Helping each other with countless me.

Chapter 544 Half a Year
Upon hearing this, Li Zhongren nodded slightly. You can't say that Linghu Chong in the original novel is a bad person.

He's just stupid.

And he's not that kind of fool.

After all, it is common knowledge that stupid people are beyond saving.

In his previous life, before he transmigrated, he had seen a news report.

Several administrators at a kindergarten were found to be using paint to make colorful snacks for the children.

Upon hearing this news, one's first instinct would likely be to assume that these unscrupulous individuals were trying to save money.

However, it is true that pigments are cheaper than dyes.

They simply thought the pastries made with dye looked better.

At this point, you could also conclude that these people are heartless, harming children's health for the sake of so-called good looks.

But then, something even more incredible happened.

These people also eat it.
Eat these snacks with excessive lead content.

That's why there's a saying: the cunning of a bad person can't compare to the quick wit of a fool.

Fortunately, Linghu Chong's foolishness was just a clear-headed kind of stupidity.

They're not so stupid as to be beyond redemption.

Thinking of this, Li Zhongren continued to ask.

"Second question: Senior Brother, you are loyal and righteous, and you would go to great lengths for your friends. This is the true nature of chivalry."

"However, the world is treacherous, and people's hearts are unpredictable. If one day, your so-called close friends or the person you love deeply act against the principles of chivalry and justice, or even become enemies of Mount Hua, how will you conduct yourself? Will you bend the law for personal gain, disregard righteousness for personal feelings, and even risk using the power I have given you today to aid the wicked? Or will you be able to uphold your principles, distinguish right from wrong, and prioritize the rules of Mount Hua and the righteous path of the world?"

"This"

Linghu Chong scratched his head.

He wasn't the Linghu Chong from the Five Tyrants Gang in the original story. He was just a sixteen-year-old boy now. However, Linghu Chong's intelligence was undeniable, and he couldn't help but reflect on his own actions.

Yes, he was indeed acting on emotion.

His fellow disciples' simple address of "senior brother" was enough to send him down the mountain to buy wine and meat.

He would cover for his junior brother when he made a mistake.

If, in the future, you do meet someone with a similar temperament, but that person is not a good person...

he.
Thinking about this, Linghu Chong dared not think any further.

After all, the person who knows you best in this world is yourself.

Linghu Chong knew all too well that if things went this way, he would probably do something that would disappoint everyone.
"Junior brother, I didn't expect that we've only known each other for a little over a month, yet you seem to understand me better than I do."

Linghu Chong took a deep breath and continued.

"I am indeed an emotional person. I once found a petty thief at the foot of the mountain, but he had his code of honor, so I let him go. Now that I think about it, this is what my junior brother meant by being emotional."

"Therefore, to this question, I can only answer that I, Linghu Chong, will not act against my conscience. This is my nature. I dare not say that I can change my mind if I promise my junior brother today. That would be lying and deception. But I, Linghu Chong, can swear to heaven that if my actions harm the interests of Mount Hua, hurt the feelings of my grandmaster, master, and junior brother, or fail to live up to your expectations, I am willing to accept any punishment."

"He's a man."

Li Zhongren gave a thumbs up.

"As the saying goes, 'It's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature.' If you agree to that without question, I will believe you are lying."

"Alright, Master, I have no more questions. If Senior Brother can do what he says, I am willing to cooperate with Uncle Feng."

Feng Qingyang witnessed the entire exchange of questions and promises between Li Zhongren and Linghu Chong.

His usually calm face was now rippling with emotion—a mixture of relief,感慨, and a sense of certainty about the future of Mount Hua. Then, he spoke.

The sound was clear and melodious, overpowering the wind whispering through the cliffs.

"Zhongren's question is insightful and hits the nail on the head! Chong'er's answer is sincere and frank, and shows his chivalrous spirit! I am very pleased!"

His gaze was sharp as he swept over the two brothers, whose personalities were so different yet seemed to complement each other perfectly.

"However, I also have a question, but I want to ask you two."

"Grand Uncle, please ask."

Li Zhongren and Linghu Chong bowed to each other.

"The third question is whether the old grudges between you two can be put aside and put aside? Can you put aside your grievances, truly shake hands and make peace, and work together with one heart and one mind?"

"I have no problem here."

Li Zhongren spoke first.

“I have no personal grudge against my senior brother. The conflict that day was just because I felt that my senior brother was not considerate of Master. Now that my senior brother has repented, I am willing to shake hands with him and make peace. From now on, my senior brother and I will work together with one heart and one mind, and there will be no rift between us.”

"Also, please forgive my impulsiveness that day, senior brother."

After saying this, Li Zhongren bowed deeply to Linghu Chong.

