The Martial Way

Li Qi chatted with Brother Guo for half a Chen, recording all the details, before Sea Cooking Pot reluctantly let Li Qi leave.

Before leaving, he kept repeating, "Brother Li, from now on, treat me like your older brother. I'll protect you in the Imperial Academy!"

"Come eat here from now on! I won't charge you. If you get into trouble outside, just say I'm your brother."

"Hey bro, remember to come over often! And have some fun!"

After saying these words, he reluctantly saw Li Qi off.

Li Qi left the kitchen and returned alone to the culinary world outside.

Outside, Liu Shenzhi, his face pale and stiff, having vomited profusely but managing to clean himself up, was waiting for Li Qi.

"Brother Li... Brother Li." He was very loyal; even though he could barely stand, he didn't run away.

Seeing this, Li Qi felt a little embarrassed and apologized repeatedly. "I'm so sorry, I really am sorry. I didn't expect to encounter such a thing, and I'm sorry to have made Brother Liu suffer."

Liu Shenzhi shook his head helplessly, knowing that no one could be blamed, and could only sigh, "Forget it, there's nothing we can do about this. By the way, Brother Li, do you really think that stuff is delicious?"

"Yes, I think it's alright." Li Qi nodded.

"... You're Human Race? Not the Plague Lord, right?" Liu Shenzhi looked Li Qi up and down, his expression quite subtle.

"I guess so?" Li Qi didn't know how to explain it, since he himself didn't know what was going on.

"Alright... Anyway, you're a special admission student, so it's only right that you have some knowledge. Let's go, Brother Li, let's go check out other places." Liu Shenzhi shook his head and didn't ask any further questions.

Li Qi was somewhat surprised by his reaction. "Brother Liu, aren't you going to ask in detail?"

"Why ask so many questions? We're classmates, not brothers. Do you think you know my background? We're all here to study at the Imperial Academy, not to check our household registrations. I only know that your Law Artifact helped me a lot. Is there anything else you need to know?" Liu Shenzhi spread his hands, looking indifferent.

By the time everyone arrived at the Imperial Academy, they were all eighth-rank officials, which meant they were considered respectable figures in the outside world, and certainly not people who lacked common sense.

Why are you asking so many questions? What, are you enforcing the law?

Law enforcement officers need licenses too, but they're just classmates, there's no need for that.

"That's right, let's do it this way then. Let's go and see the other parts of the Imperial Academy." Li Qi nodded in relief.

"Alright, we've checked the cafeteria. Next, let's check out the classrooms. Let's start with the required courses. Let me see... the first required course... first aid. Let's go! Let's go!"

Liu Shenzhi regained his interest and strode forward.

After taking two steps, he suddenly stumbled and immediately bent over.

"Hah!!"

Well, the aftereffects are still there.

Putting aside Liu Shenzhi's physical condition, Li Qi then toured the entire Imperial Academy.

The four compulsory subjects at the Imperial Academy were First Aid, Defense, History, and General Knowledge.

These four subjects are mandatory for everyone. Other courses vary from person to person and can be chosen according to your own Dao Path, but you should choose at least eight, with no upper limit.

Each classroom is a separate little world, or a hidden paradise, equipped with various suitable facilities, or its original flora and fauna and environment are already very suitable for teaching.

Specialized instruction is provided for students with unique footwork characteristics.

The teaching methods are also very scientific, standardized, and rigorous.

There was absolutely no foolish practice of throwing students out into the wild and letting them grow on their own.

People can learn things they've never experienced before through learning. You don't need to step into a trap to learn how to avoid it, and you don't need to actually jump off a cliff to learn how to avoid it.

Those who can't learn by learning through suffering are just mindless mediocre people.

The Imperial Academy doesn't accept idiots like that.

The kind of practice that involves throwing students into primeval forests or other dangerous places and letting them survive on their own, or forcing them to push their limits through extreme training, is nowhere to be seen at Taixue.

The teachers will accurately measure your limits and then use rigorous and orderly methods to help you explore them little by little, and will never let you desperately try to break through with brute force.

Everything was so precise.

Even martial arts are like this; during his visit, Li Qi saw some martial artists practicing swordsmanship.

It's not about practicing swordsmanship through some kind of mystical understanding of swordsmanship, killing, or comprehending nature; it's about learning formulas...

A group of muscular, rough-looking men are learning formulas...

A Reason Way teacher seemed to be working overtime to explain to them what it means to move a rectangular geometric object of fixed length in the shortest possible distance in a complex space, and what a quick mental calculation method for torque is.

