Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

Xu Xingguang raised an eyebrow, offering no explanation.

”During the Xia Country Era, the Dongfang Family was considered a top noble family, but has now fallen to such a state; it’s truly lamentable. It’s said that before the Great Migration, Ancient Martial Artists were the most powerful beings in this world.”

Reflecting on the current times, Elder Tan Nan remarked, ”Yet they never oppressed the people, exploited the people, or trampled human rights. And now this Divine Martial Realm has become the domain of Super Power Users. Commoners and Sin Slaves have no human rights whatsoever. Why has this world become like this?”

The older Elder Tan Nan got, the more he felt society was somewhat sick. ”One would have thought that the emergence of Super Power Users would make them protectors of common folk. Instead, they’ve become their oppressors.”

Xu Xingguang picked up her binoculars and a plastic container, speaking with a decisive, emotionless voice, ”Their ambitions have swelled out of control. We just need to rein in their ambitions.”

Having said that, she took her things and walked towards the entrance of the medicinal field.

Elder Tan Nan watched her back in a daze.

Reining in their ambitions is easier said than done.

*

Entering the medicinal field, Xu Xingguang threw a pair of Mystic Iron Foot Chains beside Dongfang Yi, ”Wear these while you work.”

Dongfang Yi bent down to pick them up, almost unable to lift them.

But he obediently put on the foot chains.

Once he wore the chains, he felt the ground beneath his feet grow heavy; each step required all his strength. He didn’t complain, diligently searching for insects.

By the end of the day, Dongfang Yi was exhausted like a dog. After work, Dongfang Yi asked Xu Xingguang, ”Can I take these things off now?”

Xu Xingguang shook her head without emotion, ”Wear them all the time, except when you sleep.”

”But in class...”

”Wear them in class too.”

Dongfang Yi’s face turned pale, instinctively wanting to complain, but each time that happened, Xu Xingguang’s words by the waterfall echoed in his mind.

The abilities you gain through your own blood and sweat are yours to use forever.

He gritted his teeth, dragging his heavy feet to follow Xu Xingguang after work.

Elder Tan Nan was surprised to see the shackles on Dongfang Yi’s feet but didn’t comment.

Xu Xingguang unplugged the power cord of the balancing scooter, ready to leave when Elder Tan Nan suddenly called out to her.

”In two months, Medicine King City’s Medical College will be enrolling new students; they’ll be taking 12 from Golden Gate City. Our Cattle Hump is part of Golden Gate City. I submitted an application for you, so prepare well to get in.”

”What will be tested?” Xu Xingguang wasn’t clear on the education system of the Divine Martial Realm.

Elder Tan Nan said, ”I’ve sent the materials to your Intelligent Brain Terminal; you can check them later.”

”Okay.”

When Dongfang Yi dragged his shackles and returned home, his parents had already finished their work and returned to Wuyuan Town.

The sound of the door opening made them both turn their heads, and they saw Dongfang Yi, his clothes dirty and shackled at the feet.

”Xiao Yi, what happened to you?” his father Dongfang Tao’an and mother Xiao Xue were shocked.

Dongfang Qing stood up as well, ”Little brother, what’s going on?”

”It’s nothing.” It took Dongfang Yi two minutes to slowly walk from the doorway to the sofa.

He collapsed onto the sofa like a puddle of water and then recounted his experiences training with Xu Xingguang.

Xiao Xue listened, frowning, ”That Miss Xu isn’t deceiving you, is she? There are no people practicing Ancient Martial Arts in their Mortal World; what does she know about it? Besides, practicing Ancient Martial Arts doesn’t really help these days...”

Noticing the uneasy look on her husband’s face beside her, Xiao Xue swallowed the rest of her words.

Although Dongfang Tao’an disagreed with Xiao Xue’s last statement, he also felt Xu Xingguang didn’t understand Ancient Martial Arts. ”Ancient Martial Arts’ heritage has long been lost. Miss Xu might be messing around; don’t follow her lead and ruin your health.”

Dongfang Yi said, ”Dad, I think Sister Xingguang’s methods are more reliable than yours.”

Dongfang Tao’an frowned.

He thought the whole thing was unreliable, yet curiosity got the better of him, ”How is she teaching you?”

Dongfang Yi then told Dongfang Tao’an about Xu Xingguang’s training methods for the day.

Hearing this, Dongfang Tao’an was also a bit surprised, ”The method she set for you, I have seen it in a tattered ancient book from our family. This method is called... called...”

”Waterfall Horse Stance Method,” Dongfang Yi completed his father’s train of thought.

”Yes!” Dongfang Tao’an’s eyes lit up, ”That’s the name. It’s said that people of the Ancient Xia Country Era practiced lower body stability using such a method when beginning Ancient Martial Arts.”

”While practicing today, to keep from slipping, I focused all the power into my legs. I found this method much better than what you have taught me before.” Of course, the real motivator were those two daggers in Eagle Sparrow’s hands.

”Sister Xingguang also said that no matter how powerful a Super Power User is, their superpowers were granted by the meteorite after it descended. Such abilities are dubious; there’s no guarantee they won’t disappear in the future. She told me that only skills practiced steadily are truly reliable.”

”So Dad, I want to continue learning from Sister Xingguang.”

Dongfang Tao’an still didn’t fully trust Xu Xingguang, but he found himself resonating with her perspective on Super Power Users.

Dongfang Tao’an felt that he and Xu Xingguang were kindred spirits, even ’friends’.

He firmly patted Dongfang Yi’s shoulder, ”Keep practicing, and after a while, we’ll spar. If it proves effective, I’ll train with Miss Xu too.”

Dongfang Qing and her mother exchanged glances, feeling a bit helpless.

Dongfang Tao’an had insisted on practicing Ancient Martial Arts since he was young, hoping to gain recognition from the Family Head among the Super Power Users.

In previous years, he was sent by the Family Head to do business in Wuyuan Town, which severely dented his confidence.

For the last two years, he rarely mentioned Ancient Martial Arts at all.

Now, however, a few words from Xu Xingguang had reignited his fighting spirit.