The corner gives the wooden martial arts master, whose martial arts are equivalent to a harem.

"Because I was the last one in the first batch that no one picked," Ling Feixing said, recounting the situation back then with a sense of relief.

"Quack! Who dares? Who can look down on you?! Oh, I understand now, those people simply cannot comprehend the supreme domineering spirit in your heart, Louis Koo! Those people also cannot comprehend the astonishing martial arts wisdom of you, Fei Xing Beauty!"

Because Bajiquan, after emerging from seclusion and remaining silent, kept quiet and secretly observed the situation until he understood everything. He felt indignant for Gu Chuanhen and also felt indignant for Ling Feixing.

Thank you for supporting me. Bajiquan, you truly are worthy of being my beginner's style, even though my favorability rating is only half full. Thank you also for supporting Teacher Ling; your Bajiquan style is indeed worthy of being my beginner's style.

Just as Gu Chuanhen was about to say something, Ling Feixing began to pour out her grievances. She abandoned her usual calm and gentle demeanor as a teacher and displayed a rare youthful energy in her outpouring.

Her demeanor was like that of a corporate slave, cursing her competitive colleagues and her stupid boss.

"The geniuses selected in the first cohort in 1985 were far more formidable than those selected today. While it's not fair to say that each cohort is worse than the last, many of the eligible children in the first cohort truly seemed like chosen ones."

Of course, I don't count.

Let's talk about Chu Ci first. That guy, who was initially ranked in the lower middle, displayed a kind of "spirit" that I don't know how to describe when practicing martial arts. He seemed to know innately how to practice and fight certain martial arts. He knew how to practice many secret techniques just by looking at them, and he could point out the shortcomings of these secret techniques after just one look. No matter how hidden they were, he could point them out and improve them. I felt like he had an old man with him guiding him around.

Jiang Wei, a young martial artist from Tianshui, recounts a childhood dream in which an immortal taught him martial arts. Upon waking, he only remembered one technique, the "Qilin Skill," which, combined with Xingyi Quan (a style of Chinese martial arts), became Xingyi Qilin Fist. He then created the secret fist technique, Qilin Bow, which integrates training and fighting. The bowstring twangs like thunder, and each punch seems to unleash a living Qilin. While the Qilin is a symbol of good fortune, and he is indeed a divine healer, capable of curing all sorts of ailments, truly deserving of the Qilin's auspicious symbolism, the Qilin he uses in combat can be compared to the Fire Qilin of Lingyun Cave in the TV series *Storm Riders*. It's not auspicious; rather, it's a ferocious beast, the Qilin Demon. What kind of dream is this—Nie Feng, Bu Jingyun, Qilin Arm, Qilin Demon? Is this even possible?

Hejian Luwu, her name is Luwu. When she was young, Luwu was frightened by a tiger while practicing martial arts in Changbai Mountain and fell seriously ill. After recovering, her understanding of "tiger" far surpassed that of anyone else. She could master all kinds of martial arts related to tigers. Later, she incorporated various martial arts and secret fist techniques with "tiger" in their names and created her own Tiger Form Fist. Later, in Kunlun Mountain, she refined the "Tiger Form Tiger God" into the divine beast Luwu. Now her fist is called Luwu Fist. It is said that she is currently in seclusion in Kunlun Mountain, preparing to transform Luwu into the image of "Queen Mother of the West". When we went to the wedding banquet of Chu Ci's sister last time, we found that she did indeed look like a ferocious half-human and half-beast.

Xiang Bofu, the Little Conqueror of Jiangdong, has muscle fiber density a hundred times that of an ordinary person. He is born with 100% power utilization and his 100% power release is not harmful after being modified by the Secret Fist. It is most appropriate to describe him as having the strength to lift a cauldron. The most exaggerated thing is that his muscles can generate and store electrical energy. His favorite thing to do is to attract lightning to strike himself during thunderstorms.

Although scientific research has shown that human muscle cells generate static electricity during metabolism, and theoretically about 3 cubic centimeters of muscle can generate 40 volts, this is just scientific theory, right?

How did he turn theory into reality? And it's a reality that can't be reproduced. The only way to reproduce it is through cloning. Moreover, this electricity can also stimulate his muscles to make him stronger. At the same time, the discharge makes his punches more powerful. Have you seen "Fist of Fury"? It's the second sequel to "New Fist of Fury 1991". His punch is like the Electric Horn God Fist, and fighting him is like being hit by at least 100,000 volts of electricity. Is he an electric rat?

I feel like he's a character straight out of "The Legend of the Emperor," capable of unleashing the Seven Strike of Purple Thunder as long as he wields the Overlord Blade.

