Come at Me Together, I Want to Fight Dozens!

"Two strikes of hidden force. "Who would have thought you would turn misfortune into a blessing..." Fei Qianliu looked at Lu Yuan, still finding it somewhat unbelievable. According to Lu Yuan's explanation, after the Meridian Severing force injured his heart meridian, it had instead allowed him to comprehend true force. In a sudden flash of inspiration, he had immediately grasped the essence of force. Once his injuries healed, he pondered it in depth and remarkably comprehended both Meridian Severing force and Spiral force in one stroke. Spiral force was not hard to explain. After all, it was the signature technique of the Flying Crane Martial Arts Hall. Lu Yuan had practiced it for at least two years. He was already an obvious force martial artist with decent talent, so it would not be strange for him to develop Spiral force at any point. But what about Meridian Severing force? That was a secret transmission of the Meridian Severing Fist. How could anyone master Meridian Severing force without knowing the core mnemonic of the Meridian Severing Fist? Could Lu Yuan truly have comprehended Meridian Severing force simply by taking a strike to his heart meridian and experiencing it firsthand? If so, Lu Yuan's talent was downright terrifying! However, Lu Yuan—or rather, Lu Changsheng—knew very well. What sudden flash of inspiration? What sudden comprehension of force? It was merely force he had unleashed offhandedly. With Lu Changsheng's comprehension, let alone hidden force, if he were willing, he could probably completely master transforming force, pellet force, and astral force in just a few months. Or perhaps even in a single month. After all, transforming force, pellet force, and astral force were ultimately just techniques. They did not require exceptional physical fitness; as long as one grasped their essence, one could master them. Yet Lu Changsheng had not bothered to spend any effort on transforming force, pellet force, or astral force. Because he had long since seen through the nature of "martial arts." They could never step into the realm of the supernatural. They were merely arts, unable to become a Dao. And what Lu Changsheng needed was a Martial Dao, not martial arts. Since they offered no path to the supernatural, Lu Changsheng naturally would not waste his time. What he cared about was still his self-created "Limit Martial Dao style." "Master, my body is currently weak. Unleashing hidden force also requires sufficient physical constitution to generate more bursts. "I would like to purchase some restorative tonics. I wonder if Master has any reliable channels?" Lu Changsheng spoke plainly. "Restorative tonics... Call this number and go to the Ancient Herb Shop on the west side of the city. Their medicinal ingredients are authentic. Aside from being expensive, they should be able to satisfy all your needs." Lu Changsheng glanced at the phone number and committed it to memory. "By the way, now that you've developed inner force, let us two, master and disciple, cross hands." Fei Qianliu stood up. In the martial arts circle, "crossing hands" referred to testing the application of force and the control of one's body. It was different from a life-or-death battle. Yet it could still determine victory or defeat in broad strokes. Generally, masters and disciples or friends would cross hands to measure each other's skill. "Cross hands?" "All right, let's give it a try." Lu Changsheng nodded. With that, both men stood opposite each other. Fei Qianliu had an upright posture and a robust physique, exuding considerable presence. Lu Changsheng, on the other hand, was calm and collected. The two crossed hands and began gradually applying force. "Hm?" Fei Qianliu was somewhat surprised. His strength was actually substantial, and having practiced the Flying Crane style for over twenty years, he was on the verge of peering into transforming force. Yet he could not push his disciple, Lu Yuan, an inch? So Fei Qianliu increased his force further. Eighty percent, ninety percent, a hundred percent! Fei Qianliu exerted all his physical strength, but Lu Yuan still did not budge in the slightest. At this point, Fei Qianliu sensed something was amiss. