Cave Refuge-Chapter 335 - 302 Energy Cultivation and Qi Cultivation

Zachary, upon hearing from Madeline the delineation of the four realms of the Martial Path as newly defined by Kyoto, felt an obscure sense of awe.

If the first three realms posed no threat to Zachary, then the fourth realm, the Path Entry Realm, would definitely pose an extreme threat to him.

Moreover, Zachary did not believe that the speculations about the Path Entry Realm, which came from Madeline’s imagination, were invented from scratch. It was not that he thought Madeline was lying, but as a person from China, Zachary knew too well the habits of his fellow countrymen.

Since ancient times, China has adhered to the Doctrine of the Mean, advocating against standing out too much. From antiquity to the present, every generation has been taught the adage that the tree standing out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind.

Therefore, in any era, the information generally released by the countrymen tends to be a few versions behind what they actually possess.

Even if China did not currently have Martial Artists in the Path Entry Realm, those with a Cultivation Level at the peak of the Energy Refining Stage would surely be infinitely close to the Path Entry Realm.

Zachary was very aware of his own circumstances, although he couldn’t say he was all Cultivation Level with no real combat ability. However, Zachary’s few experiences in real combat were all in dominant positions, which didn’t provide much in the way of useful combat experience.

Although most classic battles are won by the weaker party overcoming the stronger, Zachary had no desire for his experiences to become a classic tale sung by future generations. He believed in the principle that a good fighter has no mighty deeds of war. If one can overpower with numbers, then do so; if one can bully the weak, then do so.

He tried to avoid giving himself a chance for a desperate turnaround, preventing danger also meant that there would be no situation of a desperate turnaround.

Many people like the American-style iaijutsu, but what many do not know is that China also has its own unique method of iai, which is the Mud Truck Iai described by Master Chen.

American-style Iaijutsu: When dueling one-on-one, the opponent uses cold weapons, while you use firearms.

Mud Truck Iai: During a one-on-one duel, intercept your opponent with a cement truck on their way to the arena. If you can severely injure or kill them, victory in the arena is certain.

Compared to American-style iaijutsu, the requirements to initiate Mud Truck Iai are more stringent, but the effect is also countless times more significant.

"Path Entry Realm, Path Entry Realm, just how many people in China have reached the Path Entry Realm in their Cultivation Level?"

Zachary’s murmuring was soft, but who in the room wasn’t sharp-eared and keen-eyed? Even if his voice was quiet, the others could hear Zachary’s murmuring clearly.

Rather than believing what Madeline said about there being no Martial Artists in China at the Path Entry Realm, everyone was more inclined to believe in Zachary’s unintentional affirmation.

Even though Zachary had such favorable conditions and his Cultivation Level was still in the late Foundation Building Stage, his Cultivation Level would not be considered slow when compared to an average person.

But what China truly did not lack was talent, and from time to time, there would be extraordinary geniuses, even those each era considered as destined main characters.

Although Zachary began cultivating before the natural disasters, if someone told him now that China’s highest Cultivation Level Martial Artist could shatter the void, he wouldn’t have much doubt.

If the war between Alfredo and Terrance could not prove the existence of protagonists chosen by the heavens, then Zhu Yuanzhang’s story of starting with a bowl, proclaiming himself emperor in fifteen years, and unifying China in twenty-five years, is something even wish-fulfillment novels wouldn’t dare to write.

After all, if it were not true history, no one would believe that a beggar could transform into an emperor who unified the entire nation within a mere twenty-five years.

You should know that when the Dragon Ancestor unified the nation, he relied upon the legacy left by the strenuous efforts of six generations.

Apart from those destined protagonists, there are villains who appear alongside them, as well as followers who accompany them. From the perspective of a novel’s protagonist, these people may seem quite ordinary. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

But think about it: in real history, those who opposed the protagonist and those who followed him, each one of them was a talent with astonishing abilities and exceptional gifts.

Although he had the System, Zachary, with both parents alive, plenty of friends, and numerous wives and concubines, did not in any way resemble a protagonist in appearance.

Of course, Zachary, with his stable personality, ordinary family background, and lack of ambition, also did not resemble the ultimate villain in novels.

Instead, Zachary’s current situation was more like a minor villain that the novel’s protagonist encounters in the early stages, sometimes even called the Fortune-bringing Squire in stories.

With these thoughts, the previously somewhat indolent Zachary immediately became much tenser inside, and others around him could see the expression on his face turning somewhat awkward.

But they were unaware of Zachary’s inner thoughts; they only guessed that he might be resistant to the existence of the Path Entry Realm because before Madeline spoke of the four realms of Martial Path, Zachary was counted among the top Martial Artists.

After Madeline finished describing the four realms of Martial Path, Zachary and Robinson William, who had the highest Cultivation Level present, were reduced to the middle-tier. Knowing the significant gap between themselves and the top Martial Artists, they found it difficult to accept this initially, which was quite normal.

As everyone’s emotions began to settle, Madeline took out a not very thick booklet: "This is ’China Martial - Inner Breath Chapter’ that I got from a friend, it details how to break through from the Inner Breath Realm to the Energy Refining Realm."

Because the manual was not thick, Robinson William quickly finished reading after taking it from Madeline’s hands, and then casually passed it to Zachary. He immediately closed his eyes and began practicing Energy Cultivation.