Though I had often faced defeat against formidable opponents in the past, a steadfast confidence always resided within me: the fencing style could never be truly broken. If facing an opponent whose Dou Qi cultivation was comparable, and provided they weren't wearing some absurdly defensive armor, I was certain no adversary could withstand a direct confrontation with the Fencing Sword Style. Even against an opponent with immense offensive power, as long as their defense wasn't completely abnormal, I remained confident I could defeat them. The Fencing Sword Style never feared a head-on challenge; the only thing that could counter it was overwhelmingly superior defense. I believed this implicitly until today, when Jidu, possessing similar Dou Qi strength, a mere ordinary Frost-Condensing Sword, and moving significantly slower than I, utterly shattered my conviction.

I found it impossible to comprehend how he parried every single one of my eighty-one thrusts, delivered relentlessly at a speed of less than 0.1 seconds per strike, without a single miss. Even more astonishing, he seized the infinitesimal gap during my momentary pause to deliver a fatal riposte.

What kind of swordsmanship was this? With my speed, I couldn't pierce his defense, nor could I evade his attacks.

I stared blankly at Jidu before me, my mind a complete void.

Yet, I wasn't the only one stunned; Jidu looked at me with an expression of utter disbelief.

"Such fast swordsmanship," Jidu marveled. "And every strike was tricky and bizarre, impossible to fully guard against."

"What good is speed?" I sighed helplessly. "You blocked every single one."

"Your Highness Star, to unleash over eighty consecutive strikes that prevented General Jidu from even finding a moment to counterattack is something you can truly be proud of," Rahu said, appearing at the edge of the arena from who knows where, his voice filled with astonishment. "Keep in mind, even experts at the peak of the Crimson Moon realm rarely survive ten moves against General Jidu, let alone force him into a completely defensive posture."

"Indeed," Jidu affirmed solemnly. "In terms of pure swordsmanship technique, you are one of the most outstanding warriors I have ever seen. Among the younger generation, it is rare to find swordplay so distinctly styled, yet so practical and concise."

"It is merely the 'Stab Art' technique, yet you wield it with such mastery, it is practically perfect. This is the first time I have witnessed it," Jidu continued. "Even a Heavenly Demon Warrior could not match this level of skill."

"But I still lost, didn't I?" Rahu's praise did soothe my spirits somewhat, yet I still couldn't grasp why Jidu could so effortlessly block every assault I launched. "General Jidu, what sword style are you using? Why is it that even though your speed is clearly slower than mine, I couldn't land a single blow?"

"In the Way of Martial Arts, speed is certainly important. However, in the eyes of a true master, no speed can outpace human spirit and consciousness. My victory over you was achieved merely by relying on a special mental art," Jidu explained. "In other words, it was an unfair victory."

"Unfair victory, spirit, and consciousness, special mental art..." I felt as if I had grasped something, yet I couldn't assemble the pieces into a coherent thought.

"Precisely. A qualified warrior must possess the ability to see through the essence of everything. Though your sword is fast, under normal circumstances, the human eye cannot track your strikes, let alone defend against them. And your speed in evasion is equally swift," Jidu noted. "I imagine even against opponents far stronger than you, you can manage with ease, moving freely in and out of danger."

"That much is true. Like an expert such as Cangyue Liukong, even if I can't defeat him, his attacks cannot harm me," I questioned. "But why is it that even when your speed and power are only at the level of the early Crimson Moon stage, I still couldn't evade you?"

"Heh, this is the essence I mentioned earlier," Jidu replied. "Heavenly Demon Warriors pursue the essence of the Fa (Law/Method) and are not deceived by superficial appearances. In fact, I didn't need my eyes to track your attack at all, because I knew even my eyes couldn't keep up with your speed."

"Not using my eyes!" I was thunderstruck. Could this be the legendary 'Hearing Wind to Discern Weaponry'?

