The Effects of Concurrent Cultivation

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Several iron posts stood in the inner courtyard of the martial arts school, and dull thuds rang out over and over among them.

Wang Yu's figure swiftly darted back and forth between the iron posts. His punches were sometimes rapid, sometimes fierce and forceful, and sometimes shifted into soft palms, leaving marks of varying depths upon the posts.

A careful observer would notice that Wang Yu's footwork followed a certain pattern as well. The rhythm of each step's transition was controlled with flawless precision, forming cycle after repeating cycle.

+3, +5, +2, +4, +5

Skill proficiency values occasionally flickered above his feet and fists.

Only when his strength was exhausted and his body drenched in sweat did Wang Yu finally stop this cycle of grueling practice.

The flushed skin all over his body gradually returned to its usual color as the effects of the Blood Pig Meat faded.

That completes the set! Wang Yu thought. He picked up the towel beside him and wiped himself down, then casually glanced at his personal interface.

Name: Wang Yu

Race: Human

Cultivation: Body Tempering Third Layer

Martial Arts Techniques: Shadowless Fist +3, Hong Family Fist +1, Mian Yin Palm Technique +1, Undying Bell Skill +1, Zu Family Wind Chasing Foot +1

At the Night Sleep Gathering, he had spent a hefty sum to purchase fragments of four Body Tempering Methods.

Thanks to his continuous consumption of the precious material, Blood Pig Meat, he had raised all four Body Tempering Methods to the first layer in just half a month—and he had done so without delaying the daily accumulation of proficiency for Shadowless Fist.

Such cultivation speed was simply extraordinary.

The cyclic sequence he had just practiced among the iron posts was the most efficient cultivation method he had devised for himself.

Over the course of each circuit, every Body Tempering Method he had learned gained proficiency, ensuring that he would not neglect one thing while attending to another.

Furthermore, he had initially believed that Body Tempering Methods at only the first layer, no matter how many he practiced, would not improve his Body Tempering cultivation or physical strength. They might not even have much effect on his actual combat power.

Only once these Body Tempering Methods gradually caught up to the depth of his primary Shadowless Fist cultivation would they truly come into play.

And things were more or less as he had expected.

When these Body Tempering Methods reached the first layer, his body's overall strength had barely improved. After all, Shadowless Fist had already tempered his body, and his physical strength had long surpassed that of an ordinary person.

Yet there were also a few deviations from what he had expected.

The ultimate purpose of every Body Tempering Method was to increase one's Body Tempering cultivation, allowing the body to shatter its limits time and again and grow ever stronger.

Because different Body Tempering Methods focused on different areas, the process of strengthening the body would also differ in emphasis.

Take his Shadowless Fist, for example. Whenever his cultivation advanced and his body underwent transformation, his arms were strengthened especially intensely, naturally developing in the direction most suited to unleashing Shadowless Fist.

This made his punches faster and swifter than those of Martial Artists at the same cultivation level.

Until it ultimately evolved into the sixth layer—Shadowless Ghost Hand!

Thus, when the fierce and domineering Hong Family Fist broke through to the first layer, his arms once again experienced a numb, itchy burning sensation.

This was a sensation that only appeared when his cultivation advanced. Though the numbness and itch were faint, they were undeniably there.

After the sensation faded, he tested his punches again. They were still swift as the wind, but now the force of his fists carried several more traces of ferocity and power. Even the strength behind his punches seemed to have increased somewhat.

This was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise to him.

Likewise, some of the soft, yielding qualities of the Mian Yin Palm Technique had appeared in his fists and palms, giving his attacks a certain deceptive quality.

The Undying Bell Skill was a Body Tempering Method that emphasized neutralizing force. It stressed the unity of offense and defense, deflecting force and using force against force.

This technique truly had not improved his body tempering in the slightest, but many of the methods for neutralizing and redirecting force described within it gave him a sense of sudden enlightenment.

The final technique, Zu Family Wind Chasing Foot, improved leg techniques as well as speed.

The complete Body Tempering Method of Shadowless Fist had originally included its own movement technique and footwork, but compared to this Body Tempering Method that specialized in leg techniques, it was far inferior.

Judging from how it felt so far, this leg technique had instead provided him with the greatest improvement.

"But it's still not enough." Wang Yu looked quite energized.

