Starting with Mingyu Gong, the Soul-Chasing and Life-Stealing Technique

Changfeng Inn.

Inside the flower hall in the backyard.

The handsome young man picked up his teacup and said slowly, "Little Shi, are you satisfied now?"

Xiao Shi blushed and snorted, "Young master, you don't know, that man looks like a prince, and you can't see any bad qualities in him, but he speaks so rudely, he has no manners at all. He even said he wanted me to be his concubine, who does he think he is? Uncle Zhang didn't even help me."

The handsome young man glanced at Manager Zhang, who had a wry smile on his face, and chuckled, "There's nothing I can do about it. My little Shi is so adorable, everyone loves her. Li Feiyu is, after all, a man, so it's not surprising. But this brat actually said he'd make you his concubine! That's outrageous!"

Xiao Shi laughed and said, "I can't beat him, but I've already called him shameless. But I just hate that Uncle Zhang is watching me make a fool of myself instead of helping me."

Manager Zhang calmly replied, "Xiao Shi, even if I help you, I may not be able to do anything to him."

"What?" Xiao Shi's mouth formed an "O" shape.

Even the teacup in the handsome young man's hand trembled, spilling tea.

Xiao Shi was so shocked that she stammered, "Uncle Zhang, you, you're not lying, are you?"

Even the handsome young man stared at Manager Zhang with a look of inquiry.

He knew that this Uncle Zhang was a high monk of Bodhi Temple who practiced the temple's supreme martial art, the "Bodhi Heart Sutra." He had already transcended the three realms of Zen, Arhat, and Vajra, and had been immersed in the fourth realm of Buddhist Prajna for many years. His Qi was radiating outwards, and he possessed the supernatural power to subdue demons and monsters. He was about to step into the Bodhi realm, where Zen and martial arts were combined.

Moreover, he possesses many unique Buddhist skills, and his strength is far beyond that of ordinary fifth-realm masters. Yet, how can such a person be said to be unable to defeat a "Li Feiyu" who is only twenty years old?

Manager Zhang said solemnly, "Since childhood, I have cultivated the Buddhist practice of Bodhi and the purification of the mind, and I believe that my perception of the strength and weakness of others is absolutely accurate."

But when faced with Li Feiyu, he was shocked at first sight.

It was as if every time I saw something, it was something he made me see.

When I first met him, I only thought he had cultivated a top-notch technique for purifying the mind and had considerable skill in swordsmanship. But yesterday I discovered that he was filled with a Taoist aura, clearly possessing profound Taoist knowledge.

But when I saw her today, especially when she drew her sword against Xiao Shi, it goes without saying that her skill had improved considerably, and I also sensed a Buddhist power within her.

"Huh???" The handsome young man frowned, his expression turning serious. "Buddhist power? You say he already possesses Daoist aura, isn't that dual cultivation of Buddhism and Taoism? How is that possible? He's only this young, could he be some kind of ageless, youthful monster pretending to be a young man?"

Everyone knows that Buddhism and Taoism may maintain a facade of harmony, appearing friendly and amicable. However, given their constant conflict, how could they possibly allow one person to practice both methods simultaneously?

For example, if a Taoist practitioner teaches his disciples, Buddhist practitioners will certainly recognize his Taoist methods and naturally will not include them in their teachings. The same applies to Taoism.

"Young master, there's something else that I also find very strange."

"What?" the handsome young man asked.

Xiao Shi recalled that scene in her mind and said, "I was sparring with him. At first, it was okay, and we were evenly matched."

But I don't know why, after only one sword strike, it stuck to my weapon, and I felt that the true energy in my body was about to burst out. At that time, I had no choice but to withdraw the sword as soon as possible. If it weren't for Uncle Zhang's intervention, I'm afraid I would have..." Xiao Shi recalled the scene of her true energy going out of control, and still felt lingering fear.

The handsome young man pondered, "Could this be a demonic technique of absorbing internal energy?"

Xiao Shi said, "My inner energy has not been lost."

The handsome young man nodded slightly: "Uncle Zhang, have you ever heard of any highly accomplished person in the world who cultivates both Buddhism and Taoism, and what the level of Buddhist power within them is?"

