Seven Limits of the Physical Body, Bound Mortal Body

[Intermediate Achievement - Deep Sleep (1/30)]

The next day, Qin Shi still got up very early. The all-night meditation training hadn't caused any trouble.

He was still energetic, so full of vitality it was unbelievable.

The "beating" he took yesterday in the training room – the minor bruises from the collisions of fists and feet – also healed quickly.

The bruises on his arms, calves, and lower back had already disappeared, leaving only very faint red marks.

"As the saying goes, eating ginseng is not as good as sleeping through the early morning. The wisdom of the older generation is indeed reasonable.

It's like returning to a city in a game, closing your eyes to heal in a hot spring, and opening them again at full strength."

Qin Shi mused. Old Liang often quoted long, obscure, and difficult-to-understand ancient texts when discussing Old Martial Arts theory with him. Among them, the content about "sleep" left a slightly deeper impression.

Such as "For cultivating and nurturing Qi, one must first sleep well. Sleep can restore essence and benefit the body, strengthen bones and toughen sinews," and "A thousand pieces of gold cannot buy a good night's sleep; seek not immortal elixirs, but a sleep remedy."

"From a scientific perspective, ensuring golden sleep every day helps maintain cell vitality, regulate endocrine function, and enhance the immune system and physical fitness."

Qin Shi let out a long sigh. This sense of fulfillment, of improving every day, made one relax unconsciously.

It was like knowing there was an oasis ahead, so one didn't fear the current heat and thirst.

All that was needed was to trudge forward and reach the destination.

"Settle down! Settle down further! When school starts, I'll return as a top student and take off in one go!"

Qin Shi silently cheered himself on, put on his clothes, and walked outside to get a basin of cold water, wiping it on his face with a towel.

While washing up, he glanced at the semi-transparent monument panel.

[Beginner Achievement - Muscle Memory (72%)]

"Keep training, and next week, I'll be able to unlock the related skills."

Qin Shi couldn't help but hum a few times. Combat Rewind had been a great help to him.

The all-night meditation training was twice as effective, deeply imprinting the basic movements of fighting techniques into his mind.

Moreover, his muscles wouldn't accumulate fatigue and exceed the body's load limit.

"Beating Brother Yuan more than ten times was quite stress-relieving, letting out all the negative emotions."

After having breakfast with his younger sister, Qin Lan, Qin Shi headed to Ninth Middle School as usual.

He arrived late today, but there were no students from the cram school. The playground was empty, with only the limping Old Liang sitting at the top of the stands.

Sensing the almost tangible gaze, Qin Shi's heart skipped a beat.

"Old Liang is a bit serious today. Could it be he lost money gambling last night and is taking his anger out on me?"

It was rumored that Martial Artists with high vitality could project their spirit outwards, alter the surrounding environment, and even trigger meteorological changes akin to natural disasters.

Although Old Liang was certainly not that powerful, Qin Shi remembered the shock and fear he felt when he was stared at the first time they met, like his whole body had received an electric shock.

It was truly unforgettable!

Therefore, he believed that this unassuming physical education teacher had indeed participated in the Stellar Cup, and his vitality was at least at the amateur seventh stage.

"Qin Shi, come up here, let's talk."

Old Liang's voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't slept all night.

"Whoa, he didn't go home all night, did he!"

Qin Shi walked up the stands and approached, smelling the pungent scent of alcohol. A glance with his peripheral vision revealed cigarette butts scattered all over the ground.

He had only witnessed such a scene twice in his previous life. The first was when his childhood friend was publicly rejected by his crush and then got into a rich guy's car, reluctantly accompanying him to drown his sorrows in alcohol.

The other was when he learned his father had sold their house and gone all-in on betting on soccer, losing everything and facing the tragic situation of having to repay his father's debts before even graduating.

"Looking at Old Liang's pile of wine bottles and cigarette butts, I feel like his bitterness is no less than mine on those two occasions."

Qin Shi muttered inwardly, but outwardly he said with concern:

"Teacher Liang, why are you drinking so early in the morning? You don't even have any dishes, it must be uncomfortable on an empty stomach."