This was merely the effect of additional Body Tempering Methods at the first layer. If they reached the second layer, or even the third, their impact on his combat power would undoubtedly be considerable.

At noon, Wang Yu prepared to go out for a meal as usual, taking the opportunity to rest and relax.

After training hard all morning, his body would ache and his Qi and Blood would be depleted. It was important to restore himself at the proper time.

But this time, when he reached the outer courtyard of the martial arts school, he found it bustling with noise.

"Congratulations, Senior Disciple Brother! You're truly incredible!"

"That's right! A Body Tempering Fourth Layer Realm Martial Artist at such a young age—you'll have a great future ahead of you!"

"I wonder what Senior Disciple Brother plans to do next. Will you head out to establish yourself and make your own way, or join some powerful clan? I heard that Fortune Trading Company and the Li Clan of Island Town have both extended olive branches to Senior Disciple Brother."

"If you ask me, you should simply enlist in the army. Fight for the country and earn glory through great deeds—that's what people like us ought to do!"

"..."

Song Hezheng was surrounded by disciples as though the stars were gathered around the moon. From their scattered remarks, Wang Yu roughly understood what had happened.

Song Hezheng had built up strength over time before finally making a breakthrough. After more than half a month of preparation, he had at last surpassed himself. His fist technique had reached the fourth layer, and his cultivation had leapt in one stroke into the Body Tempering Fourth Layer Realm.

At his current age of twenty-eight, attaining such cultivation truly qualified him as one of the outstanding young talents.

One had to know that Martial Artists of the Body Tempering Fourth Layer Realm were qualified to open martial arts schools in a given area and become masters of those schools.

From this point onward, a subtle sense of distance had emerged between Song Hezheng's status and that of the disciples.

After learning the reason, Wang Yu did not act aloof. He put on a smile and stepped forward to offer his congratulations as well.

Wang Yu sincerely admired this Senior Disciple Brother, who was capable both inside and outside the martial arts school and possessed a good temperament.

When Wang Yu had first entered the school to study martial arts, Song Hezheng had also helped him quite a bit.

"Hahaha, Hezheng, you truly haven't disappointed me! You said you'd break through, and you did!" Sun Chengshan came striding over from the inner room with a laugh after hearing the news.

He was immensely satisfied with this eldest disciple of his. Not only had Song Hezheng's cultivation speed grown faster with age, but all his other qualities were excellent as well.

"It is all thanks to Master's excellent guidance in everyday life. Everything I have today is thanks to you, Master." Song Hezheng had already finished celebrating. His expression was calm now as he spoke respectfully.

Neither arrogant nor impetuous, he had not grown proud because of his current achievements in martial arts. The more Sun Chengshan looked at him, the more satisfied he became.

Then he looked at Wang Yu nearby. Among all the disciples, these two were truly head and shoulders above the rest.

They gave him little to worry about in every respect.

After the commotion died down, Sun Chengshan dismissed the other disciples and kept only Song Hezheng and Wang Yu behind.

Only then did he grow somewhat serious and look at Song Hezheng as he asked earnestly.

"Hezheng, now that you have cultivated Shadowless Fist to the fourth layer, you qualify to leave the school. Have you made any plans for the future?"

Song Hezheng was briefly stunned, then shook his head. "This disciple is devoted to the martial path. I will not go anywhere. I wish to remain at the martial arts school and continue cultivating."

"Oh? You won't go anywhere?" Sun Chengshan looked somewhat surprised.

"Yes." Song Hezheng nodded firmly.

"I've heard that quite a few people outside are trying to recruit you. Even Director Zheng seems interested in you. If you leave, you'll have more cultivation resources than you would by staying at the martial arts school," Sun Chengshan said truthfully.

Song Hezheng hesitated slightly, but in the end, he said, "I am different from the other disciples. Before I had even entered the martial arts school, Master took me in. Staying by Master's side makes me feel at ease."

This was the true thought buried deep within his heart.

After hearing this, Sun Chengshan shook his head. This boy had practically taken him for a father.

Their bond truly was deeper than the bond he shared with any of his other disciples.

"So be it. Whether you leave or stay, make your own decision. Still, if the martial arts school loses you, it truly will be somewhat troublesome," Sun Chengshan said with a smile.

"Thank you, Master." Song Hezheng was deeply grateful.