It's getting late.
Second Senior Sister Chen Yuque pulled Third Senior Sister Lin Dongxi away, leaving the spacious quiet room with only Zhang Fusheng and the master who had not yet held the tea ceremony.
"Since you have reached the First Refinement, after tomorrow's tea ceremony, I will teach you the cultivation technique of my Hongji lineage."
Contemplation Techniques, Breathing Techniques, Pile Skills, although all are 'cultivation', they are not true cultivation techniques,
even in the classification of the [Contract], they are considered 'skills'.
Zhong Mountain originally had the opportunity for Second Refinement, Third Refinement, and even higher, but was hindered by the lack of a cultivation technique, stuck at the First Refinement for life.
The Federation does not prohibit martial arts, but only publicly releases some basic Contemplation and Breathing Techniques to the public; as for cultivation techniques, they can only be taught at formal university martial arts departments or some qualified Martial Arts Dojos.
"Are you familiar with the Martial Artist's Twelve Refinements?" Hong Tianbao asked.
Zhang Fusheng honestly shook his head:
"I only know there are twelve refinements, three of skin, three of flesh, three of tendons, and three of bones, but I have no idea about the specifics."
The old man understood and explained gently:
"The Twelve Refinements are actually a process of laying a foundation and strengthening the body. Every breakthrough in a refinement will increase one's strength slightly, and the body tempering process in each refinement will also increase the same amount of strength."
"A top Martial Artist who has perfected the Twelve Refinements can have a strength of 108,000 jin."
Zhang Fusheng widened his eyes, "How much?"
108,000 jin!
I just entered the First Refinement and only increased by 500 jin!
Hong Tianbao continued his description without pause:
"In the Three Skin Refinements, refining the skin to be like fine copper, each breakthrough can add 500 jin of strength, and from initial entry to full perfection, another 500 jin can be added. In other words, in the first three refinements, one refinement can add 1,000 jin of strength."
"In the Three Flesh Refinements, refining flesh like steel, each refinement can add a total of 2,000 jin of strength."
"In the Three Tendons Refinements, refining tendons like dragon tendons, each refinement can add a total of 10,000 jin of strength."
"In the Three Bone Refinements, refining bones like jade treasures, each refinement can add a total of 20,000 jin of strength."
Zhang Fusheng listened attentively, couldn't help swallowing, a Martial Artist of the Twelve Refinements, 108,000 jin of strength,
even at three times the exertion, a single punch would have an impact of 300,000 jin!
150 tons.
Tearing down a building might be as easy as drinking water or eating food.
And even so, it still falls within the category of [human] in the Federation's certification. Then what scene would a 'non-human' Martial Arts Master be like?
"The cultivation technique of our Hongji lineage is called..."
Hong Tianbao paused:
"The abbreviation is the Great Sun True Scripture."
"Abbreviation?" Zhang Fusheng inwardly ridiculed the mundane and unrefined name 'Great Sun True Scripture' while curiously asking:
"What's the full name?"
Hong Tianbao was silent for a moment, his gaze wandered:
"Well, it's rather long."
Zhang Fusheng persistently asked:
"Master, so what is it?"
The old man lowered his eyelids, took a slight breath:
"The full name is, Infinite Heaven Great Sun Illuminates the 72 Snow Mountains Creates One Qi True Saint Breaks the Four Universes and Five Cosmoses in the Six Worlds, Seven Realms, and Eight Desolates Great Scripture."
Zhang Fusheng nearly choked on his saliva:
"Huh??"
The old man said compassionately:
"When I first heard the full name, I reacted just like you... Yes, your three senior brothers and sisters were the same."
Zhang Fusheng didn't respond, silently counting:
"Hmm, thirty-six characters... The ancestor who came up with this name is something else."
He gave a thumbs-up.
Hong Tianbao covered his old face:
"It was your grandmaster, back then he was a bit..."
After a while, this over-aged old man finally uttered three words.
"Middle School Syndrome."
"Master, you hit the nail on the head." Zhang Fusheng praised.
Hong Tianbao sighed, then changed the topic:
"The name of this cultivation technique, though somewhat ludicrous, also implies its profoundness as it directly points to the great realm of [True Saint], and even in the entire Federation, it stands among the top."
"True Saint?"
"Indeed, a vague, lofty realm. Of course, if you were to ask how high exactly..."
Hong Tianbao splayed his hands; evidently, he wasn't sure either.
Zhang Fusheng chewed on the words 'True Saint':
"At this realm, one could probably move mountains and overturn seas?"
Hong Tianbao shook his head:
"According to your grandmaster, such a being could cross a river in four steps."
"Huh?"
Zhang Fusheng was even more puzzled:
"Cross a river in four steps? That sounds a bit..."
