Gou Zai Wudao Shicheng Dao

After bidding farewell to Youqian, Fang Xia returned to "Jingyun Residence".

The wooden door closed slightly, isolating the noise from the outside world.

He did not rest immediately.

First, he practiced the "Qingyang Palm" in a quiet room.

The palm strike pierced the air, carrying a sense of harmony and fluidity, the movements flowing like clouds and water.

Compared to Lin You's martial arts demonstration that day, this one had a more restrained and profound power.

Each movement seems to be imprinted on the body's instincts, and it's not too far from the "minor achievement" stage.

Fang Xia stood with his palms folded, his breathing steady.

Exhaling a breath of stale air, Fang Xia immediately stood still, lowered his waist and dismounted from his horse, assuming the "Three Yang Stance".

The Qi and blood are hidden and do not manifest, but circulate under the guidance of standing meditation, becoming calm and restrained.

In the quiet room, Fang Xia's breathing was long and rhythmic.

He could even hear the faint sound of his own blood flowing.

After finishing lunch, Fang Xia took out a bottle of "Body Tempering Ointment" provided by the You family.

Looking at the porcelain vase in front of her, Fang Xia couldn't help but sigh.

This one bottle of "Body Tempering Ointment" is worth three taels of silver.

The majority of the You family's donation was spent on three bottles of "Body Tempering Ointment".

Upon opening the stopper, a pure and rich medicinal aroma wafted out, refreshing and delightful.

Fang Xia took the ointment with water.

Its viscous texture, with a slightly sweet aroma, spread throughout the mouth.

The moment the ointment entered his stomach, it was like a spark falling into boiling oil!

boom!

A torrent, far hotter than the scorching heat of the 'Great Azure Dragon' treasure fish spines, suddenly exploded out!

The drug's effects went out of control, instantly flooding his limbs and bones, tearing at his meridians.

"Such a potent medicine?"

His skin was visibly red, and the veins on his forehead were bulging.

Fang Xia felt her blood and qi surging upwards, and her meridians throbbed with pain.

"snort....."

With a muffled groan, he dared not hesitate for a moment and unleashed the full power of the "Azure Sun Palm".

The palms danced, stimulating the flow of medicinal power within the body.

........

Sweat soaked through Fang Xia's coarse cloth short jacket, his veins bulged, and each breath he took carried white vapor.

He gritted his teeth and focused all his attention on refining this enormous energy within his body.

Time slips away silently.

As the sun began to set in the west, its orange-red rays shone down.

In the quiet room, Fang Xia's shadow was shrouded in the deep twilight.

When the last trace of medicinal power is completely brought under control and transformed into qi and blood to nourish the skin, muscles, and bones...

Fang Xia let out a long breath and slowly finished his practice.

The stars were already twinkling outside the window.

My mind sank into my sea of ​​consciousness, and the destiny of "late bloomer" clearly emerged, the golden characters shining brightly:

[Sanyang Zhuang Minor Success (38/100)]

[Qingyang Palm Basics (79/100)]

[Body Tempering Realm: Skin Barrier - Initial Stage of Bullhide (98/100)]

[Introduction to Tiger and Leopard Bone Refining Technique (33/100)]

[Introduction to Qi Sensing Techniques (35/100)]

His gaze was fixed on [Body Tempering Realm: Skin Pass - Initial Stage of Bullhide (98/100)].

Fang Xia could clearly "feel" that beneath that membrane, an even more powerful force was boiling.

It's just one spark away from breaking free from its cocoon!

Step into the Stone Skin Realm!

He was confident that he could achieve a breakthrough within the Sanyang Hall tomorrow.

However, Fang Xia forcibly suppressed the thought as soon as it arose.

"Lin Youyi has excellent aptitude and recently broke through to the middle stage of the Stone Skin Realm, which has attracted the envy of all the inner disciples."

And what about myself? I'm just an 'ordinary' person with average talent.

If you were to step onto the stone surface in full view of everyone?

This is no longer a surprise, it's horror!

This will inevitably attract countless inquisitive and suspicious glances.

Thinking of this, Fang Xia shook her head.

