Advanced Ultimate Skills, Rongrong's Next Goal: Diamond Glazed Pagoda

The rising sun cast a faint morning glow over Peach Blossom Spring Academy.

Early in the morning, the academy's four students washed up with cool, clear well water before beginning their daily special training.

As their Teacher, Su Ran led by example and started his morning practice early.

Su Ran's morning practice was actually very simple. He merely used the Peach Blossom Branch that was often stuck in the window on the left side of the schoolhouse to leisurely perform a set of the Peach Blossom Sword Technique, and that was enough.

Ning Rongrong always arrived early and waited at the schoolhouse, gazing dreamily at Su Ran as he waved the Peach Blossom Branch.

Zhu Zhuqing would come early with her to wait for class as well. Whenever their Teacher explained something well or moved with particular grace, her normally icy face would reveal a look of sudden understanding, as though she were basking in a spring breeze.

A good Teacher could open people's hearts and change them.

Meng Yiran was Peach Blossom Spring Academy's fourth student and third Direct Disciple. Since she had only recently arrived, she occasionally found it difficult to get used to rising early.

On her first day of class, Senior Disciple Sister Ning Rongrong seriously warned her not to be late or leave early. Otherwise, the consequences would be severe: she would have to take a beating on the palm and write a self-criticism!

After morning practice and breakfast, the students gathered in the schoolhouse and could ask their Teacher, Su Ran, questions.

For example, they could ask about difficulties encountered during the previous day's cultivation or anything they did not understand about ultimate skills, cultivation methods, or Martial Souls.

Once their questions had been answered, the daily special training officially began.

Peach Blossom Spring Academy's special training was different from Shrek's unified special training.

The three female students, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Meng Yiran, each had their own training standards tailored specifically to them. Even Wang Sheng was treated the same way.

Ning Rongrong focused on strengthening her physique. Her physical workload was heavy, but she was a Support System Soul Master, so the pressure she endured was tremendous.

Especially after cultivating the Third Layer Golden Bell, she entered the second stage of her special training and began Blood Refining Steel Bone. Every day, she had to use the Golden Bell Secret Technique to compress the blood and bone marrow throughout her body, condensing and densifying them.

Each compression was no less painful than being trapped inside a sealed compressor. It felt as though she were about to be crushed into a meat patty.

In addition to compressing her bones and condensing her blood, she also had to practice Wing Chun Fist. Without using the Golden Bell Shield to protect her arms, she had to face the sturdy Iron Stakes every day.

Su Ran told her, "One day, when you can use Wing Chun Inch Punch to punch through an Iron Stake and leave a fist mark on tofu without damaging its shape, your fist technique will be complete."

Ning Rongrong believed him.

Poor girl. Although she had already undergone two months of physical-strength training, and the pretty Little Princess who had once been fair and delicate had nearly turned into a 'tough guy' with two little buns tied in her hair, she still only had an ordinary mortal body.

Whoosh!

She struck the tofu with one small hand and the Iron Stake with the other.

The tofu was smashed to pieces.

Meanwhile, the small hand that had hit the Iron Stake instantly swelled red. Her face scrunched up in pain, and tears shimmered in her eyes.

"Waaah—Teacher, you lied!"

"Any ordinary punch can smash tofu, let alone a fist capable of punching through an Iron Stake. Besides... can anyone really punch through an Iron Stake?"

Forget punching through it—being able to dent it would already be incredible.

Su Ran said nothing. He merely took another piece of tender white tofu from the water vat nearby and placed it on a wooden stake beside the Iron Stake.

"Rongrong, move farther away."

"Huh? Oh."

Ning Rongrong was somewhat confused. Even if Teacher is going to attack, he'll be hitting the Iron Stake, not me. Why do I need to move farther away?

Ning Rongrong had only retreated two steps when Su Ran found a suitable position. He did not use his Martial Soul or Soul Power. He simply stood there, took a breath, extended his palm, and turned it into a fist!

Boom!

Both fists shot out at once.

With a thunderous tremor, the Iron Stake in front of him shook violently. A brutal shockwave surged forth, and a fist-shaped hole instantly appeared in the stake. For a moment, metal fragments and filings flew onto the roof, smashing the tiles into pieces.

If someone had been nearby, that terrifying burst of instantaneous power could have easily driven those metal fragments through their bones.

"Ow." At the same time, a muffled cry of pain rang out from a concealed rooftop somewhere in Peach Blossom Spring Academy.

