Chapter 320: [254] Demon King, we come to join you (third update for monthly pass and recommendation)_1
 

Li Zezhen’s words were interrupted.

The young scholar stood up and said, “I’ll get the door.”

The door opened.

A waiter carrying a pot base entered, accompanied by a companion presenting a stack of fruit plates: “These are complimentary fruit snacks from our store, please enjoy.”

The door closed again.

The young scholar had already taken his seat and looked at Li Zezhen, “Professor Li, there was also a saying before, that non-physical technique faction practitioners who pursue martial arts are more likely to die young… According to what you’re saying, is it because their vitality is consumed too greatly?”

“Of course, I once inquired with many Transcendents of the Body Technique System, and through contact and experiments with them, found that their rate of vitality consumption is completely different from that of normal people.”

The young scholar had an eager-to-learn expression on his face.

“Transcendents of the Body Technique System, when they cultivate martial arts, tend to break through more easily, and with each breakthrough, their human body structure changes… However, I am currently not clear on the specific reasons for these changes.

But one thing is certain, if they do not pursue higher levels of martial arts and keep their bodies in the most appropriate rhythm, then their rate of consumption will be the lowest possible at every stage… With robust vitality, their lifespan will naturally be extended.”

“Not pursue higher levels of martial arts? Professor Li, I must confess, I too am from the Body Technique System,” the young scholar admitted.

Li Zezhen was taken aback.

It seemed that he had not expected this young man, who looked like nothing more than an ordinary student, to also be from the Body Technique System.

“You are also from the Body Technique System? Have you practiced martial arts techniques?”

“I have. And I also know some rumors about the Martial Arts Three Realm…” The young scholar hesitated, “Is it really impossible to enter the Upper Third Realms?”

Li Zezhen shook his head, “I don’t know much about matters of martial arts and cannot give you an objective assessment, but from what I have personally witnessed… First, it is very difficult to cultivate into the Upper Third Realms, and second, the Dharma Body Realm is actually enough. The Dharma Body Realm can almost maintain one’s vitality at peak condition for at least thirty years… This means that for these thirty years, the consumption of vitality is nearly zero.”

“Dharma Body Realm…” The young scholar reflected thoughtfully.

Seeing this, Li Zezhen chuckled, “You are still young. According to my research… if you can enter the Middle Three Realm before the age of 22, then your vitality loss will be at least ten times less than your peers… If you can cultivate the Dharma Body Realm by the age of 28, then by the time you reach 50 or 60, when other people’s vitality has already started to diminish considerably, your vitality would have just begun to decline…”

“It’s a pity that the research was halted back then, otherwise I might have already discovered the patterns in human body changes.”

Li Zezhen sighed.

He looked at the young man before him, “Don’t put pressure on yourself… Birth, aging, illness, and death are natural laws… Awakening the Extraordinary-Human Genes has already broken the initially set natural laws, learning to live well is most important.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Professor Li,” the young scholar nodded in agreement.

Li Zezhen guessed that this youngster was just a beginner in martial arts, as he had seen warriors of the Body Technique System whose physical appearances were completely unlike this seemingly frail one.

But what he didn’t know was that this young scholar had not yet turned eighteen and had already entered the Third Blood Refining, about to begin Organ Refining.

A strange noise came from outside the door, Pei Jinye retracted his gaze and didn’t continue, deliberately changing the subject.

Li Zezhen began to talk about his experiences studying abroad in the North Continent, “The climate in the North Continent is harsher than here in Central State, and also because of some historical issues, their martial arts are a bit stronger, especially swordsmanship… There are quite a few impressive Master of Swordsmanship there, and their physical bodies are also very unique.

Some of them were not even from the Body Technique System, yet their rate of vitality consumption was similar to those of the Body Technique System… These individuals belong to the exceptions I mentioned in my book.”

Pei Jinye looked over.

Li Zezhen spoke softly, “Have you heard of the term ‘ancient martial arts’?”

Pei Jinye nodded, “Is Professor Li referring to martial arts originating from ancient times?”

“Exactly, the true ancient martial arts are not just the martial arts passed down from a few hundred years ago, but the truly long-standing ancient past…” Li Zezhen’s eyes wandered as he spoke softly, “How many years this world has existed, even the Star Ring cannot give a precise answer… The number of civilizations born on this world is so plentiful that even modern archaeology has not fully investigated them… Because our current civilization has once faced true destruction…

Calamities and manmade disasters occurred simultaneously… Some say it was a purification given by the heavens. Perhaps, from a population of over twenty billion, eventually, only a little over one hundred million survived…

And this little over one hundred million people were the pioneers of our age.

Ancient martial arts were once just a speculation, until it was eventually confirmed… That at least twenty thousand years ago, this world had individuals who could move mountains and seas.”

“Although now, in our era, there are also people who can accomplish that,” Li Zezhen suddenly said with a smile. “But don’t forget, the Extraordinary-Human Genes started in our era, only a mere thousand years ago. But what about twenty thousand years ago? Those people’s cultivation… was reliant on techniques similar to what we use now.

You probably don’t know that many of the advanced heart methods and techniques passed down among the top families in the current era are actually evolved from the true ancient martial arts secrets.”

Pei Jinye thoughtfully said, “Why can’t they be practiced directly?”

