"This body is young, healthy, and has only just died, still clinging faintly to life.
"It is indeed well-suited to serve as my host.
"This state resembles the immortal path's art of soul possession, likely thanks to that formation in the Secret World Tower."
Lu Changsheng muttered to himself.
He had now become "Lu Yuan," a twenty-year-old young martial master and a third-year college student.
This kind of "possession," where consciousness completely took over the flesh of someone who had just died, truly was similar to soul possession. As a martial artist—even an Earth Saint—Lu Changsheng had possessed no such method himself. But the formation inside the Secret World Tower had performed its function, allowing him to take over Lu Yuan's body.
Lu Changsheng was an Earth Saint, a Martial Saint whose former body brimmed with terrifying might, capable of tearing heaven and earth asunder with a single gesture.
Yet what about now?
He examined his state carefully.
Though young, this body was exceedingly frail. There was not a shred of supernatural power within it. It was merely ordinary mortal flesh and blood.
*The real Lu Yuan was primarily a third-year university student, and part-time... a martial artist.*
*A so-called martial artist here is just someone who has mastered a few force-emission techniques and has more combat experience than the average person, able to take on several ordinary men at once. Nothing more.*
Lu Changsheng searched the memories in his mind.
A martial artist trained in strikes and tempered the body. Yet no matter how much a martial artist in this world tempered themselves, they remained mortal clay.
Martial artists were divided into five realms: obvious force, hidden force, the Transformative Realm, Core Embracing, and astral force.
It seemed like many stages, but in truth they amounted to little. Even if one cultivated to astral force, the highest realm, a single bullet could still lay them low.
Astral force was the pinnacle of martial arts, yet ever since the rise of firearms and artillery, more than a few astral force grandmasters had been gunned down. By now, martial artists—or martial arts in general—had largely devolved into pursuits for wellness and body shaping.
*This world has martial arts, but no Martial Dao.*
*The Secret World Tower estimated this secret world's highest energy response to be at the Dao Foundation level, equivalent to Foundation Establishment. But that is not the energy level of astral force. Astral force here... likely cannot even compare to Divine Strength.*
*After all, this world's so-called force is far weaker than the qi and blood of a Body Tempering cultivator back in the Holy Land.*
*The reason this world registers a Dao Foundation energy level is entirely because of firearms and artillery!*
*Still, perhaps due to the world's governing rules or certain chemical elements, though firearms are well developed, they have not produced a nuclear weapons industry. In other words, there are no nuclear bombs...*
Lu Changsheng sorted through the common knowledge of this world.
Against modern firearms, martial artists had been reduced to performance acts. Even the so-called Martial Arts Tournament was essentially just like any singing or dancing competition—little more than a talent show. What it drew was media traffic and a commercial feeding frenzy, not true masters.
Precisely because of this, when someone was killed in the very first round of the tournament, it had exploded across public opinion and captured widespread attention.
*According to the records in the Secret World Canon, condensing a Martial Dao in a low-energy secret world is both simple and difficult.*
*One must find a way that aligns with the world's operating rules to elevate the power of 'Martial Dao' to a supernatural tier. The higher the supernatural tier, the stronger the condensed Martial Dao, and the higher the quality of the resulting martial dao fragments.*
*In other words, to achieve the best result, I must use the Martial Dao to reach the Dao Foundation level. And the only thing conforming to the rules of this world is martial arts...*
Lu Changsheng analyzed his circumstances methodically.
*However, with Lu Yuan's level, he merely mastered basic force-emission techniques to coordinate the power of his body—that is only obvious force.*
*True force bursts outward from within, known as hidden force.*
*Only upon stepping into hidden force is one considered properly initiated in martial arts circles, qualified to open a hall and accept disciples.*
*Hidden force...*
Lu Changsheng recalled the martial arts "Lu Yuan" had practiced.
Lu Yuan had learned his arts at a martial arts hall called the Flying Crane Martial Arts Hall. The hall master possessed real skill and was a hidden force martial artist. The force cultivated at Flying Crane Martial Arts Hall was called Spiral force, which packed considerable punch. Unfortunately, Lu Yuan had never mastered it, unable to unleash a single surge of Spiral force to this day. In fact, he had lacked even the faintest clue.
Now, however, Lu Changsheng was here.
Lu Changsheng was Lu Yuan.
What Lu Yuan could not do was child's play for Lu Changsheng.
*Force... Actually, there is already a trace of force lingering inside my body.*
*Meridian Severing force!*
Lu Changsheng pressed a hand against his chest.
