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Chapter 446 Another Path to Eternity, A Clash of Martial Intent

A mountain breeze carrying fine rain blew into the pavilion, bringing a refreshing coolness.

The pines and cypresses outside the pavilion swayed slightly in the wind and rain, making a rustling sound, as if accompanying this quiet conversation.

"Martial arts have never been a simple killing technique, but a path to 'self-awareness'."

Shi Chengyi's voice echoed in the pavilion, clear and steady.

"Technology can give people stronger weapons, drugs can modify the body to be stronger, and superpowers are a power bestowed by God."

"But these are all external things. If you use external things for too long, you will lose yourself, become dependent on them, and forget who you really are."

As he spoke, he took a step forward, reached out and patted the gleaming bluestone railing, which was polished smooth by the rain, making a clear "smack" sound.

"The human body is like a vessel, and external things are like the water that is contained inside."

"Technology and superpowers are like constantly adding water to a vessel, but never thinking about reinforcing the vessel itself."

"But vessels, regardless of their capacity or material, have their limits. Once they can no longer withstand the surging power, the result is that the vessel shatters and the water spills, and everything is in vain."

This metaphor, though simple, hits the nail on the head, causing Fang Cheng's mind to stir slightly.

He looked down at his palms, feeling the sun-like heat of energy within him, and asked:
"Therefore, the fundamental purpose of martial artists honing their physical bodies and cultivating true qi is not to improve their methods of killing enemies, but to continuously strengthen the body as a 'vessel' and achieve an elevation of their life level?"

"Good question."

A glint of approval flashed in Shi Chengyi's eyes, and he nodded, saying:

“What we martial artists cultivate is indeed this ‘vessel’ itself. Polishing the body, practicing stances and fist techniques are all for the purpose of ‘knowing oneself,’ understanding the opening and closing and limits of every inch of tendons and bones, and the circulation and flow of every strand of qi and blood.”

"But this is only the first step, the foundation. More importantly, it is about 'knowing yourself'."

He held up one finger and tapped his chest.

Then he looked at Fang Cheng, his eyes gleaming with a burning light that seemed to see right through people's hearts.

"In the tedious and arduous training, examine your own laziness and cowardice; in the fierce battles, confront your own fear and anger."

"Taoism says, 'Embrace the original essence and guard the oneness, cultivate pure yang,' while Buddhism says, 'Understand your mind and see your true nature, without seeking externally.'"

"The process of learning martial arts is like forging a peerless weapon. It is tempered with sweat and forged with willpower, peeling away the impurities acquired later in life. What remains is your innate, purest 'true self'."

Seeing that Fang Cheng seemed to be deep in thought, Shi Chengyi continued:
"Martial arts often say, 'Use your mind to guide your energy, and use your energy to move your body.'"

"This 'intention' is the key; it originates from your 'true self,' which for us martial artists can also be called 'martial intent.'"

"Without a strong will, even the most exquisite boxing techniques are just empty shells, like a tree without roots."

"Therefore, when we visualize the inner landscape, we do so in order to concentrate this martial intent and transform the ethereal spirit into a perceptible power."

Ultimately, when your 'true self' is pure enough and powerful enough, you can reach the state of 'doing whatever you want without overstepping the bounds'.

Shi Chengyi's tone became leisurely, as if he were describing a beautiful and magnificent painting.

"It is a kind of complete control over one's own life, a kind of perfect self-sufficiency that does not require external help."

"At that time, your every move will be in harmony with the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, and with a single thought, you will be able to draw upon invisible forces."

"No matter how advanced the technology or how bizarre the superpowers of the outside world are, they are nothing but illusions in front of you, because you are the only reality."

He paced back and forth for a couple of steps, his gaze sweeping over the misty mountain scenery outside the pavilion, and his entire demeanor became expansive and lofty.

"Technological breakthroughs have given humanity the possibility of exploring the infinite universe within its finite lifespan."

"But if we rely solely on cold machines, our spirit will never be able to touch the truth of the universe."

"The ultimate goal of martial arts is to use one's own heart to represent the heart of heaven, to use the insignificance of one's individual life to comprehend the vastness of the universe and all living beings, and ultimately to achieve a sublimation of one's life level."

"This is the true essence of martial arts, another path to eternity."

Raindrops fell silently from the leaden sky, soaking every inch of the Xishan Cemetery.

The distant mountains undulated in the rain and mist, resembling a sleeping, dark dragon.

The nearby tombstones stand silently, as if listening to this conversation about the true meaning of life.

Fang Cheng followed Shi Chengyi's gaze and looked at the sky shrouded in dark clouds.

