novelraw Chapter 148 - 147: Only a Superficial Grasp; The True Essence Lies in Spirit, Not Form
Chapter 148 - 147: Only a Superficial Grasp; The True Essence Lies in Spirit, Not Form
Under everyone’s watchful gaze, two groups walked into the park plaza from different directions.
On one side, Yi Beidou led the way, dressed in loose-fitting sportswear like a young man out for a morning jog. Meng Qianyuan, Zhou Baiwei, and Yang Mutong followed behind him.
On the other side, Yuri wore a loose, black hoodie. Derek and several other white youths followed him, each one incredibly tall, almost like giants.
The two groups didn’t approach each other, stopping about thirty meters apart.
"It really is Mr. Yi! I never thought I’d get to see him fight someone on his level with my own eyes!"
The members of the Dexing Martial Arts Club looked excited. They were arguably the first to realize there was something special about Mr. Yi, so they held a particular fondness for him.
’You have to win! Represent our Donghua Martial Arts Dao and defeat this invading foe!’
It wasn’t just the members of the Dexing Martial Arts Club; the crowd watching from outside the plaza with binoculars and other equipment also wore looks of excitement.
Just watching the two sides make their entrance was enough to make their blood pump with excitement.
This was the appeal of the Martial Arts Dao and competition—the will to win, rooted deep within the human genome.
To the crowd’s slight disappointment, however, the first to step forward were not Yi Beidou and Yuri, but the two men behind them.
But their enthusiasm was quickly reignited once they recognized the two men.
Meng Qianyuan and Derek!
Today was not just for the duel between two masters of the Saint Realm; it was also for their prearranged match.
On one side was a top contender for the Martial Hero Conference championship. On the other was the Martial Artist from the Starry Sky Country who had caused a massive stir by consecutively defeating several provincial champions.
This, too, was a highly symbolic battle.
The two men stepped out from their respective groups, stopping ten paces apart.
"I hope you have some real skills. Don’t be a pushover like the others before you."
A smile touched Derek’s lips as he slowly pulled his enormous, fan-like hands out of his pants pockets.
"I hope you’re as good as the rumors say you are."
Meng Qianyuan’s expression was calm, his face showing no trace of fear.
"You’ll soon find out that the gap between us isn’t just about individual ability. It’s about our paths and our civilizations."
The smile on Derek’s face grew more and more wanton.
The next moment.
BOOM!
His Qi and blood surged. His muscles swelled, and his already robust physique expanded even further, stretching his loose clothing so taut it looked like a bodysuit.
If his clothes hadn’t been custom-made with the latest, highly elastic materials, they would have undoubtedly burst apart.
In an instant, he seemed to transform from a merely tall and robust young man into a "Hulk"-like figure from the movies.
In terms of appearance alone, this transformation was faintly comparable to the Dharma Body of a Saint.
HUFF!!
The force of his breath was like a gale, kicking up rings of dust from the flat ground.
The spectators couldn’t help but break into discussion at the sight. For someone who hadn’t yet achieved Ascension to develop their body to this extent was almost inconceivable.
"Is... is he even human anymore?"
The members of the Dexing Martial Arts Club, witnessing this transformation with their own eyes, were utterly dumbfounded.
No wonder his online nickname was "Muscle Mutant." This level of physical ability was simply outrageous.
He was practically indistinguishable from an actual mutant.
"Of course he’s still human," Pan Hexuan said in a low voice. "This is the power of what the Starry Sky Country calls the ’New Martial Arts Dao.’ They use technology to develop the human body’s functions more thoroughly and terrifyingly."
The arrival of foreign Martial Artists in Donghua—especially the few from the Starry Sky Country who displayed such immense strength—had sent massive shockwaves through Modu, where martial artists from all circles were now gathered. It forced everyone to open their eyes to the wider world and deepen their understanding of foreign martial arts systems.
Frankly, the more they learned, the deeper their worries and apprehension grew.
The Starry Sky Country had synthesized the essence of various cultivation methods from around the world to create the most perfect physical training regimen, developing human potential to its absolute limit step by step. Their strength was so absurd that it couldn’t help but make some people question the validity of the Martial Arts Dao they themselves cultivated.
’Have Donghua Martial Arts truly become obsolete? Is the path mastered by the Starry Sky Country the one most suited for this era and for human development?’
This thought echoed in the minds of many.
The few Martial Hero Conference contestants whom Derek had defeated were also present, an unreadable glint in their eyes.
This battle would perhaps provide some answers.
"I heard you’re exceptionally gifted, possessing Innate Divine Strength. As it happens, I have a similar talent. Since we’ve both reached the limit of what’s possible below Ascension, how about we start by testing whose strength is greater?"
A smile played on Derek’s lips.
He turned slightly to the side, stepped into a lunge, braced his foot, and extended one hand toward Meng Qianyuan in a grappling posture.
A sharp glint flashed in Meng Qianyuan’s eyes. His own Qi and blood began to surge as his muscles bulged.
However, his physique, which had originally been comparable to Derek’s, now seemed significantly smaller.
STOMP!
He strode forward, pressing his foot against Derek’s. He reached out and clasped Derek’s hand.
The two took up a grappling stance. Whoever was forced to move their feet first would be considered the weaker one.
The next moment, they both unleashed their power.
CRACK!
Muscles bulged on their locked arms, veins popping like thick cords. They dug their feet in, and the terrifying, opposing forces compressed the ground, causing a web of cracks to appear and spread rapidly.
