Forge a path to success

……

This is a one-time opportunity for the idiots to celebrate, after all, I couldn't stop laughing myself. The resources here are insanely abundant! Even a general would be tempted by them!

Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise; the ancients were right. Those idiots saw the Tree of Light; if it truly is a remnant of the so-called 'Allied Forces,' perhaps there really is a chance…”

Then came the intelligence gathering and confirming combat strength. The plan was to let the pirates plunder while he personally stormed in. From subsequent records, it seems Wu He somehow determined the true nature of the Light Tree and was extremely confident that he could escape the Desolate Wilderness after seizing its core. On the next page, the notes were extremely hasty, the pen tip piercing the page.

"...Are you crazy?"

What exactly is it?

Why did it still chase after me even though it was burned to a crisp? Is it a guardian program? If it has any intelligence, it should stay in its own territory! There are countless treasures in the mist, why is it only targeting the one I took?! I've never heard of a beast so fanatically pursuing something harmful to itself!

Damn it. Damn it. This is never going to end!! We have to find a way to kill them.

Chu Hengkong tossed aside the log before finishing reading it, his expression no better than his partner's. Ji Huaisu was checking the miscellaneous items in the jade pendant.

“There are a few level 3 talismans left, which might be usable. Some of the materials mentioned in the log, if Jie An were here, we could use them to make medicine, and we could eat them as snacks…” Ji Huaisu pursed his lips, “There’s also half a design of the ‘Boundary-Opening Wheel,’ and that’s it. He’s more stingy than we thought.”

"Do you have any clothes?" Qingye asked expectantly.

"Use this." Chu Hengkong tossed him a coarse cloth garment, which he had asked the settlement warriors for when he returned. Qingye reached out and caught it, observing his expression: "The date didn't go well?"

Chu Hengkong shook his head, saying nothing. Fan De said indignantly, "He's just not one of us!"

The Eye Demon sat at the wooden table and embellished his account of his trip. Ji Huaisu shrugged after listening.

"Not surprising at all, and I didn't think she was a decent person... and there's some explanation for it."

"Can you fight alongside someone like that?" Chu Hengkong smiled bitterly.

His partner's reply exceeded his expectations: "No problem. With such a large settlement here, Qingxia will definitely cooperate with us. Once we get to the wilderness, she'll lose her initiative and be asking us for help."

"...You seem to have a more open-minded attitude than I, an assassin."

"How long do you think I've been in this business? Sister Huaisu, the word I've heard most since I was a child is compromise," Ji Huaisu said lazily. "On the contrary, aren't you asking too much of a 'fighting partner'? Cooperation doesn't have to be a matter of life and death; having a common enemy is enough."

“Even when I was involved in the underworld, I was surrounded by trustworthy brothers,” Chu Hengkong emphasized.

"So extravagant? Your team is made up of handpicked die-hards?" Ji Huaisu clicked his tongue. "Then you're really spoiled by your boss."

“It might be true,” Chu Hengkong said. He put away Fan De and went upstairs to find a room to rest. Qing Ye was still hanging from the rafters, deep in thought, her head tilted upside down to draw blood to her head.

"What brilliant ideas do you have now?" Ji Huaisu glanced at her. "Thinking about how to make that centaur apologize?"

"Ah, I'll let it go," Qingye said. "I didn't discover anyone's scheme, so it's my own fault for being used. According to our rules, I should thank Qingxia, since she indirectly saved my life."

"I've wanted to say this for a long time: you heartless people are so barbaric."

"Shura Island is a place where mettle reigns supreme; if you're strong, you're right." Qingye stuck out her tongue. "What about you, Sister Huaisu?"

"That idiot Akong thinks personal grudges should be settled separately. But he certainly won't settle it that way, right? Imagine if a scoundrel saved me from danger time and time again, what would Chu Hengkong think?"

“He’ll feel like he owes that person a huge favor,” Qingye said without hesitation. “The kind of favor he’d do anything for at a moment’s notice. He won’t be able to sleep at night until he pays it back.”

