Physical immortality begins with Bajiquan

By the time everyone left the front hall and returned to the inner courtyard, it was already late, so no one lingered any longer and they all silently dispersed, each with their own thoughts.

"Junior Brother Qin Heng, we'll be going now. Don't stay up too late practicing your skills."

Zhang Mingyuan and Li Yiping stepped forward, greeted each other, and then hurriedly left together.

Qin Heng responded and slowly walked to the empty outer courtyard, intending to practice for a while longer before heading home.

He had just assumed the stance for the Shadowless Step, preparing to practice secretly when no one was around, when he suddenly heard footsteps behind him.

"Qin Heng's cousin."

A cold, deep voice sounded from behind.

Qin Heng turned around slowly upon hearing the sound and saw Qin Tianbao standing a few steps behind him. He had not left with the others and seemed to have come specifically to find him.

But since the other party tried to recruit him a few months ago but was rejected, the two haven't spoken a word to each other. What's the matter this time?

Qin Tianbao approached Qin Heng, looked him up and down, and sneered, "My cousin is really skilled. He managed to break through to the Dark Force realm without me even noticing. He's quite good at hiding it."

Before Qin Heng could answer, he spoke in a flat tone, revealing no emotion, and then changed the subject, saying, "You and I belong to the same close branch of the Qin family, share the same bloodline, and have similar backgrounds. Neither of us has a powerful family or clan to rely on. To think that we can cross the class barrier through hard work alone is as difficult as climbing to heaven."

"Now I won't hide it from you anymore. The Huang family has already accepted me as their son-in-law, so I will no longer be troubled by my humble origins and lack of resources."

Qin Tianbao's eyes gleamed with a burning light as he adopted a sincere and open demeanor: "Cousin, I know your struggles. How much resources can the Cui family's branch provide? Why don't I introduce you to the Huang family? We brothers can join forces, leveraging the power of a prestigious family, and rise to the top in no time! After I marry into the Huang family and take control of their resources and connections, I will definitely promote you. Just stay obediently by my side, and a bright future and fame will be within your grasp!"

Qin Heng remained calm and listened quietly, but his resolve did not waver in the slightest. He simply shook his head and declined, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, cousin. But I have always been used to being free and lazy, and I have no intention of becoming anyone's vassal, obeying orders, or relying on the powerful and wealthy to live under someone else's roof."

He looked up at Qin Tianbao, his tone firm: "Cousin, you should look for someone else."

As soon as Qin Heng finished speaking, he turned around, no longer intending to pay attention to Qin Tianbao, and prepared to continue practicing on the stake.

"stop!"

Qin Tianbao's face suddenly darkened, and the last trace of feigned gentleness in his eyes completely disappeared, leaving only icy coldness.

He never expected that his humble efforts to recruit Qin Heng would result in two unhesitating rejections.

"Good! Good! Good!" He said "good" three times in a row, his voice filled with suppressed anger. "Cousin, do you think you can be on par with me just because you've only just entered the Dark Force realm? Then today, let me, your older cousin, test just how much real skill you really have in your Dark Force!"

Before he could finish speaking, a fierce glint flashed in Qin Tianbao's eyes, and he suddenly sprang up!

The blue brick beneath his feet sank slightly, and his body surged with power. His right arm moved like an iron spear drawn from its sheath, carrying the fierce and domineering nature unique to Bajiquan. His fist was wrapped in a chilling, hidden force, aiming straight for Qin Heng's back. This was not a mere sparring match; his intention was to subdue and forcibly take him down!

Qin Heng felt a sudden tightness in the back of his neck, a sense of crisis instantly enveloping his entire body. His spine tightened instantly, his left foot quietly retreating to stabilize his stance, his left arm held horizontally in front of his vital area. All the internal energy in his body was channeled into his arm, his skin, muscles, and fascia taut and hardening. He then lowered his elbow and parried the heavy punch with a powerful back elbow strike.

"Thump—!"

A dull, heavy impact suddenly exploded, and the shockwave spread outwards.

Qin Heng felt a savage and domineering force crashing into him, causing him to stagger forward half a step involuntarily, leaving shallow marks on the blue bricks beneath his feet, and his blood and qi surging slightly in his chest and abdomen.

Qin Tianbao was also forced back half a step by the force of the head-on collision, his fists felt numb, and his anger intensified. He was about to twist his body and launch another attack.

"Tianbao".

A gentle, calm voice suddenly came from behind, unhurried yet steadily calming the tense atmosphere in the courtyard.

Mo Guangren walked over slowly, his expression calm and peaceful, showing no sign of anger.

"It's getting late. You two brothers should head back early and come back to the academy tomorrow to practice and hone your skills."

Upon hearing this, Qin Heng and Qin Tianbao had no choice but to suppress their anger, bow their heads, and reply in unison, "Yes, Master."

After the two responded, they were about to leave separately when Mo Guangren stepped forward slowly, signaling Qin Heng to leave first. His gaze fell lightly on Qin Tianbao, and his tone remained gentle and mild.

"Do you still remember the rules your senior brother told you when you first entered the school?" He patted his beloved disciple's shoulder gently, his expression calm and gentle. "If you don't remember, just ask him again. You have excellent aptitude and a very high level of understanding in martial arts, and your progress in cultivation has always been outstanding. But you must also remember that while practicing martial arts, you must also cultivate your mind. Only when your mind is upright can your fists remain strong for a long time, and you will not go astray."

Qin Tianbao, being perceptive, naturally understood the deeper meaning in his master's words. He suppressed the stern look on his face, replacing it with a humble and respectful expression, and replied with a smile, "Master, rest assured, I always keep the rules of the academy in mind and would never dare to forget them. I was just playing around with my cousin just now. He only entered the Dark Force realm yesterday, so I sparred with him a few times as a way to practice with him. Please don't misunderstand, Master."

Upon hearing this, the gentle light in Mo Guangren's eyes vanished instantly, but he quickly concealed it again, nodding slightly. He didn't expose Mo Guangren's words, but instead offered a gentle reminder: "I naturally believe that you act with discretion. It's just that you're rather impatient and come from a humble background, so it's easy for you to get caught up in certain things. Wanting to stand out and climb the social ladder is human nature and understandable, but many things cannot be rushed."

He paused, then continued, "The way of martial arts emphasizes gradual progress; those who are impatient and restless will hardly achieve great things. The same applies to life and work; being too eager for quick success will only lead to setbacks. I already know about your affair with Hanyan, but I hope you can consider your third senior brother's reputation to some extent, act more prudently, and not ruin your relationship with your fellow disciples because of this."

Upon hearing this, Qin Tianbao frowned, seemingly unwilling, and a barely perceptible hint of resistance flashed in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it and bowed, replying, "Master, rest assured, I have kept it in mind and will definitely cultivate diligently."

After saying this, he bowed deeply again, then turned and left in a hurry without saying anything more.

Mo Guangren did not leave immediately. In the deep night, he stared at Qin Tianbao's receding figure with a calm expression.

He stood there silently for a long time before letting out a soft sigh, flicking his sleeves, turning slowly, and walking alone back to the depths of the inner courtyard.