Chapter 329: Sparring
Chapter 329: Sparring
Chen Chuan immediately contacted Lu Fang and inquired about his current situation.
Lu Fang stated that nothing unusual had occurred, but after Zhao Er regained consciousness and learned of Zhao Qian's death, he didn't give up. Instead, he attempted to attack again, only to be knocked down and completely subdued by Lu Fang.
As for Number 13, she remained in the house as usual, showing no intention of going out. It seemed that without someone giving her orders, she wouldn't take any initiative.
After clarifying the situation, Chen Chuan said, "Little Brother Wu has found some information, and things might not turned out as we previously thought." As he spoke, he directly transmitted the findings to Lu Fang, "Senior, you can contact me again after reviewing this."
Upon receiving the information, Lu Fang approached the desk. According to the date, today was the day to take his medication, so he took out a green pill and swallowed it, then proceeded to conduct his routine simple training on the side.
Less than half an hour later, Lu Fang contacted him again. After connecting, his voice sounded a bit subdued, "Junior, if we can't find any clues elsewhere, I think... she is most likely your sister."
He shared his speculation, "She might have been noticed by a high-ranking executive in one of Liangwei Chongyu's companies, or she might possess some unique value. From the time she entered the company three years ago, her status seemed higher than Zhao Qian's. It's also possible that Zhao Qian relied on her to enter Liangwei Chongyu."
Chen Chuan agreed, "All possibilities are on the table. We're just speculating at this point."
Lu Fang sighed, "Yes, it's just speculation."
"Do you want to continue the investigation, Senior?" Chen Chuan asked again.
Lu Fang explained, "When I first came to Jinbei Province Central City, my intention was to find and confirm your sister's whereabouts. If she's alive and not doing well, I planned to help her escape from Zhao Qian's grasp. But my decisions can't replace her wishes, so I wanted to confirm her situation before making any choices.
If she needs help, I'll do my best to assist her. If she doesn't, then there's no need to disturb her. That's still how I feel."
Chen Chuan calmly replied, "Although we now have a lead, the matter has become more complex. If her position in Liangwei Chongyu is even higher than Zhao Qian's, we have almost no chance of contact, and she might not even be in Jinbei Province Central City. With our current capabilities, it's impossible to investigate this thoroughly."
"Yes..."
Lu Fang also felt helpless. The longer he stayed in Central City, the more he sensed an invisible boundary. This boundary defined every individual, limiting their activities within its confines. Stepping beyond this boundary would invite merciless retaliation.
In the past, when they were in Yangzhi City, it was a dam built by powerful families. But in Central City, it was sealed off by countless even more formidable forces, creating an almost insurmountable wall.
He didn't even have the status of a citizen, let alone the ability to interact with companies. He couldn't even get close. If not for Chen Chuan's willingness to help, he wouldn't have been able to clarify these matters.
Chen Chuan said, "Senior Lu, if you want to verify and continue the investigation, there might be only one way... " He paused, then continued, "Using our fighters' method."
Senior Lu was startled.
He understood what Chen Chuan meant. It was a path beneath his feet, a path that might break through the boundaries.
With his talents, he still had the potential to advance. He had once served as the vice-president of the Fenxin Society, and while he couldn't be considered the absolute best in the academy, he was undoubtedly outstanding, belonging to a small group of exceptional individuals.
If compared to Wei Jun and Zhao Qian, the only thing he lacked was resources. But this was precisely what he was missing. The experiences of those two individuals who entered Central City demonstrated how challenging the path had become.
Chen Chuan was right; without the necessary abilities, finding his sister wouldn't change anything. Without sufficient strength, he couldn't alter anything.
Lu Fang solemnly replied, "Junior, thank you for the reminder. I am a fighter, and I will find a way to solve problems using our fighter's methods."
Chen Chuan said, "Senior, I'll have someone look into your situation later."
Lu Fang smiled, "No need, I can handle this minor issue. Junior, let's stay in touch, and if there's anything you need me to do, please let me know."
Chen Chuan paused, then said, "Okay."
After ending the call with Lu Fang, Chen Chuan returned to his training, continuing from where he left off.
He would pay attention to this matter, but not now. Currently, he needed to focus on breaking through the Third Limit. Once he reached that level, he would cross a boundary and be able to perceive things that were previously hidden.
Around noon, he consumed a few energy bars, washed up, and headed out, directly visiting the Sea Boundary Arena. This time, he stayed until ten in the evening before leaving. After exiting the interference zone, he conveniently sent his daily medication feedback to the Jade Bag Apothecary.