Manager Zhang is a highly respected Buddhist monk with extensive knowledge of martial arts anecdotes and Buddhist techniques, which is why he asked this question.

Shopkeeper Zhang shook his head and said, "The path of martial arts is endless. People may not achieve much even if they study one path, let alone cultivate two at the same time."

Even the most brilliant and extraordinary individuals, when they think about going down a path to its end, still need to put in a lot of time and effort.

Furthermore, the world is so vast that not all those masters of unparalleled skill are known throughout the land.

As for the Buddhist power within Li Feiyu, while it wasn't particularly strong at the moment, it was quite pure. If he were to achieve enlightenment, its power would be no less than that of the Bodhi Temple's "Bodhi Pure Heart Palm," "Dragon Subduing Tiger Fist," and "Vajra Demon-Slaying Palm."

Xiao Shi's heart pounded wildly, and she said in a hoarse voice, "Uncle Zhang, who are you? Saying that would lower your own status!"

Shopkeeper Zhang shook his head and said, "Xiao Shi, you must remember that those who are truly skilled in martial arts and have great abilities are often unwilling to reveal their secrets. Therefore, in this entire world, only those below the sixth realm will appear in the eyes of the world."

The battles between those powerful figures above the seventh realm, or rather, their battles, are all held in secluded places. This is because they are afraid that if they fight to a certain point, they will display their best skills and be discovered by those with ulterior motives, who will then target them.

Therefore, those above the seventh realm are always mysterious.

The more mysterious something is, the more people fear it.

That's why we have this seemingly relatively balanced world order.

The handsome young man asked, "Are you saying that the Li Feiyu we see isn't the real him, or that he's holding back?"

"That's right!" Shopkeeper Zhang said, "The person we see now, just like the name Li Feiyu, must be a fake."

He held back some of his strength from us; he probably didn't even unleash 30% of his full power.

In my opinion, he possesses extraordinary heritage, but lacks maturity and his state of mind is not up to par. That is why he makes a living by killing in order to hone himself.

If he truly unites his mind and energy with the cultivation method he practices, and his will moves with his mind, he will be absolutely invincible below the sixth realm!

Breaking through the seventh realm and looking down upon all living beings is merely a trivial matter.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Shi couldn't help but shudder.

She naturally thought of why martial arts were divided into nine realms, with the lower and middle realms ultimately belonging to mortals.

Those above the seventh realm are given the title "Xiao".

Legends of perfect physical and mental health, long lifespan (at least a thousand years), unity of heaven and man, soaring through the air, every move in harmony with the power of heaven and earth, thoughts permeating the soul, and the ability to destroy an army with a single thought.

Some even say they are simply divine beings, indifferent to the fall of dynasties and the suffering of countless lives. It's like how people wouldn't bother to watch ants carrying food and fighting each other.

Now, Xiao Shi has heard that the scoundrel who spoke so crudely, constantly flirted with her, and wanted to take her as his concubine, actually had the ability to break through the seventh realm and become a legendary figure in the martial arts world.

For a moment, she didn't know whether this was her good fortune or her misfortune.

Fortunately, there was someone who took a liking to him.

Sadly, he only talked the talk and never took any concrete action.

The handsome young man was stunned for a long time, his face darkening. He said, "Now that such a person has emerged in this desolate Liangzhou, I know nothing about his background. Is his intention to cooperate really just to hone himself?"

Could he have come from a den of demonic cultivators in the Western Regions?

For a moment, the flower hall fell silent.

If they were people of the demonic path, they would be inviting a wolf into their home.

Once exposed, they will inevitably become public enemies.

Xiao Shi suddenly burst out laughing and said, "Young master, if you meet this person, he will definitely tell you everything. If he meets me, he will want me to be his concubine. If he meets you, he will definitely drool."

The handsome young man couldn't help but sigh.

Xiao Shi said, "Young master, why are you sighing?"

The handsome young man originally wanted to get Xiao Shi to talk about him in front of Lu Chen so that he could take the opportunity to reveal his identity and befriend him. But now that he heard Xiao Shi say this, he felt a chill in his heart.

If I reveal my identity, wouldn't it seem like I'm seducing people with my looks?

