It was getting late.
Second Senior Sister Chen Yuque took Third Senior Sister Lin Dongxi away, leaving only Zhang Fusheng and the master whose tea ceremony he had yet to observe in the vast quiet chamber.
"Since you have already reached the First Refinement, once you observe the tea ceremony tomorrow, I shall teach you the cultivation method of our Hong's lineage."
Visualization Methods, Breathing Techniques, and Stance Training were all considered "cultivation," yet they were not true cultivation methods.
Even under the classifications of the [Contract Book], they belonged to the category of "skills."
Zhong Shan had originally had the chance to reach the Second Refinement, the Third Refinement, or even higher, yet without a cultivation method, he had been trapped at the First Refinement for his entire life.
The Federation did not prohibit martial arts, but only publicly released some basic Visualization Methods and Breathing Techniques among the people. As for cultivation methods, they were taught either in proper university Martial Arts Departments or in certain qualified Martial Arts Academies.
"Do you understand the Twelve Refinements of Martial Artists?" Hong Tianbao asked.
Zhang Fusheng honestly shook his head.
"I only know that there are twelve refinements: three refinements of skin, three of flesh, three of sinew, and three of bone. I know nothing about the specifics."
The old man understood and explained gently.
"The Twelve Refinements are, in truth, all a process of laying foundations and strengthening the body. Every breakthrough in refinement increases one's strength somewhat, and the body-tempering process within each refinement grants the same increase in strength."
"A top martial artist at Twelfth Refinement Perfection can possess a hundred and eight thousand jin of strength."
Zhang Fusheng's eyes widened. How much??
A hundred and eight thousand jin!
Hadn't he gained five hundred jin just upon entering the First Refinement?!
Hong Tianbao continued describing it on his own.
"The Three Refinements of Skin temper the skin until it resembles refined bronze. Each breakthrough grants five hundred jin of strength, and the process from initial entry to Perfection in each refinement grants another five hundred jin. In other words, each of the first three refinements grants a thousand jin of strength."
"The Flesh Third Refinement tempers the flesh until it resembles steel. Each refinement grants a total of two thousand jin of strength."
"The Three Refinements of Sinew temper the sinews until they resemble dragon tendons. Each refinement grants a total of ten thousand jin of strength."
"The Bone Three Refinement tempers the bones until they resemble jade treasures. Each refinement grants a total of twenty thousand jin of strength."
Zhang Fusheng listened intently and could not help swallowing. A martial artist of the Twelve Refinements possessed a hundred and eight thousand jin of strength.
Even with triple force exertion, one punch would carry an impact of three hundred thousand jin!
One hundred and fifty tons.
Tearing down buildings would probably be as easy as drinking water and eating rice.
And even so, under Federation certification, such a person still fell within the category of [human]. What kind of sight, then, were those Martial Arts Masters who were "beyond human"?
"The cultivation method of our Hong's lineage is called..."
Hong Tianbao fell silent for a moment.
"For short, let us call it the Great Sun True Scripture."
"For short?" While inwardly mocking the Great Sun True Scripture for being such a tacky, commonplace name, Zhang Fusheng asked curiously, "What is its full name?"
Hong Tianbao fell silent again. His gaze drifted.
"Well, it is rather long."
Zhang Fusheng persisted.
"Master, so what is it?"
The old man lowered his eyelids and drew a soft breath.
"Its full name is the Immeasurable Heaven Great Sun Shines Upon Seventy-Two Great Snow Mountains as One Breath True Saint Breaks Four Universes Five Cosmoses Six Worlds Seven Realms Eight Desolations Nine Heavens Ten Earths Great True Scripture."
Zhang Fusheng nearly choked on his saliva.
"Huh??"
The old man said mournfully.
"When I first heard that full, complete name, I was exactly like you. Mm, your three senior siblings were the same."
Zhang Fusheng did not reply. He silently counted.
"Mm, the founding patriarch who came up with such a name in thirty-six characters is truly something."
He gave a thumbs-up.
Hong Tianbao covered his aged face.
"That was your grandmaster. Back then, he was somewhat..."
After a long while, this overaged elder of more than a hundred years squeezed out three words.
"Afflicted by chuunibyou."
"Master, you have hit the nail on the head." Zhang Fusheng praised him lavishly.
Hong Tianbao sighed, then changed the subject.
"Though this cultivation method's name is somewhat absurd, its great mystery is already contained within that name. It points directly toward the grand realm of the [True Saint]. Even across the entire Federation, it ranks among the very best."
"True Saint?"
"Indeed. A vague and lofty realm, hanging high beyond reach. Of course, if you ask exactly how lofty it is..."
Hong Tianbao spread his palms. Clearly, he did not know either.
Zhang Fusheng rolled the words "True Saint" around in his mind.
"At that realm, one could at least move mountains and overturn seas, right?"
Hong Tianbao shook his head.
"According to your grandmaster, such a lifeform can cross a river in four steps."
"Huh?"
