Advancing to an Entering Martial Master

Lin Zhao gazed at the Proficiency Panel emerging in his mind, martial ambition in his chest nearly bursting forth—the words on the panel were the testament to six years of bitter cultivation:

-Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique: Third Tier (Perfected, Breakthrough Available), Internal Breath Refinement 98%

-Mystic Wolf Breathing Technique: Third Tier (335/10000), Internal Breath Attribute: Silver Frost (Acceleration, Concealment)

-"Three Talents Slash": Third Tier (9672/10000), Special Effect: Advanced Shocking Force (Internal breath infusion can split mystic iron)

-Beast Taming: Third Tier (Perfected), Special Effect: Heart of Beast Taming (Can communicate simply with the Mystic Arm Snow Ape)

-Martial Arts Blacksmithing: Third Tier (6897/10000), Special Effect: Guaranteed Exquisite (Pulse Protecting Pattern compatibility +30%)

First, the Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique. Ever since following the "Heart Meridian Qi-Gathering Method" taught by Zhao Tieying and swallowing an Ink Flood Dragon Body Tempering Pill every day at dawn, his internal breath had progressed two-thirds faster than expected. It had now condensed into a "qi vortex" within his meridians, reaching the threshold of Third Tier perfection.

Yet this was not the end—the Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique had to pass through the stage of "Heart Meridian Seed Condensation" to enter the Fourth Tier: all the internal breath throughout his body had to be gathered into the heart meridian and condensed into a "Mystic Dragon Seed."

Once he succeeded, he would no longer be an "initial Martial Master" lingering at the threshold, but a genuine Entering Martial Master. Only then, in this chaotic age of high martial arts, would he possess a true foundation to stand firm.

As for the Mystic Wolf Breathing Technique, it had originally been a bloodline breathing exercise of a minor northern family. Its style leaned toward agility, perfectly complementing the cold, defensive nature of the Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique.

Moreover, Lin Zhao already possessed the foundation of an initial Martial Master. After entering the method into the Proficiency Panel, practicing it became as easy as driving a familiar carriage down an old road—bloodline Breathing Exercises were inherently "hard to begin, easy to improve." With the panel's assistance, merely nourishing himself daily on Mystic Mane Fierce Wolf meat steadily increased his internal breath.

The improvements brought by this breathing exercise were equally tangible. His movement technique had become several times nimbler than before. In particular, with the "Silver Frost Step" beneath his feet, he could race like an ape even across the boulder-strewn slopes of Qixia Mountain.

Some days ago, when he had ventured deep into the mountains to test his skills, more than ten Mystic Mane Fierce Wolves had surrounded and attacked him. Without armor, relying solely on the simultaneous circulation of his two techniques and the "Three Talents Slash," he had slaughtered the entire wolf pack within half an incense stick's time. Such strength had long surpassed the scope of an initial Martial Master. Even an ordinary Entering Martial Master fighting barehanded might not have managed it so easily.

The "Three Talents Slash" was likewise close to its breakthrough threshold.

Without mishap, once he finished refining the final batch of armor next month, it would enter the Fourth Tier. Then he could master the long-awaited "Binding Force"—qi force could wrap around a blade and, when slashing, strip away the internal breath on an opponent's weapon. It was truly a crucial move for defeating enemies.

That morning, Lin Zhao stood atop the watchtower of Lin Family Fortress and saw Zhao Tieying, a mystic iron saber slung at his waist, leading more than ten sturdy estate guards. They led Western Frontier Snow-Treading Colts laden with goods westward along the official road—it was time once more to deliver armor to the Iron Mask Martial Masters of the Northern Garrison.

Over this period, he had forged twenty-two sets of Mystic Iron Plate Armor bearing Pulse Protecting Patterns. Five sets were kept for the fortress's five Squad Leaders, while Zhao Tieying led the delivery of the remaining seventeen sets to Northern Garrison City. He was also tasked with asking around at Xuanyao Tavern for news of Pangolin Dragon Essence—since Zhu Chenhao, the White Horse General, had monopolized Pangolin Dragon Essence, Lin Zhao's Mystic Dragon Secret Medicine was nearly depleted. If he could not find a new source, his later cultivation would likely have to slow.

