I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1882 - 313: Zi Travels to Zhongyuan

Chapter 1882: Chapter 313: Zi Travels to Zhongyuan

"Belief is the most important quality for the Human Race. Everything the Xiehe Human Race possesses today stems from the beliefs of a few individuals."

In the cool pavilion of the rear mountain, Tang Luo sat opposite Yang Fan. The Martial Arts Monarch of the human world used Primary Qi as a map to present an epic, heart-shaking story to his disciple.

"In ancient times, the Demon Race was powerful. The Human Race sages imagined and imitated, thus the earliest martial arts were born."

On the Primary Qi image, countless Humans were barely clothed, spying on the breathing techniques of the moonlit Demon Race, breathing like the demonic beasts.

Most were discovered and became food, but a few escaped and began to emulate the cultivation methods of the beasts.

These pioneers, who attracted Primary Qi with their bodies, were later called Ancient Qi Refiners.

And it was because of these sages with strong beliefs that the Human Race was no longer the lowest creatures on the food chain.

Most of the time, when facing predators, you don’t need to be faster than the predator itself; you just need to be faster than other prey.

But there are individuals among the Human Race who bestow meaning to their lives. Though they could outrun the weak, they chose to confront the fierce beasts directly.

Those warriors, who now seem weak and immature, charged towards the ferocious beasts, eyes resolute.

They perhaps knew, they should know, but a force drove them to charge at the beasts, raising their chests, fearless.

"This is what the earliest martial arts looked like—born to resist, strengthened to protect."

In this ancient Primary Qi diagram, one can vaguely see swordsmen from the South Heaven, the ascetics of the Buddhist Sect, brave ones fighting Heavenly Beasts, and celestial soldiers clashing with beast tides.

The grandeur of those battling for their race made young Yang Fan’s blood boil, his face flush with excitement.

"That was the best form of martial arts. Unfortunately, the Human Race had no opponent later."

The scene froze after the great war between humans and demons, showing the many saints of the Human Race standing scarred side by side. The Silver-back Great Sage, Six-clawed Yellow Dragon, and Crimson Flame Vermilion Bird, who could pluck stars and snatch the moon, retreated into the void with their kin.

This was supposed to be the best era, but unfortunately... the Human Race had no opponent.

The later Primary Qi images became unbearable to watch. Without external adversaries, people became each other’s adversaries.

"Humans fighting humans, endless joy!"

Slaughter, strife, exploitation, monopoly, enslavement.

The true face of cruelty was never about the oppression and massacre by alien races.

The images showed Ghost Weeping Warships slaughtering along the coast, millennia-old clans enslaving civilians, mortal sacred lands self-crowned as gods, temples of apathy and rigid hierarchy...

"Everyone wants to practice martial arts, for when confronted with problems, fighting becomes the simplest solution. Whoever has the bigger fist, holds the truth."

Tang Luo earnestly told Yang Fan, "This understanding is not achieved overnight but is a consensus formed after many people, who fought for what is right, experienced being defeated by fists. They had no chance to go to bigger places to see broader horizons, or even live till the dawn of light. So many believe Xiehe is not a world of reason but of fists."

The lifelike Qi image shattered, but the Primary Qi did not scatter and drift; instead, it condensed into a fist made of Primary Qi.

The image disappeared; only the barbaric, solid fist remained. Somehow, this fist filled the young man with disgust.

If possible, he really wouldn’t want to contradict his mentor on the first day of entering the sect, but he felt the need to speak up despite his reluctance: "If it’s only about strength, where does morality come from?"

Such a retort could be considered insubordinate for a new disciple.

Tang Luo’s silent, smiling gaze made Yang Fan feel immense pressure.

Yet, Yang Fan, an orphan, had witnessed various injustices from a young age.

Because he had seen so much injustice, he firmly believed there was justice and righteousness in the world.

If there weren’t any justice or righteousness, why would he feel angry witnessing the strong oppressing the weak?

By the logic of might makes right, the weak should indeed be bullied, shouldn’t they?

Street orphans should be abducted by gangs, trained as thieves, or have their limbs broken, then died miserably after being exploited of all value.

Weak individuals should be exploited and oppressed by the strong, for being weak is the greatest sin, and the destruction of one’s family is self-inflicted.

Such things Yang Fan had seen enough of, and the warrior he wanted to become was like those who killed the wicked in the past.

He was that big brother who would willingly take them, the beggars, to a medical clinic for treatment after the war.

For years, he has held this haunting belief: If he cannot become such a warrior, what is the point of practicing martial arts?

The young man’s eyes were determined yet slightly wavering because he feared hearing different answers from his master.

"There is indeed justice in the world, but in any era, there are always those who look out for themselves. If you want to speak of morality, you must have strength. Otherwise, before morality is understood, you might already be gone."

Tang Luo waved his hand, dispersing the Primary Qi condensed fist and smiled, "It’s like walking on two legs. Having strength without morality might work momentarily but rarely ends well. Without strength, morality becomes folly against injustice, and in a narrow encounter, morality cannot protect you. So to be a dignified gentleman, you must have both morality and strength, then nothing will stand in your way."

"Please, Master, guide me!"

The young man’s eyes gleamed as he knelt to the ground.

"What do you want to learn?"

Tang Luo smiled and asked, "There are thousands of paths in martial arts; which one do you desire to learn the most?"

"Swordsmanship!"

The young man, whose hands were already covered with thick calluses, surprisingly answered: "In fact, I am willing to learn anything, but my favorite is swordsmanship."

"Oh, swordsmanship, is it?"

Looking into Yang Fan’s earnest and clear eyes, Tang Luo suddenly had an epiphany and couldn’t help but sigh.

The fortunate are guided by their childhood all their lives, while the unfortunate spend a lifetime searching for what childhood lost.

It’s because of the perfect influence Xu Lao Ying left in his youth that the present Yang Fan pursues relentlessly.

"Since you want to learn swordsmanship, then learn the best!"

Tang Luo smiled and said, "Xiehe’s swordsmanship is topped by the Xu Clan in Yuanzhou. Their family possesses a Saint-level technique called the ’Ultimate Sword Canon of the Heavens,’ the definitive guide of Xiehe’s swordsmanship. Mastering it leads straight to the Saint Rank path. But now, there’s a small problem before us as master and disciple."

"A problem?"

Currently, Yang Fan, filled with thoughts of cultivating the same technique as Xu Lao Ying, didn’t notice the cunning look in his master’s eyes and naively asked, "What problem?"

"Do you wish to go to Yuanzhou to train, or stay in Longzhou?"

Tang Luo asked with a smile.

"This..."

After a moment of difficult pondering, Yang Fan lifted his head and said, "Naturally, I wish to stay in Longzhou so that I can listen more to Master’s teachings!"

"Hmm, I also think Longzhou is good."

Tang Luo smiled and said, "So now let me give you a task for your sect: Go to Ying City in Yuanzhou, invite all the Sword Venerables of the major Sword Sects, and persuade them to establish a sword pavilion in Xiling. This way, you can stay in Longzhou and learn the swordsmanship of the Xu Clan!"