Shackles of Humanity

Genes constantly change in response to the external environment. If one day the world is no longer suitable for carbon-based life, genes will completely alter their structure and evolve toward a higher form of metallic life. A branch of humanity, the Titan Giants, already have bodies composed of rock, with only their brains and major organs remaining carbon-based!

The only thing not bound by the shackles of genes is consciousness. Or perhaps, it was the emergence of free will that broke these genetic shackles, allowing humanity to rise above countless other life forms. Consciousness is far more mysterious and ethereal than genes. It has no physical form and no means for observation or study. The only humans who have some understanding of it are those who have stepped into the Refining God Realm.

There are rumors that the mysterious Abyssal Clan is also abandoning their carbon-based structures, evolving toward a mystical form of life that retains only consciousness.

...

Just as Luo Kai was engrossed in his research, his Second Senior Brother rushed over. "Little Junior Brother, Master is looking for you," he said urgently.

"What’s wrong?" Luo Kai looked up, puzzled.

"Sigh, it’s serious. The rules for next year’s fighting tournament are probably going to change. It won’t be limited to the martial arts academies from each county anymore; it’s expanding to all sectors. The crucial thing is, the military will likely be sending people to compete!"

Luo Kai put down the string-bound book in his hands and said with a smile, "So what?"

Roz stepped forward, grabbed his hand, and started pulling him outside. "Little Junior Brother, you probably don’t know how formidable the military’s Martial Artists are. Those guys are inhuman! Especially the ones who survived the Tieheng Battlefield. Every one of them is a stone-cold killer, radiating a monstrous, murderous aura. Even Master himself might not be able to secure a spot if he competed!"

Along the way, Roz continued to talk about the prowess of the military’s Martial Artists. The military had a special department called the Military Punishment Department, which specialized in assassinating enemy generals, gathering intelligence, and training military Martial Artists. Years ago, when the South Sea Pirates were running rampant, the Military Punishment Department personally took action and once wiped out all the pirate leaders. Even the Grand Commander of the Dragon Shark Pirates, Dao Hai Long, nearly died in one of their assassination attempts.

Liu Hou stared at the newspaper in his hands, his large, fleshy face trembling slightly. He was also a member of the Body Technique Association, yet they hadn’t given him any notice at all about this sudden rule change.

The front page of the paper announced the Body Technique Association’s changes to the tournament rules. He could imagine the crowds that would flock to the event. He wasn’t worried about the civilian Martial Artists, but with the military participating, the students from his academy—who had never even killed an animal—had no hope.

"Teacher." Luo Kai bowed respectfully after entering.

"Yes. This is troublesome now. With your skills, securing a spot wouldn’t have been difficult before, but now, it’s hard to say."

Luo Kai, however, wasn’t too concerned. He had recently been trying to integrate the Soft Body Technique and the Mighty Dragon Fist. He felt he was making rapid progress, and once he achieved some success, his strength would undergo another earth-shattering transformation.

Liu Hou pondered for a moment before saying, "You are young, yet your strength is on par with a Martial Artist. But this world is full of Body Technique geniuses, so you must guard against arrogance and impatience. I want you to join the school’s High Rank class as a student. Attend the lectures properly and learn about the differences between the old and new Body Techniques."

Luo Kai was taken aback. He had never heard that Body Techniques were divided into old and new. "What are old and new Body Techniques?"

Liu Hou explained patiently, "The Body Technique Cultivators of the past emphasized ascetic training. In recent years, the focus has shifted to a balance of work and rest. Each has its own strengths. Ascetics are extremely resilient, both physically and mentally, but years of harsh training will deplete their Life Force and may leave behind hidden injuries that act up in old age, causing immense suffering. The new Body Techniques don’t have this problem and can even extend one’s lifespan. Their only drawback is that their combat effectiveness is somewhat inferior to that of the Ascetics."

