Fire and Water Cannot Coexist

Si Ming paused, suddenly realizing a problem. "Wait a minute, can willpower be stored for a long time? If it can't be stored and must be used immediately, it means that the Heaven-Defying Society only collect willpower from the battlefield in Nation of Valor. After all, other war zones are only left with mopping-up work and can't afford to lose so many people. And Nation of Valor doesn't lose tens of thousands of people every day. So if a general offensive breaks out one day, it means that the Heaven-Defying Society have to take action."

Ji Shichen said thoughtfully, "You're right. It seems I need to inform the Mohist Knight Guard are observing the battlefield to keep a close eye on the enemy's movements and report immediately if there are any signs of an attack, especially when the Divine Pillar returns to the Sea Continent World. It's better to report false than to miss a report."

Despite Nation of Valor's expulsion order from the Mohist Knight Guard and the strict wartime surveillance that prevented all military observers from entering the battlefield, it was impossible to completely prevent intelligence gathering in a world where the strong could go anywhere. Observers could come and go as they pleased, but they could remain undetected as long as they were careful. Moreover, they didn't even need to bring tools like binoculars, as they had all the Divine Ability abilities they needed.

"All the necessary intelligence has been gathered; now we just wait for the Remote Heaven Society make its move."

This passive position made Si Ming quite uncomfortable, but there was nothing he could do. Preventing thieves is harder than being a thief; destroying something is much easier than protecting it.

Before leaving, Si Ming said to the leader of the guards, "Having learned your lesson this time, you should understand that you can't stop me on your own. Don't waste your energy next time, or you might as well apply to your superiors to send more Spirit Transformation Grandmaster."

But soon after leaving, Si Ming regretted it. Had he overdone it? Like Zhang Fei dismantling the Dangyang Bridge, what if the other side thought it was Demon Race conspiracy to mobilize frontline forces, and instead deliberately delayed reporting it?

When Si Ming mentioned this issue to Ji Shichen said, "It's impossible not to report it. This is a matter of responsibility. Once it's reported, no matter what decision is made above, whether Grandmaster is sent to oversee things, or what consequences it causes, it's all the responsibility of those above. Conversely, if it's not reported, then it's entirely his responsibility. A person who can become a leader can't possibly not understand this simple principle."

Si Ming thought about it and realized that it made sense. He had gotten used to being a leader these days. Whether in the Barbarian Continent or Sea Continent, he was the one who made the decisions. So he subconsciously thought that he should take responsibility, but he forgot that as a member of the system, the first thing to understand is that "the more you do, the more mistakes you make; the less you do, the fewer mistakes you make; if you do nothing, you make no mistakes." Never think about making decisions on your own, that is a self-destructive thing to do, and no matter whether the result is good or bad, there will be no good outcome.

Then, Ji Shichen asked Hualiu, "Is your preferred weapon a bow and arrow?"

"Um."

"Would you be willing to learn the martial arts of our Mohist School?"

The implication was clear: he wanted to personally teach archery. Hualiu didn't immediately agree, but instead turned his gaze to Si Ming.

Si Ming naturally wouldn't refuse such a free benefit. He could use his talent to quickly learn archery and martial arts, but that was only for himself. He knew how but not why, and could understand but not teach. Now that someone else was doing it for him, and that person was a Spirit Transformation Grandmaster, why not? So he nodded slightly.

So Hualiu said, "I'm willing."

Ji Shichen said, "Actually, I'm also very interested in whether the Monster Race can learn Human Race martial arts. I even want to teach you Divine Arts so we can see if the Monster Race can use Divine Arts."

Si Ming suddenly remembered that archery and Divine Arts were exactly the skills Liu Qingqing needed to learn. So far, Ji Shichen was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate to be Liu Qingqing's teacher. Perhaps he could act as a matchmaker—but he had to remind Liu Qingqing not to learn Ji Shichen's hobbies.

On the other hand, Ji Shichen didn't waste any time and directly relayed her bowing tips and techniques to Hualiu. Of course, doing so also indicated that she didn't have any formal intention of taking on a disciple, but only intended to "give some pointers."

This kind of thing is very common. A true master-disciple relationship is very strict. If the master owes a debt, the disciple is responsible for repaying it after the master's death. If the disciple makes a serious mistake, the master will also be held responsible for failing to teach the disciple properly. Generally, a master will not accept a disciple without a deep and familiar relationship with the disciple. However, if it is for the sake of "guidance", it is okay.

Many masters, when traveling the martial arts world, encounter promising talents and, seeing their potential, casually impart a martial art to them. In such cases, the recipient should be grateful for the guidance and may verbally address the master as "Master." However, the master need not acknowledge this disciple, and even if the recipient makes a mistake, the master cannot be held responsible.

As they neared their secret hideout, Ji Shichen handed Hualiu a copy of "The Seven Luminaries Archery" and said, "Actually, when it comes to archery, the most skilled are not from the Mohist School, but from the Confucian School. The Confucian School's archery is universally acknowledged as the best in the world."

Si Ming asked curiously, "Because one of the Six Arts of Confucian School is 'archery'?"

Ji Shichen gave Anomalies look and said, "Of course, it's because Kong Zhongni, the founder of Confucian School, was the greatest archer in the world."

Si Ming was speechless. This world has Mozi, and naturally there are also Kongzi, Laozi, Zhuangzi and others. However, in this world with extraordinary martial arts, their experiences are similar to those of the philosophers on Earth, but their philosophies and talents are consistent, which is a bit like "different forms of the same material".

