Combat Secret Technique

"Hey, Qing Zi, those standards are only measures of physical fitness. They don't represent actual combat strength, so they're nothing special. No need to pay them too much attention."

Luo Qingshan saw Xu Qing's excited expression and still gave him a reminder.

Xu Qing immediately asked for guidance humbly.

Luo Qingshan explained in detail without holding anything back. "A person's combat strength is closely related to their mental fortitude, combat skills, force-generation techniques, and personal condition. It isn't something that can be determined by any single factor.

If physical fitness were all that mattered, what would be the point of actual combat? When people fought to the death, they could just compare stats, couldn't they?"

Xu Qing naturally understood that, but he had to flatter them. "So that's how it is. Hearing your words is better than studying for ten years."

That was the only way to get these two seniors to say more.

Sure enough, upon hearing Xu Qing's words—

A smug smile appeared on Luo Qingshan's face, and he continued, "Since we're on the subject, Uncle will teach you another trick."

"Please do." Xu Qing listened attentively.

Luo Qingshan pondered for a moment before lowering his voice. "Actually, among all those deciding factors, what martial artists care about most is force-generation technique."

He glanced at Liu Jun beside him. "This has to do with the combat manuals martial artists cultivate. I'll give you a simple example, and you'll understand."

Only after Liu Jun nodded did Luo Qingshan continue. "For example, the combat manual I learned back then was called the Clear Moon Five Slashes.

Your Uncle Liu, meanwhile, learned the Secret Moon Nine Forms from the Lunar Army.

When my combat manual is cultivated to mastery, it can unleash three times the power of my base body.

But when the Secret Moon Nine Forms reaches mastery, it can only unleash twice the power of the base body."

Xu Qing's eyes widened at once. "So if you and Uncle Liu had the same physical fitness, Uncle Luo, you'd hold an absolute advantage against him!"

Luo Qingshan gave him a thumbs-up. "Smart."

Liu Jun shook his head with a smile. "But likewise, the more powerful a manual is, the harder it is to learn.

It took me ten years to cultivate the Secret Moon Nine Forms to mastery.

But your Uncle Luo spent twenty years and only learned the Clear Moon Five Slashes up to the fourth level. In terms of strength, he only surpasses me in physical fitness."

Hearing Liu Jun's words, Luo Qingshan smiled as well. "That's right. The Clear Moon Five Slashes is too difficult. I've been comprehending the fifth level for all these years, but I've never been able to break through."

Xu Qing understood completely.

Powerful Combat Secret Techniques were difficult to learn.

Combat Secret Techniques that were easy to learn were weaker.

When learning a secret technique, one had to consider one's own talent. One couldn't blindly pursue power.

That meant—

The Xing Yi Fist Liu Zhankun had taught him was probably a basic boxing technique.

Even when cultivated to mastery, it could only unleash the strength of his entire body.

There was no doubling it, let alone the two or three times those techniques could achieve.

Still, Xu Qing wasn't in any position to be picky about something free.

Liu Zhankun's willingness to teach him Xing Yi Fist was already a great kindness.

After all, he had opened the path of martial arts for Xu Qing.

So Xu Qing's next goal, besides obtaining a Grade D Gene Potion, gained another item!

Get hold of a better combat manual!

At that thought, Xu Qing's eyes shifted as he looked at the two men and asked, "Then, Uncles, can I learn Combat Secret Techniques from you?"

Luo Qingshan and Liu Jun both revealed expressions of "just as expected." After exchanging glances and smiling, they shook their heads.

Luo Qingshan looked at Xu Qing and said, "That's basically impossible. Combat manuals are often the most precious resources of every faction, and they're copyrighted."

Liu Jun nodded. "Although the two of us have already left the factions we once belonged to, the legal agreements we signed when learning those secret techniques are still in effect.

If we privately teach the manuals to someone else, that would be a violation.

We'd have to pay a huge amount in compensation.

The amount is generally over a million Alliance Coins."

"But who would know you were the ones who taught them?" Xu Qing asked, somewhat confused.

Luo Qingshan smiled. "That's easy to investigate. For example, if I taught you the Clear Moon Five Slashes, then later, whenever you came into contact with any outside faction—

as soon as you used the Clear Moon Five Slashes, people would recognize it.

Or it could be detected through surveillance and other methods.

At that point, the extremely powerful Smart Brains behind those factions would gather huge amounts of data and trace the origin of the moves you learned.

And since we work together, we'd naturally be the most likely people you came into contact with."

Afterward, the faction I belonged to would send people to investigate and question me.

There would be a Mental Power Master monitoring from the side to ensure that I wasn't lying.

And once it was proven true, I would face a massive fine.

If I couldn't pay it, I'd be sent into labor dispatch—meaning I'd be taken away to do hard labor."

