Yang Yan stepped out of the Martial Arts Hall, alone on his way to the appointment with the Martial Arts Association.

As soon as he left the Martial Arts Hall, there was a black Floating Car quietly waiting, and a young man in a strong suit, vibrant and energetic, was standing beside it.

“Mr. Yang, Master has sent me to pick you up.” The young man opened the car door to the side, respectfully said.

“Ah, it’s Qiu,” Yang Yan nodded and got into the car.

Qiu Xi drove the Floating Car smoothly and began giving Yang Yan a brief overview of the purpose of today’s meeting and the participants, also noting that it was related to the city hall.

In the end, hesitantly looking into the rearview mirror, Qiu Xi asked, “Mr. Yang, may I ask how Brother Yang Yao is doing recently?”

As an experienced old-timer, Yang Yan could easily see through Qiu Xi’s little schemes and teased, “What, still not convinced after losing to him last time?”

Qiu Xi quickly replied, “Not at all! In Martial Arts, a loss is a loss, and to lose by half a punch is still to lose! It’s just that I haven’t seen Brother Yang Yao for a while, and I’d like to have another bout with him.”

Recalling the past, Yang Yan laughed and said,

“Then just send him a message and challenge him directly!

Between Martial Artists, fists do the talking, no need for beating around the bush — too indirect!

In my youth, I loved to challenge others, made quite a few friends along the way, fighting our way through and also helping each other. They were rivals as well as confidants.”

With Mr. Yang’s blessing, Qiu Xi nodded solemnly, “Qiu Xi understands!”

Then there was silence all the way.

Watching the changing scenery outside the window, Yang Yan felt a vague worry in his heart; the appearance of that master would disrupt the whole layout of East 3 District.

He hoped he could pass his last few years peacefully.

But if it really wasn’t feasible, he would have no choice but to take a few disciples, including Ji Jingqiu, and seek refuge with a few old friends.

Just at this moment.

Perhaps speaking of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives.

Yang Yan’s smart terminal received a private message.

It was an audio message, the voice rough and aged, brief in words, yet it sounded gleefully malicious:

“Old thing, are you dead yet?”

Yang Yan narrowed his eyes, feigned a sigh with a desolate voice, “Soon.”

The other side went silent for a moment.

After a while, the other party grunted, “A nuisance that lasts a thousand years, you old troublemaker should be able to hold on. Don’t die too soon, otherwise you won’t be able to witness my disciple making a grand killing!”

Yang Yan, surprised, said: “You’ve taken on a disciple as well?”

On the end of the communication was one of his many old friends.

The two of them had many conflicts in the past, many disputes and almost parted ways because of it; their entire history was forged through storms. In the end, the other went on the journey of the Heavenly Road, and he married his wife, had a son…

But as one ages, the disputes and arguments of the past years become the deepest bonds of friendship between the two.

The person on the other end spoke lightly, “Yeah, took on a lucky disciple, touched the Heavenly Person Door just seven days after Opening Veins.”

Without any outward expression, Yang Yan said: “That’s impressive, touching the Heavenly Person Door in just seven days? More excellent than you and I back in the day.”

“Heh, just luck,” the other end said nonchalantly, but with a proud undertone, “How have you been lately?”

“I’ve accepted a disciple in East Three Bright Star,” Yang Yan continued in the vein of his old friend’s lead, “As for luck…”

Thinking back on Ji Jingqiu’s life so far, Yang Yan couldn’t help but sigh, “This child probably offended the goddess of good fortune before birth; was abandoned by fate from the start.”

The other end was silent for a while before consoling, “There are countless unlucky people in this world; you don’t have to aid everyone you come across.”

Yang Yan knew his old friend thought he had taken on a disciple like Liuzi and Wei’er.

“In a few days, I’ll be passing through East Three Bright Star, let’s gather, while you’re still alive.”

Yang Yan did not expose his old friend’s excuse for just passing by; he was amused internally and asked, “How many Limits has your disciple Broken now?”

“Reached the Second Limit in three months, using the Qi Blood Rushing Method, the Five Limits are hopeful.”

“Hmm, not bad,” Yang Yan nodded slightly.

He began to ponder.