How will his terrifyingly rapid progress in cultivation be explained then?

Furthermore, even Ning Tianyang, who was at the Qi Gathering Realm, couldn't see through his true cultivation level, so how could he possibly explain it clearly?

Furthermore, the shadow of the Black Tiger Gang has not dissipated, and the eyes that are watching him have never ceased.

Once their strength is exposed, Fang Xia will likely face an even more insidious attempt to eliminate them!

Heishan County has never been a kind place.

"The Three Yang Hall is too crowded and no place for a breakthrough." Fang Xia's eyes cleared, and he made a decision: "Tomorrow, I'll go home to break through!"

Suppressing the restlessness in her heart, Fang Xia wiped the sweat off her body.

Then he lay down fully clothed on the bed in the quiet room.

.........

Meanwhile, in the southeast of the street where the Fang family lives.

Inside a somewhat dilapidated three-courtyard house.

The night was thick with darkness, and a few crows perched on the withered locust tree.

The hoarse cries added to the eeriness.

The main hall of the mansion was filled with a heavy stench of blood.

A middle-aged man with disheveled hair stood there.

He was dressed in rags, like a demon.

His clothes were stained with blood.

The middle-aged man had a haggard, sallow complexion and high cheekbones.

Only a pair of eyes gleamed with a humiliating and chilling ferocity.

If Fang Xia were here, he would definitely recognize her.

This person is none other than Bai Yujin, the "Master Thief of the Primordial Era" wanted by the county government!

Bai Yujin glared fiercely at Liu Sanshou, who was kneeling on the ground trembling.

The latter had a bruised and swollen face, a split mouth, half of his cheek was swollen, and blood kept flowing from his mouth and nose.

"You bastard!" Bai Yujin's voice was filled with resentment: "Stripping me of all my belongings wasn't enough..."

How dare you! How dare you sell me into a place like that!

Speaking of "that kind of place," Bai Yujin gritted her teeth, a faint throbbing pain emanating from a certain part of her body.

He came to Black Mountain seeking "Innate Fortune" but was severely injured by the great demon "Chu Yong" and Old Ghost Song, and fell from the Innate Realm.

After fleeing to Heishan County, his strength plummeted, and he became even weaker than an ordinary person.

Not only was he robbed of all his belongings by Liu Sanshou, but he was also sold into that kind of place...

Bai Yujin grew angrier the more she thought about it, and reached out to slap Liu Sanshou a few more times...

Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!

Liu Sanshou's head was buzzing, his vision was blurring, and he wailed, "Spare...spare me...great hero...spare me..."

"Spare me?" Bai Yujin grinned maliciously, his eyes flashing even redder. "You've made me wish I were dead, and you still dare to beg for mercy?"

"I wish I could tear you to pieces!"

Bai Yujin was still not satisfied with 'Liu Sanshou' and wanted to hit him a few more times.

But the movement stopped.

His anger was forcibly suppressed.

He remembered the two things he had lost!

That bronze token! That animal hide!

That was a priceless treasure entrusted to him by his uncle, who ordered him to keep it safe!

If it gets lost in his hands...

Bai Yujin couldn't help but shiver!

The consequences would be a hundred times more terrifying than they are now!

Suppressing the urge to tear Liu San's hands to shreds, Bai Yujin squatted down and grabbed his hair: "Tell me! Where are my things?"

The token! And that animal hide! Where are they hidden?

Despite the excruciating pain in his hand, Liu San regained consciousness for a moment.

Looking at Bai Yujin, who resembled a demon, the other party's eyes were filled with undisguised killing intent.

His entire family of over a dozen people was slaughtered by this man, and he himself had offended him to the point of death. Even if he told the truth...

Shadow Three and Ma Five? Those two bastards died last month!

There's no way the dead can testify!

Speaking it out will only lead to certain death!

"I...I don't know...what token..." Liu Sanshou's eyes darted around, still trying to put up a stubborn resistance.

"have no idea?"

Bai Yujin's eyes gleamed red as he suddenly drew out an iron shovel and stabbed it into Liu Sanshou's thigh!

"ah--!!!"

A heart-wrenching scream pierced the night sky.

