Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

"The opponent is an expert at Qi Gathering Minor Achievement!"

Qiu Wenjie’s voice was hoarse, his eyes bloodshot.

He started practicing martial arts early and was still a sixteen-year-old boy. His family had suffered a sudden disaster: his eldest uncle was injured, their family business was being targeted, and they faced the threat of annihilation. His state of mind was already unstable.

He had come to Weiyuan Hall for help, only to be repeatedly rejected. It was a testament to his strength that he hadn’t broken down in tears.

Now, seeing Xu Yang, whom he had always considered a brother, the grief and indignation in his heart were becoming unbearable.

"I’ll go ask the other senior brothers. Someone is bound to step up and help!"

Qiu Wenjie took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent emotions within. If it meant saving his family from this crisis, what did a few scoldings and rejections matter?

At worst, he would ask every single senior brother in the Inner Courtyard. There had to be someone who disapproved of the Hong Family’s tyrannical behavior. If that didn’t work, he would beg Brother Sun Tao, or even Master Lin Cheng.

His own honor and disgrace were nothing compared to the life and death of his family.

Qiu Wenjie turned to leave, but Xu Yang placed a large hand on his shoulder. "Tell me in detail what happened."

Although Qiu Wenjie was anxious, having one more person to help figure things out was a good thing. He immediately explained how the Hong Family had set their sights on the Qiu Family’s supply channels.

"Sorry, I have to focus all my energy on the Martial Arts Ascension Dragon. I can’t get involved."

Zhang Yong and Zhang Hong had walked over at some point, and Zhang Yong explained his reason for not being able to intervene.

"He only just reached Qi Gathering Minor Achievement. If a few of us brothers jump him together, we can beat him to death," Wu Yongfeng said fiercely.

Since the few of them were a group, they couldn’t just stand by and do nothing when one of them was in trouble. If he ignored Qiu Wenjie’s plight today, then tomorrow, when it was his turn to be in trouble, no one would help him either.

Qiu Wenjie’s eyes lit up. If Wu Yongfeng and Zhang Hong were both willing to act, then Zhang Yong probably wouldn’t be so hesitant.

"It’s useless."

Zhang Yong shook his head. "The opponent is from the Tiger Roar Boxing Hall. Wenjie has martial brothers, but so does he. Ganging up on him will only escalate the situation."

The hope that had just risen in Qiu Wenjie’s heart was instantly shattered. Wu Yongfeng also realized this plan was inappropriate.

Zhang Hong gritted his teeth and said, "I’ll go ask Senior Sister Gu Fang for you. I work for the Gu Family, so she should do me this favor."

In truth, he wasn’t confident at all.

Although he served the Gu Family, he didn’t have much interaction with Gu Fang, either in the Gu Family or at Weiyuan Hall.

"There’s no need!"

This time, it was Xu Yang who spoke. Everyone looked at him in surprise, not understanding why he was against asking Gu Fang for help.

"Take me to the Hong Family. I’ll take care of this Hong Feng," Xu Yang said calmly.

’We both just broke through to Qi Gathering Minor Achievement. With the profundity of the Vajra Skill, I’m confident I won’t lose to anyone in the same realm. Even if Hong Feng has been practicing for two or three years and his Fist Cultivation is possibly deeper than my own, I’m not afraid. If things really go south, I still have spare points.’

’Qiu Yongqiang has been funding my martial arts training all this time. It’s time to let him know his money hasn’t gone to waste.’

"Brother Xu, don’t be impulsive. I’ll go ask the other senior brothers."

Qiu Wenjie was touched, thinking Xu Yang was planning to risk his life to repay the Qiu Family’s kindness.

Zhang Hong, however, had a sudden thought, and his voice grew a little sharper. "You’ve reached Qi Gathering Minor Achievement?"

’I know Xu Yang too well. He’s even more steady than I am. If he’s planning to make a move, he must have reached Qi Gathering Minor Achievement.’

"Mhm," Xu Yang nodded, then added, "The Liu Family doesn’t allow us to casually reveal breakthroughs in our Cultivation, so I didn’t say anything."

"Haha... I knew you, Xu Yang, wouldn’t just fade into the crowd so easily." Zhang Hong had no interest in hearing the rest of his explanation.

Wu Yongfeng’s and Zhang Yong’s eyes widened.

Xu Yang had also reached Qi Gathering Minor Achievement.

Xu Yang shook his head. "Actually, Wenjie’s family has been funding my martial arts training all this time!"

He explained, without specifying the amount, concealing the fact that his Root Bone and Comprehension had been continuously improving.

Otherwise, even with the few taels of silver from the Qiu Family, it would have been impossible for him to reach Qi Gathering Minor Achievement so quickly.

Zhang Hong, Wu Yongfeng, and the others had looks of sudden understanding.

"Brother Xu, you... you really reached Qi Gathering Minor Achievement?" Qiu Wenjie trembled with excitement.

’I don’t have to go around begging people anymore! The Qiu Family can be saved!’

