landbeastnovel Chapter 43 The Three Extreme Paths, Approaching Breakthrough
Chapter 43 The Three Extreme Paths, Approaching Breakthrough
Manager Hu took a sip of the strong liquor; the pungent taste made him squint, but he didn't keep him in suspense any longer.
"These are all old stories from over two thousand years ago. Whether they're true or false, nobody can say for sure anymore. I'm just saying this for fun, so take it with a grain of salt."
Zhou Tong picked up the wine pot and refilled his glass, leaning forward slightly: "Please speak, senior. I am all ears."
The dim, yellow light of the oil lamp danced on Manager Hu's deeply wrinkled face as he spoke slowly, his voice hoarse from the smell of tobacco and alcohol:
"The bravery of the Hegemon is known to all. But in the long river of history, are there few fierce generals and heroes who have made a name for themselves with their bravery?"
Why is it that Xiang Yu's bravery is so unforgettable to later generations, inspiring countless poems, songs, and legends?
Zhou Tong naturally chimed in, "Yes, why?"
Shopkeeper Hu picked up a peanut, popped it into his mouth, and chewed it with a loud crunch.
"Literati and writers have their own set of sayings, such as the downfall of heroes and the tender feelings between men and women, which sound quite plausible."
But for us martial artists who toil in the flesh and blood, the reason the Overlord holds such a transcendent position is because, according to legend, he was the last great master to reach the pinnacle of the "ultimate path of the physical body."
"The ultimate path of the physical body?"
Zhou Tong was slightly taken aback and asked doubtfully, "How is this different from our current martial arts training, which involves strengthening the flesh, bones, and viscera to forge the physique? Isn't it all about building a strong physical body?"
"Hey!"
Shopkeeper Hu chuckled and pointed at him with his pipe: "Kid, the road starts from one entrance, but as you walk, there are many forks in the road."
We are now following the path of transforming essence into qi, and using qi to unite with spirit.
But the path that Overlord followed back then was the 'ultimate path' that directly targeted the fundamental power of the physical body! The difference is enormous.
Zhou Tong's mind raced, and he suddenly remembered the "Golden Skin" notification on the panel. He vaguely felt that he had touched on some deeper layer of meaning, and quickly said, "Please explain in detail, senior."
Shopkeeper Hu picked up another piece of braised donkey meat, and under Zhou Tong's eager gaze, he chewed and swallowed it with relish before slowly saying:
"When it comes to the ultimate path of physical cultivation, and the Overlord, there is one person that cannot be ignored."
"Who?" Zhou Tong pressed.
The old man shook his head, his cloudy eyes staring at the roof beam, and began to chant in a hoarse voice:
"In the Northern Ocean there is a fish, its name is Kun. Kun is so large that no one knows how many thousands of miles it spans; it transforms into a bird, its name is Peng. The back of Peng is so large that no one knows how many thousands of miles it spans; when it flies in anger, its wings are like clouds hanging from the sky..."
Hearing that he was going to continue reciting, Zhou Tong couldn't help but chime in:
"Senior, I also read Zhuangzi's 'Free and Easy Wandering' in its entirety when I was young. The writing is indeed vast and unrestrained, with fantastic imagination. Since you mentioned Zhuangzi, could it be that Xiang Yu and this sage have some connection?"
Manager Hu, though interrupted, was not annoyed. Instead, he glanced at him with a half-smile on his face.
"You've read it? The imagination is fantastical? Then what if I, this old man, told you that the Kunpeng, whose size is 'unknown,' described by Zhuangzi, wasn't just a figment of his imagination, but a scene he witnessed firsthand during his spiritual journey through the vast universe… what would you think then?"
Zhou Tong was stunned for a moment, his lips slightly parted. After a moment of hesitation, he chuckled and said, "Senior, please don't tease a junior like me."
"Just kidding?"
Shopkeeper Hu smacked his lips and exhaled a puff of pungent smoke:
"I've already said it: the story of the clouds and mist from over two thousand years ago—if you're willing to believe it, it has a 30% truth; if you're not willing to believe it, it's all false. Do you still want to listen?"
"Listen!" Zhou Tong said decisively, his eyes burning.
"Hmm." Manager Hu nodded slightly, his tone distant.
"Whether you believe it or not, according to the secrets passed down through generations of our martial arts, Zhuang Sheng's soul wandered through the void one night and glimpsed the incredible things that roamed the heavens and the seas. He attained enlightenment and comprehended some profound truths of the world, thus creating the supreme method of cultivating the physical body."
