Fight without Breaking, Kill without Leaving

It's getting late.

Second Senior Sister Chen Yuque pulled Third Senior Sister Lin Dongxi away, leaving only Zhang Fusheng and his Master, who hadn't even received the tea ceremony yet, in the spacious quiet room.

"Since you've completed the First Refinement, you'll receive the tea ceremony tomorrow. Afterward, I'll teach you the cultivation methods of our Hong family lineage."

Meditation techniques, breathing techniques, and stance training, while all considered 'training,' were not true cultivation methods.

Even in the classification of the [Pact], they fell under the category of 'skills.'

Zhong Shan had the opportunity for Second Refinement, Third Refinement, and even higher, but was stuck at First Refinement due to the lack of cultivation methods, and remained so his entire life.

The Federation didn't prohibit martial arts, but only publicly released basic meditation and breathing techniques among the populace. As for cultivation methods, they were either taught in proper university martial arts departments or in certain qualified martial arts academies.

"Do you know about the Twelve Refinements of Martial Artists?" Hong Tianbao asked.

Zhang Fusheng honestly shook his head:

"I only know there are twelve refinements: three for skin, three for flesh, three for sinew, and three for bone. I don't know the specifics."

The old man understood and explained gently:

"The Twelve Refinements are essentially processes for building a foundation and strengthening the body. Each breakthrough in a refinement will increase strength slightly, and the body tempering process within each refinement will also increase the same amount of strength."

"A top-tier Martial Artist who has completed the Twelve Refinements can possess a strength of 108,000 jin."

Zhang Fusheng's eyes widened. Ten thousand... what?

108,000 jin!

When he first entered First Refinement, didn't he only gain 500 jin!

Hong Tianbao continued to describe on his own:

"The three refinements of skin, refining the skin to be like fine copper. Each breakthrough in a refinement can add 500 jin of strength, and the process from entering to completing each refinement can add another 500 jin of strength. In other words, in the first three refinements, each refinement can yield a thousand jin of strength."

"The three refinements of flesh, refining the flesh to be like steel. Each refinement can yield a total of 2,000 jin of strength."

"The three refinements of sinew, refining the sinew to be like dragon sinew. Each refinement can yield a total of 10,000 jin of strength."

"The three refinements of bone, refining the bone to be like jade treasure. Each refinement can yield a total of 20,000 jin of strength."

Zhang Fusheng listened intently, unable to help but swallow. A Martial Artist of the Twelve Refinements, with 108,000 jin of strength, Even with a threefold exertion, a single punch would have an impact of 300,000 jin!

150 tons.

Demolishing buildings would be like drinking water and eating food.

And even so, in the Federation's classification, they were still within the scope of [humans]. What about the 'inhuman' Martial Arts Masters, what kind of scenery did they represent?

"The cultivation method of our Hong family lineage is called..."

Hong Tianbao paused:

"Let's call it the Great Sun True Scripture for short."

"For short?" Zhang Fusheng mentally scoffed at the tacky and common name "Great Sun True Scripture" while curiously asking:

"What's the full name?"

Hong Tianbao was silent for a moment again, his gaze drifting:

"Well, it's quite long."

Zhang Fusheng persistently pressed:

"Master, so what is it?"

The old man lowered his eyelids and took a slight breath:

"The full name is: Immeasurable Heaven Great Sun Illuminating Seventy-Two Great Snow Mountains Forming One Qi True Saint Breaking Four Universes Five Cosmoses Six Worlds Seven Realms Eight Desolations Nine Heavens Ten Earths Great True Scripture."

Zhang Fusheng nearly choked on his own saliva:

"Huh??"

The old man said with pity:

"When I first heard this full name, it was just like yours. Hmm, your three senior brothers and sisters were the same."

Zhang Fusheng didn't reply, quietly counting:

"Hmm, the founding ancestor who came up with such a name with thirty-six characters is really something."

He gave a thumbs-up.

Hong Tianbao covered his old face:

"That was your Ancestral Master. He was a bit..."

After a while, this over-a-hundred-year-old elder managed to squeeze out three words.

"Edgy."

"Master, you hit the nail on the head." Zhang Fusheng praised.

Hong Tianbao sighed and changed the subject:

"Although the name of this cultivation method is a bit absurd, its greatness is already implied in the name. It directly points to the great realm of [True Saint], and even within the entire Federation, it ranks among the very best."

"True Saint?"

"Indeed. A lofty and ethereal level. Of course, if you were to ask me how high I am..."

Hong Tianbao spread his palms, clearly, he didn't know either.

Zhang Fusheng chewed on the words 'True Saint':

"This realm, I'm afraid it can at least move mountains and overturn seas, right?"

Hong Tianbao shook his head:

"According to your grand-master, beings of that level can cross a river in four steps."

"Huh?"

Zhang Fusheng was even more bewildered:

"Four steps to cross a river? That sounds a bit..."

