Rapid Progress, Body Tempering Realm

Yang Heng gazed intently, seeing the Marrow Cleansing Pearl resembling a transparent crystal ball, enveloped in swirling mist. Inside, crystalline liquid flowed, like ambrosia and jade nectar, radiating brilliance. It was incredibly sacred, occupying half the ball's space.

Over the past month, not only had the Marrow Cleansing Pearl rapidly accumulated energy, but Yang Heng himself had undergone earth-shattering changes.

After testing, he could now lift three hundred jin with one hand, travel fifty li without even panting, and his errands delivering medicine took less than half the previous time.

He hadn't wasted this extra time; instead, he began practicing Military Boxing, diligently training in the wilderness.

After a month, his efforts yielded results.

His gaze grew sharper, his punches carried the wind, and each move was efficient and concise, possessing considerable power. He could handle seven or eight ordinary people with ease.

To test his strength, Yang Heng went alone and dismantled a small human trafficking ring in Qingyang Town. Although he took a few hits, overall, he was very satisfied with his own capabilities.

However, he didn't get carried away. Being a king among ordinary people meant nothing; when facing a Martial Artist, he was still no match for even one blow.

He inquired about the whereabouts of martial arts cultivation techniques from several apprentices whose ancestors had been Martial Artists, but found nothing.

This day, Yang Heng was returning to Qingyang Town after delivering medicine when he unexpectedly saw Li Kui following two strong, sharp-featured men into a tavern, a fawning smile on his face.

Li Kui held no grudge against him, but he was the main culprit responsible for the original owner's death. Since he had inherited this body, he had to bear its karma and avenge it.

However, recently, Li Kui had been keeping a low profile, retreating three feet whenever he encountered Yang Heng. With the apothecary being crowded and full of prying eyes, he couldn't find an opportunity to strike.

If a good opportunity arose, Yang Heng wouldn't hesitate; he would act when the time came.

He believed Li Kui must also resent him in his heart.

Li Kui, a strong and vigorous figure among the apothecary apprentices, had been forced by Yang Heng to kowtow and admit fault, losing all face. It was impossible for him to swallow such humiliation. He might even be plotting some scheme in the shadows, attempting to harm Yang Heng.

Yang Heng cast a deep glance at Li Kui and headed towards the apothecary.

Over the past month, Li Kui had watched Yang Heng change day by day, his transformations astonishing, his body growing stronger, surpassing even his own.

Li Kui saw it all, but his heart was filled with anxiety. He couldn't think of a way to deal with Yang Heng and was deeply worried.

Today, while out delivering medicine, he returned to town and ran into two brothers he had known since childhood. Three years ago, they had gone to Qinghe City and fortunately joined a martial arts school, becoming its disciples. Li Kui had been incredibly envious.

He had tried to join too, but his talent wasn't enough, and the school wouldn't accept him. Moreover, he couldn't afford the school's expensive training fees.

Today, they were home visiting relatives, and Li Kui seized the chance encounter to catch up with them at a tavern.

Inside the tavern.

At a table in the center of the main hall, Li Kui sat facing the entrance, while the other two sat opposite him.

At the wine table, Li Kui looked at his two former brothers, their clothes luxurious, their bodies strong and robust, and felt a surge of bitterness.

When they were children, he was the eldest among the three. Now, he could only bow his head and play the subordinate, pouring drinks for them with a fawning smile.

The vast difference in their current status made him restless.

But there was nothing he could do; he needed their help.

"My dear brothers, after three years of training at the martial arts school, you must have honed your skills. Could you perhaps show your humble brother a demonstration?" Li Kui said obsequiously.

The two said nothing, focusing on drinking and eating meat. Only after the last beef bone on the plate was gnawed clean, leaving not a shred of meat, did they speak.

One was named Zhang Meng, the other Liu Xin.

Zhang Meng lived up to his name. His physique was even more robust than Li Kui's, his arms thick and large, slightly thicker than an adult's thigh. He sat on the wooden stool motionlessly, exuding an aura of immense pressure.