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Be careful. Master is going to use Spiral force..." With that, Fei Qianliu instantly unleashed a burst of Spiral force. Once hidden force was unleashed, a martial artist's strength surged drastically. A burst of Spiral force erupted, striking Lu Changsheng in an instant. And then... there was no 'then.' Lu Changsheng remained completely motionless. That burst of Spiral force was like a clay ox plunging into the sea; sinking into Lu Changsheng's body, it failed to produce the slightest effect. "Lu Yuan, didn't you feel my Spiral force?" Fei Qianliu could not help asking. "Spiral force?" "Master, so that was Spiral force? My palm went slightly numb just now, and I assumed it was just from holding the posture for too long. So that was Spiral force unleashed by Master..." Lu Changsheng answered truthfully. Of course, he actually knew that Fei Qianliu had unleashed Spiral force. After all, Lu Changsheng possessed the consciousness of an Earth Saint. How could he fail to notice mere Spiral force? It was just that Lu Changsheng also wanted to see the true power of Fei Qianliu's twenty years of "cultivation" in Spiral force. Unfortunately, the Spiral force only made Lu Changsheng's palm tingle slightly. Upon entering Lu Changsheng's body, it vanished without a trace, stopped dead by his muscles, membranes, bones, and blood. It posed no threat whatsoever to Lu Changsheng. This was the level of Lu Changsheng's Limit Martial Dao style at 8% progress in its primary growth phase. A mere 8% progress seemed far from the human limit, yet this 8% physical constitution was already astonishingly formidable—so formidable that Fei Qianliu's twenty years of "cultivation" in Spiral force could not even harm him. "What did you say?" "Your palm just went slightly numb, and that was it?" Fei Qianliu's eyes were filled with disbelief. He simply could not accept it. His Spiral force carried twenty years of cultivation; usually, a single burst of Spiral force could drop a bull dead. How could it fail to do anything to Lu Yuan? "Could it really be that youth beats experience?" "Lu Yuan, hit me with a punch and let's see." Fei Qianliu still found it hard to believe. Could something have gone wrong? Lu Changsheng nodded. He threw a punch straight out. It was an ordinary straight punch, but it was blisteringly fast—so fast that even Fei Qianliu's well-honed neural reflexes could not keep up with Lu Changsheng's speed. The strike landed squarely on his body. Lu Changsheng had held back most of his strength. Yet even with merely a fraction of that power, Fei Qianliu's large frame was sent flying backward. Thud! With a dull crash, Fei Qianliu hit the floor hard. "What was that sound?" "It came from Master's room." "Junior Brother Lu went in there just now. Could it be..." "Master, no!" On the second floor of the Flying Crane Martial Arts Hall, several senior martial brothers and sisters of Lu Changsheng were paying close attention to the master's room. They all knew Lu Yuan had gone inside to meet their master. Hearing the dull impact now, anxiety gripped their hearts. They guessed that Master had likely grown furious and was "punishing" Lu Yuan. Lu Yuan had only just recovered from his injuries; he couldn't afford to be hurt again. Thus, the senior martial brothers and sisters immediately pushed the door open, shouting, "Master, no!" Then, they froze. What were they looking at? The person lying on the floor wasn't Lu Yuan, but Master Fei Qianliu. Fei Qianliu even looked utterly disheveled, clutching his chest and coughing repeatedly. "Master, what happened?" "What's wrong with you? Weren't you punishing Junior Brother Lu?" Senior Sister Xiang was dumbfounded and could not help asking. "Quick, help me up." Fei Qianliu stumbled to his feet with his disciples' support. His chest ached terribly, but he was not severely injured. He naturally knew Lu Yuan had held back his power. Otherwise, that single punch would have caved in his chest, killing him outright! In other words, Lu Yuan could kill him with a single punch without even unleashing hidden force? This felt absurd to Fei Qianliu. It was practically an Arabian Nights fairy tale. Yet it was reality! "Lu Yuan, how did your strength suddenly become so great?" "And your punching speed—how can it be so fast?" "You didn't even unleash hidden force, yet you nearly punched me to death! What... what on earth is going on?" Fei Qianliu blurted out a flurry of questions without thinking. However, to Senior Sister Xiang and the others, those words were like a clap of thunder, churning up turbulent waves in their hearts. "Master, did you say Junior Brother Lu Yuan unleashed hidden force?" "Junior Brother Lu almost killed you with a single punch just now?" "How is that possible? Not long ago, Junior Brother Lu was nearly beaten to death in the Martial Dao Tournament..." The disciples of the Flying Crane Martial Arts Hall found it hard to believe. This was simply too appalling. It sounded completely fantastical. Seeing everyone's stunned expressions, Lu Changsheng's mind stirred. To condense the Martial Dao, having great individual strength was not enough. Even if he stepped into the supernatural realm, that would merely be carving