Chapter 185: Unexpected News (II)

The tea came to a boil. Lin Zheyu took the kettle off of the fire and poured a cup for his master.

"Master, have you avenged all your grudges? If not, I can ask that senior to take action for you," said Lin Zheyu.

"No need. All of those enemies from back then have already been dealt with. Being acknowledged by that senior is your good fortune. The Central Plains are nothing like this place. Competition is incredibly fierce. Once you arrive there, stay low-key, do not stand out, and do not display too much talent. When necessary, hide some of your ability. A tree that rises above the forest will be destroyed by the wind. Understand?" Liang Song said earnestly.

This world was extremely dangerous; exceptional talent was both a blessing and a curse. If one was too outstanding yet lacked the power or backing to match it, jealousy and greedy intentions would inevitably follow.

"Yes. Thank you for your guidance, Master," replied Lin Zheyu.

"The Central Plains is a vast stage. With your talent, you will eventually become a major figure. By the way, how did you know I was here?" Liang Song took a sip of tea and asked curiously.

In Songyi City, very few people knew about his situation—only a couple of close friends. And he had not introduced those friends to Lin Zheyu, so there was no reason the two sides would have crossed paths.

"I heard it from Old Master Chen Peijun. By chance, I was introduced by a friend to Old Master Chen Peijun to learn about poisons. I happened to find out that he knew you, and after asking him several times, he eventually told me about you," Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

"So that's how it is. I knew that lecherous old man couldn't be trusted. I specifically told him not to tell you," Liang Song said with irritation.

Lin Zheyu chuckled and didn't comment. It seemed Liang Song and Old Master Chen Peijun had a good relationship.

Liang Song looked at Lin Zheyu and couldn't help asking, "It's been so long. What level are you at now?"

After being apart for so long, he was quite curious about how far this exceptionally gifted disciple had reached.

"I was fortunate enough to break through to the Organ Forging Realm," said Lin Zheyu.

"In just a year, you went from a complete beginner to the Organ Forging Realm. That truly is extraordinary talent. It’s no wonder an expert from the Central Plains took notice of you."

Liang Song couldn't help but sigh.

A single year... that is unbelievable. If this boy had started training from childhood under a proper mentor, who knows how astonishing his achievements would be. If he maintains this momentum, he might even reach the sixth or seventh transformation of blood qi before breaking into the Marrow Refining Realm.

"You have great talent. If possible, push your blood qi to the sixth or even seventh transformation before breaking into the Marrow Refining Realm. The more blood qi transformations you undergo, the greater the enhancement to your bones and physique during marrow refinement, and the stronger your potential will be," Liang Song said solemnly.

"Will do. By the way, Master, do you know at which blood qi transformation Yan Jun broke into the Marrow Refining Realm? When Senior Ye spoke, I could sense his disdain for Yan Jun," Lin Zheyu said curiously.

"He broke into the Marrow Refining Realm at the fourth transformation. In Bafang City, only disciples of major powers, who receive proper training from childhood, can reach the fifth transformation or higher before breaking into the Marrow Refining Realm. Most commoner martial artists and those from small families or factions are already doing well if they can enter the Marrow Refining Realm at all. They don't even dare to dream of reaching the fifth transformation first," Liang Song said with a hint of emotion.

Back then, Liang Song too had a chance to reach the fourth transformation and then break through to the Marrow Refining Realm. But an unexpected tragedy struck. His family was destroyed, his leg was crippled, his martial path was severed, and his life was plunged into despair.

No wonder Yan Jun was so weak...

After chatting for a while, Liang Song stood up and spoke with a smile. "It's been so long. Let's exchange a few moves so I can see exactly how strong you've become."

"Alright!" replied Lin Zheyu.

The two walked to the center of the courtyard. Liang Song looked at Lin Zheyu, clasped his hands behind his back, and said calmly, "Begin."

"

Heh!

"

Lin Zheyu let out a low laugh and moved forward, launching an attack at Liang Song. He suppressed his strength to the Organ Forging Realm and did not display anything overly excessive. He only used the Golden Goose Technique and Barbaric Ox Fist, combined with the momentum he had comprehended from the Barbaric Ox Fist.

