I am a coroner, and I have some knowledge of martial arts!

This……

Su Wuchen's heart pounded like a horn, his face filled with disbelief.

How can an old technique, which has been extinct for so long, still be stronger than a new technique accumulated and summarized over many years?

The old cat continued, "You may find it surprising and unbelievable, but that's the truth."

"Some practitioners of ancient arts are practically invincible among their peers, especially those with astonishing talent. They can not only fight opponents of higher levels, but even those beyond their level!"

"For example, you are a martial arts practitioner."

The old cat smiled and glanced at Su Wuchen, then continued, "In the new technique, martial arts cultivation has nine realms and twenty-seven minor realms, but in the old technique, there are nine realms and thirty-six minor realms!"

"Those who practice new techniques can attempt to break through to the next realm when their strength reaches its peak, but it is different for those who practice old techniques."

"They'll find a way to break through the limits!"

Breaking the limits!

Su Wuchen's pupils contracted.

Thinking about what Wu Ming had said and done before, and even more so about my own current situation!

"Breaking limits" refers to breaking through the limits of one's existing grade or realm!

"Everyone's limits are different, so after they break through them, their bodies undergo amazing changes!"

"Do you know why some people call the first stage of martial arts body tempering?"

"I don't know."

"Because he tempered not only his body, but more importantly, his qi and blood, giving martial artists a foundation far superior to other cultivators!"

Old Cat's voice was serious, "Body tempering isn't just about muscles, bones, and skin; it's also about qi and blood! After achieving perfection in body tempering, traditional martial artists will try every means to put immense pressure on themselves, ultimately breaking through their limits!"

"Once they break through their limits, their body's vital energy flows like endless rivers and lakes, as unfathomable as a vast ocean!"

"Therefore, when martial artists reach the first stage of body tempering, they will experience extraordinary phenomena!"

"A surge of qi and blood?"

"Um?"

Su Wuchen's words immediately made Old Cat's eyes turn stern.

Su Wuchen: "I have encountered martial artists like this before."

Old Cat nodded slowly, "You're right. After a ninth-grade martial artist breaks through their physical limits, their blood and qi surge, and their strength can no longer be defined by their cultivation level."

"Their true combat strength is often comparable to that of an early-stage or even mid-stage eighth-rank rank!"

"If facing a practitioner of the same level of new techniques, would I be invincible among my peers?"

Su Wuchen nodded silently.

Does he not know whether he's invincible or not?

"Next, it's about opening the meridians."

"The second realm of martial arts, the eighth grade of meridian opening, emphasizes opening the meridians throughout the body in the new technique, while in the old technique, it focuses on breaking limits and opening up extraordinary phenomena."

"Opening up unusual phenomena?"

"right!"

Old Cat nodded emphatically, "This is the key to a martial artist's true power!"

"A true eighth-rank martial artist who has broken through limits must break through those limits after reaching perfection. Only by breaking through limits can they transform from a cocoon into a butterfly!"

Why is that?

"Because the extraordinary phenomenon of opening the meridians to their limit is their true source of power!"

"So, according to you, there are different kinds of visions?"

"That's natural."

The old cat chuckled and crossed his legs. "Based on current information, the anomalies are divided into three different types!"

"Firstly, elemental resonance! All cultivators of this kind of ancient technique can awaken different supernatural abilities through it, such as freezing, roasting, absorbing, and endless life."

"Secondly, ancient beasts and ferocious gods! Such people will condense the unique features of ancient divine beasts and ferocious beasts within their bodies, such as the reverse scale of a divine dragon, the blood patterns of a Qiongqi, the shell of a Xuan Turtle, and so on."

"Thirdly, there are artifacts and celestial phenomena! These people are the easiest to identify. Once activated, they will have the shadows of weapons or mountains on their bodies, making them easy to recognize at a glance."

Ancient beasts and ferocious gods...

So, the inviolable scale above my heart comes from the strange dragon?

Su Wuchen frowned. "Only those who practice the old techniques can open their meridians and awaken different phenomena?"

"nature."

The old cat chuckled and said, "A new practitioner of this technique doesn't even know where his limits are. How can he open his meridians and manifest extraordinary phenomena?"

"However, we shouldn't be too absolute in this statement."

"Because the world is never short of geniuses, nor is it short of ruthless people. They will constantly strengthen their foundation, and may accidentally trigger such phenomena, but they are very rare."

As he spoke, the old cat glanced at Su Wuchen with a smile, "If you happen to obtain an old cultivation method in the secret realm, I suggest you keep it hidden."

Su Wuchen laughed and said, "Are they worried that someone will overturn the rules they set?"

The old cat chuckled, "Otherwise, why would we be hiding here?"

Su Wuchen nodded knowingly. "Then, what about those above the eighth rank?"

"The limit of the seventh rank?"

"Yes."

"It's hard to say."

The old cat paused for a moment, then said slowly, "Everyone at the eighth rank limit experiences different phenomena when opening their meridians, resulting in different advancement paths, but the differences won't be too great!"

"If it is elemental resonance, then it will control extremely terrifying elemental power; if it is ancient beast or ferocious god, then it will mostly lean towards the ancient divine beast or ferocious beast."

"As for artifacts and celestial phenomena, I'm not too sure, but it should be about the same."

and so……

Could I become a dragon?

emmmmm.

Su Wuchen shook his head, dismissing this unrealistic fantasy.

"What exactly is this 'heretical cultivation'?"

"That's an extra price."

"..."

Grass!

Su Wuchen's brows twitched uncontrollably.

The saying "knowledge is money" was completely embodied at this moment.

Old Cat suddenly changed the subject, "However, since you've been so agreeable, I can provide you with some information for free."

Please enlighten me.

"So-called heretical practitioners are nothing more than those who practice old techniques."

"what?"

Su Wuchen was stunned, then shook his head. "Impossible! If someone practices the old techniques, why would they use the new ones?"

"No, no, no, you're wrong. They are indeed practitioners of the old arts, but their path has been blocked."

A hint of helplessness flashed in the old cat's eyes. "Not all practitioners of ancient arts have a direct path to enlightenment. Their path is blocked, so they can only try to become stronger."

"Using external aids?"

Su Wuchen realized that even though he was weak, he could still kill the Ghost Martial Brother and Sister who were at the peak of the eighth rank.

"right."

The old cat chuckled and said, "Thanks to the demise of the old arts and the rise of mortals, these practitioners of the old arts have been given new hope."

"They didn't have a direct road to heaven, but they forged their own path."

"In the old days, without the talent for cultivation, one could only make a living by eating, but things are different now."

"Since mortals developed their own power, they have become a formidable force. They may lack cultivation, or their physical bodies may be weak, but their various powerful weapons allow them to deal with eighth-rank, seventh-rank, and even fifth-rank and fourth-rank cultivators!"

"Unfortunately, they don't allow such powerful mortals to exist, and they certainly don't allow weapons capable of remotely threatening their lives to exist."

As he spoke, the old cat unconsciously uttered a few words of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of deep emotion or reflection).

It seemed to be awe at the wisdom of mortals, yet also helplessness at the ruthlessness of the cultivators.

Anyone who is not of service to us shall be labeled a heretic and eliminated!

"So, they stripped mortals of their martial prowess, leaving you only with all these novel gadgets you see now—things that are clearly the fruits of mortal wisdom!"

"Weakness is the original sin."

Is weakness the original sin?

The old cat froze, repeating Su Wuchen's words to itself, then looked at Su Wuchen with admiration, "Well said. If we met in any other place, I believe we could become friends."

"Isn't it possible now?"

"No, you're the seller, I'm the receiver, that's all."

"...6!"