212: Chapter 212 The Gears of Fate Begin to Turn, Qin Yi Instructs on the Basic Body Tempering Technique

Time passed minute by minute. Qin Yi and the others stood by the lake, chatting casually and comfortably while waiting for Ye Ziming to complete his first day of around-the-lake physical training.

Unbeknownst to them, the park entrance began to bustle with people, and the time quietly reached six-thirty in the morning.

Hearing the noise, Qin Yi and the others looked toward the park entrance. They saw over a dozen elderly men and women wearing matching red-and-white tracksuits and white gloves. Each one was full of energy as they briskly descended the steps, heading straight toward where Qin Yi's group was standing.

"Heh," Xing Zhenkun looked at the grand procession, shook his head helplessly with a smile, and joked to the group, "It looks like we'll have to make some room for these uncles and aunties."

Everyone nodded with bitter smiles and began walking together toward a corner of the Music Plaza. Just then, Ye Ziming's figure appeared in their line of sight.

He was seen running breathlessly toward the group of elderly people. Standing on the steps, he hunched over with his hands on his knees, coughing dryly. His Adam's apple bobbed, his chest heaved incessantly, and his legs trembled. He looked up toward Qin Yi and shouted out of breath, "Young Master Qin... Qin, don't leave... don't leave. I... I'm back."

Qin Yi checked the time on his watch and nodded in satisfaction. He pointed toward a corner on the side and called out to him, "Not bad, five minutes to spare! Alright, take a rest first, then come over there in a bit."

Hearing this, Ye Ziming raised his hand in an 'OK' gesture. His heart relaxed, and he slumped down onto the bottom step. However, before he could even catch his breath, a white-haired old man carrying a large speaker walked up beside him.

The old man had a kind face, but his tone left no room for argument as he said, "Young man, move aside a bit, will you? We're about to start our morning exercise."

Ye Ziming glanced at the waist-high speaker with some impatience. Panting heavily, he replied, "Old man, I just ran a lap around the lake; I really can't move. Why don't you put the speaker somewhere else?"

Hearing Ye Ziming refuse to move, the old man's voice immediately became less polite. "Hey now, young man, panting like this after just one lap? Your physical fitness is no good; you need to exercise more."

Ye Ziming was exhausted and didn't care to argue with the old man. He waved his hand, turned his head away, and chose to ignore the old man's nagging.

Seeing this, the old man stopped looking at Ye Ziming and started fiddling with his speaker on his own, saying leisurely, "Young man, I'm asking you to move for your own good. Don't say I didn't warn you. If you don't move now, don't blame me when the speaker starts up and disturbs you."

A moment later, the old man turned around, walked toward the main group, and shouted to his teammates who were lining up for their morning exercise, "Everyone get ready! Let's start the routine!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the old man pulled a black remote from his pocket and gave the speaker a light press. Immediately after, with a muffled 'thrum,' the beat of a drum suddenly rang out.

A popular old song flowed out of the speaker: 'Waves rushing... waves flowing... the ten thousand miles of surging river water never stops, washing away... the affairs of the world... mixing into a surging tide, be it joy... or sorrow...'

As the music started, Ye Ziming, who was sitting on the steps, helplessly picked at his ear. He saw Qin Yi and the others standing in the corner of the plaza, smiling bitterly as they watched the elderly people dancing to the music.

"Argh!!!"

Ye Ziming shouted in frustration and struggled to his feet, supporting himself with his hands on his knees. He glared at the old men and women nearby who were looking at him cheerfully. With a face full of displeasure, he muttered, "So annoying!" Having said that, he dragged his tired body and staggered toward Qin Yi and the others.

Those elderly people didn't mind Ye Ziming's reaction. The old man who had been fiddling with the speaker even waved his hand and shouted, "Mates, ignore him, let's keep the music playing and keep on dancing!"

Qin Yi and the others couldn't help but laugh when they saw Ye Ziming's pathetic state.

"You're still laughing!" Ye Ziming walked up to them, rolled his eyes irritably, and panted, "Young Master Qin, next time let's find an indoor venue. It's way too noisy here."

Hearing this, Xing Zhenkun's eyes lit up. He clapped his hands and said, "That's a great suggestion! Young Master Qin, how about we just open a martial arts hall?"

Qin Yi had no such intention and quickly waved his hand. "A martial arts hall? Isn't that a bit too much? With my current strength, opening a hall would be overestimating myself. No, no."

Just then, the System's notification sound rang out in Qin Yi's mind once again for no apparent reason.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for accidentally triggering a random System mission — The Gears of Fate begin to turn from this moment; the Path of the Martial Arts Grandmaster has opened!]

[Option 1: Establish a martial arts hall, recruit many disciples, and from now on found a sect and embark on the Path of the Martial Arts Grandmaster! Reward: basic strength enhancement potion *10, Elementary Agility Potion *10, Random Cultivation Technique Draw *1!]