Bang, bang, bang.

The sound of fists and kicks clashing echoed as the two exchanged blows rapidly.

"Not bad. You actually understood momentum from the Barbaric Ox Fist!" Liang Song commented.

His evaluation of Lin Zheyu's comprehension rose yet again. He had practiced the Barbaric Ox Fist before, but he had never managed to comprehend momentum from it. To comprehend momentum from a technique required a nature and martial conviction aligned with it; otherwise, it was extremely difficult.

Lin Zheyu had trained for less than a year, so what martial conviction could he possibly have? His ability to comprehend momentum came purely from exceptional comprehension.

After exchanging blows for more than ten minutes, Liang Song felt he had understood Lin Zheyu's strength and finally nodded in satisfaction, stopping the match.

"Not bad. You're close to the mid-stage of the Organ Forging Realm. You managed to comprehend momentum from the Barbaric Ox Fist, which shows good comprehension. But without martial conviction to support it, your momentum is hollow, impressive to look at, but lacking substance," Liang Song commented.

He himself had only scratched the surface of momentum, but with decades immersed in martial arts, his eye for such things was not shallow. From the brief exchange, he immediately saw the flaw in Lin Zheyu's momentum.

"But don't be discouraged. You've trained for only a year. There is still plenty of time to refine and improve. As for momentum and intent, I have a suggestion you can consider, but in the end, the choice is yours.

"The Barbaric Ox Fist has quite a background. Though it is only a third-rate technique, it carries momentum within it. Rumor has it that in ancient times, it was a basic technique used by a powerful faction to select disciples.

"Only those who could comprehend momentum from it, and further transform that momentum into intent, qualified to join that faction. So many years have passed; no one knows whether that faction still exists.

"But even if that faction has perished, its techniques should have spread across the land. If you can obtain the continuation techniques of the Barbaric Ox Fist and walk that path, it wouldn't be a bad choice."

Liang Song pondered for a moment before speaking slowly.

After all, he was only a third transformation martial artist. Though he had lived long, his strength and social circle limited his perspective, and he did not know much. Many things he knew were hearsay; he did not know the exact truth behind them.

"

Oh?

"

Hearing this, a look of surprise appeared on Lin Zheyu's face. When he first practiced the Barbaric Ox Fist, he had already sensed that this technique was unusual. It was clearly just a third-rate, low-grade technique, yet someone had painstakingly integrated momentum into it.

Lin Zheyu had practiced many techniques, including Blood Qi Realm ones, but none of which contained momentum. Yet this seemingly inferior Barbaric Ox Fist did. This alone showed how extraordinary the Barbaric Ox Fist truly was.

"Just listen and take it as a reference. When you go to the Central Plains and join the Ye Family, your horizons will broaden, and you'll have far more choices. Momentum is connected to intent and to advancing into the Force Transformation Realm.

𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"What matters most is that it aligns with your nature and martial conviction. Everything else is secondary. Only momentum that matches your nature and conviction can transform into intent and allow you to reach Force Transformation Realm. Take my words as simple advice. I am only a Blood Qi Realm martial artist, and I've barely touched the surface of momentum myself," Liang Song said with a faint smile.

He felt he had been an inadequate teacher, never managing to teach Zheyu many basic things. Now, even if he wanted to teach him, it was no longer his place. This exceptionally talented disciple had already met far stronger martial artists and found a better path.

"Master, you are too humble. What you said has broadened my understanding greatly," said Lin Zheyu.

The Ye Family he claimed to have joined was, of course, a lie. But Liang Song's explanation had cleared many doubts and deepened his understanding of martial cultivation.

After chatting for a while, the courtyard fell quiet again. Lin Zheyu had intended to take him to see Han Tianmin and the others, but Liang Song declined. The matter with Forest Net Temple was not fully resolved, so he feared involving Han Tianmin and the rest.

As the sky darkened, Liang Song soon prepared to leave. When Lin Zheyu asked where he was staying, Liang Song only smiled without answering, then leaped lightly and vanished from sight.