Teaching Battle Arts

After ending the call, Su Yi could not help but sigh with emotion.

Before he knew it, he had been in this world for nearly three years.

At the end of August 1993, two people had knocked on the door of the original body's home.

One was the principal of Magic Martial Academy, and the other was Qin Nansheng—a friend of the original body's parents.

They had come to deliver news of death. Unable to bear the shock, Su Yi had fainted on the spot, allowing his soul to merge with the original body.

After waking up, he had asked the two of them to leave on the grounds that he needed some time alone.

It was only three days later, after merging with the original body's memories, that Su Yi stepped out to buy some food.

A martial artist!

He wanted to become a martial artist!

What young man had never fantasized about possessing supernatural powers?

Internal force, superpowers, immortal heroes.

It was not that Su Yi had never considered being an ordinary person, but he was unwilling!

Unwilling to drift through life in mediocrity, unwilling to place his future and life in someone else's hands. Without strength, he might even one day be sacrificed by a Cult.

And there was the original body's greatest obsession within those merged memories.

Having sorted through those memories, Su Yi set his sights on Qin Nansheng. Sure enough, he did not refuse.

Who could refuse a good child whose only wish was to avenge his parents?

A martial artist—soon. Once he nurtured his blood qi to its peak, he could begin his breakthrough.

Su Yi stood before the mirror, slowly adjusting his expression.

A little sunnier, a little more confident—this was the state Qin Nansheng and the others most wanted to see.

They did not want their friend's child to sink into despondency, just as they hoped that, should they die in the Underground Cave, their own children could be like Su Yi.

Uncle Qin's home was not far away, only three or five hundred meters apart. He arrived in just a few minutes.

Carrying some fruit, he pushed open Uncle Qin's front door with familiar ease. Aunt Qin was tending to her child.

Seeing the fruit in Su Yi's hands, Aunt Qin chided him, "You really are something. How many times have I told you? Just treat this place like home. Why do you always insist on buying things?"

Su Yi smiled faintly. "I picked it up on the way."

He set the fruit on the table, then casually ruffled little Fengqing's hair. "Mm, it still feels just as good."

Ignoring Qin Fengqing's wide-eyed struggle, he laughed. "Still so cute."

"I hate it! You can't touch my head—I won't grow taller!"

Qin Fengqing shouted with a frown.

"How could that be? Fengqing will definitely become a man who stands tall between Heaven and earth one day."

Su Yi crouched down, meeting Qin Fengqing's eyes at level height as he spoke with utmost seriousness.

This tiny little fellow before him gave no hint at all of the wild and untamable bearing he would have in the future.

Qin Fengqing seemed momentarily stunned. With tears glistening in his eyes, he asked hopefully, "Really? Like my dad?"

Children usually regarded their fathers as the object of their aspirations and pride, and Qin Fengqing was naturally no exception.

"Of course. You definitely will."

Su Yi chose to encourage him. Sometimes, a single affirmation in childhood could become the pursuit of an entire lifetime.

As they spoke, Qin Nansheng entered carrying a pile of groceries.

"Dear, I'm home."

The moment his words fell, Qin Fengqing ran for the door and threw himself at Qin Nansheng.

Qin Nansheng scooped Qin Fengqing up in one arm, bounced him lightly, and laughed. "Fengqing, you've grown a little more."

"Mm, I'll grow into a real man very soon."

"Yes, yes, Fengqing will be a real man very soon."

After dinner.

Training Room.

"Xiao Yi, you've now completed Third Bone Tempering. Once you've nurtured your blood qi to its peak, you can break through to First Grade. You understand the breakthrough process already.

"I've prepared Blood Qi Pills, Bone Tempering Pills, and Organ Protection Pills for you. Remember, do not attempt a breakthrough on your own. Without a Fourth Grade watching over you, there is always a risk.

"I'm only back for a few days this time. When you're ready to break through, remember to ask your Martial Arts Class teacher to act as your Guardian."

Qin Nansheng spoke earnestly as he took out three bottles of pills and pushed them toward Su Yi.

Su Yi nodded. Naturally, he knew Qin Nansheng was worried that he would grow overconfident and attempt a breakthrough on his own.

Mingjie and his wife had no close relatives. After their deaths, Qin Nansheng had taken over Su Yi's guardianship and had shown him every possible care.

"Uncle Qin, I'm not that arrogant. I won't take risks I don't need to take! As for pills, the Martial Arts Class will provide the medicine needed to break through to First Grade. I'll just take one Organ Protection Pill."