Old Liang stared blankly at the teenager in front of him, his eyes completely sober. He said directly and crisply:

"I want to teach you something, Qin Shi."

"Teacher Liang, I've been learning Old Martial Arts from you for many days. Although I haven't paid tuition, I'm still your student, right?"

Qin Shi felt guilty. He inexplicably felt that Old Liang's gaze towards him was wrong, too fiery.

I'm not wearing white socks, nor do I have a buzz cut. I shouldn't be attracting trouble and making gay men interested, right?

He made up his mind: if the situation turned bad, he would run!

"Teachers and students, in the end, are just a business where money is exchanged for services, and obligations are fulfilled.

I'm not exactly kind-hearted, I don't have that kind of compassionate nature where I want to help anyone who is down and out."

Old Liang rested his hands on his knees, his gaze sharp, like a crouching tiger, completely shedding his usual image of a disheartened middle-aged man who limped and stooped.

"Li Yuan and Xie Yucheng, these two kids have some talent, they're diligent and can endure hardship, but they can't even get started. They won't become pillars of support for the future.

So after they learn boxing, whether they go mining or hang out on the streets, I won't care, nor will I get involved."

"I'm only responsible for helping them develop their vitality and give them the results they want."

Hearing this, Qin Shi didn't feel anything was wrong.

After all, no matter how you look at it, being a teacher is just a job that pays a salary.

Being able to fulfill one's personal obligations and do what's within one's duties is considered qualified.

Such selfless dedication, like a gardener or a candle, is rare in a good teacher.

"But you're different, Qin Shi. You got the hang of the training methods in two days and the fighting techniques in one day. I've been teaching at No. 9 Vocational Middle School for nearly ten years, and I've never seen such a promising talent."

Old Liang's eyes were bright as he stared at Qin Shi's young face. It was as if he saw the years flying by, and many memories surfaced in his mind.

"I was once called a 'genius,' so I know what a genius looks like."

Is he complimenting me or himself?

Qin Shi's lips twitched.

With the rapid energy recovery buff from [Deep Sleep] and the reinforcement of training speed from [Muscle Memory], he was indeed qualified to be called an "Old Martial Arts genius"!

"Possessing the two top-tier traits of 'cannot be ruined by training' and 'learns quickly,' who can compete with me!"

Seeing Qin Shi remain silent, Old Liang's eyes dimmed slightly, and his tone softened:

"I know I'm just a sports teacher stuck at Ninth Middle School with no prospects. In a while, this school might be converted into a Sports Academy, and without the public teaching committee's establishment, I'll be laid off and become unemployed.

But I'm not some charlatan cheating people in the metropolitan area. The real skills I possess are enough to help a genius like you reach the threshold of a professional and aim to become a Martial Artist!

You don't need to worry about this. New No. 1 Middle School's computer classes are connected to the metropolitan area's public network. With your high school senior student ID, you should be able to log into the Martial Arts Association's official website. My past competition records are all detailed there.

Please believe me, Qin Shi."

Old Liang said the last few words with genuine emotion.

When he was young, he lived recklessly, couldn't stand any injustice, and always sought fairness, which resulted in him hitting walls and getting bruised all over.

When he was a bit older and more restrained, he still couldn't bend his spine, was not favored, and finally ended up with a limp.

Decades passed, his temples turned white, and he had no children.

Old Liang himself felt like he had lost all spirit, and his remaining life would be spent peacefully as a disabled person.

But fate loved to toy with people, and it sent Qin Shi to him.

It made his long-extinguished rusty furnace finally emit a faint spark again.

"Teacher Liang, what do you want to teach me?"

Qin Shi asked seriously.

"Old Martial Arts says: The Seven Limits of the Physical Body, Bound Mortal Body. Without breaking free from the shackles, one cannot become a true saint!"

Old Liang said word by word, his expression solemn:

"Sinew, Bone, Skin, Membrane, Qi, Strength, Spirit! I can help you break through the great limits and open the four gates!"