Chapter 115: Ten Forms

Hoo!

Hoo!

It was near the sixth month, the night breeze slightly cool. In a small courtyard within the Hammer Bingtang, a two-meter-tall large water vat cracked, and iron sand spilled across the ground.

The courtyard was thick with rising steam like fog.

Within the mist, Li Yuan wore only a pair of shorts, his muscles exposed like refined steel.

His whole body flushed red, he lifted the hammer and slowly eased into the Soldier Stance.

Every move was slow, and with conscious effort he imitated Han Han Chuijun and Ba Ba Wanli, fusing the various forms together.

His muscles were not excessively bulky, but the rise and fall of their lines brimmed with explosive power. When he stretched his arms, the muscles across his back tensed like a ghost's face, unsettling to behold.

"Hoo!"

"Hah!"

Li Yuan's breathing shifted between long and short, present and absent, constantly changing. Beneath his crimson skin, small bumps rose and moved, as though little mice were scurrying about underneath.

The complete Bing Dao Dou Sha Hammer bore no resemblance to its former self as a single Wu Gong. The breathing method paired with the complete stance work drained massive amounts of stamina and qi-blood with every motion.

"Hoo!"

When he slowly gathered his stance, cold air burst forth from every pore across his body, as though a hundred kettles had boiled over at once, even producing a low "whooo" sound.

Crack-crack-crack~

Li Yuan stretched his limbs; his sinews and bones let out grinding "crack-crack" sounds, and his exhausted stamina recovered at an extremely rapid pace.

Body Tempering is the process of transporting qi-blood, using forceful energy to stimulate the sinews, bones, skin, and membranes, in order to grow one's physique and stamina to the second human bodily limit.

So long as there were sufficient pills and medicinal ingredients, nurturing force to great completion of Body Tempering was almost purely a matter of time.

The stronger the bone-frame and physique, the faster one digested medicinal efficacy, the faster one recovered stamina, and the faster this whole process became.

Li Yuan, who already possessed Yi Bai Xing, was confident that among fellow disciples of the same rank in the entire Divine Weapon Valley, absolutely no one could be faster than him.

"Bone-frame modification does indeed require selection and matching. Old Han and Eighth Senior Brother's paths are different—the former seeks completeness, the latter seeks extremity. There's no good or bad path, only what suits oneself."

Drenched in sweat, Li Yuan felt quite refreshed.

Tong Tong Heihu's back-change—Yi Bai Xing hadn't brought the tremendous transformation that gathering nine forms had, but the improvement was still very clear.

He could feel his own limits being pushed higher once again.

"Before Internal Strength, the gains from bone-frame modification are already very small. I just don't know whether the Great Dragon Form has any substantial gap…"

Li Yuan could sense that his Body Tempering progress was slowing more and more—this meant he was already approaching the second limit.

From Gao Liu until now, only three or four months had passed, yet he had walked a path that an upper-grade bone-frame would need three to five years to complete.

Body Tempering was about to reach great completion.

"Yi Bai Xing bone-frame, multiple internal forces, plus pills and medicinal baths—these are the reasons I'm about to reach Body Tempering great completion so quickly!"

Fetching water to wash himself, Li Yuan sorted and summarized in his mind.

After more than a month of intense cramming, he had gained quite a bit of insight into martial training, and comparing it against himself, his harvest was even greater.

"Next, bone-frame modification must continue. The more internal forces, the faster Body Tempering. Moreover, according to Eighth Senior Brother, the progress of Internal Strength is also tied to the amount of internal force…

Mm, first prepare one 'Organ-Protecting Pill.' In at most three months, once I gather thirteen forms, I can begin to break through to Internal Strength!"

Relaxing his arms and feeling the explosive power within his body, Li Yuan was in excellent spirits. Once his stamina recovered, he rose again into the Soldier Stance.

Stance work is the foundation of martial learning; constant practice yields constant new insights. Every so often, he gained a fresh understanding.

His control over his own strength was slowly improving.

