Five Elements Fist Perfected, Entering the Ranks of Martial Dao

The night was deep, the moon bright and the stars sparse.

In the courtyard.

Lin Changqing practiced the forms one punch at a time, sometimes like a fierce tiger, sometimes like an ape or a soaring crane. The five forms of the Five Elements Fist shifted at his will.

Like drifting clouds and flowing water.

Descending Mountain Tiger, Star Plucking Monkey, Mountain Embracing Bear, Forest Piercing Deer, Heaven Soaring Crane...

Every move contained a certain charm.

Like five genuine fierce beasts and birds of prey, their imposing aura made one's heart tremble.

Rumble... crackle...

After finishing a full set of punches, Lin Qingshan's muscles and bones immediately rang in unison, sounding like morning bells and evening drums.

At once, his blood surged.

In an instant, it coursed through all the flesh and blood in his body, leaving him feeling refreshed and exhilarated.

"Breakthrough..."

A sharp gleam flashed in Lin Changqing's eyes.

After ten days of arduous cultivation, the Five Elements Health Cultivation Fist had finally reached the realm of perfection.

This speed was utterly terrifying.

In truth!

Lin Changqing had always concealed his progress in cultivating the Five Elements Health Cultivation Fist.

In fact, on the very first day he practiced the Five Elements Health Cultivation Fist with Daoist Yunyang, he had already achieved initial mastery.

Minor mastery in two days.

Major mastery in five days.

And now, perfection in ten days.

If Daoist Yunyang found out, he would likely be so shocked that his eyes popped out.

"This Five Elements Health Cultivation Fist truly is extraordinary. Upon cultivating it to perfection, not only did it increase my Qi and Blood tenfold, it also successfully fused Qi and Blood into my flesh and blood.

"It allowed me to enter the ranks of Martial Dao and step into the first realm of the Great Body Realm, the Body Tempering Realm.

"I have become a Ninth Rank Martial Artist.

"My flesh body and physique have likely improved by more than tenfold compared to before I cultivated the Five Elements Fist.

"Unfortunately, taking another step forward will not be so easy."

Feeling the changes in his body, Lin Changqing's eyes glinted as he muttered, "A Ninth-Rank Martial Artist tempers their own skin and flesh with the power of Qi and Blood. The consumption is immense.

"If I rely solely on converting my own Essence Blood, it is clearly not enough.

"If I want to further raise the power of my Qi and Blood and temper my skin and flesh more quickly, I can only use medicinal baths.

"The medical texts Daoist Yunyang gave me do contain prescriptions for medicinal baths and medicinal cuisine, but the required ingredients are rather precious.

"It seems I will need to find a time to sell that Ninth Rank Divine Weapon Blade.

"However.

"This Five Elements Health Cultivation Fist is quite mysterious.

"Now that I have entered the ranks of Martial Dao, the Five Elements Health Cultivation Fist is still effective, though its effects have greatly diminished..."

The next day.

Early in the morning, Lin Changqing placed the Ninth Rank Battle Saber into a Wooden Box.

He then carried an ordinary longsword out of the courtyard.

He headed straight for the village entrance.

Beneath the ancient osmanthus tree at the entrance, the caravan preparing to enter the city was already waiting.

"Changqing, hurry... we're about to set out."

Before he even arrived, Lin Hu's voice carried over.

The boy stood on a branch of the osmanthus tree, vigorously waving at Lin Changqing.

Every ten days or half a month, Green Mountain Village would generally send a caravan to the county town to sell the accumulated hides and furs of wild beasts in exchange for money.

This was the largest source of income for all of Green Mountain Village.

Several days earlier, Lin Changqing had already spoken to the Clan Chief, Lin Yuntang, about joining the caravan into the city.

He had not expected Lin Hu to be here as well.

"Uncle Yongteng, and all the uncles, I'll have to trouble you this time..."

Lin Changqing strode over, first smiling and waving at Lin Hu, then thanking all the caravan members.

These were troubled times. Green Mountain Village was over a hundred li from Fengle County Town, and bandits ran rampant along the way.

Traveling alone was far too dangerous.

One careless misstep, and one could be eaten until not even the bones remained.

Though Lin Changqing was not afraid, this was his first time entering the city.

Following the village caravan was still the safer choice.

"Hahaha... Changqing, you're too polite."

The one who answered was a Middle-aged Man named Lin Yongteng. He was the caravan's leader and Lin Hu's second uncle.

Lin Yongteng smiled and patted Lin Changqing's shoulder. "Stay with Little Hu later.

"After a stick of incense, we'll set out..."

"Alright!"

Lin Changqing nodded slightly, then walked toward Lin Hu.

"Changqing, what are you going into the city for?"

Lin Hu approached with a grin, glanced at the bundle on Lin Changqing's back, and said, "Such a big bundle. What are you carrying?"

"Oh, a blade. I'm planning to sell it in the county town."

Lin Changqing answered casually, "And while I'm there, I'll ask around about my father..."

"Uncle Yongfan..."

Lin Hu paused slightly, then said softly, "Changqing, good people are blessed by Heaven. Uncle Yongfan will be fine."

"I hope so!"

Lin Changqing sighed, filled with sorrow.

His father in this life, Lin Yongfan, had been conscripted by the Imperial Court a month ago to forge weapons. At the time, they had said it would take as little as a few days and at most ten days to half a month.

Yet he had not returned even now, and there was no news of him whatsoever.

Lin Changqing knew something must have happened.

Whether Lin Yongfan was even still alive was a question in itself.

This era was already plagued by chaos.

Human lives were as cheap as grass.

The lives of mountain villagers were worth even less than grass.

After a stick of incense.

The caravan set off on time.

A horse-drawn cart carried the furs, mountain goods, and other items the village intended to sell. Since Lin Changqing and Lin Hu were still young, they received preferential treatment and rode in the cart.

The driver was a tall, thin man named Lin Yongyuan.

He was of the same generation as Lin Changqing's father, Lin Yongfan, and Lin Yongteng.

As for Lin Yongteng and the other ten caravan members, they could only travel on foot.

In this world, horses were equally rare.

Warhorses in particular were strategic resources, and the Imperial Court forbade private ownership.

Even nag horses were seldom seen. For one thing, they were monopolized by great clans and powerful forces, making them difficult for ordinary people to buy.

For another, raising horses cost a great deal of money.

Keeping a single horse cost more than supporting an adult man.

This nag horse of Great Green Mountain had been raised specifically to haul goods into the city.

Otherwise, pushing a cartload of goods by manpower every time would be far too exhausting.

The carriage trundled forward.

The road was rugged.

It was full of potholes, and carriages in this era had no shock absorbers.

Its comfort was easy to imagine.

Fortunately, Lin Changqing had already entered the ranks of Martial Dao. Otherwise, after being jolted about all the way, he might have lost half his life before even reaching the city.

"Changqing, is this your first time entering the city?"

Lin Hu leaned close to Lin Changqing and chuckled. "Let me tell you, there are so many fun places in the city. Once you finish your business.

"I'll take you around and let you have some real fun..."

"Alright!"

Lin Changqing nodded with a smile, narrowing his eyes as he quietly surveyed the surroundings.

He possessed mental power, and his five senses were keen.

Not to mention Lin Hu and Lin Yongteng, even ordinary Ranked Martial Artists were far inferior to him.

"Changqing, there's no need to be so nervous... Nothing will happen along this road."

Walking beside the carriage, Lin Yongteng looked at Lin Changqing and chuckled. "Last month, the county suppressed the bandits.

"There can't possibly be bandits or mountain brigands in this area. It's perfectly safe..."

"Is that so? Then that's wonderful."

Lin Changqing nodded with a smile but said no more.

He naturally did not fear ordinary bandits or mountain brigands. He had already entered the ranks of Martial Dao. Though he had only just entered the Ninth Rank, he was still not someone ordinary bandits could compare to.

What was more, he possessed mental power.

That was his greatest Trump Card.

Lin Changqing instead hoped that some blind bandits would come seeking death, giving him the chance to test his current strength.