"Right, so I have no right to say anything." Ji Huaisu said lazily, "Xiao Ye, you need to know that navigating society is all about interpersonal relationships. These relationships can't be separated into one thing and another; they're a tangled mess. Unless you sever all ties with everyone around you, you'll never be able to untangle them."

"Then why does Mr. Chu always have to be so clear about things?"

Ji Huaisu shook his head repeatedly: "Let me tell you, this is probably because a very shrewd person once helped him sort out and divide 'their' favors one by one. Chu Hengkong used to only have to deal with his own grudges, so he must have been very clear about it."

"Wow, I'm so happy..."

Qingye chatted idly, still deep in thought. Ji Huaisu glanced at her: "Still have ideas?"

"Hmm. I think it didn't really matter whether Qingxia said it or not back then."

"?"

“Look, Vansalal and Olek were both in Golden Leaf City back then,” Qingye said, counting on her fingers. “With these two high-level figures in control, it wouldn’t matter whether we knew the truth or not. We still wouldn’t have had the chance to ask for help, and we still wouldn’t have been able to make any further preparations.”

"And if that great demon had known of the existence of the Desolate Wilderness beforehand, it wouldn't have let us escape... or rather, it would certainly have taken even more drastic measures."

“That makes sense…” Ji Huaisu thought for a while, “It’s more accurate to say that when Vansalar arrived in Golden Leaf City, the outcome was already decided. It was clearly eyeing us.”

“Right? From this perspective, Qingxia’s choice to keep it a secret is actually safer for us.” Qingye was still deep in thought. “I think Mr. Chu definitely understands all of this, but he still seems quite angry… Is there some reason I haven’t considered…”

"Ah, no, no, it's nothing at all." Ji Huaisu waved his hands repeatedly. "That guy is just simply annoyed."

"?"

"He actually quite liked Qingxia. She's clever, strong, and someone he could talk to. So he always hoped Qingxia had some unspeakable secret, like she was deliberately keeping quiet to save us. That way, everyone could confidently stand on one side against the heretics and let bygones be bygones." Ji Huaisu stretched. "But then she bluntly said she was just trying to use you. His beautiful fantasy shattered, and his important companion was in danger. Of course, he was very unhappy!"

Qingye lost her balance and fell off the roof beam, rolling several times.

"No way! Your two statements make Mr. Chu sound so childish..."

"You really think he's some mature and reserved man? Xiaoye, you're mistaken. He's just a typical little boy. He always has a grumpy face and who knows how many thoughts are brewing in his mind. He always tries to clash with the world based on his own wishful thinking."

Ji Huaisu lay on the wooden chair, recalling the man's stubborn gaze after drinking.

"So they can't tolerate even the slightest imperfection, and always hope that everyone else is as good as themselves."

Chapter 186 Old Secret Techniques

The next day, early morning.

Chu Hengkong got up earlier than everyone else. After arriving at the safe zone, he resumed his usual routine, getting up early to stretch his muscles.

He practiced a set of Tai Chi—which had no practical significance for him now, but could help him relax—and then practiced some of the more advanced techniques from the three thousand sets. He had mastered these basic martial arts skills by heart when he first became a skilled practitioner, and they were ingrained in his bones, but now he had a completely new understanding of them.

He switched to a new one, which could deform and extend but was heavy; his heart had been modified by Qingxia's blood, and its structure was different from that of ordinary people; traces of mechanical modification remained in various parts of his body, with perfect alloy intermittently integrated into multiple bones from the spine, and several segments of nerves and blood vessels protruding like spikes, intertwined and pieced together.

Even without being a professional doctor, Chu Hengkong could assert that he was no longer "human." In Huilong City, Youyou would produce a detailed report, using various data to demonstrate that he was a fleshy sea urchin in human skin, or something even more disgusting. Yet, his boxing was as agile as when he first ascended to the level of a skilled fighter; his muscles, bones, and heart naturally pulsed with the flow of power, so smoothly that it seemed as if this style of boxing was tailor-made for an alien.