The almost philosophical discourse on martial arts that he had just heard exploded in his mind like a thunderclap.

He had personally witnessed the insane mutations of experimental subjects such as Goro Mashima, and seen the powerful yet out-of-control forces of those superhumans.

There was also the instruction and example from the teachers in the martial arts research association, and my own experience of cultivating internal energy and meditating day after day...

Countless scattered images and insights are now completely connected by a golden thread, forming a complete system.

The sound of rain became exceptionally clear at this moment, and the sound of each raindrop hitting the eaves of the pavilion seemed to confirm the words echoing in the pavilion.

"pity……"

As Shi Chengyi spoke, his tone shifted, revealing a clear hint of regret and criticism:
"Many people in the team have forgotten this, or rather, they simply don't believe it."

"They are obsessed with genetic optimization and enthusiastic about human experimentation, believing that they can mass-produce strong individuals through drugs and surgery."

"Unbeknownst to them, the warriors who were forced into this state already had their spirits and wills riddled with holes and their foundations unstable. Like a tower built on sand, they may appear strong, but they are actually vulnerable."

"If the goal is simply to achieve the highest efficiency in terms of lethality, then this shortcut they've taken might not be wrong."

"But on the path of self-evolution, they are merely building a magnificent sand tower."

“We martial artists hone ourselves every day, forging true gold in the furnace, pursuing that unique truth and infinity that belongs to us.”

Fang Cheng listened quietly without interrupting.

The old man before me possesses a vision and perspective that far surpasses that of Ma Jianguo.

After pondering for a long time, he bowed deeply to Shi Chengyi.
"Thank you for your guidance, Master Shi. I have learned a lot from your teachings."

"Haha, no need to be polite."

Shi Chengyi smiled and waved his hand, his eyes filled with even more admiration:

"These words were actually mostly taught to us younger generations by Chief Li Guizhen back then."

"At my age, I've only scratched the surface. It's a great pleasure for me to be able to compare myself with a rising star like you."

Li Guizhen...

Upon hearing the name of this martial arts legend again, Fang Cheng's expression shifted slightly.

“Jianguo said that you have successfully made up your mind, visualized a magnificent sun, and even begun to work on condensing your true self.”

Shi Chengyi paused slightly, his eyes sharpening:

"I am not very talented, but I would like to learn a thing or two from you."

Fang Cheng was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

Although one could sense that the old man in front of them possessed exceptionally vigorous energy and blood, far surpassing that of ordinary martial artists.

However, in terms of the abundance of true energy, it probably cannot compare with that of this freak himself.

If it's just a contest of hand-to-hand combat skills, then it's even more like child's play.

Fang Cheng was afraid that if he didn't control his strength properly, he might break the old man's bones with a single punch.

"Of course." Seeing Fang Cheng's surprised expression, Shi Chengyi immediately explained:
"It's not about using fists and kicks, nor is it about testing the strength of one's internal energy; it's about using a method unique to us martial artists."

As he spoke, he smiled slightly, stood with his feet slightly apart, and crossed his arms in front of him, assuming an ancient Hunyuan stance.

The next moment, Shi Chengyi's eyes slowly closed, and his aura was completely contained.

It was as if he had instantly transformed from a living person into a silent, unfathomable rock.

However, Fang Cheng felt as if the air around him had frozen.

An invisible aura, as solid as a mountain and as heavy as the earth, emanated from Shi Chengyi and enveloped the entire stone pavilion.

Under this overwhelming force, even the rain outside the pavilion seemed to slow down.

This is not the release of true qi, but a pure spiritual will, the "martial intent" that Shi Chengyi has accumulated through a lifetime of military service and trials!
Fang Cheng understood that this was a battle on a spiritual level.

He showed no fear and slowly closed his eyes as well.

If Shi Chengyi's martial intent is like a heavy mountain that suppresses all things...

Then, in Fang Cheng's perceived world, a golden sun suddenly rose.

There was no earth-shattering collision, no deafening roar.

The sun simply hung there quietly, radiating endless light and heat.

Shi Chengyi's unwavering will, as solid as a mountain, began to melt away and crumble silently under the sun's rays, like ice and snow in spring.

They were not defeated, but assimilated and embraced.

Shi Chengyi suddenly opened his eyes, his face filled with disbelief and shock. He even staggered back half a step before regaining his balance.

The look in his eyes as he looked at Fang Cheng had changed from admiration to utter shock and awe.

"Ignite a sun in my heart, and there is no other sky beyond me..."

Shi Chengyi muttered to himself, seemingly recalling a poem he had seen in a water dungeon somewhere.

He then gave a wry smile, and solemnly clasped his hands and bowed to Fang Cheng:

"I am completely convinced."

