The Fourth Panel: The Martial Arts Instructor

When Sang Sang opened her eyes, Aslan had just returned.

“Extract the faith energy from within you and show me,” Aslan said as he stretched out his hand. His body grew semi-transparent, and a point of light emerged between his brows, coursing through his entire form along luminous lines. Finally, the light slid down his arm, gathering into a glowing sphere in his palm, holy and gentle, its radiance soothing rather than dazzling.

Sang Sang carefully memorized the route of the faith energy’s flow, closed her eyes, and guided the hidden power within her. She had thought it would be difficult, but when she attempted it, she found it was much like playing a labyrinth game—apart from the difference in energy manipulation, there were only a few stumbles at first. Soon, the process became smooth, and she was able to complete the prescribed circuit with ease.

Moments later, a sphere of light formed in Sang Sang’s palm as well.

Compared to Aslan’s, Sang Sang’s sphere was neither as pure nor as bright. It seemed dim and turbid, somewhat loose and scattered. Alone, it might have sufficed, but placed side by side, its inferiority was plain.

Aslan flicked his wrist, hurling the sphere away. “Holy Light—detonate.”

The sphere silently exploded in mid-air, unleashing a massive shockwave in all directions.

Sang Sang raised her hand, and the faith energy in her palm formed a shield before her.

“A Holy Light Shield? A bit rough, but to self-learn and achieve this much is impressive.” Aslan waved his hand; the shockwave dissipated instantly. “It seems you truly understand some basics of manipulating faith energy.”

“I only know the very basics,” Sang Sang replied, dismissing the ineffectual shield. “Someone once told me that upgrading psychic power by converting faith energy leads to unstable foundations—it can only be used as ordinary energy. For defense and healing, faith energy is superior to other forms, but I have too little, and I can’t control the rate of recovery.”

“To be able to gather and release it at your age is already commendable,” Aslan commented, shaking his head. “Your foundation is unstable because the faith energy you’ve gathered hasn’t been purified. Now, attack me with physical technique.”

“I’ve never learned any physical technique,” Sang Sang admitted.

Aslan clasped his hands behind his back, his upper body exposed. “Then use the full strength of your body to attack me. I will not retaliate.”

[He’s testing your limits, Sang Sang. Do your best,] Little Gold encouraged, nuzzling her cheek before flying off to perch atop a distant platform.

Sang Sang stepped back, loosened her limbs, and charged forward. As she reached Aslan, she unleashed all her power—a delicate fist thundered through the air, producing a sonic boom that crashed against Aslan’s abdomen.

Huh?

Sang Sang was startled. This was her strongest attack, and she had braced herself to be repelled, perhaps even hurt. But her fist landed on neither an impenetrable surface nor a yielding cushion. Instead, her strength was soundlessly swallowed, and the strike felt as harmless as a playful tap among friends.

“With such force, you couldn’t even budge a rubber ball,” Aslan frowned, his expression showing the first sign of surprise.

Sang Sang’s cheeks flushed, stung not with embarrassment but anger.

She was certain that very few in the galaxy could have withstood that punch unscathed—even the Celestial Emperor would have felt it.

Sang Sang leapt back and whipped her leg at Aslan’s neck like a lash. When he didn’t even sway, she gritted her teeth and unleashed the killing moves she’d learned in the shadowy streets—her figure flashed so quickly it left afterimages everywhere, the air filled with relentless thunderous cracks like firecrackers.

A long while passed.

“Enough,” Aslan commanded.

Sang Sang staggered, nearly collapsing, her hands braced on her knees as she panted. Sweat trickled down her face, dripping from her delicate chin.

Aslan waved his hand and cast a ray of holy faith light upon her. Throughout, his feet hadn’t moved an inch.

The holy light fell on Sang Sang, spreading a warm sensation through her body. Her fatigue melted away, vigor surged within her, and her spirit was uplifted.

Little Gold returned to Sang Sang’s shoulder, offering comfort: [You’ve never been trained in physical techniques; it was never a fair test. If you could use energy attacks, even if you couldn’t defeat him, he wouldn’t have had an easy time.]

Sang Sang shook her head. ‘Even if I could use supernatural powers, I doubt I could move him. Spatial laws are far from rare here. Unless I could wield time and space, it wouldn’t matter. Don’t worry, I’m not discouraged. The conditions here are too good. As long as I have time, I’ll master more and deeper laws.’

Aslan said, “You have no foundation in physical techniques. To catch up with the other candidates within a year will be very difficult.”

“So it’s just very difficult?” Sang Sang replied. “That means there’s still a chance.”

Aslan nodded. “I have two methods for you to choose from.”

Sang Sang straightened. “Please tell me.”

“Use the Holy Light Dew to purify genetic toxins, then enhance genetic evolution with the Grand Prayer, and finally, use the Guiding Technique in combination with medicines to activate your genes, so your physical strength immediately reaches the required level. After that, practicing physical techniques will yield twice the result for half the effort.” Here, Aslan paused, gazing at Sang Sang. “This is the easiest way. Most girls from advanced civilizations learn physical techniques this way.”

