Please be my partner.

This morning, while examining the changes in himself, Mellen confirmed that the martial arts he learned in the Mountain and Sea Realm could not be seamlessly applied to the current world...

Or rather, even if he could, Mellen would choose to seek refuge with a powerful force, because what he lacks most is resources. If he had enough resources, he could realize his talents in the shortest amount of time.

However, as humans, conventional techniques for generating force are still similar, and Mellen clearly understands how to achieve the greatest effect with the least effort.

He took off his shirt and tossed it aside, then swung his axe down with a vengeance.

"Buzz!~"

With a dull thud, the chopped purple bamboo trembled slightly, swaying gently, yet not a single bamboo leaf fell.

If it were ordinary bamboo, it would have broken instantly with this chop, but when Mellen picked up the axe, he saw that only a trace of white mark appeared on the purple bamboo. Seeing this, even Mellen's expression changed slightly.

However, Mellen did not say much. After a brief adjustment and gathering of strength, he unleashed his second axe blow.

"Buzz!~"

The same dull sound, and in the same location, the white marks on the purple bamboo were even larger.

Adjust, charge up, and slash!

"Buzz!~"

It's still the same spot.

Such keen eyesight, so precise and steady, surprised both Zuoqiu Shiyu and Uncle Zhong. Although the old man did not open his eyes, he could easily determine the result just by the sound of the axe striking the purple bamboo. It was no different from seeing it with his own eyes, which surprised the old man as well.

Incidentally, it's worth mentioning that the old man kept his eyes closed not because he was resting or pretending to be asleep, but because he didn't dare to look at his beloved granddaughter's angry little face, for fear that he would soften his heart.

The old man was a doting father to his daughter when he was young, but in his old age he became a doting father to his granddaughter. His old friends often teased him about this, but he never felt ashamed and was proud of it.

Mellen maintained a steady rhythm, swinging the axe an average of three times per minute, and each time landing precisely in the same spot.

Five minutes later, a small gap appeared on the purple bamboo, and large beads of sweat began to appear on Mellen's body.

The axe handle, though made of an unknown material, remained perfectly slippery despite being soaked with sweat from Mellen's hands.

Ten minutes later, Mellen was drenched in sweat, and his arms ached terribly, as if muscle fibers were twisted together in a disordered manner.

Mellen remained calm, but he had to repeatedly reduce the frequency of his swings, from once every twenty seconds at the beginning, to once every thirty seconds, and then to once every forty seconds...

When the frequency was reduced to once per minute, Mellen stopped reducing it and maintained the frequency.

An hour later, the ground beneath Mellen was soaked with his sweat, and small puddles had formed in some places.

Zuoqiu Shiyu suddenly turned and ran into the house, and a moment later she came running out again, this time with a stainless steel bottle in her hand.

The old man's lips twitched slightly, but he did not stop him. Uncle Zhong glanced at the old man, and then remained silent as well.

Taking advantage of the moment when Mellen swung his axe, Zuoqiu Shiyu carefully circled around to his side and said urgently, "Mellen, you should drink some water. You'll get dehydrated if you keep going like this."

Mellen tried to regulate his breathing, but instead of putting down the axe, he calmly said, "Feed me."

"Huh?" Zuoqiu Shiyu blinked blankly, seemingly not having heard clearly.

The old man was so angry that he nearly jumped off his recliner.

Mellen said again, "You, feed me, quickly."

A blush flashed across Zuoqiu Shiyu's face, but she hesitated for less than a second before quickly opening the bottle and pouring the liquid inside into Mellen's mouth.

Upon tasting the liquid, Mellen immediately detected a fresh, herbal aroma on her tongue, clearly indicating that this was not an ordinary beverage but a medicinal liquid that had been brewed.

The medicine flowed down the throat and into the abdomen, a cool sensation spreading and easing the burning sensation in the body.