He originally intended to take this opportunity to assess Fang Cheng's capabilities, and even harbored the intention of offering guidance as a senior.

Unexpectedly, the opponent's martial arts will was so magnificent and domineering!
"Mr. Shi, you flatter me."

Fang Cheng opened his eyes, his expression calm.

"It's not heavy at all!"

Shi Chengyi waved his hand, his expression revealing his excitement:
"Your path to true self has already put you ahead of us old guys. Even when Chief Li was young, he probably wasn't much better than you."

Fang Cheng's heart stirred slightly, and he then asked sincerely:
"This junior does indeed have many questions about martial arts cultivation."

"Especially in the process of concentrating the true self, although one may be able to successfully establish the intention and visualize a great sun in the inner world, creating a world, that world is currently devoid of any life."

"This junior does not know which path to take next, nor how to successfully manifest the inner world and interfere with reality."

Upon hearing this, Shi Chengyi's eyes showed even greater approval.

Being humble and composed, and facing problems head-on—this is the true mindset of a seeker of truth.

He considered for a moment and said in a deep voice:

"I remember Chief Li once taught that the key to uniting one's true self lies in 'unity of knowledge and action'."

“Contemplation of the inner world is ‘knowledge,’ while the code of conduct in the real world is ‘action.’”

"The great sun in your inner world is currently just a seed, a concept."

"It is lifeless because you have not yet watered it with real actions, and given it true 'god'."

"Only when your actions are in complete alignment with the path of the 'true self' you contemplate can 'knowledge' and 'action' be united, and your inner world can be transformed from the abstract to the concrete, truly becoming perfect."

He looked at Fang Cheng, his eyes flickering, as if recalling the feeling of their previous contest of martial intent.

Then, he elaborated, word by word:

"Your path can be described as the path of the sun."

"The way of the sun has two sides: one is the 'vitality' that shines on all things and blesses all living beings; the other is the 'tyranny' that burns away all gloom and darkness."

"When you perform acts of protection in reality, your inner world will come alive and nurture all things."

"Conversely, when you wield the power of thunder in reality, your great sun will become even more blazing and magnificent."

"This road is difficult, but once it's cleared, the future is limitless!"

Shi Chengyi generously shared all the experience Li Guizhen had taught him, his eyes practically overflowing with expectation.

Fang Cheng listened attentively, memorizing these valuable experiences, and suddenly felt enlightened.

After a long talk, the relationship between the two had unknowingly grown much closer.

Shi Chengyi looked at Fang Cheng, filled with emotion:
"I thought that the path of martial arts would gradually decline after our generation and become dust in history. I never expected that there would be no dead end, and that a genius like you would suddenly appear."

He took a deep breath and finally revealed the true purpose of his trip, his expression extremely solemn.

“Junior Nephew Fang, I am now formally inviting you, in my personal capacity, to join the Special Search Team and revive the path of martial arts.”

There was no response after he finished speaking.

Inside the stone pavilion, only the soft patter of rain could be heard for a moment.

Fang Cheng stood there calmly, looking out of the pavilion, as if he hadn't heard what had just been said.

Upon seeing this, Shi Chengyi paused for a moment, then his voice became impassioned:
"Junior Nephew Fang, do you know what you possess? It's not just martial arts, but a power capable of changing the course of an era!"

"Such power, if used only to maintain a secluded corner and seek only self-preservation, is simply a pearl being smeared and the greatest waste."

"In today's world, undercurrents are surging, extraordinary individuals are emerging frequently, and foreign forces are eyeing us covetously. We are in the midst of a great upheaval that has not been seen in hundreds of years."

"In such a torrent, a true strongman is like a pillar in the middle of the stream, a stabilizing force."

"Therefore, the country needs you, the people need you, and our increasingly declining martial arts need geniuses like you as a banner to unite people's hearts!"

However, faced with these resounding words, Fang Cheng simply gazed quietly at the mountain scenery outside the pavilion, his eyes clear and calm.

Shi Chengyi seemed to realize that simple patriotism might not be enough to move the young man in front of him.

He changed the subject, his tone softening:

“I know you have concerns. Joining the Special Investigations Team means responsibility, but it also means danger.”

"But it also provides protection. Your family, your mother and grandfather, will receive the highest level of security, so you don't need to worry about that."

"Anyone who dares to disturb their peaceful lives will face the thunderous wrath of the entire state apparatus."

After saying that, he looked at Fang Cheng expectantly, believing that this offer was enough to move anyone who valued family ties.

Fang Cheng's eyes flickered, as if he was seriously considering it.

(End of this chapter)