[Option 2: My life is my own to decide; suffering and toil are not as good as lying flat and enjoying life! Reward: Draw count +1!]

Hearing this sudden System notification, Qin Yi couldn't help but look at Ye Ziming and Xing Zhenkun, thinking to himself: Damn, you two really are my lucky stars. A single sentence can trigger a System mission... truly worthy of the surname Ye, a name that comes with its own Protagonist Halo.

Did he even need to think about this?

Faced with such generous rewards, as long as one wasn't a fool, they'd know which to choose even with their eyes closed.

"System, I choose Option 1!" Qin Yi responded urgently to the System.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for making an incredibly correct choice! Rewards obtained: basic strength enhancement potion *10, Elementary Agility Potion *10, Random Cultivation Technique Draw *1, currently placed in the System Space. May I ask if the host would like to perform the random Cultivation Technique draw now?]

Qin Yi felt a surge of excitement in his heart. He said impatiently, "Draw! I must draw!"

After waiting for a moment, the System's voice rang out again.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the superior movement technique: Divine Movement Hundred Changes!]

As the System notification ended, Qin Yi felt a massive amount of information regarding Divine Movement Hundred Changes flood into his Sea of Consciousness.

[Divine Movement Hundred Changes is a relatively superior movement technique in low-martial planes. The threshold is low, and those without Internal Energy can also practice this technique. Divine Movement Hundred Changes is divided into three Realms. First Realm: Shrinking Ground to Inches, capable of traveling a thousand miles in a day. This Realm is the highest level attainable for those without Internal Energy; Second Realm: Walking on Level Ground, where towering mountains and steep cliffs need not be feared; Third Realm: Coming and Going Freely, movement techniques changing in a hundred ways, as elusive as drifting clouds or ghosts!]

"System, what Realm am I at now?" Qin Yi couldn't help but ask the System.

[Ding! Reporting to the host, the host is currently in the Middle Stage of Ming Jin and does not yet have Internal Energy in the body. Divine Movement Hundred Changes is at the First Realm, capable of traveling a thousand miles in a day. Once the host's Realm breaks through to An Jin, or if the host studies an Internal Skill Mind-Cultivation Technique, the Divine Movement Hundred Changes technique can advance to the Second Realm.]

Qin Yi had just finished digesting the shock that Divine Movement Hundred Changes brought him when he heard Si Yao's voice: "Young Master Ye, actually, I think opening a martial arts hall isn't a bad idea."

Qin Yi composed himself and looked at Si Yao. He saw her turn her gaze to Xing Zhenkun and continue, "Brother Kun, how about this? If Young Master Qin doesn't want to teach too many people, why not set up the venue at our club? The space there is large, and the people who go there are usually from our club, so it would be relatively private."

"That's right, Yaoyao, it has to be you; your mind really works fast. Why didn't I think of that?" Xing Zhenkun said, looking at Qin Yi with excitement. "Young Master Qin, I think we should listen to Yaoyao. Let's go check out the club later and set up the martial arts hall. In the future, Young Master Qin can teach Young Master Ye at the hall, and if we have time, we can follow along and learn too. What do you say, Young Master Qin?"

Seeing the eager looks from several people, although Qin Yi agreed a thousand times over in his heart, he still put on a reluctant front. With a helpless nod and a smile, he said, "Fine, since everyone is so enthusiastic, I'll accept. Let's settle the matter of opening a martial arts hall for now. So, is everyone still practicing here?"

Xing Zhenkun was about to suggest going to the club right now, but Ye Ziming chimed in at that moment, "Practice, of course we're practicing! I've finished my lap; I have to practice at least a little bit."

Hearing this, everyone looked at each other and smiled. Qin Yi also smiled and patted Ye Ziming on the shoulder, continuing, "Alright then, those of you who want to learn, follow my movements. I'll try to slow down as much as possible."

After saying that, Qin Yi walked in front of everyone, took a deep breath, and with a thought, began to practice according to the movements of the 'little boy' constantly rehearsing in his Sea of Consciousness.

Seeing this, the people behind him also began to follow Qin Yi's movements. Chu Muyun originally wasn't very interested in kung fu or anything like that, but seeing everyone following Qin Yi, combined with the shocking battle between Qin Yi and Si Hongfei earlier, she couldn't help but join in as well.

Thus, in a corner of the Music Plaza, such a peculiar scene appeared: on one side were the elderly men and women moving their bodies and pouring out their passion to an old song; on the other side was Qin Yi's group of young people, seriously practicing the Basic Body Forging Art. Although the range and rhythm of the movements on both sides were completely different, they coexisted in a strange harmony, creating a momentary sense of time and space being out of sync.