"This is the special mental art that all Heavenly Demon Warriors must cultivate: Po (Break/See Through)," Rahu explained. "General Jidu truly relied on K’an Po (Seeing Through) to defeat your speed when our Dou Qi strengths were nearly equal." Rahu added, "If he hadn't used K’an Po, General Jidu would not have been your match."

"That's it. The biggest difference between Heavenly Demon Warriors and ordinary martial artists is that they possess the ability to K’an Po!" Jidu stated seriously. "Your intent to attack was completely seen through by me. Therefore, even though my speed couldn't match yours, my consciousness could preemptively enact the optimal defense. It’s like if an arrow is shot from a bow incredibly fast; if I manage to raise my shield in advance to cover the target you intend to strike, then no matter how fast your arrow travels, it cannot change the outcome. This is the essence of K’an Po!"

"K’an Po?" I was puzzled. "How is that possible? My movements are utterly untraceable by the eye, but without sight, how can you see through my attacks?"

"What we call K’an Po does not necessarily require the eyes. I simply use my body to feel your attack," Jidu said.

"Not using eyes, feeling with the body—how is that possible?" I couldn't believe someone could achieve this. "Is this what they call the 'Mind's Eye'?" I recalled the realm described in wuxia novels.

"Mind's Eye," Jidu chuckled lightly. "That's quite an apt term. However, we call this insight the first level of the 'Eye of Death Desire'—Po."

"Eye of Death Desire." I didn't understand. "How exactly does one accomplish that?"

"The 'Eye of Death Desire' is merely a collective term for a state of profound understanding," Jidu explained. "It is a crucial component in the cultivation of Heavenly Demon Warriors, and the first level of the Eye of Death Desire is Po! To see through everything and penetrate the essence. Only by seeing through the essence can one find the method to respond."

"But how did you achieve it?" I asked urgently. "How does one gain the Eye that Sees Through?"

Jidu replied, "This requires an extremely focused mental force." He continued, "You possess extraordinary talent in speed. I believe with your innate gifts, diligent practice will allow you to grasp the true essence of Po."

"How do I cultivate it? What method should I use?"

"The methods for cultivating K’an Po vary for each individual; you must discover them yourself," Jidu advised. "But one thing is universal: a highly concentrated mental force. Only with that can the eyes, and the body, perceive the opponent's attacks."

"How did you cultivate K’an Po back then?" I inquired.

"I only comprehended K’an Po after undergoing training at the Heavenly Demon Sacred Hall. This method is not available anywhere else, nor are the necessary conditions for cultivation outside the Sacred Hall!" Jidu explained. "If you can reach the Demon Dragon Empire, and if you truly are a descendant of the Demon Dragon Imperial line, you will naturally have the opportunity to enter the Sacred Hall for training."

"But that is still a year away."

"Indeed, the waiting period is a bit long," Jidu conceded. "However, I believe that as long as you find opponents who excel in speed and constantly spar with them, realizing K’an Po will only be a matter of time."

"How long will it take to succeed?" I was overjoyed.

"That is hard to say," Jidu responded. "Perhaps only a few days, but it might also take a lifetime to comprehend."

"................" I was stunned. What kind of answer was that?

"This is merely a fallback, the only method I can think of outside the Heavenly Demon Sacred Hall, and even this might not work," Jidu admitted.

"It hinges on opportunity," Rahu interjected. "Although comprehending K’an Po requires extremely arduous training, the spiritual understanding and realization are decisively important. If the mind cannot grasp it, even a lifetime of hard practice will not achieve the realm of K’an Po."

"I see," I murmured. "Having a way is better than having no way. But regarding opponents who excel in speed... what exactly defines 'fast enough'?"

"At least faster than you," Jidu admitted, a touch of frustration in his voice. "That seems hard to find as well."

"Heh," I gave a wry smile. "Finding an opponent isn't the hard part; the hard part is that if he finds me, I'll either be dead or stripped to the bone."

"Are you referring to the disciple of the Eagle True Gate, the Eagle True Maniac?" Rahu asked.

