DING-LING-LING— DING-LING-LING—
Yawning, Zhao Huo, with droopy eyelids and in slippers, walked over to open the door, wondering who could be ringing the doorbell so early in the morning. As soon as he opened the door, he said grumpily, "Who are you looking for?"
"Looking for Xiao ng."
"Oh, wait a mont."
Zhao Huo turned, took a couple of steps, then suddenly realized sothing was amiss. He stepped back and tried to slam the door shut!
'Six Libraries Immortal Armor'!
An Iron Hand, protected by tallic Spirit Qi, was stuck in the door's crack. Even though Zhao Huo activated his Qi Cyclone and used 'Spirit Qi·Great Intent'—sacrificing Agility to vastly increase his strength—he only made the door squeak and groan under duress. He couldn't make the dark hand reaching in from outside retreat even a hair's breadth!
"Aiya, be careful! If I weren't a Fourth-Stage Cultivator, my hand~ would~ have~ snapped~ off~"
Hearing those last few words, Zhao Huo was shocked to find the door he pressed against transmitting an earth-shattering force, pushing him back bit by bit, inch by inch!
Even if a Fourth-Stage Cultivator didn't specialize in Strength Magic, rely burning Cyclone Spiritual Energy was enough to generate endless kinetic energy in their body!
But... I am Zhao Huo!
'Dragon King's Secret Record - Overbearing'!
Baxia, also known as Xiezhi, was the sixth of the Dragon's nine sons. Resembling a tortoise, he loved to bear heavy loads—the quintessential turtle beneath a stele. He never bowed his head, always moved forward, never retreated, never stopped!
The flowing Spiritual Energy lded Zhao Huo with the entire building, as if he had turned into a stele himself, firmly holding the door!
"Huh?"
An extrely punchable, silly face peeked in, looking at Zhao Huo with surprise. "You've got sothing there, Brother Huo!"
"But..."
When he spoke again, his voice ca from behind Zhao Huo. "But I'm not just about using strength, you know."
Zhao Huo sighed, released the spell, and said irritably, "You... Brother Suo, keep it down."
Ren Suo blinked, glanced at the bedroom, hooked Zhao Huo's neck and asked, "She hasn't woken up yet? Be careful, you're at least a Third-turn Cultivator, and Xiao ng isn't even a Transcendent. There's a definite physical gap; you should be gentle and cherish her..."
Zhao Huo barely restrained the urge to punch Ren Suo's dog head in. After all, Ren Suo's Healing Magic and Defensive Magic were practically instinctual, almost always at the ready. In their several past wrestling matches, Zhao Huo could never find an opening.
"How did you... know?"
Ren Suo thought for a mont, then said, "I guessed. One in three chance. What would I lose if I guessed wrong?"
Zhao Huo twitched the corner of his mouth, helplessly tapping his forehead—Ren Suo, this guy... he might not be good at much else, but he always has an abundance of this strange cleverness.
"And even if I guessed right, you wouldn't lose anything either," Ren Suo said, sitting down. "I won't blab. I'm just a bit curious, that's all."
"Don't you dare blab," Zhao Huo said, opening the refrigerator to get two cartons of sweet milk for himself and Ren Suo. Drinking his milk, he explained, "I didn't do anything."
"Of course I know you didn't do anything. You just have that virgin scent all over you."
PFFT!
Instantly deploying 'Six Libraries Immortal Armor' to block the milk, Ren Suo was unhard. Zhao Huo coughed twice, sniffed his own clothes, and looked at Ren Suo strangely. "Where's the scent?"
Because I simply used 'Desire Resonance' to confirm you were telling the truth...
Ren Suo scratched his head, pretending to be mysterious, and said, "You wouldn't understand. It's a special ability that cos after ascending to the fourth transformation."
Zhao Huo perked up. "That amazing?! But how do you know what a virgin slls like?"
"Isn't that easy? I myself am..."
Ren Suo paused, then swerved the topic 180 degrees. "I want to borrow the car."
Zhao Huo looked at Ren Suo suspiciously. "I rember you don't have a driver's license, right?"
"So Cheng Ling is driving. I'm just here to borrow it."
"You should get your own license. Don't you lose face having a woman drive you around?" Zhao Huo seized the opportunity to mock Ren Suo a bit as he handed over the car keys.
Ren Suo glanced at Zhao Huo's figurine cabinet, at the ani short-sleeved Painful Clothing Zhao Huo was wearing, then looked down at the car keys which even had an ani sticker on them, truly wanting to say sothing but then hesitating again and again.
Considering he was here to borrow the car and owed a favor, he decided to let it go.
"Where are you heading so early in the morning?" Zhao Huo asked curiously.
"To the airport."
"Going on a trip? Where to?"
"The Federation, Flourishing Sakura, Britain, Maldives..." Ren Suo listed the places like he was reciting a nu, leaving Zhao Huo dumbfounded. "What's this? Circumnavigating the globe?"