After a minute, Mellen turned his head away, and Zuoqiu Shiyu immediately understood and removed the bottle.

After Mellen finished swinging the axe and regained his breathing, he said, "Again."

Zuoqiu Shiyu then handed the bottle over again.

After doing this three times, Mellen finally finished the entire bottle of medicine.

"Thank you, that's enough," Mellen said softly.

They arrived at the pond around nine o'clock, and it was already ten o'clock, with two hours left until noon.

Zuoqiu Shiyu put the bottle aside, glared at her grandfather again, and then turned and ran towards the kitchen.

The old man quietly opened one eye, then sighed.

Bamboo is hollow, and purple bamboo is no exception. Once a gap is made, the rest becomes much easier.

With the healing potion, Mellen's slashing frequency returned to once every forty seconds.

An hour later, there was obvious bleeding and swelling in both of Mellen's arms.

During this time, Zuoqiu Shiyu rushed over to see him a few times. She didn't know whether she hoped that Mellen would give up in time or that Mellen would continue to persevere. But every time she was sure that Mellen didn't need her help, she would leave in a hurry.

By 11:30, the purple bamboo had been cut open by Mellen and was visibly tilted.

Mellen released his hands, letting the axe fall to the ground. Even with Mellen's control, he could barely feel his arms at this moment. However, his legs and body could still move. He leaned against the purple bamboo and exerted force with his legs.

"Squeak, squeak!"

Mellen suddenly collapsed into the mud, his face and body covered in mud, and the purple bamboo he had cut down also fell down, with only a little bit of bark still attached.

Mellen rolled over and lay on the floor like that for a few minutes.

During this process, the old man and Uncle Zhong watched him silently and waited quietly. Zuoqiu Shiyu, who had run back at some point, covered her mouth, with crystal tears welling up in her eyes.

Having regained some strength, Mellen dared not wait any longer, fearing that if he continued to lie down, he would faint.

Suppressing the dizziness in his head, Mellen picked up the axe again and chopped at the last joint of the purple bamboo...

once!

twice!

On the third attempt, a loud crack was heard, and the purple bamboo broke completely.

Zuoqiu Shiyu let out a small exclamation, waving her little fists, looking very excited.

Although the old man was quite satisfied with Mellen's performance, seeing his beloved granddaughter's expression, he inexplicably became displeased again. He deliberately said with dissatisfaction, "How am I supposed to steam rice with such a big bamboo stalk?!"

"Master! Master!"

Behind him came the sound of Zuoqiu Shiyu gritting her teeth, as if she was about to pounce on the old man and pluck his beard.

The old man coughed lightly and quickly added, "Alright, you're a guest after all, and it's not right for me, as the host, to let you do all the work."

As soon as he finished speaking, the old man flashed to the fallen purple bamboo. With a wave of his hand, a gentle breeze swept by, and the purple bamboo that Mellen had spent more than two hours barely managing to cut was evenly broken into several pieces, with smooth and clean cuts.

Zuoqiu Shiyu hurried over, hugged the sections of purple bamboo to her chest, and then smiled at the old man, her voice so sweet it was almost cloying: "Grandpa! This lunch was made by your precious granddaughter! I'm sure you'll feel good after eating it!"

After saying that, he ran away without waiting for the old man's reply.

The old man smiled bitterly. Could he dare say he was in a bad mood? If he really dared to say that, he probably wouldn't be able to eat a meal cooked by his beloved granddaughter for the rest of his life.

The old man looked at Mellen, who had fallen back to the ground, and smiled, "You don't seem nervous or frustrated. Do you have other ideas?"

Mellen said, "When I was inspecting the axe earlier, I saw some shovels and spades over there, probably tools for loosening the soil. If you don't do it yourself, I'll try to see if I can uproot that purple bamboo."

"The above-ground part isn't very long; it should be barely adequate for cooking. The only problem is that this bamboo is so tough, its root system must be similar. Plus, it didn't budge even after I've been chopping it for so long, so it must be very deeply rooted. In my current state, I might not be able to dig it out in the remaining time."