Sang Sang reflected: Whether it’s the Holy Light Dew, the Grand Prayer, or medicines, these are all external aids. Just as spiritual power forms the basis for cultivating the soul, so physical techniques lay the foundation for the body. Generally, the stronger the foundation, the better. Taking shortcuts may bring short-term gains, but the future will only be harder.

She asked, “Why did you say ‘almost all’? Are there exceptions because some can’t find anyone to help lay their foundations?”

“No,” Aslan replied. “The exceptions are those who are determined to walk the true path of immortality, relying on themselves from the very first step.”

Sang Sang’s spirit trembled. “The true path of immortality?”

“True immortality is everlasting life.” Aslan nodded, gazing up into the void, his tone wistful: “To endure through the cycles of civilization without death, to survive the extinction of stars without perishing, to coexist with the stars, to transcend the epochs of the universe—that is immortality.”

“To endure through the cycles of civilization without death, to survive the extinction of stars without perishing, to coexist with the stars, to transcend the epochs of the universe—that is immortality.” Sang Sang’s eyes grew brighter and brighter. Her soul, dormant since her quest for vengeance, now trembled—something new was sprouting.

Perhaps this is the meaning of my rebirth, Sang Sang told herself.

Cultivation was no longer a means to chase the Celestial Emperor, nor to avoid disappointing Little Gold, nor mere habit born of idleness. Now, she truly had a goal to pursue.

She drew a deep breath, as if she were inhaling not air but an elixir to revive her soul. Energy and passion surged through her. “Is it really possible to become immortal relying only on oneself?”

“To achieve immortality requires more than self-reliance,” Aslan replied. “First, you must think about how to pass the selection and become the Saintess. Only then will you gain the resources to travel further down the path of immortality.”

Sang Sang was still elated, but her mind was exceptionally calm. “So, you hope I choose the easy method for learning physical techniques?”

“If your only goal is to pass the Saintess selection, take the first option. But if you want to walk the path of immortality, I recommend the second.”

“What’s the second method?” Sang Sang pressed.

“To quickly master the Guiding Technique and undergo genetic refinement,” Aslan explained. “The refining water is a blend of rare medicines. By absorbing it through the Guiding Technique, you expel toxins and enhance your potential for genetic evolution. The higher the concentration, the stronger the effect. At fifteen times concentration or above, you’ll start on equal footing with candidates from advanced civilizations. Of course, this method also demands more from you.”

“What does it require?”

“Control and endurance.” Seeing Sang Sang’s relaxed, almost dismissive expression, Aslan added, “And the resilience of your soul.”

Sang Sang was confident in her control and endurance, and since her rebirth, her soul was more resilient than most. “How do you test the resilience of the soul?”

“It’s innate, and can’t be measured until you condense your stellar core,” Aslan replied. “So, what’s your choice?”

“Of course, the second!” Sang Sang answered resolutely.

Aslan nodded, took out a crystal sphere, and tossed it to her. The sphere expanded, engulfing Sang Sang.

She found herself standing in a vast, misty void. The only thing present, besides herself, was energy so dense it was nearly tangible. Aslan’s voice echoed in her ears.

“You’ll study the Guiding Technique here. Once you’ve mastered it, you may leave.”

“Alright,” Sang Sang responded, only then realizing her little mech hadn’t accompanied her. Anxious, she called out, “Little Gold, where are you?”

[I’m here,] came Little Gold’s reply from outside the sphere. The small figure clung to the surface, pounding it to draw Sang Sang’s attention. “Sang Sang, I’m outside—I can see you!”

Little Gold’s mechanical voice seemed to come from all directions, impossible to pinpoint. Sang Sang’s worries eased.

“Wait for me—I’ll be out soon.” Sang Sang called out, “Teacher Aslan, please take care of Little Gold for me.”

Aslan did not refuse. He glanced at the little mech crawling around the sphere, frowned, and produced an energy crystal. “If you’re hungry, absorb this. Don’t wander off.”

Little Gold rubbed the back of its head where it had been struck, eyes flashing with indignation, but soon the energy crystal claimed all its attention. Forgetting Aslan, Little Gold cradled the large, transparent, diamond-shaped crystal—almost as big as itself—eyes filled with hearts.

“This is an energy crystal with a purity close to one hundred. I thought it existed only in theory, never in reality. The Temple is truly rich! Sang Sang, in the future we’ll be able to eat the same energy crystals!”

Listening to Little Gold’s excited chatter, Sang Sang relaxed and smiled. Only then did she turn her attention to her surroundings.

The energy mist swirled constantly. With each breath, it entered her body and did not dissipate, but became a cool, invisible current that traveled through her according to a certain pattern, finally dispersing out through every pore. After several cycles, it ceased to operate automatically.

“Guiding Technique—the art of directing and absorbing energy…”

Sang Sang committed the patterns and routes of the energy flow to memory, then used her mind power to guide the energy through her body.