Chapter 76: Perfect Martial Path, Sweeping Through the Martial Halls (Please Subscribe)

Early the next morning.

Song Cheng discovered that the food in the manor had worsened.

In just a few short days, the spendthrift son-in-law had squandered over ten thousand taels of silver, and the wealthy families had donated another ten thousand taels; how could they not tighten their belts? However, no matter how much worse it got, two things remained unchanged.

The first was his own meals.

Even when the Young Miss gnawed on hard buns along with everyone else, his meals remained as usual.

The second was the Demon Beast Meat.

The supply for Tong Niangzi, Ying'er, Zhao Hua, and the many Martial Artists had not changed at all.

There was a rule in the Ruyi Chamber of Commerce: one could only consume resources like Demon Beast Meat upon reaching the Jin Realm; otherwise, one could only have ordinary pork or mutton.

However, Tong Niangzi was a special case.

Ever since she began her cultivation, Tong Niangzi had always used the best resources and the best "teacher."

This "teacher" not only taught her with all his might, offering constant instruction, but even when they were on the bed, he would discuss these matters, simultaneously helping this "student" clear her meridians and bones to assist her in opening up those "channels of Jin Power."

Clearing the meridians was a matter that traversed the entire body, and it was inevitable that some private areas would be touched.

The mountain forests and peach blossoms were all hard to avoid.

However, the two were husband and wife; they had already done many bashful things together.

If it couldn't be avoided, then what of it?

Therefore, Tong Jia's cultivation speed was also quite fast because of this.

While practicing, Tong Niangzi did not set aside her medical studies; during her days at the Chamber of Commerce, she also entrusted Ling'er to run here and there to find medical books, which she would then silently study.

Song Cheng actually once had the thought of learning medicine, but he discovered that his talent was only directed toward "Yang Qi Martial Arts," and things that were not martial arts could not be mastered.

But he did not take it to heart. Favorability, data, and even Chang Sheng Bu Lao allowed him to slowly step into areas he had never explored once he became stronger.

At this moment, he put on his Jin Clothing, stood in the courtyard, and set his stance.

A wild wind surged, and the sunlight was brilliant.

The tree leaves rustled and moved, and the ink-wash, plain-white world swirled and spun.

The youth opened his Heart Eye and stood in a world of extreme motion.

He set the opening stance of the Savage Bear Force and began to practice in this secluded courtyard, his fist wind whistling.

After a while, Ying'er and Tong Niangzi both came over.

The two women glanced at Song Cheng and recognized that he was again performing unfamiliar fist techniques.

The two women exchanged a look; Ying'er only felt that the son-in-law was unfathomable and wanted to say something but held back, while Tong Niangzi was accustomed to it. Then, they both stood not far from Song Cheng and began to practice.

In the afternoon, the sound of horns suddenly rose, piercing through the floating clouds.

A sense of desolation and tragedy covered the entire Hanping Prefecture.

The Big Hall Master of the Mountain River Martial Hall and the Manor Master of White Camel Manor, wearing light armor, led nearly twenty thousand prefecture troops, along with several hundred experts and many commoners pushing wheelbarrows of grain, out from the North Gate.

The military provisions and grain were all sufficient.

Crowds saw them off, the troops stretching for several miles.

Weapons glittered, cold and scorching under the sun's brilliance.

Upon departure, one could see the high morale; many held their heads high, as if this were a battle destined for victory.

Their eyes were fixed on the two leaders at the very front.

Those were truly great figures, people whose martial path realm had reached "existence above the Form Realm," people whose lifespans had already broken the limits of mortals. With them there, everyone found their pillar of support.

On both sides of the street, many small families also sent people to see them off, then watched their own family's geniuses in the army from afar, waving their hands and shouting: "Perform well, earn more military merit!"

"Kill more barbarians!"

"Don't bring shame to the family!"

This time, the military merit would undoubtedly receive unprecedented rewards.

It could be said that as long as one could distinguish oneself in this great battle, fame, status, wealth, and martial arts manuals would be within easy reach.

This war was the best opportunity for class mobility, something that wouldn't come around once in decades.

Many families even secretly felt they should thank the barbarians for providing this opportunity.