The old man's face showed even greater satisfaction, but he still pointed out, "You're right. This purple bamboo has very deep roots, and its roots are intertwined with the branches. Digging it out might not be as easy as cutting it down."

Mellen's voice grew weaker as he asked, "Sir, does this mean I've passed?"

"Hahahaha...!" The old man laughed loudly, "Good lad! Truly a good lad!! From today onwards, you are my ninth disciple, Zuoqiu Wudi!! Hahahaha...!"

Having gotten the answer he wanted, Mellen could no longer hold on and fainted.

Ultimately, Mellen's current body is just that of an ordinary person. This morning's bamboo-cutting had already pushed him beyond his physical limits several times. If he hadn't persevered through sheer willpower, he would have fainted long ago.

In a daze, after an unknown amount of time, Mellen gradually regained consciousness. To his surprise, he did not experience the tearing pain that comes with overexertion; he only felt somewhat tired, nothing more.

After a moment of stunned silence, Mellen took in his situation. He was soaking in warm water, and from the sensations he felt, he could tell that he was in a medicinal bath for healing and recovery.

A faint fragrance wafted in the air, emanating from an incense burner not far away. With each breath, a cool sensation spread through Mellen's mind.

Mellen's neck was secured to prevent him from falling into the water, while his body and limbs were also softly restrained. The restraints, combined with the vibrations of the water flow, allowed him to enjoy a full-body massage at all times.

Several silver instruments were connected to the pool, constantly injecting medicinal liquid, while another outlet discharged the excess liquid, making it a living medicinal pool.

Using this method, the concentration of the medicinal solution in the bath can be maintained at all times. However, this seems a bit wasteful. Or is there another purpose for this bathwater?

Just then, the door was pushed open, and Uncle Zhong walked in, saying, "Young Master Mei, you're awake."

With a gentle struggle, Mellen was freed from the restraints. He didn't care that he was now completely naked. He casually picked up a towel and dried himself off. Then he changed into the brand-new, loose-fitting casual clothes that were clearly prepared for him. He laughed and said, "Uncle Zhong, you should just call me by my name. I don't like the way you call me 'Young Master'."

Uncle Zhong shook his head and said, "Young Master Mei, the master is waiting for you in the study. Please come with me."

Seeing this, Mellen could only shrug and follow.

Chapter 628 Contemporary Martial Arts: Fantasy and Science

After some casual conversation along the way, Mellen learned that he had been unconscious for a day and a night, and it was now the afternoon of the second day after he arrived at the pond.

Suddenly, as if casually, Mellen asked, "I see that the pool of medicinal liquid is all running water. Isn't that too wasteful?"

Uncle Zhong laughed and said, "No, those medicinal liquids will eventually be used to irrigate the special plants collected from the border area."

After thinking for a moment, Uncle Zhong added, "Longteng Group's businesses are diversified, but these matters related to the border areas are the true core of the group."

Soon, the two arrived at a study. The study looked retro on the outside, but it was surprisingly high-tech inside.

Uncle Zhong bowed and withdrew, leaving only Mellen and the old man.

Mehren didn't stand on ceremony, bowing slightly and addressing him as "Master." For him, every world has something to teach him, and the accomplished are his teachers—that's the essence of it all.

Zuoqiu Wudi nodded in satisfaction. He didn't get straight to the point, but instead chatted with Mellen.

"What do you think is the way of martial arts?"

After a moment's thought, Mellen said, "Evolve yourself, transcend yourself."

Zuoqiu Wudi was somewhat surprised, but didn't comment much. Instead, he said, "In our world, many legends are actually true stories."

"In ancient times, gods and demons clashed; in the prehistoric era, gods and humans lived together; in the medieval era, the practice of cultivating qi was rampant."

