Free Web NovelChapter 28: Chapter 28: Hard Training
By the time Han Yuan ran back to Qingshui County Town,
even on the dark, deserted streets,
he felt an unprecedented sense of security.
He ran all the way home. Recalling that strange hunter, a trace of fear lingered even after his bloodlust had faded.
’That hunter... he must have met with some misfortune in the mountains.’
’Then his heart filled with resentment... and he transformed into some kind of Resentful Soul, harming people in the mountains?’
Han Yuan guessed inwardly.
’But even if he was a Resentful Soul... didn’t I still cut him to pieces?’ freёwebnoѵel.com
’These things... they aren’t unbeatable. Not as long as I’m strong enough!’
The lingering fear in Han Yuan’s eyes gradually dissipated.
So what if this world had monsters and demons? As long as he was strong enough, he could kill them all with a single strike!
He took the Body Tempering Martial Arts manual from his robes.
Arhat Iron Cloth Shirt.
After all that effort, he had finally gotten his hands on a Body Tempering Martial Arts manual.
He lit a candle and began to read it slowly.
The so-called Body Tempering was divided into the Inner Cultivation Method and Outer Forging.
Inner cultivation used the circulation of one’s Qi and blood to strengthen the internal organs, making one’s Essence Blood more vigorous.
Outer Forging, on the other hand, involved various extreme methods to constantly stimulate the muscles, fascia, and skin, unlocking their potential and making them stronger and tougher.
The Arhat Iron Cloth Shirt was naturally the same.
It was even more extreme, requiring both inner cultivation and Outer Forging to be practiced simultaneously.
’So brutal...’
’I like it.’
Han Yuan wasn’t afraid of the Arhat Iron Cloth Shirt being too extreme; he was only afraid it wouldn’t be strong enough.
Afterward, he first studied the Inner Cultivation Method of the Arhat Iron Cloth Shirt, which, as expected, involved a specific route for circulating Qi and blood.
This step was crucial. Not a single acupoint could be wrong, or it could lead to disaster. Han Yuan was exceptionally focused.
He read late into the night before washing up and going to sleep.
「The next day.」
Han Yuan headed to the County Yamen, carrying the Arhat Iron Cloth Shirt secret manual.
Guarding the warehouse was boring anyway, so reading the secret manual would be a good use of his time.
When Wang Changbai saw him, he let out a sigh of relief.
"So... no loose ends?"
Wang Changbai had naturally guessed Han Yuan’s intentions.
The guy had to scrape together even one hundred taels of silver; there was no way he could afford several hundred.
He must have been planning to kill them for their goods.
"When I make a move, it’s always clean."
"They were just a few Tomb Raiders. I took care of them."
Han Yuan said with a smile.
"Tomb Raiders... Well, they deserved to die." Wang Changbai nodded.
"Right... Old Wang."
"Have you ever encountered anything... strange?"
Han Yuan asked suddenly.
"Like what?" Wang Changbai looked puzzled.
"Last night on Great Tiger Mountain..." Han Yuan recounted his encounter with the hunter.
After listening, Wang Changbai sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.
"You must have been born under a killer star, boy. To think you can even kill ’unclean things’."
Han Yuan was startled. "Old Wang, you’ve encountered them too?"
"Not personally... but I’ve heard a few similar stories before..."
"Later, I discussed it with a rather capable Feng Shui Master."
"He told me those things are called Evil Spirits, born from being nourished by Yin Qi and malevolent energy."
"They’re most likely to appear in desolate places in the wild, especially areas heavy with Yin Qi."
Wang Changbai said in a low voice.
’Evil Spirits... It seems that hunter I met was one of them.’
Han Yuan nodded.
"It’s a good thing you’re so murderous."
"That Feng Shui Master said Evil Spirits are skilled in Spiritual Illusion Techniques. You must never show fear, or you’ll die a miserable death."
"Of course... those with vigorous Qi and blood can also harm Evil Spirits."
Wang Changbai added with amazement.
He knew that if it had been him last night, he would already be dead.
"Alright, I came back alive, didn’t I?"
"You should go back and get some rest."
