Vitality, Artistic Conception, Divine Ability

Rong City East Gate Station.

Li Changqing walked out of the station with a backpack slung over his shoulders, looking every bit like a tourist who had just finished a trip.

At the station entrance, Grandpa Chen, his back bent with age, smiled as he watched Li Changqing approach.

"Not bad, lad. You're looking rosy."

A glint flashed through Grandpa Chen's cloudy eyes. In his perception, the current Li Changqing was practically a different person from when they had met in the park last time.

"How long until the Transformation Stage?"

Li Changqing smiled and answered casually, "Still a while to go."

"Try to finish it before the Youth Cup preliminaries. By then, you should be able to run into Jiang He and prove yourself properly." Grandpa Chen walked ahead of Li Changqing with his hands behind his back.

"Oh, right. Have you gone to the martial arts hall to certify your identity yet?"

"There's no rush."

"No rush?" Grandpa Chen was quite curious.

"Didn't you say on the phone that you ran into Jiang He in the nature reserve? Aren't you jealous of him?"

"Jealous..." Li Changqing smiled without answering directly.

"Maybe I was before."

Li Changqing searched his heart. When he had first encountered Jiang He at the station, he truly had been envious of him—envious of a genius's privileges—to the point that he had made the other boy his goal.

But after entering the Transformation Stage under Grandpa Chen's guidance, most of that envy had faded, because he had realized that he could do it too.

Then today, when he saw Jiang He struggling against that brown bear, the last trace of competitive comparison in his heart vanished like smoke in the wind.

"Before? Then what about now?" Grandpa Chen did not let Li Changqing dodge the question and pressed him step by step.

"You're not jealous now?"

"Not jealous." Li Changqing shook his head frankly.

"You went out to train once and came back a Buddha? No worldly desires left?"

Grandpa Chen found it hard to believe. How could a young man this age have no desire to compare himself with others?

Li Changqing raised his head and looked at the sun gradually slanting westward overhead. He shook his head.

"Of course not. My desires are strong—stronger than ever before."

"Grandpa Chen, don't you think the scenery at the end of the martial path is countless times better than where we're standing now?"

"I want to go there and see it."

"...You brat." Grandpa Chen was startled by Li Changqing's words.

"The end of the martial path? You really dare to say it." He shook his head, but the smile on his wrinkled face could not be suppressed.

"What an ambitious young man."

As the two chatted, they arrived at a riverbank lined with fluttering willows and fresh air.

"Here, take this."

"What is it?"

"A Youth Cup registration form. Fill it out yourself and mail it in. I've already vouched for your eligibility. But remember, if you fail to complete your transformation and officially become a Martial Artist before the competition, this registration form will be void."

"Don't worry, Grandpa." Li Changqing solemnly accepted the form. Before tucking it into his clothes, he glanced over it.

Chen Danqing? Grandpa's name was quite elegant.

"Grandpa, remember to come watch my match when the time comes."

"You brat." Chen Danqing's beard trembled.

"Talk after you win your first qualifying match. If you get eliminated in the first round, don't say you know me."

"I understand." Li Changqing chuckled.

"Like when new recruits join a unit and get asked who their recruit squad leader is—you say the squad leader is already dead."

"You slick little devil!" Chen Danqing scolded with a laugh as he walked beside Li Changqing.

"You've already entered the Transformation Stage. It's about time I told you about the classifications of Martial Artists."

Hearing this, Li Changqing's expression turned solemn, and the playful grin vanished from his face.

"Grandpa, please tell me."

"Kid, Martial Artists are divided into three ranks: high, middle, and low. You know that, right?"

"I do."

"First, regardless of whether they are High-Rank, Mid-Rank, or Lower-Rank Martial Artists, each rank is divided into nine stars. One star is the lowest, and nine stars the highest."

"High-Rank Martial Artists are the most transcendent. At that stage, Martial Artists begin to possess some characteristics of Psionic Users, known as Divine Abilities. But I never stepped into that realm myself, so I can't explain it in detail. Just listen for now."

Grandpa Chen sounded somewhat regretful. Back then, he had been stuck at the peak of Mid-Rank Martial Artist, only one step away from crossing that threshold.

"Let me focus on Lower-Rank and Mid-Rank Martial Artists."

"Lower-Rank Martial Artists are classified by Vitality Concentration. The stronger your Vitality, the stronger your physique, and the higher the star rating you receive."

Chen Danqing patted Li Changqing's solid arm.

"At this stage, don't think about all sorts of irrelevant nonsense. Focus on your Vitality and physique. Just remember this: a big body never lacks strength. As a Lower-Rank Martial Artist, the stronger your Vitality and the sturdier your body, the greater your advantage in a fight against others."

Li Changqing nodded seriously to show that he had remembered, then asked:

"Then Grandpa, what is the difference between Mid-Rank and Lower-Rank Martial Artists? Is it also Vitality?"

"No." Chen Danqing shook his head.

"The difference between a Martial Arts Apprentice and a Lower-Rank Martial Artist lies in Vitality and whether one has broken through the limits of humanity in every aspect."

"But the difference between a Mid-Rank Martial Artist and a Lower-Rank Martial Artist lies in Artistic Conception—or rather, Aura!"

"Artistic Conception, Aura?" Li Changqing's thoughts stirred.

"Grandpa, when I trained today, I used the power of flowing water to gain insight into my boxing technique. Was that Artistic Conception?"

"That at most counted as technique." Chen Danqing shook his head.

"Watch my movements closely." Without saying more, he demonstrated directly.

