The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

"I wouldn't say I like her, we're just friends. But she might have some inappropriate thoughts about me," Chu Luren said honestly.

Gu Santong was taken aback for a moment, then twitched the corner of his mouth and said, "Hehe, so you already have someone you like?"

"Hmm... what level of liking are you referring to, senior?" Chu Luren thought for a moment, finding it difficult to answer.

Chu Luren generally likes his friends, sworn brothers, and seniors who have helped him...

"It's the kind of look where your eyes light up when you look at her!" Gu Santong explained impatiently.

"I can't see that myself," Chu Luren hesitated for a moment upon hearing this.

"Then what are you hesitating about?" Gu Santong seemed to have discovered Chu Luren's weakness.

"But it seems... well, when some people look at me, their eyes light up... several." Chu Luren thought honestly for a moment, the most obvious being when he helped Wang Yuyan and Xiaolongnu recover from their demonic possession; it seemed there were others...

After a moment of silence, Gu Santong said, "What a pity."

"What is it that you regret, senior?" Chu Luren asked specifically. If Gu Santong had any unfulfilled wishes—such as defeating the Divine Marquis, which he couldn't grant—but if it was a matter of personal feelings, and he needed to pass on a message, he could "do a good deed every day" if he had the chance in the future.

"It's a pity that I've already passed on my skills to this kid. If not..." Gu Santong pursed his lips, then looked at Cheng Shifei lying on the ground.

Chu Luren was surprised to hear this and said, "Senior, you are too kind. Do you mean to pass it on to me?"

"Hehe." Gu Santong chuckled and winked at Chu Luren, as if to say: Whatever makes you happy.

Chu Luren was also puzzled. According to the basic principles of martial arts, whether it was the "Northern Darkness Divine Art" or the "Absorption Technique," even if it could achieve the infusion of internal energy, the person receiving it should not have any internal energy cultivation...

After that, Gu Santong ignored Chu Luren and went to cause trouble for Cheng Shifei. After lifting up his clothes, he went up and slapped him on the back!

Then... countless blood-red characters, starting from Gu Santong's palm, spread throughout his body along the palm print.

Chu Luren was also amazed. Firstly, he was surprised that Gu Santong could do such a thing, and secondly... he was amazed that Gu Santong could still do such a thing after losing all his internal energy.

As for the content of the text, Chu Luren also knew it—the martial arts of the major sects!

However, Chu Luren didn't really care about these martial arts techniques, because... they were very likely to be "camera versions" just like those from Langhuan Jade Cave!

"Kid, do you know what my most famous skill is?" Gu Santong suddenly asked.

Cheng Shifei was still dizzy, but Chu Luren knew he was being addressed, so he replied, "Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill!"

Gu Santong was speechless again...

At the same time, I was full of questions—are all young people these days so unconventional?

Shouldn't my most famous skill be the "Absorption Technique"?

That old pig drained more than a hundred righteous masters back then and then framed me. I couldn't be bothered to explain. And you actually say that my specialty is the "Invincible Vajra Divine Skill"?

And... you're absolutely right about him being cold!

It's not surprising that Chu Luren was like this. After all, in "The World's Number One", Cheng Shifei, one of the male protagonists, transformed into a monster by using the "Invincible Vajra Divine Skill" passed down to him by Gu Santong. His golden appearance left a deep impression on everyone.

The actual situation was that Gu Santong and Tie Dan Shenhou found the two divine skills left behind by Tianchi Guaixia. One was the "Invincible Vajra Divine Skill" and the other was the "Absorption Skill". The former was marked "for virgins to practice" and the latter was "for non-virgins to practice". So they each practiced one of them.

The secret wasn't revealed until the very last episode—it turned out that Gu Santong had obtained the manual first and then wrote it down himself to trick Shenhou!

In addition, Gu Santong did mention in the first episode that he used the "Absorption Technique" to absorb all the masters who had been imprisoned in the ninth level by the Divine Marquis, which shows that... Gu Santong did indeed practice both books.

It's just that this line appears in the first episode, and Cheng Shifei obviously doesn't know the "Absorbing Power Technique" later on, so the audience will subconsciously overlook the fact that Gu Santong actually practiced both techniques.

It's normal for the audience to overlook it, but it's very abnormal for someone in the martial arts world to overlook it!

The current official narrative is that Gu Santong was ruthless and absorbed masters from various sects back then, and was later brought to justice by the Divine Marquis—and you actually say that I, Gu Santong, am most skilled in the "Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill"? How can you... be so discerning about right and wrong?

"Nonsense! My specialty is the 'Absorption Technique'! In the past, I could have absorbed him dry in one breath, believe it or not?" Gu Santong scolded with a stern face.