"Take it when I tell you to. What the school provides is the school's business; this is from me. Put it away."

He stuffed the pill into Su Yi's hand, then waved him off without giving Su Yi a chance to refuse.

Su Yi paused slightly before accepting it.

"Alright, then let me see how your Battle Art training is coming along."

Non-martial artists were not recommended to learn Battle Arts in the first place. Qin Nansheng had only allowed Su Yi to do so because he had been stuck at Second Bone Tempering.

From the bottom of his heart, Qin Nansheng had never believed Su Yi could break through to Third Bone Tempering. Nurturing one's Blood Qi as a non-martial artist was a painstaking task—easy to damage the body with, and impossible to rush. At his age, reaching Second Bone Tempering already made him one of the most gifted talents.

But now that he had broken through, he must have spent most of his time cultivating the Tempering Method and Stake Standing.

It was time to focus on Battle Arts. Martial artists relied on actual combat; without training Battle Arts, wouldn't one just become a Blood Qi martial artist?

Picking up a wooden saber and casually swinging it twice, Qin Nansheng said, "Come. Let me see what you can do."

Su Yi steadied his emotions, took a wooden sword, stamped his foot, and darted toward Qin Nansheng.

Qin Nansheng stood motionless where he was. When Su Yi thrust his sword at him, he casually blocked it.

Bang

The sword was stopped. Su Yi hurriedly tried to withdraw it, but his grip loosened, and the wooden sword was knocked from his hand.

Ignoring the pain in his hand, he raised his right leg and kicked at Qin Nansheng.

Qin Nansheng casually caught Su Yi's right leg and slowly pushed it away.

"Basic Sword Technique at Major Achievement?" Qin Nansheng's expression turned solemn. In two months, Su Yi had not only broken through to Third Bone Tempering, but had also brought his Basic Sword Technique to Major Achievement. Was he a genius with the sword?

The force and explosive power in the Battle Art Su Yi displayed had already reached a sufficient standard.

Even his Leg Technique had reached the level of Minor Achievement.

"Just what is going on with you?" Qin Nansheng truly could not conceal the shock in his heart. Could a normal person really cultivate a Battle Art to Major Achievement?

Su Yi scratched his head and spread his hands innocently. "I'm not too sure either. It just feels like the sword technique is really easy. I only practiced it casually."

Casually?

Qin Nansheng found that hard to accept. Were geniuses these days all like this?

Back then, he had been a genius too. Why had it taken him more than half a year just to cultivate a basic Battle Art?

"Then what about your Stake Standing?" Qin Nansheng asked somewhat cautiously.

Void Standing Realm? Or Solid Stance Realm? If he had even broken through in Stake Standing, Qin Nansheng would have to consider whether he had really only been gone for two months.

Perhaps it had already been half a year, and he had merely lost track of time in the Underground Cave.

"My Stake Standing is still at the Solid Stance Realm. I haven't broken through."

After all, his Blood Qi recovery and supply could not keep up. Even constantly swallowing Blood Qi Pills still left him just short.

Perhaps Su Yi's talent for the sword was simply higher. Qin Nansheng reluctantly accepted that reality.

"For the Void Standing Realm, you can try stepping on water. When you can tread on water without it rising past your knees, and regulate your center of gravity so you don't sink, that will do.

"It mainly depends on comprehension. Stake Standing, when all is said and done, is about adjusting your body's center of gravity. With your talent, you should be able to master it quickly."

Qin Nansheng still offered him a small trick. Stake Standing only had three levels, and even ordinary Second Rank or Third Rank martial artists had generally not reached the Void Standing Realm.

If Su Yi could reach it while still at First Grade, learning a mid-grade movement technique and Leg Technique would bring enormous benefits.

"Alright. Thank you, Uncle Qin."

Su Yi already knew this trick, though he had yet to put it into practice. Still, that did not hinder his gratitude toward Qin Nansheng.

Over the years, Qin Nansheng had always taken good care of him. He had even tried several times to bring him home, and when speaking, he was often careful, afraid of touching upon Su Yi's wounds.

Yet Su Yi had refused every time. Perhaps it was because of the original owner's attachment to home, or perhaps because he only wanted to leave himself a private space.

Qin Nansheng respected his choice as well, sending him cultivation resources from time to time.

Qin Nansheng picked up the wooden sword and tossed it to Su Yi, speaking slowly. "Your sword technique doesn't lack gathered force or explosive power. You're just not ruthless enough!"