He had once handled all these matters personally, but recently, he had constantly felt the internal breath in his heart meridian stirring restlessly, as though the moment for "Heart Meridian Seed Condensation" had arrived. How could he allow himself to be delayed?

Zhao Tieying was an old veteran at the Peak Martial Master realm, steady and reliable in his work. With him overseeing things, nothing could go wrong.

"There are still over a thousand taels of silver in the accounts. Once this batch of armor is sold, it will bring in at least another fifteen hundred taels. With twenty-five hundred taels in hand, I can safely charge toward Entering Martial Master." Lin Zhao watched the Snow-Treading Colt convoy vanish into the morning mist, muttered a few words, then descended the watchtower and returned to the main office at the center of the fortress. He shut the door behind him—what came next would be the crucial moment of his breakthrough.

Since beginning the Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique under his father at six years old, he had spent a full six years advancing from Martial Trainee to initial Martial Master, finally enduring his way to this day. Once he succeeded, he would no longer need to lower his head whenever he encountered an Entering Martial Master. Though an Entering Martial Master could not run rampant through the northern lands, he would already be more than capable of handling the situations around the Northern Garrison.

In the rear chamber of the main office, Lin Zhao moved the wheat cakes and water from the table aside, then sat cross-legged upon a mystic iron meditation cushion. It had been left behind by his father and was stuffed with desert camel wool. It could stabilize internal breath and was best suited for breakthroughs.

Looking at the ink painting of "Mystic Dragon Emerging from the Sea" on the wall, Lin Zhao slowly closed his eyes according to Zhao Tieying's "Heart Meridian Qi-Gathering Method" and began circulating the Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique.

According to northern martial texts, the "Mystic Dragon Seed" was not a Daoist "dantian," but had to gather qi at the heart meridian—the heart was the source of internal breath. Only by condensing a qi seed there could internal breath circulate more smoothly, reducing the dangers of later charging toward Peak Martial Master.

Mystic Dragon internal breath flowed through his meridians at a speed far beyond the ordinary. Lin Zhao repeatedly practiced the "Mystic Dragon Coiling Pillar" stance, the muscles all over his body knotting like old tree roots wrapped around stone, every inch of flesh brimming with power ready to erupt.

Before long, steaming white vapor rose from his head, and his short shirt was instantly soaked through with sweat. He could clearly feel the water in his body draining away at high speed, yet he did not dare drink, afraid of disrupting the circulation of his internal breath.

His throat burned with thirst. Lin Zhao forcefully endured the dizziness brought by dehydration, while the circulation of his internal breath only grew fiercer.

His blood seemed to thicken as his internal breath boiled, while his heartbeat gradually slowed—he knew this was the unavoidable danger of "Heart Meridian Seed Condensation." If his internal breath was insufficient, the qi seed could not form. If it became too dry, it might instead shock and injure the heart meridian.

I must succeed! Lin Zhao roared inwardly.

Every point of progress on this Proficiency Panel had been hammered out through sword and hammer, through three practice sessions every day. How could he let all his efforts go to waste at the final step!

Boom!

At the instant the Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique reached its limit, vast internal breath surged forth from his limbs and bones, rushing along his blood vessels like a tide toward the heart meridian. A heart-rending pain suddenly erupted from his left chest, as if a blunt knife were churning through his organs.

Lin Zhao knew this was the critical stage of "qi seed formation." Before internal breath reached the heart meridian, he could still abandon the attempt. But once qi force entered the meridian, there would be no turning back—success meant becoming an Entering Martial Master; failure meant the heart meridian rupturing and death. Countless initial Martial Masters had perished pointlessly at this step, either because their resolve faltered or their foundation was unstable.

Fortunately, the Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique was a superior northern breathing exercise, and the risk of condensing the seed was already lower than that of ordinary techniques. Furthermore, his internal breath had been solidly tempered by the Proficiency Panel, without the slightest trace of hollowness.

