Chapter 22

In the small courtyard.

Li Hao's face was full of anticipation.

"Teacher, are you injured?"

"Hehe!"

Yuan Shuo laughed wildly, "Just kidding, injure me? Before the superhumans, I swept the world! After the superhumans, I became a guest of the Night Patrol. Although the Night Patrol isn't all of the superhumans, it is the largest organization in the superhuman domain. Tell me, who can injure me?"

"……"

This wasn't the answer Li Hao wanted.

He couldn't help but say, "Teacher, Captain Liu meant that every martial artist who breaks the hundred barrier has hidden injuries. You were a top martial artist back then. Could it be that you have too many hidden injuries, which is why you can't advance to become a superhuman?"

"That's him, he's a waste!"

"……"

Why are you so stubborn!

Li Hao felt exhausted. Although his teacher was good, he was too stubborn, refusing to admit that he had hidden injuries, which was very frustrating.

"Then…"

Li Hao had to be more direct, "Teacher, there must be a reason why you still can't advance to become a superhuman and a Starlight Master, right?"

"I'm too strong!"

Yuan Shuo felt that his student no longer respected him.

What do you mean?

Trying to hit my sore spot?

Hehe!

Impossible!

Of course, he also felt that talking to Li Hao wouldn't make much difference. Since that's the case, what's the point of talking? What does this kid know anyway?

Li Hao was really getting anxious. His teacher was too stubborn.

He said again, "Teacher, if your hidden injuries heal, could you have a chance to advance to become a Starlight Master?"

"Is that why you came to see me?"

"Uh-huh."

"You have too much free time!"

Yuan Shuo was speechless. Are you that bored?

He had to say, "Don't think too much. There are many reasons why I can't advance. External and internal, both!"

"Can you be more specific, Teacher?"

"……"

Yuan Shuo frowned, staring at him for a moment before slowly saying, "I have the 'Five Animal Breathing Technique,' and the Night Patrol has provided me with some mystical energy. I've also absorbed some… However, because my strength was too great back then, I needed a lot of mystical energy, which is the first reason!"

Li Hao nodded, lacking mystical energy.

"I'm old, and my physical functions have declined, which is the second reason!"

Li Hao nodded again. His constitution isn't strong enough to withstand the impact of a martial artist breaking the hundred barrier?

"I've offended some powerful enemies in the past. Some of them have become superhumans, even leaders of some superhuman organizations, and they've pressured the Night Patrol. This is an external reason, the third one!"

"As for the fourth…"

Yuan Shuo suddenly laughed, glancing at Li Hao, and lazily said, "I don't want to advance."

"……"

Completely baffled!

What do you mean?

The first three reasons are understandable, but what does the fourth mean?

Not wanting to advance?

Does this mean that the first three reasons are just excuses, and the teacher can actually advance?

Seeing his student's confusion, Yuan Shuo smiled again. It was quite amusing to tease Li Hao.

Seeing Li Hao's worried face, Yuan Shuo stopped joking and smiled, adding a hint of regret, "The first three reasons are true, and the fourth one is also true. Actually, a few years ago, I still had a chance to advance to superhuman status, but at that time, I was unwilling…"

At that moment, Yuan Shuo shook his head, with a mix of indescribable feelings, and self-mockingly smiled, "At that time, superhumans had developed for over a decade. Some of my 'old friends' had already been in the superhuman domain for over a decade, and they had made significant progress… If I had broken the hundred barrier back then, I would have faced the greetings of those 'old friends' once I entered the superhuman domain."

"Being a martial artist is better than being a superhuman. Even the Night Patrol would find it hard to protect me if I became a superhuman. Now, I'm a martial artist, not a Starlight Master, so they don't dare to act rashly against me, and they don't consider me a major enemy…"

Li Hao vaguely understood.

Not becoming a superhuman also has its considerations.

But… isn't this like drinking poison to quench thirst?

