The master and disciple shared the same thoughts; Meng Chuan could see some things but chose not to reveal them.
"Forget it, I also have secrets from Master Luo, all for each other's own good. Revealing them would be a lower move."
In truth, Meng Chuan had always been concerned about the conversation with Venerable Yin that day.
He trusted his sixth sense and decided to stay away from him whenever possible.
Even if Venerable Yin did nothing, he actually quite admired him.
"This kind of thing is just speculation, and telling Master Luo would only add worry; I can't drag my master down.
Forget it, time to sleep; diligently practicing martial arts is the most important."
With Skynet around, even a Martial Arts Venerable must obey the law...right?
Meanwhile.
Across from Meng Chuan's home.
Luo Guanyun was also filled with emotions.
He felt that his disciple had changed a lot during the months he was away.
After a passionate encounter with the wife he hadn't seen in a long time, Ren Ping went to sleep satisfied.
Luo Guanyun got up and quietly returned to the Martial Arts Chamber.
The lights inside were off.
He expertly opened a specific floor tile and took out the tortoise shell hidden beneath it.
After translating the content on the tortoise shell, it matched his suspicions.
Its name was:
[Spirit Platform Demon Seed Heart Sutra · Fragment]!
"Wow, a Divine Skill Level Demon Skill..."
This set of demon skills described how to nurture, graft, cultivate, harvest, and all the steps of cultivating the Demon Seed of [Fear].
"It's impossible to tell from this fragment alone if a complete set of demon skills could be the key to solving thunder methods..."
He dared not gamble, nor was he confident in collecting the complete set.
This method was cruel and contradicted his own Dao heart, not to mention carrying the stigma of the Demon Path—his wife and Meng Chuan would be ruined.
So he stored it back into the hidden compartment, returning to the bedroom to lie down.
"I'll handle the matter of thunder methods myself and not burden my disciple..."
Just like Meng Chuan, Luo Guanyun didn't want the other to worry about him.
He hadn't even voiced the latest trouble of the resentment cluster on his spirit platform.
Compared to before, he had changed in many ways.
Not just his temper, but his personality.
Everyone lived with the guilt imposed upon themselves.
Yet in this guilt, they learned to be contained and understood to cherish.
...
Meanwhile, in Japan.
The courtyard atmosphere was heavy.
"Sakura, [Fear] is gone, and part of the cultivation technique is missing."
Fang Jianxing's usual serene smile was nowhere to be found.
The white-haired girl didn't answer him.
She merely clasped her hands together, holding a small rusty wind chime, silently muttering something.
Moments later, she raised her eyes and said:
"Mirror, you're too agitated.
Actually, it's no problem, I have already found a new path for everyone, guided by Lord Jiutun, [Spirit Platform Method] is just a minor path."
Fang Jianxing gave her a serious look and said flatly:
"I understand."
In the world of adults, venting is futile.
Luo Guanyun advanced not only to the Grandmaster realm but also took the [Spirit Platform Demon Seed · Fear Chapter], greatly disrupting his plans.
Yet, Sakura seemed indifferent, leaving Fang Jianxing greatly disappointed.
Turning away, he no longer planned to return.
"Sakura has changed; given our disagreement in principles, I shall walk alone."
The Parasite Association was jointly overseen by nine major seats, but the seats of resentment, jealousy, and worry were just superficial puppets.
The corresponding chapters for these seats were missing, making it impossible to control the respective demon seeds.
The current Fear Chapter had fallen into enemy hands, adding pressure on Fang Jianxing.
But he soon regained his spirit, planning his next moves.
"Let's take it step by step, first handle what's at hand.
Step one, go to Hengbin to retrieve [Anger]—it's always unwise in someone else's possession."
Under the streetlight at night, he walked alone.
His figure flickered, and the water stains on the road gradually reflected another form.
"Darling, I miss you. I've handled the matter with Sakura, and will go to Hengbin to find you in a few days."
...
A week passed quickly.
On Yanhua Mountain.
A young man stood proudly at the mountain peak, with a heroic spirit flowing between his brows.
A closer look would reveal a resemblance to Zheng Zhenzhen.
His aura seemed to solidify into substance; even the mountain wind couldn't sway his clothes one bit.
[Dragon-riding Guanyin · Zheng Yulan] sat cross-legged in the air, speaking softly:
"Chengcheng, don't worry about your sister's matters.
I have also spoken to her; if the young man doesn't want to come, let it be. We at Yanhua don't lack martial arts prodigies."
Zheng Chengcheng remained silent, only caressing the three-foot Qingfeng sword in his hand, emitting a ringing sound.
"You have crossed nine hurdles and are ready to begin understanding the true essence of will.
Practicing martial arts is not just about punches, but also cultivating the mind; only by uniting the body and mind can you break limits and become part of the Martial Arts Family.
With your aptitude, Grandmother believes you can achieve it within a year."
"Grandmother, that's why I must go to Yong'an; my sister's affairs are my main concern. She courted him respectfully, and I want to see why he refused."
Zheng Yulan slowly said:
"You've placed yourself and the Zheng family too high. Everyone has their own ambitions, why impose them on others?"
Zheng Chengcheng returned the treasure sword to his waist solemnly, saying:
"But I still insist on going to Yong'an, for my sister, for my own peace of mind."
Zheng Yulan fell silent, her fingers plucking in the void as if deducing something.
Moments later, she gently said:
"Forget it, just don't cause trouble when you go, and don't meddle with the branch family's affairs."
"Got it, Grandmother."
...
United University Preparatory High School.
These days, Meng Chuan dedicated all his spare time to mastering the [Luo Family Eight Extremes].
As he approached the limit-breaking stage, his understanding of its blend of hardness and softness became increasingly profound.
