Lord of the Five Elements Tribulation Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Training and Combat, Four Directions Blade

“Training and combat?” Lu Qing was surprised.

“Indeed,” the old doctor said.

“The so-called training method, also known as nourishing method, as the name suggests, is a method for nourishing the body, tempering the flesh, and enhancing one’s physical strength.”

“The Body-Nourishing Fist I taught you is actually a training method that I created myself, a martial art that tempers the body.”

“As for the combat method…”

The old doctor organized his words before continuing.

“Martial artists who practice martial arts usually have strong qi and blood, full of spirit, and most of them have strong personalities. It’s inevitable that they will be competitive and eager to win.”

“Therefore, in the long history of conflicts, to win, martial artists gradually created many highly offensive techniques, which are also known as combat methods.”

“Combat methods are also called killing methods. Most of these martial arts techniques are not aimed at nourishing the body or tempering the flesh. Instead, they focus on how to unleash the strongest destructive and lethal power in the shortest possible time, with the least cost, to injure or kill the enemy.”

“Therefore, in terms of lethality alone, combat martial arts are much stronger than training martial arts.”

“Nourishing methods and killing methods…” Lu Qing pondered these two terms carefully.

Just from these two names, he could feel the difficulties on the path of martial arts, a brutal path where life and death could be decided in an instant.

“Master, you said the Body-Nourishing Fist is a training method, so what about the combat method of our lineage?” Lu Qing couldn’t help but ask.

“Our lineage has no combat method.”

The old doctor’s next sentence stunned Lu Qing.

“You don’t have to show such an expression.” The old doctor said with a wry smile, “It’s not strange that your master isn’t good at fighting and hasn’t created any formidable combat methods.”

Only then did Lu Qing remember that his master was a physician, and a very kind-hearted one, who disliked conflict.

Perhaps his lack of a strong competitive spirit was why he hadn’t created any formidable combat methods.

“However, although your master isn’t good at fighting, I do have some decent combat martial arts in my possession. Would you like to learn them?”

“Huh?” Lu Qing was stunned again. “Master, didn’t you just say that our lineage doesn’t have any outstanding combat methods?”

“Our lineage indeed doesn’t have any outstanding combat methods,” the old doctor said.

“Your grandmaster, who was my master, was just an ordinary itinerant physician in the jianghu back then, only knowing a few ordinary self-defense fist and foot techniques.”

“Later, when I was young, I had some fortuitous encounters, and only then was I fortunate enough to create the Body-Nourishing Fist technique.”

“So, when I say our lineage doesn’t have any outstanding combat methods, I’m not lying to you.”

Lu Qing: “Then, Master, you just said…”

“The combat martial arts I possess were mostly acquired during my travels in my younger years. Some were given to me by jianghu heroes as payment for medical treatment, others I bought in markets in large cities, and some I found accidentally while foraging for herbs in the mountains.”

The old doctor’s simple words revealed his master’s extraordinary experiences to Lu Qing.

However…

“Master, can martial arts techniques actually be bought directly?” Lu Qing felt somewhat incredulous.

In his impression, martial arts manuals should be the most cherished possessions of martial artists. Who would sell them?

“Heh heh, the world is vast and full of wonders. When you have the opportunity to go out into the world, you’ll realize that not only do people sell martial arts manuals, some even openly engrave their lifelong learnings for all to study,” the old doctor chuckled.

“Who is so generous?” Lu Qing asked in surprise.

“That was a great martial artist, admired and revered by all martial artists in the world.”

The old doctor seemed lost in thought, perhaps recalling something, and remained silent for a moment with a look of longing.

After a while, he came back to his senses: “Alright, we’ve strayed too far. Let’s not talk about that.”

“A Qing, although as physicians, our duty is to heal the sick and save lives.”

“But sometimes when we’re out and about, we inevitably encounter unexpected situations, so it’s still necessary to have some martial arts for self-defense.”

“The Body-Nourishing Fist is fine for dealing with ordinary people, but it’s not enough against martial artists who also cultivate martial arts.” Lu Qing nodded.

The Body-Nourishing Fist could be used for combat, but it would clearly be at a disadvantage against combat martial arts that could unleash powerful destructive force.

“You have now entered the Qi-Blood Realm and become a true martial artist, so it’s time to choose a combat martial art to cultivate.”

“Then, Master, what kind of combat martial arts can I learn?” Lu Qing asked expectantly.

“Although I have many combat martial arts here, most of them are quite ordinary, only applicable to the Qi-Blood Realm at most. There are only three truly excellent martial arts. Wait for me for a moment.”

With that, the old doctor walked into the house, and not long after, he came out with three books.

“These three martial arts include a staff technique, a blade technique, and a sword technique. Each of them is a Muscle-Bone Realm martial art. Which one would you like to learn?”

Lu Qing’s gaze lingered on the three secret manuals.

He didn’t say any foolish words like “I want them all.”

Although he possessed a special ability, he understood the principle of quality over quantity.

He was currently just a small Qi-Blood Realm martial artist, and focusing on cultivating one martial art was the best choice.

After pondering for a while, Lu Qing finally said, “I choose the blade technique.”

“Have you thought it through? Once you make your selection, it might affect your future path in martial arts,” the old doctor said solemnly.

“Disciple has thought it through. I choose the blade technique,” Lu Qing said with a firm tone.

He wasn’t very interested in staff techniques, and sword techniques were also just passable.

However, he was very interested in blade techniques.

After all, a blade was quite imposing, which suited his taste well.

“Since you’ve decided, then take this secret manual.”

The old doctor handed one of the secret manuals to Lu Qing.

Lu Qing took the manual, opened the first page, and his brows jumped: “Four Directions Blade?”

“Indeed, this blade technique is called Four Directions Blade. I stumbled upon this manual during a mountain herb-gathering trip, specifically in a cave.”

“Inside that cave, there was a corpse, already reduced to skeletal remains. In front of the skeleton, a package wrapped in oiled paper cloth had fallen, and inside was this ‘Four Directions Blade’ manual.”

“After I buried the skeleton, I took this manual with me.”

Lu Qing was quite surprised.

He realized that his master seemed to have quite a few fortuitous encounters.

In his youth, he discovered the nameless technique that could give rise to the Body-Nourishing Fist.

Even while gathering herbs in the mountains, he could pick up a martial arts manual.

His luck was truly unbelievable.

“A Qing, I’ve only read this Four Directions Blade technique; I haven’t practiced it myself. If you choose this blade technique, I can at most offer you some cultivation advice, but I can’t teach you hand-in-hand.”

“So, to what extent you can cultivate it will depend on yourself.”

“Disciple understands,” Lu Qing nodded.

“However, although the Four Directions Blade technique is exquisite, refined to its peak, even a Muscle-Bone Realm martial artist would find it difficult to withstand a single strike from it. With your martial arts aptitude, mastering it should not be difficult.”

The old doctor’s confidence in Lu Qing made him feel a little ashamed.

If it weren’t for his special ability, he probably would have disappointed his master.

The author’s assistant crashed, and the chapter couldn’t be published. My apologies.