James Carter chatted enthusiastically with Richard Grant along the way.

To his surprise, Richard Grant was actually a China expert, knowledgeable about everything, especially martial arts—he was proficient in countless styles and there was nothing he didn’t know. James Carter found this quite normal; during their conversation, he had already learned that Richard Grant was a fighting coach, and not just any coach, but one who trained world-class professional fighters.

However, Richard Grant was now unemployed.

What made James Carter both amused and helpless was that the one who took Richard Grant’s job was actually artificial intelligence.

According to Richard Grant, nowadays, the top professional fighters all train with the help of AI. Artificial intelligence can analyze every tiny muscle, skin, and even the subtle movements of internal organs, allowing for highly targeted training every day.

In addition, it can monitor the fighter’s body daily and create personalized meal plans, specifying which trace elements to consume.

Because AI has access to massive databases and the most scientific medical analyses, it’s simply not something a human coach can compete with.

James Carter knew that AI was extremely powerful now. A few years ago, AI had already completely defeated the world’s top Go champions, and its play style was entirely different from that of humans—not the wisdom of the past, but a new kind of Go it had created itself. This meant that AI wasn’t just inheriting human intelligence, but had the ability to innovate on its own.

He had also seen news reports that, in national sports teams, AI was indeed being used to assist in training. For example, in badminton, table tennis, basketball, and soccer, AI could analyze every move through video and correct athletes’ actions to perfection.

The same was true for fighting.

James Carter’s older sister, Emily Carter, after earning her PhD, joined a large company to participate in AI computer research.

James Carter had read some novels before, where the protagonist obtained some kind of super AI chip that corrected their martial arts moves, fusing many techniques together, and ultimately made the protagonist invincible. In reality, such a situation was indeed possible.

Now, Go players and coaches had all been replaced by AI, and every move was the most accurate and perfect.

In ancient times, Go players would exhaust themselves, even to the point of coughing up blood, just to come up with the perfect move. But AI could arrive at the best conclusion in just a ten-thousandth of a second.

A few years ago, James Carter had seen the despair on the face of the world’s strongest Go master when facing AI, saying that it was the God of Go.

“Uncle Richard Grant, do you know what training method AI has determined to be the best for fighting, and which technique is the strongest?” James Carter finally voiced the question he’d long wanted to ask.

Of all the martial arts in the world, which school is the strongest?

“There is no strongest martial art, only the strongest person,” Richard Grant replied. “And training methods aren’t set in stone. Everyone’s physical and psychological qualities are different. Maybe this set of training is best for me, but not for you. As fighting coaches, we develop specialized training methods for each individual. Unfortunately, I still can’t compare to AI. AI’s training for professional athletes is indeed better than mine. But I’m not willing to give up. I’ve come to the mysterious East to seek the legendary qi—supernatural power.”

“Supernatural power? Is that even possible?” James Carter wondered to himself. But thinking about it, it made sense—Richard Grant had been replaced by AI, which must have been hard to accept and a huge loss.

You have to know, at this level, professional fighting coaches can earn tens of thousands of dollars per hour, and some even get a share of the fighter’s prize money and advertising revenue.

Because some coaches also act as agents.

As a good student who studied science, James Carter knew there was no such thing as supernatural power in the world. But as for the limits of martial arts, he had no idea, nor could he compare himself to someone like Richard Grant, who stood at the pinnacle of the world. He didn’t dare to criticize or judge.

Otherwise, it would be like an elementary school student telling the world’s most famous professor that his research was useless.

The two of them chatted as they walked. James Carter bought the phone that Scott Miller wanted, and then, turning back, he found that Richard Grant’s place was right next to his school. Richard Grant had rented a small courtyard from a local farmer. The yard was very quiet and decorated in an antique style. Once the door was closed, it became a world of its own.

In the courtyard, a stone vat held water with water lilies and goldfish. The house was furnished entirely with natural wood, and there were musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, and paintings—just like the residence of a wise hermit from ancient times.

James Carter was still pondering what Richard Grant had just said.

As he walked, he continued practicing hoeing and digging.

He kept reflecting on the feeling of “hating that the sky has no handle, hating that the earth has no ring,” and gradually, he began to grasp a bit of its essence.

Seeing him like this, Richard Grant nodded approvingly. “Practicing in every movement, whether walking, sitting, or lying down—that’s the best state for training. Your coach William Clark is actually a master, but unfortunately, the rules at Minglun Martial Arts School don’t allow temporary class members to be taught fighting techniques. But I can teach you.”

“You’re willing to teach me?” James Carter said with delight.