In response, Liu Shenzhi said, "Isn't that what it's like to have a teacher to help you learn? When you practice swordsmanship on your own, don't you have to accumulate experience? Now you can just calculate the result directly and then familiarize yourself with it through muscle memory. Why do you still have to practice swordsmanship to death? Isn't that stupid?"

Although Li Qi found it somewhat counterintuitive, after careful consideration, he had to admit that it made a lot of sense.

Guided by Reason Way, this is entirely possible.

There's no need to gradually accumulate experience in actual combat to master swordsmanship. You can directly teach them the methods and results in one step, and then they can memorize them through muscle memory.

This effect is even more effective than that of seasoned swordsmen who have fought countless battles.

Because while an old swordsman's experience might be wrong, his calculations could never be wrong.

Past experience may deceive you, but mathematics will not.

It's quite practical.

In addition, there is a complete and feasible method for cultivating physical fitness, calorie calculation, fighting techniques, and even more mysterious cultivation techniques such as 'killing intent' and 'Sword Intent'.

However, Li Qi basically only visited the martial arts path and did not see the other Dao Path.

Because martial arts have no holidays, they train at school even during their holidays, truly working like cattle and horses.

Because just one day without practice can create a noticeable gap between you and your classmates.

How much effort you put in each day, and how you put in that effort, will be accurately reflected in your physical parameters. Your teacher can tell at a glance whether you slacked off yesterday.

Those who practice martial arts must practice day and night without fail, until their movements become as natural as breathing.

In martial arts, the most important thing is resources, followed by perseverance.

There's no need to worry about food supplies; the school will provide plenty. You can eat whatever you need.

As for perseverance, it all depends on oneself. Even though it's a holiday now and everyone else is off to go home and have fun, these guys still have to stay here and keep training.

Li Qi felt somewhat fortunate.

Fortunately, I had destroyed my martial arts cultivation back then.

That's really fortunate.

However, he also developed some interest.

The interest of the warriors of the Tang Kingdom.

So, after watching the training session, he looked at some martial artists sparring not far away, left Liu Shenzhi's side, and took the initiative to step forward and say to one of them who was sitting down, "Hello, I'm a freshman. May I ask if you have a moment to spare?"

"You do have time, what's wrong? A freshman? You're a cultivator too? Your body isn't up to par." The muscular man raised his eyes and glanced at Xia Li Qi.

"No, I came to check out the school in advance. I'm not a martial arts practitioner..." Li Qi said with a smile.

"No, I see that you have strong Qi and Blood, refined internal organs, and long breath. You have obviously trained and have a good foundation. What, did you not persevere?" The burly man raised his head and stared at Li Qi.

Li Qi looked a little embarrassed and nodded. "I practiced for a while before, but I wouldn't say I persisted."

The martial artist nodded, indicating that he understood.

However, his eyes clearly carried a hint of contempt.

Perhaps to these martial artists, such people who give up halfway are mostly quite amusing.

However, Li Qi didn't care. He only came to see what a true martial arts genius looked like, so he immediately continued, "May I ask, brother, does practicing martial arts, training the body and combat skills, not violate your 'Dao'?"

This was something that seemed odd to Li Qi from the very beginning.

If martial arts are about self-cultivation, then isn't learning mathematical formulas a bit strange? Does this really align with their principles?

Upon hearing this, the martial artist who was resting understood Li Qi's purpose.

This person must be a young scholar, right?

He put away his previous disdain. He had thought that this person had given up and changed his path, but now it seemed that he might just be trying out martial arts for research purposes.

He looked down on those who gave up halfway, but he was still very welcoming to others who just wanted to experience martial arts.

Li Qi saw that the other person had a smile on their face.

Then he said, "Student, if you have this question, then let me ask you, what is martial arts?"

Li Qi pondered for a moment and said, "As for 'wu' (武), it is composed of 'ge' (戈) and 'zhi' (止). 'Zhi ge wei wu' (止戈为武) means 'stopping the ge' (止戈为武). 'Ge' (戈) is a weapon. In ancient times, 'zhi' (止) meant 'toe' (趾), which refers to footsteps, that is, the steps and rhythm of using weapons. It refers to the art of combat. Later, it developed into the meaning of attacking, military affairs, and might."

"The name 'Wuwei Dao Path' (武为道途) implies that it is related to these meanings. If I understand correctly, it has the meaning of combat skills as well as the meaning of might and majesty. What the martial arts pursue is the ultimate skill and the indomitable spirit."

