Chapter 299: Martial Will

Chapter 299 Martial Will

In the living room, Xie Xinsu's eyes were brimming with tears.

That a Foundation Establishment spiritual item had been tossed into the trash heap pained her heart beyond measure.

She hated it so, hated that she was currently a mere cat, utterly powerless to act.

She also hated that cold, unfeeling man, a rustic boor who could not recognize rare treasure when he saw it.

Most likely, all his martial arts training had turned his brains to mush.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Xie Xinsu looked toward the entrance, drained of all her strength.

With the Foundation Establishment spiritual item gone, the spiritual energy in the room had faded considerably, becoming far more obscure.

Yet, with her former strength and discernment as a Core Elixir cultivator, she could still perceive that the magic treasure she had sensed earlier remained right here.

Qi Yuan emerged from his bedroom and opened the front door, looking at the young man standing outside as he let out a yawn. "Who are you looking for?"

"May I come in and sit for a while?" The man outside was, naturally, Luo Ping.

This time, he had come entirely alone.

All his subordinates had been left behind at Yang Shan's house.

"You may." Qi Yuan answered casually, sizing up the strange man.

His response left Luo Ping slightly surprised.

If it were anyone else, encountering a strange man knocking on the door and asking to sit inside, they would surely ask for his purpose before anything else.

But at the thought that the other party might be mentally ill, everything became perfectly logical and normal again.

Luo Ping stepped into the apartment, his gaze sweeping across the entire space before he took a seat by the sofa.

He introduced himself, saying, "My name is Luo Ping. Two months ago, I was still a... ordinary civil servant.

As you may know, I grew up without a mother-in-law, so I went to see a high-ranking official. Yes, that's right, a very powerful official.

Then, that high-ranking official's wife became my mother-in-law.

Life is... truly fickle. It gives a man hope, and it makes him swell with pride, yet in truth... I live my days walking on eggshells, terrified that everything will vanish into thin air."

When staying at his father-in-law's house, Luo Ping always projected an aura of absolute confidence, as though everything were firmly within his grasp.

But he alone knew how nerve-wracking this dance on the edge of a blade truly was, a torment that kept his heart constantly in his throat.

After all, in his past life, though he had lacked immense wealth and nobility, he had lived in peace and joy, free from anxieties.

In this life, however, he had earned the nickname of a man walking on thin ice.

"And then?" Qi Yuan cast a glance at Luo Ping.

Not far away, Xie Xinsu glared at Luo Ping, her eyes burning with a desperate wish to brand him with two words: "A total poser."

"You and I... can be considered of the same kind, or perhaps, half of the same kind.

Qi Yuan... aren't you curious as to why you died one year from now... yet wound up returning to the present?"

Luo Ping had once again recaptured that sensation of having everything under his control.

Before Qi Yuan could speak, Xie Xinsu's feline neck stiffened.

Returned... to the present?

Wait... this man was a Restarter too?

And her cold, unfeeling, rustic boor of a master was one as well?

If he was, how could he have thrown away a Foundation Establishment spiritual item like common trash?

"I come from the future. Ordinary people call us Restarters.

And you... can be considered one of our number.

But... you did not survive until ten years later; you died a mere year from now.

Thus, you have no idea what befell this world over the next decade.

It is a great pity, and it dooms you to being an unqualified Restarter." Luo Ping spoke calmly.

Looking at Qi Yuan, he saw a reflection of himself; to some extent, he actually envied Qi Yuan a little.

Qi Yuan glanced at Luo Ping. "So you're a Restarter?"

By now, Xie Xinsu also seemed to understand something.

Qi Yuan was actually a Restarter as well.

Regrettably, he had died just a year into the future.

No wonder he had chosen the Martial Path instead of walking the Immortal Path.

She suddenly felt that Qi Yuan's plight was even more tragic than her own.

"Would you like to follow me?" At this moment, Luo Ping spoke, offering a tentative suggestion.

Granted, as an incomplete Restarter, Qi Yuan was not truly qualified to partner with him, but he was willing to grant Qi Yuan a chance.

"Work under you?" Qi Yuan smiled and shook his head. "Working for someone else is impossible in this lifetime. This leisurely life of mine, playing games every day and practicing martial arts once in a while—you have no idea how wonderful it is!"

Qi Yuan's refusal was exceedingly crisp.

How could he possibly work for someone else?

Besides, he was just a Restarter?

No matter how grand that title sounded, wasn't he still just an NPC in a game?

The sole purpose of an NPC's existence was to ensure Qi Yuan had a good time playing.

Hearing Qi Yuan's reply, Luo Ping knew not whether to feel regretful or satisfied.

"Such a life of yours is indeed enviable." Luo Ping nodded. "In that case, I won't disturb you any longer. The other Restarters won't come to disturb you either."

After chatting idly with Qi Yuan for a few more moments in the apartment, Luo Ping felt a deep sense of emotion welling up within him.