Facing the willow tree before them, Chen Danqing stretched out his withered hand and gave it a light pat.

There was barely any flow of Vitality. The force was no different from that of an ordinary adult.

The willow tree did not budge.

"Now, watch carefully." Chen Danqing reminded him, then raised his right hand again.

There was still no flow of Vitality, and the force was just the same.

But this time, his Aura changed.

Aura and Artistic Conception—both were mysterious and profound terms, difficult to explain with words.

Yet they truly existed.

The instant Chen Danqing raised his hand, Li Changqing's pupils constricted sharply. He nearly exhausted all his strength just to stop his muscles from tensing in reflex.

In his perception at that moment, Chen Danqing had become a fierce tiger descending the mountain.

Its sharp claws and fangs seemed pressed against his throat artery. The sense of crisis, as if he could be seized by the throat at any moment, left Li Changqing at a loss.

That withered palm seemed to transform into a massive tiger claw, its sharp talons slicing into the willow tree like tiny daggers.

But when he came back to himself, Chen Danqing's palm was still thin and withered. Where was any tiger's paw, any claws or fangs?

Yet five savage claw marks, as though they had nearly cut the willow tree apart, stood out with startling clarity.

"So this is Artistic Conception? This is Aura?" Li Changqing was dumbfounded. He was certain that Chen Danqing had used exactly the same amount of force both times.

Yet the final results were as different as heaven and earth.

"This is the difference between a Lower-Rank Martial Artist and a Mid-Rank Martial Artist." Chen Danqing wiped his forehead.

"The same force, exerted under different Artistic Conceptions, produces effects that are entirely different concepts—one in the heavens, one on the earth."

Chen Danqing took a breath, then waved a hand at Li Changqing.

"But these things are too far away for you. You should hurry up and cultivate your Vitality, then complete your transformation as soon as possible."

"Don't say that, Grandpa." Li Changqing had finally had his interest piqued and hurriedly grabbed Chen Danqing to ask questions.

"Is there a method to cultivate Artistic Conception and Aura? Or some kind of threshold?"

"You brat." Chen Danqing shook off his arm irritably. "Treat this as a story and don't aim too high."

"Artistic Conception and Aura are unlike all the boxing techniques you're learning now. Their power comes from your will and Mental Power. If there is a threshold, it is probably your will and Mental Power."

"When a Lower-Rank Martial Artist cultivates to the peak, their Vitality gradually begins nourishing their spirit. At that point, with certain techniques specifically designed to temper Mental Power, using forms such as visualization, they can eventually nurture their own Artistic Conception."

Li Changqing immediately pressed on.

"Grandpa, are there any techniques specifically for raising Mental Power?"

"You're dreaming again." Chen Danqing slapped Li Changqing on the forehead.

"Train your Vitality properly. Where are there shortcuts on the martial path?"

But that slap did not dispel Li Changqing's thoughts. He suddenly recalled something.

When he had broken through his limits and entered the Transformation Stage before.

His will had increased by several points.

At the time, he had not felt that it was particularly useful. But now that he thought of it, Li Changqing's heart grew increasingly fervent.

It was highly likely that he would not need to bring his Vitality to completion before raising his spirit through his own training.

He might even gain insight into his own Artistic Conception ahead of time.

Wouldn't a Lower-Rank Martial Artist who grasped Artistic Conception be a complete dimensionality-reduction strike?

"Grandpa, I want to learn..."

"Don't even think about it!" Chen Danqing knew perfectly well what nonsense Li Changqing was about to spout.

"You brat, go train your body properly."

"Then tell me how you tempered your Mental Power back then. We're just telling stories here."

Faced with Li Changqing's cheeky grin, Chen Danqing sighed helplessly.

"What else could it have been? A visualization painting personally drawn by a High-Rank Martial Artist."

The moment the words left his mouth, Chen Danqing regretted them.

Sure enough, Li Changqing immediately grabbed his arm.

"Grandpa, let me take one look."

"Just one look."

"Indulge my curiosity."

Chen Danqing: ...

Beside Dongguang Residential Community.

Chen Danqing lived right next door to the place Li Changqing rented.

Along the way, Li Changqing had asked him why he did not move into a better home.

Given Chen Danqing's status as a Mid-Rank Martial Artist and a retired soldier.

Not to mention a villa or a mansion, he could at least afford a small Western-style house.

Chen Danqing's answer to that was simple.

He was used to living here. The people around him were old comrades and old neighbors. After several decades, he had grown attached to this land.

"Look. This is the painting."

The home of the elderly man living alone was clean—astonishingly tidy. Even the remote controls on the table were all arranged in precisely the same direction.

Chen Danqing spread a yellowed scroll across the table.

Standing to one side, he glanced at Li Changqing, whose eyes looked ready to fall into the painting.

There was no harm in letting him take one look. Chen Danqing did not believe Li Changqing could make heads or tails of it. He would treat it as broadening the boy's horizons.

On the yellowed paper, strokes of black ink outlined a rugged, burly man. His muscles bulged like tangled roots as he held a colossal bronze cauldron high above his head.

Only a few strokes, an extremely simple composition, yet the painting carried an almost tangible impact.

Li Changqing's eyes went wide. He felt as though the Overlord in the painting had stepped out from the Long River of history.

That bearing of strength enough to pull up mountains filled heaven and earth.

Bzz—

Suddenly, a string in his mind was plucked.

A violent spiritual impact instantly surged into the deepest recesses of Li Changqing's heart.

Artistic Conception (Overlord Lifts Cauldron): 0%