"I only found out 10 minutes ago that I was going on a trip," Ren Suo said with a helpless face. "The visa has already been handled. For the next month, you might not see at all, so let's settle that al you owe next month."
Zhao Huo was bewildered. "What about your job?"
"I took leave."
"What about the students' combat training...?"
"According to Young Master Mu's words, if they break their arms or legs, they can either heal themselves or wait for to co back and heal them." Ren Suo spread his hands. "I can't possibly not have the right to take leave, right? I'm not their dad... And, I'm a Fourth-Stage Cultivator; I need plenty of ti for Cultivation anyway. Now I'm just using the Cultivation ti to have fun instead."
"A Fourth-Stage Cultivator can take a leave right after school starts?"
Zhao Huo recalled how troubleso it was for him to ask for leave at the end of the sester, and raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Then who are you going on this trip with?"
Ren Suo fell silent for a mont, grabbed the car keys, and started to leave. "I'll have a designated driver bring the car back. Well, I wish you a joyful cohabitation—"
"Wait!"
Dragon Claw clamped down on Ren Suo's shoulder like iron pincers. Zhao Huo leaned in close and said with certainty, "If Cheng Ling is driving, then she's definitely going, right? I rember she also took quite a few days off."
"Wait, the others who took leave... your sister, Gu Yueyan, and Lin Xianyu!"
"Ren Suo, and you still say you haven't made a move on Classmate Lin?"
Ren Suo kept shaking his head. "I'm not, I didn't! Think about it, I've been at ho these days, and they've been watching the whole ti. Even if I wanted to, I don't have the ability! I'm not like you, having ti to chat up young girls!"
Zhao Huo thought for a mont, then continued his analysis. "Since they're all going, Qiao Muyi definitely won't miss an event like this. So, that ans..."
Zhao Huo pondered for a mont, then blurted out a term from the Ani Fans' lexicon, "Fan service episode?"
Ren Suo gave Zhao Huo a look. "Think back to your trip to Hokkaido. Was that really a fan service episode?"
"Hmm... you've actually got a point," Zhao Huo nodded gravely, acknowledging Ren Suo's point, and patted him on the shoulder. "Then you... just have to hope for the best. Look on the bright side, you get to travel around different countries this ti, right? Enjoy it."
Ren Suo said, "But I'll mostly have to stick with them, you know? If there are places they don't want to go, I can't go either. Most of the sightseeing will be busy streets and famous landmarks—stuff I can see online anyway..."
"That's how it is," Zhao Huo said empathetically. "When I was in Tokyo, I wanted to spend all my ti in Akihabara but ended up being dragged away by Sister Shu. In Hokkaido, I couldn't even touch a computer... When traveling together, you really have to consider other people's experiences."
"Plus, I feel like I don't have any personal space anymore," Ren Suo was sowhat vexed. "Honestly, I have so important stuff to do this month."
Zhao Huo consoled him, "You'll get used to it. Dogs have leashes, cats have bells, you have garbage bags. Man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains."
"I think I heard you call trash."
"You heard wrong. How could I say that Dong Chengling and the others are garbage bags? And so many bags for one person, sounds like a horror story." Zhao Huo pushed Ren Suo out of the house. "Wish you a smooth journey and a halfway disappearance. Catch up over tea when you're free next ti."
After locking Ren Suo out, Zhao Huo leaned against the door and slowly sat down on the floor, tilting his head back to stare blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought for a while.
The fourth transformation...
After the fourth transformation, I could legitimately take a long vacation and have fun. Dong Chengling and Ren Suo can take leave; Bai Ji will surely grant my request too, right?
After the fourth transformation, at least in terms of Cultivation, I won't be inferior to Ren Suo anymore. Situations where I'm suppressed by him won't happen again, right?
After the fourth transformation...
Zhao Huo exhaled heavily, a plu of white breath escaping his lips. He stripped off his short-sleeved shirt, revealing a physique of knotted muscle. His limbs touched the ground like sharp claws, his muscles rippling like waves. Yet, he exuded no intimidating presence of a fierce beast. Instead, his face was calm and natural, his breathing even and light. He wasn't using brute force to oppress all life, only his martial spirit to command heaven and earth!
Ever since Elder Zhao broke his legs, Zhao Huo had been contemplating how to beco stronger. He found that whether it was the 'Mysterious Sovereign's Secret Records' or the 'Tiger Form Technique' integrated version, he felt subtly uncomfortable while cultivating them.
And he discovered that his own Elder Zhao was actually practicing 'Mysterious Sovereign's Secret Record - Tiger Form' as well! Although different from his version, Zhao Huo had no confidence that his understanding of 'Tiger Form Technique' surpassed that of Elder Zhao—Elder Zhao was a genius in his youth, and moreover, a soldier who had survived modern warfare.
