In the Martial Arts Hall, the group of pampered disciples had just recovered from their shock.
They secretly congratulated themselves for not having provoked Shen Fan too severely, otherwise they would have shared Zhang Qiang’s fate.
“That guy is terrifying. We should never provoke him again.”
“Zhang Qiang won’t let this go,” said another disciple.
“His uncle is a Manager in the Government Hall, and his cousin is one of the Top Ten Disciples of the Outer Courtyard. When it’s time to answer for his actions, Shen Fan is going to die a horrible death!”
“Either way, we should avoid him for a while. Otherwise, who knows, we might be the next Zhang Qiang.”
…
Shen Fan felt as light as a feather.
All the resentment that had built up over the past few days was vented through the thrashing he’d given Zhang Qiang.
At this moment, even his thoughts flowed more freely.
As for the consequences of beating up Zhang Qiang, he wasn’t worried in the slightest.
Black Water Academy had a strong martial tradition.
Not only did it not prohibit fights between disciples, but it indirectly encouraged them.
As long as no one was killed, and all parties involved were disciples of Black Water Academy, it wasn’t considered a violation.
In this world, the strong were revered, and the academy was no exception.
It used this method to weed out the weak, promoting a survival-of-the-fittest environment to motivate disciples to cultivate diligently.
Besides, Instructor Liu’s threat was nothing but hot air in his opinion.
Once a cultivator reached the Third Rank of Meridian Opening, Elemental Patterns could no longer be taught by others.
Instead, one had to rely on their own comprehension.
Cultivation Techniques, Martial Techniques, and even some scriptures from Ancient Times were all recorded with Elemental Patterns.
Therefore, disciples with high Comprehension could quickly master a new Martial Technique or Cultivation Technique, and their Cultivation speed would be much faster than others.
For example, those Inner Sect Disciples with outstanding Comprehension could cultivate a High-tier Martial Skill to the Minor Achievement stage in just one month.
Some could even fully comprehend a Cultivation Technique, causing their Cultivation speed to soar.
‘With the Yin-Yang Divine Coin, comprehending Elemental Patterns is as easy as breathing for me.
As long as my physical body can keep up with my Divine Soul’s Cultivation, my Cultivation speed will be on par with, if not greater than, those geniuses.’
‘I never thought a Mid-tier Martial Skill would be so difficult to handle.’
He recalled Zhang Qiang’s Mid-tier Martial Skill, the Shadowless Leg, and felt a lingering sense of apprehension.
If the Yin-Yang Divine Coin hadn’t allowed him to open his Soul Eye, spot his opponent’s weakness, and win through cleverness, it would have been nearly impossible to defeat him in a direct confrontation.
It was said that the higher the Level of a Martial Technique, the greater the boost to one’s power.
If a Low-tier Martial Technique could boost one’s strength by thirty percent, then a Mid-tier Martial Skill could boost it by at least seventy percent.
A High-tier Martial Skill could essentially double one’s strength, and as for a Peak-tier Martial Skill, its power was even more terrifying.
‘If I get the chance, I have to cultivate a higher-Level Martial Technique.’
His mind raced as he considered his current predicament.
‘Right now, the most important thing is to get through the trial by combat in seven days.
Only then can I qualify for the Outer Courtyard assessment in three months.’
The trial by combat was a way to subdue an opponent with force.
As long as one could beat their accuser into submission, the matter would be dropped, regardless of who was right or wrong.
It was a clear display of the principle that might makes right, but it was incredibly useful in a pinch.
‘If he gets someone at the Third Rank of Meridian Opening to back him up, it’ll be tough to handle.
I need to increase my strength as quickly as possible.’
Disciples at the Third Rank of Meridian Opening had generally cultivated Mid-tier or even High-tier Martial Techniques.
Their Primordial Power was also far stronger, vastly exceeding the First Rank of Meridian Opening.
With his current strength, he stood no chance against them.
「In a stone house in the back courtyard.」
Shen Fan arched his back into a mountain-pushing stance, completely immersed in his Cultivation.
The Meridian Opening Realm had nine ranks, each progressively more difficult, and more powerful, than the one before it.
The first three ranks, known as the Martial Disciple Realm, focused primarily on Refining the Flesh Body and strengthening one’s Qi Blood, using Qi Blood Power to open three Primordial Veins within the body.
With each new Primordial Vein that was opened, the Flesh Body would be Refined once more, granting greater strength, a tougher body, and more abundant Primordial Qi.
