Chapter 173: Departure
Chapter 173: Departure
Chen Chuan did not immediately attempt the crossing, as he had just acquired the Furnace Breathing Method and could only be said to have memorized it. It was too early to claim mastery without practicing it.
Even with utmost effort today, breaking through his limits without using his Second Self was impossible.
After saying this, he and He Xiaoxing walked back.
Chang Ba knew that He Xiaoxing must have taught Chen Chuan something, and he couldn't help but sigh. He wanted to learn too, but there was nothing he could do if he didn't meet the standards.
He glanced at the pit not far away and shuddered at the thought of that environment. He decided to leave it to others to strive, and he would just enjoy the food and drinks.
He was quite confident in this regard.
After returning, they got into the vehicle and headed back to the town.
As the formal training had concluded, Chen Chuan planned to take a break for himself. Moreover, during his time in the town, aside from the Crimson Lake, he hadn't visited any other places.
According to Chang Ba, there were many fun places in the area. For example, over a hundred kilometers south, there was a sand dune cluster for sandboarding.
Another example was the Ten Thousand Image Cavern to the north, about a day's journey away. If one didn't want to go there, a Sweet Water Oasis was located just over sixty miles away, famous for its sweet fruits and delicious grilled meat.
However, Chang Ba assured them that the grilled meat at his inn was just as good. His cooking skills were not inferior to those at the oasis, and his family was known for their culinary expertise. Many of their customers were returning guests.
Of course, the most renowned attraction was the Lorea Ancient City. More than half of the guests at the inn were there for this place. But Chen Chuan didn't plan to visit it. From what he had learned in recent days, the city was surrounded by wind-eroded rock pillar forests, and even locals needed a guide to find their way in and out.
Just exploring the surface structures of the ancient city would take several days, let alone the underground maze. There was no way he could see everything in a short time; he simply didn't have the luxury. It would be better to explore the nearby areas for now, and if he wanted to visit the city, he'd have to wait for a future opportunity.
In the end, he decided to follow Chang Ba to the sand dune sandboarding. This balance-seeking sport wasn't particularly challenging for him, and he found it even easier than skiing.
But it wasn't without its joys. If one could find the right path between the sand dunes, they could slide almost without stopping, which required both judgment and superb technique control. Of course, a bit of luck was also needed, as a gust of wind could disrupt everything, or it could become a helpful boost.
After a day of relaxation, as night fell, he and Chang Ba returned to the town. As soon as they entered the inn, an employee handed him a small booklet, saying it was from He Xiaoxing.
This was probably the booklet He Xiaoxing had mentioned. Since it didn't involve specific breathing secrets, it was useless and incomprehensible to others, so it didn't matter if they saw it.
Chen Chuan thanked the employee, returned to his room, freshened up, changed into comfortable clothes, brewed a cup of the town's unique grape tea, and then slowly opened the booklet.
The booklet was filled with handwritten text. He had seen He Xiaoxing's writing before, and it wasn't like this. The words on the page were more mature and rustic, as if written by an elder.
However, this was irrelevant to him. He skimmed through the content, which mainly reminded practitioners of additional points to pay attention to.
For example, once the breathing method was activated, one should always be vigilant because if the stored energy was depleted, and one didn't consciously stop, it wouldn't stop on its own. Instead, it would continue to burn, using the practitioner's transformed organs as fuel until they were consumed.
Therefore, the first lesson of this secret technique was about restraint and control.
Reading this, Chen Chuan understood why He Xiaoxing had emphasized controlling one's emotions and the need to both release and restrain. If one couldn't achieve this, an emotional outburst might lead to a reckless battle with an opponent, resulting in mutual destruction.
Regarding energy accumulation, the booklet also stated that more wasn't necessarily better. Beyond a certain limit, it could also burden the body.
But this limit could be trained and increased. The more transformed organs one had, the stronger they were, and the higher the energy storage capacity. Over time, as the body adapted, the limit could be gradually raised.
There were also various ways to utilize this energy. Even if it wasn't released all at once, it could be used to sustain longer combat, but the control methods required practice and mastery.
After reading through the booklet, Chen Chuan had a general understanding. He placed the booklet in his suitcase, sat down, and began to breathe slowly, following his memory.
This breathing technique was quite complex, and it took Chen Chuan nearly an hour to complete it, as he was still unfamiliar with it. Despite remaining seated and motionless, he felt his body heat up and sensed a faint surge of power stored in his transformed organs.
It was too weak to notice, as energy accumulation required long-term practice, and Chen Chuan had just begun training in this breathing method.
With over a month left until September, he decided to strive to familiarize himself with the Furnace Breathing Method during this time and accumulate as much energy as possible, as he might need it at any moment.
In the coming days, in addition to his daily training, he added the practice of the Furnace Breathing Method.
With his relentless efforts, his consumption of the drugs was faster than ever. In less than half a month, he had nearly exhausted his remaining supply.
On July 30th, Chen Chuan returned to the testing ground, determined to rely solely on speed to deal with whatever awaited him below, setting aside all techniques.
After two attempts, he realized that as long as his speed was high enough and his reactions sharp enough, he could avoid most of the troubles below.
He Xiaoxing and Chang Ba stood at a distance, awaiting his performance.