Han Yuan said with a nod.
After Wang Changbai left, Han Yuan muttered to himself, "Not bad... As long as my Qi and blood are strong enough..."
Last night’s encounter had shown Han Yuan a darker, more terrifying side of the world.
After all, that hunter was probably just an ordinary Resentful Soul, yet it had nearly cost him his life.
If he encountered a truly terrifying Resentful Soul, he would have no chance of survival.
So, upon returning to the warehouse, he immediately began to study the Arhat Iron Cloth Shirt.
Five or six days passed in a flash.
Han Yuan finally began to formally cultivate the Inner Cultivation Method of the Arhat Iron Cloth Shirt.
He sat cross-legged on his bed, driving the Qi and blood in his body to circulate through his limbs and bones.
He cautiously followed the prescribed circulation route.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he finally completed one cycle.
But when Han Yuan summoned his Skill Proficiency Panel, he didn’t see the Arhat Iron Cloth Shirt appear.
’Just as I thought. I have to perform the Outer Forging and inner cultivation together.’
’Otherwise, it won’t count toward proficiency at all.’
Han Yuan wasn’t discouraged.
He continued to circulate his Qi and blood, practicing the Inner Cultivation Method.
Only after he was familiar enough with it could he practice it together with the Outer Forging method.
「Three more days passed.」
「On this day.」
Han Yuan specially arranged to switch shifts and asked Wang Changbai to come to his house in the afternoon.
"Han Yuan, are you really about to break through to Body Tempering, kid?"
"So soon?"
Wang Changbai looked at the Iron Rod Han Yuan handed him, his expression filled with shock.
He was a veteran of the Martial World and naturally guessed that Han Yuan was about to begin the Outer Forging for his Body Tempering.
He remembered that just a few months ago, Han Yuan hadn’t even reached the Gathering Power Realm.
This cultivation speed was a little frightening.
"People are always forged by pressure."
"Come... In a moment, I want you to hit my back."
"Don’t hold back."
Han Yuan said in a deep voice.
"This kind of thing... wouldn’t it be better to have Da Hu and the others do it?"
"These old bones of mine... I don’t have the strength to swing."
Wang Changbai muttered.
"You must keep this a secret."
"You’re the only one I can trust." frёewebnoѵēl.com
Han Yuan said, shaking his head.
Wang Changbai nodded slowly. "Alright then, I’ll begin."
Han Yuan took off his shirt, rubbed medicinal wine on his skin, then settled into a horse stance with his fists extended straight out.
This was the Arhat Posture.
THWACK!
With a swing of both hands, Wang Changbai viciously slammed the Iron Rod onto Han Yuan’s back.
A red welt immediately appeared on Han Yuan’s back.
"Yes... this is the feeling!"
Han Yuan felt the circulation of his Qi and blood quicken as he growled in a low voice.
Hearing this, Wang Changbai held back even less, swinging the Iron Rod repeatedly.
BANG! BANG! BANG!~~
As the Iron Rod relentlessly pounded his skin and fascia, Han Yuan held his breath, ignoring the pain and continuously circulating the Qi and blood in his body.
He had to hold on, or all his previous efforts would be for naught.
After the past few days, he was familiar enough with the Inner Cultivation Method of circulating his Qi and blood that he wouldn’t lose control from the interference of the Iron Rod’s blows.
Wang Changbai struck him for the full time it takes an incense stick to burn, so exhausted that he was foaming at the mouth and about to pass out.
But Han Yuan, his chest and back bruised and blood-red from the beating, had a look of joy on his face.
Host: Han Yuan
Thousand Falcons Blade Technique: Perfection (Breaking the Sky)
Mountain-Breaking Fist: Minor Success (661/1200)
Arhat Iron Cloth Shirt: Uninitiated (1/100)
"It finally appeared..."
Han Yuan said with delight.
"Han Yuan... this isn’t going to work."
"If I keep training with you like this, these old bones of mine will be worked to death."
Wang Changbai sat on the ground, drenched in sweat.
"I’ll have to think of something for that."
Han Yuan scratched his head.
This task was indeed a bit too much for Wang Changbai.