Xu Yang said, "Enough talk. Let’s solve this matter first. Don’t let Uncle Qiu and the others worry."

"Okay!" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Qiu Wenjie suppressed his excitement and strode forward. Xu Yang quickly followed.

Wu Yongfeng, Zhang Hong, and Zhang Yong hesitated for a moment before following as well.

"Interesting. He actually reached Qi Gathering Minor Achievement too," Jiang Ping said with a smile.

Qi Gathering Martial Artists had sharp senses. They could hear a person breathing from several dozen feet away, so naturally, he had overheard Xu Yang and his group’s conversation.

Lu Ren said, "I didn’t expect him to have a sponsor all this time. No wonder he refused to marry into the Liu Family. Looks like the Martial Arts Hall will have one more person for the Martial Arts Ascension Dragon."

Jiang Ping shook his head. "The Qiu Family is just a minor household. How much could they possibly give him? Otherwise, he wouldn’t have ended up going to the Liu Family in the first place. It’ll still be difficult for him to succeed in the Martial Arts Ascension Dragon. Even if he makes it to the stage, he’ll just be there to make up the numbers.

Besides, he might just get himself killed sticking his neck out for someone this time.

So foolish, to step up at a time like this."

After speaking, he looked at Lu Ren. "Everyone has always thought he’s no weaker than you. Aren’t you going to go see what he’s capable of?"

At this moment, many people in the Inner Courtyard, having learned that Xu Yang had reached Qi Gathering Minor Achievement and was about to face another at the same level, also left to follow them.

Lu Ren had no intention of watching the fight. He shook his head and said, "I reached Qi Gathering Minor Achievement two months ago. I could defeat him within three moves. There’s no point in watching.

I was foolish before, always thinking about suppressing him. It’s laughable to think about it now. To think my focus was on someone so much weaker than me."

...

[Comprehension: 45]

[Root Bone: 48]

[Cultivation: Qi Gathering Minor Achievement]

[Cultivation Techniques: Turtle and Snake Grand Posture·Minor Achievement (65/300), Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist·Minor Achievement (185/500), Vajra Skill - Introduction (50/1000)]

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

[Remaining Lifespan: 61]

[Martial Arts Longevity Points: 57]

Xu Yang called up his panel.

’I have the Vajra Skill for protection; my Physique and True Qi should both be superior to Hong Feng’s. However, I’ve only been practicing for half a year, while Hong Feng has been practicing for nearly three. Although his Root Bone is inferior to mine, causing him to take nearly three years to reach Qi Gathering Minor Achievement, three years of practicing day and night means his Fist Cultivation is likely superior to mine. I’m confident I can defeat Hong Feng, but I can’t guarantee an injury-free victory, and getting injured would affect my chances in the Martial Arts Ascension Dragon. This is why Zhang Yong refused to act; I have the same concern. To be safe, I need to upgrade my Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist.’

"It is said that the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist has a total of three types of Force, but most disciples in Weiyuan Hall can only comprehend one, which is the Bear-Bursting Strength."

The Bear-Bursting Strength, also known as Outer Strength, is a technique of exerting physical power, and it is the most ferocious and direct.

In Weiyuan Hall’s Inner Courtyard, more than half of the disciples are able to comprehend it.

The second type of Force is called Wind and Thunder Strength. Its name comes from being as light as the wind and as fierce as a clap of thunder. It’s a method of utilizing True Qi, also known as Inner Strength or Hidden Strength, and is a Killing Move specifically for dealing with experts at Qi Gathering Great Success.

Wind and Thunder Strength can bypass the Protective True Qi of a Qi Gathering Great Success expert, blasting one’s own True Qi into the enemy’s body right through their defenses. Like a needle hidden in cotton or a sneak attack, it is an extremely formidable True Qi application technique that requires extremely high Comprehension to grasp.

As far as he knew, among all the current disciples of Weiyuan Hall, not a single one had managed to comprehend Wind and Thunder Strength from the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist—not even geniuses like Jiang Ping and Gu Fang, who had entered the Inner Courtyard long ago.

This time, by upgrading the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist, Xu Yang hoped to comprehend Wind and Thunder Strength.

’If I can comprehend Wind and Thunder Strength, I won’t even fear someone at Qi Gathering Great Success, let alone Hong Feng, who is merely at Qi Gathering Minor Achievement. Because this is a technique that ninety-nine percent of people can’t comprehend, even after reaching Qi Gathering Great Success. If I had to rely on my own understanding, my current Comprehension would still be far from sufficient. But the panel’s upgrades are based on progress. Since the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist has the Triple Force, as long as my progress in it surpasses two hundred, I should be able to comprehend Wind and Thunder Strength.’

As for the third type of Force in the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist, it was called Mixed Element Strength.

The union of inner and outer is the Mixed Element.

Only through Primordial Unity can one achieve Great Success.

’Perhaps by the time of the Martial Arts Ascension Dragon, I can achieve Primordial Unity and master the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist to the level of Great Success.’