CHAPTER 158: CHAPTER 159: DING, YOU FINALLY COMPREHEND AFTER CONTINUOUS BREATHING (3,000 WORDS)

As he spoke, he turned and began rummaging through the worn wooden cabinet nearby.

Muttering to himself, "Where did I put it."

Lu Ren: "..."

Indeed, most people who aren’t truly related are unwilling to take out genuine items; it’s like in situations where you randomly throw in some effort and accidentally hit upon some luck...

"Found it."

Ji Quanzhen pulled out a silk handkerchief that looked like a rag from the box, smoothed it out, and exclaimed, "That temple is called Kuzhu Temple. A Bodhisattva once emerged from within; this is the True Skill they practiced. Well, it’s the magic practiced by Bright Awakening, and can be referred to as True Skill. It’s called the Ten Lands Mahayana Golden Body Bodhisattva Path."

"Ten Lands Mahayana Golden Body Bodhisattva Path?"

Lu Ren raised an eyebrow, as he didn’t have much understanding of the intricacies of the Buddhist Zen Sect.

"Taoist Ji, I don’t know much about Buddhist scriptures."

"Don’t worry, a few years back when I had some free time, I already translated it into plain language. The so-called Ten Lands Mahayana Golden Body Bodhisattva represents ten realms, often discussing one’s own spiritual realm, subtly influencing the body through the spirit to enhance physical defense."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ren began to make sense of it. This Horizontal Martial Path cultivates the spirit; in more straightforward terms, it uses spiritual willpower to alter body strength.

The ultimate form of idealism; belief leads to existence, disbelief leads to nonexistence...

Ji Quanzhen chuckled, "Don’t underestimate it; this Ten Lands Mahayana Spirit Bodhisattva Path is the unique skill practiced by the high monk of Kuzhu Temple, considered top-notch horizontal training even among the Buddhist Zen Sect."

Lu Ren: "Isn’t the top-notch Buddhist horizontal training Golden Body Unbreakable?"

"...That’s a realm; the Taoist Family has everlasting Golden Core, and the Buddhist Sect has Golden Body Unbreakable. They merely express a pure spiritual realm. If you truly have the opportunity to step into Bright Awakening, you will understand what I speak of. The Buddhist Path converges to the same destination, but with different approaches, resulting in varied manifestations."

Ji Quanzhen tossed the silk handkerchief casually to Lu Ren, who promptly caught it gently, "Thank you, Taoist Ji."

"Alright, bringing you here completes half the purpose, and the other half requires you to accomplish."

As expected, I knew there wouldn’t be free handouts falling from the sky.

"When might it be?" Lu Ren asked.

"Your mentor, Li Ziqing, should have told you before that they discovered a tomb buried in an Alternate Space. A team went in and hasn’t been heard from for half a year now. Even with Highly Concentrated Nutrient Pills, they should be out of supplies by now. I wish for you to join the second exploration team."

Ji Quanzhen’s face rarely showed a few signs of seriousness.

"Once you enter this place, you’ll know. If it weren’t for my urgent duties, I would certainly go regardless of anything."

With that, he sighed, showing a hint of helplessness.

"Alright."

Upon hearing Li Ziqing was trapped inside without news, Lu Ren agreed without hesitation. Although their interactions were few, once Li Ziqing confirmed Lu Ren as a disciple, he shared all his knowledge unreservedly, tantamount to a life-changing favor.

This is undoubtedly sincere.

Although modern society doesn’t require the reverence of ancient times, Lu Ren holds Li Ziqing in deep respect.

Ji Quanzhen relaxed his smile and nodded slightly, "Don’t worry, this matter might even be your opportunity."

Opportunity?

Nonsense!

Lu Ren has always disliked those who love speaking in riddles.

Always haughtily posturing as high and mighty and failing to communicate properly.

After another chat, Lu Ren finally bid farewell to Ji Quanzhen.

Watching Lu Ren’s departing figure, Ji Quanzhen slightly nodded, pulling a hint of bitterness on his face. He then waved his sleeve, facing the stone wall carved with myriad celestial gods that seemed to dim before sitting there, eyes closed to meditate. An electromagnetic force encompassing his body filled the entire cave, transforming it into a dojo of Immortal Gods, a blessed fairyland, where faint celestial melodies and aphorisms could be heard.

"Yet unaware... when might I cross..."

A murmuring of immense sorrow emerged from within the cave.

Crossing the chains, he nodded subtly towards Ji Heng guarding the cliff before preparing to descend when Ji Heng suddenly spoke, "I’ve heard you’ve reached the Great Perfection Realm of Fist Technique and comprehended the True Phoenix Intent in Phoenix Falcon Fist?"

Lu Ren paused, looking back, "Is something the matter?"

Seems like he wants to challenge me, doesn’t he?

Lu Ren could feel a piqued interest. He had studied Ji Heng’s records, a top martial artist in the Great Perfection Realm of Fist Technique within the Southwest Sichuan region. If it weren’t for excessive decline in physical condition, he would definitely be a peak expert in the Martial Path entering the Bright Awakening Realm, not to mention being primarily focused on Qi Cultivation.

Adding two different paths to cultivate seems to be somewhat burdensome.