At this point, he smiled. "Of course, if you have money, then it doesn't matter. It'd be like spending money to buy a secret manual.

Naturally, the fine would be many times higher than the value of the manual itself."

Only then did Xu Qing understand. So that was how it was.

But in that case, there were definitely loopholes in the process.

It wasn't guaranteed that they would be discovered.

It was just that the risk was too great, and no one was willing to try.

His relationship with Luo Qingshan and Liu Jun wasn't close enough for them to take such a risk for him.

Naturally, Xu Qing would not shamelessly continue begging them for help.

"Then what other channels are there for buying Combat Secret Techniques?" he asked unwillingly.

"Hmm." Luo Qingshan thought for a moment and looked at Liu Jun. "If you join one of the various factions, they'll teach them for free if your talent is good enough, right?"

Liu Jun nodded. "Yes, major factions do that. Not only that, if your talent is exceptionally good, many major factions will compete to recruit you and offer you very generous terms.

But joining a faction inevitably means being bound by it. That's why many independent martial artists dislike them."

Luo Qingshan smiled. "Besides that, you can also join a martial arts school to learn Combat Secret Techniques. But martial arts schools on Blue Star basically all charge fees now.

Forget Combat Secret Techniques—even the most basic Gene Cultivation Methods are priced dearly. Some even cost over a million."

After Luo Qingshan finished, Liu Jun thought for a moment and added, "Other than those options, there are only auction houses left.

Most of the secret techniques sold there are copyrighted.

Prices range from low to high. Some are complete, while some are incomplete. It depends on your luck."

Auction houses?

Xu Qing nodded and silently committed it to memory.

"I understand. Oh, right, Uncle Luo, what is a Mental Power Master?" Xu Qing was very curious about that strange term Luo Qingshan had mentioned earlier.

Luo Qingshan explained, "Oh, martial artists are actually divided into two major branches. One consists of pure martial artists like us, while the other consists of Mental Power Masters, who fight through Mental Power.

They can create illusions, control minds, or directly use Mental Power to attack your brain.

Likewise, they can use Mental Power to control objects from afar. They're extremely powerful.

Mental Power Masters of the same rank are often stronger than martial artists of the same rank.

But likewise, Mental Power Masters are one in ten million.

Out of ten million people, perhaps only one or two might be born, so their numbers are extremely scarce.

Every single one is treasured by the various factions.

You probably can't find any on Blue Star these days.

But as soon as one appears, a major faction will immediately come to recruit them."

Xu Qing nodded, somewhat stunned. "These Mental Power Masters sound rather fantastical."

"Heh." Liu Jun smiled from the side. "Martial artists aren't any worse. Powerful martial artists can kill Mental Power Masters as well.

And among the top experts in the world today, nine out of ten are basically pure martial artists. There's only one Mental Power Master, and they rank at the bottom.

Besides, Mental Power Masters have a harder time improving.

Just like learning Combat Secret Techniques.

You have to know, the universe is fair."

"I understand." A grateful smile appeared on Xu Qing's face.

He finally had a clear understanding of martial artists' hierarchy, strength classifications, living conditions, and social circles.

He also had a rough plan for his next steps.

At the same time, he wanted to go to the county town and find somewhere to test his true strength.

To see what realm he had reached.

"Oh, right. If you want to test your strength, all the major martial arts schools in the county town have testing grounds, but they charge a fee."

As he was leaving, Liu Jun suddenly said this to Xu Qing.

Xu Qing was immediately stunned. How did Liu Jun know what he had been thinking?

Liu Jun grinned. "I know you're young. You won't be able to resist—you'll definitely be curious. And having something to compare yourself against while practicing martial arts will also give you more motivation to improve."

"But let me warn you first: nearly all those testing facilities keep records, and their data is connected to the Smart Brain in their backend. Once you get tested there, it's equivalent to exposing your physical data to every major faction. If your aptitude is good, martial arts schools will approach you and try to recruit you. But at the same time, your strength will become known to all sides. It has its pros and cons. If you really need one, you can ask around and see whether there are any old testing machines on the black market. I've heard they're quite cheap."

Xu Qing was startled inwardly and hurriedly thanked him sincerely.

He had indeed been considering that just now.

If Liu Jun had not warned him, he might really have gone.

In truth, exposing his strength was not necessarily a bad thing.

Revealing an appropriate amount of strength at the right time could bring Xu Qing many benefits.

But not now.

He was still too weak.

On the chaotic Blue Star of today, the weak had no way to control their own lives.

He only wanted to quietly improve his strength here, make up for his genetic defects, increase his lifespan, and grow in a low-profile manner.

Then he would decide which path to take in the future.

He was only sixteen.

Still young.