The Meridian Severing force had ruptured Lu Yuan's heart meridian. Even medical instruments could find nothing wrong with the meridian itself, categorizing the cause of death as a myocardial infarction. But Lu Changsheng could sense the Meridian Severing force clearly. Even with only a wisp remaining, he felt it distinctly.
*With my comprehension, a mere Meridian Severing force can be deduced after seeing it just once...*
Lu Changsheng immediately closed his eyes, examining the traits of the Meridian Severing force in detail and recalling how his opponent had unleashed it. Then, he began to deduce it in his mind.
One shichen later, Lu Changsheng opened his eyes.
*Smack!*
He threw a punch.
He felt a sudden thud in his heart, followed by a fierce surge of power bursting through his arm. The force penetrated outward, making the air snap with a sharp crack.
"Meridian Severing force, accomplished!"
A smile crossed Lu Changsheng's face.
According to the standards of the martial arts community, anyone capable of delivering a strike of hidden force was indisputably a hidden force martial artist. And Lu Changsheng was now at the hidden force stage!
The time it had taken him to go from obvious force to hidden force was merely one shichen—or two hours by this world's reckoning.
However, after unleashing that single strike of Meridian Severing force, Lu Changsheng felt a bout of weakness wash over him. His body grew dizzy, as though he might faint.
*This body was recently injured, and the heart is still recovering. Bursting with Meridian Severing force right now places too much strain on the heart. I must rest quietly!*
After a moment's thought, Lu Changsheng lay back down on the bed.
*The people outside probably think I'm dead. It won't do to delay too long. Besides, Lu Yuan seems caught up in a media vortex.*
*Better not give them too much of a fright...*
Lu Changsheng decided it was best to "come back to life" first; he could not remain officially "dead."
He slowly climbed out of bed and pushed open the operating room doors.
*Clack.*
The operating room doors swung open.
Outside, a crowd of reporters stood alongside a swarm of doctors and nurses, while security guards struggled to maintain order. The hospital was in the middle of announcing Lu Yuan's death.
Yet the moment the doors opened, Lu Yuan appeared before them alive and well, right in front of countless cameras.
"Ah..."
"Lu Yuan isn't dead!"
"Director, didn't your hospital just announce that Lu Yuan passed away?"
Countless reporters and doctors stared in utter disbelief. The surgeon who had tried to save Lu Yuan stared with wide, gaping eyes.
Lu Yuan had actually come back to life?
Meanwhile, the reporters grew ecstatic. This was an even bigger story...
***
Some time had passed since Lu Changsheng returned home.
His family was simple: his parents and a younger sister. Both parents were university professors and high-level intellectuals. Lu Yuan, however, had developed a passion for martial arts and secretly practiced during college. If not for the tournament, his parents would never have known.
They strictly forbade him from practicing martial arts any longer, but Lu Changsheng paid it no mind. He truly did need to rest and recuperate, so he simply held off on training for the time being.
Yet holding off on training did not mean he was not pondering how to condense a Martial Dao in this world.
This world had the internet as well, and the internet was a wonderful tool.
Online, information spanning from obvious force to astral force was readily available. With Lu Changsheng's comprehension and cultivation providing a bird's-eye view, even though he had never practiced these martial arts before, he quickly understood their essence.
From obvious force to astral force, they were fundamentally combat techniques—methods of using various skills to defeat an opponent. Put another way, they were tools for practical combat, arts meant for killing.
This world was currently in an era of general peace. In peaceful times, killing techniques had little practical application, so the decline of martial arts was only natural.
Yet even if martial arts had not declined, Lu Changsheng would have held little regard for them. He knew martial arts had taken the wrong path.
*Martial arts, no matter how far one trains, merely refine technique.*
*Even reaching astral force has little practical value, especially against firearms.*
*A saying once circulated in martial arts circles: 'Beyond ten paces, the gun is fast. Within ten paces, the gun is fast and accurate.'*
*Though said in jest, it clearly demonstrates that martial arts are utterly useless against guns and cannons.*
*The reason is simple: martial arts are not the Martial Dao. They cannot embark upon the supernatural path!*
A sharp glint flickered in Lu Changsheng's eyes.
He knew very well that to condense a Martial Dao, he had to push martial arts into the supernatural realm.
What was supernatural?
In the Holy Land, the Divine Strength Realm was considered supernatural. Yet in this world, achieving the Divine Strength Realm was impossible. The methods of martial cultivation from the Holy Land were completely useless here as well. This world lacked even the faintest wisp of spiritual qi. No wonder its energy response was so low.