Kongzi on Earth is revered as a thinker and educator. After Confucianism became the dominant ideology, he was elevated to a divine status and became the object of worship for all scholars. He is also respectfully called Master Kong. His portrait is usually that of an old man with a long beard, sitting with his hands clasped in front of him, exuding a temperament of "gentle yet stern, dignified yet not fierce, respectful yet at ease." One can tell at a glance that he is a learned man.

But what was Kongzi like in his prime?

Firstly, his height was described as "nine feet and six inches tall, which everyone considered extraordinary." By the standards of the State of Lu State at that time, this was equivalent to 1.9 meters in modern terms. There may be some discrepancy, but since it reached a point where everyone was amazed, he must have been very tall.

Secondly, his appearance is described in Xunzi as "the appearance of Zhongni, his face is like Mengqi". Mengqi was a deity used by people in High Antiquity times to ward off evil spirits and for funerals. It is easy to imagine that his appearance was ferocious and terrifying. In Shiben, he is also described as "Zhongni with a plastered head, a turned-backed and open-faced appearance, thick eyebrows and a prominent forehead, long arms and flanks, and a waist ten spans in circumference". In short, he was tall and mighty, with a broad back and a thick waist. He was the kind of person who could scare people to death with just one glare.

Finally, among the Six Arts of Confucian School, Kong Zhongni was not most skilled in "rites" which he always talked about, nor in "music" which he loved most, but in "charioteering" and "archery," and he was known as "unparalleled in charioteering and archery."

During the Warring States Period, it was not cavalry that was popular, but chariots, so "royal" refers to driving a chariot. Confucius's royal skills were "comparable to Xi Zhong", and Xi Zhong was the inventor of the ancient carriage and was known as the "god of chariots".

In addition, Kongzi was skilled at shooting arrows in rapid succession, and was said to be "slightly inferior to Yang Youji," who is the origin of the idioms "hitting the bullseye every time" and "Yang Youji a hundred paces."

In summary, the young Kongzi was a fierce-looking, nine-foot-tall, ten-foot-wide-waisted warrior who was skilled in driving chariots and could shoot Fierce Warrior in rapid succession.

Such a fierce and fierce character, like Zhang Fei, has become a symbol of scholars in later generations. If Kongzi had known this when he was alive, he would probably have laughed his head off and, incidentally, punched the heads of those weak and whiny Confucian scholars.

By the way, Kong Zhongni's appearance was not due to genetic mutation, but rather inherited from his ancestors. His Laozi Shuliang He, was a skilled warrior who, along with the famous generals Di Simi and Qin Jinfu, was known as one of the "Three Tiger Generals of Lu State." He once led three hundred armored soldiers to break through the Qi Kingdom army and single-handedly lifted the city gate, carrying a heavy gate to save the entire army.

If Kongzi on Earth was so formidable, one can only imagine the martial prowess of Kongzi on the Sea Continent; he was undoubtedly a god of War God.

In fact, he was indeed renowned in the Sea Continent as the "World's Number One Divine Archer." Confucian School archery was a famous tradition, just like the Mohist School art of craftsmanship. However, Si Ming was too deeply influenced by his previous life, and his preconceived notions were hard to shake off for a while.

Shaking his head, Si Ming banished the Anomalies feeling from his mind, stepped into the stronghold, and found only Yu Shuying inside. He asked, "Where are the others?"

Yu Shuying said impatiently, "Senior Ling is going to teach Si Huaruo spear techniques, Class Monitor Bugou went along too."

Si Huaruo also possesses a cold-attribute Cultivation Body and has learned the "Vast Cold Immortal Sword Art." Under Ling Huanxi's guidance, she can quickly improve her strength without any cognitive obstacles. Moreover, Si Huaruo is skilled in staff techniques, as staffs and spears are inseparable; as long as a spearhead is inserted, the staff becomes a spear.

Since Murong Qing wasn't interested in spear techniques, it was understandable that Ling Huanxi wanted to find another successor. Si Ming wasn't surprised; it was the same principle as a master wanting to guide a young genius. In comparison, he was more interested in Yu Shuying's way of addressing him earlier.

Why do you call Murong Qing "the Class Monitor Bugou"?

"It's definitely used to describe her as 'meticulous' in her work, always wearing a 'serious' face."

"I see. I thought you thought she was brave and fearless in battle, never compromising her principles..."

Chapter 695 Water and Fire Cannot Coexist

In the woods, Ling Huanxi instructs Si Huaruo on gun handling techniques.

"The difference between a staff and a spear lies not in their techniques. Although there are sayings like 'the staff fears a point, the spear fears a circle' and 'the staff sweeps a wide area, the spear plucks a line,' these are all superficial. The most fundamental difference is that the staff is mainly for subduing, emphasizing stopping short of a point, while the spear is for killing."

Si Huaruo asked doubtfully, "Isn't there a saying: 'A month with a stick, a year with a knife, a lifetime with a gun'?"

"That's something invented by intellectuals, meant to flatter, and shouldn't be taken seriously. For example, an ordinary person can't kill someone with a stick, or even with a knife, and might even be killed by the opponent if they're unlucky. But with a gun in hand, even someone who hasn't practiced martial arts can easily kill someone with a single thrust. On the battlefield, the spear is the most commonly used weapon by soldiers, not because it's difficult to master, but because it's the easiest way to kill."

Ling Huanxi twirled her gun, her eyes suddenly hardening. Her previously cool and aloof demeanor transformed into a chilling killing intent, as if she had instantly changed from a refreshing evening breeze into a freezing polar wind. Her eyes were devoid of any mercy or pity, and she became as cruel and ruthless as a harsh winter, regarding human life as worthless.

Startled by the murderous intent, Si Huaruo felt as if an electric current had surged through her mind, instinctively adopting a defensive stance. However, she quickly realized what was happening and awkwardly put down the stick.