When he returned to the Mystical Palace Tower, it was already past eleven. Without wasting any time, he lit the incense burner, adding a bit less incense this time. He then took the primary medication along with the auxiliary medication and swallowed them, silently guiding his breath technique.
In a moment of daze, he snapped back to consciousness, only to realize it was already 7 AM.
His body felt as if it were soaking in a hot spring, and he lazily didn't want to get up, but his mind was remarkably clear. The altered tissues throughout his body, however, seemed to be brimming with vitality, as if all his nutrients and blood were being concentrated there.
But mere tranquility wasn't enough; it was just one step. He still needed a powerful opponent to help him integrate his body and mind.
After sitting for a while, he stood up, walked to the sword rack, picked up the Snow Lady's Blade, and entered the training room. He then accessed the Shang Wu Yi Platform and found Hong Fu's sparring service there.
This service cost nine thousand per session, and the sparring time was three hours, equivalent to the mimicry resources he had daily.
Although it was expensive, as long as it achieved his goal, it was worth it. Moreover, an active consciousness like Hong Fu was unique to the Wu Yi Academy, so there was no way such a sparring service existed outside.
He still had one more entrance exam, but he decided against it for two reasons. First, the data from the exam might easily leak out, and second, there were differences between the exam and sparring. So, he ruled out this option.
When purchasing the service, he noticed a privacy option at the bottom. By selecting it, he could block anyone from querying the content of the project, but it required an additional one thousand.
Without hesitation, he checked the box. Knowing who might be monitoring him at school, this was a necessary expense. This way, they couldn't grasp his specific progress and condition.
After the payment, Hong Fu's voice sounded in his ear: "Confirmation that the student has purchased the sparring service. The sparring duration is three hours, and the mimicry scenario has been chosen and merged. Please confirm the sparring time."
Chen Chuan glanced forward and said, "Now."
In the next instant, as the red robe fluttered, Hong Fu seemed to emerge from the void. Her lively eyes, visible through the veil, were fixed on him, and in her hand was the Goosander Blade.
Simultaneously, the surrounding scene transformed. They found themselves on the shore of a lake, with glittering ripples, a blue sky, and a green lake beneath the white clouds and red sun. Underfoot was soft, sandy soil, and the lake water kept surging onto the shore, seemingly wetting their feet. On the side of the shore stood a stone statue, taller than a person, with several leisurely birds perched on top.
Chen Chuan took a breath, held the Snow Lady's Blade, and bowed in respect, "Please guide me."
Hong Fu raised her blade and returned the salute.
Chen Chuan inhaled deeply and released the constraints on his altered tissues, as he had done before when sparring with Hong Fu. He knew her current level should be maintained at that standard.
So, from the start, he went all out. The blade flashed out of its sheath as he stepped forward, swinging the blade directly.
On the other side, the red robe fluttered, and the Goosander Blade's tail end, adorned with red tassels, danced in the air. With just a light block, the blades met, and simultaneously, an unusual force surged towards him.
This wasn't an exam but a sparring session, and Hong Fu wouldn't let him showcase his abilities to the fullest. Instead, she would suppress him in various ways.
After blocking only a few strikes, Chen Chuan felt a pressure he had never experienced from other opponents. Hong Fu's footwork, techniques, and force were all executed flawlessly. Every strike reached the pinnacle of his understanding, leaving no flaws or opportunities.
He knew Hong Fu didn't experience fatigue unless she unleashed a burst of power or utilized external factors. In a pure contest of techniques, there was almost no chance of winning.
Moreover, a single moment of negligence or misjudgment could lead to defeat within a few moves. This required him to maintain intense focus from start to finish.
But this oppressive force was precisely what he needed.
He intended to use Hong Fu to squeeze out his potential and truly enjoy this battle. He knew that every fight was a chance to sculpt himself, gradually forming a perfect union of body and mind.
Three hours later, the sparring ended. Hong Fu retreated into the void, and the surrounding scene reverted to its original state.
Chen Chuan stood in the arena, silently sensing the changes in his spirit and body after this battle. He could feel the altered tissues' vitality being guided and his consciousness gradually deepening its control over his body.
On the path to the Third Limit, one needed to integrate breathing, physicality, and the mind. The previous breathing techniques, seated meditation, and medication were all preparatory steps, and now, in battle, he would release everything, making it all more valuable.
In essence, it was about using reality as a guide, showing the self the right direction, and providing feedback to enhance the self.
However, one or two attempts weren't enough. He had to keep pushing until he touched that barrier.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