With Master Luo's guidance, he felt that he was just a step away from breaking through the last layer of the barrier.
[Luo Family Eight Extremes: Perfection (95%) awaiting limit breaking]
[Limit Breaking Trait: Chaotic Heaven (Intermediate)]
Meng Chuan had a flash of inspiration and suddenly thought:
"Xu Qingfeng's Bagua Qiankun has a wonderful rotation of yin and yang, perhaps..."
He made a phone call.
[What's up?]
Xu Qingfeng was just done with his morning training and was washing up.
[Qingfeng, I need your help in my training!]
[...How should I help?]
Xu Qingfeng was puzzled.
[I plan to borrow your Bagua Qiankun to comprehend a fist technique, come on.]
[I'm not coming.]
Xu Qingfeng wasn't inclined towards suffering.
[I still have two tubes of supplements, thank you for your hard work, brother.]
Meng Jiaolong previously got him a supernova tournament gift box from school.
He sold everything else because those two tubes of supplements were plentiful in the Martial Arts Association's inventory and thus had a low buying price, so he didn't sell them.
[We're all brothers here, let me brush my teeth, and I'll see you on the second floor of the Martial Arts Dojo!]
Before long, Xu Qingfeng arrived carrying an iron fan.
When he arrived, he wanted to turn back because there were quite a few people around the ring, and he cared about face.
It turns out that when the students saw Meng Chuan head to the second floor, they all followed.
"Today Brother Chuan's going to handle Xu Qingfeng, I heard that at Xiang King's Tomb, Xu Qingfeng pushed Brother Chuan to the point of exploding! It's worth watching today!"
Xu Qingfeng's face turned green upon hearing this.
Now within the United University, he had a nickname called [Second to One], meaning below one person.
Meng Chuan was warming up in the ring.
Seeing Xu Qingfeng wavering in his expression, he immediately understood his thoughts.
He cupped his fists and loudly said to those around:
"Please go downstairs, I'll teach everyone to box tomorrow morning."
Once Brother Chuan spoke, everyone dispersed like birds and beasts.
Only then did Xu Qingfeng step onto the stage, reluctantly saying:
"I'll practice with you for a bit, just to the point, okay."
"Thank you, be careful."
Without another word, Meng Chuan sprinted forward.
As his right foot stomped down, his figure suddenly accelerated.
The start of the Luo Family Eight Extremes' approach [Mountain Splitting Skill], enveloped in strong force rushed straight toward Xu Qingfeng's face.
"Take it seriously, be careful, fists and feet are blind."
This kid is always so lackadaisical, Meng Chuan was worried about injuring him.
Xu Qingfeng said nothing, but when it came to a real fight, he was very serious.
Facing Meng Chuan's charge, he clasped his four fingers counterclockwise on the fan's head, and the iron fan traced phantom Bagua shadows, instantly dissipating seventy percent of the force.
Sparks flew as the fan bone scraped past, igniting between the pupils of the two.
Meng Chuan didn't even blink, lowering his posture while raising his elbow, his whole body like a charging matador.
Xu Qingfeng twisted to avoid the spearhead, slid his foot to retreat to the ring's edge, and the iron fan opened like a swimming yin-yang fish.
"Don't use your Five Elements Qiankun Fist, just come at me as you please!"
Then he stood ready.
Meng Chuan's body technique wasn't elusive, it was a straightforward burst of speed, even a prairie lion or a jungle leopard couldn't match this pace.
Sure enough!
In the blink of an eye, with a "whoosh," Meng Chuan appeared as if teleporting right in front of him.
Limit-breaking level's Inch Step, combined with two body technique traits, and driven by powerful Qi blood.
To Meng Chuan, the distance of several meters was as if snapped away with a finger.
Xu Qingfeng instantly tapped the ground with the iron fan, using the counterforce to dodge the [Iron Mountain Lean].
Meng Chuan knocked away the iron fan with his left hand and punched up hard with his right hand, a long fist crash technique.
Yet Xu Qingfeng's waist straightened, flipping backward in the air to dodge the long fist while sweeping out a fierce fire trigram with the iron fan.
Meng Chuan's fists shot straight out, aiming at the iron fan, but as it touched the fire trigram, he instantly withdrew his force.
In an instant, from hard to soft, it was like a stream of light, precisely and fiercely striking the part of the waist undefended by the fan!
The Bagua spread wide, the fan wielding and forming a mysterious Taiji Diagram that enveloped his figure.
Within the formation, the two tangled, and Meng Chuan wanted to break the yin-yang wonder purely with the Luo Family Eight Extremes, relying on his lifelong understanding of martial principles.
Unknowingly, they passed a hundred moves, Xu Qingfeng's iron fan danced impenetrably, diligently obstructing the offensive.
"So that's how it is!"
Meng Chuan's eyes brightened, finding himself crashing into the yin-yang boundary.
The power surged in the instant of hard and soft transition, Xu Qingfeng's Xunfeng Array shattered like paper, and in the next second, the iron fan flew out and embedded into the ceiling.
As the iron fan slipped, Xu Qingfeng staggered with unstable footing.
He was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly asked:
"Did you understand something again? What did you understand, tell me quickly!"
Meng Chuan smiled without saying a word, stepping on the Cloud-Ascending Ladder to leap and retrieve the iron fan from the ceiling.
Handing it back to Xu Qingfeng, he smiled mildly and said:
"Buddha says: 'It cannot be spoken.'
"I don't want your supplements anymore."
Meng Chuan sensed that Xu Qingfeng had picked up on something, and then explained:
"Bagua is the separation of yin and yang, Eight Extremes is the fusion of yin and yang."
"...What nonsense is this, a discount?"
"You go figure it out yourself, hahaha."