Ruthless?

That truly was Su Yi's weakness. He had been an ordinary person in a peaceful age; at most, he had killed chickens and ducks. Even though he had learned many Battle Arts, he still instinctively avoided vital areas.

The Martial Arts Class was full of hot-blooded young martial artists, and frictions often arose. As the one at the top, Su Yi had endured countless challenges. With his initially formidable Blood Qi and Solid Stance Realm Stake Standing, he had held firmly onto first place—not to mention after learning Battle Arts.

He did not lack combat experience. What he lacked was that ruthlessness at the brink of life and death.

Clenching the wooden sword, Su Yi looked at Qin Nansheng with a resolute expression. "Uncle Qin, let's continue."

Su Yi shouted, stirring the Blood Qi throughout his body as he swung his sword at Qin Nansheng's neck.

A faint smile rose at the corner of Qin Nansheng's mouth. His bearing was not bad.

He sidestepped, while at the same time kicking his right foot toward Su Yi's chest.

Smack!

Su Yi was kicked several meters away, his back slamming heavily into the ground.

It hurt. It hurt so badly.

It felt as if his bones had cracked.

"Your strength was decent, but you lacked follow-up variations. Swordsmanship isn't a set sequence of moves. You need to consider your follow-up combos and learn to adapt to circumstances.

You have to understand that an enemy isn't an unmoving target. You simply lack real combat experience. Once you become a martial artist and take on a task or two, you'll understand.

But the early tasks are also the most dangerous."

Struggling to his feet, Su Yi closed his eyes and absorbed Qin Nansheng's teachings, his thoughts beginning to simulate battle after battle.

Opening his eyes, Su Yi gritted his teeth against the pain and said to Qin Nansheng, "Continue."

"Alright, continue."

Seeing that Su Yi had not been discouraged in the slightest, Qin Nansheng felt greatly gratified.

"Whoosh."

"That sword strike was good. The transitions between changes were handled well."

"Your momentum—your momentum still isn't enough. Battle Arts are killing techniques. Every move should be made with the intent to kill, understand? Condense your Blood Qi into a single point, then unleash your power the instant your sword hits."

"Control the rhythm of the fight. Use adhesive force to pull me into your rhythm, rather than following mine."

"Conviction. Attack me with the intent to kill me..."

"When your sword is blocked, do you only know how to use your right leg? What about your other hand? Your left leg?"

"Learn to anticipate. Anticipate where I'll intercept your attack, then change your move. You need to think about how to keep me from intercepting your attacks."

From being knocked down the instant they began to now barely being able to hold out for several moves against Qin Nansheng, Su Yi greedily absorbed combat experience like a sponge. Seeing his obvious improvement, he ignored the pain wracking his body and shouted again.

"Continue!"

"If your sword gets knocked away, you still have your fists, shoulders, knees, and elbows! Use every part of your body that can attack!"

Alright. Su Yi suddenly thought of something.

He closed in and threw a punch at Qin Nansheng's face.

Qin Nansheng's hands flashed out and seized Su Yi's fists.

Su Yi had anticipated it. He raised his leg and viciously kicked upward.

"You little brat, where did you learn that?"

Qin Nansheng was so exasperated he almost laughed. He clamped his legs together, trapping Su Yi's leg.

He had no idea where this brat had learned such a dirty trick.

While their limbs were tangled together, Su Yi drove his head forward.

Bang!

"It hurts, hurts hurts hurts..."

Qin Nansheng hurriedly shoved Su Yi away with a backhand.

Looking at Su Yi squatting on the ground with his head in his hands, Qin Nansheng was at a complete loss for words.

"You foolish boy, the idea wasn't bad. But although the Blood Qi I used was about the same as yours, my bones and everything else are tougher than yours. Especially since you haven't begun tempering your Skull in the Lower Three Grades yet. Still, it can be used to make both sides suffer in the Lower Three Grades. Your Third Bone Tempering also gives you a slight advantage over others."

Su Yi held his head, which was buzzing. Luckily, he had thought to pull back his strength at the last moment, or his head might have exploded.

"Alright, we'll stop here for today. I can still stay home for a few more days, so we'll continue tomorrow. You can take a few days off from school."

With that, he took a bottle of pills from his pocket and placed it before Su Yi.

"These are Healing Pills. Go back and recuperate properly."

After that, Su Yi trained under Qin Nansheng every day.

Until the third day, when Qin Nansheng received a phone call and hurriedly left with his saber in hand.