Su Ran's other fist had landed perfectly on the piece of white tofu.

When he withdrew his fist, the tofu did not have a single crack. There was only a faint fist mark, proving that it truly had just been struck.

Ning Rongrong was dumbfounded.

"It can really be done?!"

"Teacher, you're amazing!"

Ning Rongrong stared in disbelief.

"Rongrong, during the past two months, I only taught you the basic introductory techniques of the Golden Bell Shield and Wing Chun Fist. That was because, as a Support System Soul Master, your body was inferior to those of other systems, so you needed to progress Step-by-Step."

"Now that you've absorbed your Third Soul Ring and obtained a rare Soul Bone, although its age is somewhat low, as long as you persist in Bone Forging and condensing your blood while using my Bone Nourishing Soul Liquid, you'll be able to transform it into a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone within two years. Its enhancement effect will double. Now, you need to pursue a higher goal."

"Next, you'll have to learn force and pressure, controlling their release and restraint at will, combining Hardness and Softness Combined. You can no longer be limited to defense; you also need offensive power."

Su Ran spoke calmly. He actually placed great hopes on Ning Rongrong. After all, she was the first Direct Disciple he had accepted.

"What are force and pressure?" Ning Rongrong had grown up hearing only Grandpa Jian talk about things like Man-Sword Unity, sword force, and sword qi. She understood none of it.

"Force is your own aura. When you release your strength and might to the utmost, you create an aura of oppression and offensive power."

As he spoke, layer upon layer of Golden Bells appeared behind Su Ran. A huge Glazed Golden Pagoda pressed down over Ning Rongrong's head, making her feel an urge to kneel.

"Wait, Teacher, how do you have a Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda too?!"

"Don't ask too many questions. Focus on feeling this power. Your next goal is to refine your Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda to this level and transform the Glazed Pagoda into a Diamond Glazed Pagoda."

"Pressure!"

Rumble!

The golden pagoda was like a small mountain pressing down from above. Even Ning Rongrong, who had already developed the Third Layer of Golden Bell Qi, felt as though she were about to be crushed to death.

"Control your release and restraint at will. Man-Fist Unity."

In the next moment, the Glazed Golden Pagoda vanished.

In its place came the force of Su Ran's Wing Chun Fist. A fist as large as a sandbag flew toward her face, whipping up a powerful gale that tousled Ning Rongrong's hair. Yet the fist stopped one millimeter from the tip of her nose, then transformed into an index finger pressing against a thumb and gently flicked her nose.

"Silly girl, this is Man-Fist Unity: controlling your release and restraint at will, softness within hardness, never harming anyone in the slightest, yet hardness within softness, defeating an enemy in an instant. Do you understand?"

"Inch Strength has three levels. The first is Bone-Breaking Stone-Splitting, the second is Iron-Slashing Mountain-Opening, and the third is River-Severing Heaven-Opening. You're still at the first level."

Su Ran spoke calmly.

Ning Rongrong had indeed been frightened by Su Ran, but she had also been charmed by the gentle flick of her nose. For a moment, she was both startled and delighted, yet unable to cry or smile. Her face flushed slightly.

"Teacher, you're awful."

"If you ruin my face, you'll be the one losing out!"

Teacher called me a silly girl. Hehe, I really am pretty silly—silly enough to drool all over my pillow.

"All right, I only did that so you could feel this power."

"In short, your next cultivation goal is Golden Bell Entering Pagoda. After refining the Diamond Glaze and achieving Man-Fist Unity with perfect control over release and restraint, you'll be able to unleash the second level of Inch Strength."

"Once you complete this second stage of special training, you'll no longer be merely a Support System Soul Master. Your Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda will possess defensive power, as well as offensive capabilities no weaker than those of an ordinary Assault System Soul Master."

Su Ran smiled faintly. Seeing Ning Rongrong's somewhat silly expression, he sometimes felt that this girl was rather amusing.

Ning Rongrong took a deep breath and looked at Su Ran aggrievedly.

"But it sounds so difficult."

"That's only natural. Advanced Ultimate Skills obviously can't be compared with Basic Ultimate Skills."

Indeed, after training for more than two months, she had only just finished cultivating the basics, yet she could already fight an Assault System Soul Master. How powerful would she become after advancing further?

"Teacher, aside from you, can anyone really master Man-Fist Unity?"

"There is. Your Senior Brother has been practicing the basic Tiger Fist until he's almost turned into a foolish tiger himself."