Bai Yujin's methods became increasingly cruel. She pulled out the iron shovel, leaving a trail of blood, and then plunged it into another spot...

"I'll talk! I'll talk!" Liu Sanshou finally broke down, tears streaming down his face.

In his agony and despair, Liu Sanshou recalled the oppression and exploitation he had suffered at the hands of the Black Tiger Gang's higher-ups.

A wicked thought came to mind.

"The...the wealth...it's all...all of it has been given as tribute to the Black Tiger Gang!"

It was Master Peng! Peng Heihu personally received it! The token and the leather... are still there...

"Black Tiger Gang? Peng Heihu?" Bai Yujin paused, chewing unconsciously.

In that moment of distraction, a resolute glint flashed in Liu Sanshou's eyes!

He knew that no matter what, he wouldn't survive!

Rather than endure this inhuman torture any longer...

With a determined heart, Liu Sanshou used all his strength to bite his tongue and commit suicide!

Liu Sanshou collapsed, his body twitched a few times, and his eyes quickly dimmed.

Bai Yujin was furious! She had been tricked!

"Damn it!!" He kicked Liu Sanshou's corpse.

"You bastard! Dying like this is too good for you!"

Bai Yujin trembled with rage, pacing back and forth in the blood-soaked main hall.

All the humiliation he had suffered over the past month had now turned into a raging inferno!

"Black Tiger Gang! Peng Heihu!" Bai Yujin added this name to her kill list.

"Took something you shouldn't have? Good! Very good!"

I will make sure the Black Tiger Gang is wiped out, leaving no one alive, and rivers of blood flowing!

"And the Cao family!" His eyes gleamed with a sinister red light, like a ferocious beast ready to devour its prey.

"Is that filthy and despicable place where the Cao family makes their living?"

You all deserve to die! None of you will escape!

Finally, the two faces that had plunged him into the abyss appeared in Bai Yujin's mind.

"The Great Demon 'Chu Yong'! Old Ghost Song!"

Bai Yujin growled, her voice filled with venom: "I will fight you to the death! We are locked in a life-or-death struggle!!"

Bai Yujin took one last look at Liu Sanshou, climbed over the wall, and disappeared into the vast darkness.

The next morning, at the martial arts training ground in the inner courtyard of Sanyang Hall.

Ning Tianyang sat high in the main seat, his aura profound and deep.

Below, Zhang Yuan and Meng Zhang respectfully kowtowed.

After three months of practice, they achieved minor success in the Three Yang Stance Technique and entered the Body Tempering Stage.

For a person with a C-grade bone structure, this is considered average.

"Hmm." Ning Tianyang nodded slightly, his voice calm and even.

"Having achieved minor success in stance training and opened the skin barrier, one can be considered to have entered the path."

From this day forward, I will teach you two the "Breathing Technique." Practice it diligently to solidify your foundation.

After saying that, he asked Zhou Cheng to teach the two the breathing technique.

There were no more words, and not a single resource was bestowed.

Zhang Yuan and Meng Zhang respectfully accepted the order and stepped aside.

Zhang Yuan glanced at Fang Xia out of the corner of his eye and sensed the fluctuations in his aura, it seemed...

It's barely reached the middle of the cowhide?

Not much better than me?

The tension in his heart instantly eased, and a sense of superiority welled up within him.

Zhang Yuan scoffed inwardly, "So what if he broke through in twenty-three days? He's running out of steam!"

His gaze shifted to Lin You, whose blood and qi were incredibly robust at the Stone Skin Realm.

Being able to attach oneself to such a promising genius and become his lackey, how could one's future be compared to that of a washed-up "lucky guy" like Fang Xia?

Thinking of this, Zhang Yuan's gaze towards Fang Xia involuntarily carried a hint of contempt.

"Just a clown!"

Fang Xia remained calm, ignoring Zhang Yuan's gaze.

This indifferent attitude, instead, acted like a thorn, fueling Zhang Yuan's jealousy and resentment.

However, with many senior brothers present during the morning class in the inner courtyard, Zhang Yuan dared not be the slightest bit presumptuous.