He was the founding patriarch of the ultimate physical cultivation path. And Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King, was a successor who inherited the lineage of the Sage Zhuang.
"His strength could uproot mountains and his spirit could cover the world"—this may be an exaggeration, but the fact that the Overlord's physical body was nearly transcendent and possessed immense power is an indisputable fact found in countless martial arts classics.
Zhou Tong digested this astonishing information, and then recalled his initial question:
"How could such a peerless powerhouse, whose physical body is so extraordinary and almost inhuman, be by the Wujiang River... Could it be that Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, also had someone of equal stature by his side?"
Shopkeeper Hu smiled and said, "Legend has it that Emperor Gaozu of Han was also a formidable strongman, but in terms of personal bravery alone, he was no match for Xiang Yu. He was able to win because of 'momentum' and 'strategy'."
He paused for a moment, then said, "You must know the story of being surrounded by enemies on all sides, right?"
Zhou Tong nodded: "During the siege of Gaixia, Han Xin ordered the Han army to sing Chu songs to disrupt the morale of the Chu army and undermine their fighting spirit."
"That's what history books say; the martial arts classics that have been passed down don't say it that way."
"Oh?"
Shopkeeper Hu shook his head and lowered his voice: "What kind of will does the Overlord possess? How could he lose his composure and fighting spirit because of a few familiar accents? It's true that he was surrounded by enemies on all sides, but that song... according to the secret teachings of martial arts, it was the 'Mind-Beater and Soul-Destroying' technique created by Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Liu, using divine powers!"
"A powerful deity? Zhang Liang?"
Zhou Tong was stunned. What he heard today was indeed challenging his previous understanding time and time again.
"good."
Shopkeeper Hu nodded: "Zhang Liang's assassination attempt on Qin Shi Huang at Bolangsha failed, and he fled to Xiapi. There, he met a strange old man at the Yishui Bridge. The old man tested his heart three times, and finally taught him his skills—you may have heard this story before?"
Zhou Tong gave a slightly embarrassed smile.
As a family of such stature, the children of the Zhou family must have had a rough understanding of the Four Books and Five Histories during their early education. He was naturally very familiar with the name of Marquis Liu, who was known for "strategizing within the tent and winning battles a thousand miles away."
However, he only knew vague details about the assassination attempt on Qin Shi Huang at Bolangsha and his assistance to Emperor Gaozu, but he was unaware of his lineage.
Seeing this, Manager Hu raised an eyelid and pointed at Zhou Tong with his pipe:
"You rich young masters, you've probably only flipped through a few pages of the proper books left by your ancestors before throwing them away to use as table leg props! You're utterly ignorant and incompetent!"
Zhou Tong felt a little embarrassed by what he said, but he wasn't angry. Instead, he cupped his hands and smiled, saying:
"Senior is right to teach me that I am indeed unfamiliar with historical records. I would be grateful if you would not hesitate to explain in detail from the beginning, so that I may understand the circumstances by which this divine lineage originated."
"Fine, you got off easy today, consider it a lesson for you."
Shopkeeper Hu took a sip of wine to moisten his throat, leaned his pipe against the table, and adopted the posture of a storyteller, beginning his slow and deliberate narration:
According to Sima Qian's account, after Qin destroyed Han, Han's prince Zhang Liang spent all his wealth to hire a strongman to strike the First Emperor's carriage at Bolangsha. The attempt failed, and he fled to Xiapi.
On this day, he strolled leisurely on a broken bridge over the Yi River to clear his mind and dispel the pent-up emotions in his heart.
He spoke slowly, with a unique charm reminiscent of telling ancient stories, as he narrated the events described by Sima Qian in a gentle and detailed manner.
In the dimly lit pharmacy, only the occasional crackling of the oil lamp and his aged, hoarse voice could be heard.
"As he was walking, he suddenly saw an old man in a coarse cloth robe, with white hair and beard, walking unsteadily to Zhang Liang's side. Whether it was intentional or accidental, the old man slipped and one of his worn-out shoes fell off the bridge with a 'plop'."
The old man turned his head, looked at Zhang Liang, and ordered him without any politeness: "Boy, go down and pick up my shoes!"
Manager Hu imitated the old man's tone, which carried an unquestionable arrogance.
This old man is a bit like you, senior, eccentric and strange... Zhou Tong glanced at the old man and thought to himself.
"Who is Zhang Liang? A former nobleman of the state of Han, though fallen on hard times, he was still a proud and ambitious hero with a burning desire for revenge. Hearing this, I was stunned, my anger flared, and my fists hardened instantly—a complete stranger, an old man, how dare he order me around like this?"