Though his current life was undeniably spectacular, a life like Qi Yuan's... was also deeply enviable.

However, once one became a Restarter, even if he wished to be leisurely... he could not afford to be.

If he did not progress, if he did not grow stronger, he would eventually be crushed to death.

Qi Yuan, on the other hand, faced no such pressure, which, in a way, could be considered a form of fortune.

Before leaving, Luo Ping looked at Qi Yuan, a smile gracing his eyes. "I wish you victory in the Martial Arts Tournament!"

With those words, Luo Ping departed Qi Yuan's apartment without looking back, as if bidding farewell to his past self.

With Luo Ping gone, Qi Yuan sat on the sofa, stroking his cat with a leisurely expression. "It really is great to have a mental illness certificate. Pretending to be a lunatic... makes things so much more fun."

Hearing this, Xie Xinsu rolled her eyes directly at him.

She desperately wanted to tell Qi Yuan: you aren't pretending to be a lunatic, you actually are insane.

In the days that followed, everything proceeded exactly according to routine.

Robot Zero-One forced Xie Xinsu to shoot videos every day, leaving her utterly unable to focus on cultivation.

Because of this, Xie Xinsu dreamed daily of turning the tables and becoming the master.

Alas, she was too weak, bullied relentlessly by Robot Zero-One, with no power to resist.

As for that magical artifact, she had no clue whatsoever.

She had never even entered Qi Yuan’s room, let alone searched for the artifact.

A cat’s life was bleak; only cultivation offered hope to break free from this painful existence.

Xie Xinsu had already decided: once she achieved mastery in cultivation, she would definitely turn the tables and pin Zero-One down.

On the other side, Qi Yuan’s martial arts cultivation was steadily climbing.

He had astonishingly reached the twelfth layer of the *Mingwu Resonance Fist*.

After the twelfth layer, the progress of his martial cultivation noticeably slowed.

Qi Yuan knew this was approaching what Yang Shan called the martial limit.

Simply continuing to practice the *Mingwu Resonance Fist* was of no further use.

At that moment, in the residential compound, Yang Shan looked at Qi Yuan, whose aura grew ever more formidable, and couldn’t help but exclaim in amazement.

“You are absolutely… the most talented martial artist I have ever seen.

In just a few months, you’ve reached the height it took me over a decade to achieve!

The martial limit—this is the martial limit.”

He still remembered when he first met Qi Yuan, who was just a beginner in martial arts, not even a true martial artist.

Yet in a few months, he had astonishingly reached the martial limit, standing on equal footing with him.

Qi Yuan shrugged: “It’s nothing special. It’s just that the path from martial artist to the martial limit… is too short.”

Qi Yuan spoke the truth.

The journey from martial artist to the martial limit was truly too short for him.

Before he had even practiced much, the path of martial cultivation had come to an end.

“Too short?” Yang Shan shook his head helplessly. “Generally speaking, a person of ordinary talent might take thirty years and still struggle to reach the martial limit.

And after thirty years, with declining vitality, how could they sustain it?”

Yang Shan spoke the truth. Those like him, who reached the martial limit before forty, were rare and exceptional.

If a person had ordinary talent but practiced diligently, they might still have a chance to reach the martial limit.

But by then, they would likely be over sixty years old.

As the saying goes, youth triumphs over age in boxing—what use is a martial artist over sixty?

“So you…” Yang Shan’s expression turned enigmatic. “Perhaps you truly have a chance to break through the martial limit!”

Since the founding of Qin Yuan, the youngest to reach the martial limit was thirty years old.

Qi Yuan was terrifyingly young.

Of course, having hope to break the martial limit was merely hope.

Wasn’t that one before also hailed as the most promising to break the martial limit?

And yet… he still failed.

A few years ago, a billionaire even spent a fortune researching the matter of the martial limit.

The final research result was that the human body was insufficient to break the martial limit.

This meant that breaking the martial limit simply did not exist.

“If you settle down and cultivate for another year or two, you might truly win the championship at the Martial Arts Tournament.

As for the city-level competition, don’t even think about it—first place will be easy.

In Tianyue City, there are only a few at the martial limit, and they’re old; they won’t participate in such contests.” Yang Shan kindly reminded him.

“I’m not worried about the Martial Arts Tournament. I came to you to pick your brain for free. What research do you have on breaking the martial limit?” Qi Yuan inquired.

Regarding breaking the martial limit, he had his own ideas but also wanted to incorporate others’ thoughts.

As the saying goes, three cobblers with their wits combined equal Zhuge Liang.

Dazhi Zhenjun had given him many good insights.

On his martial journey, Yang Shan had also provided him with considerable help.

“The martial limit…” At this mention, Yang Shan fell silent, then spoke after a long pause. “In the martial world, a saying has long circulated: to break the martial limit, one must forge a martial will.

With a powerful martial will, one can drive the body’s advancement.