Zhang Fusheng was even more puzzled.
"Cross a river in four steps? That sounds a little..."
"A river in the Milky Way," the old School Master added lightly.
Zhang Fusheng shut up.
Four steps across an entire Milky Way.
At first, he did not believe it. Then his heart began pounding violently.
"Can humans truly reach such a point?" Zhang Fusheng murmured.
Hong Tianbao shook his head.
"I do not know. I think it is more likely that your grandmaster was talking through his hat. But whether it is true or false, there is no doubt that this cultivation method ranks among the finest in the entire Federation."
"I have told you all this to remind you that once you learn this method, you must never leak it. In ordinary times, you must especially never mention its full name. Treat it only as a joke and keep it buried in your heart."
After saying that, Hong Tianbao turned to another matter.
"Tell me about the trouble that drove you to seek refuge here overnight."
Zhang Fusheng withdrew from his imaginings and let out a breath.
"It is not really much trouble..."
He briefly recounted the events from beginning to end.
"Zhou Quan. There seems to be such a student." Hong Tianbao said calmly, "Tell me, how do you intend to handle this matter?"
Zhang Fusheng hesitated before answering honestly.
"To be frank, Master, this is the first time I have encountered something like this. I had just entered the First Refinement and just gained strength. At first, I thought of quietly killing Zhou Quan, but it did not seem quite appropriate."
"So afterward, I thought I would first take you as my master, then quietly kill Zhou Quan."
Hong Tianbao neither approved nor disapproved.
"Using killing to halt conflict is indeed one path, but it is not the best choice."
Zhang Fusheng clasped his hands.
"I am willing to receive Master's guidance."
Though he had lived two lives, their combined years might not even amount to a fraction of his master's age.
"Since I am your master, I shall not merely teach you cultivation. I shall also teach you how to conduct yourself."
Hong Tianbao spoke evenly.
"Your conflict with Zhou Quan is neither particularly great nor particularly small—indeed, it is somewhat small. You are far from mortal enemies who must fight to the death. For such matters, the best method is 'Fight without Breaking.'"
"May I ask, Master, what does Fight without Breaking mean?"
"Fight. Struggle. Contend."
On this starry night, Hong Tianbao explained with great patience.
"Martial artists must contend, but they are ultimately people. And as people, they cannot escape worldly relations, human sentiments, and social dealings. Fight without Breaking was already a principle before martial artists ever existed. Take the politicians of ancient times, for instance."
"When they struggled and fought for power and profit, they practiced Fight without Breaking."
"It is because there are no eternal enemies or friends in this world, and because both sides leave each other room to ease matters. Naturally, it carries many more meanings besides."
"After all, a lone wolf cannot travel far. If you wish to climb upward, you must borrow strength. The more strength there is that you can borrow, the faster you will climb."
Zhang Fusheng listened carefully.
"You mean that I should not take Zhou Quan's life, and should perhaps even befriend him?"
Hong Tianbao did not answer. He merely asked.
"Zhou Quan's father is the head of the Fire Department. What realm is the head of the Fire Department in?"
"Reporting to Master, I do not know."
"The Fire Department is one of Chaimen's five great departments. Do you know what realm Chaimen's master is in?"
"Reporting to Master, I still do not know."
Hong Tianbao shook his head.
"The former is a top Sixth Refinement martial artist, with ten thousand jin of strength. The latter is a Martial Arts Master who can pat his chest and call himself one of the top ten in Jiangzhou City."
Zhang Fusheng froze.
The old man continued.
"If you kill Zhou Quan, will his father not come looking for you? If you pass that trial, then for the sake of face and the hearts of his people, will Chaimen's master not come looking for you as well?"
Zhang Fusheng fell into thought.
"So... I should just let it go?"
"Fight without Breaking does not mean do not fight."
Hong Tianbao shook his head again.
"If you are a clever person, you can use your conflict with Zhou Quan to win against him while instead doing Chaimen a great favor."
Zhang Fusheng felt as though his mind was not quite enough to process it, but he still vaguely understood something.
"Master, I think I know what to do. Fight without Breaking... I will use Zhou Quan as an opportunity to give Chaimen a great crisis."
"Then I will personally resolve that crisis for Chaimen. The struggle between him and me will end with him and me?"
Hong Tianbao nodded slightly.
"That is one method. It can barely be called Fight without Breaking. This is the first path for resolving this matter."
Zhang Fusheng asked curiously.
"Is there a second path?"
"There is."
Hong Tianbao nodded as though it were only natural.
"Slaughter every last one of the tens of thousands in Chaimen, leaving neither old nor young, neither women nor children. Implicate all relatives and associates as well. Then hack Chaimen's master's corpse into a thousand pieces, hang his head before your door, swallow Chaimen's territory, and seize Chaimen's influence."
"In that way, use Chaimen's corpses as the steps of your ascent. That is another method."
"It is to seize their fate and fortune to complete yourself: Kill without Leaving, cut the grass and pull out the roots."
Before you continue