Only then did he understand the concept of martial arts that all races could learn—like a grand path to heaven, its essence remaining constant despite countless variations. The Ethereal Fate Master had incorporated the most fundamental mysteries of life into his fist techniques, creating what he called "beginner's skills." Whether you're a sea urchin or a crucian carp, you can become a master. If you feel "uncomfortable" while practicing, then there must be something wrong with your own body.

The moment he realized this, he began to feel unwell. It was like an old, unhealed wound flaring up, throbbing faintly in the cold, rainy night. His spine was too hard and lacked resilience, his arms heavy and powerful yet decaying and rotten, the temporary structures throughout his body unstable, and his willpower too strong to control. He was like a seemingly gleaming but dangerous building; if things continued like this…

"He's going to die."

Chu Hengkong withdrew his fist, turned around, and saw the old man, who looked like a rabbit, walking over with his cane and jumping onto the steps to sit down.

“Commander Chongming already mentioned it yesterday, but I feel I need to remind you again.” Silaer tapped him with his cane. “Stop acting recklessly. If you don’t address the underlying issues, next time you get into a fight, you’ll be like those rotten, fermenting fruits. The skin will swell up, and then, ‘Bang!’”

Slar clasped its little paws together, then suddenly opened them, mimicking the sound of a fruit exploding. Chu Hengkong smiled at this.

"Please teach me, senior."

The old man was a "newcomer" back then. Newcomers would participate in the Hundred Tales and receive gifts from the old man. The fact that he has survived from the 28th session to the current 35th session shows that he has learned a method to fight against heretics, and he has mastered that method quite well.

Slar pulled back his green robe and winked slyly at him. On the old man's hairy chest was a festering wound, through which one could see another healthy, beating black heart.

"I made a wish to the old man years ago, asking for another heart. For a time, I was troubled by split personality—two selves arguing in my head—until the warrior chief of the settlement taught me a profound secret technique."

This secret technique has been passed down for a very long time. It was taught by Chief Chongming to the ancestors of the village, and then passed down through generations to us. Its core is…”

The old man poked his own black heart with his fingertip.

“Fight yourself,” he said.

"...Huh?" Chu Hengkong chuckled dryly.

“Once external influences merge into your body, trying to separate them is wishful thinking. Whether you accept it or not, it becomes a part of your life; it will affect your personality and change your thinking,” Slar said. “How long has it been since you had any entertainment?”

"I……"

Chu Hengkong originally wanted to mention that he had played games not long ago, but he realized that was before he went to Yingshi Town. After transforming into a Strong Bone cultivator, he spent all his free time cultivating, and his other free time was filled with endless battles. He could relax with "everyone" during his breaks, but he himself hadn't had any entertainment.

Even when he was a detective, he would still play on his phone.

“You see, true mechanical efficiency.” Slar had anticipated this. “After that, you will become lazy and dejected, craving the love of others, because you still have the flesh and blood of the fallen within you. You might even go mad, becoming particularly obsessed with certain meaningless concepts, like some special kind of demon.”

They are the pollution of external paths, and they are also yourself—therefore, if you want to maintain your sense of self, you have to defeat yourself, even harm yourself.

This description is completely different from the "absorbing external things and making them one's own" approach of the Longquan Township lineage; it is fierce, radical, and unorthodox. Chu Hengkong felt it was unreliable as soon as he heard it. Just as he was about to question it, he heard the old man slowly say, "This kind of cultivation method that involves burning oneself with the enemy is the so-called 'residual heart' technique."

"...The practice of a person with a broken heart?"

"Compared to a cultivation method that details every single point, this is more like a guiding 'outline'." Silar took out two scrolls and tossed them to Chu Hengkong: "Give it a try! I was just copying what I learned back then, so I dare not presume to claim any 'understanding'. You might as well consult Miss Qingye. As a young member of the Guangshi family, she knows far more than us laymen."