As for failure—the Big Hall Master of the Mountain River Martial Hall and the Manor Master of White Camel Manor had both personally set out; they shouldn't be defeated, right?

Song Cheng listened to the sound of the horns echoing and circling, crossing over thousands of pavilions and houses; he tilted his head to look, then turned back and continued to practice his punches with focus.

Bai She Jin, Fuliu Jin Jin Jin, Jue Jin Jin Jin, Xuan Gui, Flying Wheel, Chop, the flesh-and-blood force of the Savage Bear Force, and the Qi of the Form Realm were all unleashed at will.

In between, one could vaguely see the rotation of Jin Power like water birds and surging waves, and it was vaguely mixed with some other powers.

These days, the youth had not been idle at all.

The ten thousand plus taels squandered by the spendthrift son-in-law were not spent in vain.

His Soul left his body, driving objects to read books, and he had looked through many martial arts manuals.

With his martial path cultivation, even if there were some characters he didn't understand, he could grasp the context. If there were core parts he truly didn't understand, he would remember the characters and write them for Ling'er or Tong Niangzi to see after returning, and then master them.

Besides the "Savage Bear Force," he had found Jin Power manuals from ten different martial halls.

Among these ten, four were brought to Completion by him in a single day.

Of the remaining six, four were connected to the "rigid and fierce style of Jin Power," so they could not be mastered quickly.

But there were still two that covered different areas than the Savage Bear Force.

These two were the "Whale Cry Force" and the "Heie Jin."

These were the manuals of the two largest martial halls in the prefecture city's martial hall circle, besides the Mountain River Martial Hall.

The reason Song Cheng was so certain was that these two Jin techniques were both very special.

The "Whale Cry Force" was a Jin Power specifically for training the two fists; in the prefecture city's martial hall circle, it was also known as the "Divine Fist Force." It was said that when practiced to Great Accomplishment, the large tendons on the arms would jump and the flesh would shift, allowing the two fists to expand by a full circle as if inflated; when clenching the fists, it was as if there were fetal movements, emitting a piercing, low-pitched sound.

The "Heie Jin" was the exact opposite; it was a Jin Power specifically for training the legs. In the martial hall circle, it corresponded to the "Whale Cry Force," and was known as "Whale Fists, Heie Legs." This leg power took its meaning from "Black Tortoise Whipping its Tail." Once it reached Great Accomplishment, the tendons and bones would resonate, and the flesh would cover them, making the legs as hard as iron, like steel-reinforced iron bones or a metal statue.

"Savage Bear Force" is about overall brute force, with the power originating from the waist and back.

Song Cheng felt that these three could basically cover the "rigid and fierce Jin power system."

Several days later.

West of the city, the city gates were tightly shut.

The blind youth sat at a noodle shop not far away, "slurping" his noodles, and after finishing, he calmly picked up the bowl and drank the broth clean.

Ling'er sat beside him, counting out a few copper coins from her purse to place on the table, then pouted, though she felt too embarrassed to ask, "Master, why have we come here?"

Song Cheng did not answer, simply finishing his noodles and continuing to stroll around the area.

Ling'er had no choice but to follow.

After walking for a while, shouts suddenly came from the city gate.

"Move aside, move aside! This is not a place you should be approaching."

Immediately after, another voice rang out.

"Official, please just let us pass. Before the city was sealed, I received a letter from my hometown saying my mother is critically ill. Filial piety is of the utmost importance, Official, please let me leave the city..."

"You still know the city is sealed?"

"No, Official, once our great army has left the city, won't the city be unsealed?"

"Go, go, go, go, don't pester me. If you really want to leave the city, go to the Prefecture Office and get a permit. If you don't have one, forget it!"

Ling'er, following at Song Cheng's side, stuck out her tongue and said, "Again. These people are truly foolish; how could they possibly leave the city? If they let one person run, wouldn't everyone else run too?"

Now that the prefecture army had marched north to fight the barbarians, and no movement from the barbarians had been heard in the Prefecture City for a long time, naturally, some people had the idea that "the war is at the front, we should take the opportunity to run."

Ling'er strolled near the city gate with Song Cheng; she had already seen such similar scenes countless times and was bored of them.

Song Cheng said softly, "One cannot bypass the Prefecture Office."

