"Do I look like someone who's sick?"
Qi Yuan was speechless.
The people of this world seemed to have a subpar average IQ, and they were nearsighted to boot.
With looks like his, anyone could tell he was sharp as a tack. Where was there any sign of mental illness?
Yang Shan glanced at Qi Yuan and nodded earnestly. "You do, and you don't."
If he truly had a mental illness, how could he possess such extraordinary martial arts talent?
Yang Shan had only moved in a week ago, yet he had watched Qi Yuan improve with his own eyes.
Even among the martial arts prodigies he had known, that kind of speed would be considered fast.
"So, how was that innate martial technique? Any insights?" Yang Shan changed the subject, returning to business.
Truth be told, he thought very highly of this young man, seeing glimpses of his younger self in him.
Though, to be fair, Yang Shan was not even forty yet.
Hearing Yang Shan's question, Qi Yuan lowered his head in thought, recalling the scene from earlier.
Seeing this, Yang Shan smiled. "When I first witnessed an innate martial technique, I was also awe-struck. I thought innate martial techniques were mystical, perhaps even a path to step into the transcendent... Alas..."
A note of nostalgia laced Yang Shan's voice.
Innate martial techniques only appeared mysterious; under scientific scrutiny, they were really... nothing more than that.
Of course, to someone like Qi Yuan, who wasn't even a recognized martial artist yet, they were quite effective at dazzling the senses.
"The core of an innate martial technique... should be bloodline, right?" At that moment, Qi Yuan looked up at Yang Shan with absolute seriousness.
Yang Shan froze, his mind jolted violently.
"How did you know?"
Disbelief flooded his face.
Since retiring from the military, this was the first time he had lost his composure like this.
Qi Yuan's answer had simply exceeded his expectations by far.
Research into innate martial techniques had never ceased since ancient times.
Unfortunately, after all these years of study, no definitive conclusion had ever been reached.
Instead, various heresies and cults had sprung up.
Only when the modern world's limit martial artists banded together, pooling vast fortunes, manpower, and martial prowess, did they finally manage to unveil a corner of the mysterious veil surrounding innate martial techniques.
As a peak martial artist, Yang Shan had personally taken part in that research.
Their latest finding was that innate martial techniques were likely linked to blood.
To be honest, when he first learned of that conclusion, Yang Shan had been startled.
How could martial arts... have anything to do with completely unrelated blood?
The circle of peak martial artists back then had been shaken.
Naturally, that shock had remained confined to their small circle.
Word of the matter had never leaked to the outside world.
Qi Yuan was merely the orphaned son of an ordinary martyr; there was no way he could have known.
How on earth did he find out?
Yang Shan couldn't help but wonder.
"I saw it," Qi Yuan said casually.
"You saw it?" Yang Shan gave him a suspicious look, clearly finding it hard to believe.
"When you used that innate martial technique, your blood boiled slightly." Qi Yuan smiled. "My eyesight is excellent; I'm not nearsighted."
"Boiled slightly?" Yang Shan turned Qi Yuan's words over in his mind.
That slight boiling probably involved more than just blood.
When he unleashed his Grand Thunder Palm, his entire body boiled, not just his blood.
Why did Qi Yuan specifically mention blood?
Was it a coincidence... or sheer talent?
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
If it was a coincidence, fine. But if it was talent... that was terrifying.
It would mean Qi Yuan was exceptionally suited for martial arts.
He might even have a chance to step into the realm of peak martial arts and join that tiny handful of the strongest figures in the martial world.
Granted... he still wouldn't match those who took high-grade gene medicine, but it was terrifying nonetheless.
"Innate martial techniques are unleashed when the boiling of blood reaches a certain frequency. It really does... border slightly on the transcendent,"
Qi Yuan stated with certainty.
He now understood why martial arts on the Arch Star were so weak.
It was because their bloodlines were far too thin.
Take Yang Shan's Grand Thunder Palm just now—the blood had boiled far too little.
"Do you know how to break through the martial arts limit?" Qi Yuan asked Yang Shan.
"I don't. If I did, I wouldn't be staying here.
"Don't tell me you, someone who isn't even a martial artist, know?" Yang Shan grew interested.
The way he looked at Qi Yuan changed.
If before he had viewed Qi Yuan as an extraordinarily gifted prodigy, now he felt... something different.
"To break through the martial arts limit, you need to recognize someone as your father," Qi Yuan stated earnestly, sharing his insight. "The martial arts on the Arch Star would be better called bloodline martial arts.
"If your father breaks through the martial arts limit and ascends to a higher realm, then... your bloodline will also leap, and your martial potential and strength will increase."
Yang Shan pondered with a furrowed brow. After a long silence, he said, "What you're saying... I understand somewhat."
Such deductions had circulated within the circle of peak martial artists as well.
Most believed the ancients were powerful because their bloodlines were rich and dense,
while modern people were weak because a certain bloodline had grown thin.
Of course, that was merely a conjecture, not a settled conclusion.
"Still, I can't even break the martial limit myself... let alone my father.
"Though I'd love nothing more than to slack off and let my dad put in the work, that's... undoubtedly pure fantasy!" Yang Shan said in all seriousness.
His father's martial arts talent was even worse than his own.
Among the peak martial artists in this world, even those with the greatest hope of breaking the martial arts limit wouldn't dare claim they were certain to break through.
"Isn't that simple? Just take me as your father! When I break through, your bloodline might make the leap too, and you'll break the martial arts limit!"
"Get lost!"
Yang Shan flared with anger.
Qi Yuan merely chuckled. "Looks like your determination to break the martial arts limit isn't strong enough.
"It just so happens that I gained some insights. I'm heading back to condense my own martial technique. Bye-bye."
Having said his piece, Qi Yuan walked away.
Watching Qi Yuan's retreating back, Yang Shan's expression was immensely complicated. "Could he... really be a genius?
"No, he's just sick!
"Even if I took him as my father, and even if he broke the martial arts limit, my bloodline wouldn't leap—because we don't share a shred of blood!"
Yang Shan felt as though he had been duped by Qi Yuan's absurd line of thinking.
Recognizing a father wouldn't work.
Besides... was the martial arts limit really so easy to break?
Since ancient times, countless dazzling martial arts prodigies had emerged, yet had any of them ever shattered that limit?
Thinking of something, he sent a message to his old friend.
"I met a genuine martial arts genius. His talent is a cut above mine when I was young!"
"Oh? When do you plan on taking such fine material under your wing?" the other party replied quickly.
"Forget taking disciples. What's done in the past is done; I don't want to stir up more trouble." After texting his reply, Yang Shan followed up with a voice message: "This martial arts genius watched me use an innate martial technique just once and determined... that innate martial techniques might be related to the boiling of bloodlines."
"What? How did he know that? There's actually a genius like that?!" The other man's voice cracked slightly, sounding thoroughly agitated.
"Not only that, he also pointed out a path to break the martial arts limit. I thought it over carefully, and I feel... the path is actually viable."
"You... aren't talking nonsense, are you?
"Breaking the martial arts limit proposed by a rookie? How is that possible!"
The friend's voice was filled with utter disbelief.
Such astonishment was no different from a junior college student on the Blue Star developing nuclear fusion just to transfer to a four-year university.
"It's only viable in theory; it still needs verification. Want to test it out with me?" A smirk formed at the corner of Yang Shan's mouth.
"How do we test it?"
"You take me as your father. Once I break the martial arts limit, your bloodline will make the leap too." After setting the stage for so long, Yang Shan finally revealed his true dagger.
About a minute later, the other party sent back a sixty-second voice clip.
Yang Shan didn't even play it, knowing full well it was packed with curses about his mother.
"There really is some truth to it; that young fellow told me himself." Yang Shan relayed his conversation with Qi Yuan to his old friend.
"Even if it works, why should I take you as my father instead of you taking me as yours?!"
"Because my martial talent is better than yours, so I have a better shot at breaking the martial arts limit!" Yang Shan beamed.
"Right, your talent's great. Your martial arts talent beats mine, and your talent for picking up chicks beats mine too—you're great at talking women into bed.
"The moment you message a female friend, she tells you she's getting into bed to sleep and to talk tomorrow."
"Screw off!" Yang Shan felt his face heat up slightly. "Still better than you leaving negative reviews on every single takeout restaurant just to confess your love to Wang Yan."
That old friend of Yang Shan's had been quite a character in his youth.
He had once gone on a spree ordering food from all the restaurants near their school, instantly leaving one-star reviews confessing to Wang Yan on every single order.
That stunt had caused a massive uproar across the whole school.
Wang Yan had suffered absolute social death on the spot.
Of course, Yang Shan knew that was just old history between his friend and Wang Yan from their younger days; looking back now, it was nothing.
"In less than three months, Tianyue City's Martial Arts Tournament will begin. Should I come over to take a look and meet this martial arts genius you mentioned?
"Though what he said sounds wild, it... actually makes some sense."
Jokes aside, when it came to breaking the martial arts limit, his old friend remained dead serious.
After all, the very existence of their circle was dedicated to breaking that limit.
"Fine. When the time comes, I'll take you to see him.
"Also, don't get any ideas about taking him as an apprentice. I don't want him dragged into our circle."
"What, are you scared of the Guiran people?"
Yang Shan fell silent for a moment. "I'm not scared. I just find them... disgusting."
The Guiran people were the primary ethnic group of the Wugui Kingdom.
That nation was a theocracy.
The head of the faith was the true ruler of the state.