No matter which Breaking Limit method, the first hurdle is usually the easiest.

Based on his understanding of sharpness and his estimation of Jingqiu, he felt that Jingqiu could break through the first layer in about a week.

By then, combined with Jingqiu’s already comparable constitution to the First Layer Breaking Limit before his own breakthrough.

In a fight with this old friend’s disciple, Jingqiu would not be at a disadvantage.

It was time then to bolster Jingqiu’s combat skills.

It seems this old friend will not be able to beat him while he’s alive.

As for after death…

Who can defeat a dead man?

Yang Yan smiled silently.

Through the rearview mirror, Qiu Xi noticed that Mr. Yang seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood tonight.

Moreover, compared to last time, Mr. Yang looked much older, he wondered if it was the impact of the injury from last time.

But at the same time, he also seemed much more relaxed, as if he had let go of a heavy burden.

Qiu Xi was unable to tell if this was good or bad.

Upon reaching the headquarters of the Martial Arts Association.

With Qiu Xi leading the way upfront, many who saw Yang Yan along the way would clasp their fists in greeting.

The last time’s event had a massive impact, and if it wasn’t for Yang Yan’s rescue, the Martial Arts Association of Taian City would not only have to close shop but also have several members taken in.

Yang Yan was almost ushered to the chief seat all the way, but after multiple refusals, he sat in the seat closest to it.

The meeting was tedious and dull.

Yang Yan squinted throughout the entire session, it made him sleepy, uninterested, hoping to hear some insider information, but it all turned out to be meaningless worries and disputes.

It was only at the end that someone proposed, in light of the opportunity, the Martial Arts Schools of Taian City should unite and pool all resources to fully cultivate a few of the most outstanding Martial Artists.

When the time came, if that person really opened a dojo, they would send them over, and after they had completed their training and returned, they would repay their hometown.

Yang Yan agreed wholeheartedly in his heart, and was almost ready to directly say that his disciple Ji Jingqiu deserved a spot.

After the meeting was adjourned, Yang Yan was about to leave, but he was personally invited by the president of the Martial Arts Association to another meeting room.

There were people inside, who had been waiting for a long time.

“Mr. Yang, it’s a pleasure to meet you, I’ve long admired your name! I am from the city hall, you can just call me Secretary Zhang.”

The man with the gold-rimmed glasses greeted him with a smile and asked,

“You have a disciple named Ji Jingqiu, correct?”

“The city hall would like to ask for a small favor from him.”

…

…

That evening Ji Jingqiu did not return home but stayed at the Martial Arts Hall.

After dinner, he practiced a few sets of Stances to digest the food.

Given his current condition, stance and breathing skills stimulated his qi and blood less effectively.

If he wanted to continue stimulating the circulation of qi and blood, he would need higher-level body skill cultivation techniques.

After Pile Skill comes the cultivation techniques of body skills.

But he had no immediate plans to step into the True Seed Realm.

Resting for a moment, Ji Jingqiu opened the terminal and accessed the Martial Artist forum.

He had stumbled upon a Martial Arts forum dedicated to the Reserve Power Breaking Method, where many practitioners who followed this method exchanged experiences.

Among them, many had chosen the Ten Thousand Ancient Blade.

This was a pleasant surprise for him, and he was ready to learn from the collective wisdom.

[Little tricks for cultivating sharpness and recovering heart qi: Listen to music! It’s well known that music can instill courage and hope!]

[The first barrier of the Reserve Power Method is easy to break, but don’t celebrate too soon, the real challenge is yet to come!]

[The Method of Cultivating Sharpness has to involve fighting to maintain sharpness!]

Ji Jingqiu marveled, there’s a teacher among every three, netizens are indeed awesome!

What an overnight depression cloud rip-off.

While others listen to music and get depressed, we listen to music and feel inspired!

He also wholeheartedly agreed with the notion that the first barrier was easy to break.

He had tried sharpening his blade last night and early this morning.

The key to the Ten Thousand Ancient Blade lies in using one’s own heart as the whetstone.

During sharpening, one’s heart qi will be worn down until unable to endure any longer and stop.

This diminishing process is very uncomfortable and similar to spiritual cultivation in the end; various negative emotions and thoughts arise tumultuously as if plagued by inner demons.