"The 'River of Stars,'" the elderly master of the dojo casually added.
Zhang Fusheng closed his mouth and fell silent.
Four steps to cross a galaxy.
He initially didn't believe, but then his heart began to beat fiercely.
"Can a human truly achieve such a level?" Zhang Fusheng murmured.
Hong Tianbao shook his head:
"I don't know, it seems more like your master ancestor's idle words... However, regardless of its truth, this cultivation technique is undoubtedly one of the top choices in the federation."
"The reason I'm telling you so much is to remind you that after mastering this technique, you must never leak it, and in daily life, never mention its full name, treat it as a joke, keep it in your heart."
After finishing his speech, Hong Tianbao turned and said:
"Tell me about the trouble that brought you here overnight."
Zhang Fusheng retracted his imagination and exhaled:
"It's not a big trouble..."
He recounted the whole situation briefly.
"Zhou Quan... seems like there's such a student," Hong Tianbao said calmly, "Tell me, how do you plan to deal with this matter?"
Zhang Fusheng hesitated for a moment and answered honestly:
"To be frank with you, Master, this is the first time I've encountered such a situation. Having just entered the First Refinement and gained power, my initial thought was to secretly eliminate Zhou Quan, but I felt it was inappropriate..."
"So, my later thought was to first become your disciple, then secretly eliminate Zhou Quan."
Hong Tianbao remained noncommittal:
"Using killing to stop conflict is indeed a path, but not the top choice."
Zhang Fusheng clasped his hands:
"Willing to hear Master's teachings."
Though he has lived through two lifetimes, the total age of both might still be less than his master's...
"Since I am your master, I will not only teach you cultivation but also how to handle affairs."
Hong Tianbao spoke calmly:
"The conflict between you and Zhou Quan, is not large, nor very small, definitely not a life-and-death enmity. The best approach for such matters is 'struggle without breaking.'
"Dare to ask Master, what is struggle without breaking?"
"Struggle, contention, conflict."
On this starry night, Hong Tianbao patiently explained:
"A martial artist must strive, but ultimately you are human, and being human, you cannot escape social interactions and exchanges. Struggle without breaking is a principle that existed even before martial artists, like those ancient politicians."
"When they were in contention, vying for power and gains, they chose a struggle without breaking."
"Because there are no eternal enemies or friends in this world, it is also because both sides leave space for reconciliation, and of course, there are more meanings."
"After all, a lone wolf doesn't go far. To climb upward, you must rely on others, the more you can rely on, the faster you ascend."
Zhang Fusheng listened attentively:
"You mean I should avoid harming Zhou Quan's life, and even try to befriend him?"
Hong Tianbao did not answer but instead asked:
"Zhou Quan's father is the Fire Hall Master. What realm is the Fire Hall Master in?"
"Replying to Master, I do not know."
"Fire Hall is one of the five main halls of Chai Gate, do you know the realm of the Chai Gate Sect Leader?"
"Replying to Master, I still do not know."
Hong Tianbao shook his head:
"The former is a top Sixth-Refined Martial Artist, with a power of ten thousand pounds, and the latter is a Martial Arts Master in Jiangzhou City, who can proudly claim to be among the top ten."
Zhang Fusheng froze.
The elder continued:
"If you kill Zhou Quan, won't his father come after you? If you pass this hurdle, for the sake of face and morale within the sect, won't the Chai Gate Sect Leader come after you?"
Zhang Fusheng pondered:
"So... I should just let it go?"
"Struggle without breaking is not a non-struggle."
Hong Tianbao shook his head again:
"If one is clever, they can utilize the struggle with Zhou Quan, and while winning against Zhou Quan, sell Chai Gate a great favor instead."
Zhang Fusheng felt his mind was somewhat overwhelmed, but he still vaguely understood something.
"Master, I seem to know what to do, struggle without breaking... I will use the opportunity with Zhou Quan to give Chai Gate a major crisis."
"Then, I will personally resolve this crisis for Chai Gate, will the struggle between me and him end with just me and him?"
Hong Tianbao nodded slightly:
"It is a method, barely considered struggle without breaking... This is the first path to resolve this matter."
Zhang Fusheng curiously asked:
"Is there a second path?"
"There is."
Hong Tianbao naturally nodded:
"Slaughter everyone in Chai Gate, leaving none—not even the elderly, women, and children. Exterminate anyone with familial ties, and then mutilate the sect leader's body, hanging his head before the gate, swallow Chai Gate's territory, and seize Chai Gate's momentum."
"Thus, using the corpse of Chai Gate, you will climb as your ladder, which is another method."
"Thus, seizing their fortune, completing yourself, killing without mercy, uprooting completely."