Secret Martial Building

Wang Yu could not go up to the second floor, but the first floor of the Secret Martial Building was open to soldiers from all camps. Even an ordinary private second class was qualified to enter.

The first floor held a vast number of body tempering methods. There were complete sets as well as collected fragments, good ones and poor ones, all kinds of them. Added together, there were at least nearly a thousand sets!

The Military Department encouraged all soldiers to practice martial arts actively and ponder the martial path.

Thus, all body tempering methods were completely open for anyone to read and learn.

Of course, with nothing but a handwritten copy of a body tempering method before them, whether they could learn it or not depended entirely on the individual.

It certainly could not compare to receiving guidance from a dedicated master at a martial arts school, but it was free, and there were countless body tempering methods to choose from.

As long as one was willing to put in the effort and time, one would always gain something in this Secret Martial Building.

Therefore, quite a few soldiers who wished to improve themselves liked to spend their spare time in the Secret Martial Building, hoping to quickly find a body tempering method suited to them, learn some of its mysteries, and step onto the martial path.

Wang Yu had come for these nearly thousand body tempering methods as well.

Since the Blood Burning Method could not be obtained immediately, he might as well spend his idle time looking through other body tempering methods.

After all, too many skills never weighed one down. Practicing one set was practice, practicing five sets was practice, and practicing a hundred sets was practice.

Every one of these body tempering methods had, to a greater or lesser extent, its own exquisite qualities.

In Wang Yu's view, the more he mastered, the broader the martial road beneath his feet would become.

If the Body Tempering Realm was compared to the foundational stage of martial arts training, then his foundation would absolutely be more solid than that of any other Martial Artist.

The entire Secret Martial Building was guarded layer upon layer. At the entrance to the first floor alone, there were three security checkpoints that verified identities through different methods.

Once he passed through and entered the first floor, he saw rows upon rows of bookcases. Each body tempering method was stored separately and carefully preserved.

At a glance, Wang Yu could not even see the end of the neatly arranged bookcases.

Nearly a thousand body tempering methods—what kind of concept was that!

There were countless martial arts in the world, but there was likely no place that had collected more than the Military Department.

Signs urging silence were posted on the walls, along with striking phrases such as "learning knows no bounds."

Many soldiers in military uniforms quietly studied within, each wearing a different expression.

Some scratched their ears and cheeks, some were engrossed and deep in thought, while others gathered in twos and threes, quietly sharing their insights.

Basically, no one who came here did anything unnecessary. Their attention was focused solely on body tempering methods, and they were remarkably self-disciplined.

Wang Yu had a very favorable impression of the atmosphere here, and his gaze fell upon the handwritten copies displayed in the bookcases.

Fist Technique: Falling Leaf Fist

Introduction: This complete fist technique has six levels. Its fist paths are intricate—at times swift as flying leaves, at times slow and circling, soft as cotton. It possesses the trait of borrowing force to strike back with force.

Recommendation: Those lacking in comprehension should not practice it, as it will be difficult to achieve anything.

Outside every bookcase containing a body tempering method was a description provided by the Military Department, along with a bit of advice for studying it.

"Interesting."

The very first technique he came across had piqued his interest.

He reached out, opened the bookcase, and took out the handwritten copy inside.

The booklet was not thick, only seven or eight pages or so.

The paper was sturdy and not easily damaged.

Though it had been read by many people, there were no obvious marks left behind.

He currently had two fist techniques under his belt, so when he read this one, he understood its contents quite quickly.

Every now and then, moments of sudden enlightenment flashed through his mind, sketching out one new idea after another.

He had the feeling that punches could be exerted in such ways, that fist paths could be so exquisite.

In just two hours, he had gone over those seven or eight pages several times, carefully chewing over and pondering every word and sentence.

At the same time, the words Falling Leaf Fist appeared in the martial arts techniques section of his personal interface, with a note beside them stating that it could be practiced.

Seeing this, Wang Yu carefully returned the handwritten copy to the bookcase, then went to examine other body tempering methods that interested him.

Other soldiers would have been content just to strive to master one body tempering method, but Wang Yu was far from satisfied with that.

To him, this place was a great treasure trove. So long as a body tempering method interested him, he stuffed it straight into his head.

As he read with growing excitement, if the Secret Martial Building had not forbidden making any noise, he would have wanted to start practicing on the spot.

Only when his head began to feel somewhat muddled did Wang Yu finally stop and put down the handwritten copy in his hands.

The four words "Thunderous Saber Technique" were written on it.

That was right. The body tempering methods that interested him were not limited to fist and foot techniques.

He was studying and learning saber techniques and sword techniques alike, though his learning speed was nowhere near as fast as it was with fist techniques.

Still, he firmly believed that all these body tempering methods would help him. They were not wasted effort.

"It's gotten so late."

When he left the Secret Martial Building, it was already pitch-black outside. Only then did Wang Yu belatedly realize that it was the latter half of the night.

Fortunately, he had already reported it beforehand, so he would not be treated as a missing person.

There were plenty of soldiers who studied diligently in the Secret Martial Building late at night. After all, they had group training and drills during the day, or took turns standing duty, going on assignments, and carrying out missions. They did not have that much time to spare for themselves.

Thus, they made full use of the nighttime.

It was precisely because of this that the Secret Martial Building remained open at all times, including at night.

After returning, before resting, Wang Yu sorted through the techniques he had gained that day once more.

Falling Leaf Fist, Flower Flicking Finger, Thousand Illusions Hand, Lost Track Steps, and Thunderous Saber Technique—five body tempering methods in all!

Only after confirming that everything he had memorized was correct did he sleep peacefully, giving his swollen mind a chance to recover.

The next day, Wang Yu did not continue to visit the Secret Martial Building. Instead, he eagerly went to the training ground to practice the body tempering methods he had mastered the day before.

Now that he had the cultivation of the Body Tempering Sixth Level, when he started practicing these body tempering methods from scratch, his proficiency rose rapidly even without precious materials and meat to support him.

Fist techniques such as Falling Leaf Fist improved the fastest. In less than a day, he had filled its proficiency and reached the first level.

Flower Flicking Finger took a day and a half to reach the first level, while Thousand Illusions Hand took about the same amount of time.

Next came Lost Track Steps, which took two days to reach the first level.

Only the Thunderous Saber Technique progressed much more slowly, taking until the fifth day.

Inside Training Ground No. 9, Wang Yu held a black wooden saber. After swinging it hundreds and thousands of times, he suddenly drew in a breath, his eyes shining.

He fiercely slashed forward. The black wooden saber cut through the air, and there seemed to be a faint crackling sound, like flashes of lightning darting about.

"Phew..."

Wang Yu sheathed his saber and let out a long breath.

Not bad. Even with the saber technique he was least skilled at, it had taken only five days to reach the first level.

Back when he had first practiced Shadowless Fist, it had taken him eight days before he entered the first level.

Times had changed...

"Fist techniques temper the body, and their effect on training the arms is outstanding. But when it comes to killing enemies on the battlefield, saber techniques are superior!" Wang Yu compared them.

Sabers were meant for slaughter. That was also the main reason he had chosen a saber technique to practice.

After all, he had joined the military now, and in the future, he would inevitably take part in war. He needed to give himself stronger means of killing enemies.

"In the future, I should pick a few cultivation methods like tough qigong as well, to strengthen my ability to survive." Wang Yu pondered.