Furthermore, upon advancing to the Second Rank of Meridian Opening, one’s physical constitution would improve, allowing them to withstand higher-Level Martial Techniques.
According to academy rules, any disciple who broke through to the Second Rank of Meridian Opening was given one opportunity to visit the Library Hall and select one Low-tier and one Mid-tier Martial Technique.
‘I have to reach the Second Rank of Meridian Opening as soon as possible, then cultivate a Mid-tier Martial Skill.
With the Yin-Yang Space to help me deduce it, I can reach a certain level of mastery in a short time.
My strength will soar, and I’ll have a much better chance of winning the trial by combat.’
With this thought in mind, a sense of urgency washed over him.
He quickly focused his Heart Spirit, and his Divine Soul entered the Yin-Yang Space.
Simultaneously, he sank into a low stance, stepped forward, and let out a sharp exhalation as he unleashed the first technique of the Monument-breaking Palm, “Five Dings Opening the Mountain.” The blow was immensely powerful and heavy.
The Monument-breaking Palm consisted of Nine Techniques that flowed into one another, their power stacking with each move.
When the power accumulated to the ninth technique, combined with the Mental Realm of Great Success, it could shatter a stone monument.
The first technique, the second, the third…
After completing the Nine Techniques of the palm art, Shen Fan was flushed and drenched in sweat.
His Primordial Veins throbbed as a scorching heat spread from them, flowing through his limbs and into every corner of his body, leaving him feeling utterly relaxed.
A tingling ache made him let out an involuntary groan.
‘With the help of the Yin-Yang Divine Coin and my Monument-breaking Palm at the Great Success Mental Realm, the Flesh Body Refining effect is even more potent.
To see such a clear result after practicing the set just once is astonishing.’
Overjoyed, he fell back into his stance and struck out with his palm again.
This time, his speed and power were even swifter and more forceful than before.
His movements were broad and sweeping, carrying the true momentum of shattering a monument as he unleashed them with abandon.
Tirelessly, he practiced the Monument-breaking Palm over and over again.
With each practice session, his insight into the Monument-breaking Palm deepened, and the Refining effect on his Flesh Body grew more pronounced.
Feeling the powerful Blood Qi surging within him, he felt as if he had taken a Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Pill, leaving him invigorated and full of energy.
Not only that, but Blood Qi Power surged into his Primordial Vein, causing it to shine more brightly.
Thin strands of Primordial Qi began to overflow from this first Primordial Vein.
At the same time, within his Soul Sea, one of the Divine Patterns on the Yin-Yang Divine Coin also lit up, giving it a mysterious air.
The Yin-Yang Divine Coin helped him comprehend Divine Patterns and cultivate Martial Techniques, and it had even allowed him to open his Soul Eye.
It had completely changed his destiny, so any change in it held Shen Fan’s rapt attention.
Shen Fan thought to himself as he continued to cultivate, ‘What is the origin of this Yin-Yang Divine Coin?
Ancient Divine Power… could it be a Divine Being?
That Divine Pattern just lit up.
Does it change as my strength increases?’
After pondering for a long time without any answers, he decided not to dwell on it.
Since his mother had left it for him, it surely wouldn’t bring him harm.
For now, he focused only on the glowing Divine Pattern on the Yin-Yang Divine Coin.
To be precise, there were nine faint Divine Patterns on the coin.
One of them, a white pattern, was now ten percent illuminated.
This discovery thrilled him.
He eagerly anticipated what kind of change would occur once the entire Divine Pattern was fully lit.
The excitement filled him with seemingly endless energy.
After a brief rest, he resumed his Cultivation.
THUMP—
He slammed his palm onto the bluestone floor.
The ground trembled, and as dust billowed, a deep Palm Seal slowly became visible.
A series of cracks echoed from his bones.
Within Shen Fan’s body, a new, ethereal Primordial Vein materialized, running parallel to the first and emitting a slightly weaker glow.
At the same time, the white Divine Pattern on the Yin-Yang Divine Coin was now twenty percent illuminated.
“Second Rank!”
With a fierce shout, he leaped beside a bluestone monument and struck out with his palm.
A loud whoosh tore through the air.
The shadow of his palm flashed past, and the bluestone monument exploded, shattering into a pile of fine, blue-green dust.
These monuments were typically used in construction due to their incredible hardness, yet in his hands, it had crumbled like tofu.
‘Is this the power of the Second Rank of Meridian Opening?’
Shen Fan stared at his palms, a delighted surprise spreading across his face.