Ling'er said, "That goes without saying, Master. The opening and closing of the city gates and the war situation at the front cannot be bypassed by the Prefecture Office now."

Song Cheng nodded, falling into deep thought.

The war situation at the front was unknown, and the city was like a jar.

Even if his Soul left his body to quietly go to the Prefecture Office to scout for information, he was not omniscient or omnipotent; how could it be such a coincidence? That the Prefect just happened to leave important information on the table, and he just happened to see it? That he just happened to be present when others were reporting on the situation from all sides in the middle of the night? There were no such coincidences.

Therefore, even though his Soul could leave his body and manipulate objects, he had not obtained much information.

The youth stood in the warm breeze for a while, his thoughts turning rapidly as if pondering something, and only after a long time did he say, "Return to the manor."

Song Cheng returned to the manor, answered a few questions regarding cultivation for Zhao Hua and the other Martial Artists, then went to the courtyard alone and glanced at his panel.

【Add Points: 162 points】

【Realm: Yellow Grade Grade B】

【Cultivation Techniques】

Heie Jin (Yellow Grade Grade C) (Entry (2/8)) Savage Bear Force (Yellow Grade Grade C) (Entry (7/8)) Whale Cry Force (Yellow Grade Grade C) (Entry (3/8)) 'Add points, cultivate.'

Song Cheng muttered silently.

Point after point was quickly invested.

In an instant, 156 points were spent.

And these three Jin techniques were all brought to Completion.

At the same time, incomparably profound cultivation memories flooded in.

It was the cultivation memory of having power contained in every part of the body, having explosive force hidden in every spot, causing others to fall upon contact, shattering iron with a finger's touch, and the unity of movement and stillness. In an instant, the youth scanned the panel, his gaze landing on the 【Cultivation Techniques】 column.

【Cultivation Techniques】

Xuanwu True Form (5 Forms) (Yellow Grade Grade B) (Completion)

Xuanwu True Strength (9 Jin) (Yellow Grade Grade C) (Perfect)

The change was that the "Jin Number" of "Xuanwu True Strength" had become nine, and for the first time, the label "Perfect" appeared for the subsequent entries.

Clearly, this was a level far beyond Completion, perhaps a level an ordinary person could not even imagine.

Song Cheng recalled the 4 techniques he had not yet cultivated; his thoughts stirred, his blood and Qi flowed, and a series of popping sounds like exploding beans erupted within his body... The 4 Jin techniques were all brought to Completion extremely quickly.

Within the Jin Realm, he was already flawless.

Any Jin technique that came into his hands only required a brief look before it could be immediately brought to Completion.

All power circulated within his body, harmonious and integrated, without any stagnation; still as an ancient well or frozen river, moving like a raging tide.

And his strength data also changed quietly.

It had stunningly become: 177~354.

This data was already much higher than that Manor Master of White Camel Manor.

And in the eyes of everyone except Tong Niangzi and An Daxiaojie, Song Cheng was still just a Jin Realm Martial Artist.

'Perhaps it is time to raise my public strength to the level of the Six-Armed Old Ape, Yuan Qianke.'

'Hiding strength is to deal with potential risks, while revealing strength is to gain status, resources, and... to resolve public risks.'

Song Cheng generally did not want to have contact with the government because powerful forces were hidden behind it, but now... he was not averse to it either.

Because this was something that could not be bypassed.

It was just that the White Camel Manor Manor Master and the Mountain River Martial Hall Master, whom he once had to look up to, were now... likely no match for him either.

The next day, early morning.

The youth walked out from the small courtyard.

His Qi surged, no longer hidden.

His Jin Power was contained within; he could use as much as he wanted.

Walking to the door and seeing Ling'er, he said, "Accompany Master for a stroll."

Ling'er said, "Oh, coming, coming."

On this day, the "good-for-nothing son-in-law" and "pity-worthy son-in-law" of the Ruyi Chamber of Commerce walked out of the manor, bringing a little maidservant with him, walking from West Street to North Street, and then from North Street to East Street. He visited every martial arts hall along the street one by one, paid polite visits, and then sparred with the strongest person left behind at the hall, always winning in a way that "appeared to outsiders as a draw, but the opponent knew they had lost."

After walking a large circle, at dusk, he finally stepped into the Mountain and River Martial Arts Hall in the central urban area of Hanping Prefecture.

In front of the martial arts hall, he performed a salute and, without a hint of killing intent, said to the disciple of the Mountain and River Martial Arts Hall standing at the door: "Please report that Little Song from the Ruyi Chamber of Commerce has come to request a spar."

This was the territory of the Mountain and River Martial Arts Hall.

The martial arts halls of Hanping Prefecture were headed by the Mountain and River Martial Arts Hall.

As Song Cheng had fought his way here, how could the Mountain and River Martial Arts Hall not know the true situation?

At this moment, although this blind youth with black cloth wrapped around his eyes called himself "Little Song," the martial arts disciple did not dare to call him "Little Song," but merely said "Wait a moment," and hurriedly ran into the martial arts hall.

Song Cheng waited quietly outside, without the slightest impatience.

Ling'er's eyes were already fixed, and only one voice remained roaring in her heart: Son-in-law, you call this a stroll? You call this a stroll?! You call this a stroll!!! Not long after, that Mountain and River Martial Arts Hall disciple ran back out and said: "Mr. Song, please come in."

Song Cheng said thanks, then followed the disciple into the depths of the martial arts hall.

A middle-aged man with hair and beard bristling like stiff steel spikes stood with his hands behind his back in front of a painting of mountains and rivers; hearing the movement, the middle-aged man turned around.

Ling'er was so frightened she took two steps back; she had a palpitation like walking alone in a mountain forest in the dead of night and being targeted by a predatory beast.

The middle-aged man's gaze was not only sharp but also ferocious.

Ling'er could see the middle-aged man's gaze only because she was standing behind Song Cheng.

Song Cheng seemed to sense the little maidservant's fear and said: "Go sit over to the side."

Ling'er hurriedly ran away, took two steps, then ran back and said: "Son-in-law, be careful."

After saying this, she finally ran away completely.

Song Cheng looked at the middle-aged man.

【Strength: 90~175】

【Favorability: 60】

"Ruyi Chamber of Commerce, Little Song." Song Cheng performed a salute.

The middle-aged man said: "External Affairs Envoy of the Mountain and River Martial Arts Hall, Hong Juguang."

"Iron Arm Pale Bear, Mr. Hong." Song Cheng said, "I have long admired your great name."

Hong Juguang licked his lips, his face full of a bloody look, and twisting his neck, he said: "Enough with the pleasantries, isn't this just challenging the venue? I haven't seen such an interesting thing in a long time."

After speaking, he let out a sinister laugh of "Hehehehe," and then took two steps back.

Song Cheng understood and also stepped back, clearing the space.

"Blind man, can you fight?" Hong Juguang waved the giant blade in his hand and asked.

Song Cheng said: "A little bit."

"A little bit? You actually dare to say you can fight a little bit in front of me? Hahahaha!" Hong Juguang roared with laughter as he charged out, one foot stomping the ground as if crushing a venomous creature, his force entering the ground three inches deep, and the floor of the entire room shook violently.

Boom—!

And that burly figure came from afar, his Qi and blood circulating, his internal energy surging, and the giant blade was unsheathed with a "whoosh," tearing the air like boiling water, crackling and popping.

Song Cheng flicked his Fine Blade and met him.

The martial arts disciples on the side just stared with wide eyes, unwilling to even spare the effort to blink.

For them, a clash between experts was also a stroke of good fortune.

A long, long time passed... Hong Juguang stopped, panting; sweat had already drenched his hair and beard, and his iron hands, as large as prayer mats, were trembling slightly.

Song Cheng also took several deep breaths, then cupped his hands and said: "Impressive."

The Mountain and River Martial Arts Hall disciples couldn't tell who had won or lost at all, and seeing Song Cheng say this, they thought he had lost, so the sound of jeering gradually rose.

Hong Juguang waved a hand and roared: "Quiet!!"

The sound was like the roar of a lion or tiger, frightening the jeering that had just begun to vanish instantly.

Hong Juguang took a deep breath, looked at the youth opposite him, and said: "I said it, you are not just a little bit able to fight."

"You... are very able to fight."

(End of this chapter)