"This is the ultimate realm of relaxation, Zen. Which is essentially summed up in a line from the Diamond Sutra: ‘No self, no others, no sentient beings, no lifespan,'" Uncle Mang explained. (G: Zen – emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition.)

"What does that mean?" Su Jie asked again.

"The so-called ‘self' forms the foundation of existence in this world. All pain, pleasure, joy, and anxiety arise because of the self. If the self ceases to exist, all emotions disappear. ‘Others' refers to the foundation of existence similar to the self, the cause and effect that influences our being. Without others, we wouldn't have so many emotions and thoughts. ‘Sentient beings' refer to various factors that affect our existence, while ‘lifespan' is a combination of time and space—a marker of our existence within a specific time and space," Uncle Mang explained with philosophical depth, "If someone could reach this realm, their body would be in the most relaxed state, as their mind would have let go of all existential foundations. Everything would be released. It is said that in this mental state, the human body undergoes remarkable changes."

"I don't quite understand what kind of state that is. But I do know that when people relax, they can heal many illnesses and boost their immunity. On the other hand, constant tension and anxiety can make them prone to illness," Su Jie remarked, grasping the basic concept.

"The technique you're practicing—digging and carrying—is originally a combination of martial arts, Qigong, and Zen philosophy, created by martial monks. It’s called the unity of Zen and martial arts. To master this martial art to its peak, you must understand Zen," Uncle Mang said.

"Uncle Mang, to what extent can you relax yourself?" Su Jie asked.

"I’ve only reached the realm where the self and the external world merge and fade. I'm still a bit short of achieving the true state of ‘no self, no others, no sentient beings,'" Uncle Mang replied. "After all, fading is not the same as nothingness. Fading involves memory, while true nothingness is the complete absence of it."

Listening to these philosophical insights, Su Jie felt somewhat overwhelmed but vaguely understood parts of it.

"Perhaps these concepts require life experience and the passage of time for me to truly grasp," Su Jie thought. For now, he was enthusiastic about learning, advancing at his own pace.

After his massage session, it was only 8 PM, leaving an hour before his usual bedtime at 9. Normally, he and Josh would spar in the ring at this time. Since Josh was likely training with someone else, Su Jie decided to check what he was up to.

He knew the importance of sparring. Even with protective gear and referees present, sparring was far better than practicing alone or hitting a punching bag.

“Hi! Hi! Hi!”

Su Jie entered the vast training hall. With the new academy term approaching, more students were training here. Most were enrolled in the martial arts academy, and some were even professional fighters.

Minglun Martial Arts Academy had produced many champions in boxing, sanda, Muay Thai, kickboxing, MMA, and wrestling—national champions included.

As advertised on TV, "The cradle of champions, Minglun Martial Arts Academy."

Here, you could find experts in almost every martial art and combat style. That was why Su Jie had traveled across provinces to study here.

“Victory! Another victory!”

At that moment, an explosive cheer erupted from a nearby competition arena.

Looking over, Su Jie saw another hall with a sign at the entrance stating tickets were required to enter, suggesting some sort of competition was happening inside.

"Could this be the small-scale arena Coach Nie Shuang mentioned?"

Curious, Su Jie walked over, paid 30 yuan for a ticket, and entered.

Inside was indeed a large competition arena equipped with a ring and an octagonal cage, the latter designed specifically for MMA. The arena was packed with spectators, creating a lively atmosphere. Many were students from the academy, but there were also outsiders, including students from other martial arts academies.

Two fighters were engaged in a match. 

One of them executed a beautiful slam followed by an armbar, forcing his opponent to submit. 

The crowd erupted in applause.

“Ruan Xing has won three consecutive matches. The academy awards him 6,000 yuan!” the referee announced.

“The Minglun Martial Arts Academy's internal tournaments have finally resumed. After a month-long summer break, it’s game time. Should we join and earn some extra cash?”

“Come on, only experts sign up for this. If we enter, not only will we waste the registration fee, but we’ll also get beaten up.”

Su Jie overheard two students from another academy talking nearby. He glanced at the posters around him and immediately understood that this was a ring challenge competition held by the Minglun Martial Arts Academy. Both students from within the academy and outsiders could participate as long as they paid the registration and entrance fees. Winners would even receive prize money.

This type of competition had been suspended for a month during the summer vacation. Now that the holidays were nearing their end and more students were returning to academy, the competition was being reopened.