’Isn’t that just the difference between wellness and combat?’ Luo Kai pursed his lips. It seemed the old scholars at the academy had forgotten how cruel the outside world was and were now focused on the art of wellness. After a moment’s thought, he nodded in agreement. He was also curious to see how they taught and wanted to relive the feeling of being a student.

He followed his Second Senior Brother to the High Rank campus, stopping in front of a classroom labeled "High Rank, Class Three." The main teacher for High Rank, Class Three was surprisingly a beautiful woman in her thirties named Chang Lu. Although not yet a Martial Artist, she was a senior researcher registered with the Body Technique Association. She had traveled to many countries, was widely experienced, and lectured on the history of Body Techniques and military geography.

Chang Lu glanced at Luo Kai, then pulled his Second Senior Brother aside to talk. Though they spoke in low voices, Luo Kai heard every word clearly.

"Which family’s young master is this? Who transfers into a High Rank class!" Chang Lu’s voice was full of complaint; she clearly didn’t like Luo Kai.

Roz smiled and pointed upward. "My teacher’s disciple. You’d better teach him well."

Chang Lu was a bit surprised. "The one Principal Liu just took in?"

"Yep. My junior brother here has never been to school, so he’s here to attend some classes."

Chang Lu rolled her eyes. Body Techniques had to be practiced from a young age; the older one got, the worse their malleability and potential for growth. The strength of someone who’d never even been to school was easy to imagine. She had no idea what kind of dumb luck this kid had run into to become Liu Hou’s disciple. She walked over to Luo Kai and said, "Student Luo Kai, even though you’re Principal Liu’s disciple, you must have respectable skills to be in my High Rank, Class Three. My class has a last-place elimination system. The lowest-ranked student will be moved to another class. I hope you’re prepared."

Luo Kai found this amusing. Seeing his Second Senior Brother winking at him, he replied with a serious expression, "Yes, I will definitely work hard!"

"Follow me inside," Chang Lu said, leading the way into the classroom.

His Second Senior Brother quietly tugged Luo Kai’s sleeve and whispered in his ear, "This Teacher Chang is the most diligent teacher in the school. She’s incredibly knowledgeable and doesn’t tolerate any nonsense. High Rank, Class Three is also the best class in the school. Little Junior Brother, don’t embarrass our master. Of course, no one can beat you in a fight, but literature, history, and other general subjects are also very important."

Luo Kai nodded and walked into the classroom. The room immediately fell silent. Pairs of curious eyes stared at him. A transfer student had never appeared in a High Rank class before, and everyone was curious about the newcomer’s background.

"Student Luo Kai, please introduce yourself."

Luo Kai walked to the front of the class. He was just about to speak when, looking at the young men and women below, he was overcome with a feeling that a lifetime had passed. He stood there, lost in a daze for a moment.

"Ahem. This is Student Luo Kai. Everyone, please look after him from now on." Chang Lu cleared her throat, assigned Luo Kai to the last seat, and then began the class.

Chang Lu’s lecture was on the history of Body Techniques. Today, she was discussing the composition of Body Techniques among the nine human nations. In the Dongyuan Upper Country, the birthplace of Body Techniques, people referred to them as "martial arts." This was primarily because the term carries the meaning of "using martial power to stop conflict"...

Luo Kai had little interest in these theories, so he let his eyes wander. The classroom was much like those from his previous life. The only difference was the weapons rack at the back, filled with unsharpened daggers.

The student to his left was a chubby boy dressed in a shiny leather jacket. He sat with his back ramrod straight, appearing to listen intently, but his eyes were squeezed shut as he feigned sleep.

The student to his right was a rather handsome boy, who was doodling on his desk with a pen.

Luo Kai then turned his gaze to the row in front of him. The girl at the desk ahead had a slender waist. Although he couldn’t see her face, his experience from two lifetimes told him she was definitely a beauty.

In this environment, Luo Kai felt as if he had become younger too, even though he didn’t look old to begin with.

The bell rang, signaling the end of class. As Chang Lu was leaving, she shot Luo Kai a harsh glare. Clearly, she had noticed his inattentiveness during her lecture.