A martial artist’s advancement lies in enhancing the body.

But relying solely on martial arts, the body’s improvement is limited; thus, the reverse—using the martial will to elevate the body in turn.

So we old-timers, upon reaching the martial limit, have been constantly forging our martial will.

The martial will is something very esoteric.

Be careful—I will infuse my martial will into my gaze and look at you.

Such a look is enough to make the timid tremble and lose their composure!”

Mentioning the martial will, Yang Shan regained his confidence before Qi Yuan.

His martial talent might be inferior to Qi Yuan’s.

But his martial will was no bluff.

He was a soldier, had been to the battlefield, had killed!

The martial will he had forged was absolutely not something a green youth like Qi Yuan could match.

One glance would likely be enough to make the other lose his composure.

As Yang Shan spoke, he looked at Qi Yuan.

In that moment, his entire essence, energy, and spirit condensed, focusing into his eyes.

The area around his temples bulged slightly.

Yang Shan’s gaze, at that instant, brimmed with killing intent, piercingly bright, almost dazzling.

It looked utterly terrifying.

Such a gaze, in a martial contest, would be enough to make an opponent lose focus.

Against a young man like Qi Yuan, it was immensely effective.

“What are you staring at?” Suddenly, Qi Yuan looked at Yang Shan with a curious expression.

In that moment, Yang Shan was stunned.

Because Qi Yuan’s reaction was far too calm.

He had not been shaken by that gaze at all.

He was a bit stunned: "How are you fine?"

"With eyes like that... what could happen?

It seems your martial will is not firm," Qi Yuan said casually.

Indeed, he had seen too many big shots, even once glimpsed a Yang God.

Yang Shan's martial will was nothing but child's play.

"Still, you've given me some ideas."

Yang Shan's mention of martial will sparked inspiration in Qi Yuan.

Lately, Qi Yuan had been studying martial arts and the bloodlines of mutated sea monsters.

He realized that breaking through limits as a martial artist required more than just enhancing bloodlines.

Bloodlines were not the entirety of a martial artist.

Hearing Yang Shan speak of martial will, many thoughts came to him.

Especially regarding his innate martial skill.

The Explosive Bird-Slaying Fist.

To break the limits of martial arts, one must not only elevate bloodlines but also elevate innate martial skills.

The elevation of innate martial skills... was it tied to will?

"How exactly did you resist my martial will?" Yang Shan ignored Qi Yuan's words, lost in the fact that Qi Yuan had nearly disregarded his powerful martial will.

"Resist? Why bother?" Qi Yuan laughed, then said, "It's simple—just kill more people. Kill a few hundred thousand, a few million..."

Qi Yuan had already realized that what Yang Shan called martial will was essentially killing intent.

Killing intent was something Qi Yuan never lacked.

In fact, when he killed too much in games and practiced the Radiant Sword of the Bright Palace, others emitted white light, but he emitted red light directly.

"So... in the end, you just haven't killed enough," Qi Yuan said with a smile, patting Yang Shan's shoulder like a seasoned veteran.

Yang Shan was stunned, then retorted defiantly: "You kid, stop bragging! If you don't want to tell me, fine!

Killing? You think I haven't killed enough?

Do you know those Guiran people who are so cocky online?

I've killed more than ten of them, heh heh... even a priest!"

At that, Yang Shan lifted his head proudly.

This was his greatest achievement, worth boasting about forever.

Now that he was familiar with Qi Yuan, he showed off a bit.

On Gongxing these days, the Yuelang Kingdom was at war with the Wugui Kingdom.

The Wugui Kingdom had the upper hand.

And the netizens of the Qinyuan Kingdom couldn't even out-argue the people of Wugui and Guwu online.

The internet was seething with anger, everyone itching to kill the Guiran people!

If Yang Shan exposed his killings of Guiran people online, he'd become a huge internet celebrity in no time.

"Less than a hundred... that's a bit few," Qi Yuan replied honestly.

"You kid, you've been on the internet too much! Less than a hundred is few?

Do you know what it means to kill a hundred enemies?

In ancient times, if a soldier killed a hundred foes, he'd easily earn a title!" Yang Shan thought Qi Yuan had watched too many videos.

Someone who had never killed a single person dared to say he killed too few?

Those shocking nationwide murder sprees only involved a dozen or two dozen victims.

And those killers were called maniacs.

He, Yang Shan, killed too few?

"It's your narrow view—you've never seen someone who's killed a lot. I..." Qi Yuan was about to say he had killed many.

But remembering that killing was illegal, he changed his words.

"I know someone who has killed over ten thousand."

"Haha... you have a friend, right? Why isn't it you!" Yang Shan laughed heartily, not taking Qi Yuan seriously.

He thought Qi Yuan was just playing along with a meme.

"You, who haven't killed a single Guiran, aren't worthy to speak with me!" Yang Shan played along too.

(End of chapter)