"Unfortunately, as time went by, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gradually declined, and by the time of the late ancient era, these had all become legends."

Zuoqiu Wudi sighed and continued, "In the eyes of the ancients, the physical body was nothing more than a raft for crossing the world, its only function being to protect the self and will to cross the sea of ​​suffering and reach the other shore. Martial arts were merely a means to enhance this raft for crossing the world."

"The human body has its limits, but after training the body to its limits, one can nourish the spirit and touch the Dao of Heaven and Man. Such beings may have only been at the beginning in ancient and prehistoric times, but from the Middle Ages onwards, they were called... Martial Saints."

“In the ancient times, the spiritual energy was abundant, and rare and precious materials emerged in abundance, so everyone was like a dragon. In the medieval period, the spiritual energy began to decline, which is why there is the saying that gods and immortals secluded themselves from the world. They also needed to find a suitable environment for cultivation, and a suitable environment for cultivation is usually not a place where people are densely populated.”

"At the same time, because of the theory of the Ferry of Crossing the World, the strong in the Middle Ages developed the Art of Gold and Mercury in order to maximize the use of resources. That is, combining spiritual objects with metals and stones to make pills. After taking them, one can greatly enhance the strength of the body in a short period of time, so as to break the barrier between heaven and man."

"Although the art of mercury poisoning is fraught with danger, and if it fails, one will die from poisoning, or in modern terms, from excessive heavy metals, once one becomes a Martial Saint, one can use one's mind to interfere with one's body, gradually eliminating the dangers and allowing for a smooth recovery."

With Zuoqiu Wudi's explanation, Mellen gained a preliminary understanding of the supernatural system of the current world.

Seeing that Mellen was listening attentively, Zuoqiu Wudi suddenly laughed and said, "Do you know what lies beyond the Martial Saint realm?"

Mellen shook his head and said, "I don't know, please teach me, Master."

"Hahahaha!" Zuoqiu Wudi burst into laughter, then spread his hands and said, "I don't know either!"

Mellen: ...

After laughing, Zuoqiu Wudi continued, "The Martial Saint is already the limit of the human body, but that's all. The spiritual energy that can be replenished each day is limited, so how can one explore higher realms?"

"Therefore, the cultivation of a Martial Saint is to push one's own limits time and time again in order to achieve a higher level of self-reward and faster accumulation."

"Xiao Jiu, you are a college student, and can be considered an intellectual. Have you ever heard of the theory of genetic evolution?"

Mellen blinked, confused as to how a perfectly good martial arts fantasy story suddenly jumped to science and genetics.

Zuoqiu Wudi didn't seem to expect a reply from Mellen, and continued, "Human beings have existed for billions of years. Even if we count from ancient times to the present, the time that has passed is only 0.00001% of the human species. In such a long period of time, how many treasures have been dormant within the human body?!"

"For example, during the Age of Exploration, a very common disease among sailors was scurvy, which was caused by a lack of vitamin C for a long time. Since humans cannot synthesize vitamin C on their own, they can only obtain it from external food sources."

"But is that really the case? On the eighth chromosome of humans, there is an inactivated pseudogene called GULOP, which has the ability to synthesize vitamin C!"

"For example, on the first chromosome of humans, there is an inactivated pseudogene called UOX. It can not only break down uric acid in the body, thus eliminating gout, but also improve obesity, urolithiasis, high blood pressure, cardiovascular and kidney diseases!"

"These are the treasures that humanity has lost in the process of evolution. If humanity could bring together the strongest states of various eras over billions of years, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them gods or demons."

"The so-called Martial Saint's Way is to use the spirit to interfere with the body, activate the dormant genes in the body, push the physical limits step by step, and thus accelerate the accumulation of spirit."

"While it could be called a gene lock in modern terms, I still prefer the ancient name... the physical body's divine treasure!"

Murren, being well-informed, had no trouble accepting this extraordinary system that was both fantastical and scientific.