Chapter Forty: The Tyranny of the Martial Arts (Part Two)

To be cautious, Zhao Li decided to practice the Basic Body Strengthening Technique once more before attempting the nameless cultivation method. Using the Basic Body Strengthening Technique to calm himself completely, he sought to make an honest assessment: should he truly embark on the path of the old warden’s nameless method?

In the end, curiosity prevailed. The enigmatic old warden, the mysterious prisoner, the strange prison—everything compelled Zhao Li with an urge to unravel secrets.

He hardly noticed the profound change in his outlook on life since the old warden’s admonishment. Previously, Zhao Li had wished only to remain inconspicuous, hoping no one would ever notice him. Now, he began actively seeking out opportunities. Even Zhao Li himself did not understand this shift, only feeling that life could never be as simple as he once imagined. He was not yet driven by great ambition, but he was no longer the timid soul who would flee from becoming a test subject. Whenever a chance for expression arose, Zhao Li would not recklessly seize it, but neither would he let it slip by without consideration.

Perhaps experience is the best teacher—such growth left Zhao Li uncertain whether it was right or wrong. But before him lay an opportunity: the old warden’s nameless method. The manual emphasized only the risks of cultivation, without mentioning any effects or benefits.

Ordinarily, Zhao Li might have taken a more prudent approach, verifying before proceeding. Yet the old warden had said, “This method suits you perfectly.” Zhao Li did not doubt this; he knew the old warden could end his life with a mere thought, without lifting a finger. To harm Zhao Li, he would not need elaborate schemes or complicated means.

The image of the old warden flashed through Zhao Li’s mind, and all suspicion melted away. He could not explain why, nor why he felt no resentment toward the old man after that encounter. Perhaps there had been strong dissatisfaction at first, but after seeing him again, that feeling vanished entirely.

Could it be because the old warden had resolved Zhao Li’s parents’ affairs so thoroughly? It shouldn’t be—if he truly wished to help, he need not have provoked Zhao Li so harshly at the beginning. Zhao Li found the old warden utterly inscrutable.

Cultivation! With unwavering resolve, Zhao Li clipped the awakening device to his finger, carefully recalled all the precautions listed in the nameless method, then assumed the proper posture and closed his eyes.

He could not describe the sensation—when the method began circulating, even before the energy had traversed all the meridians, strength seemed to accumulate within his dantian.

Thanks to the robust foundation laid by the Basic Body Strengthening Technique, no method seemed too difficult. Most precautions in the nameless method pertained to the initial phase of establishing and opening the meridians: pay attention to this, beware of that, lest the energy become entangled or stray.

Yet Zhao Li encountered none of these issues. Practicing this nameless method was as simple as cultivating the combat technique in his youth.

He could still mobilize the energy generated by the combat technique, but for reasons unknown, although Zhao Li considered his mastery insufficient, the meridians yielded as if swept by a mighty force—swift and unstoppable. In a single attempt, all meridians were opened, and the normal circulation began.

After opening the meridians, Zhao Li rested briefly and, checking the time, realized it had taken less than three hours to complete the initial foundation. None of the described dangers manifested; the energy within his body was more obedient than a preschool child, docile and compliant—a flawless success.

The old warden’s words echoed in Zhao Li’s mind: “I have a method perfectly suited for you.” Did “perfectly suited” refer to this very outcome?

Unlike the Basic Body Strengthening Technique and the combat method, the nameless method had no instructor; Zhao Li had to explore it alone. The only person he could consult was the old warden, but seeking him out now would surely bring trouble. Having read all those precautions, Zhao Li became suspicious that such smooth progress meant he had made a mistake.

Yet his body felt no abnormal discomfort, and the energy circulated exactly as described in the nameless method, with not a hint of anomaly. Zhao Li could only attribute this to his own innate talent. Only now did he recall that he was a cultivation prodigy, unprecedented and unmatched. It made sense that everything went so smoothly. His lifelong humility had led him to forget his own unique gifts.

With his mind at ease, Zhao Li resumed cultivation, slowly experiencing the differences brought by the nameless method. After one complete circulation, he awakened again.

Only one word remained in his mind: domineering! Yes, this nameless method was utterly domineering! The energy produced by the combat method, after a full cycle, seemed entirely assimilated by the nameless method—not blending gently and naturally, but forcefully and completely transformed, leaving nothing behind, converted entirely into nameless energy.

His meridians were filled with this enigmatic energy, its nature unknown. Wherever it passed, Zhao Li could feel his meridians being forcefully expanded, a slight but rough pain, as if a single cycle had already rendered years of cultivation inadequate, compelling the meridians to widen.

Moreover, as this nameless energy circulated, it carried an aura of unrivaled dominance, forging ahead relentlessly. Whether within the meridians or along the mysterious channels, it never lingered or nurtured, but only pressed forward with wild momentum, returning eventually to the dantian.

This energy was not the kind to rest quietly within the dantian when unused; even when Zhao Li ceased actively cultivating, it continued to flow along those unique meridian paths. The only difference was a slower pace than during active cultivation, otherwise unchanged.

What astonished Zhao Li most was that, when he actively cultivated, the condensed energy in his dantian remained docile, but once he entered this automatic cultivation state, the energy also began to flow along these new meridians.

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