Forging a path to the supernatural and condensing a Martial Dao under such conditions was exceptionally difficult. Yet it was not entirely impossible.
*If this world's martial arts or other means cannot forge a path to the supernatural, then I will create one myself!*
During his period of quiet recuperation at home, Lu Changsheng had been constantly contemplating how to create a martial method capable of stepping onto the supernatural path.
*Though the worlds are different, the rules are different, and human physiology differs slightly, certain fundamentals remain universal.*
*For example, the most basic way living beings acquire energy is through food—through eating.*
*If there is no spiritual qi outside, I will extract it from food.*
*The human body is fragile, yet it can grow and develop, and differences between individuals can be immense. This growth and development can be fully utilized.*
*By using food to absorb vast quantities of energy, I can stimulate continuous bodily growth and development. Once the body reaches its limit, I can maintain conscious control over its growth and continue consuming massive amounts of food.*
*Under the right conditions, a secondary growth—a secondary development—can occur!*
*It might even lead to a tertiary, quaternary, or quintenary growth...*
The more Lu Changsheng thought about it, the more he felt it was worth an attempt.
In his mind lay a Divine Strength-level martial arts manual that focused on constantly unlocking the body's latent potential to drive perpetual growth and development. Back in the Holy Land, however, such arts were virtually useless. Above Divine Strength was the Divine Treasury, and above that was the Dao Foundation. Each advancement multiplied one's strength tenfold or a hundredfold. What difference would a second or even twentieth phase of physical development make? It was completely negligible.
Here, however, it was entirely different.
If one could achieve secondary growth, it would be equivalent to breaking through biological limits. Stacking third, fourth, and fifth growths beyond that would eventually turn quantitative accumulation into a qualitative leap, stepping into the supernatural!
Following this line of thought, Lu Changsheng used his supreme comprehension to modify the technique, tailoring it to suit this world.
Today, with his body fully healed, Lu Yuan was ready to take the first step in his "cultivation."
*Whether the Martial Dao or the immortal path, all belong to cultivation.*
*Any journey onto the supernatural path is cultivation.*
Lu Changsheng was now ready to embark on that journey.
No matter how high his comprehension, no matter how profound his former realm, and no matter how flawless the deduced cultivation method seemed, practice remained the ultimate test of truth. He had to test it on himself.
"Let us begin."
Lu Changsheng sat in his room.
With a thought, his consciousness observed every inch of his body inside and out. Every minute detail appeared crystal clear. He could even perceive down to the cellular and genetic levels.
This was an ability born of his consciousness as an Earth Saint. Consciousness alone could alter nothing physically, but using it to regulate every organ and monitor every corner of his body while training made it the ultimate tool for martial arts.
Lu Changsheng directed his stomach to rapidly digest food, breaking down nutrients and transporting them throughout his body. He then guided those nutrients to strengthen his muscles, skin, bones, and internal organs.
The amount of food he ate was staggering, as if without limit.
A plate of raw beef sat before him. He ate it plain.
One jin, two jin, three, four, five...
In the blink of an eye, ten jin of beef disappeared into his stomach. Yet his belly showed not the slightest sign of bloating. The food he swallowed was digested almost instantly by his gastrointestinal tract. Theoretically, Lu Yuan could keep eating indefinitely, shuttling vast amounts of nutrients to fuel physical growth, followed by natural excretion.
Lu Changsheng spent an entire day "cultivating."
He felt his muscles strengthen noticeably. Every part of his body underwent marked improvement; power, speed, and constitution were all bolstered across the board. Within days, his overall physical fitness might double or even triple.
*As expected, this is true cultivation, the true Martial Dao!*
*The essence of martial arts is self-elevation, breaking through biological shackles and transcending mortal limits. Only then can it be called a 'Martial Dao.' Otherwise, it remains mere technique, forever unable to condense a Martial Dao.*
*The method I created is pure martial arts. Since it is a martial art, it needs a name. Furthermore, it must grow, spread, and exert influence to alter the structure and course of this world, so that a Martial Dao may be condensed.*
*Its core lies in breaking mortal limits through secondary growth, tertiary growth, quaternary growth, and beyond. I will simply call it the Limit Martial Dao style!*
*I do not have much time. I must strive to bring the Limit Martial Dao style into the supernatural within three years and spread it across the entire world to condense the Martial Dao!*
Lu Changsheng formulated his plan.
Three years!
This was a very specific timeline. Three years from now, he would be able to summon the power of his true body from the Immortal Martial World. When that time came, projecting his Earth Saint might would make shattering the Martial Dao and claiming its fragments effortless. But that was contingent upon a Martial Dao being condensed in the first place. Otherwise, where would he harvest the fragments?
