Embodying Myriad Traits, I Will Ultimately Become Immortal

"I'm a great judge of character. My brother Meng Chuan will definitely become a martial artist someday!"

The other trainees gradually left as well, and Liu Ru's shift had ended.

After a while, Meng Chuan prepared to leave. Before going, he decided to practice the National Obligatory Basic Fist Art a few more times to get a feel for it.

It was Saturday, and many trainees had come for their membership classes. After finishing his final class, Luo Guanyun stepped outside for some air, preparing to close up the academy.

It was already so late. Even the instructors had left—why was someone still training in the practice hall?

When he moved closer, he saw that it was the new trainee who had met his gaze that morning.

Meng Chuan was completely focused as he practiced, his body and mind immersed in every punch and kick. He did not notice someone approaching from behind at all.

"Kid, it's not safe after dark. Head home early and come train again tomorrow."

"Just leave when you're done. No need to lock up."

Luo Guanyun did not look closely at Meng Chuan. He casually said a few words before leaving first.

The martial arts academy had surveillance cameras, and no fool would dare come shake it down. Qianyuan Thunderclap was not a title Luo Guanyun had given himself—it was earned through his mastery of the Thunder Law True Skill!

After Meng Chuan finished and withdrew his stance, he was the only one left in Infinite Martial Arts Academy. Following Luo Guanyun's instructions, he turned off the lights and left.

As he walked, he thought, The martial arts academy Uncle signed me up for is really worth it. At school, they won't teach Stance Techniques until after we choose our specialization in the second year of high school.

Based on his current speculation, that final 1% of progress was hidden within the stance skill. Learning it now would save him an entire year.

At home, Xue Na sat on the sofa with her husband Meng Yongzhi, chatting after dinner.

Meng Chuan had called at noon to say that the academy provided meals, so he would eat there before coming home.

"Call Chuan'er again and see where he is," Meng Yongzhi urged.

"I just called him. He said he'll be back soon. What are you so anxious about?"

"It's not that I'm anxious. Something may have happened in the city recently. I'm worried it isn't safe for the kid to be out too late."

"What happened? I've been watching the news, and it hasn't said anything about danger. Is this something internal at your bureau?"

"Don't overthink it. Didn't I attend a meeting all night yesterday? The higher-ups didn't tell us directly, but I could hear what they meant between the lines."

"Don't go spreading this around. They could accuse you of disturbing public order. When Chuan'er gets back, remind him again. It's enough for our family to know."

Xue Na rolled her eyes at her husband.

"Do you think I'm that kind of person? Do you really need to tell me? And once you get off work, don't wander around either. Come home early."

Just then, Meng Chuan pushed open the door and came in.

"Uncle, Auntie."

Meng Chuan greeted them.

"You're back, Chuan'er. Don't train so late in the future. Come home earlier. It hasn't been safe outside lately."

Meng Chuan knew his uncle worked at the police bureau. Since he had not come home all night yesterday, something must really have happened.

"Got it, Uncle. I'll definitely come back earlier next time."

Meng Chuan did not ask for details. He was just a student—what could he do even if he knew? He only needed to listen to his uncle.

"Not just next time. You need to come back early for a while. Sit down and tell us—how was the martial arts academy today? Did you gain anything?"

Meng Yongzhi called Meng Chuan over to sit and drink some water.

"I learned the Xingyi Stance Skill today. I've practiced for one day, but I still haven't found the knack."

Meng Yongzhi comforted him.

"Stance skill takes patient, grinding effort. It's easy to get started, but difficult to master. When I practiced back then, I think it took me half a month just to get started."

"Chuan'er, your natural talent is better than mine. If you put the same effort you used on the National Obligatory Basic Fist Art into stance skill, I'm sure you'll get started very quickly."

Meng Yongzhi had been stuck at the Third Blood Qi Threshold for over a decade. Ever since he entered the police bureau and began working, he had barely practiced martial arts.

The Fourth Blood Qi Barrier required one to switch freely between overt and hidden force in one's punches. It was the first small hurdle in martial arts. Anyone below top-tier natural talent had to endure years of hard practice and master Manifest Force before breaking through.

Martial arts were therefore also a regret for Meng Yongzhi. He often imagined what things might be like now if he had devoted himself to martial arts and kept training all those years.

Perhaps he would not be better off than he was now. He had low-grade natural talent. Even if he reached the Sixth Blood Qi Barrier, it would still be less useful than the dark blue uniform hanging on the rack.

His younger brother had passed away early. Though Meng Chuan was his nephew, Meng Yongzhi had raised him since childhood and already regarded him as his own son.

When he had told his wife Xue Na that Meng Chuan could become a martial artist, he had only been trying to reassure her. If everyone could become a martial artist, then they would be as common as cabbages on the street.

He only wanted to offer Meng Chuan more help on the path of martial arts. He had never truly expected Meng Chuan to become a martial artist.

But perhaps it was not impossible. The child worked hard, and his natural talent was better than Meng Yongzhi's. Meng Yongzhi began to imagine that Meng Chuan might truly fulfill his dream for him.

