Book 3, Chapter 97: New And Old Method

Cao Guiqi took a look at the scattered petals and branches before sighing. “An instant is eternal, and to meet is already to part.”

He flicked away the white fluff that had landed on his robes before reaching out and pushing away all the withered petals and branches on the table. Then, he picked up a white root. “Put this away, Mr. Ding.”

The butler came over and took the root gingerly with both hands. They could regrow the plant from it.

Cao Guiqi then turned to Chen Chuan and said, “Based on the Imprisoned Sentient Root’s reaction, you’re close to the Third Limit. The divine energy within you is about to burst forth. If you continue using medicine and other training resources during your daily training, it should take only a month or two for you to reach the Third Limit.

“Right now, you need to begin getting ready to cross that threshold. It’s only when you have accumulated enough power that you can open that door.”

“What should I do?” Chen Chuan asked seriously.

“First, get the right method. Not only do you need to cross a threshold to reach the Third Limit, but the method you use will also determine the path you take in the future. We can talk about the specifics in the future. Let’s first discuss the method created during the new era.

“One of them is to find a Third Limit martial artist. Then, with the help of a resonator nest, have them perform biofield resonance with someone who’s about to reach the Third Limit. In this way, the Third Limit martial artist can help you cross that threshold.”

“A resonator nest?” Chen Chuan was quite surprised.

Cao Guiqi nodded. “Yes, a resonator nest. It was first created to guide martial artists. As technology kept improving, however, it became something solely used by resonators. Even so, when martial artists try to reach the Third Limit, they still use it, though they use one that’s more suited for martial artists.

“Most martial artists who inherit their techniques from their masters choose this method, since its chances of success are higher. As long as the person using the resonator nest is attentive, there’s no risk.

“But if you pick this method, your biofield will subconsciously begin developing in the direction of the biofield belonging to the martial artist who guided you. Your mutated tissue’s growth will also match theirs.

“If the Third Limit martial artist’s refined force and breathing technique are similar to yours, then the rate at which your mutated tissue covers your body will be the same. Sometimes, it will even help you to some extent.

“But if your refined force and mutated tissue coverage are very different, this method can have negative effects. Even if you manage to reach the Third Limit, it might limit your potential. You’ll need to spend quite a lot of effort and energy to correct your growth and turn things around. The chances of you progressing far down your path as a martial artist might become far lower than other people’s.

“Worse still is if both of you aren’t compatible. There would even be a certain chance that you will become unable to reach the Third Limit, ever.

“If you want to use this method, it’s best to get it done in one go. If you start over, the chances of success will not be as high as the first time. If you keep failing, your mutated tissue will enter a slump. When that happens, you won’t be able to reach the Third Limit.”

Chen Chuan thought about it and knew that this method wasn’t for him. Since he practiced the All-Encompassing Force, it was highly likely that he would never find a Third Limit martial artist who practiced the same refined force.

Cao Guiqi continued, “The second method is to take medicine to help you cross the threshold. You’ve become Green Satchel Pharmacy’s drug tester, so you can get medicine specifically designed to help you reach the Third Limit from them. This medicine will stimulate the growth of your brain’s mutated tissue and help you reach your goal.

“But if you want a high chance of success with this method, then the medicine needs to be custom-made for you. Because of it, the company will get a hold of all your data. Still, it’s an option.

“The third method is to purchase Martial Valor University’s service. Hongfu can provide effective guidance, and it’s a much safer and stable option than the other two methods. It also has the highest success rate.

“The con of it is that the university will receive full knowledge about your body. I’m not talking about the data of your current state, but the entire process of how Hongfu helped you reach the Third Limit, along with the path you might take in the future. The university will know everything.

“The university is made up of a lot of people, so for any one person who can access your data, many more will be able to learn it too. Think about it carefully before making your choice.”

Chen Chuan pondered over the three options before asking, “Are there any other ways of reaching the Third Limit?”

Cao Guiqi picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said slowly as he looked Chen Chuan in the eye, “Ever since we entered the new era, these three methods have been what we use. Aside from them, there are plenty of methods available among the people, but they’re not suited for you. Still, if you think that the three methods I mentioned are not suitable, you’ll have to pick a method from the old era.”

Chen Chuan mulled over it. “The old era, huh?”

“The old era’s methods aren’t completely useless. Once you get rid of all the mysticisms around them, you’ll find that they’re better suited for certain people.

“I suggest you use the old era’s methods. While new technology can increase the chances of a martial artist reaching the Third Limit, to those who have special talents, the new technology just limits their growth.”

He cast a glance at the lush, secluded courtyard and let his eyes fall partially shut. After a while, he opened them and said, “In the old era, the martial artists didn’t focus on reaching a breakthrough to get to the Third Limit. They waited for a chance instead. This process was called enlightenment or attaining wisdom.