The handsome young man laughed and said, "You've forgotten, I'm a man."

Xiao Shi chuckled: "Young master, is there really a man as handsome as you? Do you think he'd believe it?"

The handsome young man snorted: "Whether he believes it or not, I'm a man too, and you're my wife, have you forgotten?"

Xiao Shi quickly replied, "Young master, I remember, I am your wife. Hehe, Li Feiyu wants me to be his concubine, which is blatantly stealing your wife. How will you deal with this, young master?"

The handsome young man laughed and said, "That's right, this brat actually dared to steal my wife. I'll definitely make things difficult for him."

Xiao Shi smiled and said, "Young master, you don't need to worry too much. Li Feiyu has something wrong with his head."

"What?" the handsome young man exclaimed in surprise, "Is he mentally unstable?"

Xiao Shi nodded and said, "Yes! He said that he was forced to practice martial arts by his master, which caused some problems in his mind. That's why he asked me to find books for him to read, saying that he wanted to reshape his values ​​and outlook on life."

I wonder if it's because he practices Buddhist and Taoist cultivation methods, and the two clash, damaging his mind and turning him from a refined young gentleman into a vulgar rogue.

"Possibly." The handsome young man nodded. "Indeed, fullness leads to overflow. At such a young age, he has achieved great success in martial arts, but it has also cost him a lot. Xiao Shi, you should stop calling him a scoundrel from now on."

"Hmm!" Xiao Shi nodded and said, "He's mentally unstable. If I argue with him, it would make me seem immature."

……

"Ah Qing..."

It was already afternoon. Lu Chen was lying in a rocking chair under the flowering tree, reading a book, when he suddenly sneezed and muttered, "Which idiot is cursing me? Or are my parents missing me?"

After three days of time travel, he thought of his parents again. In this game, perhaps only they were truly harmed by his time travel.

"My benefactor!" Zhou Sanni placed a cup of tea on the stone table. "Please have some tea."

Lu Chen asked, "Have you told Manager Zhang and Xiao Shi about your elder brother's situation?"

Sanni nodded and whispered, "They said my older brother can be released tomorrow."

Lu Chen nodded: "It's just a county magistrate. They can definitely handle it if they take action."

Sanni asked, "My benefactor, are your martial arts skills very high?"

Lu Chen was taken aback, and couldn't help but smile bitterly. He couldn't say for sure whether his own martial arts skills were good or not.

He always felt that there was a strong power within him, but he couldn't unleash it, so he asked the system.

The system said that because one's martial arts skills are insufficient, one cannot effectively unleash the power of martial arts.

He then asked himself what realm he belonged to.

The system said that the realm did not apply to him.

In terms of cultivation level, he was only a low-level Qi Refining Realm cultivator, but in terms of strength, even those at the fourth level, the Transformation Realm, might not be able to match him.

Because he himself had learned first-rate killing and escape techniques, he could kill anyone he could defeat with a single move.

When faced with an opponent he couldn't defeat, he focused solely on escaping; below the seventh realm, no one could do anything to him.

That's how awesome it is.

So how strong is this martial art?

He seems quite strong, but there are still experts in the seventh, eighth, and ninth realms in this world who aren't considered strong.

But Zhou Sanni continued, "Sister Xiaoshi is so arrogant, her martial arts must be excellent, but she acts like a punching bag when facing you, which is enough to show that your martial arts are much better than hers."

Lu Chen smiled and said, "Her martial arts skills aren't that great; she just has powerful backers and hasn't experienced the harsh realities of life."

Zhou Sanni thought for a moment, then said firmly, "My benefactor, do you think that once people have status and martial arts skills, they can't help but bully others, and when they see something good, they want to snatch it away!"

Lu Chen asked, "Why do you say that?"

Zhou Sanni murmured, "Steward Wang wanted to seize my family's land and take me as his concubine. My eldest and second brothers were arrested by several constables. The county magistrate didn't listen to their explanations and was about to behead them, but Madam Wang intervened and saved my second brother."

When Uncle Zhang and Sister Xiaoshi heard about our situation, they said they would save my older brother, and the way they sounded so relaxed...

