Invincibility Begins with Mastery of Fist Techniques-Chapter 103: Requesting an Audience

Overnight, news spread like wildfire throughout the Southern Martial Arts Realm: Zhou Yuanjue had defeated Zhang Zhizhen, successfully winning his challenge to become one of the eight new champions.

Privately, some people had nicknamed the Southern Fighting Competition the "Southern Celestial King Fighting Competition." The implication was that anyone who could distinguish themselves in this competition would likely become a powerful "Celestial King"-level figure in the future of the Southern Martial Arts Realm. Thus, the eight champions could also be called the eight Celestial Kings of the Southern Martial Arts Realm.

Previously, although Zhou Yuanjue had a bit of a reputation, it was only within a small circle. Across the whole of the Southern Boxing Three Capitals, Martial Artists like him were not uncommon.

But this time, successfully ascending to the position of champion was completely different. Level 5 Martial Artists were a dime a dozen, but how many could actually succeed in a challenge?

The decision to make the successors of the Southern Eight Sects the initial champions had already raised the difficulty of the challenges to an incredible degree. Every Martial Artist who could be promoted to champion possessed undeniably immense strength.

Moreover, the man Zhou Yuanjue had defeated, Zhang Zhizhen, was one of the top-ranking successors of the Southern Eight Sects. This made the name Zhou Yuanjue known to everyone throughout the Southern Martial Arts Realm.

"That guy actually managed to unseat Zhang Zhizhen. What terrifying strength. When the tournament first started, his Guardian Dao had only just entered the initial stage, right? How long has it been, and he's already improved this much?"

When Ji Yunzhou, who had missed the match while focusing on his recovery for a swift return, received this news, he was slightly surprised and impressed. But then, a slight smile appeared on his lips.

'It's precisely because heroes are rising from all corners that this Martial Arts Realm is so spectacular. A path like this doesn't feel lonely.'

"I'm still lying in a hospital bed, and he's already accomplished something incredible. That's him, all right."

Lying in a special care unit, his body wrapped in bandages, He Runlin sighed and looked up at the ceiling upon hearing the news. As a former rival, he felt he had already been left far behind.

'So, what on earth does this guy eat to grow up like this?'

The day after the news broke, the doorstep of Lu Ming's villa in Guangpu City was nearly worn through. Visitors included senior executives from corporations, representatives from medical and life science research institutions, prominent Decisive Fist enthusiasts, and figures from the Martial Arts Realm seeking to exchange pointers. All of them wanted to meet the newly-minted champion.

When Zhou Yuanjue had only a small reputation, some people had also wanted to visit, but their numbers were relatively few. Now that he was a champion, his doorstep was about to be trampled flat. One could imagine the weight of this title. It was like the difference between a Crown Prince and an Emperor; taking that single step up was a world of difference.

Of course, in the end, not a single one of them got their wish to see Zhou Yuanjue.

After politely seeing off the last wave of guests and looking back at the living room filled with gift boxes, Lu Ming and Li Qingxuan couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

And while Lu Ming and Li Qingxuan were busy, Zhou Yuanjue, as was his custom, remained locked away in the training room, as if the clamor and the outcomes of the outside world had nothing to do with him.

Under the effect of the Lamp Burning Technique, his mind had condensed into a single mass. This mass of Spirit was vastly different from before.

It was brilliant gold, perfectly round, and flickered with the light of wisdom and enlightenment, almost completely free of impurities. Behind his head, a halo that could only be perceived by the Spirit began to shine.

At this moment, even an ordinary person within a certain range of him would feel their mind calm, their body relax, and a sense of being filled with positive Energy.

Someone with minor mental issues like depression might even find themselves cured without treatment by staying near him for an extended period.

This was a calming barrier. What had condensed within his mind was none other than the legendary Golden Core and relics.

Tempered by the "Thunder Tribulation" simulated by Zhang Zhizhen's Spirit, like steel refined a hundred times, his mind had been constantly forged, shedding its impure shell to reveal its pure, true nature.

It wasn't just his mind. Under the dual pressure of his opponent's Thunder Skill on both a physical and spiritual level, the integration of his mind and body had also greatly surpassed its previous limits.

SCREECH!!

A massive Flaming Giant Bird materialized behind him, its form vivid and lifelike. If anyone were beside him at this moment, they would have mistaken this giant Firebird for a real, living creature rather than an illusion.

Using illusion to cultivate reality, until the illusion becomes indistinguishable from truth!

With a Heart's Desire Bursting Out, the brilliant golden Heart Fire began to spread rapidly to the Acupoints throughout his body, swiftly breaking past the seventy-percent threshold.

Eighty percent!

Ninety percent!

Aside from a few Acupoints in his body, including the Niwan Palace, most were now lit up. The candlelight within them was bright, and their light gradually merged into one, causing his body to emanate a faint, jade-like glow from the inside out. It was crystal clear, filled with a certain serene beauty.

He was just one final step away from opening the remaining Acupoints and the Niwan Palace, which would allow his entire body to undergo complete "Jadeification."

At that point, he would achieve what the Buddhist Sect called the Glazed Jade Body, breaking through all limits and possessing all kinds of incredible Divine Power. It was the body of a Bodhisattva; even in nirvana, the physical body could remain in the world.

The legendary Six Patriarchs of Chan Buddhism were said to have reached such a state. After their passing, their bodies remained seated in temple halls for over a thousand years, their faces still lifelike—a true miracle.

And Zhou Yuanjue was only one final step away from entering that realm.

His Heart's Desire Bursting Out gradually subsided, and the Flaming Giant Bird vanished from behind him. The firelight in nearly twenty percent of his Acupoints extinguished, leaving only seventy percent still burning.

This was because the last twenty percent of Acupoints had only just been ignited and had not yet housed the God within the acupoint to nourish each other, so they could not immediately remain lit.

Besides the progress of his body and mind, his Spirit and soul seemed to resonate with some vast, unseen law of the world, allowing him to fully comprehend his own Dao.

'Transcendence over all shackles...'

His face showed neither joy nor sorrow. An emotion seemed to be brewing in his heart as he gradually entered a state of deep Meditation, embarking on another journey of Cultivation to transcend himself.

...

...

This time, perhaps because he had gained some new enlightenment, Zhou Yuanjue's secluded training lasted longer than ever before.

Seven days later, Li Qingxuan took the initiative to interrupt Zhou Yuanjue's Cultivation.

"What is it? Has someone challenged me?"

Zhou Yuanjue slowly rose from the ground. With a slight shake of his body, his bones let out a series of cracks like a string of firecrackers, a sound chilling enough to make one's scalp tingle.

"It's not about the tournament. Lu Zhen from the Secret Inspection Bureau says there's an urgent situation and he needs your input."

Li Qingxuan said with a solemn expression. For someone like Lu Zhen to consider a situation "urgent," it had to be something major.

"Oh? Where is he now?"

Zhou Yuanjue raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and asked.

"He's waiting for you in the living room right now."