Chapter 40: Clear Wind Palm Reaches Mastery

After a sparring session.

Lu Yongfeng, Zhao Jingchuan, and Cheng Ying all fell into deep self-doubt.

They were crushed too badly!

None of the three could survive three strikes against Lin Chen—all were defeated within three moves.

Zhao Jingchuan and Cheng Ying finally understood why Lu senior brother had asked that question earlier.

Only after experiencing it firsthand could they feel the terrifying nature of Lin Chen’s Clear Wind Palm.

That elusive, intangible quality—yet every strike landed with pinpoint precision, each blow targeting vital points.

In the martial hall, they had sparred with senior brothers who had opened three dantian gates, but their impression was that even those senior brothers likely couldn’t match Lin Chen.

“Don’t ask. Just train more—train until you drop.”

Lin Chen didn’t comfort Lu Yongfeng and the other three; they had all come from the same martial hall, and he hoped they would go far on the martial path.

Only a harsh blow could ignite their fighting spirit.

As for whether their Dao hearts might shatter—he believed Lu Yongfeng and the others weren’t that fragile.

“Senior Brother Lin...”

After a long silence, Zhao Jingchuan let out a helpless chuckle: “Forget it. Let’s stop sparring today. I’ll take you to the busiest place in the Martial Garden.”

“Yeah, I’ve lost all desire to train today. It’ll take at least several hours to calm down,” Cheng Ying nodded in agreement.

“Brothers, don’t reveal anything about my condition to outsiders,” Lin Chen reminded them.

The Eight Martial Halls’ new disciple competition comes every three months—he didn’t want his strengths exposed prematurely.

“Senior Brother Lin, rest assured—we know how to keep quiet. This will stay between the three of us,” Lu Yongfeng said solemnly.

The four stopped sparring. Zhao Jingchuan led them out of the courtyard, past the end of a corridor, and the view suddenly opened up.

Ahead lay a vast training ground with several platforms. On many of them, martial artists were currently sparring, while crowds of onlookers gathered below.

The noise was deafening, incredibly lively.

But all these martial artists appeared to be in their early twenties.

“Senior Brother Lin, these twelve platforms correspond to the first through twenty-fourth dantian gates. Those who meet the realm requirement may climb up and spar with others. If you defeat ten opponents, you qualify for the end-of-month platform master contest. The winner receives ten silver taels from the Martial Garden.”

Seeing Lin Chen watching two martial artists sparring on one platform, Zhao Jingchuan whispered: “The platform you’re watching is reserved for those who’ve opened the seventh and eighth dantian gates—it draws the most attention. After the tenth gate, one is considered a notable figure and rarely enters platform contests.”

Opening the tenth dantian gate qualified one for a position in the government office—truly a person of standing. It would be inappropriate to publicly spar like this, and Lin Chen understood.

“Senior Brother Lin, with your current strength, you could challenge on the first platform. If you don’t wish to reveal your identity, you can wear a mask.”

Lin Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly as he considered Zhao Jingchuan’s suggestion.

Seeing Lin Chen lost in thought, Lu Yongfeng interjected: “Many students from the Eight Martial Halls come here for platform sparring. It’s a chance for real combat practice. Most choose to wear masks to conceal their identities.”

“Why?”

“Because losing isn’t embarrassing,” Cheng Ying replied.

That made perfect sense!

After a moment’s thought, Lin Chen asked: “How do I sign up for platform sparring?”

“Go to the registration hall in the Martial Garden and get an identity token.”

“Are there any restrictions on getting the token?”

“No restrictions at all. My relative said the Martial Garden simply provides a venue. Martial halls only allow three years of stay, but a martial artist’s path is long. The Martial Garden exists to make things easier for everyone.”

After hearing Zhao Jingchuan’s explanation, Lin Chen understood.

A youth enters the martial hall at fifteen. Even if he takes three years to enter the martial hall, he’ll still be only in his early twenties when his three years end. Martial artists don’t begin to decline until forty.

That’s over a decade of time left!

In Poyang County, martial artists need the Martial Garden as a place to exchange, spar, and trade resources.

For students still in the martial hall, participating in platform sparring helps sharpen their combat skills.

These platform sparrers may not be high in realm—mostly below the tenth dantian gate—but many have trained for over a decade and possess deep mastery of their techniques.

Fighting them reveals your weaknesses and accelerates your progress.

If you fear shame, just wear a mask.

Realizing this, Lin Chen, Lu Yongfeng, and Cheng Ying followed Zhao Jingchuan to the Martial Garden’s registration hall. The attendant glanced at them, asked no questions about their origins, pulled three identity tokens from beneath the counter, and explained the rules.

Identity tokens must not be lent out!

This was the only rule the Martial Garden imposed on martial artists.

Lin Chen took his token. It bore only a number.

One Thousand Two Hundred and Eight!

Lin Chen glanced at Lu Yongfeng and Cheng Ying’s tokens—their numbers were consecutive, placed right after his.

From the attendant’s indifferent attitude, Lin Chen believed Zhao Jingchuan’s words: the Martial Garden truly didn’t care about their identities—not even asking their names before handing out tokens.

After receiving the token, Lin Chen didn’t rush to challenge on the platforms. Since the martial hall reopened on the sixteenth of the first month, it was still mid-month—he could wait until the end of the month to compete.

First, he needed to perfect the Clear Wind Palm—then his chances would be greater.

After setting a time for their next meeting, the four parted ways and returned to their respective martial halls.

…

…

Five days later!

The 19th day of the second month, in the 298th year of the Great Liang calendar.

Jingshui Hall dormitory!

Lin Chen once again struck the camphor tree with a palm.

Thud!

The tree shuddered. Bark peeled away for several feet above and below the point of impact, revealing smooth, bare wood. This time, two-tenths of the leaves fell.

The camphor tree was thick with foliage, its canopy dense—but now, the gaps between the remaining leaves were visibly wider.

Where his palm struck, it sank half a foot deep into the tree’s flesh.

The Clear Wind Palm had now reached mastery!

“Continue!”

He glanced at the panel: [Clear Wind Palm: Mastery (1/10)]. He did not stop.

With the Clear Wind Palm at mastery, each strike now sent howling wind, and as he moved his palm, blood qi continuously flowed from his left shoulder and right arm, channeling toward the third gate: the right shoulder.

When a martial technique reached mastery, blood qi circulation accelerated. Lin Chen would not waste this opportunity.

Another night of intense training.

…

…

He woke the next day.

Lin Chen trained the Clear Wind Palm for another hour, but the progress bar on the panel remained unchanged.

“No wonder the progress changed to (1/10). It seems that after mastery, simply practicing more won’t work—it requires deeper insight into the true essence of the Clear Wind Palm.”

“With the ‘Black as Night’ title, my insight improves at night. Practicing the Clear Wind Palm after dark is ideal. During the day, I can train other martial techniques to maximize time use.”

Though disappointed the progress didn’t increase, Lin Chen wasn’t greedy. His martial technique progress already far surpassed most.

He took off his training robe, changed into his regular clothes, left the dormitory, and walked straight out of the martial hall.

The joy of martial breakthrough shouldn’t be kept to oneself.

He planned to visit Instructor Yu!

Instructor Yu had done much for him. Now that his Clear Wind Palm had reached mastery, he should share this good news with him.

(End of Chapter)