Chapter 78

"I understand, thank you, Uncle."

Si Ming then turned to Zhong Lingxiu and asked, "The Phase Transfer Body-Protecting Divine Art based on Blazing Sun True Qi, modified by the doctor, also has a classified level?"

Zhong Lingxiu recalled for a moment, "It seems... no, after all, no one except you has ever practiced the 'Blazing Yang Battle Art,' so even if others saw the martial arts content, it wouldn't be of much use."

If it were an ancient sect, even if all the disciples couldn't understand the martial arts, they would keep it safe and never let outsiders see it. But modern society is different from ancient times. It is much more open about martial arts manuals. For ordinary people, there are plenty of martial arts manuals to learn in libraries and bookstores. There is really no need to steal a manual that you can't practice.

After receiving the answer, Si Ming, "Then let's sneak in now and take a look at the contents of this martial art. We'll apologize to the professor afterwards."

Zhong Lingxiu asked in confusion, "The foundation of the Phase Transfer Body-Protecting Divine Art is the Internal Energy Level Seven. With your current level, you simply cannot cultivate it."

"I know, so I'm just using this as a reference."

Si Ming threw away the ironwood spear and strode out with great speed and determination, his back view exuding an indescribable charm.

"Now, I've finally found my own path!"

The sun was high in the sky, shining brightly.

Lian Buqi was training hard in a forest, sweating profusely. His five fingers were bent halfway, forming the shape of tiger claws. His body was arched, and he suddenly exerted his strength to strike a large tree that was as thick as an adult's waist. At the moment of the swing, the True Qi in his body collided with each other in a very special way, producing a sound similar to gunpowder explosion. Then, the force vibrated and a whirlwind was blown out of thin air.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Within ten seconds, Lian Buqi's Movement Method were as swift as lightning, his punches as powerful as thunderclaps, each strike accompanied by a sharp sound, striking the thick tree trunk and sending wood chips flying.

Breaking a large tree with penetrating, hidden force is very simple, but using external, forceful force is much more difficult.

Some masters, in order to demonstrate their skills, will often strike a large tree with their palm, seemingly without making a sound. However, once the bark is peeled back, the core inside is found to have been shattered into fragments, gushing out from the gaps, leaving onlookers in Celestial Person.

In fact, if you asked these experts to break a tree in half with a single palm strike, they would most likely be unable to do it, because the thicker the trunk, the more it can distribute and withstand external force.

Without using True Qi, striking a tree with internal force is equivalent to chopping it with an axe, while striking a tree with external force is equivalent to smashing it with a hammer. The latter is actually more difficult than the former.

The true way to demonstrate superior skill and hidden strength is not by attacking a large, sturdy tree, but by attacking a slender branch.

For example, if someone can strike a chopstick with a single finger, destroying its internal structure while maintaining its shape, then that person's mastery of internal strength is ten times greater than that of martial artists who can slap a tree with their palm.

The martial arts techniques Lian Buqi are undoubtedly all external Ming Jin (manifested strength). Even the Armor-Piercing Force, which sounds very similar to An Jin (hidden strength), is actually a kind of Ming Jin that enters from the outside. It's just that its attack method is quite special, as it is good at penetrating hard defenses. It is not the same as An Jin, which is generated from the inside.

He believed in the law of the jungle, but did not think that a person's strength or weakness was predetermined at birth. He believed that through hard work and self-cultivation, the weak could become strong, while the weak who were unwilling to work hard would be ruthlessly eliminated. This was the Principle of natural selection.

After about half of the thick tree trunk was destroyed, Lian Buqi suddenly stopped his continuous attack, took a deep breath, concentrated all his strength, and struck out with both hands gripping the hammer.

With a deafening roar, his hammer unleashed an explosive force, a directional explosion that shattered the remaining tree trunk into pieces, utterly destroying it.

The large tree, having lost its support, crashed down on him. Lian Buqi quickly dodged to the side, panting heavily, his pores wide open, emanating a sulfurous odor.