At last, after enduring the piercing pain for the time it took an incense stick to burn, the pale-faced Lin Zhao finally let out a long breath. He could distinctly sense a warm current added within his heart meridian, slowly pulsing with his breaths.

"I, Lin Zhao, am from this day forth an Entering Martial Master!" He abruptly opened his eyes, a flash of black light passing through them—the sign of Mystic Dragon internal breath spilling outward.

Though he lacked the ability to see through his own body, the instant he entered the Entering Martial Master realm, he could vaguely sense a faint black inner qi winding around the surface of his heart meridian. It resembled a curled Mystic Dragon, its tail splitting into countless fine threads that crawled over the heart meridian like capillaries, tightly linked with the blood vessels throughout his body—this was the unique "Mystic Dragon Seed" of the Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique.

From this day onward, the qi and blood produced from the grains and meat he ate would flow through his blood vessels to the heart meridian, nourishing and strengthening the Mystic Dragon Seed. The inner qi released by the seed would likewise, under the guidance of the breathing technique, flow through the blood vessels to every limb and bone—this was the "Great Circulation" of Mystic Dragon internal breath, the fundamental difference between an Entering Martial Master and an initial Martial Master.

With a thought from Lin Zhao, the Mystic Dragon Seed moved like an organ he could command at will. A wisp of faint black qi drifted from the seed and traveled with his blood toward both arms. In the blink of an eye, a layer of winding black qi covered the backs of his forearms, his muscles tightening with it. When he reached out to touch them, they felt rough and tough as old cowhide—this was the martial special effect of the Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique.

"The Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique already emphasizes defense. This qi first condenses at the forearms so that, when I am barehanded, I can use it to receive weapons head-on." He pondered in secret, then tried moving the black qi to his palms. Half an incense stick later, the black qi on his forearms dispersed, while a layer of qi film as thin as cicada wings appeared over his palms.

This discovery delighted him beyond measure. He tried moving it toward his left chest, but there was not the slightest response—with his current realm, Mystic Dragon inner qi could only circulate through this small area around his palms and forearms.

To make the black qi cover his entire body, he would need to nurture the Mystic Dragon Seed until it was stronger. If he could reach the Peak Martial Master realm like Zhao Tieying, perhaps even his torso could be wrapped in black qi, forming true "Mystic Dragon Aura"!

After quickly eating two large meat pies to replenish his strength, Lin Zhao checked the Proficiency Panel again, unable to keep the corners of his mouth from lifting:

-Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique: Fourth Tier (1/20000), Special Effect: Basic Mystic Dragon Defense (Mystic Dragon inner qi condenses into a qi film, capable of blocking heavy blunt strikes and reducing injuries from sharp weapons)

"It finally broke through to the Fourth Tier—even a martial special effect has appeared!" He clenched his fist, and black qi flashed over his palm before vanishing. Without testing it personally, how could he know the depth of this special effect? Zhao Tieying was away. After pondering briefly, Lin Zhao headed for the "Mystic Arm Snow Ape Garden" in the rear courtyard of the fortress. Three years ago, he had rescued and raised three Mystic Arm Snow Apes there, naming them Yuan Da, Yuan Er, and Yuan San. They had now become capable assistants within the fortress, each possessing the strength of an initial Martial Master.

The moment he arrived outside the garden, he saw the three brothers lazily leaning against an artificial rockery, gnawing noisily on fresh dried white-scaled dragon meat. They looked exactly like estate guards slacking off in the fortress. "Yuan Er, come here!" Lin Zhao called. Of the three brothers, Yuan Er alone had the steadiest temperament. Hearing him, Yuan Er immediately tossed aside the dried meat and scampered over, rising on his hind legs as he tried to pounce into Lin Zhao's arms.

This Mystic Arm Snow Ape was now nearly three years old. Standing upright, he was a full two zhang tall and weighed eight hundred jin. Lin Zhao looked as small as a child standing before him. Had Lin Zhao not just broken through to Entering Martial Master, with his internal breath stabilized, even though Yuan Er held back his strength, that pounce would have sent him staggering.