It's not too late in the first year of high school. This time, the two of us will give it everything we've got. Meng Yongzhi silently swore.

Meng Chuan returned to his room. After reading the latest newspaper, he continued practicing his stance.

"Warm congratulations on the successful conclusion of the 26th Rivers' Confluence Tournament! Congratulations to Principal Sui Chunqiu of Northern United Martial Arts University, Martial Pinnacle - Sui Chunqiu, for claiming the championship!"

Sui Chunqiu was a Six Limits Heavenly King-level powerhouse.

He was a pillar of Great Chu—and indeed, of the entire world. He was also Meng Chuan's idol.

Whenever he was too exhausted to continue practicing fist arts as a child, he would think of his past-life self on one hand, and look at his idol, Heavenly King Sui, for comfort on the other.

On the path of martial arts, setting aside talent and natural aptitude, everything came down to one word: "fight."

There were only those above and those below. One had to carve out a path with one's fists. If you could do it, step forward. If not, give the resources to someone else.

The Tianshan Martial Gathering, the Yellow River Tournament, the World's First Martial Arts Tournament, and other such competitions all involved powerful martial artists fighting their way upward, selecting the best from among the best.

What kind of hero hid away in some mountain ravine, dreaming a Great Dream? If you had the ability, come out and compete. Let's see who was the blazing sun in the heavens!

Meng Chuan secretly made up his mind. One day, he too would compete in these tournaments, meet the great powers of every path, and contend with heaven itself.

His blood boiling at the thought, Meng Chuan seized the time and began practicing his stance.

As his intent flowed freely and his body moved as his mind commanded, every muscle and bone in Meng Chuan's body began conforming to the Three Powers Stance.

With his posture upright, body aligned, and spirit guarded within, Meng Chuan gradually found the feeling. The Three Powers Stance was on the verge of entry-level mastery.

Early the next morning, Meng Yongzhi unusually rose early on his day off.

"Uncle, are you on duty today? Why are you up so early?"

Meng Chuan was changing shoes by the door, preparing to head to the martial arts academy for more training. There were still some small details about his stance that he needed Instructor Liu Ru to help adjust.

"I'm not on duty. Come on, I'll go to the martial arts academy with you. I happen to have something to discuss with Academy Master Luo."

After thinking all night, Meng Yongzhi had decided that he could not let Meng Chuan waste any more time on the National Obligatory Basic Fist Art. He would personally speak to the academy master and make sure Meng Chuan was corrected.

In present-day Great Chu, attending a Martial University was an unavoidable path for anyone wishing to practice martial arts.

The instructors, classmates, martial arts resources, and everything else within a Martial University were the most valuable assets to any martial artist.

Blood qi was the foundation for entering a good Martial University.

On Mount Li outside Yong'an, Northern United Martial Arts University—one of the nation's nine elite Martial Universities—required the Fifth Blood Qi Threshold merely as its minimum admission standard.

Meng Yongzhi did not dare hope for an elite Martial University. He would be overjoyed if Meng Chuan could get into the local Yong'an Martial Arts University.

Yet Yong'an Martial Arts University also required more than three Blood Qi Thresholds. Practicing the National Obligatory Basic Fist Art for a lifetime would never reach the Third Blood Qi Threshold.

So he had to speak to the academy master and make sure Meng Chuan was compelled to learn other fist arts. Practicing stance skill alone would not do either, because fist arts and martial techniques boosted blood qi far more effectively than stance skills.

If Meng Chuan wanted to reach the Third Blood Qi Threshold before the high school martial arts examination, then with his natural talent, he had to begin learning other fist arts right now.

Time was tight and the task was heavy. Meng Chuan had already wasted plenty of time on Child's Fist.

After changing his shoes, Meng Yongzhi suddenly thought of something.

"Chuan'er, did you test your blood qi yesterday? Did you reach the First Blood Qi Threshold?"

"I was busy practicing my stance yesterday and forgot. I'll test it when I get there today."

Inside Infinite Martial Arts Academy at Greenland Square.

After arriving at the academy, Uncle immediately separated from Meng Chuan and went to find the academy master.

Meng Chuan looked around but did not see Wang Yue. When he called Wang Yue, his phone was switched off.

That guy was definitely afraid Meng Chuan would disturb his late sleep, so he had deliberately switched off his phone to guard against him.

He could not miss the academy cafeteria's breakfast today. After checking in, he immediately entered the cafeteria and began eating with gusto. A thousand yuan a day—it was his own money. It would be a waste not to eat.

Several trainees he had met yesterday cheerfully greeted Meng Chuan. His hard work the previous day had left some impression on them.

"Hey, you're new here?"

Seeing Meng Chuan wolfing down food, a tall, burly youth carried over his tray and sat beside him.

"My name's Le Ping. Third year at Aichi Martial Arts Academy, Third Blood Qi Threshold. You eat like a beast, so I thought I'd get to know you."

"Meng Chuan. Yesterday was my first day here. First year at Ping'an High School. My blood qi probably hasn't even entered the threshold yet—I'll test it later."