The spring sun was warm.
Lu Changfeng rose early and practiced a round of the Le Mountain Angry Vajra.
Thanks to Lu Changfeng’s A-Class Root Bone and his diligent daily practice, his mastery of this Blood Forging Realm Cultivation Technique was gradually progressing from entry level to Minor Achievement.
After finishing his practice, Lu Changfeng looked up and walked toward the small courtyard where his master, Zhang Desheng, resided.
Zhang Desheng was in the courtyard, slowly practicing a set of Palm Techniques.
After one’s qi and blood began to decay with old age, the focus shifted to preserving health and slowing the rate of decline.
Martial Artists at this age were no longer fond of competing and showing off.
After all, any injury from a fight would only accelerate the decay of their qi and blood, reducing their Lifespan.
"Master." Lu Changfeng waited quietly until Zhang Desheng finished his Palm Technique before speaking.
Zhang Desheng concluded his practice and motioned for Lu Changfeng to sit beside the small table to talk.
"What brings you to me today?"
Lu Changfeng scratched his head and said, "Master, my cultivation is finally on the right track. You always say I’m a genius, but I don’t know how many geniuses there actually are in the Outer City. Where would I rank among them?"
In truth, his copy interface had refreshed today, and Lu Changfeng wanted to find a target. He had come to Zhang Desheng first to sound him out.
As the master of the Changle Martial Arts Hall, Zhang Desheng had extensive sources of information. He naturally knew more about the Martial Arts geniuses of the Outer City’s major factions than Lu Changfeng did.
Zhang Desheng lit a dry pipe with a smacking sound. "What’s this? You’re just getting on the right track and you’re already thinking about competing for the top spot?"
Lu Changfeng replied, "I wouldn’t dare. I’m just a little curious."
"I know you have a steady temperament, so I’ll satisfy your curiosity."
Zhang Desheng began to explain slowly.
"First, the publicly acknowledged number one genius among all the Martial Arts Halls is Wei Xiong of the Changfeng Martial Arts Hall."
"He reached the Fifth Level of the Blood Forging Realm at eighteen. He’s expected to reach the Sixth Heaven and complete his Tendon Transformation around the age of twenty!"
Martial Artists generally began their cultivation around the age of twelve or thirteen.
Someone like Lu Changfeng, who started at fifteen, was actually two years late.
However, if Lu Changfeng followed the proper steps and encountered no mishaps, he could reach the Blood Forging First Layer in a month, the Second Layer in half a year, the Third Layer in a year, and the Fourth Layer in three years. He should have a very good chance of completing his Tendon Transformation before he turned thirty.
After advancing to the Tendon Transformation stage, a Martial Artist’s qi and blood would not begin to decline after thirty like an ordinary person’s. Instead, this decline would be postponed until they were fifty or sixty, giving them time to advance to the next stage.
"Then there’s Ye Sheng of the Thundercloud Martial Arts Hall and Xiaoo Moran of the Longxing Martial Arts Hall. Both are top-tier genius Disciples."
Ye Sheng?
Lu Changfeng recalled the youth at the Thundercloud Martial Arts Hall from whom he had copied the Root Bone. The gate-keeping Disciple next to him seemed to have addressed him as Senior Brother Ye Sheng.
It seemed his current Root Bone was not much different from those of these two second-tier geniuses.
"Besides them, the three major gangs of the Outer City also have some outstanding disciples, but I don’t have deep connections with the gangs, so I don’t know the truth about their Talents."
"Just focus on your cultivation. I will prepare all the resources you need. In a few years, you won’t be any worse than them."
As he spoke, Zhang Desheng took out a small box and handed it over.
"Medicinal soups alone are a bit too slow. This is some Exotic Beast Meat I prepared for you. It can increase your cultivation speed. Eat one strip before your training each day. This should be enough for a month."
Lu Changfeng took the box. Inside were thirty neatly arranged strips of meat, somewhat resembling the salami he often ate in his previous life.
However, each meat strip was a whole creature, somewhere between a lizard and a snake. After being dehydrated, the two eye sockets appeared starkly white.
"Thank you, Master."
Lu Changfeng carried the box back to his bedroom.
