Through further conversation, Ling Tian learned that the sect of the Evil-Punishing Monk also possessed a cultivation technique that could strengthen a person's digestive functions, multiplying the cultivator's digestive capacity and, incidentally, better converting ingested food into energy and nutrients.
This technique bore some resemblance to the Chaos Devouring Art that Ling Tian had obtained from the Myriad Laws Pavilion, but its effects were far inferior to the Chaos Devouring Art.
Ling Tian's Chaos Devouring Art could even digest the most indigestible dietary fiber in food, converting it into energy and nutrients. Even more astonishingly, it could digest and transform toxic substances if ingested. This ability was truly heaven-defying.
After a satisfying meal, the Evil-Punishing Monk stood up, removed his monk's robe to reveal his short jacket, and proceeded to the main hall of the east and west wing rooms to begin practicing his punches.
The Evil-Punishing Monk's boxing style was not flashy but was powerful and forceful, with wide, sweeping movements. Each punch whistled through the air. An ordinary person struck by his fist would undoubtedly suffer a fracture.
Ling Tian found himself surprisingly familiar with the boxing style the Evil-Punishing Monk was using. He had actually practiced it himself. Almost all Chinese martial monks practiced it, and it was one of the Shaolin Seventy-Two Arts of Martial Excellence: the Vajra Subduing Demon Fist.
This was a supremely powerful and fierce boxing technique, capable of both engaging in combat and strengthening the body. The founder of this boxing style was none other than Patriarch Bodhidharma.
Patriarch Bodhidharma was not a native of China; he hailed from that peculiar country to the south. His original name was Bodhitara, later changed to Bodhidharma. He was a master of Mahayana Buddhism and revered by those who practiced Zen meditation.
During the Northern Wei Dynasty, he preached in the Central Plains, founded the Chan (Zen) school of Buddhism, and also pioneered Chinese martial arts.
Before him, the concept of martial arts did not exist; practicing martial arts was merely a tool for strengthening the body and a technique for killing.
Patriarch Bodhidharma's contributions to Chinese martial arts were indelible, and over a dozen of the Seventy-Two Arts of Martial Excellence that shook the martial world were passed down by him.
Legend had it that Patriarch Bodhidharma lived to be 150 years old when he entered Nirvana. It was important to remember that the average lifespan during that era was less than forty years.
The Evil-Punishing Monk's boxing skill was of a very high caliber. Even Ling Tian, watching from the side, exclaimed, "Excellent boxing!"
The Evil-Punishing Monk practiced for over ten minutes, with wisps of steam rising from his head, before he finally concluded his movements.
"Brother Ling Tian, you must also be a martial arts expert. How about we spar a bit?"
Upon his invitation, Ling Tian felt a surge of eagerness. He hadn't encountered an evenly matched opponent in a long time, and seeing the monk's skill, he was keen to have a good fight.
Of course, Ling Tian was aware of his own strength. He would have to hold back when fighting the monk, as Ling Tian's physical condition had already transcended the human realm.
He stood up and stretched his limbs.
"Certainly, I was thinking the same. Let's digest our meal with a little sparring. We'll stop when we reach our limits! However, this room is too cramped for us to fully display our skills. Let's go to the courtyard."
"Very well, Brother Ling Tian, you make the arrangements. We will stop when we reach our limits!"
With that, the two rose, opened the door, and stepped into the courtyard. The courtyard had a flat area of over a hundred square meters with a cement floor, which the previous owner had used for drying grain.
However, the courtyard was still shrouded in thick fog.
Ling Tian used his Heavenly Eye divine ability to observe the distance and saw faint figures in the distance. The number of these ghoul-like spirits was significantly less than before.
The two men stood facing each other. Ling Tian assumed a stance, and upon seeing Ling Tian's starting posture, the great monk almost burst into laughter. Ling Tian's opening stance was precisely the Vajra Subduing Demon Fist that he had just performed.
"Brother Ling Tian, this humble monk has been immersed in this boxing style for many years. In other words, I have practiced only this boxing style my entire life. I suggest you use your most proficient martial art, lest you get injured by me..."
"No matter, I am not unfamiliar with Buddhist martial arts! Master, please be careful!"
Ling Tian spoke with great confidence. His second master, Monk Jie Nu, was a formidable figure from the Shaolin Temple's Scripture Repository.
Almost simultaneously, the two lunged at each other, without any probing, directly throwing heavy punches at their opponent.
This was the Vajra Subduing Demon Fist, a boxing style of extreme power and yang energy, which emphasized an unstoppable momentum.
Their fists met and crossed in mid-air, their palms and fists colliding with crackling sounds.
Ling Tian was unfazed, but the Evil-Punishing Monk was inwardly shocked. He discovered that in his exchange with Ling Tian, he was at a disadvantage in terms of strength and power! His fist had been blocked, and he felt as though he had struck an iron rod!
However, there was one thing he did not know: Ling Tian was holding back. He was not using his full strength but was suppressing his power to match that of the Evil-Punishing Monk.
The two exchanged blows for over ten minutes. Finally, they separated. The Evil-Punishing Monk clasped his hands together and said, "Amitabha, Brother Ling Tian, this humble monk concedes defeat!"
At this moment, the Evil-Punishing Monk was covered in bruises, his limbs felt numb, and his blood circulation was somewhat sluggish. Yet, looking at Ling Tian opposite him, who appeared calm and composed, as if nothing had happened, he knew clearly that he was no match for Ling Tian. To continue fighting would only be a source of ridicule.
He had initially thought that his recent breakthroughs in three realms would significantly boost his strength, but now it seemed like a joke.
Just then, both Ling Tian and the Evil-Punishing Monk noticed three ghoul-like spirits staggering towards their house and launching a psychic attack on them.
These three spirits were clearly survivors from the previous night. They possessed only instinct and could not comprehend how dangerous the two individuals before them were.
Seeing this, the Evil-Punishing Monk, without even picking up his staff, charged directly at the three spirits with his bare hands.
When he was still more than five meters away from the spirits, he secretly channeled his internal energy and threw a punch!
Ling Tian observed through his Heavenly Eye divine ability that a stream of pure energy, shaped like a volleyball-sized fist, shot out from the monk's fist, directly striking the foremost spirit.
The spirit let out a wail, its body convulsing as if struck by high voltage electricity. In an instant, it disintegrated and vanished into thin air.
Immediately after, the monk unleashed both fists, and two volleyball-sized energy fists shot out from his fists once more.
The remaining two spirits, about four to five meters away, could not escape the same fate of disintegration.
Witnessing this, Ling Tian clapped his hands in applause.
"Master, your skill is extraordinary!"
"Amitabha, Brother Ling Tian, you flatter me. This is the first time I've attempted such a move, and I must say, it felt fantastic!"