Chapter Six: The Body Beyond Law

“Excellent, excellent!”
Pang Daoist patted his plump belly and uttered a heartfelt sigh, “Delicacies from mountains and seas, celestial dishes—none can compare to the taste of home!”
The three aluminum lunchboxes, utterly empty, not even a trace of broth remaining, silently confirmed his sentiment.
He truly had an astonishing appetite!
Fang Xiao scratched his head, voicing the question that puzzled him.
The food he’d finished last night had somehow reappeared today, a phenomenon that defied explanation.
Pang Daoist chuckled after hearing this. “It’s because your satchel is a magical artifact!”
His words carried a profound envy.
He went on to explain, “Some magical artifacts have similar functions—like the Money Tree or the Treasure Basin. But no magical artifact can produce something from nothing; there’s always a price to be paid.”
“Take a look inside your bag—are you missing anything?”
Fang Xiao quickly checked his satchel and made a discovery.
He was short several ration tickets and banknotes!
“That’s it.”
Pang Daoist took a drag from his cigarette and spoke calmly, “Fang Xiao, the law of no work, no reward holds true in every world. Magical artifacts may be wondrous, but they must be used wisely.”
Fang Xiao was utterly convinced, feeling that the Daoist truly had the bearing of a sage.
“I won’t take your food for nothing.”
Pang Daoist stood up, tossed his cigarette to the ground, and crushed it with his toe.
He reached out, grasped Fang Xiao’s arm, and said in a deep voice, “Let’s test your spiritual veins and constitution first!”
Fang Xiao didn’t quite understand,
But he trusted Pang Daoist deeply, so he allowed the elder to knead and tap his body.
It didn’t hurt, but it tickled a little.
After a moment, Pang Daoist withdrew his hand, his expression growing strange.
“Body of Absolute Law.”
His eye twitched twice as he muttered, “You actually possess the Body of Absolute Law!”
The Body of Absolute Law was an exceedingly rare constitution.
Those who possessed it were immune to all magical arts and spells.
It sounded impressive, like the stuff of legends.
But in reality, it was of little practical use.
For the Body of Absolute Law offered no defense against physical harm.
Cultivators could simply hurl boulders, unleash flying swords, or command beasts to crush, slay, or devour their foe outright!
If all else failed, a strongman could finish the job with a single punch.
Even worse, those with the Body of Absolute Law lacked spiritual veins and could not cultivate immortality.
Their path to the Dao was utterly severed!
Pang Daoist sighed inwardly, then forced a smile and said, “You have good bones—a fine candidate for martial training. Though you’re a bit older, that’s no matter.”
Yet martial arts could never compare to immortal cultivation!
No matter how powerful, a martial artist could at best serve as a mountain-moving laborer or a Yellow Turban strongman in the immortal sects.

Used as cannon fodder under others’ command.
But Pang Daoist, not wishing to dampen Fang Xiao’s spirits, kept these thoughts to himself.
Fang Xiao’s eyes lit up, “I can train in martial arts? That’s wonderful!”
Brother Li Yuanchao’s skills were admirable, and he’d already picked up a few moves from him.
Last night’s ordeal had only strengthened Fang Xiao’s desire to grow stronger. “Daoist, can you teach me?”
“That’s easy.”
Pang Daoist replied nonchalantly, “I’ll head down to the county office to register you right away, and find a few martial arts manuals while I’m at it.”
He’d planned to go tomorrow,
But seeing Fang Xiao’s eagerness, he changed his mind.
No more delay.
Fang Xiao was overjoyed, “Thank you, Daoist!”
The Daoist was truly a good man!
Pang Daoist waved his greasy robe sleeve and left the temple.
Before departing, he reminded Fang Xiao not to wander outside, to avoid any accidents.
Fang Xiao naturally obeyed.
Once Pang Daoist was gone, the temple grew quiet.
Fang Xiao thought for a moment, fetched the broom from the corner, and began sweeping away the dust and fallen leaves.
His home was lost to him now; he might spend the rest of his life here.
Pang Daoist had kindly taken him in, so Fang Xiao felt it only right to help out, not to take it for granted.
Tap! Tap!
Just as Fang Xiao was getting into his work, the temple’s main gate was suddenly knocked.
He quickly set down the broom and hurried to open the wooden door.
Standing outside was a little girl.
She looked eight or nine years old, thin and timid, with big eyes and dark skin.
But her features were lovely—a beauty in the making.
Fang Xiao asked curiously, “Who are you looking for?”
The girl instinctively stepped back, replying in a trembling voice, “I…I’m here to deliver steamed buns to the Daoist…”
Seeing her frightened demeanor, Fang Xiao felt embarrassed and quickly explained, “I’m a distant relative of the Daoist, just arrived to seek shelter. My name is Fang Xiao. And you?”
Only then did he notice the girl was carrying a bamboo basket, covered with coarse cloth.
She pressed her lips together, avoiding Fang Xiao’s gaze.
After a moment’s hesitation, she handed him the basket.
As soon as Fang Xiao took it, the girl turned and ran!
She was fast, too.
Fang Xiao nearly scratched his head raw—did he really look like a villain?
Shaking his head, he picked up the bamboo basket and prepared to close the door.

“Ah!”
At that moment, a shrill scream reached his ears.
The voice was full of terror.
Without hesitation, Fang Xiao dropped the basket and rushed outside.
On the mountain path not far away, the little girl was being tightly grasped by two straw figures.
They were dragging her toward the dense forest!
Though the straw figures weren’t large,
they were more than a match for the little girl.
Witnessing this scene, Fang Xiao felt hot blood surge to his head!
He recognized at a glance that these two straw figures were the same monsters who’d pursued him last night—
the so-called little grass fiends mentioned by Pang Daoist.
“Let her go!”
Fang Xiao shouted, charging forward. With his left hand, he drew the triangular stiletto from its ring, and with his right, swiftly unbuckled his military belt.
Whoosh!
The steel belt buckle whistled through the air, striking the body of one little grass fiend with ferocious precision.
Crack!
The straw fiend exploded instantly, scattering countless fragments of grass and leaves.
Fang Xiao was momentarily stunned.
He hadn’t expected his attack to be so effective—he’d annihilated the creature in one blow.
What astonished him even more was that a line of text suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Experience +1]
But another terrified scream from nearby left him no time to ponder it. He thrust the triangular stiletto in his left hand straight at the head of the other straw fiend.
Right on target!
The stiletto pierced the creature’s skull with ease.
The second grass fiend instantly collapsed.
[Experience +1]
Fang Xiao turned sharply, his gaze sweeping the nearby woods.
Within the thickets, he saw more straw fiends, lurking and peering at him furtively.
As the saying goes, enemies meeting only fuels the fire.
With his blood boiling, Fang Xiao charged recklessly into the fray, brandishing his military belt.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
[Experience +1], [Experience +1], [Experience +1]
…