Free Web NovelChapter 13: Chapter 13: Year-End Martial Arts Competition
The reef cave.
Liang Cheng panted heavily, looking at the three corpses on the ground. The fight had seemed brief, but it had been incredibly perilous. If his Mixed Element Stance, Fierce Bull Force, and Stone Armor Skill hadn’t all reached the Minor Success Realm, the outcome would have been uncertain.
After calming himself, he immediately crouched down and began to search the bodies. Tucked inside Scarface’s clothes was an oilskin pouch, which contained over forty taels of broken silver.
Skinny only had a few strings of copper coins on him. Hidden in the boot of the one-eyed man was a sheet of cowhide paper covered in crooked, incomprehensible symbols.
Liang Cheng tucked the silver and the cowhide paper securely against his body, then checked his wounds. A Fish Spear had grazed his ribs, breaking the skin and drawing a little blood.
Although his Stone Muscle Style could resist slashes, it was still somewhat weak against sharp piercing attacks.
’I have to keep training.’
He dragged the bodies to a deep-water area, tied them to reef rocks, and sank them into the sea. By the time he had cleaned up the blood and signs of the fight, the sky was already beginning to brighten.
When he returned to the Martial Arts Hall, the morning practice had not yet begun.
Liang Cheng changed into a clean set of clothes, hid the silver, and applied some ointment to the wound on his ribs. It wasn’t serious.
That afternoon, news arrived that the mission to clear out Black Reef Island was complete. The Yangwei Martial Arts Hall had only suffered one injured Disciple. The Sea Bandit leader, Boss Jiao, had been slain by the combined efforts of Zhou Hu and others, and the rest of the gang had scattered.
Besides Zhou Hu, Zhao Yuan’s reputation also soared. This time, he had single-handedly killed two bandits at the Bright Force Realm. A truly formidable junior!
No one knew that three fish who had slipped through the net had also died in a desolate reef cave the night before.
「Two days later.」
Big Head came to say his goodbyes.
He had finally given up completely. Sometimes, heaven was just unfair. He had worked as a coolie carrying sacks since he was a child, damaging his Root Bone. Not everyone could be like Liang Cheng.
Liang Cheng watched Big Head’s retreating figure, quickly composed himself, and continued his Cultivation.
Three days later, Yang Wei summoned all the backyard Disciples to the Main Hall.
"We confiscated some things during the Black Reef Island cleanup, and the Town Protection Station gave us our share today." He pointed to several leather sacks on the floor. "This is Cold Iron Sand. It’s beneficial for tempering the muscles and bones. Every disciple who participated in the battle will get three jin, and the rest of you will each get one jin."
Liang Cheng, of course, also received one jin. The iron sand was a dark blue color, cool to the touch, and much heavier than ordinary iron sand.
Zhou Hu privately told him, "Cold Iron Sand comes from Deep Sea Cold Iron Ore. It can stimulate the deepest layers of the muscles. Those who practice Hard Skills find it makes their training twice as effective with half the effort. It’s just expensive. A single jin costs at least twenty taels on the market."
Liang Cheng quickly thanked him, but his mind flashed back to what the Scarface Sea Bandit had said about losing his goods. ’He was probably talking about this Cold Iron Sand.’
That night in the reef cave, he mixed the Cold Iron Sand into his Iron Sand Bag.
He also prepared a new ointment, increasing the amount of Iron Bone Vine Juice and adding half a qian of Blood Sand. It was a windfall, after all. It would be a waste not to use it.
’Converting it into strength is the safest bet.’
This time, when he struck himself with the Iron Sand Bag, each blow felt like ice needles piercing his flesh, forcing him to grit his teeth in pain. But after he finished, the warm sensation deep within his muscles was several times stronger than before, as if a fire were burning inside him.
The progress of his Stone Armor Skill had clearly accelerated.
[Mixed Element Stance - Minor Success (195/500)]
[Fierce Bull Force - Minor Success (93/800)]
[Stone Armor Skill (Fragment) - Minor Success (52/800)]
Feeling his progress, Liang Cheng couldn’t help but break into a grin.
...
At the end of the month, Liang Cheng went to the Town Protection Station to collect his pay.
Liu Qi handed him three taels of silver and said with a smile, "Young Hero Liang, will you be back next month? The docks have been much more peaceful with you around."
Liang Cheng weighed the silver in his hand. The patrols this month only took four hours a day, which didn’t interfere with his Cultivation at all, and he still earned three taels.
It wasn’t much, but it was a steady, reliable income.
"I’ll be there," he nodded.
"Excellent!" Liu Qi clapped him on the shoulder. "Same rules next month: daily from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM. If something urgent comes up, just let me know in advance."
After leaving the Town Protection Station, Liang Cheng went to the apothecary to buy three qian of Iron Bone Vine Juice. The ointment for his Stone Muscle Style cultivation was consumed quickly, and the three taels of silver were spent in the blink of an eye.
He also picked up a bag of quicklime. It was cheap, so the Shopkeeper didn’t pay it any mind.
