"Impossible!"
"Your Inspiration rivals that of a titled third-step Martial Lord—truly unprecedented."
At this moment, standing in the morning sunlight, with a gentle breeze occasionally brushing his face, Andrew Han was left utterly bewildered, frozen in place.
Ahead, beneath the shade of the trees, stood Leon Yu and Aaron Yu.
Leon Yu was the Guardian of Southvale Province, a Law-Realm powerhouse. The latter, Aaron Yu, was his nephew—a philosophy master’s student at Southland University, known to Andrew as ‘Salty Fish Peace’ on the forum.
But at this moment—
Andrew sensed a fleeting, mysterious sensation emanating from Aaron Yu.
"Inspiration?"
An ordinary person who had never trained in martial arts, whose body showed no signs of enhancement, and who had never been tempered by deadly battles with Demons or Specters—could he truly generate Inspiration on his own? It was almost unimaginable—could such a phenomenon really occur?
Andrew's expression froze, deeply perplexed.
He was certain—his Inspiration could not possibly be wrong.
The vast Graywhite Aura stored in the ancient battlefield at Purple Aconite Mountain had transformed the Inspiration in his mind from the stability of an anchor to the grandeur of a pillar holding up the sky. If it was once a blazing meteor, now it was a brilliant comet.
At the same time—
"Haha."
Leon Yu smiled faintly with his hands behind his back, glancing at his nephew Aaron Yu. "See? I told you—with Andrew Han’s level of Inspiration, he would surely notice yours."
Aaron Yu sighed, "Yeah, this is what a true genius looks like."
In his view, a true genius was not defined by how quickly one advanced in martial arts, nor by sheer strength, but by the ability to create new laws.
If his guess was correct—
Andrew Han’s Inspiration at this moment could probably rival that of a titled third-step Martial Lord.
"Don’t beat yourself up. You’re not bad, either."
Dressed in simple linen, Leon Yu smiled warmly at his nephew Aaron Yu. "To awaken Inspiration through philosophical study—perhaps even the great thinkers of history were no more than this. Among those who possess Inspiration, the most incredible are those born with it; next are thinkers who develop Inspiration through thought; and finally, martial practitioners who awaken it through training."
But this does not mean the present is inferior to the past.
Times continue to advance, so the ways of our ancestors need not be feared, nor should the techniques of antiquity be blindly imitated.
In today’s era—where ideas collide and evolve—whether in the Martial Arts World, the scientific community, or the realm of philosophy, each field is undergoing profound transformation, building on the past and forging new paths. Aaron believed true freedom was not doing whatever one wanted, but refusing to do what one didn't want. He didn't wish to rely on others, only on himself.
Take the Martial Arts World, for example.
In ancient times, those who reached the Martial Lord Realm bore names that echoed through the ages. And those who transcended Martial Lord—the Law Realm—became legends, woven into myth and revered as immortals. The hierarchy of power was clear: Martial Lord stood at the summit of the mortal world, while Law Realm marked the threshold to the extraordinary.
As for today—
Those who now stand in the Law Realm, in both martial strength and insight, far surpass the immortals of old. Today’s Law-Realm experts are stronger and wiser than any figure of legend, embodying the peak of human achievement.
"Aaron,"
"Although your martial aptitude is poor, after so many years of dedicated study, haven’t you found your own path? In my view, there’s no need to envy others." Leon Yu offered his praise without reservation, speaking with gentle ease.
The next moment—
Leaves rustled in the shade as morning sunlight streamed down.
"Applauding others is also a way of celebrating your own life." Aaron Yu straightened his suit. "Besides, if a person wants to succeed, he must first admit his own failures. The truth is, without martial power, my Inspiration isn’t of much practical use."
...
Leon Yu was left speechless.
Though he stood above Martial Lord, when faced with a nephew who could effortlessly quote philosophical classics, Leon Yu found himself outmatched in debate. Martial strength may expand wisdom, but it cannot rewrite a person’s thinking.
"Can’t you look on the bright side? Why are you always so realistic?" Leon Yu asked helplessly.
"Those who evade reality are destined for an even less ideal future." Aaron Yu smiled faintly, never shying away from the fact that he could not practice martial arts.
Philosophy brings wisdom, and makes the world clearer.