out a personal cultivation path. To condense the Martial Dao, he had to spread it throughout this world and establish tremendous influence. Only then, through the collective effort of many, could a true Martial Dao be condensed! If Lu Changsheng had plenty of time, he could develop it slowly, gradually expanding the influence of the Limit Martial Dao style. However, he did not have much time. His plan was to condense the Martial Dao within three years. Therefore, not only did his own cultivation need to be swift, but the spread of the Limit Martial Dao style's influence had to be equally fast. That meant he needed helpers. He needed many like-minded helpers. And right in front of him, weren't there many potential helpers? 'All I need to do is create a martial arts style, continuously defeat major martial arts masters, and expand the influence of the Limit Martial Dao style. 'As for growing and organizing the Limit Martial Dao style, the people around me will naturally find ways to handle it. 'And as for my own persona, a martial fanatic suits me best! 'If one isn't a martial fanatic, how could one found a sect or create a supernatural Martial Dao?' Lu Changsheng had already made up his mind. "Master, senior brothers and sisters, you should all know that in the Martial Dao Tournament, someone injured my heart meridian with Meridian Severing force, nearly killing me. "During that time, I hovered on the brink of life and death every day, which made me think a great deal. "I faintly glimpsed the essence of martial arts. Whether hidden force, transforming force, or even pellet force and astral force, what of them? In essence, all these forces are merely techniques. "Even if one achieves pellet force or astral force, can one stop bullets? No! Not just bullets—one cannot even stop scissors or cudgels. "Then what do we martial artists strive for through decades of bitter practice? "After decades of hard training, a single kitchen knife can still take down a martial artist. That is not what a martial artist is in my mind, nor is it what the Martial Dao should be." Everyone's eyes widened, waiting to hear what Lu Yuan was going to say next. Yet these words struck a chord deep inside them. Indeed, what was the use of practicing martial arts bitterly for decades? A kitchen knife or a bullet could reduce decades of effort to nothing. It was a tragedy. An astral force grandmaster had once remarked that a martial artist dying to guns and cannons was a tragedy. Seeing the somber expressions on their faces, Lu Changsheng's countenance turned solemn, and he said gravely, "Therefore, between life and death, I gained an enlightenment. That enlightenment was like the legendary Buddha attaining enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree. "I have comprehended the Dao. "I have created the Limit Martial Dao! We train no force, focusing solely on tapping into the human body and enhancing our physical constitution. In the future, we can even trigger secondary and tertiary growth phases. "I believe that one day, we martial artists will no longer need to fear guns and cannons, and our decades of bitter training will not end as a joke! "I also believe that my Limit Martial Dao style is the true Martial Dao!" As Lu Changsheng's voice fell, silence blanketed the room, broken only by heavy breaths. "Created a Limit Martial Dao style, the true Martial Dao?" "Training no force, only enhancing physical constitution, and fearing no guns or cannons in the future?" "You're crazy. Lu Yuan, you've truly gone mad..." Finally, several senior brothers came to their senses. They stared at Lu Yuan as if looking at a lunatic. Fearing no guns or cannons? That was a dream countless martial artists yearned for. Yet who could achieve it? No matter how brilliantly gifted a martial artist was, even an astral force grandmaster wouldn't dare claim invulnerability to gunfire. Now Lu Yuan, a mere obvious force martial artist—or even if he was currently a hidden force practitioner—dared to claim he had created a martial dao immune to firearms? Was that not the joke of the century? It was as if an elementary school student had suddenly announced they invented calculus. Utterly absurd! Lu Changsheng smiled. He naturally knew that empty words wouldn't convince anyone. However, martial artists were actually quite easy to deal with. In scholarship there is no first, but in martial arts there is no second. Whether it worked or not, a single bout would settle it. "Senior brothers and sisters, plenty among you have developed hidden force. "Counting from the very beginning, barely over a month has passed since I created the Limit Martial Dao style. "I will not use hidden force. I will spar with you using purely physical strength. Then