If one overreaches, it can easily lead to irreversible damage.

Fortunately, Ji Jingqiu’s heart qi might not be the highest, but it was certainly resilient.

This morning, he had been sharpening for four straight hours.

Just for this, Ji Jingqiu felt that Master Yang’s discussion on sharpness yesterday was spot-on.

If sharpness means never bowing, then Ji Jingqiu, who for sixteen years never once lost heart qi or conceded defeat, does not think he’d lose to his peers.

The spirits within his heart may not be soaring high, but they can certainly withstand the most wear.

Moreover, he had an external support system.

When his heart qi was completely consumed, Fatty Hu would take over.

Although Fatty Hu’s efficiency in sharpening was far inferior to his own.

It did not contend with the issue of wearing down heart qi.

To prevent Fatty Hu from slacking off on the job, Ji Jingqiu assigned a new role to the Bodhi Tree—supervisor.

In a sense, both Fatty Hu and the Bodhi Tree were manifestations of his spirit.

Therefore, Fatty Hu’s hard work was equivalent to his own effort.

Perfect.

At this rate, he felt he would soon be ready to attempt his first breakthrough.

Perhaps…

Tomorrow morning?

Ji Jingqiu continued scrolling through posts.

[Reserve Power Method’s first breakthrough is indeed fast; I broke through the first layer of Heavenly Barrier on the seventh day, thinking I was a genius, but then the recovery of sharpness hit me like a ton of bricks, cultivating sharpness is too difficult…]

[Fight! Cultivating sharpness through battle is the fastest.]

[Seven days? You’re indeed not a genius; I broke through the first layer of the Heavenly Barrier on the third day.]

[I achieved a breakthrough on the first day (fist salute).]

…

Ji Jingqiu was dumbfounded by these messages, realizing with a population of a hundred billion in the Federation, it was filled with heroes, never lacking so-called geniuses.

East Three Bright Star was too small by comparison.

However.

As he read further down.

He became more silent.

[Three days? Isn’t the first barrier supposed to be breached in one day?]

[All I remember is that after opening the Heavenly Gate, I simply slashed through the first layer of the Heavenly Barrier.]

[Haha, is that all? In my time, I used the Life and Death Skill to unravel the mystery of life and death in one day, breaking through the Fifth Level of Limit Breaking, reaching the summit!]

[Forgive my bluntness, but the Reserve Power Breaking Method has its merits too; back in the day, my undiminished sharpness allowed me to break through five barriers consecutively, and countless netizens hailed me as a great master!]

[Shame to admit, back in my day, I only broke through four barriers with my sharpness…]

Ji Jingqiu fell into contemplation.

Where did this thread go wrong?

Caught off guard.

It’s been too long since he surfed the web, forgetting that bragging online isn’t a crime.

Ji Jingqiu silently went back and withdrew his previous likes.

Then he left a comment:

[I’m embarrassed to say that I will open the Heavenly Gate this afternoon, and it will probably be tomorrow morning before I can break through the one layer of the Heavenly Barrier.]

That said, he closed the forum, his expression contemplative.

Hoping that someday, the internet will be full of honest people like him!

Ji Jingqiu put down the terminal and entered into meditation.

While there were many boasting netizens online, some posts were still quite interesting.

He planned to try one or two of them.

For instance, one post said that a master who had modified the Ten Thousand Ancient Blade left an Easter egg for those who came after.

Martial artists can inscribe a phrase onto the blade using unwavering heart qi, as a self-encouragement.

In the Inner World of Ji Jingqiu, he sat in meditation, looking up.

Beyond the Pure Land, resembling a troubled evil world, a Bitter Sea intrusion, truly unbearable to witness.

He looked forward to the day the Bodhi Tree grew limitlessly, its crown reaching the sky, by then this place might boast the grandeur of sun and moon traveling through the leaves.

He hoped that on that day, the sky would no longer be falling Heavenly Fire but a constellation of stars, with sun and moon hanging high.

He still liked watching the stars on summer nights.

Ji Jingqiu, in one go, inscribed eight characters onto the blade—

Pursue this arduous journey to reach the Morning Star.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep