Shackles of Humanity

As the birthplace of Body Techniques, Shangjing University was naturally where the Human Race’s Body Masters were most concentrated. Yonghong Hall was the very place where they gathered to research the path of Body Techniques.

Generally speaking, upon reaching the rank of Martial Artist, one’s lifespan could extend to over a hundred years. For Body Masters, living two or three hundred years was no problem at all. But a longer life did not equate to greater power. On the contrary, as the body withered with each passing day, not only would combat strength plummet, but even one’s personal Energy would drain away bit by bit. All things in the Cosmos must obey the law of conservation of energy—even Stars would eventually decay and fall...

Furthermore, Yonghong Hall was also the seat of Shangjing University’s highest governing body, the School Council. The council was run by thirteen Deacons, each a Body Master. This year’s enrollment had just concluded, so the Deacons were gathered for a rare meeting.

Seated at the head of the table was a slender, long-bearded elder. This was Pei Hong, the Vice-Chancellor of Shangjing University. Now nearly two hundred years old, he had advanced to the rank of Body Master over a century ago. Though the years were slowly chipping away at his life, his eyes had only grown as deep as an abyss.

Pei Hong took a light sip of his tea. ”This year, our university has enrolled five hundred regular students, just as always,” he said. ”We also recruited three hundred and twenty specially invited students, setting a new record. Have any of you discovered any promising prospects?”

A white-haired elder seated further down smiled. ”Among this year’s eight hundred and twenty students, nearly eighty percent have top marks in all five categories, each possessing the strength of a Mid-level Martial Artist. The remaining twenty percent, while not distinguished in combat, have other extraordinary talents. It’s a rare banner year, the best since the university was founded.”

”Oh? Teacher Yun, could you elaborate?” Pei Hong didn’t handle routine affairs, so his interest was piqued.

Teacher Yun drained his tea in a single gulp, ignoring the tea froth that clung to his white beard. He said excitedly, ”This time, a total of twenty-three students have already begun undergoing Energy Infusion, putting them on par with the students in our university’s High Rank classes.

”Among them, the Thirteenth Prince of the Royal Qian Family, Tuoba Yong of the Tuoba Family, and Luo Xuan of the Northern Luo Clan are three once-in-a-millennium supreme geniuses. That Thirteenth Prince cultivates the Royal Family’s Heavenly Rank Body Technique, the Liaoyuan Spear Technique, and is rumored to have reached a level where he can manipulate Fire Energy. As for Tuoba Yong of the Tuoba Family, he’s a Powerful Warrior the likes of which you’d be lucky to find once in a hundred million people—I’d say he isn’t far off from the Titan Race. Lastly, Luo Xuan of the Luo Clan is a born with Ice Spirit Affinity and practices Dharma and Body Dual Cultivation. Not only is her Body Technique Cultivation exceptionally high, but she can also unleash a Dharma Gate that can freeze all creation!”

The moment he finished, a gruff, scruffy-bearded old man chimed in, ”And there’s Xin Yong, from the Yanling Kingdom in the Northwest Lordship Kingdoms. He’s also a practitioner of Dharma and Body Dual Cultivation. He calls himself the Earth Controller—as long as he’s standing on the earth, he possesses infinite Giant Power. I estimate he’s unrivaled by anyone beneath the rank of Body Master!”

As the two men spoke, not a trace of joy appeared on Pei Hong’s face. Instead, his expression grew increasingly grave. One or two geniuses would have been one thing, but for four to appear at once... The birth of any such prodigy involved the seizure of great Destiny, which was not necessarily a good thing for the Human Race.

An elder with eyes narrowed as if he were half-asleep spoke up. ”Gentlemen, while these individuals you mention are indeed once-in-a-millennium geniuses, they will ultimately only become powerful Warriors. In the grand scheme of the entire Human Race, their impact is negligible.”

Teacher Yun was instantly displeased. ”Elder Ou, there you go with your nonsense again! These youths are the future pillars of the Human Race. For them, advancing to Body Master will be a certainty. At worst, they’ll become a Grand General commanding a whole territory. How could they possibly be of negligible importance?”

Elder Ou opened his eyes a fraction, took a slow, deliberate sip of his tea, and then said, ”I, on the other hand, have discovered a genius of vital importance to the Human Race. This young girl may not know any Body Techniques, but she is a deep scholar of the ’Nine Extremes Numerology’—the great dao of mathematics. Math is the foundation of all sciences. In the future, she could very well enable our human civilization to make a quantum leap.”