The genius Di Ao can transform various martial arts into something completely different from its original form, and even the very essence of the martial arts will mutate, just like a person wearing a stone mask becomes a vampire. And these "mutations in martial arts" happen to become the most suitable form for her. To give an analogy, it's like practicing various internal energy in reverse in martial arts novels, or like Ouyang Feng blindly practicing the "Nine Yin Manual," but she actually made a name for herself in it.

The sorcerer Zhuge Jing possesses innate intelligence far exceeding that of ordinary people. Utilizing the brain-training techniques from the Eight Trigrams Secret Fist: Eight Trigrams Immortal Refining, she modified the mud-walking step of Baguazhang into something resembling the "Lingbo Weibu" (a martial arts technique). She also studied classic divination arts such as Ziwei Doushu, Plum Blossom Divination, Qimen Dunjia, Huozhulin, and Liuyao Pan. Combining these divination classics with traditional street magic and foreign magic into Baguazhang, fighting her is like fighting a sorcerer from a fantasy novel. Her martial arts skills are exquisitely refined, seemingly combining profound and unfathomable magic, leaving viewers mesmerized and in awe.

Before learning martial arts, Li Lingdang, the "Splitter of Blades," possessed the reflexes to detect bullets, though her physical limitations prevented her from dodging them. However, after training, she mastered Jeet Kune Do, Wing Chun, and various sword and knife techniques. Combining these martial arts skills, she could now slice bullets with her blade. Even without her personal weapon, she could unleash nine inches of sword energy and a foot of blade aura with her fingers. Isn't that incredible? Before learning martial arts, this five-year-old girl, from the age of three, was already using her sword energy and blade aura to help her family's restaurant chop vegetables and prepare ingredients in the kitchen. Isn't that incredible? Of course, her culinary skills were also exceptional, without a doubt.

Ah, just thinking about sword energy and blade aura makes me angry. It's something that can't be explained by science, or even by martial arts. It can only be explained by metaphysics. It's because of this metaphysics that she's now traveling between Wudang Mountain, Longhu Mountain, Qiyun Mountain, and other major Taoist sects to cultivate. The reason for this is that she wants to go to other places to change her mood after staying in one place for too long.

Last time she told me that she saw a future for martial arts and wanted to combine martial arts and Taoist arts. She even asked me if I thought it was feasible. That's really outrageous. How can Taoist arts be combined with martial arts?

There was also a Vajra Monk named Fahai, whose Dharma name was indeed Fahai. He originally studied martial arts under a master at Xiaoning Temple, but was deeply influenced by Buddhism and felt its boundless philosophical wisdom, so he devoted himself to studying Buddhism. This guy's talent in Buddhism was even greater than his high aptitude in martial arts.

Before learning martial arts, his ability to withstand blows far exceeded that of ordinary people. He was a fierce person who could withstand bullets even before being modified by the Secret Fist. After scientists studied his body, do you know what amazing conclusion they came to?

Let me explain briefly. His body has a large number of strange reticular tissues distributed in various places. They are similar to connective tissues and also resemble the male corpus cavernosum, which can expand and harden through blood flow. They also have the powerful regenerative function of myocardial cells and the characteristics of muscles and skin. Muscles can be built up through weightlifting, and skin can develop calluses. This shows that his reticular tissues can become more useful through training.

This mesh-like structure acts like his armor, getting stronger with each hammering. It can defend against all forms of attack to a great extent.

This guy, born with the Vajra Realm, should be practicing various external martial arts techniques, but instead he went to study Buddhism. Last time he said he was learning the "Vajra of the Impure Traces" and planned to combine Buddhism with martial arts like Li Lingdang before testing the results.

Is this a waste of time or a lack of ambition, or simply a squandering of talent?

After introducing a series of "chosen ones," Fei Xing, still feeling depressed, unscrewed his thermos, took a sip of tea, and then continued.

"Now you understand how terrifying the first edition was, right? Those with big names were terrifying, but those without a big reputation were no pushovers either."

Ling Feixing saw monsters everywhere, and Gu Chuanhen saw bosses whose health bars hadn't even lit up yet.

"I see. I see. I see. So it's not unfair that you were only selected in the second round."

After listening to Ling Feixing's complaints, the Great Sage Pi Gua, who was looking down on the mortal realm, nodded slightly.

"Wow?! So many extraordinary talents?! Hehe, Louis Koo, you've got some nerve! If you want to reach the top, you'll have to defeat all these amazing talents! Hehehehehehehehehe! Quack!! I'm about to see rivers of blood flowing!"

Ling Feixing! Don't be discouraged! Your extraordinary martial arts skills and wisdom are no less than anyone else's!

