CHAPTER 152: CHAPTER 153: THE PATH OF REASON AND MAGIC (3000 WORDS)

In reality, witnessing such extraordinary individuals and events, people suddenly realized that there truly existed extraordinary martial power in their seemingly peaceful world.

"It’s really the martial arts masters as described online!"

Many youths harboring dreams of martial arts were quite excited.

"I knew it, I knew those videos of martial arts families battling online were real. Since the country hasn’t deleted them but instead tacitly acknowledged them, and even renamed the Martial Arts Association to the Martial Path Association, and proposed incorporating martial arts into the national compulsory education system, it must be that they’re bringing these once-hidden martial paths to light!"

Upon hearing this, someone couldn’t help but ask, "Then why would the country open this up?"

For a moment, the crowd was silent, before a girl adjusted her glasses and spoke softly yet confidently.

"Because of the sudden appearance of space rifts, although it has calmed down recently, the push for kung fu has not stopped. I think it’s because this won’t simply end but will become a normalized defense mechanism. Therefore, martial paths are being extensively promoted to safeguard citizens against the dangers of space rifts."

The girl’s words hit the mark, awakening many tourists who gradually calmed down from their excitement at encountering formidable masters like Lu Ren.

Experts like Lu Ren, who were previously hidden and never revealed themselves, now appeared somewhat unrestrained. This must be because the state has lifted those restraints; otherwise, how could they have remained so subtle and low-profile in the past only to become so uninhibited today?

"Did you get it on camera, did you catch it?"

Someone repeatedly asked with concern.

Many tourists shook their heads regretfully, too shocked earlier to take photos, thus missing the moment to capture it.

Some beat their chests in regret.

How about enrolling in an official martial path class offered locally after this trip?

The thought arose in many people’s minds; even if they couldn’t become martial arts masters soaring high and low, strengthening the body would be beneficial. Perhaps if they really encountered a space rift, their chances of survival might significantly increase.

The last space rift incident in the prosperous areas of Shu Capital tragically claimed the lives of over one hundred and thirty people.

The authorities didn’t cover it up; instead, they enhanced publicity and used it to promote martial path classes.

As for Qingcheng Mountain, many tourists reasonably understood that such a place must have martial arts sects, but they certainly wouldn’t easily accept disciples.

With the public’s enlightenment, a little thought could clarify many things.

Instead of chasing after possibly unattainable opportunities, taking the readily available opportunities seemed more practical. Additionally, those big sects rarely had more basic boxing techniques than those popularized by the government.

Only the government would truly benefit the people, creating the most basic cultivation methods for the general public.

Of course, many still harbored hopeful thoughts, believing that perhaps they were different from others. In such a changing environment, maybe they could be the destined protagonist from novels, who would astonish the martial arts world, learning unparalleled martial skills once they entered...

Suddenly, as tourists saw Lu Ren and Ji Heng disappear into the clouds and mist of the forest sea, they stood dazed, losing interest in sightseeing, each with different thoughts in their minds.

...

...

Behind Qingcheng Mountain lay an expanse of undulating mountains. Even approaching the afternoon, the peaks within the deep forests remained shrouded in mist, the cries of apes and birdsongs echoing continually.

In the midst of dashing along, often breaking branches underfoot, Lu Ren discovered that no matter how he sped up, he simply couldn’t catch up with Ji Heng’s silhouette.

Though appearing aging and with declining qi and blood, the figure remained agile without any elderly sluggishness, even showing signs of elusiveness while moving through the mountain, truly like an old ape, extremely nimble.

Truly as light as a feather with each step, propelling forward, both hands continuously extending out like an ape leveraging among treetops, allowing short-term suspension.

Looking just like traveling with the wind.

Using branches in the forest to sway the body and move swiftly like an ape wasn’t as simple as Lu Ren imagined. He found it to be a particularly good way to train power utilization over years of experience.

Just like in the practice of walking on water from the ’Naruto’ ninja, every branch’s thickness differed, not identical in shape or growth’s weak and hard points.

Considering body weight, without mastering power usage properly, even slight force would easily snap the branch.

During the rapid advance, a very strong observational ability was required to quickly analyze the surrounding environment and the thickness structure of branches. The exertion method needed to be detailed, ensuring the power exerted with each step and the inertia of the descending center of gravity allowed progressing at the fastest speed without breaking branches.

Unfortunately, the practice of power application has no effect on him. After completing each level advancement of Martial Arts Boxing, the comprehension of the fist technique at that level, the way of using power, and the qualities of the body and spirit are all greatly enhanced in an instant, reaching a degree that matches the fist technique.