"Thank you, sir."

“No need, it’s my duty.” The old man touched his cane with his small hand. “Also, there are certain risks in practicing this secret technique. It would be best to have Qingxia watch over you.”

Chu Heng remained silent, while Si Laer sighed repeatedly.

“That child… doesn’t understand what ‘social skills’ means. Concepts like etiquette, consideration, and empathy don’t exist for her. There’s no ‘society’ in the wilderness, I can’t teach her these things… she doesn’t have them…”

The old man paused, seemingly about to say "no harm intended," but for some reason, he swallowed his words. His eyes held a melancholy that Chu Hengkong couldn't decipher.

"Alas," he sighed, "If you have any needs regarding your spiritual practice, please feel free to tell me."

Chu Hengkong thanked him again and watched the old man walk away. It was already "morning" by then, and the residents who had woken up were starting to warm themselves up. You could see teenagers sparring and testing their martial arts skills.

He returned to his room and took out the scroll to study it carefully. He discovered that this so-called "Remnant Heart Secret Method" was divided into two parts: mind and body, with mind being primary and body secondary. The mind method required entering a meditative state through a unique breathing technique, and in the "One Mind Ritual," defeating the self manifested by the heretical forces, in order to temper the physical body. Only after completing the "One Mind Ritual" could one practice the body-tempering method to subdue the heretical forces and strengthen the physical body.

Chu Hengkong frowned as he read. This method was fantastical yet intricately linked. The scroll contained few mystical words; each step was described in great detail, making it easy for anyone who could read to understand how to cultivate. Yet, the more this was the case, the more bizarre he found it, because the entire method focused on how to become stronger through unorthodox methods, without a single word describing how to cultivate oneself.

A cultivation method established on the premise of accepting heretical teachings... doesn't it seem like a trap set by heretics? Aren't those with crippled minds afraid of going berserk by practicing this every day?

Just then, Qingye came downstairs with a toothbrush in her mouth, her head topped with a very energetic Fan De. Chu Hengkong unfurled the scroll: "Qingye, give me some advice."

"What? What?" Vande stared wide-eyed at it, clicking his tongue in amazement. "Wow! The Heart-Breaking Technique... So radical?! How old must this version be?"

"An antique from before the integration!" Qingye exclaimed in surprise. "The things I've seen in museums are much more modern than this, and they're at least 400 years old..."

"What do you mean? You're not practicing this set of moves?"

Qingye said earnestly, "Mr. Chu, practicing the pre-integration Heart Remnant Technique will kill people. One hundred people will die if they practice it."

"Wouldn't they all be dead by then?!"

"That's right. Because the cultivation method of separating mind and body depends too much on individual aptitude. If you don't synchronize well, you'll immediately become a heretic." Qingye picked up the scroll and examined it closely. "So later, the patriarch and the other two Martial Venerables joined forces to integrate the modern Heart Remnant Technique, solidifying each stage of cultivation with material points. That's how the Heart Remnant Path, which can be widely practiced today, came about. The mortality rate for beginners has been reduced from 100% to 30%, which is truly a great achievement."

Ji Huaisu, who was coming downstairs afterward, was drinking hot water when he heard this and almost spat it out: "Hey! After all the integration is done, there's still a one-third mortality rate?!"

Qingye scratched the back of his head, laughing sheepishly, "Hehe~"

"I'm not praising you, wake up!"

"There's an old saying on Shura Island: 'To persuade someone to learn martial arts is to be struck by lightning.' It means you have to personally experience the pain of being struck by lightning before you're qualified to teach others how to be a crippled person," Fan De explained considerately. "Buddy, even though you're in critical condition due to the heretical cultivation, there's no need to practice this death-inducing method to commit suicide in fancy ways. I think we should wait until reinforcements from Huilong City arrive, and then we can figure out how to draw another talisman."

“There’s no need to rush even if you have the chance.” Chu Hengkong shook his head. “Qingye, how do people with broken hearts cultivate in modern times?”

