Chapter Twenty-Nine: Insights on Martial Arts

Barely a few lines in, Xu Yi was filled with joy.

Although these notes were not a martial arts manual, they represented the true life's work of Lu Huaibin over the past several years. They contained not only detailed insights and descriptions regarding various martial arts techniques and schools but also anecdotes from the martial arts world, making it a veritable encyclopedia of martial arts. While these were the most fundamental concepts, they were exactly what Xu Yi lacked most.

It was clear that what Xu Yi had learned previously was merely the most basic martial arts—or rather, he had not yet truly crossed the threshold into the world of martial arts.

Among these notes, what intrigued Xu Yi most was the "force-deflecting" technique used by Lu Huaibin and others. According to Lu’s records, this was simply a technique for utilizing "Jingli" (Internal Force).

Jingli was not merely the strength derived from human muscle tissue; it was a power generated within the body once a practitioner achieved the unity of breath and strength through their training. The force-deflecting technique used by Lu and his peers involved using this Jingli to disperse an opponent's power, channeling it out of the body through specific movements. This explained why, despite having greater raw strength than A-Wen and A-Wu, Xu Yi had felt that his strikes were ineffective when fighting them. His pure muscular power had been dispersed by their Jingli.

Of course, mastering Jingli was no simple task. According to Lu Huaibin’s records, the process consisted of three stages.

The first stage was the cultivation of basic skills—strengthening the physique. It took at least three years for a beginner to master these, and those lacking firm resolve often failed to finish. This stage relied entirely on grueling practice and persistence.

The second stage was the mastery of martial arts forms. After mastering the basics, one needed another three years to practice forms. At this stage, the influence of talent became increasingly pronounced. Those without talent would wander aimlessly, never gaining entry, while those with talent would see their martial arts prowess improve with each passing day. This was the stage where the gap between martial artists truly widened.

Only after achieving complete mastery of these could one enter the third stage: the cultivation of Jingli. As Lu Huaibin noted, even for a talented martial artist who reached this step, learning to wield it still required another year.

Currently, Xu Yi was still technically in the first stage of basic training. However, after the mysterious poison had transformed his body, his physical attributes had improved so drastically that Lu Huaibin believed he might be capable of entering the third stage.

"Hoo—"

Xu Yi let out a deep breath, his eyes filled with excitement and exhilaration. Throughout the night, he acted like a thirsty seeker, greedily absorbing everything in the notes. Beyond the stages of martial arts and his personal insights, Lu Huaibin had also recorded some general knowledge about the martial arts world. Xu Yi was particularly curious about two rankings Lu had mentioned: the Dragon-Tiger Ranking and the Heaven-Earth Ranking. According to the notes, there were 12 people on the Dragon-Tiger list and 8 on the Heaven-Earth list. Unfortunately, Lu Huaibin had only mentioned them in passing; he had not recorded who was on the lists or how they were determined.

In short, Lu Huaibin's notes were like a key, and Xu Yi felt as if the door to a world he had never before encountered was swinging open before him.

After the night had passed, Xu Yi remained excited. Despite not sleeping, he felt no fatigue. Looking at the sun rising at dawn, he was struck by a sudden inspiration. Without further ado, he began to practice.

Xu Yi did not immediately start training in Jingli. Instead, he decided to start from the very beginning with basic skills—a decision made after careful consideration. While the poison had modified his body, that was an external result. Only by starting from the foundation could he truly make the strength his own.

And so, on the roof of an unremarkable residential building, at the break of dawn, a young man held a horse stance, rhythmically punching in time with his breathing.

He practiced for three hours straight.

When he finished, Xu Yi felt no fatigue. His mind and body were clearer than ever, and he found he had gained a greater sense of control over his physical strength. Martial arts were about both practice and rest; in Lu Huaibin's view, blind, grueling training was entirely inadvisable and would only damage the body. Proper rest was also a form of cultivation.

Xu Yi stopped his training and returned to his daily life. After breakfast, he received a call. The caller claimed to be a real estate agency manager, calling to discuss the transfer of a property.

Xu Yi paused, only then remembering that Crazy Zhang had gifted him a house yesterday. He hadn't expected Zhang to act so quickly. However, since he dared to give it, Xu Yi dared to accept it.

He sneered to himself, hopped into his G-Wagon, and drove to the agreed-upon sales center. Twenty minutes later, he arrived at a development called "Blue Sky Waterfront."

Seeing the name, Xu Yi felt a wave of nostalgia. He had a deep impression of this development; when it first opened, the prices had been astronomical, briefly nearing 100,000 per square meter. Even after prices cooled, it still sold for 50,000 per square meter—a place completely unaffordable for ordinary people.

He remembered when he was dating Zhao Yating; they had walked past here and imagined what it would be like to make a home here one day. Zhao Yating had excitedly described how she would decorate and furnish the house. Back then, her eyes had been filled with the bright, youthful light of a girl looking forward to an infinite future.

Shaking off the trance, Xu Yi saw someone waving at his vehicle. Gathering his thoughts, he pulled over and rolled down the window.

"Mr. Xu! Hello! I’m the real estate manager who spoke with you earlier. My name is Chen Ronghai; you can just call me Little Chen." The man’s face was filled with a fawning smile.

Xu Yi replied politely, "Manager Chen, you’re too kind. Have you been waiting long? Let me park the car."

Chen Ronghai looked flattered. "Mr. Xu, you’re too formal. I should have come to pick you up myself. I feel terrible for making you drive here. Mr. Xu, please go ahead to the VIP lounge to rest; I’ll park the car for you."

Xu Yi wanted to refuse, but he looked around. The sales center was unusually bustling today; he couldn't find a single parking space in sight.

"Very well, thank you, Manager Chen," Xu Yi said politely.

"Hehe! Not at all, not a bother. Mr. Xu, the VIP lounge is inside, turn right. I’ve already left instructions; just state your name and someone will attend to you. I’ll go park your car now."

Xu Yi nodded, handed over the car keys, and walked into the sales center. The VIP lounge was easy to find. The space was vast, yet few people were inside, and the attendants were all stunningly beautiful women dressed in qipao. This beautiful scenery naturally attracted the gazes of passersby.

As Xu Yi approached, one of the attendants noticed him and immediately offered a sweet smile. "Sir, this is the VIP lounge. Do you have an appointment?"

Xu Yi shook his head. "No, but your Manager Chen said he had already made arrangements."

The woman’s eyes lit up. "Are you Mr. Xu Yi?"

Xu Yi nodded.

Her smile deepened. "My apologies, Mr. Xu. Please, let me take you to the lounge. Follow me."

She bowed to gesture him forward, and as Xu Yi passed, she subtly pressed her chest toward him, intentionally or otherwise. She was burning with excitement; the manager had specifically told them this morning that a VIP was arriving and that they must not be negligent. Anyone who came here was wealthy, so they wouldn't dare be careless, but someone as young, handsome, and wealthy as Xu Yi was a rare find. She decided on the spot that she would not let this opportunity slip by.

Just as she was preparing to escalate her physical advances, a furious shout echoed through the entire VIP area.

"Damn it! What are you doing? When did I ever touch your ass? Where’s your proof? Explain yourself! Do you know who I am? Damn it! You bitch, you’re just trying to extort money from me!"