"Stop rubbing against me! You'll lick my skin raw!" Lin Zhao laughed as he pushed away Yuan Er's huge head. "Come, use your right paw. Strike my palm with fifty percent of your strength."

Yuan Er let out a low whimper and shook his head like a rattle drum. Though he understood human nature, he also knew how powerful he was. How could he dare truly attack his master? He tilted his head at Lin Zhao, his eyes full of the confusion: Has Master gone mad?

"It's fine. This is an order. Just come." Lin Zhao patted his back. Yuan Da and Yuan San also gathered around and sprawled nearby to watch the excitement. Yuan San even waved his paws eagerly, clearly itching to have a try. "You step back. You never know your own strength." Lin Zhao waved Yuan San away, chasing him farther off.

After dawdling for a long time, Yuan Er finally tensed his body and slightly raised his right paw, retracting his claws. Though he did not understand martial arts, he knew he could not hurt his master. Lin Zhao also removed his short shirt and stood bare-chested, not even wearing his close-fitting light chainmail. He merely focused on circulating his internal breath as black qi from the Mystic Dragon Seed slowly flowed toward both palms.

"Come!"

At Lin Zhao's command, Yuan Er gave a low roar and swung his right paw down with a howl of wind. The palm wind made Lin Zhao's face go numb. This fifty percent strength was likely even stronger than the full-force strike of an ordinary initial Martial Master!

"Good!"

Instead of retreating, Lin Zhao advanced. Both palms shot out, Mystic Dragon inner qi forming a thin membrane over them as he forcibly received the paw strike!

Bang!

Amid the muffled impact, Lin Zhao was jolted backward three chi, fine cracks spreading across the blue bricks beneath his feet. Yet his palms felt no pain whatsoever—the Mystic Dragon qi film rippled from the blow but did not rupture, and the flesh beneath was completely unharmed.

"Hahaha, again!"

Lin Zhao's eyes lit up, and he charged forward once more. Man and ape began grappling in the garden, while Yuan Da and Yuan San howled their encouragement from the side. The garden filled with the dull crashes of fists and feet colliding, along with ape cries.

Half an hour later, Yuan Er collapsed to the ground, panting heavily with his long tongue hanging out. He was clearly spent;

Lin Zhao also had sweat on his brow, but he remained full of vigor—the qi film over his palms broke and reformed repeatedly. So long as the internal breath in his Mystic Dragon Seed was not exhausted, it could continuously repair itself.

After this round of testing, he had figured it out: when fully circulating Mystic Dragon inner qi, the qi film could endure for a full five minutes. In a battlefield fight, five minutes was enough to decide victory or defeat.

Yet on further thought, the enhancement from this Mystic Dragon Defense was not quite so heaven-defying—after all, he had Mystic Iron Plate Armor bearing Pulse Protecting Patterns. In ordinary fights, there was simply no need to use inner qi.

"Fine. Now that I have a Fourth Tier breathing technique, along with the 'Three Talents Slash' about to reach the Fourth Tier, how could ordinary Entering Martial Masters possibly be my match?"

Lin Zhao smiled as he put his short shirt back on, rubbed Yuan Er's head, then waved to Yuan Da and Yuan San before turning and returning to the main office. The panel clearly showed that for the Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique to break into the Fifth Tier—the Peak Martial Master realm—it required accumulating twenty thousand proficiency points. Though an Entering Martial Master was already the pillar holding up Lin Family Fortress, on the path of northern martial arts, he had merely stepped through the gate.

The gap between a low-tier Entering Martial Master and a Peak Martial Master was even greater than that between a Martial Trainee and an Entering Martial Master. There were likely over a thousand Entering Martial Masters in the northern garrisons, yet Peak Martial Masters? Across the territory under the Northern Garrison Commandery, there might not even be a hundred.

Lin Zhao looked toward Qixia Mountain beyond the window and clenched his fist—the martial path was blocked and long. He still had to keep tempering himself!