"Ah? Oh... it's the Absorption Technique." Chu Luren didn't argue with him. After all, Gu Santong didn't have much time left, and he seemed a bit strange. Why should he go against him?

"Do you want to learn?" Gu Santong suddenly asked.

Upon hearing this, Chu Luren's eyes lit up—even more than just "like"!

This is the "Absorption Technique"!

One of the two most powerful martial arts in "The World's Number One", it is much stronger than "Star Absorbing Skill". It can not only absorb people's internal energy, but also master their martial arts skills after absorbing it.

Needless to say, in the "special effects," the "Star Absorbing Technique" is just an enhanced version of a vacuum cleaner, while the "Suction Technique" can suck people into one's own body and then "spray" them out.

Moreover, this is the foundation upon which the Divine Marquis has become who he is today...

If one is unmoved, is one still a Chu Luren?

The word "want" was about to leave his lips, but then Chu Luren suddenly saw Cheng Shifei...

Ok?

Something seems off...

You give it to your own son... even if you don't know he's your son now, just consider him your heir!

You instilled the "Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill" in your successor and left behind the training methods of various martial arts schools, but you didn't teach the "Absorption Technique" at all. Now... you want to pass it on to me?

Chu Luren suddenly felt... You old rascal, are you hiding something?

"If senior is willing to teach, this junior would still like to learn your 'Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill,' which once overwhelmed the Divine Marquis." After glancing at Cheng Shifei, Chu Luren suppressed his greed.

After all, those who had just succumbed to greed were either already dead or about to face Ren Woxing's wrath. The lessons of those past mistakes were still fresh in their minds...

Chapter 251 Knocking on the Heavenly Gate

Gu Santong glared angrily at Chu Luren—he wondered what was wrong with the martial arts world, that no one was even learning the "Absorption Technique" anymore.

"The 'Absorption Technique' seizes the creation of heaven and earth, and the whole world is devoted to it. After mastering it, one can directly steal other people's skills. The 'Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill' requires starting from scratch and requires... a virgin body!" Gu Santong explained angrily.

"I am still a virgin!" Chu Luren said firmly.

This isn't about whether one is still considered a virgin after taking action, but rather... this requirement was originally fabricated by Gu Santong!

Gu Santong calmed down at this point, coughed twice, and said, "Good lad, so you also know the limitations of the 'Absorption Technique' and want to learn the 'Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill'? Fine! Then come here and kill him." As he spoke, he pointed to Cheng Shifei, who was lying naked on the ground with words drawn all over his body.

Startled, Cheng Shifei immediately jumped up: "No, no, no! Great hero, I'm innocent... I say, senior, you're aiming to be the number one in the world, so please don't harm a nobody like me, the 888,888th in the world!"

Cheng Shifei had actually woken up, and Gu Santong probably knew he was awake too.

"Senior is joking. I have no grudge against him, and he is not some heinous villain. Why would I want to kill him?" Chu Luren bowed and declined.

“That’s right, that makes perfect sense!” Cheng Shifei immediately said.

"Hmph! If you don't kill him now, after I pass away, he will be my only successor, possessing my 'Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill,' and the martial arts painted on his body... Just look at the corpses around here! Shaolin, Wudang, Quanzhen, Beggars' Sect, Ming Cult, Tantric Sect, Dali Duan Clan... all are masters from major sects and clans. They were sent here by the old pig, and after I drained them dry, their martial arts were painted on his body!"

"If we don't kill him now, are we supposed to wait until he becomes my successor before killing him and stealing the divine skill manual? You kill him now, and you can become my successor!" Gu Santong said, making perfect sense.

However, Cheng Shifei was not confused by his words and said directly, "I say, senior, if you are afraid that I will be killed, why don't you just pass on the 'Invincible Vajra Divine Skill' to this hero now?"

“Nonsense! My successor, Gu Santong, must be the ‘Number One Under Heaven’! If he also masters the ‘Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill,’ what makes you think you can be my successor? The ‘Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill’ can only have one successor!” Gu Santong said stubbornly.

Cheng Shifei was shocked by his closed-loop logic.

"Senior Gu, twenty years ago... even including Shenhou, were you really stronger than Zhang Zhenren of Wudang?" Chu Luren asked, somewhat hurtfully.

Do you know that you're busy competing with Shenhou for the title of number one in the world?

Upon hearing this, Gu Santong seemed to have his tail stepped on, and he retorted with a stiff neck, "Zhang Sanfeng? What about Zhang Sanfeng? I'm no match for him in normal sparring, but if it's a fight to the death, I can at least go 40-60 against him!"

"Are you the fourth one?" Chu Luren asked after a moment's hesitation.

“That’s right! But he doesn’t dare to fight me to the death, so… he’s not as good as me!” Gu Santong said righteously.