Chen Chuan took a slow breath, tapped his toes, and leaped into the pit. With a soft splash, he darted through the water like an arrow released from a bow, swiftly navigating between the pits and touching the markers one by one. When the hour was up, he knew he had surpassed the limit of twelve markers, though he hadn't counted them.
However, he did not stop there. He closed his eyes, crossed his arms, and took a deep breath using the Internal Breath Technique.
As more oxygen entered his body, the Furnace Breathing Method took effect, gradually warming his body. The rapid gas exchange also caused countless tiny bubbles to form around him, floating upwards.
At the same time, his second self suddenly converged, and he opened his eyes. This time, he would use the power of his second self to venture deeper, swimming with all his might. He wanted to see what he could achieve after the convergence of his second self and also experience the freedom of swimming without restraint.
He pushed off with his feet, leaving a trail of continuous water ripples behind him as he dove deeper into the abyss pits. He kept swimming further in.
Earlier, he had relied purely on speed and reflexes to avoid the obstacles on the path, but now, as he swam through, he didn't bother to change his route.
When faced with turbulent currents, he constantly inserted and withdrew his fingers from the cave walls while pushing off with his feet, fighting against the current. Once the obstructing force subsided, he swiftly swam past.
He did not yield to the schools of fish he encountered along the way but swam straight through them. Those blocking his path were instantly shattered, leaving behind a scattered group of fish, swimming in panic.
Throughout the process, he felt incredibly exhilarated. The feeling of being unencumbered, casting aside all concerns, and forging ahead was indescribably wonderful. The Alienation Organization within his body became fully active, transforming into a driving force that propelled him to swim faster.
Even amidst this sensation, he did not indulge. After an hour, he wisely reined in his actions and headed upwards.
After a long while, when he finally saw the light above, he propelled himself forward with his hands and feet, accelerating as he neared the surface. With a burst of strength from his muscles, he broke through the water, leaping out and stretching his body. He flipped in mid-air and landed firmly on the ground, his knees bending slightly before straightening up.
He then turned to He Xiaoxing. This underwater crossing was his answer to the training and a gift to He Xiaoxing.
He Xiaoxing nodded slowly, observing He Xiaoxing's still-heated body.
Chang Ba looked at them but did not ask Chen Chuan how many markers he had touched this time. He had a feeling that it no longer mattered.
After changing clothes, Chen Chuan returned to He Xiaoxing and said, "Teacher He, I've been out for almost a month. Tomorrow, I plan to go back."
He Xiaoxing replied, "Go back. Old Cheng should be delighted to have you as a student. You will go far."
Chen Chuan solemnly said, "I will."
After leaving the testing ground, Chen Chuan returned to the inn. He bought some items and greeted the acquaintances he had made during his stay, informing them of his impending departure. He then went back to his room to pack his belongings.
The next morning, Chen Chuan checked out, picked up his luggage, and carried the box containing the Snow Lady Sword. He bid farewell to He Xiaoxing at the training hall.
When the two of them emerged, an off-road vehicle drove up. Chang Ba jumped out, holding a camera, and said excitedly, "I made it! I made it!" He waved his hand and said, "Chen, Uncle He, let's take a group photo."
Neither of them refused. Chang Ba handed the camera to the photographer in the car and then ran over. He Xiaoxing was much taller than Chen Chuan, so he stood in the middle, slightly behind them. As the camera button was pressed, the scene was captured with a click.
Chang Ba patted Chen Chuan on the shoulder and said, "Chen, I'll take you to the station."
Chen Chuan did not refuse. He turned to He Xiaoxing and bowed, saying, "Teacher He, thank you for your guidance these past days. I bid you farewell." After straightening up, he tightened the box on his back and stepped into the car.
He Xiaoxing stood on the mountain, watching the car slowly descend and drive away into the distance.
After leaving the town, Chang Ba handed Chen Chuan a hardcover book, saying, "Chen, I have a gift for you."
Chen Chuan took it and flipped through it. It was a collection of Chang Ba's drawings depicting their training over the past few days. It included the moment Chen Chuan entered the water and a scene of the three of them grilling together.
With just a few strokes, the figures' movements were outlined. Although Chang Ba's self-portrait seemed no less impressive than the others and even appeared as an important figure, it was still a drawing with artistic liberties.
Chang Ba looked ahead as he spoke, "When I was young, I wanted to learn martial arts, but my father wouldn't let me, saying it wasn't the right time. So, I could only draw what I saw them do. I never expected to have such talent. I didn't learn martial arts, but I did learn to draw. Hey, it's a simple drawing, don't dismiss it."
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "I think it's great. Thank you, Chang. I love this gift; it's very meaningful."
Chang Ba burst into laughter. Usually, no one appreciated his drawings, and he had been feeling stifled. But with Chen Chuan's words, he felt that his free lessons to Chen Chuan were worth it.
Back at the training hall in town, He Xiaoxing received the developed photos a while later, and the photographer had even made a frame for them.
He Xiaoxing took the frame and entered the room, placing it on the desk. His gaze shifted to the corner, where another open frame stood. It was a photo of him with a young man.
The young man was tall and handsome, almost as tall as He Xiaoxing, and he was smiling brightly. The background was the training hall in Wu Yi's South Hill, with light shining from the side and the leaves in front of the door seemingly swaying in the breeze.
He Xiaoxing stared at the photo for a moment before turning away and leaving the room.
(End of Chapter)
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