everyone will know whether I have gone mad or am simply fishing for fame. "What do you say, senior brothers and sisters?" Lu Yuan's gaze swept across the crowd. "Fine, I'll go first." Senior Sister Xiang was straightforward and stepped forward immediately. She didn't believe Lu Yuan's nonsense for a second. Creating a Limit Martial Dao style? What an absolute joke! Senior Sister Xiang was increasingly convinced that after nearly dying in the Martial Dao Tournament, Lu Yuan had suffered trauma and become mentally unhinged. Once she beat him until he was picking his teeth off the floor, he would naturally sober up and stop talking nonsense. "Master, what do you think..." Senior Sister Xiang turned her gaze toward Fei Qianliu. Lu Changsheng looked toward Fei Qianliu as well. "Very well. A spar between fellow disciples should stop at a touch!" Fei Qianliu nodded in agreement. His own defeat had been rather baffling. Now that another disciple was stepping up, he could observe from the sidelines and see what Lu Yuan's so-called Limit Martial Dao style was truly about. So Lu Yuan and Senior Sister Xiang walked out of the room into the second-floor training hall. The hall was spacious, offering plenty of room to move freely. While framed as a spar, it was practically a genuine combat bout! "Isn't that Senior Brother Lu Yuan? The one who almost got beaten to death in the first round of the Martial Dao Tournament?" "I heard it wasn't that Senior Brother Lu was too weak, but that his opponent was too strong. Didn't his opponent end up taking third place in the tournament?" "Right, Senior Brother Lu lost to the tournament's third-place finisher, so it wasn't an unjust defeat." "They say Senior Sister Xiang has already developed hidden force and is exceptionally strong. If Senior Brother Lu Yuan spars with her, I'm afraid he's in for another beating..." Many students from the hall stood off to the side, looking very excited. After all, genuine fights between martial arts experts were rare to witness. Not to mention Senior Sister Xiang was a hidden force master. They all wanted to see just how miraculous this so-called hidden force was. Lu Changsheng and Senior Sister Xiang stood in the center of the hall. With a solemn expression, Senior Sister Xiang said, "Fists and feet have no eyes. If you can't take it, concede." Lu Changsheng nodded. "Senior Sister, feel free to go all out. By no means hold back; hidden force cannot hurt me." Seeing Lu Changsheng's confident expression, Senior Sister Xiang felt a surge of resolve and decided not to hold back. She needed to teach Lu Yuan a proper lesson so he would wake up and face reality. Whoosh. Senior Sister Xiang moved. Though separated by several paces, she lunged forward, closing the distance to Lu Changsheng in an instant. Lu Changsheng did not dodge. In truth, in his eyes, Senior Sister Xiang was very slow. What did that little bit of speed amount to? Dodging her would have been effortless. However, this was the perfect moment to showcase his Limit Martial Dao style. Therefore, he chose not to evade, standing quietly in place. Smack! Senior Sister Xiang struck Lu Changsheng with an open palm. They were fellow disciples after all, and this was merely a spar, not a life-or-death battle. Hence, Senior Sister Xiang only struck Lu Changsheng's arm without targeting any vital spots. Even so, once her Spiral force entered his body, it could instantly numb Lu Yuan's arm. Yet having taken a strike of Spiral force, Lu Yuan showed no reaction whatsoever. He even raised his arm and said with a smile, "Senior Sister Xiang, this little bit of strength isn't enough." "What?" Senior Sister Xiang's heart jolted. She stared fixedly at Lu Yuan's arm. She could see clearly: Lu Yuan's arm wasn't broken, nor was it red or swollen, and its movement wasn't hindered in the least. It was as though her Spiral force had done nothing at all. Yet unleashing a burst of Spiral force took a heavy toll on her stamina; how could she not know how potent a strike of Spiral force was? "Again!" Gritting her teeth, Senior Sister Xiang shifted her palm into a fist and punched hard toward Lu Yuan's abdomen. The abdomen was one of the softest areas. If penetrated by hidden force, it could damage the internal organs. Yet Lu Changsheng remained motionless, letting Senior Sister Xiang strike his abdomen. Still, he was completely unfazed. Having unleashed two bursts of hidden force in succession, Senior Sister Xiang's stamina was heavily depleted. Yet the shock in her heart far outweighed her physical exhaustion. Two full bursts of Spiral force! There was no mistaking it. How could Lu Yuan act as if nothing had happened, without the slightest reaction? "Senior Sister Xiang, my turn." Lu Changsheng