After listening to Ling Feixing's complaints, Bajiquan laughed wildly, delighted that Gu Chuan's future opponents were all formidable! At the same time, she comforted Ling Feixing.

It's amazing that this crazy woman can actually comfort others.

Gu Chuanhen had been considered a mental threat for not having spoken with the two martial arts masters, and although that threat had been somewhat alleviated, speaking with them now would certainly confirm it.

After a moment's thought, Gu Chuanhen weakly raised his hand: "Then how did Chu Ci defeat all these geniuses of the same year?"

"What do you think his initial ranking was?" Ling Feixing asked Gu Chuanhen another question. Then, without waiting for Gu Chuanhen's answer, he threw out his own answer, "He was sixty-third in 1985, but this year he became fifth."

"Huh? Didn't he defeat all the geniuses of his class when he was twenty? How come his ranking dropped this year?" Gu Chuanhen realized he had made a stupid mistake as soon as he finished speaking.

But Ling Feixing didn't say anything to him for making a foolish mistake; she simply gave an example.

"Do you know about sea coconuts? Sea coconuts are the slowest-germinating plants. It takes two or three years for them to sprout after being sown. Everyone is like a different plant. The time it takes for each plant to mature is different. Martial artists are no exception to this basic principle."

You can't allow only one person to sit firmly on the top spot without being dethroned by others; there will always be someone who rises to the top.

Even though he's no longer number one, he's still one of the most promising people to pave the way forward.

Gu Chuanhen pondered for a moment and then asked a question that concerned him.

"So, what's your ranking, Teacher Ling?" "First place in the second competition. I wasn't ranked in the first competition because I didn't try again."

Gu Chuanhen remained silent, not wanting to expose Ling Feixing's sore spot.

Therefore, Fei Xing revealed his own sore spot.

"I lost so badly to Chu Ci, I have absolutely no confidence in beating anyone else." Ling Feixing admitted her embarrassing past with a hint of helplessness, rubbing her forehead in shame. "If I can't even beat Chu Ci, how can I challenge anyone else?"

"Alas, it is easy to destroy the bandits in the mountains, but difficult to break the bandits in one's heart. If one's heart is entangled with demons, how can one be considered a pure warrior who has seen the divine? Ling Feixing, the divine in your heart is already as clear as a mirror free of dust."

The Great Sage sighed regretfully.

"Huh?! You, Feixing, are already chickening out?! You need to pull yourself together and stop being so spineless! -- You need to perk up!"

Bajiquan was angered by its lack of competitiveness.

Before Gu Chuanhen could say anything inspiring, Fei Xing had already changed the subject.

"However, I believe that Chu Ci will definitely be ranked first again. He is currently ranked fifth only because he is physically strong and cannot easily break through defenses, and because he has strong 'imagery' that can withstand the pressure of adversity and fight against favorable conditions."

In the first competition, the strongest in terms of physical strength were Xiang Bofu and the Vajra Monk. Both of them had high innate talent, not to mention that they had practiced martial arts for so many years.

In my view, to break through a physical defense, aside from those with equally matched physical strength, one should primarily rely on "unique techniques".

However, if the opponent is a master of "imagery" related to the mind, then this method cannot be used by trickery. You must either overwhelm the opponent mentally or defeat them physically.

As for Li Lingdang's sword energy and blade aura, one must defeat her by targeting either her mind or her body.

Since Ling Feixing didn't want to talk about his situation, Gu Chuanhen wasn't oblivious and changed the subject to go along with Ling Feixing's wishes.

So who's number one now?

"The first is Lu Wu of Hejian, the second is Xiang Bofu, the third is Zhuge Jing, the fourth is Li Lingdang, the fifth is Chu Ci, and the sixth is Vajra Monk."

Gu Chuanhen thought for a moment: "Is it ranked first because of the imagery of the 'Queen Mother of the West'?"

"That's right, her imagery carries both auspicious and inauspicious connotations. You must know that the Queen Mother of the West's initial image was that of a fierce goddess with tiger teeth, a leopard's tail, a human face, and an animal body. Only later did she evolve into a supreme and auspicious goddess, the head of all female immortals. In this process of 'evolution,' her 'mind' would influence both herself and her opponents."

If it affects yourself, it's like having a favorable wind; if it affects your opponent, it's like your opponent has to play against the wind under pressure.

If the transformation is complete, she will be the 'true' reincarnation of the Queen Mother of the West, right?

Gu Chuanhen nodded slightly: "I understand. This imagery is meant to buff oneself and weaken the opponent."

"That's one way to understand it," Ling Feixing agreed, and then shared his method of defeating Lu Wu without reservation, based on his own perspective.

"However, a strong mental image does not necessarily mean a strong physical body. As long as one can withstand the pressure, one can defeat Lu Wu physically. Everyone understands this."

