Luo Guanyun drank the tea in his cup and glanced at Meng Chuan:
"What I told you that day was clear enough, wasn't it? Still not giving up, huh."
"You're still young, lacking in energy and experience. To cultivate a fist skill to the Master Realm takes decades, there's no way around it."
"Moreover, what you're trying to improve is the National Obligation Basic Boxing, which was adapted into its current version through the collective efforts of the great teachers of the Martial Arts Association. You can't just say you're going to enhance it and do so."
Upon hearing the response, Meng Chuan was of course undeterred, continuing to ask:
"Master Luo, is there no other way?"
This kid's boxing practice was decent today, he didn't argue with me, so Luo Guanyun was in a good mood. He crossed his arms and pondered for a moment.
"Hmm... there are two non-method methods: one, a person with an innate trait of enlightenment,
who, after practicing a fist technique to perfection, might suddenly have an epiphany and make improvements to the existing technique."
"The other is fighting for life and death.
It's not like a sparring match in the arena; it's risking your life to find a way out in life-and-death situations. Of course, I wouldn't recommend doing this—it's a lawful society now, and you don't have the conditions to risk your life."
Traits are unique talents that very few people are born with, and many useful traits are rarer than superior root bones.
For example, Luo Guanyun's daughter Luo Meng's [Ethereal] trait accelerates martial arts cultivation and allows her to discard distractions during practice, generating more ideas and inspirations.
Her primary cultivation in the Elephant Form Sect's Swan Form was personally improved on the basis of the Eagle Form to suit her cultivation technique better.
Listening to Luo Guanyun's words, Meng Chuan indeed felt somewhat disheartened. He didn't understand the purpose of his decade-long persistence. Does he still have a chance to break limits and obtain [Ever-Certainty]?
All afternoon, Meng Chuan did not practice boxing but lay alone in a corner of the training ground, clutching the Cannon Fist diagram.
As dusk fell, people in the dojo left one after another.
Liu Ru was a bit puzzled. Why was Meng Chuan, who was usually proactive, so down?
However, seeing that the owner hadn't taken him as a direct disciple, she thought she still had a chance.
Martial artists rarely take on direct disciples. Many martial artists prioritize their own cultivation, spending their lives without taking direct disciples because their energy is limited. They need to carefully teach their martial arts and be responsible for the disciple's actions and words.
In ancient times, taking on direct disciples was a solemn inheritance practice of the sect.
Taking direct disciples was like adopting a child, involving ongoing guidance and emotional and experiential exchange during learning.
As for others, inner disciples were accepted based on the master's mood, and named disciples based on financial capability.
For example, Wang Dong, like Liu Ru, was a named disciple. Liu Ru was there to teach as her contribution, while Wang Dong spent real money to earn his spot.
"Leave early, Meng Chuan, and don't get home too late."
Liu Ru saw Meng Chuan's mood might be bad, so she said no more.
"You can't give up on the National Obligation Basic Boxing. Only by obtaining [Ever-Certainty] can you smoothly break limits when practicing other fist techniques, quickly accumulating other traits."
But you can't keep struggling with it; you need to intersperse the practice with other fist techniques to enhance Qi Blood. If you waste another three years, you won't even make it to Yong'an Martial Arts University; how will you face your uncle's expectations?
It's already getting late. If you want to reach the third level of Qi Blood before the martial exam, you must give your all to practice Cannon Fist from tomorrow onwards.
Is there still time to comprehend the National Obligation Basic Boxing, with just the last 1% left? Are you willing?
Faced with obstacles ahead, even the two-lives-lived Meng Chuan felt a bit lost at this moment.
Today, Meng Chuan didn't take the tram back; he decided to walk, hoping to clear his mind en route.
The situation in Yong'an City had become dire recently; there wasn't a soul on the streets at night.
Yong'an City, although located in the north of Great Chu, was on the southern side within the north, and October had yet to usher in the cold.
Passing by Tong Family Lane, Meng Chuan inexplicably felt a chill down his spine as though plunged into an icy cavity.
"Strange, there seems to be nothing here."
Meng Chuan looked around but found nothing, so he continued forward, trying to bypass Tong Family Lane.
Curiosity kills the cat, and he wasn't heavily curious; he didn't intend to enter the lane.
Yet Tong Family Lane seemed to have a strange allure, inexplicably stopping Meng Chuan in his tracks.
If a martial artist had been present, they would have discovered that it was the [Celestial Demon Force Field] at work.
It was as if an invisible giant hand pressed down on his head from the air, forcing him to turn towards Tong Family Lane.
Soon, like a marionette, the cold controlled his body, guiding him step by step towards Tong Family Lane.
The mouth of the alley, like a demon opening its jaws, awaited his arrival.
"Damn it! I can't move a muscle."
Too late, caught by a celestial demon! Wasn't expecting this while walking late.
Stay calm, there's still a chance!
This demon hasn't immediately jumped out to smash him with a punch, suggesting it's not one of the most violent solid celestial demons.
Recalling what the teacher taught in class:
The Great Chu Martial Arts Association categorized demons invading reality into three types according to their abilities.
The first type is solid celestial demons, marked by physical traits, strong power, and brutal minds;
the second type is conceptual celestial demons, which can't directly harm the human body but can invade through dreams, beliefs, etc. Once their strength reaches a certain level, they can affect reality.
"This isn't one of those either—this guy is directly controlling my body!"
The third type is void celestial demons, the most elusive kind, without physical form, shapeshifting and formless, only detectable with martial will, making them a formidable threat to ordinary people.
"It's void type, I'm doomed."
If it were a conceptual one, he could pretend to believe in it and maybe find a chance to escape.
Void celestial demons, like solid ones, give no chance of survival upon encounter; the only distinction might be differing methods of death.
Meng Chuan meditated on solutions, lacking martial will but possessing survival instinct.
"Come on, come out and kill me!"
Meng Chuan provoked the opponent, attempting to glimpse its true form.
A rustle echoed in the air, the chill grew heavier, and Meng Chuan, unable to speak now, was manipulated to walk, getting closer to the alley entrance.
Everything became clearer—a lengthy alley appeared endless, utterly dark with no lights on, devoid of its former lively aura.
Meng Chuan recalled the last time passing by; there was the first household with a little girl reading on the doorstep, her mother upstairs knitting a sweater and warmly teasing her child with words.
Manipulated to stand at the alley entrance, Meng Chuan could finally see it clearly—everything had changed.
The alley's walls were densely populated with hanging people, all having their necks noosed with deep brown ropes, eyes wide with discontent.
The closest household had six people—men, women, young and old—hanging from a three-meter-old wall, the little girl squeezed at the center, unrecognizable.
A chilling wind passed, causing the corpses to sway as if welcoming his arrival.
This sight filled Meng Chuan's heart with fury, like a storm brewing, ready to erupt.
A clear heartbeat thudded wildly, pulses filled with explosive agitation.
"Beast! I swear, I'll kill you!"
Thin white smoke rose from his body, anger consumed Meng Chuan, oblivious to the return of his speech ability.
When the body reaches its limit, willpower aids escape!
This was the body's most primal willpower assisting him; Meng Chuan roared, breaking free from all restraints!
Then, fueled by fury and instinct, he struck at the invisible hands in the air!
[National Obligation Basic Boxing: Perfection (99%) → Perfection (100%) Limit Breaking]!
Acquired Limit Breaking Trait: Ever-Certainty (Super)
"Once obtained, never lost; everything practiced, mastered."