Chapter 52: Choice

Atlas of Heaven and Earth

As Cheng Zitong was speaking, he demonstrated the Mixed Primordial Force Stance in front of Chen Chuan, starting from the Embracing Qi Stance and ending with the Back-Bearing Mountain Stance. This was no different from what Yu Gang had shown him that day.

He couldn't tell whose level was higher, he just felt that Yu Gang's aura seemed to be more in harmony with this set of stances.

Cheng Zitong pressed his abdomen and said, "The Strength of Mixed Yuan Strength originates from here. In the old days, there was a saying of "Qi sinking into the dantian'. That is to take the dantian Mutated Tissue as the core to drive the power of the whole body.

Maintaining this place well is also maintaining the center of gravity. The word "sinking' explains everything, like a ballast stone pressing down on the body, but once it is activated, a strong Internal Energy will burst out."

As Cheng Zitong explained them one by one, Chen Chuan looked at the main Internal Energy. There weren't many, just over a dozen, and the rest were minor strengths.

According to Cheng Zitong, some major strengths were very difficult to learn and had high requirements for Mutated Tissue, so students could only start with minor strengths, or simply focus on them. Usually, at least two or more Internal Energy were needed to form combat power.

But in this way, the combat system seemed very scattered. If you don't consider any external Strength and only compare people themselves, then minor strengths are not as good as major strengths. But people will find ways to compensate for their shortcomings, especially since people can use tools. With the cooperation of various auxiliary tools, the gap here is not so big.

Nowadays, even those who have practiced major strengths will also practice some minor strengths, which can also have miraculous effects at critical moments.

Chen Chuan walked to the last row on the right. There were relatively few bamboo slips placed here. There was only one bundle lonely placed on the middle layer. When he walked here, Cheng Zitong's gaze was also particularly attentive.

At this time, in the administrative office building, Gao Shi, Yue Hong, and Bian Feng were all in the Recruitment and Preparation Office. Yue Hong said, "An hour ago, Supervisor Cheng took someone to the Hall of Self-Reflection Training Hall. He should be preparing to officially teach Strength Technique."

Bian Feng said, "Will he choose that Strength Technique?"

Yue Hong was very optimistic: "He should, right? That is the Academy's best Strength Technique, and there are handwritten annotations from practitioners of previous generations. Back then... I also chose this one."

Gao Shi said in a deep voice, "The best? Not necessarily. Only what suits you is the best."

Yue Hong said, "Gao Shi, students often don't know what their true choices are. They still need guidance from predecessors."

Gao Shi said, "Cheng Zitong is here, he will accuse you of being a completely rationalist. We will know the result soon."

At the same time, on the North Peak opposite South Hill, the recommended students seemed to be active together, and one of the recommended students was looking at the opposite side with binoculars.

"Lin Mian, what are you looking at?"

Behind him, several recommended students were shooting arrows at humanoid targets with crossbows. One of them saw his actions, turned his head strangely, and walked over, "What's so interesting to look at?"

Lin Mian stepped back a little, adjusted the lens, and said, "Do you know, I just heard that Cheng Zitong took a student to the Hall of Self-Reflection Training Hall. It's right across from us. What do you think of?"

"Hall of Self-Reflection?" The student who asked the question seemed casual at first, but then he was stunned, then surprised, and suddenly gritted his teeth and said, "I remember that annoying guy was also taken there back then..." He turned his head and asked Jiang Senior Student on the side: "Brother Jiang, Cheng Zitong took a student there? What does the school administration want to do?"

Jiang Senior Student slowly strung the bow, smiled and said, "Some people are not satisfied with what happened two years ago, so the school management has been hoping to find such a person again. They may have pinned their hopes on this student."

That recommended student suddenly couldn't hold back and said, "What should we do? We were able to handle things properly two years ago, do we want to this time..."

Jiang Senior Student smiled and said, "Don't worry, let's see the results first." As he said that, he raised the crossbow, aimed at the front, narrowed his eyes, and gently pulled the trigger. With a "thud', the crossbow arrow hit the red bullseye in the distance.

