Chapter 473: Guidance
Chapter 473: Guidance
After leaving Mo Tie Mountain, Chen Chuan drove into the city, but a strong wind blew outside, with leaves and petals dancing in the air, and the temperature seemed to drop significantly.
However, he felt quite comfortable. As he gripped the steering wheel, he recalled his conversation with Cao Xue Chang and couldn't help but think that although the former imperial family had been overthrown, and the old era seemed to have been buried, many things undoubtedly still profoundly influenced the present, making it difficult to break free completely.
Not only internally but also externally.
The remnants of the old era in the Convergence Zone had connections with many companies worldwide, which was why they could engage in military confrontations with the local forces.
This was the case in Dashing, and other countries must have similar issues.
As the great upheaval approached, the best governments could do was probably to suppress internal conflicts as much as possible to avoid major upheavals that could lead to unforeseen consequences.
During this phase, various forces and groups would try their best to strengthen themselves. As an individual, such a turbulent world presented both crisis and opportunity. What he needed to do was to make use of this time to climb higher and acquire more formidable power.
Upon returning to the academy, Chen Chuan handled some daily matters and patiently awaited the arrival of the new semester at Wu Yi Academy.
Three days passed, and on the first of February, before 9 a.m., he followed the instructions on the platform and arrived at a practice room on the 70th floor to wait.
However, he waited until 10 a.m., and still, no one showed up.
Chen Chuan remained calm and continued practicing his breathing technique, and before he knew it, a long time had passed. It was almost noon when he heard footsteps approaching from behind.
Chen Chuan stood up and turned around. A middle-aged man in a grayish-blue training uniform walked in. The man was in his forties, with deep and weathered eyes, a small goatee, and a mature and handsome appearance, exuding a hint of decadence.
At first glance, he seemed unassuming, giving the impression of being very laid-back. But Chen Chuan knew that this man was no ordinary person.
He couldn't sense the man's aura at all.
Chengsheng Jian, whom he had encountered before, was the most skilled in aura manipulation among all his opponents. Even so, Chen Chuan could still sense the existence of the aura, indicating that this man was even more formidable.
He must be the teacher assigned to him.
The middle-aged man walked in, rubbing his head as he spoke, "Sorry, sorry, truly sorry, Student Chen. I'm late. Have you been waiting long?"
Chen Chuan replied, "A teacher's knowledge is worth the student's wait."
The middle-aged man sighed, "It wasn't intentional, I assure you, Teacher. This is my first time in Jibei Dao Central City, and the scenery here is captivating."
Chen Chuan asked, "I thought you lived in Central City?"
The middle-aged man waved his hand, "Not quite, not quite. Every Central City is unique, just like every person is different. Even if two people look identical, their hearts are still different..."
He coughed, "I'm getting sidetracked. I've already wasted quite some time. Let's not delay Student Chen any further. Allow me to introduce myself formally. I'm Teacher Xue, Xue Shou."
As he said his name, his eyes glinted slightly. Earlier, he had given off a harmless and carefree vibe, but now, he exuded a powerful aura.
Chen Chuan inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment, "Teacher Xue, your teachings are worth the student's wait."
Teacher Xue returned the gesture, "Thank you, Student Chen. I've reviewed your past combat records and evaluations. Your foundation is undoubtedly well-honed, meeting the requirements for guidance. So, we can skip the preliminaries and proceed to formal instruction."
He sat cross-legged, "Student Chen, please take a seat."
Chen Chuan complied and sat down.
In the bright practice room, the two faced each other. Sunlight shone on the warm-toned floor, clearly reflecting their silhouettes.
Teacher Xue asked, "Student Chen, before we begin, I'd like to ask if there's anything specific you aspire to pursue?" He gestured with his hand, "Or perhaps a goal you have in mind, no matter how big or small, feel free to share."
Chen Chuan answered without hesitation, "My martial arts mentor asked me a similar question. My answer was 'Unrestricted Body, Unbound Mind.' This has always been my goal."
"Oh... Unrestricted Body, Unbound Mind. That's not easy."
Teacher Xue looked at him intently, "Indeed, rules and restrictions are everywhere nowadays. But having a clear goal is good; it saves me a lot of trouble.
Hmm, has anyone told you that the Third Limit is the pinnacle of human potential?"
Chen Chuan nodded, "I've heard that."
Teacher Xue, pleased that he was aware of this, nodded, "So, the principle is simple, Student Chen. No matter how well you refine your body, no matter how perfect it becomes, it's not enough to reach higher realms. The key to breaking through to the next stage lies..."