"Finally, I've mastered the Grenade Hammer Hands! Sure enough, after defeating that self-proclaimed righteous woman yesterday, I felt incredibly exhilarated. It's easiest to break through bottlenecks when practicing in this state."

"But your pleasure is built on the suffering of others."

Si Ming made no attempt to conceal his presence, walking over with a rustling sound as he stepped on the fallen leaves.

Lian Buqi glanced at it and said dismissively, "Do wolves need to care about rabbits' feelings? When butchers slaughter livestock, do they ever ask what the animals think?"

"Although I want to say that humans and animals are different, let's forget about it. I'm not here to argue whether your theory is right or wrong, but to defeat you so that my thoughts can be clear, thereby breaking through the bottleneck and taking the most crucial step. I suppose you, who believe in the survival of the fittest, wouldn't care about such things." Si Ming honestly stated the purpose of his trip.

But this honesty provoked Lian Buqi's anger, after all, no one wants to be someone else's stepping stone.

"If you want to avenge your companion, then wait patiently until tomorrow night. A duel in private will disqualify you from the competition, and I have no interest in catering to your ideas."

Lian Buqi turned to leave, secretly raising his guard against a sudden attack. He had exhausted a lot of energy from training, making it very disadvantageous to fight. Fortunately, he knew a light-footed skill called "A Hundred Birds Fly Through the Forest the Forest," so he didn't need to worry too much in broad daylight.

Si Ming didn't stop him, but simply said, "Isn't it frustrating that you can't dominate your opponent in a ring match?"

Lian Buqi slowed down.

"You have a criminal record, which makes you a prime target for the referees. They will never allow you to pretend to unintentionally hurt your opponent a second time. Once they sense something is wrong, they will immediately intervene. Even if you defeat your opponent, don't even think about venting your pressure this way. Is this kind of competition really meaningful?"

Lian Buqi stopped and turned to look at him.

"But private fights don't have so many rules. There are no referees here. You can bully your opponent however you want, as long as you can do it. That's the true law of the jungle."

Lian Buqi showed a tempting expression, so Si Ming put on his final trump card. "According to the competition rules, the party who initiates a provocation in a private duel will be disqualified, while the party who is passive will not be punished. In other words, even if you injure me here, it will only be considered self-defense, and you can still continue to participate in the competition."

Lian Buqi turned back and stared at Si Ming, saying, "In return, regardless of the outcome, you will lose your eligibility for the competition. Is it worth it?"

"I don't care, but are you going to care for me?" Si Ming casually tossed over a pill. "This is Six-Transformation Bear and Snake Pill, which can help you quickly restore your energy. If you're worried about poisoning, we can go to a pharmacy to have it tested."

Without hesitation, Lian Buqi swallowed the pill. "You wouldn't poison me. I know your gaze all too well; it's exactly the same expression I had when I discovered the truth—firmly believing in my choices and never compromising with external things, because any action that goes against one's beliefs is a desecration."

As he circulated his internal energy to neutralize the drug's effects, a maniacal smile spread across his face, "This is too interesting! This is simply too intriguing! If I could defeat someone like you and utterly crush your beliefs, it would surely make me feel much better and my mind more clear!"

Si Ming smiled and said, "What a coincidence, I had the same thought."

Neither of them spoke, and they carefully observed each other, gathering useful information.

Twenty minutes later, Lian Buqi was full of energy and vitality. He swung his arms and said, "Some of the medicinal effects haven't been absorbed yet. I'll continue to receive replenishment during the upcoming battle. This is an act of aiding the enemy that you yourself have committed, so don't regret it!"

Si Ming looked up at the blazing sun overhead, feeling the surging Blazing Sun True Qi within his body, and said, "It's alright. I also have the advantage of favorable timing. We're on the same starting line; that's what makes it fair."

"Since you've put it that way, then I won't stand on ceremony."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lian Buqi took a step forward, seemingly shrinking the distance to an inch, and at the same time, he gripped his hammer with both hands, gathering his strength, and smashed it hard into Si Ming's chest.

He used the Grenade Hammer Hands he had just mastered as his very first move, showing no intention of saving it as a trump card.