Manager Hu glanced at Zhou Tong, and seeing that Zhou Tong was listening attentively, he continued:
"But then he looked at the old man, his skin wrinkled and his hair white, he looked very old and frail, and finally suppressed his anger. Well then, he respected the elderly. So he went down the bridge and fished the mud-covered shoe out of the shallow water and among the rocks."
"To everyone's surprise, just as Zhang Liang handed over the shoes, the old man stretched out his bare feet again, without even raising his eyelids, and commanded: 'Put these on for me.'"
A mocking smile appeared on Manager Hu's lips:
"Now, Zhang Liang's anger intensified. But perhaps out of a strange impulse, or perhaps also to see what the old man was up to, he suppressed his anger, knelt down, and carefully put the dirty shoe on the old man's foot."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Tong couldn't help but imagine Zhang Liang's submissive demeanor at the time, finding it both comical and admiring his exceptional character.
The old man didn't say thank you, letting Zhang Liang serve him until he was done. He stroked his beard, laughed heartily, and then turned and walked off the bridge, his steps seemingly lighter. Zhang Liang stood frozen at the bridgehead, watching the old man's retreating figure, his heart filled with doubt and suspicion, feeling that something strange was amiss.
Manager Hu's tone rose slightly, carrying a sense of suspense:
"The old man walked for about a mile, then suddenly turned back. When he arrived in front of Zhang Liang, a look of satisfaction appeared on his face. He said, 'You are a teachable child! Come here to meet me five days from now, when it is dawn.' After saying this, without waiting for Zhang Liang's reply, he turned and left again."
Zhang Liang found it increasingly strange, realizing he had encountered an extraordinary person, so he respectfully knelt down and replied, "Yes."
Five days later, at the crack of dawn, Zhang Liang arrived at the bridge as agreed. But the old man was already waiting there. Upon seeing Zhang Liang, he turned pale and scolded, "You dare to be late for an appointment with your elder? What kind of behavior is this! Go, come earlier in five days!" With that, he turned and left.
Five days later, at cockcrow, Zhang Liang hurried to the bridge, but the old man had arrived first again! He angrily scolded him for being late once more. Zhang Liang could only nod in agreement.
"On the third five-day period, Zhang Liang simply set off in the middle of the night and arrived at the bridge ahead of time to wait. This time, he waited for about half an hour before the old man slowly approached, leaning on his cane and walking under the starlight."
As he finished speaking, Manager Hu picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and gazed into the distance, as if he too were immersed in that ancient and mysterious night.
Seeing that Zhang Liang was already standing respectfully waiting, the old man finally smiled with satisfaction and nodded in praise: "Yes, that's how it should be. This young man is truly teachable!"
Zhou Tong couldn't help but interject, "Now that you mention it, I do recall something. Is this the background to the 'receiving the book at the bridge' recorded in the 'Hereditary House of Liu Hou' in the Records of the Grand Historian'?"
"Hmph, it seems you have read books, but you didn't put your heart into them."
Manager Hu gave a light snort and continued:
Then, the old man took out a book wrapped in plain silk from his bosom and solemnly handed it to Zhang Liang, saying:
"Reading this will make you a teacher of kings. Ten years later, prosperity will arrive. Thirteen years later, the young man will see me in Jibei; the yellow stone at the foot of Gucheng Mountain is me."
This means that by reading this book, one can become the teacher of emperors. Ten years later, fortunes will change, and thirteen years later, when you arrive at the foot of Gucheng Mountain in Jibei and see Huangshi, that will be me.
After saying this, the old man drifted away and was never seen again.
From then on, Zhang Liang obtained this extraordinary book and studied it day and night, eventually becoming a strategist who could "devise plans within the tent and win battles a thousand miles away," assisting Liu Bang in establishing his imperial dynasty.
The old man who imparted the book was later respectfully called "Huang Shigong," and the book he gave is known as "Taigong's Art of War."
Zhou Tong nodded: "After your detailed explanation, senior, I finally understand this historical fact. So, it seems that Zhang Liang's wisdom originated from the military strategies and tactics taught to him by Huang Shigong?"
"This is how it is recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian, and this is what most people believe."
Shopkeeper Hu abruptly changed the subject, his voice lowering, the oil lamp light making the wrinkles and scars on his face even more pronounced:
"However, in another version passed down by word of mouth among us old folks who have explored the origins of martial arts and know some of the hidden stories... things are not that simple."
His gaze deepened: "That Huang Shigong was more than just a reclusive master of military strategy; legend has it that he was a disciple of the enigmatic and revered strategist Guiguzi of the Warring States period!"
"Guiguzi?!" Zhou Tong's pupils contracted.
Even in ordinary legends, this name is shrouded in mystery, symbolizing profound wisdom and ability that can navigate complex situations and reach the heavens and the earth.
"good."
Manager Hu nodded slowly, each word seemingly carrying weight:
"Guiguzi is regarded as the founder of the Divine Path lineage in martial arts secrets!"
The so-called Divine Path does not emphasize physical strength, but focuses on cultivating the spirit and will, tempering the soul, and reaching the netherworld. Its methods are mysterious and profound, capable of seeing into people's hearts, sensing heavenly secrets, and, as you heard before—using invisible divine sound to shatter the mental defenses of even the most physically powerful beings like the Overlord!
He paused, allowing Zhou Tong to process this astonishing information, before continuing:
"Therefore, what Zhang Liang gained on the Xiapi Bridge was not just the 'Art of War by Taigong,' which teaches military tactics and strategies."
That rolled-up white silk scroll may contain the essential introductory techniques or even the core secrets of the "divine way" cultivation of the Guiguzi lineage!
Huang Shigong tested Zhang Liang three times, not only testing his patience and humility, but also whether his will was steadfast and pure, and whether he possessed the wisdom and magnanimity to inherit the divine teachings!
"It was precisely because Zhang Liang possessed the divine inheritance that his spiritual power far surpassed that of ordinary people. He had keen spiritual senses and unfathomable deductive abilities, which enabled him to come up with ingenious strategies and flawless plans in the later Chu-Han Contention, as if he could glimpse some of the threads of the river of fate."
Furthermore, at the critical moment of the siege of Gaixia, he used his divine powers to incite thousands of Han soldiers to sing the Chu song. The song penetrated their very souls, which was enough to shake the unwavering will of a figure like Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King, and make him feel the sorrow and confusion of "the time is not right," thus sowing the seeds of his ultimate defeat.
This is what being "besieged on all sides" looks like in the world of martial arts.
After finishing speaking, Manager Hu exhaled a long puff of smoke.
Zhou Tong listened quietly, then sat there without saying a word for a long time.
Manager Hu's detailed explanation vaguely unfolded before his eyes a picture of the origins of martial arts that was far more magnificent and ancient than he currently knew.
At that moment, he suddenly thought of something and asked, "The so-called essence, energy, and spirit... essence is the physical body, spirit is the mind, and then what about the principle of 'energy'...?"
"Quick reaction time."
Manager Hu praised him, then said seriously:
"The patriarch of the ultimate Dao of Qi is none other than Lao Tzu, the author of the Tao Te Ching."
These are the three ancient and legendary origins of martial arts, and the three paths to the pinnacle of the "ultimate way".
The myriad of strange and wonderful methods practiced across the land today can all be traced back to these three paths: essence, energy, and spirit.
Zhou Tong cupped his hands and said, "Senior, from what you've said, the Ultimate Path is so powerful, so why aren't we cultivating the Ultimate Path now, but instead choosing the path of transforming essence into qi and uniting qi with spirit?"
The old man took a sip of wine and sneered, "Do you think anyone can practice the ultimate path? No matter which ultimate path it is, the requirements for talent are extremely demanding. Only those with extraordinary talent can cultivate it!"
The path of transforming essence into qi and uniting qi with spirit has low requirements for talent and is a "main path" suitable for ordinary people.
This is one of the new paths created by countless sages who devoted their hearts and souls to combining the three great principles.
Secondly, and more importantly, the environment seems to be slowly changing, becoming increasingly unsuitable for extreme cultivation.
Even if some exceptionally talented individuals in later generations embark on this path, such as Lü Zu of the Tang Dynasty, who followed the ultimate path of Qi, they could not recapture the might of the Hegemon-King of Chu.
Over time, the ultimate path of cultivation withered and scattered, and now it is almost extinct.
Has the environment changed?
Zhou Tong's eyes flickered, and a phrase commonly seen in novels from his previous life slipped out, "Could it be... spiritual energy depletion?"
Shopkeeper Hu's lips twitched slightly, and he glared at him with annoyance:
"Spiritual energy? You've been listening to too many supernatural tales in teahouses, haven't you? I've never heard of any spiritual energy."
What exactly changed, who knows? Maybe it was the right timing, maybe the right location, or maybe some other mysterious thing.
How could I possibly know? Do you think I, an old man, know everything?
He waved his hand, a look of weariness on his face, clearly unwilling to delve further into these vague and ancient secrets:
"Forget it, these are all old almanacs that are hard to distinguish between true and false. I just memorized them from what my elders were rambling about back then."
Just listen casually, consider it broadening your horizons, don't take it too seriously. That's enough for today, I'm full and need to rest.
Zhou Tong knew the old man's temperament, and seeing his lack of interest, he didn't press the matter further. He rose and respectfully bowed.
"Thank you for your guidance today, senior. I have benefited greatly from it."
Zhou Tong tidied up the dishes, bowed respectfully, and quietly left Huichun Hall.
……
As Zhou Tong stepped out of Huichuntang, a night breeze blew, and he felt a chill on his back. He had been listening so intently that he broke out in a light sweat.
The turmoil in my heart caused by Manager Hu's story lingered for a long time.
The three ultimate principles of essence, energy, and spirit have a long history and are passed down in secret. Although they have gradually faded in the long river of history, and even nearly disappeared due to changes in the environment.
But the heights it had reached and the possibilities it contained stirred up ripples in his heart that were hard to calm down.
The copper piece was now enveloped in an even more mysterious and unpredictable aura.
If it is truly related to the Overlord, is it also indirectly connected to the long-lost ultimate path of the physical body?
Zhou Tong felt a surge of heat in his heart. He swallowed hard, hailed a rickshaw, and hurried home.
Back home, he went to his room and carefully bolted the door.
Zhou Tong took out the small bag containing odds and ends from the depths of the drawer. His fingers trembled slightly as he rummaged through it. Soon, his fingertips touched something cold and hard.
He took a deep breath, held the dull, unlustered copper piece in his hand, and brought it up to the light.
Under the dim light, I examined it carefully once more.
The copper sheet remains ordinary, yet feels substantial in the hand.
On the front, the seven ancient characters “力拔山兮气盖世” are written with a powerful and profound style.
On the back, the image of the Overlord lifting the tripod is simple in style and imposing in presence.
He carefully traced every corner and every line with his fingertips, slowly rotating it under the light and examining it from different angles.
I tossed and turned until my eyes ached, but I found nothing.
Aside from its unusually heavy material and antique-looking pattern, this copper piece has nothing particularly special about it.
"Perhaps... it really is just an ancient antique? Even if it's related to the Overlord, it's not a 'treasure' that carries on a legacy, but merely a token or a souvenir?"
Zhou Tong muttered to himself, the burning passion in his heart gradually cooling down.
Shopkeeper Hu's words echoed in his ears: "Nine times out of ten, these kinds of rumors are just a hoax; the one time they happen, it's nothing but a mirage."
He shook his head, gripped the copper piece tightly in his palm, and refused to let go for a long time.
The ultimate path represents power, and in this chaotic world, what he lacks most is power.
He took a deep breath.
I would rather trust it to have it than to trust it to have nothing.
He found a small piece of very tough oilcloth, carefully wrapped the copper sheet in several layers, and then put it in an inconspicuous little iron box.
Looking around the room, he finally pried open a slightly loose brick at the foot of the bed, carefully hid the iron box in the hole underneath, covered the brick back up as before, and wiped away any traces.
After doing all this, he finally let out a long sigh of relief.
Whether or not this copper plate contains a secret, it deserves to be hidden.
He understood the principle that possessing a treasure is a crime.
……
The days that followed were peaceful and calm.
Deputy Director Bai never summoned Zhou Tong, Zhao Han, and Chang Xuan again.
Perhaps just as Manager Hu predicted, several clues about the so-called "treasure left by the overlord" emerge every year, some true and some false, but most of them eventually come to nothing.
The Zhou family's secret search yielded no results, and as time went on, the costs invested became increasingly disproportionate to the potential gains, so they naturally turned their attention elsewhere.
This secret investigation, which once alarmed the deputy director level, was like a stone thrown into a lake; after the ripples subsided, the lake returned to calm, as if it had never happened.
Zhou Tong's life returned to its usual routine.
He became increasingly proficient in his duties at the police station, and his relationship with Qin Lie, Zhao Han, Chang Xuan, and others became more harmonious and stable.
He never slacked off in his training at the martial arts school. With the powerful assistance of the newly formulated medicine, he could clearly feel that his cultivation at the Stone Muscle Realm was steadily and firmly approaching the Iron Muscle Realm at a speed far exceeding that of the past.
In the blink of an eye, another month has passed, and Zhou Tong has finally reached the threshold of the Iron Muscle Realm, with a breakthrough just around the corner.