He brought his two fingers together, pointing to his forehead, and emphasized, "In the realm of the spirit, to be precise, in the realm of spiritual cultivation where the Divine Routine takes center stage."
His tone became slightly solemn as he continued, "When physical cultivation reaches its limit or is unable to break through due to the limitations of the human body, we must then use our spirit as the starting point to drive our entire being forward."
Most of your past training has focused on the body, and while your spirit has progressed, you've never applied any techniques to refine it."
He raised his palm and spread his fingers.
"The spirit of a typical fighter is scattered and lacks cohesion, but when faced with danger, it instinctively gathers."
As he spoke, he clenched his palm into a fist.
"Life-threatening situations force a fighter's spirit to temporarily converge, but this convergence is short-lived and forced. Once the tension eases, the spirit becomes even more scattered and powerless than before.
It's like an untrained muscle that can momentarily unleash great strength, but afterward, it becomes almost unusable, requiring a period of rest and recovery before it can be utilized again.
So, our first step is to converge and strengthen your spirit."
Chen Chuan listened intently. At this moment, he said, "Please guide me, Teacher."
Teacher Xue explained, "Third Limit fighters often talk about cultivating the divine routine, but it's not as simple as it sounds. The key lies in the 'cultivation' and 'refinement' aspects.
The daily exercises you've been practicing so far are part of the 'cultivation' process, not 'refinement'. Cultivation also has its methods, which I will teach you later. For now, we're focusing on 'refinement'. Only through refinement can you unleash the power of your spirit and prevent it from dissipating uselessly."
"The first step of 'refinement' is to find the most persistent and steadfast goal in your heart. In the face of life-threatening situations, only such a belief can gather your spirit, giving it a foundation, like a root firmly planted in the soil.
That's why I asked you about your goal earlier. No matter what that goal is, whether it's good or bad, you must stick to it unwaveringly.
If, during this process, you doubt yourself or abandon this path, I can only say that you're not suited for it, and it's best to give up early.
So, you must ensure that this is truly what you desire in your heart. It's not just empty words; you must truly understand yourself and act accordingly."
Chen Chuan nodded, thinking of Wei Wusheng's mention of heart and mind. It seemed that by following one's heart, one could receive greater rewards.
Teacher Xue noticed his momentary contemplation and said, "Chen Chuan, do you have any questions? If there's anything you're unsure about, feel free to ask, and I'll clarify."
Chen Chuan thought for a moment and then spoke, bringing up Wei Wusheng's situation.
Teacher Xue listened to his story and stroked her chin. "I've seen Wei Wusheng's fight, and while it's a method of spiritual cultivation, it's not the same as this.
Wei Wusheng's cultivation likely originates from an ancient era's military training manual, possibly with some heretical techniques. However, the core principle remains unchanged.
This heart and mind technique aims to compensate for one's shortcomings by borrowing others' strengths. While it can be considered a form of spiritual cultivation, its focus is on subduing and integrating an external force. This method is excellent, but as for you, the foundation you currently possess is what Wei Wusheng hopes to achieve after complete integration."
She spoke with a hint of profundity, "He's searching for a door to reach greater heights, and you're already standing at the threshold. Do you understand now?"
Chen Chuan finally grasped the concept and slowly replied, "He's trying to elevate himself by making up for his own deficiencies."
Teacher Xue patted her knee and said, "Yes, this path isn't for everyone. For many, the Third Limit is their limit, and without breaking through this limit, they won't even find the door, let alone take the next step.
Good, let's get back on topic. I see you've been suppressing your aura, so you must have learned aura techniques, right?"
Chen Chuan nodded.
"Good, that saves me a step."
With the necessary prerequisites met, Teacher Xue didn't need to spend more effort.
"Aura is the expression of one's physical information, but altering the aura is a way to utilize spiritual power. We can use this to directly observe changes in your spirit. Give me a moment."
She stood up and left the room. After a while, she returned with a bowl of liquid, which she placed in front of Chen Chuan. "This isn't for drinking. Use your aura to sense it carefully."
Chen Chuan tried sensing it and was surprised to detect a faint aura, and as he probed further, a slight ripple appeared on the surface.
"You felt it, right? Indeed, this liquid is alive and highly sensitive to external auras and gazes."
She suppressed her smile and spoke solemnly, "Chen Chuan, your first task is to gather countless scattered thoughts into one and completely suppress them. I want you to stare at this bowl of liquid until it no longer ripples. I'll give you one hour." She gestured with her hand, "Begin now."
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(End of Chapter)
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