Extracting the Martial Soul

When the group followed Steward Hu to the training ground, the bluestone slabs had only just been warmed by the morning sun.

Wang Yue raised his head and swept his gaze around the grounds. The open space on the eastern side, where the main family's disciples had stood yesterday, was empty. Wang Hu was nowhere to be seen beside the iron stakes, and even more than half the guards responsible for martial arts training were absent.

"Practice on your own for now. I'll call you when there are arrangements."

After tossing out those words, Steward Hu went to stand beneath the shade of a tree at the entrance to the training ground. He flipped through a roster in his hand, clearly having no intention of managing them further.

Wang Yue understood at once. The main family's disciples apparently had separate instruction arrangements. Collateral branches and outsiders like them were not particularly valued.

He did not join the crowd gathered together, instead walking straight toward the Black Wooden Stake at the center of the grounds.

The stake had been brought over yesterday. Wang Hu's fist marks were still clearly visible on its waist-high body, with dust clinging to the indentations. Under the sunlight, it somehow carried a hint of intimidation.

Wang Yue stretched out his hand, his fingertips having just touched the stake's icy surface.

"Boom!"

It was as though thunder had exploded inside his mind. He shut his eyes abruptly. When he opened them again, a line of pale golden words floated before him out of thin air. This was the first time the Golden Finger bound to him during his transmigration had manifested. He had only vaguely seen similar marks in his dreams before.

Weapon Soul:

Great Accomplishment Harmonious Flow Fist (Incomplete)

Includes:

Great Accomplishment Harmonious Flow Fist Technique, Great Accomplishment Harmonious Flow Fist Footwork, proficient Harmonious Flow Fist Breathing Method

Martial Soul can be extracted.

Wang Yue's heart lurched, and his face instantly went pale as he unconsciously clenched his fists.

He had never expected the incomplete mark from his dreams to appear in the form of a "Martial Soul," much less to be directly linked to the cultivation experience of Harmonious Flow Fist.

People around him were still practicing. The occasional dull thud of fists cutting through the air rang out. Wang Yue forced himself to calm down and swept his gaze around. No one had noticed anything unusual about him.

He took a deep breath and silently recited in his heart, Extract the Martial Soul.

In an instant, countless pieces of information flooded into his mind like a rising tide:

The angle at which his wrist should turn when Splitting Wave Hand carved an arc, the frequency of his waist and abdomen trembling when Wave-Stacking Fist exerted force, the path Blood Qi took when Harmonious Flow Strike was pushed forward...

Every detail of every move, every rhythm of every breath, even the weight of his soles touching the ground as he moved through the footwork, was as clear as if he had practiced them for more than ten years.

What delighted him even more was that the Harmonious Flow Fist Breathing Method, which had never been taught to him, was also imprinted in his mind along with the experience. When inhaling, he sank his shoulders and dropped his abdomen; when exhaling, his Blood Qi followed his fists.

Wang Yue forcibly suppressed his excitement and hurried to a corner of the training ground.

He did not dare try out the newly comprehended fist technique right away. He merely raised his hands slowly toward the air, turning the experience in his mind into movements bit by bit.

As "Splitting Wave Hand" carved an arc, his wrist naturally turned and his waist and abdomen exerted a light force. It was several times smoother than yesterday.

When "Wave-Stacking Fist" stepped forward, his sole landed heel first before shifting to the toes, steady and solid without the slightest hint of instability.

As for the Breathing Method, he only dared quietly adjust his rhythm while inhaling. He did not dare make it too obvious, afraid Steward Hu or the others would notice something.

The sun gradually climbed higher, and the people in the training ground grew increasingly lax. Some leaned against wooden stakes to rest, while others clustered together to chat idly.

Wang Yue, however, became more and more absorbed. Every movement confirmed the experience in his mind, and the originally awkward techniques gradually became smooth and rounded.

"Stop!"

A familiar shout rang out. Wang Yue withdrew his fists and looked up to see Wang Hu striding over with Wang He.

Wang Hu was still dressed in that dark fitted outfit, his face expressionless. He swept his eyes over the people on the training ground, gave Wang He several quiet instructions, then turned and left without sparing them another glance.

Watching the direction Wang Hu had gone, Wang Yue understood clearly that he must have gone to teach the main family's disciples martial arts. People like them were merely those Wang Hu happened to "look after."

"Stand properly. We begin practicing Harmonious Flow Fist now. If anyone's movements aren't standard, don't blame me for being harsh."

Wang He walked to the center of the grounds, his tone carrying the usual arrogance of a main family disciple.

He did not demonstrate the moves slowly as he had yesterday. He merely called out, "Begin," then paced back and forth as he inspected them.

An outsider youth's "Harmonious Flow Strike" became distorted. He drew back his strength before his fist reached its full extension. Seeing this, Wang He stepped forward and casually slapped the youth on the shoulder.

"Bang!"

The youth staggered and fell to the ground, his face turning pale.

"Harmonious Flow Strike requires force from the waist and abdomen. You're relying only on your arms. What's the difference between that and never having trained at all?"

Wang He's voice was full of rebuke. He demonstrated the correct movement once more before allowing the youth to get up and continue practicing.

Wang Yue stood at the back of the line, watching the scene unfold.

He forcefully restrained the urge to unleash the Great Accomplishment Fist Technique. He deliberately slowed his movements, making his techniques appear only a little more proper than everyone else's without revealing too much of their true essence.

Yet even so, when he linked "Splitting Wave Hand" into "Wave-Stacking Fist," the details of his arms naturally sinking his shoulders and his waist and abdomen exerting force with precision were still caught by Wang He as he paced around inspecting them.

Wang He stopped, turned back to glance at Wang Yue, and raised his brows slightly. A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes, but he said nothing and turned to continue forward.

Wang Yue's heart tightened. He secretly reminded himself that he had to hide the strength brought by the Golden Finger well. He could not stand out too much.

After lunch, Steward Hu came again with an announcement. "You don't need to come to the training ground this afternoon. Go back to the rear courtyard and practice on your own."

Upon hearing this, most of them breathed a sigh of relief. With Wang He watching over them at the training ground, they were always somewhat nervous while practicing.

Wang Yue, however, was somewhat expectant. There were few people in the rear courtyard, making it perfect for secretly studying the Breathing Method brought by the Golden Finger.

After returning to the rear courtyard, many people went straight back to their rooms to rest. Only Xu Li and several persistent youths were still practicing in the open space.

Wang Yue found a secluded corner and first tried using the new Breathing Method alongside his fist practice.

When inhaling, his Blood Qi slowly sank into his waist and abdomen. When exhaling, his Blood Qi surged along his arms toward the centers of his fists.

With one punch, it was unexpectedly much more powerful than before, and the soreness in his arms lessened considerably.

He became more and more absorbed, practicing until the sun set in the west. Only when the people in the rear courtyard gradually returned to their rooms to sleep did Wang Yue stop.

But he did not return to his room. Instead, he waited until night completely shrouded the rear courtyard and moonlight climbed over the earthen walls before walking once more to the center of the open space.

The surroundings were silent, with only the leaves of the old elm tree occasionally rustling.

Wang Yue drew a deep breath. No longer hiding the strength granted by the Golden Finger, he fully unleashed the Great Accomplishment Harmonious Flow Fist.

"Splitting Wave Hand!"

His hands carved arcs, carrying the technique of stirring the air. It was not the slightest bit inferior to Wang Hu's demonstration yesterday.

"Wave-Stacking Fist!"

His fists shot out like racing thunder. Though they did not strike a wooden stake, he could feel the vibrations of Blood Qi flowing smoothly through his body.

"Harmonious Flow Strike!"

Both fists thrust forward together. His waist and abdomen exerted force, and Blood Qi traveled from the soles of his feet to the centers of his fists in one smooth flow, without the slightest obstruction.

The stiffness of his old movements was gone. In its place were countless details: the angle of his wrist turns, the distance of his steps, the coordination between breath and technique. Everything was as practiced as though it had been carved into his bones.

The more he threw punches, the stronger they became; the more he fought, the smoother it felt. Sweat ran down his cheeks from his temples, yet he did not feel tired in the slightest.

"Creak..."

A faint sound of a door opening rang out. Wang Yue abruptly withdrew his fists and turned around.

Xu Li was standing there, leaning against his door with a thin outer robe in hand. He had clearly been awakened by the sounds of fists being thrown.

Xu Li froze for a moment when he saw Wang Yue in the open space, but he said nothing. He merely walked silently to the other side of the clearing, raised his hands, and began practicing Harmonious Flow Fist.

Wang Yue did not speak either. With several steps between them, the two practiced their fists beneath the moonlight. Only the alternating sounds of their punches remained in the rear courtyard.

After an unknown amount of time, Wang Yue felt the Blood Qi throughout his body churning before he finally stopped.

The moment he stopped, aching pain flooded through his entire body. His arms, waist, and abdomen all felt heavy.

He wiped away his sweat, nodded to Xu Li, then turned and returned to his room.

Lying on his bed, Wang Yue closed his eyes, and the pale golden words surfaced in his mind once again:

Weapon Soul (Golden Finger):

Great Accomplishment Harmonious Flow Fist (Incomplete)

Status: Extracted. Cooldown time: 7 days.

Looking at the words "seven-day cooldown," Wang Yue could not stop the corners of his mouth from rising.

With this Golden Finger, let alone gaining entry within a year, it probably would not take long before he surpassed the main family's disciples.

He touched the fist manual in his clothes. It felt as though something invisible had come crashing down within his heart, making Wang Yue feel that this world seemed rather good after all.