“Perhaps it’s because of the fragility of modern human bodies… Of course, this is just my guess,” Li Zezhen spoke softly. “Time has granted us technology, has given us ways to free our hands… But it has also caused our bodies to be ‘degenerating’. How powerful the human beings of twenty thousand years ago must have been without the need for Extraordinary-Human Genes to move mountains and seas…”

Pei Jinye thoughtfully considered this.

He had devoured the memories of Gongsun Qianfeng.

He was well aware that the direct descendants of the Gongsun Family practiced advanced techniques… If according to Li Zezhen’s speculation, it would mean that the Gongsun Family might have had access to the true ancient martial arts secrets.

But such information was not found in Gongsun Qianfeng’s memory.

Had they not come into contact with it… or had it been deleted?

Pei Jinye retracted his gaze, sensing that someone was eavesdropping outside, he quickly diverted the conversation, mentioning the landscapes of the North Continent.

Li Zezhen was oblivious, cheerfully beginning to share his experiences during his study abroad.

Before they knew it, an hour had passed.

Li Zezhen suddenly became aware and looked around his office with confusion, completely unaware of how he had ended up there…

“Have I eaten already?”

“I seem a bit full…”

He looked around suspiciously, not knowing he had been hypnotized and his memory erased.

He simply thought he had been overworking lately…

He shook his head and began to organize his lecture notes.

And at this moment, just outside the university gate, in a nearby alley, Pei Jinye tossed aside the Federation’s Confidential Clerk in his hand.

Li Zezhen was actually a Federation secret surveillance agent.

“Why would they target me?”

“Is it just because of my research on Vitality?”

Pei Jinye suddenly felt that there were things within the Federation’s resolute grasp that he was unaware of.

“Ancient Martial Arts…”

“It seems the Federation… isn’t willing to let everyone practice Martial Arts at will.”

He sneered with disdain.

Pei Jinye turned around, not killing the man outright, as he didn’t want to make a scene and bring unnecessary trouble to Professor Li Zezhen.

After all, it was just a moment’s impulse to consult him, and it would be his fault if he brought any life-threatening disaster upon the elderly professor who was already not having the best of his later years.

After hypnotizing and brainwashing the man,

Pei Jinye then quietly left the scene.

…

…

“Buzz, buzz.”

Silver Art sent a message.

Her residence with Little Red Luo had been accidentally discovered by the Federation’s people, and now they needed an emergency safe haven.

It seemed even the bars in the Modern City might be under surveillance.

Pei Jinye then sent them the location of his rental property.

Twenty minutes later.

Pei Jinye, with Little Li’s face, appeared inside the rental house.

He unexpectedly saw that the floor of the home was spotless, almost reflective with its polish.

And facing him…

Silver Art lay exhausted on the sofa, visibly deflated in spirit.

Pei Jinye approached and closed the door: “Did you two clean up here?”

“Red Luo said we can’t stay for free at your place,” she replied.

Pei Jinye raised his eyebrows slightly: “Where is she?”

“Resting inside,” Silver Art answered honestly.

Pei Jinye raised an eyebrow, gently pushed open a door, and saw a little girl soundly asleep.

Silver Art whispered, “I’m injured, and my combat power is down to ten percent for the short term, so to shake off the federation’s pursuers, she had to use up quite a bit.”

Hearing this, Pei Jinye gently closed the door and then returned to sit down in the living room.

He poured Silver Art a glass of water: “How did you get exposed?”

“We’ve been on a mission to hunt down the Sand Flame Association these past few days, got false intel, and walked into an ambush… The Sand Flame Association then leaked our whereabouts to the Federation,” explained Silver Art while gulping down water and taking a few breaths.

Pei Jinye took out two Blood Spirit Fruits and handed one over: “Take it easy.”

“Thanks,” Silver Art took it without hesitation, her eyes having fixed on the Blood Spirit Fruit the moment she saw it.

“What about Sea Words and the others?” Pei Jinye inquired.

“They’ve moved through the secret passage. Spirit Fox said she has arranged for someone to investigate,” Silver Art bit into the Blood Spirit Fruit, speaking unclearly, “The people from Sand Flame Association are so underhanded, they can’t beat us, so they deliberately sold us out.”

It seemed the more Silver Art thought about it, the more it itched her to the point of annoyance.

Pei Jinye cast his gaze downwards.

Quietly devouring the Blood Spirit Fruit in his hand.

Silver Art seemed to receive a message and looked up to say, “Spirit Fox said that for now the Modern City hasn’t been exposed, but she still wants us to move… This afternoon, Sea Words will go to sign the transfer, said she found a nightclub in the city center and plans to make that place a new stronghold… I have to help move later.”

“Where is she?” Pei Jinye asked.

“I don’t know,” Silver Art shook her head, “Spirit Fox never participates in offline meetings.”

Pei Jinye spat out the fruit pit: “Are they using you as a laborer?”

“She always loves to boss people around,” Silver Art muttered, “I really don’t know what Black Shark saw in her.”

Pei Jinye raised an eyebrow: “Those two are a couple?”

“No, Spirit Fox said Black Shark wasn’t good looking, not even worth a flirtatious glance,” Silver Art, satisfied after finishing the Blood Spirit Fruit, now held an impeccably clean pit in her hand.

Pei Jinye stood up at this point: “Do you know where the Sand Flame Association’s stronghold is?”

“I do, why do you ask?”

“To take you on a killing spree.”