Cheng Shifei was once again shocked by his closed-loop logic.

"Cough cough cough..." Gu Santong suddenly coughed violently again, and then his expression became noticeably weaker.

Cheng Shifei thought he was just an old lunatic, but for some reason, seeing him like this made him feel a pang of sadness. He realized that this man had lost his power because he was passing on his skills to him, so he went up and helped him up.

“Senior, there are only invincible people in the world, not invincible kung fu. Whether this young brother can become the best in the world or not is not something that can be determined by a single ‘Invincible Vajra Divine Skill’,” Chu Luren said, trying to comfort him.

"I didn't say 'invincible,' I said 'number one in the world.' You've gone deaf at such a young age," Gu Santong said disdainfully.

"What...what's the difference?" Chu Luren asked, puzzled.

“Being invincible is difficult. If I were still young, I could still give it a shot. Being the best in the world… Right now, there’s a ready-made opportunity. The first person to knock on the gates of heaven will naturally be the best in the world.” Gu Santong uttered a phrase that left Chu Luren bewildered but impressed.

"Knocking on the Heavenly Gate?" Chu Luren's expression shifted upon hearing this, as if he had thought of something, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"The transmission of martial arts under heaven... is like the bright moon in the sky, it wanes when it is full and waxes when it is waning. Now is not the best time, nor is it the lowest time... it is the time when it is gradually waxing! As long as someone succeeds in knocking on the gate of heaven, all martial artists under heaven can strive for further improvement." Gu Santong was already visibly weak.

Upon hearing this, Chu Luren immediately recalled what Yu Lianzhou had said before—when Master emerges from seclusion, the whole world will naturally know!

Is it...

“That’s unreasonable! In terms of internal martial arts alone, it’s all about developing one’s own meridians. What does it matter to me what breakthroughs others make?” Chu Luren retorted instinctively.

Gu Santong scoffed, as if a great physicist were being questioned by a middle school student using middle school physics knowledge.

"For ordinary people, this is certainly true, but... in terms of the internal martial arts you mentioned, people have meridians, and so does the universe. The so-called 'knocking on the heavenly gate' is precisely when one's own small meridians reach the point of influencing the great meridians of the universe, and thus the great meridians of the universe will naturally affect everyone." Gu Santong spoke in words that Chu Luren could not understand.

If it were anyone else, except for a handful of people, Chu Luren would have assumed they were crazy when he heard this from others. But when it came to Gu Santong... Chu Luren also had some doubts. Was he deliberately playing a trick on him before he died? Judging from his personality, that guy was definitely capable of doing it!

"In terms of internal martial arts? That means... there's more than just the 'knocking on the heavenly gate' posture in internal martial arts?" Cheng Shifei didn't know any martial arts, but he noticed what Gu Santong said.

This father and son... they both know how to find the right angle!

Upon hearing this, Chu Luren also looked at Gu Santong.

"Your heart moves the heart of heaven and earth, your power merges with the power of heaven and earth, your body breaks the body of heaven and earth, your technique becomes the technique of heaven and earth..." Gu Santong drooped his eyes and reached out to pat Cheng Shifei on the head, saying, "You don't need to think about anything else. If you take the path of breaking the body of heaven and earth, you might become the 'Number One in the World'."

Chu Luren was stunned—with the addition of the "qi" of internal martial arts, wasn't this exactly "mind, body, qi, technique, and momentum"?

This was the first time Chu Luren had ever heard such a way of summarizing and naming from someone else!

"Senior, you should give up. I am the 888,888th person in the world, and I don't know any martial arts. I can't do it..." Cheng Shifei was half genuinely unwilling to accept it, and half worried that some great hero would kill someone to steal his credit.

"Don't know martial arts? Hahaha... I've passed on all forty years of my internal energy, as well as my 'Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill,' to you! You possess martial arts manuals from various schools and sects. Once you master them all, even that old pig won't be able to harm you!" Gu Santong coughed again as he spoke, then his gaze softened and he said, "Kowtowing. Since he won't kill you, you are still my disciple. Kowtowing and call me Master!"

Chapter 252 The Death of the Achievement Maniac

Cheng Shifei knelt down and acknowledged his master. Gu Santong also looked emotional. When Cheng Shifei kowtowed, the look in his eyes even made Chu Luren wonder if he recognized Cheng Shifei as his own son.

It all seems to be fate. In the original story, Gu Santong didn't even know he had a son, yet he randomly chose someone to pass on his skills to, and it just so happened to be his own son...

After Cheng Shifei got up, Gu Santong immediately resumed his disdainful look.

Chu Luren then interjected, “Senior Gu, as far as I know, Master Zhang has not emerged from seclusion for a long time since then. I have heard that… ‘on the day he emerges from seclusion, the whole world will know.’”