Changfeng Dojo.
Li Pin was practicing punches on one side, and both the coach and the students kept their distance to avoid disturbing him.
His performance this morning had won over everyone at Changfeng Dojo.
Unknowingly, his status had subtly risen above Yang Danqing, making him the second most important figure in Changfeng Dojo after the head, Fang Lingjue.
After completing a set of punches, Li Pin exhaled a long breath.
Without using his Condensing Soul perception, he could already imagine the changes in his Qi and Blood.
[Qi and Blood +0.03]
Total: 29.81.
"The next step is to cultivate Qi into Elixir. Last time, although I hastily attempted to cultivate Elixir, I prepared quite a lot, but I still ended up failing. This shows how difficult it is to cultivate Elixir. This time, I must be more careful."
Li Pin planned to use the method of refining Elixir Energy, and to naturally cultivate Qi into Elixir.
This is a method similar to Power Proofs the Way.
Tedious.
But it is safe.
While refining Elixir Energy might be cumbersome for other Transformation Qi Experts, for the "incredibly gifted" Li Pin, it was simply a series of improvements and optimizations, to train his chaotic strength to become instinctual.
At this moment, Li Pin seemed to have noticed something and looked to one side.
He saw that Fang Lingjue had returned at some point and was watching him practice punches.
Noticing that he had come back to his senses, Fang Lingjue asked, "Finished?"
"Finished."
"Care to join me in my office?"
"Sure."
Li Pin responded, following Fang Lingjue into his office.
Once inside the office, Fang Lingjue personally went to help Li Pin pour water for tea.
However, halfway through, Li Pin took over the teapot.
"I'll do it."
Fang Lingjue did not argue and just watched him for a while.
After about half a minute, he finally spoke, "So this is Elixir Energy, huh."
"Yes, life-and-death situations are indeed the best time for sudden enlightenment and breakthroughs."
Li Pin said.
"That may be true, but it's like playing with fire."
Fang Lingjue said, "There are such people in the Martial Arts Realm, known as Seekers of Dao. But among them, none of those who have dedicated everything to the Martial Arts have been able to go far."
Li Pin knew that Fang Lingjue was advising him to be careful in the future. He nodded in agreement, "I understand. There's nothing greater in life than life itself, I cherish my life more than anyone else."
Because...
He wanted to know, what level could the human body evolve to?
At present, those who have reached the pinnacle of humanity, with no weaknesses and known as the King of the Century, cannot withstand machine gun bullets. At most, they can use their Astral Energy to deflect handgun bullets.
What domains lay beyond this, and what kind of scenery awaits, no one knows.
He...
Wanted to see it for himself.
Therefore, he would not die easily.
"It's good that you think this way."
Fang Lingjue said, "I was afraid that you might become addicted to the feeling of quick breakthroughs from life-and-death battles and end up playing with fire. It seems I was overthinking."
Li Pin smiled.
"Before the Star Towards Festival, you signed up for the Jiangzhou Martial Arts Competition. We all thought you were going to gain experience. Now it seems...you had plans from the very beginning, right?"
Fang Lingjue looked at him, "The young are indeed to be feared."
"I just thought that by the time the Jiangzhou Martial Arts Competition begins, my cultivation should have progressed a step further. To be honest, whether I can stand out in the Jiangzhou Martial Arts Competition, let alone break into the top ten, I'm not sure."
Li Pin said.
Holding Elixir!
It was a domain he had never ventured into in his previous life.
"Self-discipline, self-confidence."
Fang Lingjue nodded, "Now that you can project Elixir Energy, do you want to take the Deputy Senior position examination in Jiangzhou?"
"No rush, it's just a certificate."
Li Pin said.
"Indeed."
Fang Lingjue said, "Moreover, the timing is not right at the moment."
"Hmm?"
"Have you seen the martial artist recruitment order for Death Valley?"
"I have."