This is what he relies on the most now.

Fortunately, to catch up with Ji Heng, Lu Ren no longer held back, and his footsteps shattered the thick branches beneath, unleashing power as he moved.

Boom!

As the branches broke, Lu Ren’s speed increased significantly, shooting out like an arrow, swift as rain.

He looked ahead at the barely visible Ji Heng traversing the forest, whose elderly body shouldn’t possess such physical strength. Although due to age, Ji Heng’s vitality has declined, typically at his stage of aging and weakening, one wouldn’t be able to perform such actions.

Under close observation, Lu Ren finally discovered some details; Ji Heng’s method of using power was very peculiar.

His physical movements are incredibly coordinated, seemingly as if his surroundings—the branches, the air, and gravity—are assisting him. His entire body appears integrated into the environment, adjusting continuously despite the weakened qi and blood, almost perfectly utilizing inertia, impact force, and all reality factors affecting force, performing actions that seem extremely difficult, even beyond human imagination, yet appear easier for him than walking.

It’s not merely about the muscle contraction bringing forth power; it’s a clever blend of inertia, speed, impact force, leveraging the body like a large bow stretching the string to unleash power, and even the counterforce from stepping on branches.

This is the so-called using clever force to pry open great power, typically referred to as breaking surfaces with points and achieving greatness from smallness.

Is this what Zhang Li has been talking about, the ’technique’ within Martial Path?

Some do not pursue physical excellence but take a different path, comprehending Boxing Theory, guided by nature; their mastery in ’technique’ can be said to reach the peak, perfecting ways to exert power and releasing incoming force from an opponent’s attack.

When ’technique’ reaches a certain realm, even if the body isn’t exceptionally strong, it can explode with astonishing destructive power.

It’s what Bright Awakening Martial Taoist Family Li Changming previously referred to as Boxing Theory, a skill so advanced it approaches divine, nearing Tao when technique becomes the principle.

Even with a high hardness alloy plate in front of you, it can shatter with a light tap.

Many incredible actions, almost those of Celestial Beings, have been in those who only cultivate Boxing Theory, but it’s incredibly difficult to enter.

Even Southern Guardian Li Changming only started down this path after stepping into Bright Awakening.

It is said that before entering Bright Awakening, his figure was over two meters tall, weighing more than 500 pounds; upon entering, his physique began to shrink rapidly.

Cultivating Boxing Theory emphasizes insight, rather than caring much about so-called physical roots and qualifications.

Lu Ren dared not relax for a moment, forcing out even greater power, so much so that his body of 300 to 400 pounds would crack and break branches with every step.

This is unavoidable; reality isn’t as mysterious as in novels, nurturing True Qi internally to reduce weight, enabling such a powerful body to tread without traces; in reality, his weight can’t vanish into nothingness.

Initially, Lu Ren held a dismissive attitude towards Zhang Li’s talks about Boxing Theory’s ’technique’ and ’principle,’ believing the most important aspects of Martial Path and combat were power and speed, viewing fist techniques as simply ways to explode one’s power and speed by one hundred or even two hundred percent.

Moreover, can the so-called fist technique really play out dramatically? If there’s truly another way to cultivate fist techniques, it would undoubtedly show in system comprehension.

Therefore, he was never interested in the concepts of Boxing Theory and peak technique that Zhang Li mentioned during his explanations to the team.

It wasn’t until Lu Ren saw the old Taoist Ji Heng that he understood Zhang Li’s words weren’t exaggerated, just missing one thing; the system panel showcasing skills, the cultivation of Boxing Theory and fist techniques were completely different paths, the cultivation focus was not fist techniques but these other thoughts and ideologies.

This requires extremely high Spiritual Meditation for support.

Like Buddhist Zen, Taoist Canon?

In these scriptures, the existence of intent and principle is understood and applied to the body.

Who knows how remarkable the display will be in combat, adeptly utilizing various environments and conditions, harnessing the strongest attack with the least power.

Ordinary fist techniques focus on internal cultivation of hidden bodily strength, training muscles, skin, membranes, vital organs, then fist technique combat, and power exertion skills.

While Ji Heng has certainly reached nearly the extent of Celestial Being, the so-called Unity of Heaven and Man, the realm of Natural Taoist Law.

Understanding the Celestial Heart, reflecting human heart, thus integrating Boxing Theory into body and spirit, reaching an unbelievable substance level.

He’s not just leading the way, but teaching the fist techniques, exhibiting his fist technique skills amidst the forest oscillation, completely unreservedly in front of Lu Ren.