’My current Root Bone is good enough for now. Today, I’ll copy Li Youtian’s Swordsmanship Talent first, then look for opportunities to copy other Talents.’
Lu Changfeng went straight to the training grounds and found Li Youtian.
Li Youtian was on the training grounds, practicing the Changle Palm Method with stiff, deliberate movements.
But his Root Bone was simply too poor. With a D-Class Talent, he had been in the Martial Arts Hall for three years and still hadn’t reached the Blood Forging First Heaven.
The Martial Arts Hall collected tuition fees every six months. It was only because Li Youtian’s family was wealthy that he could afford the expense.
"Li Youtian, your perseverance is impressive."
"Ah! Senior Brother Changfeng!" Li Youtian hadn’t expected Lu Changfeng to take the initiative to greet an insignificant person like him. Feeling greatly honored, he quickly extended his hand and shook Lu Changfeng’s.
Li Youtian was three years older than Lu Changfeng, but Lu Changfeng was a Direct Disciple. All Named Disciples in the Martial Arts Hall had to address Lu Changfeng as Senior Brother.
"Do you wish to copy?"
’Copy his Swordsmanship Talent!’
"Copy successful!"
After the interface prompt, Lu Changfeng didn’t experience the same physical sensations as when his Root Bone had transformed. He would probably only be able to feel the effects of this Talent when he practiced with a sword.
Lu Changfeng glanced at his current interface.
Name: Lu Changfeng
Root Bone: Lower A Class
Talent: Middle-Grade Swordsmanship
’A Middle-Grade Talent... That’s a whole level higher than Master Zhang Desheng’s Low-Grade Palm Technique Talent.’
’When Master Zhang Desheng was young, he made his name with his Mastery-level Palm Technique.’
’If I were to practice the sword, I wonder how terrifying my Combat Power would become?’
’I should sound out Master another day and see if he has any Swordsmanship manuals I can learn.’
Having made up his mind, Lu Changfeng patted Li Youtian’s shoulder. "Don’t give up. Keep cultivating, and one day you’ll succeed in Blood Forging!"
The thought of giving up on martial arts, which Li Youtian had been considering, was actually dispelled for the time being.
After copying the Talent from Li Youtian and giving him a shot of encouragement, Lu Changfeng moved to a corner of the training grounds.
This was his exclusive training area.
’Let’s try this Exotic Beast Meat.’
Lu Changfeng took out the Exotic Beast Meat from his waist and ate it in a few bites.
"Hm?"
The moment the Exotic Beast Meat entered his stomach, Lu Changfeng felt something strange.
Stimulated by the Exotic Beast Meat, the blood in his body began to circulate at an unprecedented speed. In an instant, a flush appeared on Lu Changfeng’s face.
Lu Changfeng didn’t dare to delay and began practicing the Le Mountain Angry Vajra with all his might.
Only after practicing it three consecutive times did Lu Changfeng finally stop his training.
’The effects are astonishing! It not only extended my training time but also greatly improved its quality.’
’At this rate, I probably won’t need half a year. I should be able to successfully advance to the Blood Forging Second Layer in just three or four months!’
Lu Changfeng did a quick calculation and came to an astonishing conclusion.
Only then did Lu Changfeng realize just how precious the Exotic Beast Meat was.
’There are probably very few in the entire Martial Arts Hall who can afford to consume Exotic Beast Meat, let alone receive it for free from their master.’
And indeed, aside from Lu Changfeng, the other three Direct Disciples in the Martial Arts Hall had to rely on their own wealth to purchase Exotic Beast Meat if they wanted to use it.
Zhang Desheng was truly nurturing Lu Changfeng with great care, treating him as his successor.
Lu Changfeng silently committed Zhang Desheng’s kindness to memory.
「Afternoon.」
Most of the Disciples were no longer at the Martial Arts Hall.
Lu Changfeng remained on the training grounds, focused on his martial practice.
Just then, a gate-keeping Disciple came to report that someone was here to see him.
Slightly surprised, Lu Changfeng walked out of the Martial Arts Hall and saw the visitor. It was a stout man with a full beard, a waist-saber gripped in his hand. It was Uncle Wen—Liu Jinwen, the Chief Constable from the Inner City!