*I will divide the Limit Martial Dao style into several stages.*
*The first stage is primary growth. I must unearth my current limits, pushing my existing body to its absolute peak. Only then can I attempt to shatter those limits and enter secondary growth.*
His thoughts were clear.
Naturally, Lu Changsheng could not say for certain whether secondary growth alone would reach the supernatural tier. But it mattered not; if secondary growth fell short, he would pursue tertiary growth.
"Panel."
With a thought, Lu Changsheng summoned his attribute panel.
When his consciousness descended into this secret world, he had quickly discovered that the attribute panel had accompanied him. It seemed tethered to his consciousness rather than his physical form.
Host: Lu Yuan
Flying Crane style: Obvious Force
Limit Martial Dao style: Primary Growth (8%)
Looking at the panel, he saw that the Limit Martial Dao style was currently in its primary growth stage at a mere 8% progress.
What did that signify?
It meant that based on his precise control over his flesh and his estimation of its current potential, this body was still far from its limit. Its development stood at only 8%, leaving a full 92% room for growth.
Never mind secondary growth; if this primary growth reached its 100% limit, it would already be terrifyingly potent. Even astral force would pale in comparison. No matter how exquisite one's technique, could it stop a punch weighing thousands of jin?
Lu Changsheng's Limit Martial Dao was no longer mere martial arts; it was the "Martial Dao." It differed fundamentally from ordinary martial arts.
*Relying solely on meat, coarse grains, and vegetables yields too little energy.*
*I still need precious medicinal herbs, tonics, and natural treasures.*
*However, all of those require money and access channels.*
Lu Changsheng did not intend to stay cooped up at home any longer. Eating meat daily in such massive quantities would look bizarre to his family. He needed potent tonics now, which meant finding a supplier.
Fortunately, he possessed an avenue.
He was not just a third-year college student; he was also an outstanding student at the Flying Crane Martial Arts Hall, taken in directly by the hall master as a disciple. The hall ought to have channels for securing potent tonics.
With that in mind, Lu Changsheng informed his parents and left home, heading for the Flying Crane Martial Arts Hall.
***
Pan City, Xuanwu Street.
This was the most bustling commercial street in all of Pan City. The Flying Crane Martial Arts Hall was situated right on Xuanwu Street, occupying a massive plot of land. To hold such prime real estate on gold-paved Xuanwu Street spoke volumes about the hall's thriving business.
Following his memories, Lu Changsheng arrived at the hall. Upon stepping inside, his eyes widened slightly.
A spacious, brightly lit lobby met him, equipped with high-tech machinery and staffed by tall, attractive female receptionists. Everyone was handsome or beautiful.
Lu Changsheng was mildly surprised. Was this really a martial arts hall?
Moreover, much of the equipment was intended for body shaping, weight loss, and general fitness. The reason the Flying Crane Martial Arts Hall flourished was precisely because it catered to diverse needs. While martial arts remained its core, it also offered fitness, exercise, and weight-loss programs, operating as a comprehensive athletic facility.
"Isn't that... Senior Brother Lu?"
"It's Lu Yuan, the one who entered the Martial Arts Tournament."
"Wasn't he hospitalized with serious injuries?"
"He must have recovered and been discharged. Quite some time has passed since the tournament, after all."
"I heard Lu Yuan was a core member here, a registered disciple of the hall master. Who would've thought he couldn't even pass the first round, got critically injured, nearly died, and caused such a huge media stir?"
"Shh, keep your voice down. That swarm of reporters smelled blood and hounded the entire hall with interviews. It was an utter headache..."
Several students and fitness members whispered among themselves upon spotting Lu Yuan. After all, Lu Yuan was practically a local celebrity in Pan City now. Nearly being beaten to death in round one of the tournament had created an enormous headline. It was hard not to be famous.
Lu Changsheng paid them no heed and headed straight to the second floor.
The second floor was reserved for martial arts practice, filled with students eager to learn. Lu Changsheng's master, Fei Qianliu, the master of the Flying Crane Martial Arts Hall, was also up there.
Reaching the second floor, he saw students practicing their routines, while several male and female instructors taught Flying Crane style martial arts.
"Senior Sister Xiang."
"Senior Brother Zhao."
"Senior Brother Li."
Lu Changsheng greeted them one by one. All three were his senior fellow disciples under Fei Qianliu. Unlike him, however, they were formal disciples, whereas he was only a registered disciple.
"Junior Brother Lu, are you here to see Master?" Senior Sister Xiang walked over, her expression somewhat complicated as she looked at him.
"Yes. Where is Master?" Lu Changsheng asked.
"Master is resting in his room. He has been utterly exhausted dealing with your affairs lately..." Senior Sister Xiang patted Lu Changsheng's back, speaking with meaningful emphasis.
Lu Changsheng gave a thoughtful nod and stepped into the inner chamber.
Inside, a middle-aged man sat clad in loose martial robes. He was only around forty, yet weariness hung heavily across his features.
"Master," Lu Changsheng greeted him respectfully.
"Ah, Lu Yuan." Fei Qianliu opened his eyes. "Come, sit."
Taking in Lu Yuan's presence, Fei Qianliu drew a deep breath and said in a heavy voice, "While you were injured, Master did not visit you at the hospital. Do you know why?"
Lu Changsheng shook his head.
"I was running about securing your compensation.
"Furthermore, when you were hurt, the public outcry was too severe. Had I visited you, the press would have hounded me relentlessly, which would have been detrimental to both our hall and the tournament organizers.
"Therefore, the organizers made certain promises to me, on the condition that we contain the situation and keep Flying Crane Martial Arts Hall out of the media whirlwind."
Lu Changsheng understood. The hall wielded considerable influence in Pan City. Had it fueled the media frenzy, the organizers would have suffered greatly.
"Fortunately, the tournament organizers agreed to provide compensation, though they refused to deal with you directly, routing it through our hall instead. After all, they could not afford to leave any handles for critics to seize.
"The sum is one million. I kept every cent for you. Since you are here, I will transfer it to your card right now."
Fei Qianliu made a phone call. Lu Changsheng pulled out his phone, and sure enough, a text notification arrived confirming that one million had been deposited into his bank account!
"Thank you, Master!"
This time, Lu Changsheng thanked Fei Qianliu from the bottom of his heart. He knew extracting money from the tournament organizers was no easy feat; Fei Qianliu must have run himself ragged to secure it. It seemed this master genuinely cared for him.
Fei Qianliu sighed heavily. "Lu Yuan, having you enter the tournament was an oversight on my part. It nearly cost you your life. Your talent was actually quite formidable, but with such severe damage to your heart meridian, cultivating hidden force in the future will be exceedingly difficult..."
Fei Qianliu understood all too well how sinister and venomous the Meridian Severing force of the Meridian Severing Fist was. Once struck, even if one survived by luck, the heart meridian remained damaged. Cultivating hidden force again would be impossible for the rest of one's life. It effectively meant Lu Yuan was ruined.
Fei Qianliu deeply regretted sending Lu Yuan to the tournament. Who could have foreseen that Lu Yuan would encounter a hidden force expert of the Meridian Severing Fist in the very first round? Worse, the opponent had struck with lethal malice, showing no martial virtue whatsoever. Had this not been an era of peace, he would have stormed the Meridian Severing Sect himself.
"Cultivating hidden force?" Lu Yuan paused slightly.
Seeing Fei Qianliu's exhausted expression, Lu Changsheng knew his master had genuinely spent himself on his behalf. Naturally, he wished to repay the kindness and bring him some joy. Moreover, displaying his talent would make it easier to utilize the hall's channels to procure large quantities of potent tonics.
"Master, when you speak of hidden force, do you mean this?"
Lu Changsheng extended his palm and pressed it lightly against the wooden floorboards.
*Crack!*
A crisp snap echoed through the room. The floorboard beneath his palm splintered instantly into a web of cracks, visibly sinking downward.
"This is... Spiral force!" Fei Qianliu cried out in shock, shooting to his feet.
He could scarcely believe his eyes.
Hidden force!
And Spiral force at that!
It had actually manifested in Lu Yuan.
"Lu Yuan, didn't the Meridian Severing force damage your heart meridian? How can you unleash Spiral force?" Fei Qianliu asked, stunned.
"No, Master. In truth, the first force I unleashed was not Spiral force, but... Meridian Severing force!"
With that, Lu Changsheng extended his hand again and pressed it gently against the floor.
*Chhh.*
A soft murmur sounded. The surface of the floor appeared entirely unchanged. Yet when Fei Qianliu pried up the floorboard, he found the concrete layer underneath shattered into pieces.
"Meridian Severing force! This is genuine Meridian Severing force!"
"Lu Yuan, you've actually mastered two types of hidden force?!"
At that moment, shock was no longer enough to describe Fei Qianliu's state. A tempest surged through his mind, and sheer, stunned disbelief was written across his face.
Chapter 252