However, no one could find an image that could easily dominate. The Queen Mother of the West was already the head of the female immortals. If one wanted to defeat the Queen Mother of the West, one could not choose the King Duke of the East, because the King Duke of the East, the head of the male immortals, was on equal footing with the Queen Mother of the West, the head of the female immortals. The best outcome would only be a draw.

As for the image of Pangu as a creator goddess, it cannot be said to be able to dominate. You should know that Xi Wangmu also had the aspect of creation in the process of evolution, and this aspect of creation was later adopted by "Wusheng Laomu".

While the martial artists of the first generation in the 1990s could certainly defeat her before she fully transformed her image into that of the Queen Mother of the West, no one would choose to do so. The reason is simple: they are martial artists. Precisely because they are martial artists, they crave an opponent who has achieved complete mastery, not one who has not. Only mortal enemies would eliminate their opponent before they have fully matured.

The other faction firmly believed that their physical bodies could withstand pressure and turn the tide in adverse situations. Xiang Bofu was the leader of this faction.

The Chu Ci (Songs of Chu) does not belong to either of the above two schools. It treats martial arts competitions merely as resources; regardless of victory or defeat, each competition becomes a resource for developing one's own martial arts path. I can see this.

He wanted to forge a path in martial arts that could both suppress the physical body possessing innate superiority and suppress the minds of all kinds of powerful beings.

After listening to Ling Feixing's story, Gu Chuanhen had a flash of inspiration and blurted out what was on his mind.

"The top two masters undoubtedly have strengths in both mind and body, but their ranking is determined by the degree of their abilities. If they could cultivate both mind and body equally and make them equally strong, wouldn't it be a win-win situation? In that case, the mind would influence the body, and the body would benefit the mind, forming a mutually reinforcing cycle. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"I've also thought about the prototype of this theory, and I named it 'Perfect Life and Body.' However, I didn't think about the complementary relationship you mentioned later, because I believe that no matter how much the mind influences the body, it can't make a person into a body with the innate nature of Xiang Bofu." Ling Feixing smiled. "However, if the theory of 'Perfect Life and Body' comes true, it will definitely solve many problems and will surely pave a broad path for martial arts."

She paused for a moment, then laughed, leaving Fei Xing clearly feeling confused and helpless with anxiety.

"It's easy to say, but to complete it would take who knows how many years. Maybe ten, maybe eleven, twelve, or thirteen, who knows? My talent is limited to this. I would be satisfied if I could create a secret style of martial arts."

She somewhat resigned herself to her other ambitions and kept quiet about wanting to forge a new path in martial arts.

"Take your time." Gu Chuanhen noticed Ling Feixing's downcast mood and said whatever came to mind.

Ling Feixing shook his head, seemingly stubborn and willful: "I don't want to take it slow."

Gu Chuanhen used his limited wisdom to explain a very common truth: "But only by taking it slowly can you speed things up."

After he finished speaking, you could hear a pin drop, and the two fell silent.

Ling Feixing looked at Gu Chuanhen, and Gu Chuanhen looked at Ling Feixing. Their eyes met, and they spoke with their eyes, neither backing down from their thoughts.

The passing seconds turned into minutes, and the ten-kilometer distance rapidly shrank in those slow seconds.

Until the sound from the train came.

"...We've arrived at Shennongjia Station..."

"See, take your time, it'll get faster eventually." Gu Chuanhen casually stacked the two empty instant noodle containers and threw them into the trash can, then shouldered his backpack, picked up his bags and walked into the corridor.

After thinking for a moment, he leaned back to look at Ling Feixing, who was about to walk into the corridor, and said another sentence to continue.

"Take it slow, like with a sea coconut; it will eventually speed things up."

After speaking, he turned and walked towards the train door, but his steps were slow, as if he was waiting for Ling Feixing to catch up.

"Such unwavering resilience, my disciple, your character is truly admirable." Ling Feixing murmured to himself as he looked at Gu Chuanhen's short figure.

Then she followed, taking a slow, unhurried step.

Ling Feixing was defeated in the clash of ideas with Gu Chuanhen, but this defeat did not discourage or make him depressed. Instead, it allowed him to slowly regain his lost confidence.

A good teacher imparts the knowledge they possess and the moral integrity they cultivate to their students; conversely, a good student teaches a good teacher what they have lost or have not yet mastered. This is the principle of mutual learning between teacher and student.

Whether planting trees or traveling, whether writing or reading, whether reading or studying, whether studying or practicing martial arts, whatever the reason...

Whether it's creating a secret fist technique to establish a school, paving the way for martial arts, or climbing to the summit to survey the vast landscape—

Take it slow, it will get faster eventually.