Apocalypse: My Apartment Has Traits

Chapter 61: Chapter 55: Defying the Heavens

Su Qi said calmly, “Of course, you can’t learn it without practice. You think you can master it just by watching me demonstrate once?”

“I did master it.” Su Lin replied naturally.

“That’s right, so…” Su Qi agreed halfway before his voice suddenly stalled.

His usually composed face froze in an instant, and his eyes filled with disbelief.

Su Lin didn’t say any more, he directly pulled out the long saber from his waist, raised it above his head, ready to demonstrate.

Su Qi quickly raised his hand to stop him, his voice urgent, “Hold on! Are you saying… you can infuse Qi and blood into the saber?!”

Su Lin was somewhat baffled, “Yes, Uncle, isn’t that what you taught yesterday?”

Secretly, he wondered, could I have misunderstood?

Su Qi was momentarily at a loss for words, Su Lin’s natural response almost made him doubt his own memory.

He took a pause, stepped back, and took a deep breath, “… It’s fine, continue.”

Suppressing the shock in his heart, he decided to verify it with his own eyes.

Su Lin wasn’t foolish, upon seeing his uncle’s expression, a thought flashed through his mind: Could it be… I’m a genius too?!

This thought sent a surge of excitement through him, and he gripped the saber tighter.

But the excitement distracted him, making it difficult to concentrate. He quickly took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down, taking a good dozen seconds to regain his state.

Su Qi patiently waited the whole time, seeing his nephew quickly adjusting his mindset, his eyes filled with admiration, and his expectations grew higher.

Su Lin hesitated no longer.

He adjusted his posture, with the saber tip dragging on the ground, he took up a low starting stance.

The next moment, his eyes gleamed sharply, and he let out a thunderous “Ha!” The muscles in his arms instantly bulged!

The 1.2-meter long saber transformed into a chilling silver arc, violently raking upward, tearing through the air with a piercing whistle! As the saber tip passed overhead, its trajectory abruptly reversed under Su Lin’s precise control, crashing down with even greater ferocity! The second, even sharper crescent of cold light fell fiercely!

Su Qi’s pupils suddenly contracted!

In his eyes, infused with Qi and blood, he clearly observed a vague yet concentrated force attached to the saber’s body, exploding with menace as it slashed downward!

Screeeech—!

The shrill sound of tearing air echoed in the Martial Arts Training Room.

On the iron-hard brown floor, a clear, shallow white saber mark suddenly appeared!

Su Lin withdrew his saber, stood firm, and exhaled a long breath of turbid air, his chest surging with Qi and blood.

He looked at his uncle with anticipation, “How is it? I’m not lying to you!”

“I never doubted you were lying.” Su Qi’s first words were resolute.

He understood deeply that a returning prodigal son needs trust most, and had always given his nephew the utmost trust and encouragement, whether it was regarding the Chang Family or this moment.

“You did… very well.” He slowly added.

Yet in his heart, the shock was immense: just one demonstration! Within a day! He directly skipped the difficult comprehension of “emission” and “operation,” achieving mastery of the advanced technique “soldier” without any help!

Such intuitive talent was simply unheard of!

However… following the great amazement, an indescribable sense of regret surged within him.

He looked at Su Lin with complex eyes, the trace of regret almost unmistakable—such astonishing talent in “soldier,” yet held back by slow training aptitude, truly… fate plays tricks on people!

“… At least, with your talent in ’soldier’,” Su Qi forcibly suppressed his rolling emotions, his tone became serious again, “I dare not claim to be peerless under heaven, but within my knowledge, I’ve never heard of anyone who can comprehend and master it independently within a day, just from a single observation.”

“’Soldier’?” Su Lin keenly caught the crucial term.

Su Qi nodded, and began a systematic explanation:

“Qi and blood are vast and profound. After the old order collapsed, countless geniuses pushed the Qi and blood application of Genetic Martial Artists to the extreme. Among them, the most basic application is called ’emission’!”

Before the words were finished, Su Qi’s originally relaxed body suddenly tensed like a bow!

A terrifying aura akin to a waking beast burst forth!

Standing less than three meters in front of him, Su Lin suddenly felt his breath catch, as if an invisible giant hand was gripping his throat, making all the hair on his body stand on end!

“Wha-what is this?!” Su Lin exclaimed in shock.

The uncle before him seemed to transform into a primordial beast ready to devour someone, the terrifying presence almost piercing through his skull, making him shiver all over.

Su Qi maintained his horse stance, fists collected at his waist, voice like a bell:

“This is ’Fa’! When not practicing the Breathing Technique, just relying on willpower, instantaneously stimulates the whole body’s Qi and Blood.”

Then, he slowly raised his right fist, placing it in front of him.

Su Lin immediately felt the overwhelming and terrifying pressure from his second uncle start to recede like the tide.

However, his attention was firmly captured by that seemingly ordinary fist!

Even though the shape hadn’t changed at all, that fist radiated an extremely dangerous aura, like a supreme fierce Soldier unsheathed, its edge piercingly sharp, making his scalp tingle and his back feel cold.

Seeing his reaction, Su Qi’s eyes flashed with admiration again:

“It seems your talent is not limited to ’Soldier’. Your perception of Qi and Blood is also so keen; even without learning ’Observation’, you can sense the danger within.”

He paused for a moment, then continued to explain:

“This is ’Yun’! Mobilizing the stimulated Qi and Blood at will, concentrating it into a specific part of the body, significantly increasing its power.”

Su Lin listened, a tidal wave of excitement sweeping over him, concentrating all his attention.

Finally finding the direction where he had talent, his heart was filled with unprecedented excitement and longing!

Su Qi retracted his fist and settled back into a normal standing posture, letting out a long breath, summarizing:

“’Fa’, is the foundation of stimulating Qi and Blood; ’Yun’, is the extension of mobilizing Qi and Blood; perceiving the flow and strength of Qi and Blood, is called ’Observation’; concealing the edge of Qi and Blood, returning to the ordinary, is called ’Hidden.’

“These four — Fa, Yun, Observation, and Hidden, are the four foundational techniques of Qi and Blood Martial Arts.

“And what you displayed earlier — ’Soldier’, is actually an advanced technique that goes further on the foundation of ’Yun’, infusing Qi and Blood into external objects to enhance the power of weapons!”

Sounds a bit like a Hunter’s telekinesis? A peculiar thought flashed through Su Lin’s mind, but he did not express it.

Su Qi did not notice his subtle expression, continuing deeply:

“Qi and Blood, in essence, is the magnificent Life Energy produced after the body is refined through cultivation.

“In ancient martial arts texts, it was referred to as Inner Strength, True Qi, Innate Qi, and so on.

“But the ancients lacked the nourishment of Treasure Meat, and it was difficult to break through the genetic barriers. The vast majority could only revolve around the human body locked by genetic seals throughout their lives, cultivating the so-called Inner Strength, Outer Strength, Strength Resolve, and other limited power levels.”

He cited classical texts:

“For example, Wang Zongyue in the ’Tai Chi Fist Treatise’ describes the highest realm of Tai Chi Fist — ’A feather cannot be added, a fly cannot land.’ It means the body’s perception is so keen that it can detect and counterreact or counterattack upon the slightest touch of a feather or the landing of a fly. Linzi, does this sound familiar to you?”

Su Lin instantly realized, blurting out:

“Unlocking the Skin Genetic Lock?! Perception down to the finest details!”

“Exactly!” Su Qi nodded emphatically, “Those who are world-class geniuses, even without Treasure Meat, relying solely on their rigorous practice and comprehension, can unlock the Skin Lock, reaching the ’Strength Resolve’ realm that the ancients yearned for!”

The pinnacle of National Martial Arts, Strength Resolve, is equivalent to unlocking the Skin Lock?!

Su Lin was greatly shaken, both shocked by the wisdom and difficulty faced by the ancients, and astonished at the qualitative change brought by Genetic Martial Arts.

Seeing his shock, Su Qi shifted his tone:

“But do not underestimate the wisdom of the ancients! Though they were limited by the conditions of their time, unable to break through genetic shackles to reach a higher life level, their understanding of this ’limited’ Life Energy was exquisitely profound and refined, leaving an incredibly valuable legacy for future generations!”

“Before the end times arrived, the country publicly shared all the collected and organized ancient martial arts secret manuals.

“Unfortunately, those who could truly cultivate Qi and Blood through ancient martial arts were as rare as a phoenix feather or unicorn horn.

“Ultimately, by combining modern science with the essence of ancient martial arts, the universally applicable ’Dawn Breathing Technique’ was developed, which is the supreme method for establishing the foundation of Qi and Blood Martial Arts.”

His tone carried a hint of regret:

“However, precisely because it seeks universality, the ’Dawn Breathing Technique’ focuses on the most basic ’Training Method’, namely, how to efficiently cultivate and accumulate Qi and Blood, yet it lacks the crucial ancient martial arts ’Combat Skill’, namely, the techniques for utilizing Qi and Blood to vanquish opponents.

“This has led to a common phenomenon: nowadays, the vast majority of martial artists, including Chang Sanheng and even Zhong Wubin, possess strong bodies and immense Qi and Blood, yet only know how to fight using brute force, as if holding a golden bowl to beg for food… However…”

Su Qi’s tone slightly paused, a serious expression on his face:

“Zhong Wubin, after all, has touched the threshold of the First Transformation, instinctively starting to explore the methods of utilizing Qi and Blood, perhaps already slightly grasping the basics. This is also why your grandfather asserted that you have no chance of winning against him.”

Su Lin’s face turned solemn, nodding heavily.

The imminent threat posed by Zhong Wubin made him more eager to grasp power.

After speaking at length, Su Qi also felt parched.

Looking at his nephew, eyes burning with a thirst for knowledge, the regret he felt was largely dispelled.

No matter what, this nephew in front, reshaped entirely, was worthy of his complete instruction.

“Since you have already mastered the advanced ’Soldier’ on the ’Yun’ technique.” Su Qi’s voice became steady and powerful again, “Next, I will teach you how to perceive Qi and Blood ’Observation’, as well as how to conceal your aura ’Hidden’. These two fundamentals are equally crucial.”