It was Ying Chen!
Ma Zhiyuan had previously given Tang Yi's address to Ying Chen, who now casually passed it to Master Luo.
Master Luo took the slip of paper with the address and paused for a moment, then looked at Min Ziqing.
Min Ziqing looked at Min Ziqiong.
Min Ziqiong hesitated. Her memory, having been partially erased, clearly did not recall this matter.
However, she chose to trust Ying Chen and nodded, "Then let's go to this address and see."
"Let's go!" Min Ziqing called out.
Soon, the three of them disappeared into the distance.
Meanwhile, Professor Li, who had just finished starting the car, watched the departing trio in astonishment and asked, "Why did they leave? Should we chase after them?"
Ying Chen shook his head.
Professor Li seemed to have a sudden realization and said, "You intentionally gave that opportunity to Master Luo, didn't you?"
"The Great Dao is fifty, Heaven's derivations are forty-nine, and man escapes one. It's not about intention; it's just that Master Luo found his own 'one' to escape, earning himself a sliver of hope. If he hadn't shown the spirit of facing death for his wife and children, I would never have given him this chance."
Ying Chen explained.
"So, we'll wait here?" Professor Li asked.
"No, help me find some information. What level is the sixth stage of martial arts in your era?"
Ying Chen, however, had become interested in Master Luo's so-called "sixth stage of martial arts."
"That's simple. I happen to have an old friend who is involved in martial arts. I'll ask him, and he'll know."
Professor Li finished speaking and went to make a phone call.
Within a short while, Professor Li returned holding his phone.
"I've asked. To put it plainly, there's nothing mysterious about it. It's much like the degree levels in school: elementary, middle school, high school, university, master's, doctorate, and then full or associate professor. The sixth stage of martial arts is roughly equivalent to the university student level, considered an outstanding practitioner among martial artists."
"Martial arts are divided into nine stages in total. Those above the seventh stage are absolute powerhouses, individuals whom even those in the martial world would respectfully address as 'Master.' The ninth stage is known as the Heavenly stage. There seem to be very few of them in the entire world. If you encounter one, you might as well just close your eyes and wait for death."
Listening to Professor Li's explanation, Ying Chen raised an eyebrow, "Are they that strong? So, what is the specific manifestation of the ninth stage?"
Professor Li recalled for a moment and said, "It seems to involve something like channeling one's breath into all three hundred and sixty-five acupuncture points in the body, being able to control one's muscles at will, possessing invulnerable bodies, and the strength to throw elephants..."
"Tsk, I think such talk is best taken as just stories, not to be taken seriously. The strength to throw elephants is something only a Buddha in a mythological tale could achieve. How could humans possibly do that? It's likely a lie fabricated by those martial artists to exaggerate their own abilities."
Unexpectedly, Ying Chen shook his head, "The strength to throw elephants is nothing surprising; the elite warriors of my era could achieve that. It's just that the so-called Heavenly stage of martial arts is only at this level, which I didn't expect."
"It seems that after the decline of Daoist magic, the peak of combat power in the entire world has been suppressed to the past Human Martial Realm. I wonder if anyone has broken through to the Earth Spirit Realm or the Heavenly Connection Realm."
Professor Li was completely bewildered by the terms that came out of Ying Chen's mouth.
"What is the Human Martial Realm? And what are the Earth Spirit Realm and the Heavenly Connection Realm?"
Ying Chen didn't elaborate much, merely saying, "These are the realm divisions of my era. Simply put, the Human Martial Realm is for warriors and soldiers; the Earth Spirit Realm is considered formally entering the ranks of sorcerers, and the Heavenly Connection Realm is for opening the heavenly and earthly passages that the saints severed, allowing ascension to the heavens. Of course, no one has ever succeeded."
"Ah?" Professor Li was even more confused.
For the first time, he felt his worldview being severely shaken.
So, the most powerful Heavenly stage masters of this era were only fit to be mere foot soldiers charging into battle in Ying Chen's time?
"It truly is a difficult era! It seems I will need to exert many times more effort to break through the current downward ceiling if I am to have any hope of restoring my former realm," Ying Chen mused.
"May I ask, what was your realm before?" Professor Li subconsciously asked.
"Heavenly Connection Realm, peak. Just one step away from opening the broken path."
*Swish!*
Professor Li shivered.
If what Ying Chen said was true, wouldn't it be akin to a Tyrannosaurus Rex traveling from the Jurassic period to the 21st century?
Even if the Tyrannosaurus Rex were limited by factors like the oxygen concentration and temperature changes of the 21st century, it would still have no rivals!
As long as it survived, it would inevitably become a dominant force on Earth!
Of course, this was assuming humans didn't resort to weapons of mass destruction.
With this thought, Professor Li couldn't help but have a question arise.
Could Ying Chen withstand the attack of modern artillery and missiles?
If he wasn't outmatched by Ying Chen, and if he could somehow acquire a missile, he really wanted to try!
"Take some time to organize more detailed information about the current martial arts for me. If you have materials on the martial arts changes over the past two thousand years, please include those as well."
"I need to carefully consider how to break this world's ceiling and what price I will have to pay."
"This is truly defying the heavens, acting as a god with a human body!"
Ying Chen's eyes flickered repeatedly, saying.
His words carried a faint hint of excitement.
The initial disappointment he felt upon seeing this era of declining magic was gradually fading, replaced by a strong desire to challenge the Heavenly Dao.
"Of course, I will also provide you with appropriate compensation. For instance, the true location of the mausoleum of Lord Wu'an."
Upon hearing Ying Chen's words, Professor Li, who had been somewhat hesitant, instantly felt his heart race, becoming excited.
Lord Wu'an was the renowned god of slaughter from history, Bai Qi!
He was ordered to commit suicide by King Zhaoxiang of Qin during the attack on Handan. The location of his burial after his death had always been a mystery.
Currently, two tombs had been unearthed in Long Country, both claimed to be Bai Qi's tomb.
However, not a single skeleton of Bai Qi had been found in either tomb!
This meant that both tombs were likely fake!
If Professor Li could truly solve this ancient mystery, he would become incredibly famous!
"No... problem!" Professor Li swallowed hard and nodded.
Ying Chen withdrew his gaze with a faint, playful smile.
Professor Li had clearly not yet realized that he was gradually falling under the sway of his desires.
It was only a matter of time before he became Ying Chen's seed.
Drip, drip...
Time passed second by second.
It had been more than an hour, and there was still no news from the trio of Min Ziqiong.
Even if Min Ziqing disliked Ying Chen and refused to share information with him, Min Ziqiong wouldn't be like that; she would at least come and inform him.
And Master Luo, after belatedly realizing Ying Chen's goodwill, would also come to express his gratitude based on his character.
But now, not a single person had come, which could only mean one thing.
The trio of Min Ziqiong had run into trouble!