Whooo~

Eyes slightly closed, Li Yuan sensed the Soldier Register and swapped out the fundamental diagram of Hei Hu Dao Fa.

"The harvest from Gao Liu County has already been fully digested."

Taking stock of the many weapons on the gray Dingxin Dingxin Shitai, he had no new fundamental diagrams at the moment, but his spirit remained very high.

The harvest from Gao Liu County was all consumables, but Divine Weapon Valley was never short on fundamental diagrams.

"After the True Transmission Ceremony, I'll be able to enter and leave the Inner Pavilion and the Divine Weapon Pavilion—that's the real treasure trove!"

Li Yuan was both content and eager. Only after the True Transmission Ceremony would he truly be a true disciple of Divine Weapon Valley.

That would be when his real harvest began.

"Mang Niu Gong, Kite Step, Eagle Claw Grappling Hand, Bai Lu Leaping Technique—the four Wu Gong left behind by Old Han need to be practiced slowly…"

Li Yuan felt a touch of regret.

With his talent and bone-frame, his martial training speed was far beyond that of ordinary martial artists, but achieving great completion in a single Wu Gong still required at least half a year of hard cultivation.

Only when a Wu Gong reached great completion could the conditions for wielding a fundamental diagram be met.

Over this past month or so, he still hadn't found weapons to empower these four Wu Gong.

But he wasn't surprised—the Wu Gong in Divine Weapon Valley's Scripture Pavilion numbered in the thousands; it was impossible for every one to be practiced by someone, nor did every Wu Gong require a weapon.

"From now on, bone-frame modification will be decided by what weapons I gather. My energy is limited—I can only choose some Wu Gong to practice myself."

Li Yuan deliberated.

He didn't want to endure decades like Old Han and Ba Ba Wanli, grinding away to gather a hundred forms, but gathering weapons hadn't been going smoothly either.

Few martial artists were willing to part with their trusted weapons; he'd hit quite a few walls these past days.

Unless…

"Trade old for new?"

A plan formed in Li Yuan's mind—a grand one.

Repairing weapons for fellow disciples free of charge was only the first step.

He even wanted to replace weapons for all the inner and outer disciples of Divine Weapon Valley—true disciples and elders alike!

The Weapon-Forging Shop was naturally the Top priority.

"After the True Disciple Grand Ceremony, I must also find a way to join the Sword-Forging Valley to improve my forging skills..."

Letting out a long breath, Li Yuan slowly settled his stance, returned to his room for a nap, and rose again just as dawn broke.

"The True Disciple Grand Ceremony!"

After washing quickly and efficiently, Li Yuan returned to his room and changed into an outfit custom-made for him at a silk shop in Fucheng.

A black Wu Gong robe woven from fine cloud brocade, boots stitched from nine layers of beast hide, a wide blue sash, and a silk ribbon to bind his hair.

"This set of clothes cost over ten taels of silver. It is extravagant, yes, but it does look good. Alas, my status doesn't permit it; otherwise, I'd really want a Daoist robe..."

Dressing before the mirror, Li Yuan muttered to himself.

In these times, everyone keeps their hair long; he couldn't very well shave his head, so tying a Daoist bun was more than sufficient.

"Later, I'll definitely get a Daoist robe. Purple? No, black and white will do..."

Donning the inner armor and changing into his clothes, Li Yuan felt very satisfied.

"Clothes make the man" is not without reason; wearing coarse hemp clothes is simple enough, but in terms of being pleasing to the eye, they naturally cannot compare to full silks and satins.

Of course, more importantly, after shifting his form ten times, his figure was tall and slender, his physique well-proportioned; he truly deserved to be called a clothes hanger.

"Tsk~"

With fingers joined like a blade and internal energy slightly released, Li Yuan shaved off the beard around his mouth, then pushed the door open and stepped out.

Clang~

By now, the sky was fully bright; a bell sound rang out from the Sect's Great Hall, and voices could be heard within the Bingtang.

