Chapter 6

Translator: Larbre Studio  Editor: Larbre Studio

Young Master Zhou’s sword technique was flawless, but he lacked actual combat experience, losing out to Xu Yi’s cunning and ability to improvise. Xu Yi adapted well, and instead of a sure victory for Young Master Zhou, it became a gruelling battle, prompting Elder Feng to want to make a move.

“No need! I said that this rascal is mine!”

With a steeled expression, Young Master Zhou hacked apart another rock with his sword, only to feel that the force was not as strong as before. With a sudden realization, he laughed coldly. “Have no fear Elder Feng. How can I not notice that the tricks that this rascal is up to? He is trying to drain my stamina. Hehe, does he not know that his stamina is limited too? The strength I need to break apart a rock is much less than the strength he needs to send a rock flying this far. If I’m tired, the rascal will be tired too. I’ll make sure he collapses from fatigue today, then I will skin him alive!”

Elder Feng eyed Xu Yi, and noticed that he was sweating from head to toe. His face was pale, and he was evidently spent from overexertion. He then backed away and said, “Young Master is wise!”

Clang!

Clang!

Another two rocks were hacked away. Young Master Zhou was overjoyed. He could clearly see that the last two rocks were much weaker. It was obvious that Xu Yi was spent.

After breaking the two rocks, Young Master Zhou took the opportunity to close the distance.

Xu Yi sent another rock flying but ended up stumbling.

Not letting an opportunity slip, Young Master Zhou’s eyes sparkled as he mustered his energy to leap forward, closing the distance in a flash. The sword whistled through the air like a vicious dragon emerging from its nest, stabbing straight at the top of Xu Yi’s head. “Meet your doom!”

“You’ve come at the right time!” Xu Yi roared.

His two hands flew outwards at the same time, firmly wedging the swift blade between his two palms.

Kacha! Xu Yi exerted force with his palms and snapped the sword in two. Before Young Master Zhou could react, Xu Yi flipped the broken blade around and stabbed it into Young Master Zhou’s left shoulder.

“Argh!”

A deafening cry that would shock the heavens reverberated through the mountain valley!

Seeing Xu Yi stop the sword, Elder Feng’s eyebrows were raised so high they almost dropped off his face. With one foot stomping on the ground, the mountain path crumbled under his foot. Speeding forward like a tornado, Elder Feng had already reached them the moment Young Master Zhou’s shoulder was stabbed. He placed one hand on Young Master Zhou’s shoulder, and the other hand, in a palm, was sent chopping towards Xu Yi.

The force of the palm was so sharp, even the stray hairs by Young Master Zhou’s ear were cut!

Xu Yi hated Young Master Zhou deeply. He had spent so much effort in order to finally have him in his hands, and he would not easily give up. Without dodging or evading, he sent a fist to meet Elder Feng’s chopping palm.

Elder Feng secretly rejoiced. He doesn’t know that he’s doomed! Elder Feng thought to himself.

Crash!

The fist and the palm clashed, creating what seemed like an explosion at the scene. After the exchange, Xu Yi’s feet had sunk into the ground by half an inch, but he had not taken even a step backwards. Elder Feng, on the other hand, stood firmly on the ground. The force of Xu Yi’s punch had been taken as though it were nothing. Through this exchange, it was clear that Elder Feng stood out on top.

In just one exchange of moves, a wave of surprise swept over Elder Feng. And it was this momentary lapse that Xu Yi took advantage of. He grabbed hold of the still stunned Young Master Zhou’s left arm, exerted his strength, twisted, and pulled. With a bone-chilling scream, Young Master Zhou’s entire left arm was ripped off.

Elder Feng howled in a mix of surprise and rage. At that moment his sleeves exploded apart, as he leapt at Xu Yi like an angry lion.

Landing a crippling injury, Xu Yi spent no time hanging around any longer. Like a fired arrow, he retreated over a dozen meters backwards.

Young Master Zhou was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and he had never faced any real difficulties. Even training in the Martial Way, he had relied on herbs and techniques in order to overcome all sorts of obstacles. He had taken an express route, unlike Xu Yi who had gone through backbreaking training and much hardship.