Zhang Meng rumbled, "You want to see our martial arts? That's no trouble at all."

Returning home wealthy is like wearing brocade at night.

He also wanted to show off in front of Li Kui and enjoy some praise.

Especially since Li Kui used to be stronger than them, but now he was far inferior.

This feeling was indescribably wonderful.

With that, Zhang Meng picked up the bare beef bone from the plate in front of him, placed it in his palm, and closed his fingers.

A moment later, cracking sounds echoed.

Zhang Meng extended his hand to Li Kui, opening his palm. In the blink of an eye, the hard beef bone had turned into a pile of powder, resting there quietly.

Li Kui was horrified, his heart pounding wildly.

To crush a palm-sized, incredibly hard beef bone into powder – just how much gripping strength would that take?

If what he had just crushed wasn't a beef bone but his own hand, it would have turned into mincemeat by now.

Li Kui stared, his face filled with disbelief, frozen on the spot.

Seeing Li Kui's expression, Zhang Meng felt a secret delight, as refreshing and comfortable as eating ice cream on a sweltering summer day.

Liu Xin wasn't to be outdone.

He took out a copper coin from his embrace, held it between two fingers, and slowly pressed it towards the wooden table.

Without him visibly exerting any force, the wooden table seemed like paper. The copper coin was easily embedded into the table.

If one hadn't seen it with their own eyes, no one would believe a copper coin was embedded within the table; they would have mistaken it for a pattern.

The actions of the two men deeply shocked Li Kui, stunning him into silence, his eyes wide open.

"Brother Kui, what do you think? Are our martial arts skills up to par?" Liu Xin asked with a teasing smile.

Li Kui snapped back to attention and praised them repeatedly.

"Astonishing, truly astonishing."

The two exchanged glances and burst into laughter.

Then, Li Kui asked, "Brother Zhang, Brother Liu, if I may be so bold, have you two already become Martial Artists?"

"We aren't Martial Artists yet, but..."

Liu Xin smiled at Li Kui, but said no more, his gaze constantly flicking to his empty wine cup.

Li Kui immediately understood. He stood up, poured wine for Liu Xin, a fawning smile on his face, and pressed, "But what?"

Liu Xin felt much better and stopped beating around the bush. "But Brother Meng is not far from the Blood Strengthening Realm. In about a year or so, he'll be able to break through."

"Blood Strengthening Realm?"

Li Kui knew of the Blood Strengthening Realm. His ancestors had been well-off, producing several Martial Artists, and a boxing manual had been passed down in his family.

He had practiced it himself, but unfortunately, his talent wasn't enough, and he couldn't grasp its essence.

The first realm for Martial Artists was called the Body Tempering Realm, which was divided into four minor stages: Blood Strengthening, Energy Refining, Bone Ironing, and Organ Refining.

Once one's cultivation broke through to the Blood Strengthening Realm, they were considered Martial Artists by the common folk.

"Congratulations, Brother Meng."

"Brother Meng, after you break through to the Blood Strengthening Realm, don't forget about your little brother."

Upon learning that Zhang Meng's current realm was close to the Blood Strengthening Realm, Li Kui immediately changed his address, putting on an obsequious demeanor and continuously refilling Zhang Meng's wine.

Zhang Meng didn't correct him and drank heartily.

As the three drank to their heart's content, Li Kui suddenly let out a sigh.

Zhang Meng and Liu Xin exchanged glances, knowing what was about to happen.

Li Kui had enthusiastically invited them for drinks and acted subserviently, serving them attentively. He must have something to ask of them, otherwise, he wouldn't be acting like this.

Although they had achieved success in their martial arts, they were not yet Martial Artists. Li Kui didn't need to curry favor with them like this.

He was definitely trying to ask for a favor.

However, the two of them didn't fall for it. They drank heartily, as if they hadn't heard the sigh Li Kui had let out.