Chapter 1631: Chapter Seventy-Nine: Knocking

Chu Liang’s ambush was swift, and the python formed of Spiritual Power was fierce, but in the eyes of Feng Shixing there was not a hint of panic.

Life needs an anchor, and this is even more so in martial arts. Knowing where you stand is more important than knowing where to go.

Having forged a soul with a 2.1 times enhancement, and having learned to integrate Boxing Intent into his Spirit Arts, Ningxiang Road’s Tiger Leopard had increased his combat strength by more than tenfold after completing the basic course!

So, before leaving The Academy, he asked the principal for guidance; he wanted to see where he now stood within Xiehe’s martial arts hierarchy.

“Give it your all and strike.”

He still remembered the principal’s kind smile and open palm, just like during the academy’s recruitment.

Having become ten times stronger, Feng Shixing felt belittled. With his soul’s energy, he summoned his entire Spiritual Power to construct his boxing techniques; in an instant, tigers roared and leopards howled, and the forces of the Earth Spirit linked by his intent made the entire quiet room tremble.

The fist’s momentum surged like a raging torrent, and its wild strength, enough to topple mountains and split the earth, was unleashed in full by Ningxiang Road’s Tiger Leopard in an attempt to prove himself. But the outcome was no different from when he first shed his mortal ties.

“Pop~”

The shadow of the Spirit Art dispersed, the Tiger Leopard fell silent, and what the principal’s open hand erased was not only the Spirit Art but also Feng Shixing’s martial Dao Heart.

What in the world can make one feel most powerless? It is those goals that you believe you can achieve by only becoming a little stronger, and yet, after becoming more than just a little stronger, they remain as out of reach as ever.

Is there really any difference between myself now and when I was at my mortal tier within the Fierce Realm?

Feng Shixing couldn’t help but ask himself this question.

“Of course, there’s a difference!”

As if seeing the doubts in his disciple’s heart, the principal lowered his hand and gently consoled him: “Your punch was solid and the form was stable; this punch signifies you have entered the room!”

“Is that so…”

Feng Shixing was somewhat bewildered. In his view, this punch was just like the last–exactly the same.

The principal did not show any signs of mobilizing Spiritual Power; he simply dissipated the punch’s Spirit Power with his physical prowess.

Perhaps this consolation was merely to prevent him from being too dejected.

But what Ningxiang Road’s Tiger Leopard needed was not comfort; he needed to find his place.

Even if that place would shake his Dao Heart and shatter his pride, he needed that reality.

Taking a deep breath, Feng Shixing said with a trembling voice, “There’s no need for the principal to console me. Just give a truthful assessment. Your disciple can take it.”

“You don’t believe it?”

“As I see it, these two punches… there’s no difference between the two.”

“How can there be no difference!”

Spiritual Power can be accumulated, realms can be broken through, but without judgment, martial arts practice is merely floundering in the dark.

I hope the first student of the management department isn’t a fool.

Due to his doubts about Feng Shixing’s intelligence, Tang Luo’s tone became somewhat unfriendly: “Don’t you have any idea how much stronger you have become? What, do you need to blow away The Academy with one punch to consider it improvement?”

“No, no, no, the disciple wouldn’t dare… it’s just that… just…”

Feng Shixing repeatedly gestured in denial, but the deepest expectations in his heart were directly exposed, making his tone still carry some shame.

The awareness of one’s own strengthening is naturally as clear as day; otherwise, why would he have suggested to spar?

It’s just that before throwing his punch, there was indeed some hope in his heart, like perhaps startling the principal or even forcing him to take a step back…

Such admissions might be alright to think in one’s mind, but being called out is just too embarrassing, so Feng Shixing “just…” many times, but ended up not being able to “just…” any excuse.

“Follow me.”

Without paying attention to the disciple’s stuttering, Tang Luo turned around and led Feng Shixing out of the quiet room. The midday sunlight was mostly obscured by clouds, but a few rays refracted by the Red Crystal Hall were still somewhat dazzling.

“Look up.”

Feng Shixing, with a face full of shame, looked up, squinting against the harsh light.

“Having forged a high multiplicative soul and learned a set of killing moves, you thought you had grasped the means to roam the world unchallenged. Are you oversimplifying martial arts? Right now, the sky is bright; if you dream, pick the night!”

Tang Luo said disapprovingly, people can be ignorant, but they must never be foolish, and failing to understand oneself is the root of foolishness.

Listening to the principal’s lecture, Feng Shixing felt even more ashamed. As his head sagged, the groundless sense of superiority shattered inside of him.

This process was somewhat painful and also somewhat embarrassing, but when he confronted his shattered self, it didn’t seem that hard to accept.

Just like when he first broke through his mortal shackles, he didn’t carry any pride, only excitement about practicing the Yellow Rank Spirit Arts listed in the boxing manual.

That kind of pure and ardent practice, free of arrogance or superiority, was the key to his achievement of Boxing Intent.

But why did an unfounded sense of superiority arise after breaking into the Fierce Realm?

Having just entered the Fierce Realm, he presumptuously believed that he could claim a place in the vast martial arts world of Xiehe.

The principal was right; he really was too self-assured…

The slight impetuousness quickly became calm, and when Feng Shixing lifted his head again, there was no longer that sharp pride of one who has yet to test his mettle–he returned to the initial pure state of yearning for the future.

‘He recovered quite fast; still, he could be a promising material.’

Tang Luo nodded, waved his hand, and said, “Alright, go back.”

“Wait, Principal.”

Feng Shixing called out to the man about to leave and pleaded, “The disciple has acknowledged his fault, but he still has an impudent request.”

“Speak.”

“The disciple… the disciple wants to see the Principal make a move.”

“What do you want to see that for?”

“The disciple wants to know just how vast this world really is.”