Unable to withstand such pain, he fainted on the spot.

Elder Feng’s fingers flew as he sealed a dozen acupuncture points all over Young Master Zhou’s body, stopping the flow of blood to his shoulders and his broken arm. Placing him on the ground, he then swept aside the hem of his expensive robes, placing his feet one in front of the other in a combat stance. His eyes were full of disbelief.

“Body Forging peak! You have actually reached the peak of the Body Forging stage! I remember seeing you two years ago. Your muscles were lax. You were clearly weak, and you knew nothing of martial arts. In just a few months, you have actually reached the peak of Body Forging from nothing at all! Even the main disciple of a renowned family couldn’t amount to that much! Truly terrifying!”

Young Master Zhou was at the later stages of Body Forging. His bones had strengthened and his skin had toughened. For Xu Yi to tear him apart with his bare hands was a clear indication that he had reached the peak of Body Forging.

The people of this world held martial arts in high regard. People from all walks of life found glory in martial arts!

Thus, this world of the Martial Way was created!

In this world, those who walked the path of the Martial Way were uncountable, but those who could truly achieve greatness were one in a million.

The peak of the Body Forging stage was one of the most important checkpoints. Only by surpassing this stage can one truly be considered to have taken the first step in exploring the secrets of the Martial Way.

Continuing on, one could explore the depths and complexities of the Martial Way. Even if one stops there, one can retire as a wealthy landowner or become a retainer of powerful family, never needing to worry about making a living again. This was also said to be a step towards wealth!

Just take Elder Feng for example. Before reaching the peak of Body Forging, he was merely a martial artist in an armed escort agency. The day he reached the peak of Body Forging, he became an individual who was heavily sought after by the government office as well as the many powerful families of Guang’an.

But for him to reach this stage, it took six whole years. The hardship that he had to go through was not something an outsider could understand.

However, this young man in front of him, not even twenty years of age and having grown up in the wilderness, possessed such unnatural talent. Unless he had the luck to chance upon some brilliant teachings, he could never have had such good fortune!

“Could it be that you obtained some brilliant technique?” Elder Feng suddenly said with a glint in his eyes.

He mumbled to himself, “Yes, yes… Your set of fist techniques were extremely intricate and bore an unnatural power. I have been at the peak of Body Forging for over a decade. Through my hard training, my one palm more than exceeds the strength of one bull. An ordinary martial artist at the peak of Body Forging would never be able to receive it, but you, who have just entered the peak of Body Forging, managed to withstand my palm firmly. This proves that your technique must be unimaginably brilliant!”

As he spoke, Elder Feng’s eyes grew wider and brighter, “I shall capture you, force you to reveal your technique, and have hopes of entering the Qi Ocean stage!”

“Elder Feng, both you and I are at the peak of Body Forging. We have both cultivated some accomplishments, sharing the same path on the Martial Way. But why have you chosen to work as some watchdog? It is simply unbecoming of you, ” Xu Yi coldly taunted.

Enraged, Elder Feng replied, “What do you know? In this present day and age, the Martial Way may indeed be prospering, but because it has already prospered for so long, various sects and powerful families have all been established. All of the best techniques and best herbs have been monopolized by them. Without money and materials, just with grit alone, what kind of Martial Way can you cultivate? You’ve been extremely lucky, you rascal, to be able to reach the peak of Body Forging in just two short years. But don’t think so highly of yourself. Without any more lucky opportunities, you’ll definitely end up like me; forever stuck at this stage. This is the tragedy of us average martial artists!”

As he finished his speech, a hint of desolation appeared in Elder Feng’s eyes.

Xu Yi replied, “Opportunities blah blah. You submit yourself to the Zhou family as a servant, but has Zhou Daogan given you any of such opportunities that you speak of?”

Elder Feng’s weathered face flushed red. He spat, “What do you know? I have only been with the Zhou family for five years. I merely haven’t achieved enough accomplishments for the lord to reward me.”

With those words, Elder Feng’s somber face suddenly lit up. He stared straight at Xu Yi saying, “Perhaps I haven’t achieved enough in the past, but if I can capture you today, I would gain great favour with the lord since you broke off an arm of the lord’s favourite nephew.”