In this area, there were many martial arts academies, and almost every one of them held such competitions. Even bars and boxing gyms in town hosted similar events. However, the Minglun Martial Arts Academy’s ring competition was the most famous in the region. It had the highest skill level, attracted the most participants, and even garnered a large online fan base. The event had partnered with a live-streaming platform, generating considerable revenue.

For Minglun Martial Arts Academy, this competition was a highly profitable project.

“Should I register too?” Su Jie felt a spark of interest. He had been struggling to find opportunities for real combat. His last fight with Song Li was a private duel. Although he won 10,000 yuan, he didn’t take the money because it could easily lead to animosity. Instead, he chose to be generous and make a friend.

Now, this was a public competition organized by the academy. If he participated and won, it would be ideal. Even if he lost, it would be a valuable combat experience.

“The registration booth is over there.”

Su Jie squeezed through the crowd. The registration area wasn’t manned by anyone but a machine. Participants simply needed to place their ID card on the scanner, weigh themselves, and pay the registration fee via a mobile QR code. After that, they would wait to be assigned an opponent.

It was simple: Step one, stand on the machine. Step two, place the ID card. Step three, scan the QR code to pay 100 yuan.

After completing the registration, Su Jie moved to the contestant area.

The sports arena was divided into spectator, contestant, referee, event, media filming, and VIP areas. It was almost comparable to a national-level competition.

In fact, many national-level competitions were held in this venue.

The facilities highlighted the strength of the Minglun Martial Arts Academy.

When there weren’t any major events, the arena hosted small-scale competitions daily, providing students with real combat opportunities and the experience of participating in formal events.

Su Jie waited in the contestant area, surrounded by dozens of other participants. Some were wrapping their hands, others were warming up, and a few were chatting to relax.

No one paid any attention to Su Jie.

Su Jie suddenly felt a wave of nervousness. This was his first official competition. Although it was a small-scale event open to everyone, the atmosphere, with so many spectators, was quite different.

“Control your breathing rhythm, warm up, adjust your mental state, and build a sense of excitement and fighting spirit…” He followed the advice of Coach Odell, beginning his warm-up and mental preparation.

Coach Odell had long taught him that psychological resilience was crucial in ring competitions. If not properly adjusted, one’s strength and techniques might perform at less than 10%, leaving them as easy prey.

While warming up, Su Jie imagined scenarios where he was bullied, beaten, or humiliated, then rose in defiance. This helped him overcome fear, generate anger, and ignite a fighting spirit. Simultaneously, he strategized—deciding which tactics, moves, and combinations to use against his opponent.

In short, emotional preparation was the most important part of pre-match rituals.

“Before a fight, adjusting your mental state relies on using emotions to stimulate adrenaline production. In extreme situations, the body releases adrenaline, which enhances vitality, reduces pain sensitivity, suppresses fear, and boosts speed, agility, and strength.”

Su Jie replayed Coach Odell’s combat techniques in his mind.

While physical warm-ups for the limbs were important before a match, emotional preparation was even more crucial.

Mastering emotional control required balance. Being overly excited or angry could cloud judgment, leading to mistakes and allowing opponents to capitalize on weaknesses. Conversely, being too calm could dampen explosiveness.

The ideal state was like a volcano on the verge of eruption—emotions surging beneath the surface, waiting to unleash their full power at the perfect moment.

Su Jie realized that the "internal techniques" often emphasized in traditional Chinese martial arts were about emotional control. By managing hormone secretion, one could improve health and enhance combat effectiveness.

His training, which included farming tasks like hoeing and carrying loads, was called “Xin Yi Ba” (Intent and Will Techniques) among ancient martial monks. The name itself hinted at profound truths.

“Su Jie, your opponent is Huang Bo.”

After about 30 to 40 minutes, during which seven or eight rounds of combat had taken place, it was finally Su Jie’s turn.

In this small-scale ring competition, each match lasted only five minutes. If neither side achieved a knockout, the result was determined by scoring.

The scoring wasn’t done by referees but by the academy’s computer system, which analyzed strikes with professional precision. This system was not only highly accurate but also fair, leaving little room for dispute.

“Who is Huang Bo?” Su Jie asked himself as he put on his sparring gloves and stepped into the octagonal cage.

This competition followed mixed martial arts rules. 

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay