Chapter 576: The Upper Limit
Chapter 576: The Upper Limit
Beneath the towering buildings of the Deep Unknown District, Chen Chuan seized a moment to consume a few nutrient bars during a brief respite. At that moment, he was contemplating the direction of his own force.
His idea was to cultivate the Zhouyuan Technique, a unique aspect that set him apart from others. He couldn't afford to abandon this crucial characteristic.
Secondly, in combat, he needed a decisive force that could settle matters with a single blow, like the various forces he had witnessed before. These forces, when fully unleashed, were almost unstoppable.
For him, this could be the Capture Force, the Throw Technique, or even the Loose Hand Force. In any case, no matter which force he employed, it had to be harmonized and unified.
When using any technique, he needed a corresponding attack force and the ability to switch between them swiftly and smoothly. To others, this might seem unimaginable, but his body's altered tissue coverage was exceptionally high, and with the Zhouyuan Technique as a foundation, it was achievable.
Most importantly, with a solid foundation and reliance, coupled with unwavering conviction, his spirit would manifest in reality.
First, the Loose Hand Force.
Previously, when he fought with Chen Bitong and others, he used the Forge Breathing Method to stimulate the Destruction Technique taught by Chen Bitong, as well as the Cloud-Crushing Hand taught by Instructor Wen.
These two forces contrasted each other; one focused on large-scale destruction, while the other concentrated on localized damage, each with its advantages and flaws.
The Destruction Technique required the Secondary Self to mitigate damage and needed a certain amount of buildup to unleash its full power. Insufficient buildup would result in reduced effectiveness.
After prolonged practice, Chen Chuan's Cloud-Crushing Hand had become faster, more discreet, and no less powerful. It complemented the Forge Breathing Method more appropriately.
However, this attack method had already been refined by others, leaving little room for improvement. It was challenging to infuse his unique traits and will into this technique.
Using these two forces as the primary means of attack might be sufficient, but he felt something was missing, a sense of unease in his spirit. It didn't fully align with his nature, so he needed to explore alternative paths to find a suitable approach.
As he pondered this, he couldn't help but think that there might be a reason why the next limit was named after martial artists. It seemed that only those who had found their true path could bear this title.
Although he couldn't yet devise a suitable Heart Force for himself, many things couldn't be achieved overnight. After all, he had just mastered these techniques, and there was still room for accumulation and improvement.
He believed that other martial artists, upon embarking on this path, would also need time to refine and enhance their forces.
His next step might be to engage in more sparring and combat with other martial artists to gain experience and refine his forces.
Chen Chuan's advantage was his ability to experiment and make bold attempts without fear, as the Secondary Self could transfer damage on his behalf—a privilege unavailable to other martial artists. Additionally, the presence of Hongfu as a sparring partner at the Wu Yi Academy was another advantage that martial artists outside the academy couldn't enjoy. He needed to make the most of this advantage to refine his forces.
Of course, spiritual cultivation couldn't be neglected. Currently, his spiritual foundation was supported by the Secondary Self. Therefore, he needed to strengthen his primary spirit as much as possible. Otherwise, if the Secondary Self were dissipated during combat, his overall strength would be diminished. Hence, addressing this weakness was crucial.
In fact, the recent battle not only brought him spiritual gains but also significantly advanced his Secondary Self.
If he could elevate the Secondary Self to his current level or even higher, and then, upon completion, merge with it for the second time, he might reach or even surpass the theoretical limit.
As he pondered these thoughts, Jie Ping first made a few rustling sounds, followed by an incoming signal attempting to contact him. He took a glance and accepted the connection.
"Chen, is that you?" Pan Xiaode's voice echoed within Jie Ping.
He pondered for a moment. Pan Xiaode didn't seem to hold any official position, and if there were any actions, they would likely be arranged by the Wu Yi Academy. Why was he contacting Chen Chuan now? Was there an issue?
Pan Xiaode's voice was filled with excitement as he said, "I'm above you."
Chen Chuan looked up at the towering buildings on either side, but he quickly realized that Pan Xiaode was referring to the airship hovering above. He immediately spotted Pan Xiaode standing at the airship's window, waving at him.
Chen Chuan was surprised and said, "Pan, I see you."
Pan Xiaode waved vigorously and said, "You're below me. If you need to go somewhere, I can take you there later. It's more convenient than being on the ground."