The conflict between the Guiran people and the Qinyuan Kingdom had existed since the previous century.
It could be said that the Guiran people served as the Guwu Kingdom's biggest pawn against the Qinyuan Kingdom.
On the Arch Star, the Qinyuan Kingdom and the Guwu Kingdom were the world's two superpowers.
In essence, the Guiran people were the Guwu Kingdom's mad dogs.
The Guiran people frequently instigated wars and slaughtered civilians.
Back then, the circle of peak martial artists Yang Shan belonged to had received orders from higher-ups.
To hunt down and kill... a priest of the Guiran people.
Due to restrictions imposed by the setting, gene warriors could not enter, which was why peak martial artists like them had been called upon to strike.
Back then, Yang Shan and his comrades had successfully killed the priest.
However, it had also completely enraged the Guiran people.
Guiran assassins and fanatical zealots launched relentless suicide attacks against Yang Shan and his companions.
Yang Shan had suffered grievous injuries during that mission, which was what ultimately led him to retire into seclusion.
Yet the enmity with the Guiran people lingered on.
That was why he didn't want Qi Yuan involved.
After all, even if Qi Yuan broke the martial arts limit, could he compare to the Guiran people's gene warriors?
One had to understand: while the Qinyuan Kingdom and the Guwu Kingdom still cared about keeping up appearances, preaching notions of fairness, freedom, and democracy to the public,
the Wugui Kingdom couldn't even be bothered to pretend.
Furthermore, their gene warriors were far more deranged. The physical toll on the human body was vastly harsher, but evidently... the power was that much greater.
Thus, the Guiran gene warriors... were terrifyingly lethal.
They truly fought with no regard for their own lives.
"The Guiran people are indeed disgusting, but what can anyone do?" The friend chuckled, his tone tinged with helplessness.
They were all adults; they knew the tune of the world would not change according to their personal likes or desires.
Even though the Guiran state had yet to abolish slavery and treated human life like dirt, they still lived comfortably.
"What's most sickening is that the Holy Son of the Wugui Kingdom married the daughter of a general on the Can Star!" Mentioning this, a rare trace of dread surfaced in Yang Shan's eyes.
That was the Can Star!
The Can Star's technology was far superior to that of the Arch Star.
In fact, the Arch Star's technological advancements had largely originated from the Can Star.
Without the Can Star's bloody suppression back then, the Arch Star would never have seen its rapid technological explosion today.
Yang Shan's grandfather had died on the Can Star while carrying out a mission.
Toward the Can Star, he felt both fear and rage.
The Wugui Kingdom's ties with the Can Star were one of the main reasons they acted with such impunity.
Yet toward their former enemy, the Can Star, the world's two superpowers rarely propagated hostility or hatred nowadays; instead, they preached peaceful coexistence.
Because of this, many rumors circulated across the Arch Star.
The most widespread among them claimed that the high-ranking leadership of both the Qinyuan Kingdom and the Guwu Kingdom had long fallen under the control of the Can Star.
Of course, to Yang Shan, those were nothing more than groundless rumors.
The leaders were still the leaders.
***
"Innate martial techniques..."
Inside his room, Qi Yuan was contemplating his own innate martial technique.
"The innate martial technique most deeply tied to my bloodline will suit me best and yield the greatest power."
Qi Yuan's eyes could see information disparities, and he was also a mighty cultivator who had slain a Yang God.
His perception far exceeded ordinary mortals.
Though he had only watched Yang Shan perform an innate martial technique once, his comprehension of the concept already surpassed everyone else's.
"Therefore... the innate martial technique of this body's bloodline ancestor is the one best suited for me, and the one with the greatest power!"
A sharp gleam flashed across Qi Yuan's eyes.
He stared at his own blood, as if gazing across eternity.
He saw a mutated sea monster swimming through the ocean.
He saw a single drop of blood falling from the heavens.
Suddenly, his mind cleared, and everything opened up before him.
"Explosive Bird-Killing Fist!"
A brilliant light sparked in Qi Yuan's eyes.
Through continuous deduction, it felt as if he had inherited memories passed down through his bloodline.
In that moment, an innate martial technique took shape.
"This name... is really lacking in class."
Looking at the innate martial technique that had formed, Qi Yuan was thoroughly speechless.
The prestige of this technique's name was far too low.
It couldn't even match his own naming standards.
"Looks like my ancestor... wasn't very educated, and probably hated birds with a passion.
"Otherwise, why would the awakened innate martial technique be called Explosive Bird-Killing Fist?"
Qi Yuan shrugged.
He executed the innate martial technique with casual ease, then furrowed his brows.
"Not probably—he definitely hated birds."
This Explosive Bird-Killing Fist looked just like a cat swatting at sparrows.
There was nothing explosive about it at all.
Chapter 293