Inside the Hall of Self-Reflection Training Hall, Chen Chuan was flipping through the bundle of bamboo slips in his hand. This was the longest he had spent viewing Strength Technique after picking it. Cheng Zitong sat there silently without saying a word.

Chen Chuan could tell that, judging from its location, this booklet was definitely not simple. From the description on it, it was indeed the case. The booklet only described the cultivation method and key points, but did not specifically describe which part of the body's Mutated Tissue would grow.

Just from the depicted human body drawings, tattoo-like patterns would appear on the practitioner's chest and back, seeming to become clearer and more complex the deeper they went, eventually looking like an angry human face.

After he read it all, he said, "Teacher, this Strength Technique is very special."

Cheng Zitong said, "Mystic Form Force is one of the most profound Strength Technique in the Academy. I haven't practiced it, and I have little contact with it, so I can't say how the Mutated Tissue grows. I only know that this Strength Technique has very high entry requirements. People who have chosen it in the past have all achieved something. About three years ago, before you, there was also a student who chose this Strength Technique..."

He seemed to be deliberately bringing up this topic, but Chen Chuan didn't ask anything. Instead, he put the bundle of Strength Technique back and walked to the soft mat, sat down and asked, "Teacher, are there any other Strength Technique?"

"What?" Cheng Zitong said in surprise, "You don't want to learn Mystic Form Force?"

Chen Chuan said very frankly, "I don't think it suits me."

Cheng Zitong's expression suddenly became very complicated, as if he was a little regretful, but also as if he was relieved. After a while, he said, "If it's not suitable, then forget it. But after looking at so many Strength Technique, didn't you see anything you liked?"

Chen Chuan looked at the bookshelf and said, "Are all the school's Strength Technique here?"

Cheng Zitong shook his head and said, "That's not true. There are some that don't have any special characteristics and are more common, so there's no need to put them here. Tell me, what kind of Strength Technique do you want? Teacher will help you find it."

Chen Chuan thought for a while and asked, "Is there any Strength Technique that combines all kinds of characteristics?"

"A Strength Technique that combines all kinds of characteristics?" Cheng Zitong was stunned, his expression a little subtle, and said, "Is this what you think?"

Chen Chuan nodded.

Cheng Zitong thought for a while and said hesitantly, "There is one called "Circulating Yuan Strength', which is very suitable for your requirements. But you need to know that although this Internal Energy takes care of everything, taking care of everything also means being mediocre everywhere."

His face became a little serious, "Past knowledge tells us that a Martial Combat expert needs to specialize in strengths and constantly strengthen them, because people will use tools, and some weaknesses can be completely compensated for with tools. And people also have limited energy. Even if they have Mutated Tissue, they can only fully strengthen one aspect of their strengths. Such a choice will only lead to you becoming distracted and becoming without any characteristics."

Chen Chuan thought for a moment and said, "Thank you for the teacher's correction. Can the student see this Strength Technique?"

Cheng Zitong sighed and said, "Okay, I said you student are decisive, wait a minute." He stood up and went into the side door. After a while, he took out a printed book that looked a little old and yellowed, and handed it to him.

Chen Chuan took it and flipped through it, seeing that as Cheng Zitong said, this Strength Technique took care of everything, emphasizing comprehensiveness. The Mutated Tissue was not specialized, but formed relatively small parts attached to every corner of the body.

If he understood various Skills, theoretically any Internal Energy could imitate it, but the effect would be vastly different. After all, any major Strength relies on Mutated Tissue for support, and taking care of everything might not even support a minor Strength. Indeed, as Cheng Zitong said, pursuing comprehensiveness too much would only lead to mediocrity.

However, he was clear that the basis of any Skills lies in physical fitness, and even Mutated Tissue can be classified as part of physical fitness.

If a person's physical fitness far exceeds the normal limit, then everything can be established. And with Second Self, he firmly believed that he only needed to constantly strengthen his own foundation, which would be far better than everything else.

And he could feel that Second Self was still growing, and there was even greater Potential to be discovered in the future.

Thinking of this, he looked up and said seriously, "Teacher, this Strength Technique is exactly what the student wants."

...

...