Sanni laughed self-deprecatingly: "It seems like the fate of people like us is like that of ants on the ground. They can crush us whenever they want."

They could easily save us, but we can't even go to jail to see our brother.

This disparity makes me feel that living like this, like my older brother, is like being in a prison, with little hope of escape.

Lu Chen said, "People often say that human nature is inherently good, while others say that human nature is inherently evil, and still others say that good and evil are only a matter of a single thought."

But I think that the evil in people is ultimately greater, which is why they kill each other endlessly in order to fight for interests, wealth, beauty, and land.

To prevent such evil, the imperial court created laws, and the martial arts world also developed its own code of conduct and morality.

The intention behind this was good, but unfortunately, all morality and laws are judged and upheld by people.

People naturally have a sense of priorities and distance. For example, if their parents, lovers, or brothers break the law or violate the code of honor, they will definitely not treat them as fairly as they would a stranger.

When the law and morality lose their impartiality and selflessness, the world becomes a dog-eat-dog world.

People are born unequal; some are born into wealthy and noble families, some into peasant families, and some don't even have a small plot of land.

But everyone yearns for a better life, and some ambitious people want to make a name for themselves and achieve fame through hard work.

But this world is full of injustices, so it's easier said than done. In the process, one might do many things that violate ethics, morality, and the law.

Once you win, none of this seems to matter anymore.

This led to the consensus that the victor is king and the loser is villain, and that whoever is stronger is right.

All laws and morals become shackles for the weak and servers for the strong, giving rise to a world where the big fish eat the small fish. So you don't need to feel a sense of loss.

Zhou Sanni had never heard of such a principle before, and was momentarily stunned.

Lu Chen continued, "You think I have high martial arts skills, but in some people's eyes, we are the same as you."

So I want to strive to become stronger, even though I may ultimately just be jumping from one circle to another, but I still have to work hard for it, and that's the meaning of life.

You may come from humble beginnings, but you can still try to become stronger so that your children can have a head start over others.

Zhou Sanni understood this time and shook her head: "No, Uncle Zhang said that martial arts training should start from childhood. We are too old now, and we won't achieve much by learning martial arts, so it's better not to learn."

Lu Chen was shocked: "Yes, so they didn't even have the chance to become stronger."

Lu Chen naturally knew that martial arts training wasn't something that could be mastered simply by having a peerless technique or a master; it required aptitude and good fortune. He added, "Even if you can't become extremely strong, you can still improve your health. Why not just not learn it at all?"

Zhou Sanni remained silent, but she was still somewhat timid and whispered, "Uncle Zhang said that once you learn martial arts, you will definitely develop a fighting spirit, which is uncontrollable. If others see that you know martial arts, they will go all out from the start and it's easy to lose your life."

If one doesn't know martial arts, one won't act recklessly, and others won't care about someone who doesn't know martial arts. In this way, the chances of saving one's life are actually greater.

Upon hearing this, Lu Chen sighed, "Perhaps he is right."

Lu Chen thought back to how he too had once harbored great ambitions, dreamed of making a name for himself, and had been young and impetuous, getting into fights over the slightest disagreement. And what was the result?

It wasn't because he was beaten black and blue that his parents worried.

Either he ends up in jail, which would also cause his parents worry.

In the end, I stumbled and fell, living like a beast of burden, all for a few taels of silver. Alas...

It was precisely this miserable life that made Lu Chen only able to "talk big".

Perhaps this is the real reality!

Seeing the glint in Lu Chen's eyes, Zhou Sanni felt a chill, but forced a smile and said, "My benefactor, my second brother and I have made up our minds. This is how we'll be for the rest of our lives. I'll serve you from now on, do your laundry and cook for you, and my brother will be in charge of chopping wood and carrying water. He saw there's a plot of land in the backyard, and he's going to plant vegetables and grains there."

Lu Chen didn't press the matter, only saying, "Alright, I'll give you the money. If you have any other ideas later, you can leave."

Lu Chen had already decided to use the intelligence from the Demon Extermination Division in Liangzhou to kill people and improve his strength.

Having someone to serve you is fine too.

Lu Chen said, "Cook a few more dishes tonight, and have your brother buy some good wine."

"Okay!" Xiao Shi happily went off.