"With such a name as Death Valley, it's clear how dangerous it is. Taibai has been peaceful for a long time. Many martial artists have lost their bloodthirsty instincts from the turbulent era where they had to fight Beast Monsters and Demonic Beasts for survival. In the past few months, less than a hundred martial artists have signed up nationwide. Now there is a rumor that the higher-ups will issue a mandatory recruitment order."
Fang Lingjue said, "Given that I have received this news, it's almost certain."
Li Pin listened and nodded.
"Having comprehended Elixir Energy, the next step is to cultivate Elixir. Do you have a method to cultivate Elixir?"
"I have summed up my lifelong learning and speculated a path to cultivate Elixir. However, I haven't put it into practice yet."
Li Pin said.
Fang Lingjue was taken aback, staring at Li Pin incredulously, "Don't tell me you don't have a legacy!"
He quickly added, "Where is your master?!"
Li Pin slowly shook his head.
"This is impossible!"
Fang Lingjue suddenly leaned forward, "How... did you cultivate your Elixir Energy?"
"I spent some time mulling it over, thinking, and besides... I've been watching videos for over a month."
Li Pin said.
"..."
Fang Lingjue was staring at Li Pin, and his breath gradually became heavy.
After a while, he blurted out a word in disbelief, "F*ck!"
A smirk appeared at the corner of Li Pin's mouth.
"Are you a monster!?"
Fang Lingjue murmured, "To cultivate Elixir Energy at such a young age, one would have to be a disciple of a Martial Saint, or an outstanding direct disciple of a grandmaster. Are you telling me that you didn't have any inherited martial arts techniques? You don't even have a decent training method!?"
"That is indeed the case."
Li Pin agreed with a nod.
"Hah!"
It took Fang Lingjue a while to exhale.
He suddenly took a USB drive out of the drawer.
"Here, it contains the White Crane Fist of the White Crane School. I'll recommend you to the White Crane School. If you really got here solely through your own cultivation without any inheritance, you might not just be able to become a disciple of a Grandmaster, but also of a Martial Saint."
"No need."
Li Pin didn't reach for the USB drive.
"Why?"
Fang Lingjue frowned.
"No reason."
Li Pin chuckled, "I'm just not used to bowing reverently and calling someone 'master'."
Fang Lingjue was taken aback.
Immediately afterward, his pupils constricted.
Looking at this seemingly harmless young man who he had thought he understood well from their two months together, he had readily offered the manual for the White Crane Fist.
But hearing him confidently voicing his thoughts at this moment...
He realised for the first time that he had never truly known him.
Stubborn.
Or rather...
Proud!
An indescribable pride that rooted deep within his body, his mind, his spirit and will, exuding an unyielding and keen edge that cannot be extinguished.
A simple sentence, yet it was like a sword that reached the sky, illuminating the world...
It's as if...
He was destined to leave a grand legacy in this world in his lifetime.
After a long moment...
Fang Lingjue couldn't help but ask again, "Is it that difficult... to be respectful?"
In society, who doesn't bend their waist? Who doesn't bow their head?
Is it really that hard to call someone mentor?
He couldn't understand.
"It's not difficult."
Li Pin said, "I'm just not used to it."
"But if you keep this up, your path will be very difficult."
Fang Lingjue said.
"Finding problems and solving them has always been interesting."
Li Pin said.
Fang Lingjue remained silent.
He had figured it out.
A young calf isn't afraid of tigers.
Perhaps it was to polish his spirit and belief, not allowing any hindrance in his thoughts.
Respect, reverence, politeness.
For respect and politeness, he was willing.
But just because he was not accustomed to bowing and showing respect to others...
He would abandon a significant shortcut.
The young man...
"Heart is higher than the sky."
Fang Lingjue said.
"I just hope life won't be as thin as paper."
Li Pin laughed in response.
He knew that was what Fang Lingjue must be thinking.
But he didn't care.
In his previous life, he had no talents or inheritance, but he still managed to reach the peak of Transformed Energy within a decade and was only half a step away from Holding Elixir.
This time when he had "talent", if he could not live a grand life following his own heart and fulfill his greatest desire in life - cultivation - then it would be...
... a waste of his second life.