practicing the Southern Dipper God Leaving Fist, Southern Dipper Master of Life, aged a hundred and five, with white hair and beard, a lean face, skin already showing age with some age spots.

His body frame is surprisingly frail, standing only about 165 to 170 centimeters tall, with long hair tied up with a slender wooden stick, a lean face, but eyes so bright they are hard to ignore as if stars.

He seemed unremarkable and did not make Lu Ren feel the other was an extraordinary Martial Taoist Family in the Bright Awakening Realm.

Yet this elderly man’s resume is legendary, causing fear among foreign forces from the early days of Huaxia’s founding, though the Southern Dipper Master of Life, to the utmost of life can also transform into boundless aggression.

For fifty whole years, he deterred malicious foreign factions from daring to enter the country.

This is a living myth walking.

As the opponent was about to leave after the two-hour martial arts theory lesson, indulging in his teacher’s role, Lu Ren suddenly stood up and said, "Teacher Li, please wait."

Hearing this, Li Changming turned his head to look at Lu Ren, and his already bright eyes seemed to light up upon seeing Lu Ren.

"Are you Lu Ren?" Li Changming asked.

Lu Ren felt as if he has been pierced by needles under the other’s gaze.

Quite interesting!

Lu Ren was secretly surprised, but did not show it.

"I am." Lu Ren politely bowed and said, "Teacher Li, I want to ask, with mind-body resonance you can naturally break the physical limits and shackles, but what degree of resonance is considered sufficient?"

This question was completely fabricated by Lu Ren—it takes a different frequency of resonance for everyone to achieve mind-body resonance. Mind and intention aligned, intention and heart aligned, it sounds simple, but when really doing it, you realize how difficult it is, as difficult as climbing the sky. If it weren’t for a golden finger, he would still be finding ways to get food, let alone ordinary Martial Artists wanting to achieve this so-called mind-body resonance, how extremely difficult it truly is.

He was just looking for an opportunity to spar with Li Changming, going so far as to say getting beaten would be fine. Recently, his boxing Skill Level started to slow down, he needs some external stimulus.

Besides, in the Security Department, under everyone’s eyes, even if Li Changming goes all out, he will not disable Lu Ren...

Figures in the Bright Awakening Realm, in ancient times, it would be fortunate if one appeared every hundred years, revered as Land Immortals, unlike modern times where, with material abundance, extraordinary Bright Awakening Martial Taoist Families appear one after another. Within Taoist boxing factions alone, there are two or three, it’s unknown if there are even more in the dark.

As for the renunciation of the physical body to preserve the spirit advocated by Ksitigarbha earlier, it was the primary path in ancient societies with low material production levels.

All roads lead to Rome, to attain Bright Awakening, it doesn’t have to strictly follow the Martial Path, although it’s easier with Martial Path because you can personally feel and touch things, rather than those pretentious and surreal concepts.

Divine and Clear, Awaken and Act.

He just spoke casually, but when it came to action, he was at a loss.

So when Lu Ren asked the question, Daoist Li Changming’s mouth twitched slightly. Seeing Lu Ren’s earnest expression, he felt that scolding him would be a loss of face.

Who is this fool deliberately saying such things? Even if you don’t have common sense, it’s fine, but dreaming this far ahead at such a young age? Are you just bored out of your mind?!

Couldn’t you hear the polite words just now?!

Don’t you have any perception? Do you really want me, this old man, to loosen your bones just to satisfy you?

Li Changming immediately put on a kind facade and said, "What’s your name, young man?"

Lu Ren looked simple and honest, not recognizing him, said: "Teacher Li, my name is Lu Ren. I’ve just joined the Security Department not long ago, and I was self-taught before, so I bravely wish to seek your guidance."

Li Changming nodded slightly, not caring at all. No wonder this guy asked such a foolish question, turns out he’s a bumpkin...

Eh?!

He was about to speak when his gaze suddenly sharpened, as if he could see through Lu Ren’s clothes to his body.

For a moment, an unusual expression flashed across Li Changming’s face, and then he calmly said, "Then come up and give me a hand."

As soon as these words were spoken, those around were truly astonished, clearly not expecting Li Changming to agree so readily. Instantly, they regretted not having spoken up first to seek guidance.

All kinds of envious, jealous, and hateful looks were cast at Lu Ren.

Lu Ren didn’t mind this, walked straight onto the stage, facing the master of the Southern Imperial Domain, an extraordinary Bright Awakening Martial Taoist Family member.

To be honest, in his view, apart from Li Changming having a sturdy-looking frame, beneath the wide Taoist robe was merely a thin body.

With his current height of 1.96 meters, weighing nearly 400 pounds, and his weight continuously increasing as his physical fitness improved, his muscle and bone density were still slowly growing.

With the aid of the Phoenix Falcon Fist, his physique could still be described as well-balanced, but the thickness of his oblique shoulder muscles, back muscles, and arm muscles was extremely shocking. It did not affect his speed, and he had immense power and unrivaled explosive force.

Yet Lu Ren still dared not underestimate the Li Changming, who was not even 1.7 meters tall. A person who can be called an extraordinary martial artist must have shattered the shackles of human limits.

What astonishing changes might occur inside is entirely possible.

Seeing Lu Ren’s scrutinizing gaze, Li Changming laughed and said, "Are you wondering why my physique is so small, yet I bear the title of an extraordinary Bright Awakening Martial Taoist Family?"

Lu Ren nodded slightly: "Please enlighten me, Teacher Li."

Li Changming said, "When I was young, I was just like you, strong and robust, like an iron wall. Carrying a giant cauldron single-handedly was also easy. But when I got older and entered the Bright Awakening stage, I came to believe that the true essence of fist technique is not in strength and speed, but in skill, which is the boxing theory."

He took off his Taoist robe, revealing a lean upper body which could only be described as lean. Although the muscles were still apparent, they appeared quite weak to Lu Ren, and the skin on his body was somewhat loose.

Li Changming beckoned Lu Ren with a finger: "Come on, don’t you want to experience what peculiarities the extraordinary Bright Awakening Martial Taoist Family possesses?"

No reservation!

After affirming it in his heart, Lu Ren hesitated a bit. In less than three years, he had progressed from someone who only knew basic fist and kick techniques to reaching the Great Perfection Realm of Fist Technique, an achievement that would make anyone who knew him agape.

He did not want to be exposed. Even though it wouldn’t be a big deal, it would draw attention. However...

After all, he had previously mentioned laying a foundation from a young age and having made huge strides forward after meeting Li Ziqing and learning the Phoenix Falcon Fist three years ago... Though it’s a bit far-fetched, it’s not impossible.

Moreover, since he joined the Security Department, he hadn’t yet truly undertaken any tasks, but judging by Zhang Li and others’ increasingly respectful attitudes towards him, those big shots above certainly valued him. Even if he had a few secrets of his own, so what? Everyone has their own little secrets.

In these three years, Lu Ren hadn’t been idle. Whether through his performance or Li Ziqing’s promotion, he was sculpted into a genius martial artist perfectly aligned with the Phoenix Falcon Fist.

Being noticed, so what? Having trouble is even better, let him gain skill level!

With his constantly improving strength, he had grown from fearing danger to facing everything head-on.

Such will and spirit are what allow him to advance bravely.

This is the thing the system could never teach him, it is his own.

In that case...

Bang!