As Li Yuan pushed the door open, an inner disciple was already coming from the Sect's Great Hall, along with an outer sect elder.

They had been sent to find him.

Today was the day the True Disciple Grand Ceremony was to be held.

"True Disciple."

Lifting a long-handled melon mace from the corner, Li Yuan stepped out.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang~

At the location of the Divine Weapon Valley's Sect Great Hall, the bell tolls came in waves of three, echoing endlessly.

"Since the Founding Patriarch opened the mountain until now, our Divine Weapon Valley has had only twelve True Disciples and five Inner Sect Elders in every generation; the number can only decrease, never increase."

As Li Yuan exited the Bingtang, he saw the island was quite lively; inner disciples, rarely seen in ordinary times, seemed to have suddenly poured out.

The outer sect elder accompanying him was named Feng Feng Zhongyi; over seventy years old with slightly white beard and hair, he was quite kind-faced and spoke with Li Yuan along the way.

"Now, the Divine Weapon Valley has only nine, counting you as the tenth True Disciple, yet the True Disciple Grand Ceremony has only been held three times. Do you know the reason?"

Feng Feng Zhongyi smiled slightly.

"I know a little."

Li Yuan nodded.

The Divine Weapon Valley possesses a complete promotion mechanism.

Servants, outer disciples, inner disciples, True Disciples, elders, including the Divine Guard Army; as long as one's Wu Gong is good enough, a servant can become a True Disciple, a private can become a commander of the Divine Guard Army, or even a Chief or Deputy Chief Commander.

Under this mechanism lies fierce competition.

There are twelve True Disciples, yet hundreds of inner disciples; a True Disciple losing their position is no rare occurrence.

As far as he knew, among the current nine True Disciples of the sect, only Wan Ba Wanli, Qiu Qiu Changying, and Shi Hong had never had their True Disciple positions challenged.

The other six True Disciples had changed at least eight or nine times in the past forty years.

"Only an unshaken True Disciple has the qualification to hold the True Disciple Grand Ceremony; otherwise, would the ceremony not become a mere game?"

Feng Feng Zhongyi said.

Li Yuan showed gratitude: "I am grateful for the trust of Master, the Valley Master, and the elders. Li Yuan will certainly do his utmost."

During the month since entering the valley, the reason he had not encountered any fellow disciples seeking trouble was that he had not yet officially been listed as a True Disciple.

Once promoted to True Disciple, he estimated challengers would not be few.

"Let's talk about that after the True Disciple Grand Ceremony."

Feng Feng Zhongyi smiled and stopped.

"Be prepared; climbing the mountain is not easy."

Before him lay the location of the Sect's Great Hall; Li Yuan looked up to see outer disciples lining both sides of the mountain path, hundreds of meters high.

He climbed the steps, feeling no turmoil in his heart.

He had not wasted this month; naturally, the procedure of the True Disciple Grand Ceremony was clear in his mind.

To say it is simple, it is very simple.

He only needed to walk to the Sect's Great Hall, pay respects to the Valley Master and the elders, and he would become a True Disciple.

To say it is difficult, it is difficult.

Because, on the road from the foot of the mountain to the Great Hall, inner and outer disciples of similar age to him who wished to challenge him could all intervene with force.

If he could not enter the Great Hall by noon, the True Disciple position would be lost to him, and the strongest among the inner disciples would replace him as True Disciple.

"May I ask Elder Feng, what does 'similar age' mean..."

"Within twelve years, up or down, is considered similar."

Feng Feng Zhongyi smiled and departed.

"Thank you, Elder Feng, for seeing me off."

Li Yuan bowed slightly, watching Feng Feng Zhongyi depart; instantly, he felt the gaze of everyone.

He glanced around.

Among the outer disciples on the mountain path above and below, there were many familiar faces, obviously those who had entered the sect with him, while most were strangers.

Before the main gate of Divine Weapon Valley opened, it would recruit disciples with superior bone quality from various counties every year to cultivate them from a young age.

