Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

[Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist · Minor Achievement (100/500)]

The moment he grasped Bear-Bursting Strength, his Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist proficiency jumped significantly. He remembered it being just over eighty before, and now it had shot straight to one hundred.

"Brother Xu, congratulations!"

Qiu Wenjie, Zhang Hong, and the others came forward to congratulate him.

Bear-Bursting Strength was a major milestone for the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist, and grasping it was certainly a joyous occasion.

Among those who had just entered the Qi Gathering realm, someone who had grasped Bear-Bursting Strength could easily crush someone who hadn’t.

"Junior Brother Xu, congratulations."

Sun Tao also stepped forward to offer his congratulations, though he sighed as he did so.

Xu Yang’s Comprehension was no worse than Lu Ren’s. It was a shame he was too proud, unwilling to marry into the Liu Family. Otherwise, in a year’s time, he might have become a Martial Scholar during the Martial Arts Ascension Dragon.

If he could obtain the title of Martial Scholar, his level of Comprehension—which was on par with Lu Ren’s—might finally be put to true use.

BANG!

Just then, a heavy thud echoed from the distance.

Everyone’s expression changed, as the sound had come from Lin Cheng’s courtyard.

Sun Tao forgot all about talking to Xu Yang and immediately hurried over. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"What happened? Why would Master be so angry?" everyone wondered, exchanging bewildered glances.

A short while later, Sun Tao returned, his face ashen.

Before the disciples could ask, he spoke up. "News just arrived. A disciple with a Lower A-class Root Bone has appeared in Gale Hall. Hall Master Ji Yun himself has taken him as a personal disciple."

At these words, none of the Qi Gathering disciples could remain calm.

Weiyuan Hall was lucky to find a disciple with an Upper Grade B Root Bone like Lu Ren’s even once a year, but a disciple with a Lower A-class Root Bone might not appear in the entire Qingyuan County for several years.

The main issue was that Gale Hall and Weiyuan Hall were bitter rivals. They had been at odds for years; even when their disciples served as Tributors for wealthy families, they would never work for the same household.

A disciple with a Lower A-class Root Bone appearing in Gale Hall was by no means a good thing for Weiyuan Hall.

However, from another perspective, this development was actually a good thing for Weiyuan Hall’s disciples.

From that day on, everyone noticed that Lin Cheng spent more time instructing his disciples. He would even personally step in to spar and offer pointers—though this was mainly for disciples like Lu Ren, Gu Fang, and Jiang Ping, of course.

Those with little potential, like Xu Yang, were mostly left to observe from the sidelines.

Xu Yang didn’t mind. ’I’ve cultivated the Vajra Skill, and my True Qi is gradually transforming into Vajra True Qi. I wouldn’t dare spar with Lin Cheng anyway, for fear he’d notice something unusual.’

Time passed peacefully. In the blink of an eye, a month and a half had gone by.

Xu Yang’s routine consisted of reporting to the Liu Mansion in the mornings and cultivating at Weiyuan Hall in the afternoons. He rotated between diligently practicing the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture, the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist, and the Vajra Skill, neglecting none of them.

One day, as Xu Yang was meditating, he suddenly felt a wave of heat in his abdomen. His Dantian trembled, and his True Qi began to boil like water, surging from his Dantian and raging through his meridians.

’Qi Gathering Minor Achievement!’ Xu Yang couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy.

’With this level of cultivation, I’m already considered a minor expert in Qingyuan County.’

Before he knew it, he had been practicing martial arts for nearly half a year, and it had been almost four months since he had broken through to the Qi Gathering realm.

Reaching Qi Gathering Minor Achievement in four months was nothing special compared to those like Lu Ren, who had powerful factions backing them. But among the common crowd of struggling cultivators, this speed was absolutely astonishing.

Many people could remain in the Qi Gathering realm for two or three years without ever reaching Minor Achievement.

’My True Qi isn’t ordinary; it’s the far more potent Vajra True Qi. An average cultivator at Qi Gathering Minor Achievement would be no match for me.’