"A river in the galaxy," the old School Master added casually.

Zhang Fusheng shut his mouth and fell silent.

Four steps to cross a galaxy.

At first, he didn't believe it, then his heart began to pound violently.

"Can humans truly achieve such a feat?" Zhang Fusheng murmured.

Hong Tianbao shook his head:

"I don't know. I think it's more likely your grand-master was just talking nonsense. However, whether it's true or false, there's no doubt that this cultivation method ranks among the very best in the entire Federation."

"I'm telling you all this to remind you that once you learn this method, you absolutely must not leak it. In fact, you shouldn't even mention its full name in passing; just treat it as a joke and keep it to yourself."

After saying this, Hong Tianbao changed the subject:

"Tell me about the trouble that made you come to me overnight."

Zhang Fusheng withdrew his thoughts and let out a breath:

"It's not really a big problem..."

He recounted the events simply.

"Zhou Quan. I think there is such a student," Hong Tianbao said calmly. "Tell me, how do you plan to handle this?"

Zhang Fusheng hesitated for a moment and answered honestly:

"To be frank, Master, this is the first time I've encountered something like this. I've just entered First Refinement and just gained power. My initial thought was to quietly kill Zhou Quan, but I felt it wasn't quite appropriate."

"So, my later thought was to become your disciple first, and then secretly kill Zhou Quan."

Hong Tianbao remained noncommittal:

"Using killing to stop conflict is indeed one path, but it's not the best choice."

Zhang Fusheng clasped his hands:

"I wish to hear Master's guidance."

Although he had lived two lives, his combined age was likely not even a fraction of his Master's.

"Since I am your Master, I will not only teach you cultivation but also how to conduct yourself."

Hong Tianbao spoke calmly:

"The conflict between you and that Zhou Quan, it's not a major issue, but it's not insignificant either. He's far from an irreconcilable enemy. For matters like this, the best approach is 'fight without breaking'."

"May I ask Master, what is 'fight without breaking'?"

"'Fight' means struggle, contention."

In the starry night, Hong Tianbao patiently explained:

"Martial Artists must contend, but ultimately, they are still human. As humans, they cannot escape worldly affairs, relationships, and interactions. 'Fight without breaking' is a principle that existed long before the birth of Martial Artists, like those ancient politicians."

"When they fought, when they vied for power and profit, they adopted a 'fight without breaking' approach."

"This is because there are no eternal enemies or friends in the world, and it's also because each party leaves room for maneuver. Of course, there are many other implications."

"After all, a lone wolf cannot go far. To climb higher, one must borrow strength. The more strength you can borrow, the faster you will ascend."

Zhang Fusheng listened intently:

"Are you saying I shouldn't kill Zhou Quan, or even try to befriend him?"

Hong Tianbao didn't answer, but instead asked:

"Zhou Quan, his father is the head of the Fire Department. What level is the head of the Fire Department?"

"Replying to Master, I don't know."

"The Fire Department is one of the five major halls of the Chaimen. Do you know what level the Chaimen Master is?"

"Replying to Master, I still don't know."

Hong Tianbao shook his head.

"The former is a top-tier Sixth Refinement Martial Artist, possessing immense strength. The latter is a Martial Arts Master, and within Jiangzhou City, he could boast of being among the top ten."

Zhang Fusheng was taken aback.

The old man continued, "You killed Zhou Quan. Will his father still seek you out? If you get past this trial, will the Chaimen sect master, for the sake of his reputation and the hearts of his disciples, also seek you out?"

Zhang Fusheng pondered, "So. I should just let it go?"

"Fighting without breaking doesn't mean not fighting."

Hong Tianbao shook his head again. "If you were a resourceful person, you could use the conflict with Zhou Quan to your advantage. While winning against Zhou Quan, you could simultaneously earn a great favor from Chaimen."

Zhang Fusheng felt his mind struggling to keep up, but he vaguely understood something.

"Master, I think I know what to do. Fighting without breaking. I want to use this opportunity with Zhou Quan to create a significant crisis for Chaimen."

"Then, I will personally resolve this crisis for Chaimen. My conflict with him will end with him and me?"

Hong Tianbao nodded slightly. "It's one method, a passable interpretation of fighting without breaking. This is the first path for you to resolve this matter."

Zhang Fusheng asked curiously, "Is there a second path?"

"Yes."

Hong Tianbao nodded as if it were obvious. "Slaughter everyone in Chaimen, tens of thousands of people, leaving no one alive, young or old, male or female. Extend the punishment to all relatives and associates. Then, flay the Chaimen sect master a thousand times, hang his head before his family gate, seize Chaimen's territory, and claim Chaimen's momentum."

"In this way, using Chaimen's corpses as a ladder for your ascent, that is another method."

"It is to seize their destiny and complete yourself, killing without leaving, cutting the grass and eradicating the roots."