His hands felt itchy.

Plus, his Skill Level has been improving slowly lately. Although the real-time feedback from his data-driven body reflects on his physique, the higher the body Attributes, the more Skill Level it requires for advancement, reaching a point where it becomes challenging to maintain progress.

The approach of focusing solely on physical training to enhance physical attribute dimensions is not advisable. You can only continuously strengthen yourself by raising your spirit and willpower, understanding, and state of the Martial Path.

Combat is also one of the crucial segments for improving strength.

Seeing Lu Ren standing there, Ji Heng already knew Lu Ren’s intention to try. He revealed a meaningful smile on his face, slowly walking towards Lu Ren, his shoulders naturally drooping, swinging his arms slightly bent as he moved, with fingertips swaying at knee level.

It is evident of the opponent’s long arm span!

"What do you think martial arts are?"

Ji Heng asked slowly while walking.

What is martial arts?

Previously, Ji Quanzhen had asked him this question, and strictly speaking, he needed to explore and think it through himself. Lu Ren already had a vague concept in his mind but still needed time to sort it out, so for now.

"I don’t know yet."

"What a great ’don’t know’!"

Ji Heng couldn’t help but praise upon hearing this, showing a look of envy on his face, "If I had understood this principle when I was your age, I wouldn’t have wasted so much time at seventy or eighty. Lu the Kid, watch the punch!"

With the word spoken!

In a trance, a gigantic white ape rose from Ji Heng’s body, roaring towards the sky, wanting to compete with the heavens in height, seemingly able to carry mountains and chase the moon, shatter mountains and rivers, then its savage gaze glaring fiercely at Lu Ren.

Buzz!

Lu Ren felt as if his spirit was suddenly caught inside, like a ship adrift on the stormy sea.

What is martial arts?

Is martial arts merely combat, continuously increasing one’s power, speed, reaction, then through years and years of hard training forming the body’s instinctual force exertion technique, maximizing one’s destructive power?

No, it’s not like that. Martial arts is a path of transcendence, a path to surpass oneself. Sacrificing oneself for righteousness is martial arts, advancing courageously is martial arts, strong faith is also martial arts.

Martial arts is a form of spirit, rather than merely simple skill techniques.

It is the indomitable will from Huaxia’s countless years of history, where ancient humans fought against fierce beasts, against the heavens, against the earth on the barren land, striving to survive, the unyielding will to challenge the heavens!

This spirit should be passed down like a torch, a brilliant gem in Huaxia civilization!

He suddenly comprehended the word ’enlightenment’ among ’Bright Awakening,’ the world seems confused, but when a bit of wisdom illuminates, then sanctity and clarity come, clarifying the spirit will, discerning one’s path, then advancing courageously, never regretting even facing death numerous times!

Suddenly, Lu Ren’s long silent mental state erupted at this moment, a surge of heroic spirit as if capable of swallowing mountains and rivers, shaking the Nine Heavens Dragon’s roars!

"Ding, you suddenly have a new understanding of martial arts, your Phoenix Falcon Fist skill level approaches the perfection realm."

"Ding, you suddenly have a new understanding of martial arts, after years of continuous breathing, you finally gained insight into breathing, successfully comprehending the passive skill Breathing and Exhaling Technique, beginner level."

"This is..."

Ji Heng did not expect merely asking one question would lead to such an astonishing change in Lu Ren.

Lu Ren’s slightly scattered gaze suddenly focused, looking at Ji Heng, then raising his hand.

"Come!"

In an instant, Ji Heng seemed to truly see a True Phoenix soaring into the sky with wings spread from the flames, that divine bird flapping its wings, causing him to feel as if he were burning in a furnace.

Ji Heng couldn’t hold back anymore, striking with a punch, like a white ape splitting from top to bottom, a momentum capable of severing mountain peaks suddenly surged.

Bang!

In the exchange of punches, a faintly visible semi-transparent air ripple suddenly spread from the center to all directions.

The grass all bent, the trees shook off leaves, and the raised dust waved away like sea waves.

Ji Heng grunted, his face red as drunk, stepped back three times, each step on the hard rock leaving a three-centimeter deep footprint.

Lu Ren slowly withdrew his fist, in deep thought.

Punch intent, the intent of punches, that’s what it’s about.

Limited body but limitless spirit, that’s what it is about. Only an immensely strong spirit can break the body’s inherent shackles, stepping into a whole new domain.

Plus the newly formed skill Breathing and Exhaling Technique, although the name doesn’t sound grand, now every breath Lu Ren takes, he can distinctly feel changes in his body and spirit.

The abundant exchange of blood oxygen inside, allowing his organs to undergo refinement, even deeper optimization, the strength of bones, the firmness of muscles, previous internal injuries and hidden wounds caused by ordinary practice are slowly healing.

It’s like his head is immersed in a strange gentle yet slightly cool contradictory aura, feeling the sky vast and seas wide, a more vivid world than before revealing itself before Lu Ren’s eyes.

He lifted his hand, gently pinching a leaf drifting past him, astonished: "I never thought such a leaf just fallen from the tree would contain such vivid vigor."

(I had to work overtime today, sincerely sorry, truly bleeds me out!)