"Precisely. That Eagle True Maniac’s speed far surpasses mine," I reflected. "If I could train with him, perhaps I really could grasp K’an Po." Of course, I knew this was utterly impossible; if that fellow ever ran into me, he'd probably dismember me on the spot.

"It seems we must look for someone else," Jidu said. "It's a pity Shenru isn't here; she would have been an excellent opponent."

"Shenru?"

"She is my niece," Jidu explained. "Like you, she is a warrior who excels in speed. In terms of velocity, she is no slower than you, perhaps faster."

"Don't tell me she's like the Eagle True Maniac?" I felt a knot of apprehension.

"Something like that," Jidu confirmed.

"Then, has she comprehended K’an Po?"

"As I said, K’an Po isn't seen with the eyes. Being fast doesn't equate to seeing through things," Jidu sighed. "Only true internal realization, true enlightenment, constitutes genuine K’an Po. But how easy is that to achieve?"

"The word Po lies in enlightenment. If you understand it, you understand it; if you don't, you don't. It cannot be described by outsiders," Rahu added in clarification. "The reason we suggest training with faster opponents is merely to create an environment conducive to realizing K’an Po."

"Realization, to understand is to understand, not to understand is not to understand. It can only be felt, not spoken." My head spun. Good heavens, wasn't this the sudden enlightenment spoken of in Buddhism?

As the saying goes: Huo Ran Dun Wu, the Four Great Emptinesses. But how could I, a man who prides himself on rationality, possibly comprehend such an esoteric and ethereal concept?

"Think hard about it," Jidu advised. "This is the most we can offer you in hints."

"Thank you both, Generals," I said respectfully.

"Your Highness is too kind," Jidu replied, his face alight with pleased emotion. "Her Royal Highness the Princess was my student. It’s a shame her talent was so exceptional, yet her ambition lay elsewhere; I always regretted it. Now, being able to pass on knowledge to Your Highness Star fulfills a long-held wish of mine."

"I believe you must be a descendant of the Demon Dragon Royal Family," Rahu said respectfully. "I hope to see you at the Heavenly Demon Sacred Hall assessment tournament in the future."

"En!" I nodded gravely. "I will be there."

The moon reached its zenith!

Silence enveloped the area. Lying in bed, I was utterly sleepless. Too much had happened today: the mysterious royal bloodline, the bizarre Eye of Death Desire possessed by the Heavenly Demon Warriors, and the meaning of this so-called K’an Po. Everything filled me with novelty and mystery, driving me to uncover the secrets. Jidu’s and Rahu’s words made me feel like I’d grasped something, yet I had no clear direction.

"To understand is to understand, not to understand is not to understand." That was a maddening piece of Zen rhetoric. I had always considered myself a rational person, but asking a rational person to grasp a spiritual concept was akin to asking the impossible. Rationality, by nature, involves doubt and negation. Sudden enlightenment, this kind of mental activity, should suit more emotional people better.

For the first time, I felt frustrated by the fact that I was from the modern world. If I didn't have memories of my past life, if I lacked that deep-seated rational education, that understanding of numbers and science, perhaps I would be better equipped to grasp the meaning of K’an Po. Memories from my previous life brought me many advantages: physical knowledge that people of this world lacked, and the Fencing Sword Style, born from that past life, gave me a confidence that bordered on infallibility. That sword style was the reason I had progressed this far.

But my current achievements seemed to be my limit. The theory of the Fencing Sword Style had been thoroughly overturned by Jidu: under conditions of equal power and equal defense, absolute speed could not guarantee absolute advantage. The Eye of Death Desire, clearly defying modern physical common sense, was a special existence that practically nullified the difference in speed.

To see through an opponent's intent the moment they attack—what kind of realm was this? It couldn't be explained by modern physics. Perhaps shifting my perspective would yield an answer, but the ingrained inertia of my long-held rational thinking prevented me from truly entering a realm of emotional/intuitive thought.

