Chapter 63: 62 Duties, Part 2

“I understand now, it means that to judge the strength or weakness of a martial arts master, you can’t just look at their overall grade; you must also consider the concentration of their martial arts training.

Many people focus primarily on the number of times they break through limits.

In reality, there’s a lot of variability in this. Some masters focus all their breakthroughs on one area, so the intensity of that area becomes their true grade.

But some masters train evenly throughout their body, and in a direct confrontation at the same grade, they definitely can’t compete with the former.”

Zhang Rongfang suddenly realized.

“That’s exactly it.” Wang Bude smiled, “Therefore, martial arts are generally divided into three levels: high, medium, and low. High-level martial arts can break through limits more often. Medium and low-level martial arts have fewer grade limits.”

“More breakthroughs mean we can strengthen more parts of our body.”

Zhang Rongfang nodded understandingly.

“Moreover, each breakthrough enhances the entire body to some extent, which is also the key to how high-level martial arts distance themselves from other levels,” Wang Bude continued.

“Understood,” Zhang Rongfang replied in a deep voice.

As he spoke, an idea suddenly struck him.

“I have a thought. If someone creates a cultivation technique that breaks the limit of just one finger and breaks through to a high grade, does that make them a master?”

“Of course it does,” Wang Bude laughed, “because it’s impossible for a person to break through a single point to a high grade. The whole will always pose limitations.”

“Limitations?”

“Yes, if there really was such a person, and he only trained breaking the limit of a single finger, when he reaches Grade One, he must consider the intensity of the palm connected to that finger.

At Grade Three, he must consider the strength of the wrist.

At Grade Five, he must consider the strength of the arm, back, and the whole body.

Our body is an integrated whole. A single part’s strength must be supported by the rest to break through to higher limits.”

“Otherwise, he can’t possibly reach a high grade. Because even at low grades, it would entirely impede him. Even if he ruins his finger without training the palm or wrist, it’s useless.”

Wang Bude stated firmly.

Zhang Rongfang had an epiphany.

The money spent was really worth it!

Even Teacher Zhang Xuan didn’t explain it this thoroughly back in the day. Wang Bude truly deserves the title of ’Master’!

“So, Master Wang, may I ask?” Zhang Rongfang’s attitude straightened up at this point.

“If someone could refine all low-grade martial arts, training every part of themselves to the ultimate breakthrough.

Could such breakthroughs at that grade contend against a high-grade master specializing in just one high-level martial art?”

“You must first understand one thing,” Wang Bude slightly shook his head, “High-level martial arts not only have more breakthroughs, but they also foster inner nurturing and body strengthening. It’s a step-by-step process.

The person you mentioned did exist before. That was a former Blacklist master, a human weapon named Han Yong County.

This person had extraordinary talent and unprecedented skill. Limited by the Spirit Court from learning high-level martial arts, in anger, he vowed to only train low-grade martial arts. And so he practiced thirteen low-level martial arts to perfection.

At that time, he boasted an iron skin and unparalleled strength, extremely domineering. He was renowned as the ultimate Grade Thirteen master.

But in the end, he only lived to be twenty-seven years old. He died when his heart ruptured during a duel.”

“Was it due to hidden injuries from practicing martial arts?” Zhang Rongfang frowned, his heart skipped a beat. He seemed to be on the same path now.

“Not just that. It was more because he lacked the nurturing and strengthening aspects of high-level martial arts, while his internal organs had to support his extremely domineering explosive martial arts.

Even with his high talent, his fate was already predetermined.”

Wang Bude lamented.

Hearing this, Zhang Rongfang already knew the answer.

He connected it to the scene where his life attribute decreased after mastering the Limit-Breaking Eagle Claw Skill.

He seemed to understand that, like himself, the Blacklist master Han Yong County had practiced too many cultivation techniques, leading to a reduction in life attributes to a certain level.

Ultimately, causing his sudden death.

’In that case, as long as I directly enhance my life attributes and stabilize them at a specific value, wouldn’t I reach a level even stronger than Han Yong County?!’

’No… Is it not more straightforward to directly elevate high-level martial arts?’

’If Han Yong County could make it to the Blacklist by stacking low-level martial arts, what if I practice high-level martial arts in large quantities…’

At this point, Zhang Rongfang seemed to understand the path he had to take in the future.

Supplement with low-level techniques, focus on high-level martial arts as the main line. Always pay attention to the value of life attributes.

Only by breaking through every part of his body to the utmost can he follow the true path of martial arts.

“Speaking of body technique specialty, if you’re in Tan Yang, you can directly pay to learn genuine skills at various boxing academies. Some academy masters may not be very powerful, but they have their ways of teaching disciples,” Wang Bude advised.

“For example, Bai Ling Boxing Academy, Feihu Boxing Academy, Li’s Boxing Hall, all are good at body techniques.”

“Thank you, Master Wang, for your guidance.” Zhang Rongfang clasped his fists.

*

*

*

Having decided to learn the remaining two talismanic skills from Wang Bude, Zhang Rongfang went to that private residence every morning to study.

In the afternoon, he visited various boxing academies throughout the city.

By observing the daily training and sparring demonstrations at the academies, he identified a boxing academy that provided significant benefits for his current situation—Bai Ling Boxing Academy.

The Spirit Snake Fist from Bai Ling Boxing Academy, when it comes to body technique, did not overlap much with his current body technique, offering several valuable aspects.

Zhang Rongfang preliminarily judged that they could complement each other.

Without hesitation, he quickly went in and paid the fee, stating his purpose.

But to his surprise, the owner of Bai Ling Boxing Academy, Wu Yufei, seeing that he was the Patrol Team’s Vice-Captain of the Penal Department and only wanted to learn the body technique part of the Spirit Snake Fist, immediately suggested they become friends and offered to teach without charging.

