Gao Wu insists on cultivating immortality.

Chapter 182 Everyone Has Their Own Path
Faced with Grandmaster Bai Yunfei's question, Gao Wu nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Following Wang Tianyin and Han Yujun to learn, Gao Wu experienced the master's superb skills. Knowing that he was far inferior to the master, he dared not have any opinions.

But he was still a little uneasy. Could he really understand the martial arts lessons? He didn't want the grandmaster to see through him and reveal that he was just a cheat code user...

Bai Yunfei's tea-brewing movements were gentle and slow, which looked very pleasant. Song Mingyue was also skilled at brewing tea, with elegant and fluid movements, but her style was quite different from Bai Yunfei's.

Gao Wu sensed that Bai Yunfei seemed to enjoy the tea-making process, but unlike Xiao Song, he wasn't as serious; Bai Yunfei had a relaxed and carefree attitude.

Bai Yunfei's speaking style was also like that, slow and leisurely, very comfortable and relaxed, just like chatting with an old friend.

"The so-called intent of fist and intent of sword are essentially extensions of spiritual power. What the Federation calls the spirit of the sword is straightforward and easy to understand, but it is too simplistic. The barbarians are crude and ignorant, they only know the substance and not the abstract."

Gao Wu nodded. He had never actually met any Federation members; he had only seen some Federation reports in the news.

Unlike his previous life, the Alliance now has a population of six billion, a vast internal market, and a poor relationship with the Federation. If it weren't for the threat of alien beasts, they might have already turned against each other and started fighting.

On the other hand, a vast ocean separates the two sides. The ocean holds countless hidden realms and teeming with strange beasts. Sailing on the open sea is exceptionally risky, which also limits the scale of trade between the two nations.

For various reasons, the Alliance looks down on the Federation. Of course, the other side feels the same way.

In recent years, relations between the two sides have gradually deteriorated, mainly because the Federation has shown a tendency to lean towards the other world.

Even a grandmaster like Bai Yunfei referred to the Federation as barbarians.

Bai Yunfei only mentioned the Federation briefly as an example; her main point was to clarify sword intent: "Fist intent and sword intent are extensions of spiritual power, but they are not limited to them."

She pointed to the beautiful Jianzhan teacups on the tea table and said, "The method of firing these teacups has a long history, and many people say that Jianzhan teacups are very beautiful and artistic."

"What is artistic conception? It can be seen as a style, a unique connotation. Just like splashed ink landscape painting, it is three parts realism and seven parts freehand expression. How to understand the freehand expression in it actually depends entirely on personal experience and wisdom, and on one's aesthetic realm..."

"Poetry, songs, and paintings—all works created with heart contain the creator's soul, wisdom, experience, understanding of the world, and flashes of inspiration that suddenly burst forth after countless refinements. This is what gives the work its unique artistic conception."

"In my view, the same applies to the intent of fist and sword. First, one must practice diligently, and only after the skills are refined can one incorporate one's own understanding and perception of the world."

"Of course, different martial arts techniques have their own characteristics. When choosing a martial art, you must first ensure that it suits your personality, and secondly, that it suits your physical condition. With this compatibility, you can achieve twice the result with half the effort in your practice."

Gao Wu nodded repeatedly. Bai Yunfei explained the intent of fist and sword in a simple and clear way. Even without going into specific cultivation details, he pointed out the way forward and let him know which direction to go.

He thought he knew a lot, but now he realizes he's far from it.

Bai Yunfei didn't go into any specific details, but simply started by talking about the twelve divine forms, analyzing the origins and lineages of each form in a simple and easy-to-understand way.

At noon, Bai Yunfei invited Gao Wu to have lunch together.

As a martial arts master, Bai Yunfei's lunch was actually quite simple, consisting of four dishes and a soup, and he prepared the same meal for Gao Wu.

All four dishes and one soup were made with ingredients from another world, and all of very high quality. Although Gao Wu had a large appetite, he ate his fill of the four dishes and one soup, and even felt a heat in his body afterward.

He didn't know whether the Grandmaster ate such nourishing food every day or if it was specially prepared for him.

It was probably prepared for him; even a grandmaster's physique couldn't be stronger than his. Long-term excessive supplementation isn't good for the body.

Having eaten and drunk his fill and brimming with energy, Gao Wu wanted to practice a set of fist techniques to release his energy, but Bai Yunfei stopped him.

She led Gao Wu to another quiet room, which contained only two straw cushions and bare walls with no decorations. The windows were also covered by sheer curtains.

"Just sit quietly and calm your mind." Bai Yunfei told Gao Wu to sit down on the futon. She didn't teach him any visualization techniques, but just told him to sit quietly on his own.

Gao Wu was feeling unwell from the heat, but he could only force himself to sit on the futon.

The double lotus position was effortless for him, but it held little practical significance. Most of the Nine Transformations of the Heavenly Dragon breathing techniques require physical movements; none of them require meditation.

Following Bai Yunfei, Gao Wu could only use the Hidden Dragon Technique for breathing exercises. This exercise was originally meant for sleeping, and with his carefree attitude and Bai Yunfei's long, gentle breathing beside him, it really had a hypnotic effect... He seemed to fall asleep in a daze.

When Gao Wu opened his eyes, more than half an hour had passed. He saw that Bai Yunfei was still sitting quietly with his eyes closed, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Bai Yunfei must know he was asleep, so he probably wouldn't hold such a small matter against him...

They sat there until dark. Bai Yunfei then invited Gao Wu to dinner. The meal was simple, but the ingredients were of very high quality. Gao Wu ate so much that he almost had a nosebleed.