The more Zhao Huo thought about it, the more he realized a truth.
People have limits. One can never surpass others by walking their path.
Be it the 'Mysterious Sovereign's Secret Records' or the 'Tiger Form Technique,' in the end, they are the essence of others' countless refinents. I can use these to grow quickly, but I'll just as quickly beco stuck in their confines.
Undoubtedly, I could continue down this path, and my achievents wouldn't be insignificant. Given ti, I could definitely beco an influential figure in Lian River.
But I'm not satisfied with that.
In literature, there is no absolute first; in martial arts, no undisputed second.
The passion buried deep in my heart hasn't been worn away by fa or fortune, not eroded by ti, nor blunted by the world's treachery. Thanks to the wonderful world of ani, no matter how many temptations or setbacks life throws at , I can always overco them.
Even though I'm already a Third-turn Cultivator, even though my life is already quite complete, seeing Dong Chengling, Qiao Muyi, Bai Ji, Yu Kuangtu, and most importantly, seeing Ren Suo all stronger than —how can I possibly stand it?!
Previously, I thought the 'Tiger Form Technique' could let take a shortcut and surpass them, but Elder Zhao woke up to reality.
My little martial arts Talent can't be converted into Cultivation aptitude. Insufficient aptitude is insufficient aptitude. If I continue to muddle along, cultivating step by step, I'm fated to eat Ren Suo's dust forever!
If I want to catch up and surpass others, I can't walk their paths. I have to carve out the path that's most suitable for !
My understanding of the 'Tiger Form Technique' isn't as profound as the old man's, but I've mastered a hundred schools of martial arts! Form and Intention, Bajiquan, Tai Chi, Shaolin Tan Legs, Wudang San Shou—which ancient martial art haven't I learned?
I might only have a basic grasp of the 'Mysterious Sovereign's Secret Records,' but I still have 'Spirit Qi' that's like an extension of my own limbs! Casual Spirit, Keen Spirit, Steadfast Spirit, Malicious Spirit, Deep Spirit, and I recently even developed Romantic Spirit—it's practically a master trick that allows to prevail anywhere!
Using the 'Mysterious Sovereign's Secret Records' as the foundation, various martial arts as the materials, and 'Spirit Qi' to fuse them all!
Is a tiger strong? Then I will beco a dragon!
And not just any dragon—a Dragon King!
A Dragon can be hidden or radiant, minute or massive, short or long; it ascends to the heavens at the Vernal Equinox and plunges into the abyss at the Autumn Equinox.
I, Zhao Huo, have decided to create my own 'Dragon King's Secret Record,' seeking only to defeat all heroes under heaven!
The 'Overbearing' move he just used was Zhao Huo's first attempt at the 'Dragon King's Secret Record.' The result was excellent, allowing Zhao Huo, with his Third-level Cultivation, to contend with Ren Suo's Fourth-Rank Cultivation—even if Ren Suo wasn't serious, I didn't use my full strength either!
And look at that guy Ren Suo! Just because his strength isn't far ahead of his girlfriend's, now she says they're going on a trip, and he just goes. She tells him to go east, and he wouldn't dare go west. How embarrassing!
A real man should continuously improve his core competitiveness, possess the power to break free from constraints, and never let himself be manipulated by a woman—
"Brother Huo, co back to bed," Xiao ng's soft voice called out from the bedroom.
Zhao Huo imdiately halted his Cultivation and said contentedly, "Coming, coming."
When he picked up his phone, Zhao Huo saw that Ren Suo had sent him a ssage.
"Forgot to say earlier, besides borrowing the car, I wanted to tell you that Xiao ng seems to have excellent cultivation aptitude. Young Master Mu has already given word at the Tactical Bureau. After you register Xiao ng, she can cultivate as an amateur Cultivator."
"Also, keep cultivating hard. If you're not at the fourth transformation the next ti we et, don't bla for thrashing you. It's not my fault, it's the world's. After all, you're going to be a Peerless Strong Person in the future. If I don't ss with you while you're still weak, I won't have the chance later."
A smile touched Zhao Huo's lips, and he chuckled.
Seeing his foolishly happy smile, Xiao ng rubbed her eyes and curiously asked, "What happened?"
"Nothing much, just saw an idiot who made a roundabout attempt at bootlicking. When I beco aweso, I'll just beat him up a little less," Zhao Huo snickered.
Xiao ng glanced at him and said, "But you seem happier than you were sleeping with last night."
"No, no, how could that be." Zhao Huo shook his head in denial and lay down to check the ti on his phone. "Class is at 10, I can still sleep for another hour... huh?"
Xiao ng leaned over to look at his phone screen. "What's wrong?"
"Ren Naiser has updated."
Zhao Huo opened the video app, sounding quite surprised.
"He uploaded a new video... 'Top-secret Archives: 1999 Star Wars' Episode One? 1999, that's way too early. I was just a kid back then..."
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