Surprised, Zhang Rongfang also found that Bai Ling Boxing Academy was located near the Penal Department.

The academy owner, Wu Yufei, though with a feminine name, was straightforward. Every afternoon when Zhang Rongfang visited, Wu Yufei personally instructed him in the Spiritual Snake Body Technique with great care, holding nothing back in terms of various details.

Thus, both his days and nights were well organized.

Time slowly passed for several days.

August 2nd.

Penal Department, nine in the morning.

“There’s a mission! Everyone, come down!” Lin Qixiao, dressed in brown riding attire, with a stern face, shouted in the first-floor hall of Team Nine.

On the second floor, team members put on their gear and quickly went downstairs to line up.

Zhang Rongfang had already packed up, ready to go to Wang Bude to learn the Talismanic Skill.

Today was a day off, theoretically the time for everyone to rest.

He frowned as he went downstairs, stood in front of everyone, and glanced at Lin Qixiao.

“Captain Lin, isn’t today a day off? What’s going on?”

Lin Qixiao had a strong background and a fiery temper, and Zhang Rongfang didn’t want to get into a conflict with him.

“Day off or not, it’s up to me!” Lin Qixiao gave him a cold look.

“There’s an emergency mission, go to the Lancao Forest outside the city to find a black horse with a white lightning pattern on its forehead.”

“Yes!” The group immediately responded in unison.

“Move out immediately.” Lin Qixiao said no more, turned around, and led the way out of the building.

Zhang Rongfang frowned, he had already made an appointment with Wang Bude. Now this….

As the deputy captain, why hadn’t he received any document from the Department of Criminal Justice?

Deploying for a mission required a document.

But regrettably, everyone else was going. If he didn’t go, it might cause conflicts again.

So, he went along, leaving the Department of Criminal Justice.

The group left Tan Yang City, and on the nearby Lancao Forest mountain, searched from morning until dusk.

They finally found the black horse with a broken leg in a ravine.

After it was found, Lin Qixiao quickly brought over a young woman who bore some resemblance to her and took the horse away.

Then she actually announced the dismissal…

From start to finish, she never presented any document. She and the young woman returned to the city together.

After the initial bewilderment, the members of Team Nine headed back to Tan Yang in small groups.

Halfway back.

Liu Han, Chen Hansheng, Gelu Xilai, and Zhang Rongfang, who often ate together, were somewhat acquainted.

“Damn!” Chen Hansheng kicked a tree trunk on the roadside in anger, causing bits of leaves to fall continuously.

“Captain Lin, why did you come back??” Gelu Xilai suddenly exclaimed.

Chen Hansheng’s expression changed abruptly, and he squatted down, pulling a blade of grass, placing it in front of him.

“So pretty!”

He said as he turned back, realizing there was no sign of Lin Qixiao around.

He instantly knew he had been tricked.

“Ge…lu…!!!” Anger filled him instantly, and he chased after Gelu Xilai, hitting him randomly.

Gelu Xilai laughed and dodged everywhere.

Liu Han exhaled a breath, slightly relieving a day’s worth of frustration.

“….” Zhang Rongfang shook his head, not knowing what to say.

“By the way, who was the girl who took the horse earlier? Do you guys know her?” he asked casually.

“I know her.” Liu Han nodded, “That’s Lin Qixiao’s cousin, Lin Yutong. The two have a good relationship. Whenever Captain Lin’s family has something, she often has us do it for her.”

“Aren’t we the government? Why are we doing things for her family?” Zhang Rongfang was stunned.

“Captain Lin just finds any excuse to have us do things, today was no different,” Liu Han’s words carried obvious resentment.

Everyone had plans for their day off, why should they be dragged to do Lin Qixiao’s errands?

After it was done, there wasn’t even a word of thanks, and she left first.

“With so many people, hasn’t anyone reported this?” Zhang Rongfang couldn’t help but ask.

Anyone who could get into the government must have some connections, right?

“Someone did report it before, but nothing was done, and the person who reported it was beaten and dismissed. After that, no one dared to,” Liu Han shook his head.

Hearing this, Zhang Rongfang suddenly thought that Lord Li Ran, the head of the Department of Criminal Justice, must know about this.

But in the end, he was still assigned under Lin Qixiao.

What exactly is Li Ran planning?

Also, his strength should barely be enough now, he should be moving up.

If he wanted to climb higher in his position.

The only way is to make achievements.

But making achievements might get the credit stolen….

Zhang Rongfang’s brow furrowed slightly.

’If I eliminate all my competitors, leaving only me, that’s too conspicuous.’

He now understood.

In this corrupt world, to climb up, one must by any means necessary.

’The key to promotion lies in achieving something significant, and having a superior willing to commend you.’

Thinking about it, Zhang Rongfang decided.

Not to eliminate all competitors, just those who pose the greatest threat to him. Leave the others to create confusion.

Then, at the upper management level, he needed to ensure they were willing to smoothly forward his achievements.

If the superior was unwilling, maliciously blocking, it could be very troublesome….

Zhang Rongfang pondered for a moment.

He decided, if the superior cooperates, all would be well.

If not, then get rid of him and replace him with someone who does.

After all, there are many superiors, having one more or one less doesn’t make much difference.

Of course, he also had his moral boundaries.

If the person he had to deal with was a good person, perhaps he wouldn’t act. He’d find a way to get them dismissed instead.

But in reality, from his time in this position, Zhang Rongfang felt, if you really counted carefully.

Among all the officials in the Department of Criminal Justice, it’s hard to find a truly good person.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep