With the Blade

With these two factors combined, in this extremely subjective world, people indeed become stronger.

"But is this kind of becoming stronger really that stable?"

Du Chengfeng indicated that it might not be quite so.

The most obvious example is himself. The total number of people he has truly personally killed is probably only a few tens of thousands, maybe not even a hundred thousand. But he can be certain that if those Evil Qi masters who have killed a hundred thousand come looking for trouble, he can crush them with one hand — similarly, Wu Zhao and the founding emperor of Southern Chen, whom he fought against previously, have also touched this level.

Just piling up numbers might be useful for bullying ordinary people, but if you want to go further, you must achieve a true qualitative transformation.

Speaking of qualitative transformation, Ruan Shantao must be mentioned. This old fellow has actually stepped halfway into qualitative transformation, but it’s precisely because of some concerns and doubts in his heart that he stalled at this half step, leading to inexplicably lowering his combat power, and even dying mysteriously in Ziyang Mountain.

However, it’s because of this example that Du Chengfeng can vaguely explore the path to qualitative transformation.

Of course, that’s not the path he walks himself. Neither he, nor Wu Zhao, nor the founding emperor of Southern Chen, can replicate each other’s paths — however, even though the paths are different, they share at least one common point.

"If you really want to become stronger, you can try to prove your own strength."

After pondering for a moment, Du Chengfeng cautiously spoke up.

"Of course, I’m not saying you should go killing people. Since you can ask this question, you’ve probably already realized that firm will is the foundation of everything... but firmness is a tricky thing to gauge. The more you want to be firm, the more you’ll feel you’re not that firm."

After scratching his head, Du Chengfeng continued.

"In short, just do more of what you want to do, even if it’s just having a meal, swinging a sword twice... of course, you will encounter things you couldn’t do before, but you still want to do them, so find a way to do them. That’s about it. The more you do, the stronger you’ll become."

Saying this, Du Chengfeng looked at Shan Bing.

"Did what I say make sense to you?"

"I... huh?"

As their gazes met.

Shan Bing’s eyes were full of confusion.

Even though he felt that the giant in front of him was genuinely trying to say something meaningful to him, did any of these things really relate to becoming stronger?

There were no techniques, no skills, no methods for tempering the body, much less any secrets of killing and harming — just some motivational platitudes. He could pay a few copper coins in Jiankang City to have destitute scholars write several stacks of paper saying the same thing, and they would definitely sound better and make more sense than what this giant said.

Can this really be counted as a way to become stronger? Is this giant not just mocking him?

Or even if the giant was mocking him, what could he possibly do about it?

It seems... there is nothing he can do.

This is a creature that can crush him with one hand. Not being beaten to death is already considered a stroke of luck. Now the giant is even willing to sit and chat with him, which is already a significant act of kindness.

"It seems you still don’t quite understand."

Perhaps noticing Shan Bing’s confusion, the giant in front of him let out a sigh.

"Why not talk while eating? Luckily I just learned how to..."

"I understand, I’ve completely understood."

Shan Bing resolutely solidified his gaze.

The inspirational talk should end here. He would rather share his own technique than listen to this giant preach any longer.

After all, having a giant who can crush you any second earnestly share motivational stories and occasionally ask, "Did you get it?" is a truly nerve-wracking experience.

Moreover, his techniques don’t really have any secrets to speak of.

"You just need to shout out while attacking."

Taking a deep breath, Shan Bing revealed his secret.

"Name your move and shout it out while executing it. It’s supposed to unify your energy, spirit, and soul, thereby increasing the attack’s power... I learned it from a passing expert. As for the more detailed aspects, I’m not sure either."

"...Huh?"

This time, it was Du Chengfeng’s turn to be dumbstruck.

He had thought it would be some sophisticated technique, had even believed there might be some Secret Technique supporting it, but never did he imagine it would be this — shouting out the move’s name when executing it, an act he viewed as the dumbest and most humiliating. In any normal fight, no one would do something like that.

It’s like if someone were to engage in a battle and insist on saying "Today, I shall slay you with the Ji Bei Flame Saber" and screaming "Flaming Saber Technique" while launching the attack. Is there really nothing wrong with this approach?

But seeing Shan Bing with that serious look, Du Chengfeng found himself somewhat puzzled, because as far as the results were concerned, Shan Bing seemed to genuinely be doing this — before every battle, he’d definitely shout "Take my Sun Piercing Strike," it sounded silly, and did give Du Chengfeng a chance to prepare in advance... but no matter what, the power of this "Sun Piercing Strike" was truly extraordinary. Even Du Chengfeng himself, if hit in a vital spot, might find it fatal.

However, the issue lies precisely here.

The opponent has already shouted it out, so how could he let such an attack hit his vital area?

"This..."

Du Chengfeng began to scratch his head.

He did learn it, but what he learned seemed to lead him back into a familiar deadlock. He felt Shan Bing probably hadn’t mentioned some aspects, or perhaps even Shan Bing himself had only learned part of it.

Therefore, continuing to ask didn’t seem to have any meaning.

"Anyway, the exchange is over."

Scratching his head, Du Chengfeng sighed.

He had thought it was something complicated, which is why he specifically captured Shan Bing and planned to impart knowledge — but now, it seemed there was no need for one or two years, not even ten days or half a month; it was just a matter of a single sentence.

"Well then, you should be on your way."

"Huh?"

Before Shan Bing could process it, the giant fist rapidly enlarged before his eyes.

With one punch, Shan Bing was knocked out, and Du Chengfeng flew out while carrying him. Going out twice in one day, to the same place, made the already reclusive Du Chengfeng even more impatient — therefore, after dropping the unconscious Shan Bing outside Dengzhou City, Du Chengfeng simply returned, leaving only Shan Bing lying under a tree, unconscious.

Du Chengfeng was well aware of his own power, and he could even calculate the exact moment Shan Bing would wake up.

And indeed, just as Du Chengfeng disappeared into the clouds, Shan Bing, lying on the ground, rubbed his head and woke up — having been knocked unconscious twice in a row, everything seemed blurry to Shan Bing, he even wondered if he was living in a dream.

Perhaps even the whole experience of sharing wisdom and knowledge was an illusion?

"Just like those fortuitous encounters in fable novels... only, nothing beneficial came out of this encounter."

Sighing, Shan Bing resigned himself, at least he was alive, none of his body parts were missing, and that was already quite good.

"Just this whole ordeal... sigh."

Rubbing his head, Shan Bing got up and walked towards the distant Dengzhou City.

He still had brothers over there, he still had unfinished tasks.

He promised that Eunuch Cao to find the reclusive Grandmaster Du...

"What? You said I’ve already found him?"

In Dengzhou City, looking at Jiang Wenyuan leaning on a crutch, Shan Bing was dumbfounded.