’I still have to find a way to earn more.’
He mused to himself, but knew he couldn’t be hasty.
For the next five months, Liang Cheng’s life fell back into a routine.
Posture Stance at 5:00 AM, practicing his boxing at 7:00 AM, studying literacy in the afternoon, patrolling at 5:00 PM, and practicing the Stone Armor Skill in the reef cave at Midnight.
The Cold Iron Sand was remarkably effective. Tempered by the alternating ice and fire, his muscles grew tougher. His Mixed Element Stance progressed steadily until it reached Great Success, and the old injuries in his waist and knees healed completely.
The Whole Force of his Fierce Bull Force also became more fluid. When he threw a punch, it was now faintly accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder.
[Mixed Element Stance - Great Success (115/1000)]
[Fierce Bull Force - Minor Success (781/800)]
[Stone Armor Skill (Fragment) - Minor Success (697/800)]
Meanwhile, back at the Martial Arts Hall, Zhao Yuan had become the center of attention, faintly overshadowing Senior Brother Zhou Hu.
Yang Wei personally instructed him, doubled his medicinal baths, and even provided him with a monthly nourishing medicinal meal. Zhao Yuan did not disappoint. His Fierce Bull Force advanced by leaps and bounds, and after just over three months, he touched the threshold of the Dark Force.
One day, Yang Wei summoned all the disciples to the Main Hall.
"At the end of the year, the Three Towns Martial Arts Halls will hold their tournament," Yang Wei said, getting straight to the point. "The Zhen Nan Martial Arts Hall produced another Dark Force Disciple last year. We can’t fall behind this year."
The disciples responded in unison. Yang Wei was very pleased. With morale high, he dismissed them, keeping only Zhao Yuan behind.
He took out a Jade Box. Sliding it open, he revealed a thick, amber-colored medicinal soup inside.
"Nine Treasures Soup," Yang Wei said, looking at Zhao Yuan. "You’ve already touched the threshold of the Dark Force. Today, I will help you break through the barrier. If you succeed, you’ll be the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall’s second Dark Force Disciple. If you fail..."
Zhao Yuan stared intently at the bowl of soup, his Adam’s apple bobbing. "Master, rest assured, I will definitely break through to the Dark Force!"
Yang Wei nodded. Three breaths later, Zhao Yuan picked up the bowl and threw his head back, downing the contents. As the Medicinal Power spread, his skin flushed red and veins bulged all over his body.
Yang Wei placed a palm on his back, sending his Power inward to guide the Medicinal Power in assaulting the barrier. Throughout the Main Hall, the sound of churning Qi and Blood echoed all night long.
At dawn, a low, bovine bellow emanated from within Zhao Yuan’s body. His tendons hummed like thunder, his Power penetrated his marrow, and a Soft Force suffused his body.
Dark Force. Achieved.
Zhao Yuan couldn’t help but throw his head back and let out a long roar.
...
「That same night, in the desolate reef cave.」
Liang Cheng was still swinging the Iron Sand Bag, slamming it against his back.
BANG!
The dull thuds carried a crisp sound, like metal striking stone. A grayish-white light flashed across the surface of his skin and vanished. His muscles were like refined iron that had been hammered a thousand times—dense and resilient.
He reached out and pressed the spot on his ribs that had been cut by the Fish Spear. It was now as tough as leather, the scar barely visible.
[Stone Armor Skill (Fragment) - Minor Success (700/800)]
Liang Cheng exhaled a breath of turbid air, feeling the new strength within him. Ordinary swords and sabers would now have a hard time breaking his defense. If he were to face the Scarface Sea Bandit’s Fish Spear now, it would at most leave a white mark.
He packed up his things and returned to the Martial Arts Hall.
As he passed through the front courtyard, he overheard several apprentices discussing, "Senior Brother Zhao broke through to the Dark Force!"
"We’re set for the end-of-year tournament now!"
"Our Martial Arts Hall has two people at the Dark Force Realm! Let’s see how arrogant the Zhen Nan Martial Arts Hall can be now!"
Liang Cheng didn’t break his stride or pay them any mind. No one knew that he, too, was not far from breaking through to the Dark Force.
If it weren’t for his Mayfly Life Chart, which required him to achieve a natural breakthrough in a perfect state, he could have broken through the barrier to the Dark Force right now.
Passing through the backyard, he happened to see Zhao Yuan surrounded by their other martial brothers. This time, upon seeing Liang Cheng, Zhao Yuan actually took the initiative to greet him.
"Junior Brother Liang."
"Congratulations on breaking through to the Dark Force, Senior Brother Zhao."
’You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.’ Liang Cheng wasn’t going to deliberately antagonize Zhao Yuan at a time like this. Besides, it was just a few words; he had nothing to lose.
Hearing this, Zhao Yuan looked as if he had just eaten a Ginseng Fruit. Every pore in his body relaxed, and he couldn’t help but burst into loud laughter.
’This time, Liang Cheng is finally a step below me.’