The sheer, primal power they unleashed left the spectators visibly stunned.
It was incredible that physical strength could reach such a level for anyone below the Saint Realm.
They remained deadlocked for about five breaths before the expressions on the crowd’s faces began to change.
They could see that the pair’s center of gravity was steadily shifting in Derek’s direction.
This meant Derek’s strength was gaining the upper hand.
Just then, a smile touched Derek’s lips, and a vicious glint flashed in his eyes.
HAAH!
He let out a sharp grunt and unleashed his full power. The ground beneath them exploded into rubble. Pulled by the immense force, Meng Qianyuan briefly lost his balance. Unable to stop himself, he took a step forward.
The surrounding crowd burst into an uproar.
’Meng Qianyuan, a top contender for the Martial Hero Conference championship, was defeated by Derek?!’
The spectators inside the plaza also fell silent.
Those in the Martial Arts Realm familiar with Meng Qianyuan knew that he possessed astonishing Divine Power and that his techniques were fierce and domineering.
Strength was his greatest asset, yet he had just been bested in a contest of strength.
’Even though it was just a contest of strength and not a real fight, he’s already been defeated in his strongest area. His confidence must have taken a huge hit. How can he possibly fight now?’
The outcome seemed to be decided.
Even Zhou Baiwei and Yang Mutong, standing beside Yi Beidou, opened their mouths, worried for Meng Qianyuan.
Only Yi Beidou’s expression remained calm.
To everyone’s surprise, Meng Qianyuan’s expression was largely unperturbed. After retracting his hand, he looked remarkably calm.
"You are certainly impressive. Alright, the little event is over. Let’s start the main match."
"Your talent is your greatest asset. Now that I’ve beaten you at your own game, you don’t actually think you can defeat me with mere techniques, do you?"
"I see no need to go through the motions. You represent the limit of physical strength in Donghua below Ascension, yet you’re still no match for me. The technology we’ve mastered for physical development has already surpassed yours. These traditional Martial Arts are nothing but fuel for our advance into a new era, and all of you are just part of that fuel!"
"Do you really know where your body’s limits are? How to develop it to maximize your physical power? What kind of techniques best align with the body’s laws of motion to unleash the greatest strength? We have mastered all of it."
A smile appeared on Derek’s face, his words razor-sharp. He swept his gaze over the silent Donghua Martial Artists. This was exactly the effect he wanted to achieve.
To shatter their confidence, and perhaps even influence the outcome of the Saint-level battle that would follow.
He was building momentum for his side!
That was why he had arranged this match with Meng Qianyuan for today.
The Donghua Martial Artists opened their mouths but could say nothing.
Because what Derek said was, in fact, the truth.
The Starry Sky Country had collected and deeply researched secret Martial Arts teachings from all over the world. Combined with the most advanced technology, their methods for physical development were now at the global forefront.
"Your methods of physical development are indeed ahead of the world’s, but that isn’t the entirety of the Martial Arts Dao. The true meaning of Donghua Martial Arts has never been about the ultimate development of the physical body."
"You collected and analyzed thousands of different Martial Arts, thinking you’d gathered their essence, but in reality, you’ve only scratched the surface. You understand meticulous methods for physical development, but you cannot comprehend the true meaning behind that cold technology."
"The highest realm of Donghua Martial Arts prioritizes intent over form. While every technique develops the body, the ultimate goal is the sublimation of the mind—to see through the Life and Death Mysterious Gate and break the barrier between heaven and man. These things require a profound integration with the culture and philosophy of this land to be truly understood. They can’t be articulated through a few simple techniques, so how could they possibly be grasped through simple data analysis?"
"I was once like you, relying on my body’s innate gifts and great strength, thinking I could handle anything and break through any barrier. That was until I met Mr. Yi. He taught me that the Martial Arts Dao isn’t about how to increase your strength, but how to control yourself. As the saying goes, ’My destiny is my own, from which Divine Power arises.’ But that is something you wouldn’t understand."
Meng Qianyuan’s tone was calm.
If he had lost to Derek in a contest of strength before meeting Yi Beidou, his resolve would have surely shattered. Like the others present, he would have begun to doubt himself and the Martial Arts he practiced.
But now, everything was different. He had long since understood that his own strength was finite. He knew he should restrain himself and cultivate his True Intent, rather than placing all his faith in his physical body.
’Derek’s body may be strong, but how could it compare to Yi Beidou’s?’
’It was like a single grain of rice trying to outshine the brilliant moon.’
"Come! The real battle starts now!"
Meng Qianyuan assumed a fighting stance, his body coiled, his palms held close, ready to strike at any moment.
BOOM!
A terrifying Fist Intent erupted from his body.
It was turbulent and surging, with a murderous aura that blotted out the sky and an astonishing ferocity, yet it was centered on a core of Zen intent.
It was this sliver of Zen intent that made his murderous aura even more immense, far surpassing that of an expert at the Soul-Stealing Peak.
Only when Yin and Yang unite, when opposites become one, can something become truly vast and profound.
Meng Qianyuan was a genuine Semi-Saint. Although he was still no match for a Saint Expert, how could he possibly fear anyone below the Saint Realm?
Even if his opponent was physically stronger, he would still secure a firm victory in this fight!
Stimulated by this Fist Intent, Derek’s pupils contracted.
In his eyes, Meng Qianyuan, who had just seemed physically smaller, was now rapidly expanding, growing taller and larger by the second.
The body is finite, but the will is limitless.
Witnessing this scene, a rare smile touched Yi Beidou’s calm face.