'He who rises by Xiao He is felled by Xiao He'—this saying fit me perfectly.

What should I do now?

In my understanding, speed, power, technique, and mental fortitude constituted the four basic elements of martial arts. Among these, I believed my speed, technique, and mental fortitude far exceeded that of ordinary people.

My long years of cultivation were aimed at compensating for my congenital weakness in power. I believed that once this power deficit was filled, my own cultivation would approach perfection, giving me the strength to contend even against masters on the level of Longyuan Feixue.

But I now realized my understanding of the martial path was too shallow. It seemed that after power, speed, technique, and mental state, another element must be added: Intent (Yijing). I didn't know what state the Eye of Death Desire was, only that it could be categorized as a special psychological state—no, perhaps a special mental activity, akin to hypnosis. Only when one enters such a state can they maximize their potential.

Perhaps this was a form of enhanced perception of speed. I remembered when my biology teacher in modern times mentioned that dragonflies react five times faster than humans; to them, human movements looked like slow motion. Catching one barehanded wasn't easy. The same applied to flies. Their astonishing reaction speed stemmed from their compound eyes, allowing them to perceive the world in slow motion, coupled with rapid nerve conduction that let them react in nearly 0.02 seconds. And even dragonflies and flies don't have the fastest reflexes among all creatures; many organisms far surpass them. These creatures shared common traits: compound eyes, small size, and fast, efficient nerve conduction.

Perhaps the so-called Eye of Death Desire is merely an enhanced visual nerve system that allows humans to break free from their physical limits, achieving rapid reaction. Realizing this, I couldn't stay in bed any longer. I threw off the covers, lit the magic lamp, and began sketching a complete training regimen in my notebook.

It seemed I could use certain special techniques to train my perception of speed. While I might not achieve K’an Po, I believed that the accumulation of quantity must eventually lead to a qualitative change. Sudden enlightenment must also be built upon diligent practice—this was the 'fool's method for the fool.'

One training method I conceived involved using modern hypnotic techniques to force myself into a specific psychological state. The most pronounced characteristics of this state would be an acute grasp of speed and the perception of minute changes in the surroundings. I suspected that 'feeling and capturing with the body' was what traditional martial arts referred to as 'Hearing Wind to Discern Weaponry.' I concluded I needed to train both. Whether I succeed would be up to fate, and even if I did, it wouldn't be quick. Still, I resolved to do everything within my power.

Next, I conducted a comprehensive assessment of my abilities, borrowing concepts from modern professional athletes—most notably the hexagonal capability profile from simulation football games: physical condition, speed, technique, power, offense, defense. Perhaps I, too, should train all-around, like a professional footballer.

Lack of power and weak defense had always been detrimental factors hindering my performance. Comprehending the Eye of Death Desire relied on innate insight and destiny; I didn't know when that might happen. However, these foundational exercises could be accumulated through daily practice and would surely play a vital role in enhancing my overall strength. As I pondered, I recorded every viable idea in my notebook.

Stamina, strength, endurance, explosive power—these all fell under the umbrella of 'Power.' The best way to build power was weight training; I had already verified this at home with Garo and the others.

Speed and technique could also be effectively cultivated under load; I had feasible methods in mind for this too.

Then there was defense. In past battles against powerful foes, my defense relied heavily on evasion. While this worked often enough, I felt I still needed to train my ability to block direct, powerful strikes, as sometimes evasion was impossible, and the outcome was decided by a direct contest of physical strength.

As for cultivating Dou Qi, that would have to continue through monster slaying, as all my other training was built around that core activity.

Thus, a complete training plan took shape: engaging in monster slaying while bearing weight. This way, while cultivating Dou Qi, my physical toughness, reaction nerves, body strength, and combat skills would all be effectively trained. Although this would inevitably lower the efficiency of slaying monsters, I believed that once adapted, it would greatly benefit my future strength enhancement.

I labored until three in the morning finalizing the training regimen, feeling significantly relieved. It was time to start training; too much time had already been wasted.

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