[Comprehension: 45]

[Root Bone: 48]

[Cultivation: Qi Gathering Minor Achievement]

[Cultivation Techniques: Turtle and Snake Grand Posture·Minor Achievement (60/300), Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist·Minor Achievement (170/500), Vajra Skill - Introduction (45/1000)]

[Skills: Mining Level 3 (283/400)]

[Remaining Lifespan: 61]

[Martial Arts Longevity Points: 9]

Xu Yang checked his stats. Reaching Qi Gathering Minor Achievement had increased his lifespan by one year.

All his stats were rising steadily, with both Comprehension and Root Bone approaching fifty.

The Vajra Skill, however, was giving him a headache. ’My Comprehension and Root Bone keep improving, but my progress with the Vajra Skill has barely changed. It truly is a Water Grinding Technique; its progress has little to do with my stats.’

Xu Yang walked out of his room and threw a punch into the air.

A jet of white True Qi shot out, dissipating about three feet away.

’At Qi Gathering Minor Achievement, one’s True Qi can leave the body to strike enemies. Most people who’ve just reached this stage can only project their True Qi two feet, but I can manage three.

It’s all thanks to my Vajra True Qi, which is more condensed and potent. This is a nice little ace up my sleeve.’

’Time to test its destructive power!’

He strode over to a large tree, stopped three feet away, and threw a punch.

The True Qi shot forth. With a loud CRACK, the tree trunk splintered, leaving behind a fist-sized hole.

’If that hit an ordinary person, it would blow a hole right through them. The Vajra True Qi is truly brutal.’

Of course, the benefits of Vajra True Qi didn’t stop there. His body’s durability was now equally terrifying; his muscles looked as if they were cast from steel, lean and powerful. His physical toughness was likely not much weaker than Jade Butterfly’s.

He guessed that Jade Butterfly must not have been practicing the Vajra Skill for very long. If he had trained for two or three years, he might have even been able to turn the tables and kill the few Qi Gathering Great Success masters from the Gu Family.

"Xiaqing, I’m leaving!"

After saying goodbye to Xu Qing, Xu Yang braved the cold wind and hurried to the Liu Mansion.

Before he knew it, the dead of winter was upon them. The new year was only a month away.

The world was a vast expanse of white, and the snow was already ankle-deep.

Upon arriving at the Liu Mansion, he immediately sought out Zhang Bo and revealed his new cultivation level of Qi Gathering Minor Achievement.

"I’m surprised you have some talent, reaching Qi Gathering Minor Achievement so quickly. A pity the Martial Arts Ascension Dragon is only nine months away. It’s practically impossible to reach Qi Gathering Great Success in that time."

Zhang Bo couldn’t help but sigh.

Xu Yang had started his training rather late, only beginning to cultivate around the age of eighteen, and he was now past that.

The Martial Arts Ascension Dragon was held every two years. If Xu Yang missed this one, he would never get another chance, as there was an age limit. No one over twenty could participate.

If Xu Yang had started training at sixteen, he could have certainly passed the Martial Arts Ascension Dragon and earned the title of Martial Scholar.

Martial Scholar wasn’t just a useless title; it represented an opportunity to leave Qingyuan and advance further on the Martial Dao.

"It’s fine. Just help me report it, Brother Zhang," Xu Yang said with a smile.

He had come to inform Zhang Bo of his breakthrough at the first opportunity because, naturally, the stipend for a Tributor at Qi Gathering Minor Achievement was not five, but ten taels of silver per month.

Zhang Bo nodded. "Alright!"

The morning passed quickly, and Xu Yang and Wu Yongfeng returned to Weiyuan Hall.

Despite the heavy snow, the disciples of Weiyuan Hall were not slacking off; they were all diligently practicing their stances.

The two of them entered the Inner Courtyard, where they saw several new faces. There were now nearly twenty people in total.

Finding a corner, the two began their stance practice. With each rise and fall of their chests, they exhaled clouds of white mist.

"Latest news! Kong Yu of Gale Hall has successfully reached Qi Gathering!" someone suddenly shouted.

Every Inner Courtyard Disciple, even those who were in the middle of sparring, stopped and turned, their attention captured by the shout.

For this Kong Yu was none other than the genius with the Lower A-class Root Bone, the one recently taken in as a personal disciple by the master of Gale Hall.

They looked up to see an Inner Courtyard Disciple striding in from outside, an expression of utter shock on his face.