smiled faintly. Then he threw a punch. Boom! Lu Changsheng had held back most of his strength for this punch. Even so, Senior Sister Xiang was sent flying as though struck by a colossal battering ram, crashing heavily onto the floor. For a moment, the entire training hall fell dead silent. Many could not believe their eyes. Had Senior Sister Xiang and Lu Yuan really settled the match just like that? Why did it look somewhat staged? From the spectators' perspective, it looked entirely fake. Senior Sister Xiang's two attacks seemed limp and weak, and then Lu Yuan sent her flying with a single punch. It was too fake. Even if she were throwing the fight on purpose, it shouldn't look this staged! Lu Yuan glanced at the surrounding students, seemingly aware of their thoughts, and said with a chuckle, "To you, it looks like Senior Sister Xiang barely used any strength, but she actually struck with hidden force—it was simply blocked by me. "There are so many of you. Why don't you all come up and try? You can all come at me together. "I want to take on dozens!" Lu Changsheng's gaze swept insolently across the students. Those who came to practice martial arts at the Flying Crane Martial Arts Hall were naturally full of youthful vigor. How could they tolerate such an audacious look from Lu Yuan? "Get him!" These students didn't care about "martial virtue." After all, they hadn't even stepped through the threshold to become true martial artists; they were purely enthusiasts. In a brawl against one person, why would they line up one by one? Thus, a whole crowd—dozens of people—charged straight at Lu Yuan. Hall Master Fei Qianliu did not intervene either. Traditional martial masters, even those who had developed hidden force, actually feared being ganged up on. Once swarmed, they were more likely than not to be beaten half to death. After all, the number of times one could unleash hidden force was limited. After just a few bursts, one's stamina would be exhausted. One person fighting several dozen people? That was suicide! Perhaps only a transforming force martial master, having reached the realm where not even a feather could land upon them without being deflected, could handle being mobbed. Even then, numbers could not be overwhelming. Otherwise, attrition alone would wear down a transforming force master to death. Fei Qianliu also wanted to see how Lu Yuan's "Limit Martial Dao style" would fare against a mob. In truth, Fei Qianliu was already deeply shaken. He had even begun to waver in his belief in martial arts. When the Spiral force he had relied on for decades proved utterly ineffective against a young man like Lu Yuan, the convictions in his heart began to crumble. Right now, in the hall. Faced with the mob of dozens, Lu Changsheng remained exceptionally calm. "Come on then!" His Limit Martial Dao style was, in essence, an all-around enhancement of physical constitution. It bolstered muscles, skin and membranes, bones, blood, and more. In other words, it amplified strength, speed, durability, and resistance to damage. In short, it was an all-around elevation of physical attributes rather than practicing flashy yet ineffective forces. No matter how strong force was, could it match a fist the size of a sandbag? Dozens of students swarmed him, raining fists and whip kicks down on Lu Yuan's body. Lu Changsheng shoved forward with both hands. Whoosh! Over a dozen students were shoved back instantly, crashing to the ground. At the same time, his movements were extraordinarily nimble. Weaving through the crowd, he grabbed students one by one and hurled them away. Within a single minute, dozens of students were sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain. Yet Lu Changsheng stood composed in the middle of the hall, entirely unscathed. "Who else?" Lu Changsheng swept his eyes across them. All the students lowered their heads. Even several senior brothers looked away. "Senior brothers, aren't you going to step in?" Under Lu Changsheng's piercing gaze, the senior brothers hung their heads, not daring to step onto the floor. This was simply terrifying. Normally, taking on ten people at once was already formidable. Now Lu Yuan had fought several dozen by himself? Judging by his stamina, taking on a hundred probably wouldn't even be difficult for him. Could Lu Yuan's so-called "Limit Martial Dao style" truly be this miraculous? "Never mind. Junior Brother Lu's Limit Martial Dao style is indeed formidable. We are no match for you, so we won't embarrass ourselves." "Indeed, even Senior Sister Xiang lost. Going out there would make us a laughingstock." "Junior Brother Lu, your speed, strength, and durability just now were all terrifying. Is that truly the effect of your self-created Limit