This bow left Linghu Chong stunned.

There was no deep-seated hatred between the teenagers; it was merely a matter of pride. Li Zhongren's preemptive show of weakness made Linghu Chong feel a burning embarrassment. He, a sixteen-year-old man, had been lectured by a twelve-year-old.
Thinking of this, he quickly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Junior brother! All that happened in the past was due to my foolishness! From today onwards, Linghu Chong will have no more grudges in his heart! You are the pillar of our Huashan Sect, and more importantly, you are my brother who will fight alongside me for the rest of my life! Heaven and earth can bear witness to this! If I betray you, may I be struck by lightning!"

"hehe."

Seeing this, Yue Buqun and Feng Qingyang exchanged a glance.

Both of them are shrewd people who have lived for decades or even nearly a century. They can tell at a glance whether one of them is lying or telling the truth.

Both of these children have the pure and innocent heart of a child.

Saying this now naturally means putting aside past grievances.

Of course, the happiest person here is Yue Buqun. If he placed most of his hopes for the rise of Mount Hua on Li Zhongren, then most of his remaining love was on Linghu Chong. He truly raised him as a son. Now that this son has turned over a new leaf and reformed his ways, how could he, as a father, not be happy?

Thinking of this, Yue Buqun took one last look at Li Zhongren and Linghu Chong, his eyes full of expectation and entrustment, before turning and gracefully descending the mountain.
-
Dividing line

"Zhongren, sit cross-legged with your five centers facing the sky, circulate the Hunyuan Gong, embrace the original essence and guard the oneness, and sink your mind into the dantian."

As night fell, Feng Qingyang pointed out in the cave at Siguo Cliff.

"Chong'er, sit opposite him, place your hands on Zhongren's palms at the 'Laogong' acupoint, circulate your newly learned 'Baoyuan Shouyi Mind Method,' open your mind and body, and accept the guidance!"

Li Zhongren sat down as instructed, and the Hunyuan Gong within his body slowly circulated. The vast and boundless Qi and blood surged through his meridians like a giant dragon awakening. With a slight thought, he channeled an incomparably pure, vibrant, pale golden Qi and blood along the meridians of his arm, continuously flowing towards the Laogong acupoint in his palm.

Linghu Chong felt a warm, powerful, and vibrant torrent rushing into his body like a river bursting its banks!
This power was completely different from the internal energy he cultivated. It was closer to the source of life and did not reject him at all. Instead, it instantly merged into his parched meridians and nourished his tired body. However, this energy would not be stored in his dantian along his meridians.

Instead, it spread along the way, reaching into his flesh and blood.

Just as Uncle Feng said.

This kind of blood and qi energy will not directly improve his skill; he still needs to refine his essence into qi himself. However, this also allows him to avoid the mixed and impure nature of the true qi produced by the so-called evil technique of the Star Absorbing Skill.

"Focus your mind on your dantian and guide it! Do not resist, and do not be greedy! Guide this power to nourish your meridians and strengthen your source!"

Feng Qingyang's voice was like a stabilizing force.

Upon hearing this, Linghu Chong immediately composed himself and fully activated the "Embracing the Yuan and Guarding the One Mind Technique," carefully guiding this vast yet gentle power to circulate throughout his body. After about an incense stick's time, Feng Qingyang saw that Linghu Chong's breathing had gradually stabilized and his complexion was rosy. Knowing that the first transmission had been just right, he signaled Li Zhongren to slowly stop the practice.

Chong'er, go to the secret room and practice the breathing techniques that accompany the Dugu Nine Swords, and digest all the Qi and blood that Zhongren transferred to you.

"Yes, Grand Uncle."

Upon hearing this, Linghu Chong got up and left.

Then, Feng Qingyang looked at Li Zhongren.

“Zhongren, your foundation is complete, and the first volume of Hunyuan Gong is perfected, but the application of the second volume still needs to be refined.”

"After much deliberation, I have decided that the second volume of Hunyuan Gong contains several techniques, but as the saying goes, 'don't bite off more than you can chew.' Therefore, after careful consideration, I have decided to have you wholeheartedly learn one boxing technique from the second volume."

"boxing?"

"Yes, although Mount Hua is founded on the sword, it is not only about swordsmanship. This fist technique is called the Empty Bright Fist!"

"Empty Fist".

Upon hearing this, Li Zhongren nodded secretly. Sure enough, since Hunyuan Gong was created by Zhou Botong, that old rascal, it made perfect sense for him to incorporate his own creation into it.

"This boxing style was created by the senior Zhou Botong in his later years, and its essence lies in the two words 'emptiness' and 'softness'!"

