"You definitely haven't been practicing the [Mysterious Yin Moon-Reflecting True Art] lately to suppress the Thunder Seed. Are you really willing to throw your life away just to teach your disciple?"
The Mysterious Yin Moon-Reflecting True Art was a Five Elements Water Attribute True Technique of the Xingyi Sect. It could suppress, to some extent, the conflicting attribute of the [Yuanshen Thunder Seed Method] Luo Guanyun practiced.
"I have been practicing it, but I've had a lot going on lately, so I haven't had as much time to train. I can still hold out for a while. I know my own body."
Ever since he had taken Meng Chuan on as his personal disciple, the time Luo Guanyun spent practicing the Mysterious Yin Moon-Reflecting True Art to suppress the Thunder Seed each night had been taken up by teaching Meng Chuan.
As the saying went, "The poor study, the rich practice martial arts." Although Luo Guanyun was a Martial Arts Master who had broken through the Third Great Limit, his martial arts school remained the foundation of his income. He couldn't give it up; it brought in at least tens of millions every year.
Luo Guanyun could only try to shorten the school's daytime teaching hours as much as possible. He taught one-on-one for just five hours a day, using the time he freed up to practice the Water Attribute True Technique and suppress the Thunder Seed.
Ren Ping looked Luo Guanyun straight in the eye and spoke without hiding anything.
"If things go on like this, you won't hold out until Meng Chuan can save you someday.
"Whether he'll be able to reach the thirteenth level or higher and pave the way for you is still up in the air. You won't live long enough to see that day."
Luo Guanyun replied calmly.
"I never expected him to pave the way for me. It's enough if the Luo Family's Thunder Method can be passed down."
Ren Ping could hear it in her husband's voice: Luo Guanyun had long since put life and death out of his mind.
She looked conflicted and pondered for a long while before finally making up her mind.
"I'll go back this time and try to persuade Luo Meng. Let her practice it after all."
Luo Guanyun looked at his wife in surprise, puzzled.
Ren Ping had never supported their daughter Luo Meng practicing the Thunder Method. Why had her attitude changed so much today?
Ren Ping continued.
"We've been husband and wife all these years. While I was away, I spent a long time questioning myself.
"I understand now. You gave Luo Meng her life. Now that her father is in trouble, she needs to repay that kindness. It's only right.
"I never had any intention of using my kindness to demand repayment. From beginning to end, I only wanted the Thunder Method to be passed down.
"Don't tell Luo Meng. There's no need to force her. It'll be enough if the Thunder Method can be passed on.
"I don't care whether it's someone from the Luo Family or not. Besides, I believe Meng Chuan will be even more outstanding than she is someday."
Tears glimmered in Ren Ping's eyes. This immensely powerful man had a vulnerable heart that only she could understand.
"But you have to take care of yourself, too. There's only hope while you're alive, old man."
Seeing his wife's feelings spill out, Luo Guanyun fell silent for a moment before speaking softly.
"Let's go inside first. Don't worry about me. I'm planning to... sell Golden Linglong and trade it for a life-extending medicine."
Back in the bedroom, Luo Guanyun continued.
"Golden Linglong is a fifth-grade Zhenwu divine weapon. Even Venerables who have broken through the Fifth Great Limit would be tempted by it. If I add the four or five hundred million I've saved, it should be more than enough to trade for an [Evergreen Longevity Pill] and hold the Thunder Seed at bay for ten years.
"Combined with the suppressive effect of Mysterious Yin Reflecting Moon, I'll have at least twenty years left. I'm choosing to bet on Meng Chuan's future!"
[Golden Linglong] was a fifth-grade spear Zhenwu passed down through the Luo Clan. It had taken more than two thousand years of nurturing to achieve its current might.
If the Luo Family's ancestors learned that Luo Guanyun dared to sell it, they might leap out of the ancestral hall and beat him to death.
Her husband's choice was beyond her expectations, but after thinking it over, it seemed reasonable.