Pei Hong’s expression shifted. ”Are you speaking of the young girl from the Tri-Eyed Race?”

”That’s right. The Tri-Eyed Race has deep insights into the theories of Astrology. Su Chengbo is truly worthy of being the leading figure of his generation of the Tri-Eyed Race; his young daughter has already begun to grasp the fundamentals of Nine Extremes Numerology. The Human Race has an inherently weak constitution. We can’t hope to defeat the Fierce Beasts by relying on Body Techniques alone. Only a combination of Body Techniques and technology offers any real chance.”

Pei Hong nodded and murmured, ”Disciples of the Tri-Eyed Race rarely come to study at Shangjing University. Some time ago, Su Chengbo suddenly came to see me, and I gave him three enrollment slots. Besides this young girl, it seems there were two others.”

From the side of the conference room, a man in glasses with the air of a secretary spoke up. ”Vice-Chancellor, there’s also one named Sun Xiaoxue, whose Body Technique Cultivation is average. The other, Luo Kai, does not have a file yet.”

As their bodies slowly aged, these Body Masters had long since lost their competitive and combative spirit, instead pouring all their energy into researching the path of evolution and nurturing students. Discovering so many promising talents naturally filled them with extreme joy, and they began to whisper amongst themselves.

But Pei Hong’s expression only grew more solemn as he remained silent. Elder Ou seemed to read his thoughts and sighed. ”When the world is on the brink of chaos, monsters are born. The sudden appearance of so many genius disciples this year... it’s not a good omen.”

The conference room fell silent. Having reached the rank of Body Master, they all had some perception of the esoteric workings of Destiny, and the color couldn’t help but drain from their faces.

Elder Ou suddenly chuckled. ”A crisis can also represent an opportunity. When the world descends into chaos, a Saint emerges. We old geezers shouldn’t worry about it. If the heavens fall, someone taller will be there to hold them up.”

”The Saint Master has been in seclusion for a long time. He should be emerging soon. We can seek his venerable guidance then.” With a somber expression, Pei Hong rose to his feet, bringing the meeting to a close.

...

Luo Kai and Tuoba Ye strolled through the valley, chatting idly. Behind them, Tuoba Yong couldn’t resist trying to catch any butterfly or insect he saw. He soon had a whole handful, which he cradled carefully in his palms, a goofy grin on his face.

”Xiaoyong, you can go back now. Remember to come find your Master Luo Kai every Sunday,” Tuoba Ye said, turning to him.

”Okay. Bye, Dad. Bye, Master.” Tuoba Yong gave a simple wave, and the butterflies cupped in his hands immediately fluttered away.

Watching Tuoba Yong’s retreating back, Luo Kai couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. ’The Celestial Dao is flawed. It granted him Innate Giant Power, but it took his intellect in return.’

”I’d rather he didn’t have all this strength, that he could just be a normal person.” A rare sadness touched Tuoba Ye’s features.

Luo Kai patted his shoulder comfortingly. ”You are not the fish; how can you know its joy? Sometimes, the more one knows, the more one worries. That clarity of Mind Spirit we’re all striving for? Xiaoyong has it naturally. I think that’s his blessing.”

”Being around you always puts a guy at ease, you brat. Damn it, maybe I should just move in with you!”

”Don’t even think about it. You’d drive me crazy!”

After they walked a little further, a conflicted look appeared on Tuoba Ye’s face. ”Xiaokai,” he began, ”I won’t hide it from you. Xiaoyong... he wasn’t born with a deficient intellect. He was actually very bright as a child...”

He hesitated for a moment before continuing, ”When Xiaoyong was eleven, something went wrong while he was cultivating our Tuoba Family’s Heavenly Rank Body Technique, the ’Celestial Net Force.’ After that, his intellect began to decline, even as his strength grew greater and greater. This is a clan secret. Xiaoyong... he isn’t clever. It would be a disaster if someone tricked him into revealing the Heavenly Rank Body Technique. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but you’re so smart... I thought maybe you could find a solution.”

Luo Kai frowned. ’Whether Innate or Acquired, the ”Dao” always seeks balance. The Celestial Dao takes from the surplus to supplement the deficient. To try and change this balance is to go against the heavens. His comprehension of the way Heaven and Earth operated had been deepening recently. All things only drew closer to the ”Dao” by following the will of the heavens; to act against it was to deviate from the Celestial Dao...’