Morning class is over.

Zhang Yuan quickly approached Lin You, showering him with flattery.

Lin You was in high spirits. After entering the middle stage of the Stone Skin Realm, not only did his strength increase greatly, but the generous reward for his temporary post also gave him a lot of confidence.

Lin You's gaze swept across the crowd, lingering on Fang Xia for a moment.

Sensing the fluctuations of qi and blood in that "cowhide mid-section," the difference between it and his own stone skin mid-stage was already quite significant.

"It seems that the limitations of one's physical constitution are ultimately insurmountable," Lin You thought to himself.

However, considering Fang Xia's comprehension and willpower, Lin You still had doubts and decided to observe for the time being.

"Fine, as long as he doesn't bother me, we can just keep to ourselves."

On the other side, Fang Xia was exchanging pleasantries with Meng Zhang.

Meng Zhang was an honest man and had no jealousy towards Fang Xia's performance at the time.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Fang."

Meng Zhang smiled憨厚ly, referring to the fact that Fang Xia had entered the inner courtyard earlier than him.

"Congratulations, Brother Meng," Fang Xia replied with a smile.

At this moment, Lu Sheng also walked over.

He entered the Pi Guan a little later than Fang Xia, but at this moment his Qi and blood fluctuations had reached the "middle section of the cowhide".

Lu Sheng looked at Fang Xia with a hint of defiance in his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Fang Xia, I've caught up with you."

The path of martial arts is arduous; don't let me down, and don't fall too far behind!

After saying that, without waiting for Fang Xia's response, he turned and walked towards his meditation room.

Fang Xia looked at Lu Sheng's back, slightly taken aback, then smiled with relief.

After exchanging a few more words with Meng Zhang, he turned and returned to "Jingyun Residence".

Inside the quiet room, Fang Xia's heart was as still as water.

He did not rush for quick success, but instead honed his skills step by step.

Palms flashed and flew, their power surged and dissipated.

Fang Xia abandoned all the fancy techniques and focused on the method of channeling internal energy.

With each palm strike, the force of the palm strike was no longer violent and outward, but gradually became condensed and inward.

The power it contains is becoming increasingly astonishing!

Sweat soaked through her thin clothes, and Fang Xia felt that she was only a thin veil away from the Lesser Completion Realm.

An hour later, Fang Xia stopped and stood still, immediately switching to the Three Yang Stance.

His feet are like roots firmly planted in the earth, and his spine is like a dragon raising its head to the sky.

The Three Yang Gathering Yuan Breathing Technique operates naturally, stimulating the circulation of Qi and blood within the body, nourishing the skin, muscles, and bones.

Fang Xia calmed his mind and felt the standing meditation nourishing his depleted qi and blood, slowly solidifying his martial arts foundation.

Another hour passed, and Fang Xia immersed himself in the practice of the "Qi Sensing Technique".

During the day, with so many people around, Fang Xia was afraid that if he exerted too much effort in his cultivation and stepped into the Stone Skin Realm, he would expose his true cultivation progress.

This secret technique, obtained from the hide of a mysterious beast, became his best choice.

When cultivating, one should keep one's aura contained and make very little noise, so as not to attract the attention of others.

Although this technique is not a method of attack, it is extremely practical.

Fang Xia closed her eyes and focused her mind, her spirit like an invisible tentacle, cautiously probing.

The spirit cautiously spread a few inches to the surface of the body, capturing the subtle flow of vital energy in the air.

.........

As the sun set, Fang Xia slowly finished her practice and exhaled a long breath.

Introspecting within my sea of ​​consciousness, the destiny of "late bloomer" clearly emerges:

[Sanyang Zhuang Minor Success (39/100)]

[Qingyang Palm Basics (80/100)]

[Body Tempering Realm: Skin Barrier - Initial Stage of Bullhide (99/100)]

[Introduction to Qi Sensing Techniques (38/100)]

"I've reached the peak of the initial stage of the 'Awesome Technique' realm... just one step away from the finish line."

A glint of light flashed in Fang Xia's eyes, which quickly disappeared before he regained his composure.

He straightened his clothes and turned to go home.