Chen Chuan listened to Pan Xiaode's offer, which seemed reasonable. With better information transfer and communication from the airship, it was indeed more advantageous than staying on the ground. So, without hesitation, he agreed.
Pan Xiaode seemed to turn back and say something to someone else. After a while, he said, "Hmm, Chen, do you see that building over there? It's not easy to land the airship, so head to the top, and we'll pick you up there."
Chen Chuan glanced over, and it was a fifty to sixty-story office building. There shouldn't be anyone inside at the moment, and although the building was sealed, there was no need to go through it.
He took a few steps towards it, and after increasing his speed, he stepped onto the building's wall and continued upwards. Soon, he reached the rooftop.
In the distance, the airship slowly approached, seemingly having sprayed some kind of coating. As it neared, the swarms of insects around it scattered to the sides, and when it reached directly above him, a soft ladder descended from above.
He reached out and grabbed the ladder, which lifted him upwards. When he was near the opening below the ship's cabin, he gently pulled, and his entire body leaped upwards, landing calmly inside the cabin.
Pan Xiaode was waiting there, clapping his hands in excitement and saying, "Chen, I saw you up there earlier, so I wanted to greet you."
Chen Chuan asked, "Pan, what are you doing here?"
Pan Xiaode replied, "Hey, my family owns the largest Sky Shark Airship Company in Central City. This time, a large number of airships have been requisitioned, and the academy sent me to coordinate and secure these airships."
Chen Chuan inquired further and learned that most of the airships in Central City, including transport and combat airships, were custom-made by the Sky Shark Company. They also accepted military orders.
However, this company was different from others in the present day. It did not involve armed forces and had no military power of its own, resembling a traditional company from the old era.
Pan Xiaode had never mentioned these things before, keeping a low profile.
As they were talking, two expressionless security personnel appeared from behind. Pan Xiaode introduced them as personnel sent by the Government Hall to handle security on the airship.
The two individuals shook hands with Chen Chuan and communicated through Jie Ping, reminding him, "Captain Chen, please refrain from disclosing non-public information during your stay here."
Chen Chuan understood. These security personnel were actually there to monitor and prevent the leakage of sensitive information. He responded, "I understand."
Pan Xiaode enthusiastically asked, "Chen, have you eaten?"
Chen Chuan replied, "I've been busy with the mission since dawn and haven't had time to eat."
Pan Xiaode checked his watch; it was now 11:45 a.m. "I haven't eaten either. I've been coordinating and inspecting the airships. Let's go; we can eat together."
Chen Chuan nodded in agreement.
Pan Xiaode led him to the banquet hall located in the middle-upper section of the airship. Since this airship was originally a sightseeing airship, it had large transparent windows, allowing passengers to observe the situation below while dining.
Chen Chuan walked to the window and looked outside. There was a dense swarm of insects on the ground, which was unclear from below, but from above, he could see several gray clusters of insects gathered together, with a few areas standing out prominently.
Pan Xiaode walked over and said, "These insects are from the Convergence Zone, right? To be honest, I've never heard of this place before, and the idea of two worlds colliding really startled me."
He glanced at Chen Chuan and asked curiously, "Chen, have you been there?" Then he quickly added, "Oh, if it's confidential, you don't need to tell me."
Chen Chuan replied, "There's nothing I can't tell you. I have indeed been there. Once you reach the Third Limit, you'll encounter them too."
Pan Xiaode clenched his fists, full of determination, and said, "I also want to go down there like you and fight those mercenaries, driving those creatures from the Convergence Zone back. I'm not strong enough yet, but next time, I'll definitely catch up."
Chen Chuan looked at him. Pan Xiaode seemed to have gained the trust of his family, as he was informed about some aspects of the two worlds. However, the Spider Mother's split still seemed to be kept from him.
At that moment, two service staff members pushed a dining cart into the room and placed exquisite dishes on the table.
Pan Xiaode invited, "Let's eat first."
Chen Chuan nodded, but at that moment, he paused slightly.
Pan Xiaode asked, "Chen, what's wrong?"
Chen Chuan said, "Nothing."
He had been activating the Spirit Reflection Technique since the beginning, absorbing essence from another world. Just then, he suddenly felt a faint ripple coming from the opposite side.
Perhaps ordinary people would assume it was due to an unstable rift, which did seem likely. However, he didn't think that was the case.
It was more likely that a tear had been created, and the pure essence was leaking out. From this perspective, the pure essence might disperse into this world soon.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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