Chapter 10: Humanity Has Its Limits

Chapter 10: Humans Have Limits

“It does seem a bit different,” Peng Bing said as he carefully placed the parrot back into its cage.

Taking a step forward, Peng Bing moved to the center of the carriage and struck a classic bodybuilder’s pose. His fists clenched and circled around his head, revealing a perfect inverted triangle physique. His whole body seemed to balloon rapidly.

Could this be the supreme realm of martial arts masters? If I had this flawless inverted triangle figure, would Keke like me? Lou Cheng thought whimsically.

“My physical fitness hasn’t shown significant improvement in eight years,” he continued.

“I was born into a martial arts family. My father is a successor of the contemporary Yang-style Tai Chi; my mother practices Tan Leg techniques. My grandfather practiced Tai Chi, my maternal grandfather mastered Bajiquan, and my maternal grandmother trained in Tongbeiquan…”

“So, I began practicing various martial arts from a young age. Whether it was Tai Chi or Bajiquan, I could learn by simply watching. By the age of sixteen, I had mastered all there was to learn and was undefeated in my hometown.”

“Then I went to university to study advanced scientific knowledge, including but not limited to biomechanics, fluid dynamics, biology, Western medicine, and mathematics.”

“In just four years, I earned six bachelor’s degrees in different fields. Achieving invincibility across Daxia during this time was just a small matter.”

Is Ning just being subtly boastful? Lou Cheng thought enviously.

“To push further, I left Daxia and traveled the world, truly tasting bloodshed. I even used some criminals as human test subjects.”

Hearing this, Lou Cheng instinctively took a few steps back.

At that moment, anyone with a shred of normalcy would have done the same.

Therefore, those few who did not retreat stood out prominently.

“That’s normal. In Daxia, killing is punishable by death, but to reach the pinnacle of martial arts, how could one avoid killing?”

“So, to truly hone martial arts, I had to go abroad. I also spent some time training overseas,” said Lin Er, dressed in a moon-white Taoist robe, calmly.

“Yes, when I was young, I personally went to the battlefield and killed many enemy soldiers. As for traitorous collaborators, at least a hundred died by my hand. If experimenting with breathing and energy methods counts as human experimentation, then I have definitely done that too.”

Following the voice, Lou Cheng saw a woman dressed entirely in black.

Her hair was black, her clothes black, and her forehead bore no wrinkles. Her cheeks looked radiant and smooth.

Could she really be 100 to 180 years old?

No one would believe such a story!

Yet, thinking about the golden core in his dantian, Lou Cheng fell silent. Who could say this woman hadn’t encountered some miracle that restored her youth?

“Yes, I began seeing blood overseas and witnessed various martial arts schools worldwide. I made some money, then used it to invite experts from many countries to help me study how to break human limits, how to train the body more effectively, and how to truly achieve immortality—even transcendence.”

“Later, as my opponents grew fewer and my strength greater, my reputation expanded. Gradually, wealthy patrons approached me, wanting to fund my research on immortality, leading to the establishment of the global Immortality Club.”

Researching immortality with sponsorship?

Pitch a PowerPoint and raise money?

Could it go public?

Return to the country next week?

At that moment, Lou Cheng’s mind began to wander.

But soon he realized: In ancient times, despite low productivity, many pursued immortality. Now that productivity has increased and people’s basic needs are met, even more would chase immortality.

With that in mind, rich patrons investing in such projects made sense.

“With this club, everything became much easier. I could book top-tier scientists, access cutting-edge equipment abroad, and more…”

“But it was also troublesome. I had to periodically present my research on the human body. Although some progress was made, true immortality still seemed far, far away.”

“At twenty-eight, I voluntarily returned home and withdrew from the Immortality Club, serving only as an advisor.”

“From then on, I began compiling all the world’s martial arts knowledge, studying animals, seeking the root of martial arts, emulating nature, and ultimately creating the Pictographic Fist…”

“Yet, even so, my physical fitness was only slightly better than that of an Olympic champion.”

“Take the hundred-meter sprint, for example. Without professional training, my time was around 9.01 seconds. Although it seemed 0.51 seconds faster than Bolt’s record, it was still far from my goal.”

“Since then, my physical abilities have seemed to reach a limit—only marginally better than Olympic world records. No matter how hard I try, progress is painfully slow.”

“Eight years ago, my hundred-meter sprint was 9.01 seconds; now it’s 8.90 seconds. Though improving, at this rate, I will never break eight seconds, let alone attain transcendence or immortality.”

“At sixteen, I could hold a spear and stab a fly without damaging the wall—a feat last accomplished by Li Shuwen.”

“At seventeen, I could hold a sparrow in my palm, preventing it from flying away—a feat previously done by Yang Luchan.”

“At eighteen, a sudden revelation told me I would live to about ninety-six years old. As my martial arts deepened, my estimate became increasingly precise—even down to the exact day!”

The last person to do so, recorded in history, was Sun Lutang, known as Tiger Head Shaobao, the unparalleled master.

“At twenty, my martial skills reached their peak. I was the absolute best, beyond improvement. Even if Yang Luchan were resurrected, Sun Lutang alive, or Li Shuwen in front of me, I could still claim to be the greatest.”

“It’s not that they were less gifted, but their living conditions were inferior. Their scientific knowledge was far behind mine. I can simply go to a hospital for scans to understand my organs; they had to rely on slow breathing exercises and intuition.”

“From that moment, I realized: humans have limits!”

“No matter how hard I try, progress seems nearly impossible.”

“But after the appearance of the Daylight Star, my physical fitness instantly rose to a new level. My hundred-meter sprint improved from 8.90 to 8.80 seconds. That’s when I knew the heavens had changed!”

*Clap clap clap*

Xiong Yan applauded joyfully, and Lou Cheng followed, the room filling with rounds of applause.

“Can you really make me immortal? Or truly achieve transcendence?” Peng Bing stared at Xiong Yan, motionless.

“Yes! Absolutely!” Xiong Yan replied with certainty.

(End of chapter)