Clearly, Yuan Shuo wasn't the type to be timid. He smiled again, "A few years ago, I still had some ambitions. I wanted to advance in martial arts first! I wanted to enter the Thousand Battles domain, then become a superhuman! As a Thousand Battles martial artist, once I entered the Starlight Master domain, I wouldn't fear any enemies, even after not advancing for over a decade!"

At that moment, Yuan Shuo suddenly became more audacious!

To Li Hao, he even seemed more arrogant than Liu Long!

He wanted to enter the superhuman domain as a Thousand Battles martial artist, becoming a top-tier superhuman, erasing the gap of over a decade, and catching up with his 'old friends.'

But, obviously, he failed!

Li Hao frowned, "Teacher, do you mean that a few years ago, you didn't advance because you thought even if you did, you couldn't match your enemies, and you had to wait until you reached the Thousand Battles domain to catch up?"

"Exactly!"

"Then… what went wrong?"

Li Hao didn't know how strong a Thousand Battles martial artist was, but he knew that his teacher had broken the hundred barrier many years ago. If he still had this ambition a few years ago, it meant he still had a chance to succeed.

Why did he give up now?

Yes, he gave up.

If he hadn't given up, Li Hao thought, his teacher wouldn't be saying these things about his ambitions from a few years ago.

Yuan Shuo laughed, "Yeah, something went wrong, and it's for the best! I wanted the Night Patrol to help me, but it didn't work out. No choice, I had to accept my fate!"

"Actually, it's a good thing…"

Yuan Shuo chuckled, "If not, I wouldn't have the heart to take on students!"

In the past, he was busy, busy advancing to the Thousand Battles domain.

So he hadn't taken on students for many years.

But since his hope of reaching the Thousand Battles domain was shattered, he no longer cared much about advancing to superhuman status. The Night Patrol kept delaying, and he eventually gave up.

Now, he could only enjoy his twilight years, staying in the ancient courtyard of Silver City.

Of course, because he had too much free time, he had the chance to take on students.

Others were puzzled why he took on students again.

Actually, it was very simple… he had too much free time!

With no way to improve his martial arts or enter the superhuman domain, teaching students was a good way to pass the time. He chose Li Hao because Li Hao wasn't stupid and could learn some of his knowledge.

If not Li Hao, would he choose Zhang Yuan?

He was a dullard!

"Teacher, do you still have a chance to advance to the Thousand Battles domain and then become a superhuman?"

Yuan Shuo sighed, "I know what you're thinking. I know you're in danger… But with my current semi-injured hundred barrier strength, I might not be as strong as Liu Long…"

It was very frustrating!

The once dominant Yuan Shuo, the Five Animal Master, now had to admit he wasn't as strong as Liu Long.

"If you're afraid, just come to me. They won't dare to come here easily. After all, I'm still useful to the Night Patrol, and they need me for archaeology…"

Li Hao scratched his head, showing the anxiety of a young person.

"Teacher, I…"

He didn't know how to say it. After thinking for a moment, he suddenly stood up and walked into the house, "Teacher, I got something good. Try it and see if it helps you!"

"Something good?"

Yuan Shuo almost laughed!

This kid is really amusing.

What's so good about it?

How good is it?

In my life, I've seen so many treasures, more than I can remember.

My problem isn't that simple.

It's a fundamental injury!

Actually, it wasn't that long ago, just over three years. During an exploration of an ancient civilization, I was unlucky and ran too slow. Many Night Patrol members died, and I, who was about to reach the Thousand Battles domain, lost my chance to advance.

Otherwise, I might have secretly advanced to superhuman status and even chatted with those 'old friends' by now.

Li Hao went into the house, and he didn't pay attention.

He recalled that moment, gently touching the area of his heart. That time, the injury was severe, and my heart was pierced. If not for my strong vitality, I wouldn't have survived.

However, being over seventy, with such a severe injury, I survived, but my path in martial arts was cut off.

"Maybe… I still need to find a chance to advance to superhuman status. Perhaps there's still a chance to recover."

He thought to himself.

Actually, even now, he seemed to have given up, but he hadn't really given up.

He still wanted to advance