All eyes turned to him, curious about the level of skill required to achieve such a high casualty rate. Qingye, toothbrush in hand, slowly explained, "Actually, it's not that difficult… The first essential skill for beginners is 'Flash Finger,' the fusion of skillful hands and the power of glimmering light. At this stage, beginners must learn to draw external power into their bodies…"

Ordinary people do not possess elemental power. Therefore, those with crippled minds who wish to enter the realm of spiritual cultivation need to use a special facility called the "Elemental Pool." The pool is filled with a high concentration of light elements, and the crippled mind, with bare hands, immerses them in the light.

Naturally, without a special constitution, the human body would inevitably be burned to ashes by the elemental forces. Therefore, the cultivation process must be extremely fast. After touching the light, the ten fingers must be immediately withdrawn, and the body must be repaired using a secret method, sealing the light elements that have invaded the body and making them one's own. After repeating this thousands of times, once the beginner can freely use the light elements and has the hand speed to be immersed in light without being harmed, they become a formal "Flash Finger" crippled cultivator.

"...The mortality rate at this stage is actually not high; the injuries are mainly due to the melting of the hands," Qingye said. "See, it's not that terrible, is it?"

Ji Huaisu looked horrified: "Where did your common sense go?! Who would risk losing an arm if they started out as a skilled craftsman?!"

"Sister Huaisu, you're making a big fuss over nothing~" Qingye pouted, "At my current 'sinful bone' stage, the danger has only just begun."

"That's enough, stop talking! I haven't had breakfast yet, and I don't want to lose my appetite!"

Those with lingering remnants of the Sinful Bone stage need to hone their bones using the Reverse Shadow technique to break through to the second level of the material. At this stage, they immerse their entire body in the elemental pool, using their fully honed Flash Finger technique to channel shadow power into their bones and engrave it into their marrow.

The process was like driving gunpowder into the bone; every step was accompanied by excruciating pain, and the slightest mistake would result in the body exploding and the person dying. Once all the bones had merged into the shadows and turned inky black, the Sinful Bones were complete.

"...If you make a mistake at this stage, your bones will separate from your flesh, and you will become a 'Bone Warrior' carrying the resentment of the dead. If you climb the Thousand Sun City at night, you will see many Bone Warriors awakening from the darkness. That is the end for those who have failed in their cultivation..."

"Stop! Stop!!" Ji Huaisu shouted, "This topic ends here for the sake of my breakfast!!"

Qingye looked regretful: "The main event is clearly in the next stage..."

"That's quite impressive! Just from hearing it, I can understand how tough your life has been all this time! I now realize how lucky my dad is to be a martial arts practitioner from Dragon Village!!"

Vande's eye twitched: "What do you say, buddy?"

It was no surprise that Chu Hengkong was buried deep within the scroll, his eyes gleaming with the eager excitement one would expect when facing a formidable opponent.

"Why not give it a try?" Chu Hengkong said.

Chapter 187 Extraordinary People and Extraordinary Paths

Chu Hengkong loved challenging himself, and Qingye was also interested in ancient techniques, but neither of them wanted to risk their lives on the deadly Old Man's Heart Technique. Therefore, the two decided to directly consult the official Chongming who had passed down the scroll, judging the likelihood of successful cultivation from his response.

“At this moment, I really envy Sister Huaisu…” Qingye said with a frown, “While we Point 2s are busy trying to upgrade and transform, Sister Huaisu is having a headache because she has too much of her family’s heritage.”

Ji Huaisu is currently the member with the most abundant knowledge. The last wave of seniors in Jinye City joined hands to empower her with all kinds of martial arts. When she ascended, she fused with the Dragon Tree Talisman of 3 (7), which made her full of power and spirit. At present, Miss Ji needs to sort out the massive amount of information in her mind and find the parts that are useful to her. Therefore, she decided to stay in her room and cultivate in seclusion. She will come out when she has sorted things out.