Li Qi expressed his speculations about martial arts based on his own understanding.

The martial artist laughed after hearing this, and then said, "Scholar, in your opinion, is martial arts such a superficial thing?"

Upon hearing this, Li Qi immediately cupped his hands in greeting. "I would like to hear the details."

If you don't understand something, it's best to honestly ask others instead of making assumptions.

"It is right to stop at the toes of ancient times, but it does not refer to the pace of using weapons, but to the advancement." The warrior raised his head and said.

Upon hearing this, Li Qi immediately understood and was secretly alarmed.

It refers to moving forward, that is to say...

"Ge is a weapon, and zhi means to advance. In other words, the essence of martial arts is to advance with weapons, which is to 'conquer'! In the Savage Wilderness era, the Human Race was weak and oppressed by Street God. There were Shaman mediated between those friendly gods, but there were also warriors who went to fight against those evil gods. Martial arts were born from this!"

"The Way of Martial Arts refers to conquest itself! All other so-called martial arts skills, Cultivation Method, spirit, and even artistic conception are all for this goal! They are all tools for conquest!"

"Martial artists train their bodies, hone their skills, and temper their will, not for the sake of these things themselves, but to use them to fight! To conquer! In the past, the martial arts ancestors on the Savage Wilderness lands conquered the gods, and we now conquer the heavens! This is the True Intention of martial arts!"

"So, scholar, your understanding is too superficial. Exercise is not the goal, but only a means."

Li Qi understood. "Thank you for the explanation, but I have another question. May I ask you, classmate, what is the difference between you and the Military School?"

The martial artist seemed to have anticipated this question and replied, "What difference is there? The difference is naturally huge. Military School is based on Human Path, but martial arts is Human Path."

This answer was somewhat unexpected for Li Qi.

But thinking about it carefully, it does seem to be true.

Military School are Human Path military strategists; they are a branch of Human Path.

Martial arts, on the other hand, is Dao Path of its own, clearly with its own principles and ideology, rather than a branch of another Dao Path.

"Military School is based on Human Path, so as a scholar, you should be able to clearly see the methods of Military School: gathering the strength of the masses to form military Soldier's Qi. It is obvious that this is Human Path approach."

"But martial arts are not like that. Human Path gathers the strength of many, but comrades cannot be with you all the time, and the group cannot be trusted. On the journey, only your own skills, your own weapons, or even more extremely, only your own fists and your own body are the most trustworthy." The martial artist raised his head and said, "The only thing you can 'absolutely trust' is yourself."

Li Qi frowned.

These words don't sound like something a warrior from the Tang Kingdom would say.

Clearly, the other party's understanding of martial arts is different from that of the Tang Kingdom.

That's normal. If everyone understood it the same way, how could there be any disputes?

Therefore, Li Qi tentatively asked, "If you speak like this, are you not Tang Kingdom?"

The martial artist nodded. "The martial arts of the Tang Kingdom have long been integrated with Military School formations, and most martial artists join the army. Naturally, someone with such thoughts could not be from the Tang Kingdom."

Then he said, "I am a demon from the southeast, here to study in the Tang Kingdom."

Li Qi was surprised; was the other person also an international student?

Located in the southeast of the world, it is an archipelago nestled between the southernmost mountains and the East China Sea.

The islands are located in a hot climate, near the sea and rainy, with lush primeval forests and lakes where monsters roam freely. It is the stronghold of the demons, and under the leadership of the Great Sage of the Demon Race, they occupy the southeastern part of the Nine Lands of the World.

Li Qi nodded in understanding. "I see, I get it now."

"Is there anything else, scholar? If not, I've rested enough and should go back to my training." The martial artist stood up and stretched.

At this moment, Li Qi noticed the demonic features on the other party.

Behind him was a tiger's tail, but it was blocked when he sat down.

"That's all. However, I have a favor to ask. I've never fought a martial artist before, but I've heard that martial arts is the best way to engage in direct combat among Dao Path, so... I'd like to give it a try," Li Qi said, bowing slightly at the end.

The martial artist raised an eyebrow and scanned Li Qi's entire body.

"Want to get beaten up? You should have said so earlier. Consider it good training. There's an open space over there, want to give it a try?" The martial artist pointed to an open space not far away.

Li Qi cupped his hands in greeting. "Please enlighten me."

After speaking, the two walked towards the open space.

As for Liu Shenzhi, he was still wandering around nearby.