At this moment, the looks these disciples cast at him were not very friendly.

"True Disciple Ascends the Mountain!"

A bell sound rang from the mountain peak, and loud shouts were already carried on the wind.

Boom!

The instant the bell sound echoed, someone at the foot of the mountain lunged at Li Yuan; amidst the howling of air currents, a mixed-iron long staff, like a white line, rushed toward his face.

"Outer Disciple, Wang Wu!"

Internal strength and blood qi erupted together, and the voice of the disciple who struck first was extremely loud.

The sound of him flying backward and crashing down was equally loud.

Bang!

Lifting the hammer to knock Wang Wu flying, Li Yuan felt hostility like a tide; raising his eyes, he saw swords and knives like a forest.

If the sect rules did not forbid attacking together, these disciples would probably have all lunged at him by now.

Li Yuan lifted his hammer and moved, stepping up the mountain path with blood qi boiling, yet his mind remained calm as he weighed the situation.

Divine Weapon Valley did not lack superior bone quality; naturally, there were many Internal Fortification martial artists.

Like Fang Fang Yunxiu and Sha Sha Pingying, the group of elites who followed Eighty Thousand Miles that night were all Internal Fortification masters; those just entering Internal Fortification would be even more numerous.

"Normally, I should end this quickly, unleash the fastest speed, and charge into the Great Hall..."

But...

"Ah!"

"Stop him!"

"Ah, why don't you come stop him?!"

The sounds of weapons clashing, angry curses, and screams of agony merged into a single din.

Before the Great Hall, on the square paved with bluestone, stood many inner disciples, who now also turned their heads to look.

"This kid..."

Gao Gang narrowed his eyes slightly; many inner disciples were also somewhat agitated.

There were not many outer disciples who had perfected Body Tempering, so it was not strange that they could not stop the Dragon Form, which was also Body Tempering, but this speed was simply too fast?

"However, it will not be easy for you to walk into the Great Hall today."

Gao Gang's expression was subtle.

A normal True Disciple promotion requires building good relationships with fellow disciples; a genuine war of attrition, few could withstand.

"Li Yuan..."

In the crowd, Shao Shao Fangbai's face was as calm as water, his eyes somewhat complex, and also somewhat envious.

"Dragon Form bone quality; if I don't witness it today, in a few years I might not even have the qualification to witness it."

Suddenly, a thin disciple stepped forward, pressed his hand on his sword, walked toward the front of the mountain path, and spoke quite loudly.

Bang!

On the mountain path, heavy hammers collided.

Li Yuan raised his hand, snatched that second-tier heavy hammer, disregarded the roar of the outer disciple behind him, and charged up the mountain peak wielding dual hammers.

Zing~

The blade light was like a silk ribbon.

Once an inner disciple struck, the momentum was already incomparable to the outer disciples on the mountain path, as if they had been gathering strength for a long time.

Whoosh~

Li Yuan crouched and darted forward, his dual hammers swirling like wind; he neither dodged nor flashed, meeting force with force.

Long weapons and heavy weapons are the hardest to master, but once mastered, they naturally possess a huge advantage against light and short weapons like swords and knives.

Although swords and knives are indeed sharp, where would they dare to clash head-on with hammer weapons?

'So fierce?!'

That disciple's eyelid twitched; the blade light turned, unwilling to take the hit head-on, but how could he be in time?

Thud!

Hearing two dull thuds, one after another, that inner disciple screamed as he fell flying to the ground.

Li Yuan didn't even look; his dual hammers like wind were already blocking against another person.

Bang!

Hammer met weapon.

Li Yuan's body trembled slightly; he stepped back one pace, raised his eyebrows, and said, "Senior Brother Gao?"

It was actually Gao Gang?

Whoosh!

One hammer strike failed; Gao Gang grinned, and a heavy hammer weighing over a hundred jin, carrying a howl, smashed straight down at Li Yuan:

"Come, let's clash!"