After all, whenever Luo Guanyun faced a choice, he always chose to take a chance rather than sit around waiting for death.
She supported Luo Guanyun's decision to sell the spear to prolong his life, but she didn't know Meng Chuan well and worried he might not be up to the task.
She secretly resolved to go back and try to persuade Luo Meng after all.
People were the future. Ren Ping said nothing, only holding her husband close.
It was rare to have free time during the day to teach Meng Chuan.
Luo Guanyun composed himself and led him into the villa's Martial Arts Room to practice boxing.
Luo Guanyun taught him.
"If you skip one day of practice, your hands and feet grow sluggish. Skip two, and you lose half your skill. Skip three, and you're an amateur. Skip four, and all you can do is stand there wide-eyed.
"Even though it's New Year's Eve, you still have to practice your boxing. No slacking off."
Meng Chuan nodded to show he understood. Although he had One Proof Eternal Proof, and could never forget what he learned, his martial arts proficiency still had to be built punch by punch.
They practiced until five in the afternoon, then walked out of the Martial Arts Room together.
As they walked, Luo Guanyun said.
"At your current pace, disciple, you'll have perfected Pao Fist in a few more days.
"When you practice from now on, pay attention to generating force from your waist. Only when your waist and stance work as one can you transfer your strength more effectively."
"Understood, Teacher Luo. What should I practice after I perfect Pao Fist?"
"You'll find out when the time comes. Impatience is the biggest taboo in martial arts. I won't tell you yet, or you'll be thinking about it nonstop."
"Got it."
That evening, Luo Guanyun went out drinking with some old classmates from Northern United University. Ren Ping planned to visit her daughter and offered to give Meng Chuan a ride along the way.
In the car, Meng Chuan was alone with Teacher's Wife for the first time, so he couldn't help feeling a little awkward.
Ren Ping was perceptive and could tell what was on Meng Chuan's mind. She spoke to break the ice.
"Xiao Meng, which Martial University are you planning to apply to?"
"Northern United University. The newly built Li Mountain Campus is close to home and to my teacher."
"Then you'll have to work hard. My daughter Luo Meng graduated from Northern United University and stayed on as a teacher after graduation. If you get in someday, she might even teach you."
Northern United University was one of the nine top-tier Martial Dao universities. Not only were its admission requirements high, its standards for hiring teachers were downright absurd.
Meng Chuan had heard people talk about it over tea.
A young Martial Arts Grandmaster under thirty-five who had broken through the Second Great Limit could only just barely stay on as a teacher, even with the school's connections. Whether they could pass the probationary period was still another matter.
It seemed Teacher Luo's daughter, Luo Meng, was exceptionally talented.
Then why was the relationship between father and daughter so strained?
Meng Chuan didn't know, but Teacher Luo hadn't brought it up, so he wouldn't pry.
"I'll do my best, Teacher's Wife."
"Keep it up!"
Then Ren Ping added silently to herself.
Work hard. Don't let your teacher down.
After dinner at home, he watched the New Year's Eve gala with his aunt and uncle for a while.
The gala's programs were the same old thing every year. Meng Chuan quickly grew bored; a martial arts tournament would have been much more exciting.
He remembered that he hadn't done his stake training for the day, so he got up, said goodbye to his aunt and uncle, and returned to his room to practice.
In the bedroom.
Meng Chuan adjusted his breathing, then set his feet shoulder-width apart, turned his toes forward until they were parallel, and lowered his waist slightly to brace his core.
Once he was steady, his waist and legs worked together to provide firm support, subtly forming the perfect shape of the Chinese character for "person."
[Taiyi Three Talents Stance: Human Stance (47%) Pending Limit Break] [Limit-Breaking Trait: Morning and Evening Hearing the Dao (Beginner)]
He remembered something Teacher Luo often said.
"The mastery of stake training represents how much qi and blood your body can accommodate. As the saying goes, 'Practice boxing without practicing your stance, and all your effort comes to nothing in old age.'"
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