"After you go back, don't do your routine homework, and don't practice swordsmanship or boxing. Don't use the 'Hidden Dragon' technique when you sleep at night; just rest naturally."

Bai Yunfei said, "Since you started practicing martial arts, you must have been diligently training every day without interruption."

Gao Wu nodded quickly. Diligent daily training is the most basic quality of a martial artist.

"Don't practice martial arts these next few days, just follow me and practice breathing exercises to absorb the source energy."

Bai Yunfei said, "Martial arts training also requires a balance of tension and relaxation. You need to completely relax for a few days to adjust your mind and body."

"Yes," Gao Wu replied respectfully. Back in Building 18, Gao Wu stopped practicing. He also explained the situation to Song Mingyue, saying that their spiritual resonance would need to be paused for a few days.

Song Mingyue found this method of cultivation a bit strange, but expressed her understanding. The other party was a martial arts master, so there must be a reason for this arrangement.

Given Gao Wu's solid foundation, indulging for a few months wouldn't have much of an impact.

Not practicing martial arts made Gao Wu very uncomfortable. Being idle did not make him feel relaxed; on the contrary, it made him feel a little restless.

Practicing martial arts has become a way of life for him. It makes him feel full and powerful, gives him a sense of progress, and brings him peace of mind.

The free time made Gao Wu feel particularly empty. He wanted to chat with Xiao Song, but he couldn't interrupt Xiao Song's cultivation.

Feeling utterly bored, Gao Wu suddenly thought of Yang Tielin and tried inviting him for a drink. Yang Tielin replied instantly: Let's go!

We met at our usual spot. It was already freezing cold, and the enclosed room was filled with a thick mixture of smoke, the aroma of barbecue, and the smell of alcohol, which wouldn't dissipate at all.

It is this complex flavor that gives this place its soul. Without this flavor, something would be wrong.

Yang Tielin clinked glasses with Gao Wu, and after taking a big gulp, he asked curiously, "I heard you've been training with several grandmasters, is that true?"

"Several masters appreciate my talent, so I couldn't very well refuse..." Gao Wu said with a chuckle.

"You're so damn cheap!"

Yang Tielin was both envious and jealous. This kid not only got all the benefits, but also had to show off in front of him. How hateful!

"Let's drink! Today I'll show you the power of Anhui University's God of Wine!"

Yang Tielin boasted loudly and drank heavily until dawn. He was so drunk that Gao Wu had to take him back to Tianji Tower.

Gao Wu was only slightly drunk. He returned to his dormitory, washed up, and wanted to practice his boxing, but he had to force himself to suppress it. Lying in bed, he couldn't use the Hidden Dragon Technique, and tossed and turned for a long time before finally falling asleep...

The next day, Bai Yunfei again took Gao Wu to enjoy tea, explaining martial arts knowledge and some interesting anecdotes. They ate particularly nourishing meals for lunch and dinner.

It's no exaggeration; Gao Wu thinks his daily food expenses probably exceed two million. It just goes to show how incredibly wealthy a Grandmaster truly is…

In the evening, with nothing else to do, Gao Wu could only ask Shen Yue to go drinking with him.

The third day was the same. In the evening, Gao Wu could only invite Shang Qingjun and Zhou Hongying to dinner, and then watch a midnight movie.

Shang Qingjun and Zhou Hongying were quite happy. It was fun playing with Sister Jun and Sister Hongying. However, not being able to practice martial arts made him feel empty and lost.

The same thing happened on the fourth, fifth, and sixth days.

On the seventh night, after Gao Wu and Bai Yunfei had dinner, this time Bai Yunfei didn't let Gao Wu leave but asked him to stay for tea.

In the tea room, Bai Yunfei slowly brewed tea and casually asked, "What insights have you gained these past few days?"

Gao Wu shook his head: "Practicing martial arts has become a habit of mine. If I don't practice martial arts, I feel lost and don't feel relaxed. On the contrary, I become more and more irritable..."

Bai Yunfei nodded: "That's normal. You're still young, so taking a few days off is just to adjust your condition. It would be strange if you suddenly had an epiphany."

"Brother Wang and Brother Han both used extreme methods to help you cultivate, but I will adjust your physical and mental state through dietary supplements."

“Cultivation is not just about practicing martial arts or swordsmanship; clothing, food, shelter, transportation, and interpersonal interactions are all forms of cultivation.”

Bai Yunfei smiled slightly at Gao Wu and said, "Your current restlessness is actually a manifestation of your inner turmoil. Have you ever thought about why you are restless?"

"Ultimately, martial arts are the foundation of your life. Practicing martial arts gives you a sense of power, security, and stability. Without martial arts, you're unsure how you'll change, you lose control of things, and you'll become doubtful, confused, and ultimately, uneasy..."

Gao Wu fell into deep thought; he had never really considered this question before.

In his eyes, practicing martial arts was all about becoming stronger and becoming the best in the world; there was no need to think about anything else.

"I've explained so many principles just to make you understand that practicing martial arts involves not only physical strength, but also mental effort."

Bai Yunfei suppressed his smile and said seriously, "It is said that stillness arises from composure, and wisdom arises from stillness. As far as I am concerned, everyone's nature is different, and only by acting in accordance with one's nature can one find one's own path."

"In this final lesson, I will reveal my way to you, hoping it will be of some help to you..."

As Bai Yunfei spoke, she casually pointed, and the source power gathered at her fingertips transformed into a clear, cold sword light that pierced straight into Gao Wu's brow.

Gao Wu was startled and instinctively activated his source power to draw his sword and block. However, that cold, water-like sword light silently pierced through his protective sword light and went straight into his brow.

Gao Wu's spirit jolted violently, and he was plunged into endless darkness...

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(End of this chapter)