Chapter 6 (2/2)

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.”