“The time varied for each person. In the past, those who weren’t smart enough thought of all sorts of extreme methods to find it, like jumping off cliffs, severing worldly ties, or even going out during thunderstorms to get struck by lightning.

“But there’s no longer any need to do that. The legacies of the old era and the theories the new era crafted based on their past experiences have allowed us to come up with a clearer path.

“You need your breathing, body, and mind to work together while using certain medicine as support. Not a single element can be missing.

“When I spoke about needing your breathing and body to work together, I meant you need to use your breathing technique to make adjustments to your body. An advanced breathing technique can help your body enter the best state for reaching the Third Limit.

“I have a breathing technique created after years of review by the national school of martial arts in the old era. You can use it to understand yourself while meditating, so that it’ll be easier for you to enter that state. I can teach it to you later.

“While you’re adjusting your mind and body to enter that state, you’ll need some special medicine which is hard to come by now. I have sixty packs of it, which should be enough for two months of usage. I can no longer use them, and keeping them around is a waste of space, so I’ll give it to you.”

Mr. Ding looked up as if he had something to say, but Cao Guiqi pretended to not have seen it and continued, “Next is the mind. While you’re adjusting your state of mind, you need to find something that stirs your interest or something that you dedicate yourself entirely to.

“Martial artists, usually, chase after the idea of growing stronger and winning against their opponents. Because of this, you can also find powerful opponents to help you reach the Third Limit.

“But there are some people who don’t actually like fighting and only fight for the sake of reaching the Third Limit. Hence, this method might not fulfill their true desires.

“Hence, those who like art should admire great art, those who love traveling should look for places that fit the image of the beautiful scenery in their hearts, and those who long for career success should strive for advancement. There are all sorts of ways to do it.

“But at the end of the day, these are just ways to achieve a transcendence of mind and spirit in order for your mind and body to perfectly blend together.

“Remember, though, you won’t be able to reach the Third Limit in a single step if you use this method. This is a process. Usually, you will get stronger until you reach a limit. Sometimes, even when you reach it, you might need some external stimulation to give you one last push to cross that threshold.

“But if you follow this path and fulfill all the conditions, the chances of success won’t be low, especially since you already have an 82% chance of succeeding. If you don’t have any external factors standing in your way, you should have no problem reaching it.”

After listening to Cao Guiqi’s explanation, Chen Chuan realized that the old era’s method had no quantitative standard. The person needed to rely solely on their personal insight and training to reach the Third Limit.

But Chen Chuan approved of this method, because while it appeared complicated and difficult, he was the one who called the shots for every step he took. He didn’t need to walk down a path someone else had prepared for him.

After giving it some thought, he said, “I’d like to use this method.”

As if he had been expecting Chen Chuan to do just that, Cao Guiqi nodded. “Then, I’m going to teach you all the important points and things to look out for. Be sure to remember them.”

Over the next two hours, Cao Guiqi taught Chen Chuan all about reaching the Third Limit, the crucial parts on the way, and all the problems he might face. At the end, he gave Chen Chuan the medicine required for the breakthrough and some tools before asking Mr. Ding to send him off.

When Mr. Ding came back, he said, “I don’t mind you teaching him the breathing technique. Ever since the old era came to an end, a significant portion of it has become public knowledge. Now, not many people care about keeping it a secret anymore, but your mother kept the medicine for you...”

Cao Guiqi blew at his tea and said, “What’s the point of me keeping it?”

“It’s a keepsake,” Mr. Ding said with a sigh.

“It’ll just make me feel sad. The medicine is made to be used. If it can help him, then it’ll have some value,” Cao Guiqi said with a shake of his head.

***

After leaving Motie Mountain, Chen Chuan drove back to the Arcane Palace while thinking about what Cao Guiqi had told him. All he needed to do was follow the steps to a T, but the hard part was finding something that interested him.

Chen Chuan thought about what stirred his heart. All things shrouded in mystery were, without a doubt, part of it, but he also chased after martial arts. After all, living a life free of shackles was his greatest wish, and only martial arts could help him grant that wish. The strength he gained through martial arts was the only strength that truly belonged to him.

Once he became sure of what really interested him, he knew that he had to find someone strong enough to challenge him.

This opponent had to be able to keep up with him and threaten him for a long time, since this process wasn’t going to be quick. Still, Chen Chuan knew just the right person.

Hongfu.

Among the purchasable services, there was one of using Hongfu as a sparring partner, though the price for it was rather high. Chen Chuan also needed a certain amount of hologram resource points, which were under the same umbrella as resource points for the light shows, for it. If his assessment points weren’t high enough, he would also be unable to purchase this service.

Fortunately, now that his assessment points had gone up, he should have hit the minimum requirement to purchase the service.

He should get this arrangement settled once he returned to his room.