"It's not about brute force, but about using the insubstantial to overcome the substantial, and the soft to defeat the hard! When you practice it to a high level, you can lift heavy objects with ease and light objects with great force. You can achieve a state of exquisite and subtle control over your own strength, speed, and even every inch of your muscles and bones!"

"The advantage of this is that once you practice the Empty Fist, you can fully develop your control over yourself. Combat techniques, evasion techniques, and even travel techniques can all be derived from the Empty Fist."

"Originally, the Empty Fist did not have such great power, but because of your special physique, you were able to push the Hunyuan Gong to its limit in just one month. And the Hunyuan Gong is a technique that grows stronger with each battle, with true qi flowing endlessly, which allows you to do such a luxurious thing."

"Therefore, as long as you master the essence of this boxing style, you can make up for all your shortcomings."

"Of course."

At this point, Feng Qingyang stroked his beard.

"The Empty Fist is ultimately a close-quarters martial art. It's fine for short-distance dodging and maneuvering, but for long-distance attacks, it can't compare to true lightness skills. However, you don't need to do that. Leave those things to Chong'er. You just need to fight head-on and defeat any enemy from Mount Hua."

"Yes, Grand Uncle!"

"There's one more thing. Hunyuan Gong, Hunyuan Gong is the result of Senior Zhou Botong fusing his blood and qi with his true qi, and this thing is called Gang Jin!"

"The Kongming Fist has developed itself to its extreme, which naturally includes the Gang Jin (internal energy)."

"You should have learned something from your previous fight with that kid Yue Buqun. Although your internal energy is as easy to control as your own arm, it is too slow, like the flowing water in a stream. But if you master the Kongming Fist in the future, your internal energy will become a mighty river. With just a thought, it will surge forth!"

"Whether as pervasive as flowing water or as unbreakable as a rock, though you are empty-handed, you possess ever-changing internal energy as your weapon!"

"Awesome, awesome!"

Li Zhongren was deeply moved and admired Feng Qingyang even more. He was indeed a seasoned veteran, and this was exactly the kind of "skill" he needed!
He immediately held his breath and listened attentively as Feng Qingyang explained the mental techniques and methods of applying energy in the Kongming Fist.

Feng Qingyang explained while demonstrating himself.

His movements appeared slow, but in reality, they contained endless variations. Every punch and kick was devoid of any harshness, light and elusive, as if it had no power at all.

But when he unleashed his fist, the surrounding air seemed to be drawn and compressed by an invisible force, emitting a low hum!
Occasionally, a punch would be thrown, seemingly light and airy, yet it would leave a clear fist imprint on the cliff face several meters away.

"This is the core of the Empty Fist."

"I am not good at boxing, and I am just being forced into this. I am showing you this so that you can understand that the kung fu of Senior Zhou Botong emphasizes the meaning rather than the moves. The Empty Fist has no fixed moves. It is a kind of development of the body."

"Disciple has awakened."
-
Dividing line

Time just slips away, little by little.

In the blink of an eye, more than half a year has passed.

For the past six months, things have been calm and peaceful.

Everything seemed unchanged.

The evil cult continues to wreak havoc from time to time.

The righteous path also occasionally clashes with the demonic sect.

However, observant people may have noticed that the Songshan Sect, which usually flaunts its power and influence, seems to have been quite quiet for the past six months.
Meanwhile, the Huashan Sect, having just opened its doors to disciples, recruited two to three hundred outer disciples in just six months, quickly gaining considerable influence.
Mount Hua, Cliff of Repentance.

Li Zhongren and Linghu Chong stood facing each other.

They prepared for their daily routine: a duel.

In the past six months, Linghu Chong's internal strength has increased like a rocket. With Li Zhongren as his experience point, his internal strength is now comparable to Yue Buqun's. In addition, he has mastered the Dugu Nine Swords technique.

Even Yue Buqun, before he had mastered the Zixia Divine Skill, was no match for him.

Li Zhongren, on the other hand, made rapid progress.

Having already possessed the talent of a time traveler, and with his physical abilities developed to the extreme, he grasped the essence of the Empty Fist technique instantly.

Now, I can control my own power to the extreme, to the point that not even a feather can be added, and not even a mosquito can land.

The only difference between him and the highest level of the Void Fist, the indestructible divine power, is that he needs to accumulate enough experience.

What does it mean to be unharmed even when facing a god?

In Li Zhongren's view, it was simply a matter of expanding his own permissions.

It's like rooting a phone.

This can't be rushed. The permissions for breathing, heartbeat, vagus nerve, digestion, etc., if an ordinary person tries to interfere, they'll probably kick the bucket on the spot.

Therefore, Li Zhongren was not in a hurry, just like the programmer who took over the code left by another programmer.

When he is fully able to control this body through his own will, perhaps some very interesting things will happen.

(End of this chapter)