Martial Dao style?" All at once, the senior brothers grew intensely curious about the "Limit Martial Dao style." They knew full well how little time had passed since Lu Yuan was injured in the tournament. On top of that, he had needed time to recuperate. Even if Lu Yuan had created the Limit Martial Dao style, he couldn't have practiced it for long. In such a brief period, his physical constitution had transformed completely, becoming far more formidable than even those blessed with innate divine strength. If that was truly the case, the Limit Martial Dao style was terrifying indeed. "Of course it's true." "Why? Do you want to learn it, senior brothers?" Lu Changsheng asked with a faint smile. "Well..." The senior brothers glanced out of the corners of their eyes at their master, Fei Qianliu. They were official disciples of the Flying Crane Martial Arts Hall. They studied the Flying Crane style and practiced Spiral force. They could not casually switch to practicing martial arts of another style—unless their master gave his consent. "Master." Lu Changsheng bowed respectfully to Fei Qianliu. Fei Qianliu's mind was reeling in shock. He even felt the convictions he had clung to all his life crumbling away. For the first time, he felt that the force he had painstakingly cultivated for decades was utterly futile. "Lu Yuan, is your Limit Martial Dao style truly so miraculous?" Fei Qianliu asked. "Master, you will know once you try it. "In fact, not just Master, but senior brothers, senior sisters, the students of the hall, and even ordinary people can practice it. "Moreover, it won't take long; you should be able to feel noticeable results in a month. "Master, why don't you try it for a month?" Lu Changsheng was full of confidence. One month! He believed that once Fei Qianliu and the people in the hall practiced the Limit Martial Dao style for a month, they would be unable to tear themselves away from it. They would surely become utterly obsessed with the Limit Martial Dao style. Naturally, ordinary people could never practice the Limit Martial Dao style at Lu Changsheng's speed. After all, their consciousness was not nearly as powerful as his, unable to control every single organ and every inch of flesh. Yet Lu Changsheng had anticipated this long ago. Adapting from his own circumstances, he had devised several specific movements. Practicing these movements daily could stimulate stomach digestion and promote the absorption of nutrients throughout the body. The efficiency would be around one percent of Lu Changsheng's own practice. Yet one must not look down on that single percent. How immense was Lu Changsheng's progress? Even if an ordinary person's efficiency was only one percent of his, it would still be frightening. Furthermore, beginners might operate at only one percent efficiency, but after immersing themselves in the Limit Martial Dao style for a time and learning to consciously control organs like the stomach, their efficiency would surely increase. At that point, reaching one-tenth of Lu Changsheng's efficiency or even higher was entirely possible. "Very well. One month. I'll try it. "And as for the rest of you, anyone who wants to learn may try it as well. "However, the Limit Martial Dao style must be kept secret. No one is permitted to teach it to outsiders without permission!" After hesitating, Fei Qianliu ultimately agreed. In any case, a month was not long. He only needed to test it himself to know the efficacy of this so-called Limit Martial Dao style. Not just Fei Qianliu—Senior Sister Xiang, several senior brothers, and the dozens of students whom Lu Changsheng had knocked to the ground all expressed their desire to try practicing the Limit Martial Dao style. Lu Changsheng smiled. In barely a month or two since creating the Limit Martial Dao style, dozens of people were already practicing it. He believed that after a month, these dozens of people would become seeds for the Limit Martial Dao style, helping him spread it far and wide! Provided, of course, that it yielded results—and excellent results at that. And so, using the one million in compensation paid by the tournament organizers, Lu Changsheng went to the Ancient Herb Shop to purchase restorative tonics. From then on, he practiced the Limit Martial Dao style every day at the Flying Crane Martial Arts Hall while teaching the hall's members along the way. Time flew, and a month hurried past. Today was the final day of that one-month period. On the second floor of the Flying Crane Martial Arts Hall, dozens of people gathered together. Not a single person was absent. Whether the Limit Martial Dao style could flourish—and perhaps even replace the traditional martial arts of force cultivation—might all depend on today!